[Post 039] Video/Action for Saffron City and Route 7 [Backdated to 30th of May]

[francia]

[The feed opens up to the outskirts of Saffron City just before Route 7 sometime in the mid-afternoon. It's a picturesque scene: green, summer-lush trees, well-combed grass, and a herd of multi-seasonal Deerling dotting the scope of the camera. The focus of the shot shifts after a couple of seconds to show one autumn-form Deerling in particular that is eating out of the palm of France's hand.]

[In the background, however, unnoticed for the moment by France, there is dust rising, and those watching the 'Gear might pick up the beginnings of static noise as a number of stampeding Blitzles careen towards France's back.]

[France grins at the 'Gear, voice cheerful and boastful although increasingly distorted by the static noise.]

This is Bénézet, the newest addition to my team! Isn't he a lovely and unique specimen among these cre...

[At this point, the feed's audio is far too distorted to be understandable. A moment passes where France continues speaking inaudibly before France finally notices something's up. He looks away from the 'Gear, which subsequently shifts the focus off-center to give a view of France's shoulder, the sky, and a rising cloud of dust before there's a blare of static and the feed abruptly cuts out.]

Comments

[video]

[tapestodiane]

_{[You know, there was a time where Coop would be worried about this kind of thing, but he's known France for long enough to not be, at least not to the same extent. When he tunes in a while later, it's with a fond oh, France in his mind and a hint of amusement in his eyes behind the initial bit of concern.]}

France. Are you okay?

[video]

[greatbigrock]

<sub>[Okay, he's trying to be serious here. Really. Honestly.]

[But the fact that France is so utterly oblivious to approaching danger like that is hilarious and he's pretty much laughing when he accidentally tunes into the video feed.]</sub>

[Video]

[francia]

[Cooper, you know France so well. When France responds a couple hours later, he's dusty, flushed with embarrassment, and has a smudge mark of dirt on his cheek but appears otherwise unharmed. Except for his ego. His ego will always suffer.]

I'm fine!

[Said a little too fast. He laughs a bit too loudly to try to cover it.]

All the outdoor exercise I've had in the past two months is lending a wonderful tan for my beautiful figure!

[Video]

[francia]

[Tulio gets a call back a few hours later after France has escaped the stampede, retrieved his 'Gear (how this thing survives everything is magic a complete mystery), and washed up. His indignant air is largely ineffective due to the fact he's also red with embarrassment and his hair is still wet from the shower.]

That was a brush with death, you insensitive cretin!

[Video]

[tapestodiane]

_{[His poor, poor ego. Coop gives him a small grin in response, because he can't quite not find that funny, but it's pretty clear that it's not at his expense. In fact, the smile lingers and could easily be read as relieved.]}

Well, if you're sure.

They caught you off guard, huh?

[ Video ]

[killer_sweets]

[You know if Killua was a nicer and sane child, he'd probably say something to warn his dear friend.

Nope, you had to make friends with a messed up brat. He's just going to laugh.]

[Video]

[greatbigrock]

<sub>[HAHAHA as IF.]

[Tulio snorts when he accepts the call and looks smug, and totally unconcerned about how upset France is.]</sub>

Yeah, sure. Try telling me that after outrunning a herd of bulls.

[Video]

[francia]

[France huffs, his haughty air turned up a few notches above normal to make up for everything.]

Of course!

[He frowns in a way that would probably be furious if not for the situation. It just looks like a fussy pout.]

How was I to expect a stampede to come from the city? I don't understand how this civilization is still standing with all the damage the urban wildlife does.

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy isn't terribly worried by this video, he knows Blitzle aren't very big, but he will go out to look for France on the route anyway. Just in case. He thinks he recognized the area where France was...]

[Once he does get there and sees him, he calls out as he walks over, hands in his pockets.]

France!

[Video]

[francia]

[France noticeably bristles.]

I've outrun bulls before!

[One of which he inherited from Romano who inherited Toro from Spain. Toro is forever remaining safe and secure in France's PC box.]

This was an entirely other situation: they were electric horses!

[Video]

[tapestodiane]

_{[Coop shakes his head slightly, smile milder. If France looks close enough something's slightly rattled in the agent (because as usual, when they talk, they have great timing like that), but he seems pretty content to just talk to his friend.]}

You know the saying, France: expect the unexpected. Besides, the locals seem fairly used to these kind of situations.

[ Video ]

[francia]

[France calls back after he's gotten back to the hotel and cleaned up. He scowls mightily, or, well, it's really more of a pout and really pretty pathetic.]

This is not a laughing matter.

[Video]

[greatbigrock]

_{[And Tulio continues to noticeably be a jerk.]}

Tiny electric horses.

[Action]

[francia]

[France is sitting on the ground, away from the tall grass. He's dusty and somewhat mussed as to be expected from someone who ran away from an approaching herd of electric zebra. He looks up at Envy's call and tries to smile, although it comes out strained and a flush of embarrassment comes over his cheeks.]

Envy!

[He gets up and attempts to dust himself off and look presentable. It's quickly obvious that isn't going to happen, and France sighs, now just embarrassed.]

Why does this keep happening?

[ Video ]

[killer_sweets]

To you, how did you not hear them coming at you?

[He sort of assuming they couldn't be heard over the guy's ego.]

[Video]

[francia]

[France just looks flustered.]

The locals are unnatural.

[He rubs a hand over his face and sighs. He's quiet for a moment before his head tilts slightly to one side, his attention caught by Cooper's demeanor.]

I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you alright?

[Video]

[francia]

They are not tiny! They're at least thirty kilograms each!

[ Video ]

[francia]

[Pretty much. France's ego is second only to his appreciation of beauty.]

[He pouts more, trying to look indignant.]

I was distracted by Bénézet and how absolutely adorable he is.

[This is a totally legit excuse.]

[Video]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[And that actually catches him a bit off guard, but he's never been good at hiding his feelings. He's a little haunted, by the looks of it. Something dark beneath his eyes and a tension around them.]

[So he considers how to evade the question, but in the end, just sighs.]</sub>

There are some bad memories from the lost time. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

[ Video ]

[killer_sweets]

I'm sure it was worth getting run over by zebras then.

[He should probably catch one, then looked fun.]

[Video]

[francia]

[It was the tension more than anything that tipped France off. He knows Cooper well enough to be aware that that's not how he normally holds himself.]

[France shakes his head, sympathy in his eyes.]

I've never remembered much from these periods of lost time.

[He shifts, his attention fully on Cooper.]

Would you like to talk about it?

[Video]

[greatbigrock]

I repeat, pal: tiny.

_{[He's enjoying this a bit too much, probably.]}

[ Video ]

[francia]

I didn't get run over! My evasive maneuvers are far too perfect.

[Video]

[tapestodiane]

<sub>[He doesn't. And as France also knows, he usually doesn't talk about himself - and this event was pretty personal.]

[He watches France through the gear for a long moment, thinking about the offer even as he first chooses to clarify his memories.]</sub>

It comes to me in dreams. They've always been very clear to me.

<sub>[And then he pauses. Thinks back on Heather lecturing him about this kind of thing. And to Albert, who isn't in Johto anymore, but was a great comfort to have, even for that brief moment of time.]

[And as a result, he bows his head a little, giving in, in a way. Showing vulnerability in a way he normally doesn't.]</sub>

Surprisingly, I think I do. Should you be willing to give me the time.

[Video]

[francia]

They're not! They more than make up for not being the size of bulls with quantity!

[France is having a hard time remembering why he's friemenies with this guy and why they aren't just enemies. Oh, yeah, Envy. The things France does for love.]