tsuntrader | Turn that frown upside down [Video/Action]

Turn that frown upside down [Video/Action]

[It had a pretty simple beginning. ...Okay, maybe not simple. Silver needed a distraction. Badly. And Ingo was a rather comfortable and effective person to serve as a distraction. Of course, Silver wasn't consciously aware of this at the time. If he had to be asked why he would go to Ingo at his time of need of a distraction, he'd honestly say that he wasn't sure.

But there he was, spending time with Ingo. Nothing too heavy, just some casual conversation. Of course, some casual conversation with Ingo... Led to a question about a certain rumor about his face. Namely, the fact that Ingo always frowned. Was his face really stuck that way? Silver had to know. Of course, when Ingo confirmed that it was false, he needed proof. What, is it comfortable to frown like that? Yes didn't quite seem like a legitimate answer, so...

Silver took on the task of finding the answer through first ~~hand~~ face experience.

Which left the obvious "if you can smile, why don't you?" ...But Ingo does not simply smile. Of course, there's gotta be some way to get him to smile. Which is where everyone else comes in.

So Silver heads to his journal and flicks on the video. Both he and Ingo are present.

He has a harmless and innocent enough question, if a stupid one. And an awkward one.]

So what's a good way to get someone to smile?

[Feeling the need to provide context, Ingo adds his piece, albeit awkwardly.]

Silver is attempting to get me to smile, you see-- ah, it's a little unnatural... But he'd like to make the endeavor.

[Which adds on to the initial awkward, so Silver adds a little more to the table.]

It's a long story.

[Once that's sufficiently awkwardly dealt with, it's off to go find something that can make the two of them smile by walking around... Well, everywhere.

The frowns never leave their faces. There are a lot of conversations about trains, subways, and Pokémon. Puns are included. Do you dare to take a ride on the super double frown subway? It's quite the challenge and it takes quite some time to make it to the next station.]

[SO HEY, A RIDICULOUS AND LIGHTHEARTED POST. Ingo is present! Tagging order is You--> Ingo --> Silver.]

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[...Huh-] You have?

[But Ingo never smiles. That's his thing. ...And Ingo seems surprised about it too...?]

[Sob don't call us creepy. Though that reaction confirms the sneaking suspicion he's had that Ingo possibly didn't even remember having met Cilan before a year ago at the subway convention, let alone the events that happened in Nimbasa. That's...rather saddening and it probably shows on his face for a second or two before he swings right back around to "cheerful" again.]

Yes, I have. It's a little more noticeable during the battles with the most exciting flavors that take place on the Battle Subway, granted, but there have been a few other times when I've seen it, more recently during the last time I was in Nimbasa, after the battle we had. [The battle that he's vaguely mentioned before when he first got here, he means. He taps the side of his own face like in his icon, a somewhat wistful smile in place.] It's not as rare of a taste as you seem to think it is, Ingo. In fact, it even has a bit of a charm to it, if I do say so myself.

[I'm sorry, Cilan-- he notices that sadness but then you go and say his smile is charming and sdghkjgshjashgashfgkaf]

A...h. [um... this is...] I realize we come from different times, but...

[THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMETHING HE'D DO. UNLESS YOU MAGICALLY REACHED EMMET-TIER SOMEHOW. AND HOW THAT WOULD HAPPEN IS KIND OF QUESTIONABLY AWKWARD]

[...Oh. ...Oh...]

You might know a different Ingo, you know. [This feels kind of cruel to say, but it's the truth.]

[Oww...he's not sure if that's a better or worse possibility, to be honest. Then again nothing about this place makes as much sense as it should, so...he frowns now, taking a moment to think before he replies.]

...Mm. Or it just hasn't happened yet--my station is further down the line from Ingo's, so he hasn't arrived at the same destination as mine yet. [Yes, he is capable of making train analogies too. But he's back to smiling again.] But it's fine--even if it's farther down the line...or on a different line altogether, I suppose, it's still the same train made from the same components used to get there. That's how I know he's quite capable of smiling if he allows himself to do so a little more often, because he's obviously still "Ingo"...

[There's a slight pause as he thinks to add, before Ingo could possibly accuse him of this.] And no, I'm not mistaking you for Emmet either, before you ask. You may be twins, but you do have your own individual tastes that separate you from one other, so I'm quite capable of being able to tell the two of you apart. [Not to mention that you both wear different colored jackets anyway, we'd have to be blind to not be able to tell you two apart...]

[That train metaphor hits home. C-Cilan...

He nods at the twin-distinction-- yes, good on you for that!-- but pauses a moment longer before speaking again.]

Even if our tracks only run parallel... that much is true. [He is still "Ingo" and he can smile... uuu cilan if only they were from the same place, he feels guilty...

you can keep up with this train talk right silver]

[Y...eah. Kind of. Mostly.

But there's nothing parallel about a different version of the same person- at least at his station- so he'll keep quiet.]

[Aww Silver, but I'm afraid it's impossible to be quiet around Cilan. Or rather, he won't let you be left out, since he now turns his attention towards you too.]

