fleeting luxuries;; ERIKA

[surge]

they were cowards, the lot of them!

how could they even dare to conceive such a notion before the gym leader circuit. red had proven more than capable of handling the notorious team rocket. were they not pleased by his accomplishment? were they not entertained? if they enforced these... laws, the whole region would turn into a huge police state. they would be diluting nature's role of natural selection. the very selection which evolved trainers. the very evolution that made the champion a new breed of pokemon trainer.

flabbergasted as to how as to how to respond to such ludacris, surge found himself pacing inside the league lobby. he had been the only person to openly, and fiercely, oppose the whole idea. were his fellow peers okay with allowing the league to install such contraptions? they were going to destroy their way of life. he couldn't have been the only one, surge was sure of that.

erika had promised to meet him after the meeting. all he could do was try to stifle the bitter taste of coffee as his mind tried to digest the ideas of implementing this "lux" organization. the caffinated bitter only made him even more anxious, pooling into a small pit of buried anger. did they really think the gym leaders were so incapable? surge had turned his tiny sailor's retreat of a city into the most bustling port in all of kanto. vermillion was the very reason that celadon and saffron were able to cater to the wealthy and stimulate kanto's inner economics.

but perhaps the league had been right. team rocket had been hiding in celdaon and saffron for months. had erika really been so oblivious to her own city? surge kept his tongue along the matter, as erika had always radiated a sense of responsibilty and capability around him, but this certainly concerned him. the same for sabrina, but the woman was more of an enigma to him. even so, why should the failure of two take away from the rest. fucking beaucrats.

with a deep breathe, surge let out a deep sigh. he had to calm himself. surge refrained from thinking anymore about today's meeting, nursing his throbbing temple as he waited for his companion. forget the league and whatever they asked erika to accompany them with.

he needed her now.

he needed to clear his head.

[erika]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=width: 400px; border-left: 6.5px #0de01f solid;][style=font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px; font-size: 10.5px; text-align: justify; width: 350px; padding: 20px;][style=float: left; background-color: #0de01f; height: 200px; width: 100px; margin-right: 10px;] [style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style] [/style]The young Gym Leader had been taken by surprise at what had been placed on the table before herself and the other seven gathered around the table at the Indigo Plateau. She had been quiet throughout the whole thing, really just surprise crushing down on her and preventing her words from leaving her tongue. She had ducked her head and pulled her hands in her lap to listen. The Elite Four seemed to think it was a good idea, and nearly all other Gym Leaders of Kanto had agreed. Erika had her doubts, but she had given her soft-spoken agreement to the reform coming down upon the Kanto Region. Truly, she was unsure, and she had looked up to Surge when he outright spoke against. He was brave enough to voice his opinion against an overwhelming number of people that differed in their mindsets from him. It took courage that Erika didn’t have. She had wanted to say something, she truly had. She had wanted her thoughts and concerns to be heard, but she was just too afraid to voice them out of fear that she would automatically be met with opposition. She wanted to avoid conflict as much as possible. When Surge had asked to see her after the meeting, she had eagerly promised to do so. Once the meeting had dispersed, she exited the room and immediately searched for the Electric-type Gym Leader. She spotted him easily in the lobby of the Hall, and she quickly made her way across the room, her sandals clicking against the tile beneath their wooden soles. The trail of her kimono waved behind her as she came to a stop before Surge, placing a hand on her chest to catch her breath. ”I’m sorry I’m late.” she breathed quietly, ”Some of the others wanted to talk.” [style=color: #0de01f; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 30px; font-style: italic;]so the beautiful world,[/style][style=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px;]❚ WORDS: 304 ❚ TAGS: Spiral as Lt. Suge ❚ NOTES: yay threads ❚ CREDITS: Ambassador Tanz [/style][/style][/style][/style]

[surge]

just one last crease. with a bit of pressure, surge rubbed out the last wrinkle that plagued his tense forehead. the gym leader wanted to keep himself presentable, hiding his expressions behind a apathetic frown. the less chance he had of flairing up, the better. losing his composure would prove detrimental to his crusade, especially when the league considered him a loose bomb. politics had never been his strong suit. the lieutenant was too blunt, not willing to censor his sailor's mouth when it came to critiquing.

he would administer his vocabulary as he saw fit. erika just happened to be one of the few he refrained from swearing at. without another word, surge took his place by a small coffee table, pulling her chair out while taking a seat on the opposite side.

