001 [voice | CALL | un: ghostprince]

[shootaro]

[CALL]

[The call begins with the sound of something flapping incessantly, as if blown by very rough winds. It soon settles into eerie howling. Pleasant!

It's not entirely a creepy silent call, though, and soon enough, a cool and quiet, young-sounding voice that's a bit hard to place, filters in:]

—one hear me? Sorry, the wind picked up.

I'm going to check out the temple.

Will anyone else be coming? I won't be needing your help [—rude.] I'm asking for your safety. I don't advise sneaking up on my partner and I, unless you don't consider your soul valuable.

[End call. Not so much as an introduction! He thinks he owns the place, doesn't he?]

Comments

[shootaro]

Sounds fun. What kind of job is that? Or are you not at liberty to say?

[Bringing up war does give him pause. His region, despite its current peacefulness, had many wars in its history. There were still soldiers stationed in Kanto even now... he wasn't old enough to have experienced any of it, but war colours the older generation's perception and their approach to things.

That was passed onto him, in subtler ways, to believe nonviolence was naive foolishness, that cruelty and violence were both inevitable and necessary in conflict. A warlike mentality, shockingly ill-suited for peacetime.]

So I'm beginning to understand... it'd be a very powerful thing to wield, words that change reality by changing perceptions. I think that must be a kind of strength. [Something very vital to him.]

[fivenareff]

Librarian. The only way to pick up those late fees is to get tough.

[That's absolutely 100% the truth.]

But yes, that's the idea. If you can convince people you're one thing when you're in truth another, you've won half the battle. Though I think it's a double-edged sword: a man who uses and kills people like they're worth nothing doesn't think of himself as evil, but he is anyway. History is full of people who thought they were justified in their slaughter.

[shootaro]

[And that hits close to home. He doesn't care when it's someone he doesn't care about nor respect saying this, but he was having fun with the conversation and was starting to respect the guy... his mistake.]

I understand. Even if he believes it's to protect others, even if it's for a good cause, he's still evil.

No cruelty is ever justified, right?

[fivenareff]

I don't know about that. But certainly there are plenty of people who justify useless cruelties to themselves in order to clear their conscience.

sorry for the delay!

[shootaro]

[She clearly doesn't like the idea one bit, but gives in after some very dubious staring his way. He sighs and walks in, unaccompanied by Lampent, and this time, no interferance happening from her end, except to hover by the door and make needling comments "not like that" and "you can't even manage this much?" but soon he's thrown backwards back out of the temple, tumbling and skidding the rest of fhe way on the ground, scraping up his knees and hands something awful. He left quite a trail!]

You do realize the place is cursed, right? You can't just touch whatever you want. There are certain precautions, not that I know what they are.

... a-... any other ideas? [He has some, but mostly, he wants to rub in the fact that this one failed, right now.]

[shootaro]

And what about someone whose conscience isn't clear, whose hands aren't clean, who isn't trying to be good?

Can they do the wrong thing for the right reasons?

[fivenareff]

What do you think?

[Because this most definitely isn't a hypothetical anymore.]

Things like corrupt politicians or sadistic policemen, is that the sort of thing you're asking? Or something else?

[shootaro]

[It most definitely wasn't. He refused to answer the first question.]

I was thinking a sword-for-hire.

[So, a mercenary? It doesn't exactly fit, but, it would have to do. He'd rather just stop, but that'd sound even more suspicious, right?]

[fivenareff]

I suppose it depends on what the act is. What did you have in mind?

You didn't answer, you know, on what you thought about it.

[new_toys]

[If Holtz is bothered by said rubbing-it-in, it doesn't show on her face. Seemingly unfazed, if still mildly puzzled, she moves towards the door herself, her hand drifting back down to the trigger on her gun. She pushes her glasses up on her forehead and peers inside the temple, then lowers them again.]

Hm.

[She hums thoughtfully.]

Howwwww would you feel about blowing it up?

[I'm sorry for the delay!]

[shootaro]

[Because he didn't want to. Because it's not his business, because...]

Fine.

Use of violence to achieve peace. Killing some so that more may live. Disposing of threats.

no worries!

[fivenareff]

Yes.

[That's short, but it's not an answer he has to think about.]

[thank you! ;3;/]

[shootaro]

[He wants to play it off as if he's not affected, but there's still a lengthy pause before he replies.]

Okay.

[All that wait for this? He decides one more is needed to make the wait feel more natural.]

What if they thought they were doing the right thing at the time, but then, it turned out to be unnecessary? The violence, I mean.

[fivenareff]

That's a bit of a complicated question, but: I think the intention there matters. And it would be holding everyone and anyone to an impossible standard if I said "no, that's the exception". Intention doesn't absolve you of everything, especially if who you killed was an innocent, but it counts for something. Especially if what you were trying to do was unquestionably the right thing.

