[ action / backdated to November 29th ]

[imthe_shit]

[ The tornado had finally stopped, and Snake had been able to leave the center, taking a look around. Downed trees, parts of roofs blown off... Kind of amazing the center had little to no damage.

He could see people working together with their Pokemon, already clearing the wreckage and putting the town back together. Looking upward, the old soldier stared up at the tower. ]

That thing's still standing, huh.

[ He'd seen it in pamphlets about Mahogany Town, since he had nothing better to read while he was holed up in the center. Amazing. It was still raining, though, and Snake didn't have an umbrella with him-- probably not a good idea to bring out Boss.

So, he wandered over to a nearby tree, one of the ones still standing, and leaned against it, patting himself down for a cigarette. He had his octo-camo with him, but he couldn't get the damn thing to work... Must have glitched somewhere along the way, so instead he was dressed in more casual wear. A black turtleneck, camo pants... This was his usual outfit from the last time he was here, too. Not to mention the bandanna around his forehead. ]

Hhn... Where the hell are they... [ Finally, he finds the pack and opens it, realizing there were only two cigarettes left. He frowns considerably. ] ... Damn tortoise...

Comments

[no_ufo_ending]

There's one way to find out.

_{[Henry doesn't look too worried. A turtle face-off can only be so exciting. The boy then crosses his eyes and sighs, noticing his cigarette has gone out because of the rain.]}

Man...

[imthe_shit]

[ With a grunt, Snake stood up straight and took out his single Pokeball, activating it and letting it open, a red ray of light beaming from the ball and onto the ground beside him, revealing another Torkoal, though this one was a bit smaller and... grumpier, if that was even noticeable.

It let out a snort, noticing Marlboro and tilted his head, before looking up at Snake. ]

That's Marlboro-- he was one of my partners the last time I was here. Marlboro, Boss. Boss... Marlboro.

[ You're both named after cigarette brands, isn't that great. ]

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[Henry tenses up anyway when the other fire turtle appears. Boss sounded like a good name for a slow moving fire tank. He gives this new pokemon a wave.]}

'Sup, Boss.

[imthe_shit]

[ Don't worry-- Snake has barely gotten around to training him yet. Boss snorts at Marlboro again before looking over at Henry and snorting again. ]

He's an asshole. I named him Boss because he's so... bossy. And it's a brand of cigarettes I like from back home.

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[The photographer puffs out a laugh and leans down to re light his smoke on one of the ports of Marlboro's shell.]}

I've got a pokemon that's a little snot. They're fun. I've never tried Boss brand. All I've been able to afford here are Koffing.

[imthe_shit]

It's not in this place, as far as I know... The brand anyway.

[ He smirks. ] Koffing, huh? Nice name for cigarettes.

[no_ufo_ending]

Can't say they don't work as advertised. _{[Henry offers up a guilty looking little shrug.}

[imthe_shit]

[ Snake gives a grunt, standing back up and holding his back. ]

Yeah... but they make me feel good anyway. Non-smokers can't really understand.

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[He shakes his head.]}

Mr. Mason's been trying to get me to quit. I don't think he gets how it keeps me from climbing walls.

[imthe_shit]

People who don't smoke don't understand why we like it. We know it's a health risk, but that's not going to stop us. [ He smirks. ] Nothing like a cigarette on a cold morning.

[no_ufo_ending]

Or a wet morning. _{[He looks around at the rain.]} Besides, it's not like you can die here...

_{[Henry knows this is a fact because back before he traveled with the Mason family, if death had been a possibility, something would have eaten him by now.]}

I just try to do it outside so it doesn't get on their stuff, y'know?

[imthe_shit]

[ Snake nods his head absently as Marlboro and Boss gently knock heads. It was some sort of conversation the two trainers couldn't understand. ]

Yeah, I hear you. I used to live on a plane; nowhere I could smoke expect into the fan in the kitchen, and even then I'd get yelled at.

At least on the battlefield I could indulge a little.

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[Henry breifly ponders the tortoise morse code happening in front of them. Mortoise code?]}

I can't imagine anybody having the guts to yell at anybody about smoking in a war...

[imthe_shit]

Well, you know, you meet all kinds of people out there. Some of them don't really have their head in the game; so trivial things like smoking get their attention.

[ Not so much with the System implemented, but whatever. ]

[no_ufo_ending]

Mmn.

_{[Why couldn't Ironhide be cool like this guy? Snake was a chill soldier. And 'got' him.]}

Hey, you want to move to somewhere that's dry?

[imthe_shit]

[ Tilts his head a bit and nods. ]

All right. Where to? [ He looks down at Marlboro again, who he found was staring up at him with those squinted eyes of him. The old soldier gave a small smile, kneeling down again and petting the old tortoise's head. ]