I think a big part of aging is understanding what the hell is going on on socials media less every time you look at it.

The implied caveat was that they would not compete in the open tournament. My mother, the intensely spiteful woman that she is, declined the scholarship and drove me harder to beat Steven in the event.

There was an open contest for up and coming trainers in the city to replace the former Rustboro leader held through the trainer's school. Steven's Father, CEO of Devon Corp, the largest company in Rustboro, offered shady but technically above board scholarships to several of my classmates.

His father tried to buy him the Gym Leader position I earned when we were kids.

I've long since buried the hatchet with Steven.

Oh sorry, not with. Into.

Well. It's buried, thats what counts.

Full offence to Mr. Steven Stone, he's a nepo baby who has not thought critically a day in his life and has only maintained his status as pro battler off of sheer luck and some strategically distributed "philanthropic donations" to various private and public battle establishments.

If you mean repeatedly mail to Wally at random intervals, yes, I will.

I wish to frame it and put it in my living room.

I'm not at liberty to discuss.

This is true art.

Not necessarily. It doesn't match polling metric ranges, but. Not necessarily.

And we'll staff it with unsettling Kalosian siblings?

Interesting

This cannot be the metric for if someone is old.

it's genius. and we'll put up a scale model of a different, better battle facility with a big COMING SOON sign. and then we'll never build it.

We'll call it something casual. Like a Battle... resort...

Let's make our own pro battle spot, for chill retired trainers only. With Blackjack and hookers.

I miss battling at that level but I do not miss how insane the pro trainer psyche can be.

We both want a small, likely private ceremony. We're still deciding if we want a larger reception.

Do I find it sad that my good friend Haru's lasting impression on the world is her bald ass head and not any of her thousands of other accomplishments and traits? Of course.

Does it amuse me every time it happens? Also yes.

Some things never change.

I've spent the last few weeks singing The Kill by 30 Seconds to Mars at my fiancée but changing the words "Bury Me" to "marry me" repeatedly.

I'm unsure if she's the most tolerant and loving partner imaginable, or if shes biding her time before she suffocates me in my sleep. Perhaps both.

Mm, I've had a similar experience. Age has a way of suppressing the nerves. We're more confident, more certain of who we are, and as a result, less stressed by the fools who can't appreciate that.

We haven't worked out the schedule. Soon. I've demanded we not be one of those perpetual engagements.

Of course I have 🫶

Its good to see you back in the public eye.

Just some mild ribbing.

Oh dear, its the Kalosians again.

I can smell cigarettes through my screen.

That will be difficult, but I will try.