soggypastry | IC/OOC Contact

Don't expect it to start making sense. The sooner you get used to its rules, the better off you'll be.

[She meets that look head on, clearly not phased. She does catch that Tenten doesn't mention Obito, however, and it makes her wonder. Maybe she and Hope aren't the only ones annoyed with him after all.]

I'd hope not. You'll get into more trouble if you don't learn anything from this, and I doubt you want that.

Yeah, I got it. Like I said, we're not kids. Please don't treat us like it, Lightning-san.

Then don't act like you are. [she frowns slightly, voice taking on a firm note.] If you want to be treated like trained combatants or adults, you have to act like it. If you really did "get it", I expect that your behavior regarding this world is going to change soon. Be aware of and adapt to your surroundings.

[It sounds like she's said this a thousand times before. Will Tenten listen? Hell if she knows.]

[She's bristling again, but still trying to stay calm.]

With all due respect, Lightning-san, this listening thing? Goes two ways. You're someone Sasuke respects. Not our superior, not our sensei. You know a lot about this world, and not a lot about ours.

We aren't children. We did as we saw best with the training we had and the situation as it was. We're already aware, and we're adapting. What you're doing is discounting any experience we have because of our age.

[Nope, didn't listen...well, maybe a little. One eyebrow goes up, hearing that bristling more than she sees it, before she sighs quietly. Okay, time for another approach.]

I could say the same thing to you, you know. [She almost wants to explain it, just a little. She will if this doesn't work.]

And it's not your age that's making me discount it, it's your actions. [she holds up a hand to stave off any further protests.] You did what you had to do back there with the knife; I would have done the same thing in your situation. That's not in question and never was. What is in question is your ability to know when to retreat and how to follow orders. I gave you all the order to run, to take your wounded comrade and retreat, before you ended up in the talons of your Skarmory. You had two veteran trainers buying you time and you had cover with the smokescreen, but you still didn't run. Why?

Because always running will get us nowhere.

[She crosses her arms again and lowers her gaze.]

I don't know about the others, but I see it like this. If you two beat him, that's great, it takes attention off us for a little while. If we beat him, beat him badly enough, he won't be able to come after us anymore, or at least think twice about it. That buys us more time.

Ever since Tsunade-sam... Tsunade, I've made it my goal to protect my comrades. We're not always going to have you and Hope-san with us. If we can send a message that we're not to be messed with? That'll help a lot.

I'm tired of running.

[She tilts her head, gives that some thought, and...really, on some level? She understands it. Tenten wants to protect her own no matter the cost, just as Lightning did. Still does. Respects it, too, only...]

Then as someone else who pissed Team Rocket off so bad they put a hit out on me? Let me tell you something: running and hiding is your only option right now. [A sigh, and she shakes her head.] Because you're right. Hope and I aren't always going to be around to lock you three behind traps and a zoo of Level 100's. Which is why you need to take this time and learn quickly. Train your team, and yourselves, to handle this place on your own. Team Rocket's not going to stop even if Bowser does.

[She didn't know that about Lightning... her respect goes up for her a bit.]

We know that. The problem is that Pokémon don't train like we do. They learn more slowly, they need care, they can't all train themselves. It might be time we don't have.

If I was Team Rocket, I'd just make a concentrated attack on us as soon as they spot us again. It doesn't take a genius to figure out how long we've been here and how powerful we potentially are.

[Hardly anyone knows, to be fair. Not many people are left from when it happened.]

It takes more than you'd think to figure it out. [Especially if it's people like Bowser trying to do it. But that's not the point.] But that's why you need to push yourselves as much as you can. Keep them guessing about how strong your teams are, what moves they know. How well they react. [She gestures with one hand over the rail, to where Odin is trotting down the beach to keep himself entertained.] He can't get any stronger. That doesn't keep me from training him to act on his own if I can't call out orders. Yours should be able to do the same at some point.

[She follows the gesture to the Rapidash on the beach and sighs through her nose, crossing her arms again.]

Right. The older ones can, for the most part, but training the guys out of the eggs takes... a while.

[Another glance.]

Would you recommend we stop going after badges, then?

And a lot of patience. Has to happen sometime. [Eventually. As for her recommendations...well, those are a bit more complicated.]

I'd recommend you train your team first. The badges are useless in the long run, once you have the ones that let you use Fly and Surf. [she cants her head.] Which one are you headed for next?

Since I got here, Sasuke's been pushing for badges. We made a challenge, that once we both had the badges and were on equal footing, then we could face each other in a fair fight.

[Having to let go of that goal...? Not sure if she can do it so easily.]

I'd wanted to get this one as soon as my warrant's up, then head to Cianwood with Sasuke.

[Nothing in this world is easy. The faster Tenten learns that, the better. Granted, it is pretty damn hard at time.]

Might be a good idea to put that plan on hold for a while. You'll never be able to have a fair fight if Rocket takes you out because you drew too much attention to yourselves getting there. [she shrugs. In the end, she can only offer advice. It's still their call.] You should give things more time to cool down first.

Maybe.

[No promises there, but she'll at least work on staying stealthier than the last time. She exhales a sigh through her nose and crosses her arms tightly again, pushing herself off the wall.]

Either way, thanks for letting me stay here.

[No promises, but an attempt is better than nothing. She doesn't like it, but she gets it and nods as Tenten stands up straight.]

Don't mention it. At least here you won't get attacked in your sleep. [Experience talking? Perhaps.]

Well, that's something, at least.

[She sighs and nods again, giving her one more glance.]

I owe you for this.

[Having bent to pick up the sandpaper again, Lightning looks at her through a fringe that really needs a trim. Owe her? Oh, Tenten owes more than just her for all this. Not that she's mentioning it now.]

Stay out of trouble for a while. That's payment enough.

I'll try.

[She just looks at her for another moment before bowing her head and making her escape.]

Hey, there's something I want to tell you, if you have some time?

I've got time. Go ahead.

I'm going to be moving out. There are still some badges I need to get, so I might as well start traveling again.

So I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay this long.

[Huh. Looks like they'll have the house to themselves again. Can't say she's surprised, so:]

Just don't get into trouble again. That's thanks enough.

[Ren lets out a laugh.]

I can manage that, since I learn from my mistakes.

I'm headed towards Mahogany. I'm going to try and focus on training and getting more badges for a while.

[He sighs heavily after the text is sent, frowning at the words before he follows it up with another one.]

Thanks for everything.

Alright. There's an old Rocket base in Mahogany, so try and stay out of trouble while you're there.

[That's all that needs saying, really, but when the second text comes, she pauses. What to say to that? Huh...]

Hope and I are leaving Olivine soon. If anything happens, you know how to reach me.

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