You're...Silver, right? If I remember correctly, we spoke a little when I first arrived here in Luceti. I don't think I properly introduced myself at the time, did I...my apologies, if that is the case.

[He gives a slight bow of the head, tone a little more formal now.] I'm Cilan, a Pokemon Connoisseur, and one of the Gym Leaders of Striaton City in Unova. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[nope, no parallels for silver...

Ingo nods.] Right. Cilan also lives in the apartment next door to mine, so you may see him occasionally. [Since, you know, Silver likes hanging out with Ingo. Right?]

[-Yeah, you're the taste guy, right? Aaaand a wait what.]

Pokémon Connoisseur? [He has most likely mangled the word "connoisseur," but that's definitely something he's never heard of before.]

[You are like the second or third person that has butchered that word so far, is it really that hard to say...]

Pokemon Connoisseur...and it's okay if you don't know what it is, as it seems to be a profession that currently exists only in Unova at the moment.

[And then it was time for long-winded explanations.] You see, it involves tasting the various flavors of a trainer's Pokemon, and from there offering advice on improving one's relationship with their Pokemon. Whether it's helping someone new to becoming a trainer select their first Pokemon, or giving advice on raising methods and move choices, we do our best to help trainers strengthen the wonderful bonds they have with their Pokemon and create the most harmonious marriage of offense and defense in battles!

[To be quite honest, Ingo had no idea what a Pokemon Connasdsfgh was either.]

That on top of being a waiter and Gym Leader... [You're quite the busy person, Cilan.]

...You can get paid to do that? [...And what Ingo said. That too.]

[He nods] Occasionally Connoisseurs can be paid for that, yes, but I don't mind doing tastings for free either. To be honest, I'm more interested in seeing my evaluations being put to good use than making any money from it.

That's very considerate of you. [SO SELFLESS. Actually it does sound pretty interesting.] Do you do evaluations often?

[Well, did you might be a better question to ask, considering the lack of available Trainers here compared to home...]

[But- that-

...Yep, just gonna keep frowning over here.]

Of course. I taste the compatibilities of every trainer that I battle or observe, so that they may know how best to strengthen and ripen the bonds they have with their Pokemon. And within the time since I've started traveling, it's given me the chance to polish my skills as a Connoisseur even further so that I may someday advance from an A-class to an S-class Connoisseur...

[Hence why there's no point in him charging money for it, since he's pretty much doing it for every battle he ever has and since he's no longer doing them solely at the Gym or being specifically hired to do so. There's a slight pause before he then gives a slight laugh.] ...Though, I suppose my range will be limited for some time since I'll only be able to taste the trainers that are here in Luceti. But I'm sure that there are still plenty of flavors to be savored, so I'm looking forward to seeing the talents of everyone here as well.

[Ah. Fascinating, very fascinating.] I'd welcome the opportunity; ah, if you hadn't done it in your timeline already...

There are also some very new, relatively inexperienced Trainers here in Luceti. Perhaps you could offer them advice, as well. [Whaddya think, Silver?]

[Actually, that's a really good idea. ...Alternatively, it's a really bad one. It could go either way. Regardless-]

It might do them some good, but that's up to them.

[As a matter of fact, he has done so for Ingo already...but technically, it was a different Ingo and he was joined by Emmet, so he had to analyze them as a pair rather than on individual merits...hm.]

Mm, right. It would be beneficial to be able to taste and give advice to the inexperienced, but I suppose that's entirely up to them. Some Connoisseurs set up shops in their town's Poke'Marts or other establishments if they're staying in one place for some time rather than traveling, so...depending on however long I'm meant to be here, I may have to consider a similar method if it makes things easier for people.

[And then he's sure to add:] ...Oh, and of course I'd be more than happy to do a tasting for you whenever you'd like, Ingo...ah, and for you too, Silver, if you should ever want to have a battle as well.

Thank you, Cilan. [He'd appreciate that! Just don't mention that he did it as a pair, last time. That would be kind of upsetting.] Whenever is convenient is fine. I'll look forward to it.

[yaaaaaaaaayyy battles]

You mind if I just watch? [Because he's kind of bad at casual battles... But on the other hand, this sounds super cool.]

[AAHH YES A CHANCE TO BATTLE WITH A SUBWAY BOSS WE ARE SO EXCITE--huh what Silver]

Oh? Of course I don't mind, you're free to spectate if you'd like. [But...Silver, "casual" is not quite the right word he'd personally use when describing our battles...] After all, you can also learn a lot from observing battles on the sidelines as well, and having people watch sometimes gives the battle a more exciting flavor of expectations to live up to for both the viewer and any challenger that wishes to leave an impression on their audience and opponent!

[~~Cilan all he did was ask if he could watch, not expect another long-winded response about it. Not that he seems to care because he's already talking again.~~] But yes, I'm looking forward to our battle as well, Ingo. I can't wait to see what kind of combinations you're able to bring forth with your Pokemon. [And look, he was able to keep from adding the words "this time" to the end of that sentence--this battle and the other one will have noticeable differences, after all.] Just let me know whenever it's convenient and doesn't clash with your schedule as well.

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