"i figured as much," he answered with sliver of annoyance. "but you don't have to push yourself just to catch up with little ole' me. it's not like the others want anything to do with me."

bunch of pansies. no matter how he tried, he couldn't keep his frustration under wraps. before he could continue, he took the rest of his joe in a single gulp, releshing the refreshing pain of the scortching liquid burn pass his throat.

"so what do you think about all of this? you were pretty quiet today, even more so that usual," surge asked, managing to fight off the urge to grit his teeth.

[erika]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=width: 400px; border-left: 6.5px #0de01f solid;][style=font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px; font-size: 10.5px; text-align: justify; width: 350px; padding: 20px;][style=float: left; background-color: #0de01f; height: 200px; width: 100px; margin-right: 10px;] [style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style] [/style]Erika’s lips twitched slightly as her mouth pulled in a frown when Surge spoke. Anybody with eyes and ears could tell the Electric-type specialist was upset. She followed him to the small coffee table where they were going to be seated. Her head bobbed slightly in silent thanks to her senior as he took the seat on the other side of the table. She slipped into her own and turned her bright green eyes on Surge, watching as a tremor passed through his body. His annoyed tone made the Celadon Gym Leader duck her head. ”S-Surge,” she stammered, looking up through her bangs in a cautious manner. ”..they were actually surprised that you weren’t one of the biggest supporters of order and law.” She looked down, her fear for him being one of the few opposed to the idea bubbling up beneath her veins. Erika watched him finish his coffee in a swift swig and tapped her fingertips together nervously, trying to think of how to speak. ”Even if you don’t agree, y-you shouldn’t alienate yourself.” She hesitantly slipped her long hand across the table, holding it still as though she were reaching out to him. Were his fist on the table, she would have placed her hand lightly on his, but now the gesture’s point was open for interpretation. ”I actually don’t know what to think...” she mumbled, a hot flush pushing color into her cheeks. ”On one hand I want to think that complete control is a bad thing that is different from how we’ve lived our lives for so long, but on the other I think the promise of protection and justice is something that will benefit everyone.” [style=color: #0de01f; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 30px; font-style: italic;]so the beautiful world,[/style][style=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px;]❚ WORDS: 281 ❚ TAGS: Spiral as Lt. Suge ❚ NOTES: -- ❚ CREDITS: Ambassador Tanz [/style][/style][/style][/style]

[surge]

"surprised? none of those damn leaders even know me! what they're really surprised about is that i'm not some hyper violent militaristic dog that sees the world in black and white. they're actually surprised that i can see throught this ruse."

brought to a sneer, surge frantically crinkled the paper cup into a pitiful ball, mimicing the way the league would address him. sickened by the piece of waste, he brought his fist down onto it, shaking the table with the vented anger. "i don't care if i'm alone, i will not stand by this! i won't let my people suffer because some suit wants to tell them how to live their lives. they're my neighbors. they're my people. they're my family, goddamit!"

during the first months of his relocation to kanto, surge had felt the strings of home sickness tugging at his chest. his childhood and blood urged him back but the people of vermillion anchored themselves into his life. there was no better feeling than taking a stroll down the port and knowing everyone, whether it was by name or face. if someone requried aid, you bet your sweet ass there were four or five people eager to pitch in, no questions or introduction needed. that's how vermillion was. the strongest community of communities, one that only pallet town could rival.

perhaps surge had been general with his accusations. no matter how the others treated him, erika was still with him, still trying to extend a helping hand, literally. with an exhale, surge seemed to calm down as gazed at the hand presented before him. with his strength drained, he delicately cupped her hand, bring it toward him, akin to the gentlemanly kiss introduction.

"i don't want them in my garden," there was a soft squeez on his metaphor. "i've spent years cultivating it and now they want to improve it. they mow my flowers, calling them weeds. they want me to only use the fertilizer sponsored by the biggest bidder. i can't take it. when they plan to plow it to make room for some shitty store - that's when the gloves are coming off. i don't want you to see that."

"i don't want you to be there. i want you safely tucked away, far away from the violence. it doesn't suit you..."

