[action]

[tsunsandsteals]

[Now that he finally has his Pokemon back, Silver can at last get back to what matters most: Training, and lots of it. Any feelings he might have had towards them-worry, concern, caring, sympathy-have been pushed to a far corner in the back of his mind, hopefully soon to be completely forgotten]

Quilava, that was pathetic! You have the type advantage over Sneasel, you should've been able to take that Icy Wind! At this rate you'll never evolve! And Golbat, are you even trying anymore?!

Comments

[sketch_m_all]

[Tracey's had his experiences with all sorts of different Pokémon Trainers, some pushing their team harder than others. Silver is the kind of trainer who pushes far too hard for the Pokémon's good, which is exactly the kind of trainer Tracey can't stand.

He's not sure what he was thinking around Valentine's Day, being unable to see what sort of person Silver really is. It's painfully clear now. As much as he would like to avoid this kid, he feels he needs to step in for the sake of the Pokémon.]

... Silver.

[tsunsandsteals]

[Silver was just about to go back to training Sneasel and Golbat, too. All these interruptions are pissing him off; with a dark glare he turns around to face Tracey]

What do you want?

[sketch_m_all]

[That was an awfully venomous tone, but Tracey won't let it get to him. If Silver speaks that way to people he hardly knows, imagine what sort of things he says to his Pokémon.]

Your Pokémon need to take a break. If you push them any more, they're going to get hurt or sick.

[tsunsandsteals]

They're used to this. Pushing them this hard makes them stronger and keeps them from getting sick.

[by this time, though, the Pokemon have stopped listening to Silver and are resting against a tree.]

[sketch_m_all]

No, pushing them this hard only makes it worse when they do get sick. Which is bound to happen, at this rate. You need to let them rest.

[In fact, it looks like if Tracey can just keep Silver talking enough, they will get rest.]

[tsunsandsteals]

Shut up! I don't need some bleeding-heart with a weak unevolved Marril telling me what to do! [Says the guy with an entire TEAM of unevolved Pokemon]

[sketch_m_all]

Just because a Pokémon isn't evolved doesn't mean it's weak. A friend of mine won the Orange League and landed himself in the Pummelo Island Hall of Fame relying on Pokémon like Pikachu, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. He only had one fully evolved Pokémon in his team, but he still managed to bring down the undefeated champion and his Dragonite.

[tsunsandsteals]

...you're full of it. No idiot could bring down a fucking Dragonite with a team full of weaklings! [trust him, he knows. Fucking dragon tamer and his stupid capes and stupid powerful dragons]

[sketch_m_all]

That's because he's not an idiot. [Uhm. Well, not always.]

Ash may get a little reckless, but he trained all his Pokémon with compassion and that's why they did their best to win. Even when the odds were against them, they all refused to give up because they knew their trainer- their friend was counting on them. Pokémon grow stronger because they want to help their trainer, not because the trainer forces them to.

[tsunsandsteals]

...

[He's about to roll his eyes at yet another annoying variant on that lecture, but...well, hearing the same thing over and over again can have an impact. And that impact is beginning to poke at something Silver's tried to ignore.

Kindness is akin to weakness. Pokemon are tools, and only idiots make friends with tools. Everything he's been taught since he was a child, is it all

No. He refuses to let go of the one thing that bastard ever gave him.]

Shut up! Just shut up, you don't know anything about it!

[sketch_m_all]

I don't mean to sound arrogant, but who do you think knows more? An experienced Pokémon Watcher whose work was approved by Professor Oak himself, or a trainer who doesn't seem to have accomplished anything yet? You need to take a step back and look at the whole picture for once, Silver.

[tsunsandsteals]

...

[And he just keeps poking at those sore spots. The Pokemon have fallen asleep by now and there's no way he's going to be able to wake them up for more training. Silver kicks at the ground in anger, shoving his hands into his pockets with a frustrated growl]

[sketch_m_all]

[It looks like Tracey's having some effect on Silver, at least. That's good.]

... If you don't want people to think you're a jerk, you need to stop acting like one. It isn't doing anyone any good.

[tsunsandsteals]

...since when do I care if people think I'm a jerk?!

[sketch_m_all]

You should care. ... I can't imagine why anyone would want to be a jerk. Besides, the next time you need help, no one will be there for you.

[tsunsandsteals]

Well, I don't want anyone to be there for me, so there!

[sketch_m_all]

[...]

If that's the case, you shouldn't be training Pokémon! Why bother bullying them into getting stronger if you don't want to rely on them? That just isn't fair.

[tsunsandsteals]

Pokemon are different! They're tools, of course you want your tools to be strong ones!

[sketch_m_all]

[There is an incoherent sputter at that, before Tracey manages to form proper words again.]

Pokémon aren't tools! They're living beings with feelings and thoughts of their own! Some of them are even more intelligent than humans! You can't just use them!

[tsunsandsteals]

...you're just as bad as that jerk with the cape and the dragons! Maybe even worse! At least he made his lecture short, you're just repeating the same things over and over again!

[sketch_m_all]

... I wish I hadn't helped you find your Pokémon! They'd have been much better off without you!

[tsunsandsteals]

... [Wow. That actually kind of hurt. Silver closes his eyes and shakes his head for a moment before fixing Tracey with the angriest look he can summon]

Well, I wish I'd never taken your help in the first place, now fuck off!

[sketch_m_all]

[Ouch. That hurt far more than it should have.]

Fine! You'll just have to learn your lesson the hard way. [And with that he turns to leave.]

[tsunsandsteals]

[A loud, frustrated growl escapes Silver as he slams his fist into the tree trunk his Pokemon are resting against. Glaring, he calls them back to their balls.]

Fine, if you want to be lazy and useless, so be it! [kicks at the ground and punches the tree again, trying to get rid of all the unwanted emotions Tracey's poked at]