infinitejustice | Eighty-First Launch

[Video; Action for Vermilion City; backdated to yesterday evening]

[The feed opens up to a gorgeous sunset over the ocean. The sky is a brilliant red, the sinking sun is reflecting off the glittering waves...it was like what one would see in a resort commercial. The recorder seemed to be standing on a pier of some sorts as well, so there were multiple ships around.]

Pretty amazing, isn't it? With scenes like this, it's no wonder Vermilion City is known as the Port of Exquisite Sunsets. Don't worry, Yayoi, I'm saving this for you.

[With that, the camera turned around and showed Athrun, who was wearing his Orb military uniform. The sky behind him was a beautiful dark blue.]

I think that, out of all the places in this world, Vermilion City is the closest thing to where I live back home. It's good to be by the sea again, and there's plenty to do in town. If I truly am stuck here, I think this is where I'll want to live once I've beaten the Elite Four.

Out of curiosity, does anybody else here have a place like that? A place that resembles their home or that they'd like to live?

Also, on a different note, can anyone tell me about the gym leader here? Going by the sign near the gym, I suspect he uses Electric-types, but one can never be too sure.

Also, one more thing. Is he really a lieutenant?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh! Yeah, I think the elite teams are, like, full rosters of six. Sorry, I haven't faced his elite team yet.

[ She takes a bite of her candy bar and speaks around it. ] I guess there was. The gym used to be on the island, and now it's in the Seafoam Islands. I dunno what all is still on Cinnabar, but probably not much.

Still, getting confirmation on his favored type gives me a better advantage. So, thanks for that.

Oh, you haven't been? I may take a look at it myself. If the cleanup is going well enough, it should be possible to rebuild.

I'm gonna head down there soon, too, I think. I'm still here in Vermilion, and some of my friends are supposed to be comin' down to Cinnabar to hang out with me, but I dunno when exactly.

If you get there before me, you should tell me what it's like. I mostly wanna go play on the beach, but if it's totally abandoned, we should probably bring extra supplies, like, to be safe.

Oh, we're in the same city? That's quite the coincidence.

Yeah, I'll be sure to do that. Depending on the shape it's in, I may even invest in the rebuilding effort. It's not like I have anything better to do with my money.

Yeah, I just beat the old guy's regular team a couple days ago.

Helping rebuild would be pretty cool. I spend a lot of money on TMs and stuff, but I almost never stay in, like, inns, so I could probably spare some cash.

In fact, we might be able to have a fundraiser or something similar for the island. I can think of a few more people who'd happily contribute.

That would rock. Let me in on it if you do! Cinnabar was always my favourite place. It must've been a really awesome place to hang out before the volcano eruption.

Of course.

I'm Athrun Zala. What's your name?

Miyuki! Miyuki Chitose.

[ A minor crisis: does she call Athrun 'bro' or 'mister?' He doesn't look much older than her brother, but he sure does act like an old dude.

After a beat: ] Maybe I'll see you in Cinnabar, mister!

[ S-sorry, Athrun... ]

...Mister?

[ Another beat. ]

What, you want me to call you 'lady?'

[ Highly skeptical, here. ]

Of course not! But I'm hardly old enough to be addressed like that.

[ Okay, fine. She relents, looking almost apologetic. ]

Sorry, bro. You kinda act like an old dude, though.

Yeah, I've heard that before. I was tossed into a situation that forced me to grow up far too quickly.

[ A contemplative pause while she works this idea out. ]

Like what? Are you, like, an orphan?

Technically, I am, but that's not what I'm talking about. For me, it was two wars.

Wars? Where you had to kill people and stuff?

[ Normally, she might be saying 'cool!' at the prospect of a bunch of guns and bombs and whatever else her ten-year-old brain dreams up to go with 'war,' but the somber tone of the conversation is holding her back. ]

That's right. I was a soldier.

[ Another quiet moment. He says he's not very old, and she doesn't think he looks much older than her brother.

Tentatively: ] How old were you?

...I was fourteen when I signed up. It took a year in the military academy after that to enter the war.

[ Her brother's age, then. That's certainly sobering. Imagining her brother going off to war? It just doesn't compute.

She's quiet again, searching the ground beyond the 'Gear with an uncertain expression. ]

... Sorry.

...It's all right. I managed to survive, and I can still do some good for my country back home.

[ It takes a second for her to pull herself out of thought and smile, but she does. ]

Guess that's what's important, right?

Yeah. That's right.

Eighty-First Launch

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