francia | [Post 013] Accidental Video/Action in Goldenrod City

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Current Location: goldenrod city

[Post 013] Accidental Video/Action in Goldenrod City

[The video opens up to the glaring, narrowed eyes of Marianne the ~~Demon Fox~~ Ninetales. She makes a snuffling sound of displeasure at the screen before getting up, walking around the 'Gear and picking it up to reveal a very, very large pile of snow not far from the beach of Goldenrod City. You can see a bike on its side with one wheel still spinning to the side of the screen briefly before the 'Gear swings around to - ]

AAAAAAAaaaaAAAAA -

[- a wailing pile of snow?]

[Oh, wait, there are France's legs, sticking out from the left end from the snow pile. Well, there's a sight you don't see everyday. The legs flail about for a bit, kicking at the air uselessly, before, with a particularly loud wail, France's head pops out of the top of the snow. His arms appear next, flailing about like his legs, and then he tumbles out of the icy prison, still sobbing and looking generally pretty traumatized.]

['Gear mets the ground and you see Marianne's underside and tails before her foot lands on the 'Gear, cutting the feed off.]

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[ This conversation amuses Napoleon way too much, as he thinks about it in a historical context. ]

Complain away, my good nation. Besides, after careening into a snowbank and winding up on the 'Gear network, you've kind of earned it.

[ Of course, teasing France is pretty amusing too. ]

[France opens his mouth, ready to fully agree with Napoléon, but then -]

[His eyes well up in overjoyed tears.]

You called me your Nation! Your "good Nation"! Oh, Napoléon, you really do know me!

[ --oh jeez not again. He'd originally meant it like 'my good man,' but he's. Already accepted that, out of all the strange things so far, France really being a Nation isn't so crazy. ]

Of course I did, France. You treated me like one of your own right from the start, even though I'm a clone.

[France sniffles and smiles, eyes still leaking tears.]

Clone or not, you are mine. That you openly acknowledge me as yours, too... It makes me so happy!

[He hugs the 'Gear as if he can physically hug Napoléon through it.]

[ You're so embarrassing. B| Napoleon taps at where he assumes the microphone is, in an attempt to gain France's attention so he can get him to stop hugging the 'Gear. ]

Okay, okay. Sheesh. Just don't go crashing into any more snowbanks when I'm not there to pull you out of them. As a... citizen, it's my job to make sure my country stays out of trouble.

[ This ranks pretty high on his list of things he never imagined he'd say. ]

[France does pull the 'Gear away from his body, but it's so he can look at Napoléon's face while he talks. He's so happy right now.]

I'll be more careful; I promise.

[In fact, he's so happy that it's almost painful to look at ~~because of the sparkles~~.]

[ ... Napoleon sighs at him, looking away for a moment ~~due to the sparkles~~. Joséphine is totally laughing at them in her Meowth way. ] Good.

According to the map, I'll probably get into Cherrygrove in the morning. [ No, he hasn't been sleeping much because WHAT IS CAMPING? ] Because of the weather, I don't know when I'll leave. So it's probably going to be a while before I reach Violet.

[~~Acknowledge the sparkles!~~ He smiles and nods in an understanding manner.]

Traveling in snow is never a fun or healthy thing to do. Cherrygrove is a pretty quiet place overall; I think most places here are. I can't wait to meet up with you!

[ ~~NEVER.~~ He lets out a slight 'meh' at that. ]

I never thought I'd actually follow in my original's footsteps and end up traveling in winter. At least a Johto winter seems infinitely milder than a Russian one. [ He does smile a little at that last bit, though. Just a smidge. ] Same.

[He laughs slightly.]

I... actually did think of that, I have to admit. This winter is definitely milder than what I've spent in Russia, and it's definitely calmer than some Paris ones, too.

[ Looking interested in learning this, Napoleon nods. ]

I'd actually like to go to Paris one day, but... that all depends on how things go back home, if I ever do get to return. [ Not that he'd really like to go back to getting his ass handed to him by his other self, but hey. ] Just hopefully not in winter.

Winter in Paris is absolutely beautiful! It does get quite cold, but it's more than worth it to be part of the holidays in the city of Light!

[France can't help his curiosity, though.]

What is it like when you're from?

Without paved roads or a faster way to travel I'm just kind of tired of snow. But if you say it's nice, then maybe I'll consider it.