[erika]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=width: 400px; border-left: 6.5px #0de01f solid;][style=font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px; font-size: 10.5px; text-align: justify; width: 350px; padding: 20px;][style=float: left; background-color: #0de01f; height: 200px; width: 100px; margin-right: 10px;] [style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style] [/style] Erika forced herself not to flinch as Surge vented his anger. She knew he had strong opinions about almost anything that could present as conflict, and she was more than happy to accept and listen to his arguments. However, that didn’t prevent her from becoming worried about the manners in which he presented his anger. Banging a fist against his table almost made her jump, and she instantly hoped he hadn’t hurt his hand in the action. If he hit the coffee table much harder, Erika feared it may even crack or break. She nodded sympathetically upon hearing his argument. She understood completely. Well, maybe not completely compared to Surge. Seeing as he was from a distant land, there were few that could entirely level with him. What mattered to Erika was that she could at least understand some of what spurred his words, and from that she could only empathize with what he felt. She realized that she felt similarly to Celadon City. Although it was a huge city, she somehow felt connected to each and every person that lived within its proud borders. There was no way she could have met everybody, but as their Gym Leader she felt it was her responsibility to know and protect them however she could. A burden that fell on her now. How would she protect them? Would shep rotect them with the promise of laws and justice, or would she protect them by letting them continue their life normally? What Surge said was true – if she went with the former, they would be told what to do by suits...but undoubtedly the exchange was little to pay attention to based on what they would gain, right? The Grass-specialist curled her fingers around his hand when he took hers, glad to see he seemed to have calmed down. A brief smile lit her face at the metaphor of a garden, just the reference to flowers lifting her mood slightly. However brief the smile was on her face, it soon fell back to a serious half-frown as she thought. Her green eyes found the pure mahogany of the table, and she bit her lip lightly. His words touched her, and they made her sit on the consideration of her options even more. ”I...I don’t want violence either.” she murmured, ”I don’t want the people of Celadon to be victimized by someone telling them what to do, I want them to live like they have for as long as we can remember. Abrupt change is never good, but...” Erika swallowed, hesitating. ”I want them to be protected so they can stay safe and happy. I-I’m their Gym Leader, yes, but I’m still just one person. I don’t want to fight an overwhelming power.” It was clear now – both to her and Surge, no doubt - that part of her reason for agreeing with what was presented to them was fear. Fear for her citizens. Fear of conflict. Fear of people and pokemon getting hurt needlessly or just to comply with rules. Funny how fear worked. ”I want what’s best for the people that live in Celadon, and the city itself.” [style=color: #0de01f; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 30px; font-style: italic;]funny how fear worked,[/style][style=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px;]❚ WORDS: 525 ❚ TAGS: Spiral as Lt. Suge ❚ NOTES: -- ❚ CREDITS: Ambassador Tanz [/style][/style][/style][/style]

[surge]

"we live in different cities," surge slipped, turning away. "i'm not the only person who opposes such a thought. i will welcome this so called lux into my city and they will cross the line. our lives will continue as they will until someone tries to change something. when that happens, the sailors of vermillion will drive them out, pitchforks and all."

"i won't pretend to think that i know celadon better than you, so bide your time. watch what happens to vermillion and then you'll know how to react accordingly."

"but i already know what's going to happen," surge whispered, a deep frown on his face. he took a moment to close his eyes, thinking, knowing, "the league will install this lux without a problem. the people will welcome them with open arms because they fear. we pay in freedom for their suppose security. it'll take only a few weeks or months before something goes wrong."

"something always goes wrong. you simply cannot trust everyone in a group to do what's right. judgments will be clouded and there will be an incident. with a zero tolerance policy, only the worst can happen. vermillion will probably be the first city to refuse anymore interference and we will drive lux out."

"the league won't take too kindly to that. it'll look bad on them. i'll be dismissed from my post and they'll try to take vermillion by force, not for safety but for uniformity. they need to keep their name strong and weed out any faltering thoughts. the people of vermillion will fight and a skirmish will break out."

"this will be the shot heard around kanto. there will be more people like me, ones who won't take this, and they'll group together to prevent this. they'll try civil discourse but they'll be dispatched immediately. force will be the only option. as their numbers grow, lux will grow to fear those that oppose them. it'll bring a war. it'll bring paranoia. you're either openly with lux or a potential traitor. we had an era of this back in my country, a shameful time that we call the mccarthy era."

while surge's predictions required a bit of imagination, they were entirely possible. the narcissist feared for the worst and knew it with deadly xatu accuracy. his first home had been tarnished by a power struggle, and he'd transverse all of hell to prevent it from devouring his second.

