Lol I started writing this chapter in the middle of 786 ish so some vocab might look familiar in a couple chapters
761. lethargic: dull; sluggish; moving slowly
It took all of Green's mental strength to retain his composure after Gold casually mentioned that he was going to challenge Red. Green's eyebrow twitched – but he had to remain calm; although the cameraman was zeroing in on Gold's face, Green had to play it smooth or else the cameraman would be all over him with questions.
"You're going to challenge Red?" Green tried to remain as casual as possible, and dusted off a couple boxes to read their labels. Leaf told him that he talked faster when he was nervous, so he'd tried to speak slower, but now he just sounded lethargic. He glanced at Gold, pleading that Gold wouldn't give away Red's location.
762. dissent: to disagree
Gold caught Green's desperate glance. "Yeah… If I can find him." After catching Gold's response, the cameraman pointed his camera (the black monstrosity) at Green.
Green brushed the sediment off a label – it was the right box. He pulled out his keys tried to cut up the tape to open the box. The aged plastic stretched in dissent, but finally ripped apart. The silvery badges were in pristine condition. Green put his hand in the box, and there was a clear tinkling of metal as he picked up an Earth badge.
763. inherent: included as an essential part; intrinsic
"Seven years ago when I began collecting badges, the felon, Giovanni was in charge of this gym… he only gave out three badges then: to me, then Leaf, then Red. After he was kicked out, Lorelei managed this gym for five years, and she was so rarely here, I believe she didn't give out any badges either. So, you are probably the first person to have gotten an Earth badge in the last half decade. Congratulations." Green pressed the little green badge into Gold's palm.
Gold stared at the badge incredulously, marveling at the inherent simplicity mandated for all badges. "Are you serious?"
"Yep."
764. frail: easily broken; delicate
Green handed over some battle money, and Gold took it. Gold bowed to Green, and then walked out of the office, and hurried out the gym, the cameraman eagerly asking questions. Green watched as the cameraman spun on the booby traps, clutching his frail camera. The cameraman was able to stay upright (dammit, Green was hoping that he'd fall and destroy the video), and chased Gold. Green let out a sigh and texted Gold.
10:14 AM – Green: whatever you do pleeease don't tell him anything h doesn't need to know
10:14 AM – Green: especially anything about Red (sent)
765. intransigent: refusing to compromise or agree
There was no response, so Green could only pray that Gold would be stubborn and intransigent enough to deny the cameraman any information. Red had plenty of random trainers anyway – he didn't need more newbies coming his way.
Green glanced out the window. The trees were swaying gently outside, peacefully waving to and fro, completely ignorant of whatever had just happened inside the gym. After the chaos of the battle, it was somewhat hard to look outside and see such calm and peace.
766. laughingstock: a person or thing that is the object of laughter
He yawned and stretched his arms. Hopefully the battle would be flashy enough so that even the gossipy old ladies that watched cute kids battle would have to admit that it was really a tough battle. Green didn't need to become the local laughingstock of a gym leader – Brock could do that alone.
He walked out the gym, shut off the booby traps and turned on the normal lights. The neon lights flashed before shutting off. The ethereal aura of the gym disappeared as the traps deactivated and the building regained its humdrum lighting.
767. fulminate: to issue a strong verbal attack
The gym trainers were seated on their tiles, nursing their pokemon with berries and potions. They stared at him. Green prepared himself for a fulmination – after all the preparation, he'd still let them all down.
Instead, Salma began clapping, and was quickly joined by Arabella, then Bonita, and then the twins. Green felt the blood rush to his face.
768. juncture: a point in time; a concurrence of event
No words needed to be said. Salma pulled everybody together for a group hug, and they wrapped their arms around each other. They held onto each other tightly, before letting go and laughing. Green felt himself choke up a little, and rubbed the moisture from his eyes.
Green cleared his voice "At this juncture, we can probably expect a couple more trainers… especially after Janine comes back. Gold was early, but we need to take this time to train and get stronger." He looked at his pokeballs, the silhouettes of his fainted pokemon just barely visible through the translucent red cover. "Of course, for today… we should go home and rest up. Everybody learned something important today, right?"
769. recruit: to restore or renew the health or vitality of
They each nodded, and Green smiled. "If we got something out of it, it was a good experience. Let's lock up and go to the Pokecenter; oh, and I'll need some help figuring out repairs." The barrier builder laughed sheepishly. His Mr. Mime had sustained some serious damage from the hurricane bashing the barrier walls.
Everybody just needed to recruit their pokemon's health, and relax. It was late in the morning and the streets were fairly empty as they chatted and strolled to the Pokecenter. While the others were chattering, Green shoved his hands in his pockets and looked up and inhaled deeply. Losses were inevitable, and no matter how much it actually hurt, things would go on.
770. ravage: to cause great destruction to
The nurse rushed to and fro with the trays of pokeballs, overwhelmed by the sudden flood of trainers. They wandered over to the café a couple doors down, and settled down for an early lunch together. Green release Umbreon, who sat on his lap and rubbed her face in his neck. Green ordered a cup of vanilla cocoa and some scones, and watched as Umbreon ravaged the plate of scones single-handedly.
Umbreon purred happily and rubbed her face in Green's neck. The crumbs around her nose fell down his shirt, and somehow the simple loving motion and tickling feeling of crumb falling down his shirt made him feel warm and fuzzy, and he smiled the first genuine smile of the day.