[ It's there that Napoleon goes quiet, and Joséphine gently nuzzles her head against his cheek. ]

It's not so bad at the academy. We can't leave the grounds, but it's probably for our own good. Not a lot of things to do that aren't technically related to courses--fencing and horseback riding and stuff like that are actually classes--but my friends and I still manage to find ways to have fun. [ He shrugs a bit. ] The expo was going to be interesting, since we don't normally see everyone's presentations, but stuff happened and then I woke up here.

I love fencing and horseback riding. I feel like it's becoming a lost art.

[France is plainly overflowing with curiosity, and it takes him a moment to figure out which questions to ask first without being too intrusive ~~hopefully~~.]

What sort of academy do you attend, and why would not being allowed to leave the grounds be for your own good?

I'm a fair hand at both, though I'll probably get rusty here in this place. [ He needs a rideable pokémon like Rapidash or Arcanine. ]

There's only one student that attends and lives at St. Kleio that isn't a clone, but he's the head doctor's son so we've gotten used to him being around. The rest of the student body is exclusively clones. It's a pretty high-end place, in comparison to the schools he's told us about. [ At the second part of the question, he looks thoughtful. ]

Originally? For a figuratively sterile learning environment, I guess. They're pretty gungho about us learning everything about our originals and probably wouldn't want anything to distract us. After that, for our own safety. Our first graduate, John F. Kennedy's clone, was assassinated during his presidential campaign. After that, Freud found out that the group behind it was out to kill all clones. [ He looks incredibly unamused by that last bit. ]

You could learn to ride a bicycle, if you haven't before, and I'd be more than willing to fence with you.

[France frowns deeply. So Nation still exist in this version of Earth, but, somehow, it seems like the corporate body producing clones had more control over them. It doesn't sit well with France.]

Did those in charge take adequate measures due to the threats and the assassination by this anti-clone organization?

I've never ridden one before, but it's gotta be easier than having a horse under you. At least, as long as you don't ride in the snow.

[ After the last time they spoke it did cross his mind that the Nations might have existed in his version of Earth as well, though he has no proof or way of finding out right now. His own frown deepens. ]

For a time, yes. Security was fairly light on campus before the assassination, but afterwards we had fully-armed soldiers patrolling everywhere. Didn't really do much good when the expo came around, they managed to infiltrate the school and blew up half the assembly hall with us in it.

It depends. At least a horse has natural self-preservation instincts. You have to account for everything on a bike, but at least you aren't fighting with the horse either.

[France's mouth falls open, his eyes darting over Napoléon's features.]

Oh, Go, did you get out alright? Where you hurt? Are you okay now?

You still have to familiarize yourself with both, too, but at least the bike doesn't have to trust you in return.

[ He has to pause, trying to decide whether he wants to tell France the whole truth or not. He's still trying to accept it himself. ]

I escaped, but went back in after I found out that... a few of my friends hadn't made it out. Ended up running into one of the so-called terrorists.

[France relaxes slightly only to instantly become fully alert at "went back." He bites the inside of his cheek, feeling possessive and selfish of Napoléon while also understanding the need to protect friends.]

What happened after you ran into the terrorists?

[ There's a sudden uncertainty to Napoleon's expression at that, as if he's not sure about what he's going to say. He's still trying to process it, even a few days later. ]

I found out that they're clones, too. And by some twisted fate, the one I ran into was a slightly older version of me with black hair. We fought, but he pretty much kicked my ass. [ He raises that off-screen hand to his nose, remembering the blood. ] Stabbed me in the leg with my own sword.

[France's mouth falls open. He closes it, tries to say something, and ultimately fails. He covers his face with his hands before looking up, eyes brimming with tear.]

You poor thing!

[ France you are the most boggling person he's met so far. Napoleon smiles, if a bit wryly. ]

I'm fine now. There isn't any sign of the cut, and all the blood's gone. I'm just worried about my friends--three of them I know were still inside, and we hadn't even seen a fourth all day.

It's bad, but I'm almost hoping that they all show up here, too. At least that way we'd get away from people like the people funding St. Kleio and the anti-clone group. [ And they'd all be able to break free from the fates of their originals. He hopes Joan, at least, makes it here for that reason. ]

[He's not just boggling: he's beautiful! France deflates slightly.]

There's no sign of the wound? No pain or residual scarring?

France smiles slightly, hoping to look encouraging.]

I hope your friends are alright as well. Although I'm not sure if this place is a completely better alternative, it would remove the terrorists, hopefully.

[Oh, man, if Joan shows up...]

[Post 013] Accidental Video/Action in Goldenrod City

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