[ interesting. so the "human" portions of this world seem to be falling apart, but the natural elements seem to be thriving. somewhere, there's a comment in the back of lance's mind about that, but he instead settles for responding to blue's stupidity with a dry: ]

One day, I'll regale you with stories of my own journey to Champion. But I assure you that it didn't start living in a cave.

[ have you even been to blackthorn, blue. he had a house!!! and . . . brought a lot of baby pokemon home without permission. whoops. but his eyes follow blue's line of sight to see the floating pokemon, and he makes a noise of approval. ]

I see. . . [ at least the wildlife looks relatively healthy. but as lance digests all the new information . . . ] So we have a thriving wildlife, a tower that appears to be made out of meat, a defunct theme park, and no water source that isn't contaminated by liquor.

[ he pauses before his tone shifts from observational to dry. ]

I also hold the high score on the pinball machine on the Plateau.

[ it might be a joke, except it isn't. will has never forgiven him for wasting an entire afternoon crushing his high score. that was what he got for telling him he would lose. ]