soggypastry | 033 [Video/Action for Goldenrod + Anon Text]

[Private Text to: Riku and Xion]
Team Rocket's list of targets changed. You're both on it now, so stay sharp and watch your backs. I don't know when they'll move on any of us.
[/private texts]

[It's been almost three months since he left, with only a letter to say goodbye. To say that Lightning hadn't been thinking about him as the day that would have been thier first anniversary drew nearer would be a lie, and she's taken it with remarkable grace when all things are concerned.

Or maybe she's just used to getting left behind. Who knows. All she knows is there's a house on the beach with too many memories and dreams, and she can barely look at Lucky or Strike without expecting him to be right at her side. She has to put that part of her past to rest if she's going to be able to lead the Corps in the best way she can, and so she's come to the seaside once more. Something a young boy once taught her matters more than she ever thought it would now.

Those passing close to the Radio tower will find her crouched at the railing, a lit sparkler in one hand and a bottle with a letter in the other as her Lucario stands guard nearby, gear in paw. Today would have been special, if he were here. But he isn't and it's just one more anniversary of loss. One more thing that needs to be shaken off.]

Turn it off, Sen.

[The Lucario in question yelps, but it's only in surprise, not fear. Lightning's voice is steady and quiet, and she rises to her feet as the sparkler burns out and leaves ash in the wind. She moves to the railing now, but Sen manages to end the feed just as the bottle that was in her hand drops out of sight and into the ocean.

A few minutes later, however, something else hits the network. The fact that it's an anonymous text may make people wary, but there's nothing untoward about this one. No, this one is the exact opposites of the others that have gone out.]

[Anon Text]
If someone gave you a chance to help protect this world and everyone who lives here from the people who want to harm it, would you do it? Or would you stand by and watch it burn like the Lighthouse?

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[At least there's that. She can appreciate his situation, really.]

You could meet with me, face to face. It would be safer for everyone else involved, though you'd still have to decide to take that risk or not.

But it's your call. Where this goes from here is up to you.

And why should I tell someone like you about my experience? Give me one good reason why.

That's right we will!

[When he doesn't get another message, Cobra's just going to assume he got the last word in.]

I'll hold you to that. Don't do anything reckless, alright?

[Apologies, Xion. She's just overly paranoid and not sure how to do this anymore. It's nothing personal.]

Even if it meant working with other people? People you might not get along with?

Even if it's a little difficult, we'd be working for a common goal. One that I think's worth a little bit of compromise.

How soon can you get to Goldenrod? That's where we'll meet, if you want to continue this discussion.

[Far more interesting? Perhaps. But certainly far more dangerous. Should be fun!]

Good to know someone thinks that way.

How close are you to Goldenrod? It's not safe to give you much information this way.

I'm in Goldenrod right now, actually. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be staying, but I trust this meeting won't take particularly long.

That's understandable. Unfortunately, I've still got a bit of distance to cover.

It won't, provided you can get to the Pokemon Center without taking the entire day. I'll be waiting when you get there.

You wouldn't be the only one. People as far as Cherrygrove have answered this.

I'll be here for a few weeks. Think you can get here before October?

Got it. Thank you for informing us both.

I will have absolutely no difficulty accomplishing that, so I'll meet with you soon.

sounds like a plan! where/when can I meet you?

[Call that complete lack of self-preservation instinct, but you've got him intrigued, so he cannot be bothered to think too much about details like safety.]

You'll have to ask him once you are certain you're not a stranger anymore, then. Even if you've no idea if that'll take seconds or months.

That's if he comes back and if he stays around long enough to make sure. [sigh.] It depends on a lot of things, Cecil. There's nothing I can do about it now.

[He can't see it, but she's about two seconds away from facepalming. What is it with you people and being so damn reckless?!]

Outside the Goldenrod Pokemon Center, in one week's time. If you don't show, I'll assume you changed your mind and we can forget this ever happened.

Right. See you there. Look for the woman with the Lucario nearby; that's how you'll know it's me.

[And, sure enough, whenever Kayneth reaches the Center, Lightning will be leaning against an outside wall with a Lucario shadowboxing at her side. She's examining every person who walks by with a purpose, but other than that, she looks just like any other person. Hopefully she's obvious enough for Kayneth to notice.]

Did you think I wouldn't? [if this was video, Xion would see Lightning shake her head and smile wryly. She...really needs to work on her relationship with this girl. Soon, too.]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Kayneth has gotten by on the bare minimum of figuring out how to use the Pokegear so far, so he's not really the sort to have figured out privacy settings-however, he is cautious enough to have his Quagsire out with him in the event that someone saw that...

...regardless... it's not too difficult to find this recruitment agent, given that it's a bit hard to miss a woman with pink hair who has a bipedal jackal... thing next to her.]

You would be the one from the network, I presume?

That's almost too much time.

It shouldn't be a problem.

No? I'm just thanking you for informing me. I don't think I'd know from anyone else.

Probably not. But you're my friend, Xion. And I take care of my own.

[Sure, this is different than protecting Fang from her own Eidolon, but still.]

[ Huh. Maybe they do need to improve their friendship a bit better because Xion, while touched at hearing this, is also a bit... well, she didn't really expect this. ]

Of course; you and I are friends. Thank you.

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[perma-anon text] ahdajsa I'M SO SORRY. I lost this notif in the deluge!

it's totally okay! this post exploded...

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haha...yeah pretty much. ^^;;

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/pats

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