In my opinion, anyway.

[shootaro]

Th-that's a temple! You can't disrespect something like that, you'll be cursed! [Trip clearly thinks this is an AWFUL IDEA. The worst!]

[The ghost seems perfectly unperturbed.]

The whole temple or just the urn? If it's the urn, I don't care.

[So cold...]

[1/2]

[shootaro]

[That's... a very comforting answer, actually.

It might be a little bit naive, but he feels he can trust him now. He had no reason to lie to him and had no stake in this, so he felt he was being genuine the whole time.

He switches to video and finally shows his face.

He's a very young boy, looking about ten, with a crooked smile. There's something near him that's casting an eerie, blue-purple glow, dancing like firelight.
He looks a bit shy and uncetain, hesitating for a moment before he speaks, but when he does, it sounds calm:]

It was for the sake of saving a city full of innocents. At the time, I thought peaceful means were doomed to failure. Naive.

[2/2]

[shootaro]

My name is Trip and what we, my parner Lampent and I... are capable of, is the draining of spiritual energy and the burning of souls.

[Lampent floats into view now, as Trip moves away to give it room.]

[fivenareff]

[Oh. Another Stand user.

Or, well, no: probably not. Probably he calls it another name, but surely that's what it is. Polnareff blinks at the screen, honestly taken aback for a few seconds. He doesn't switch to video-- he can't, not right now-- but he smiles nonetheless.]

I would definitely say that was a reason worth committing violence for.

[He can't bring up Stands. Not his own, not Giorno's, and not Abdul's, though he wishes he could. Magician's Red would like this Lampent quite a bit, he suspects.]

What's your name?

[shootaro]

[He seems to encounter those a lot here.]

Lampent reponds simply with:] La~mpent.

My team keeps their species' names, like their cries, I don't like giving them cutesy nicknames.

[Some trainers do that, but he doesn't see it as necessary at all. They aren't human, so there's no reason to give them human names unless they want them, and they seem happy enough with their own. Besides, a lot of Pokemon have cutesy names to begin with!]

It's a Fire and Ghost Type Pokemon.

[As would be plainly obvious! There's some other things Lampent can do, but he isn't going to talk about those yet. When the time comes...]

[fivenareff]

[He wants to meet it, though. It looks adorable. And that's an interesting name for a Stand: Pokemon. Weird, but no worse than Stand.]

Does he have fire attacks, then?

[had to get help to pick two other moves for Lampent because only two were shown in canon ^^;]

[shootaro]

[Pocket Monster is pretty straightforward, but unyieldy!

He nodded.]

Fire Types primarily use Fire Type moves, yes, that's basic. [Matter-of-factly.] But other Type moves can be taught with training for more balance.

Lampent can use Flamethrower, aside from drawing out spiritual energy to burn. Its others moves are Shadow Ball, Psychic, and Energy Ball.

Flamethrower's usually all we need, though! [He sounds quite proud of it! Lampent, mostly, seems very calm and quiet by contrast, simply watching.]

... if you want a demonstration or a battle, we're always up for those too! Are you a trainer too?

[The question didn't really entirely give him away.]

[new_toys]

[It's a good question. She frowns and nods, steepling her fingers thoughtfully, not paying all that much attention to Trip's protests right now. After a moment, she cocks her head and glances over at Lampent.]

Any thoughts to contribute?

[fivenareff]

No.

[That hurts, even six months later. It's not Trip's fault, he didn't know, but something in Polnareff's stomach still twists awfully at that question.]

But I'm familiar with the concept. I'd like to see a demonstration, whenever you're up for it.

[shootaro]

Y-y-you can't consult a Ghost Type about this, they— [Lampent glanced her way and without mising a beated.] Lamp-pent la. ["Blow it up." Clear, undeniable approval! It even burns its fire hotter, brighter for a moment to emphasize its point!]

They're immoral! [Ghost Types are made of mischief and malice. It was born in his world's equivalent of Hell with all the condemned malicious and wicked, she couldn't possibly...!]

Then, taking the votes of just us adults— children don't get a say, sorry— I dare say it's unanimous!

Hey! I am not a child!

[Duly ignored, as he throws a miniature fit, hands balled up into fists and gritting his teeth!]

[shootaro]

Oh. It's just that you didn't seem very surprised, so I thought you might be one.

[He couldn't have known, but even if he had, Trip still be unintentionally hurtful.]

I should be free tomorrow or the day after. Depends on what time we could meet up.

[He makes the most of his time, so even at dawn, he and his team would be out training. Today, he'll probably be busy with ghosts, though...]