"when all this transpires the league will call upon us once again. by then they'll have my replacement and gather you up as their army. you're either with them or against them. hesitation will make you weak and disbarred from your position. a war is coming, erika, and we cannot stop it. so bide your time and watch vermillion go up in flames. i'll be the guinea spoink that shows the league’s true colors."

[erika]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true] [style=width: 400px; border-left: 6.5px #0de01f solid;][style=font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px; font-size: 10.5px; text-align: justify; width: 350px; padding: 20px;][style=float: left; background-color: #0de01f; height: 200px; width: 100px; margin-right: 10px;] [style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style][style=border: 2px #ebebeb solid; height: 80px; width: 80px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 10px;][/style] [/style]Erika’s green eyes slowly grew wider and wider as she listened to Surge’s tale. She had a feeling she spoke from experience, the thought that it was perhaps something that had occurred previously in his country confirmed when he mentioned a shameful time in his home.Although she didn’t want to believe that something like what her senior Gym Leader said, a seed deep within her gut grew into something greater than small. There was a truth in his words that she felt and almost feared. The thought that the world could descend into chaos and danger of war scared her. The world was a peaceful place aside from criminal organizations that attempted to pop up in every region. They had all been taken care of, though. That knowledge made Erika want to believe that the League -being reformed under the name of Lux – would be stopped in a similar manner. Perhaps not being forcibly collapsed entirely as Team Rocket had been in Celadon and Saffron, but shown the potential errors of their ways. ”I hope Vermillion doesn’t fall first to this.” she said quietly. ”I don’t want to see you convicted simply for disagreeing.” she chewed her lip, ”But...for some reason my heart tells me that what you’ve described has a very real chance of happening.” She swallowed, giving his hand a light squeeze to ease the trembles that shook her body. ”I don’t want the people of Celadon being used. I want to protect them. If there’s any way I can do that, I’ll barter for it. If they’re going to be taken into the effort to spread Lux’s influence in the tidal wave method, as it was described it might today, then...then the citizens will join of their own free will.” She swallowed, hoping her words would stay true. She would do anything to make it so, and protect their well-being. She said just that. ”I’ll do whatever it takes to make it so...even if it costs me my position as Gym Leader.” Erika swallowed and felt almost queasy at the thought of losing her position, but she would do it if necessary. ”I can always run my perfume shop if I’m forced to step down.” A weak laugh escaped her. ”I’ll need to talk to my citizens and get their opinion...I won’t condemn them to a fate without their opinion first.” [style=color: #0de01f; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1.5px; font-size: 30px; font-style: italic;]I won't condemn them[/style][style=font-size: 10px; font-family: arial narrow; letter-spacing: 1px;]❚ WORDS: 394 ❚ TAGS: Spiral as Lt. Suge ❚ NOTES: -- ❚ CREDITS: Ambassador Tanz [/style][/style][/style][/style]

[surge]

"if not Vermillion, then who?"

surge couldn't spare her any forethought as the words came out rather bluntly. the events had been set in stone and now they nothing but gears to be grinded. he simply couldn't find a possible way out of the incoming rut, so he'd have to take it and bide his time. with a thick scowl, surge brought her hand closer toward him, cupping it with both of his own rough, battered hands.

"you'll be fine," he reassured, more confident about her well being than his own. he paused, ever so slightly, but the lapse in speaking was noticeable. he wasn't sure what to say or how to end their little chat.

"this'll probably be the last time we see each other until something breaks out. stay safe erika, stay safe."

with an uneasily gentleness, surge brought her hand against his face. it was odd for him, but he couldn't help but want to bask in the gym leaders tenderness. she touched him for only a moment before he excused himself. surge was a brute, a soldier, and ultimately a death machine. he wasn't meant to handle something so fragile. this was his fleeting goodbye to his friend.

as he turned his back to the aroma lady he could feel his boorish aggression return. there would be no more playing around. if the league wanted a fight, he'd give them hell. there was a time for talking, but they were asking for a brawl.

tomorrow would be a good day to die, so today he would say goodbye to any fleeting pacifism he still had.