let's get on with it already [action]

[noplaidshirt]

 [Paprika is perched on the steps of the Nacrene City Pokemon Center, definitely looking a little less perky than usual.  She's holding what appears to be a dark blue hairband loosely in one hand, and is propping her chin up with the other.  Seated on her Trainer's lap, Nugget croons in encouragement, but receives only a halfhearted pat on the head in return.]

Man, I'm sorry, I totally suck at this, don't I?

[Despite obviously not being in good spirits, she still laughs weakly and manages a good smile.  Somebody's just learned firsthand why Lenora is so infamous amongst Unova's Trainers.]

Comments

[Action]

[noplaidshirt]

[She catches his hesitation, but has absolutely no idea about the magnitude of what's behind it.]

Yeah, I guess that would kinda suck, huh? Like if you just became the President and then your VP came up outta nowhere and was like, "nope just kidding you're fired", only then you realized being President sucked in the first place.

[Reaching over, Paprika thumps N on the shoulder congenially. Suddenly her loss seems a lot more minor in comparison to how royally his ass must have been kicked.]

But if you got out of being Champion, that means your dad couldn't do his whole evil dictator schtick, right? And you get to do whatever you want instead of being stuck ruling, so it seems like a pretty sweet deal in the end. At least, I think so.

[Action]

[the_nth_power]

[He raises an eyebrow at her analogy, and gives an almost comical squeak when she hits his shoulder. He rubs it absently as he considers what she's said.]

I... suppose that is true. Had I not been defeated, it would have been much simpler for him to take control, and there perhaps wouldn't have been an opportunity to overthrow him completely. [He smiles slightly, but then it disappears again.] I wonder if he has the same intentions in this world...

[Action]

[noplaidshirt]

Well if he does, we'll just kick his ass!

[She sounds pretty confident, not at all stopping to consider what exactly Ghetsis might be capable of.]

I mean, you know what's coming, so if he tries to pull something, you could just, like, call him out on it, right?

[Action]

[the_nth_power]

[Suddenly nervous, he averts his eyes.]
Yes, but... I don't know if I could confront him myself... [Last time he saw Ghetsis, he panicked, sprinted the opposite direction, and climbed into a tree. Yeah.]

[Action]

[noplaidshirt]

[Smiling in what she's hoping is a comforting way, Paprika puts her hand back on N's shoulder with a lot less force.]

That's what we're here for, right? Like, me 'n Dragonite 'n Hilda. We're like your Charlie's Angels of beating up shitty dads and stuff.

[Action]

[the_nth_power]

[He recalls Hilda saying similar things, and they give him the same worries that they did before.] I-- don't want him to hurt any of you, though. You don't know what he's capable of, and neither do I, really, in this world. [He fidgets.]

But I'm... glad that I'm not alone. [He offers her a slight smile.] ... And who is Charlie?