033 [Video/Action for Goldenrod + Anon Text]

[soggypastry]

[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?

Comments

[soggypastry]

[Experienced and bitter. Hah. She knows the type.]

They have to decide to come back on their own. All you can do is try to influence that decision and be there if they do. [sigh] Not that it makes waiting any easier.

[private text]

[ordalias]

"Both" of us? How did you find out?

[Action]

[impulsives]

[There's a sigh from him.]

Yeah, guess I'm just too used to weird and chaotic things happening all around me.

[The sky's blue today, peppered with clouds here and there. Rain's probably coming in the evening or something, if the weatherman's right.

...But they're always right in this place, aren't they?]

[private text]

[soggypastry]

You and Riku. He knows already.

I found out because I was told. Someone working for Team Rocket sent me the list. It's changed since I was last told about it in May.

[Action]

[soggypastry]

Just because you're used to something doesn't mean it can't take you by surprise if it happens again.

[Just like how being used to working alone and being reckless doesn't make it the right call to charge headfirst into a mess. Not that she's saying that today. Nope. She's just glancing up at the clouds as a breeze carries the scent of rainwater to them. Storm's coming...]

Like the weather. We're used to it going insane, but that storm back in May still caught us off-guard.

[soggypastry]

Small burns are still burns. Infection can spread through something the size of a pinhole, Cobra. It doesn't take much weakness to take down a single person without much work.

Besides. Those aren't the only failures I've seen you have. You might want to work on your track record before saying I'll burn with you.

action;

[soggypastry]

You should work off their weaknesses. [pause. slight frown.] Though I'm not sure where you could get a fighting type around here.

[other than Sen, but he's...clearly busy with Palum. Having way too much fun.]

[soggypastry]

[yeeep. She knows his type. Oh, goodness.]

Then train more. You need to be able to fight back without needing backup in case you end up on your own. Otherwise, all you're asking for is trouble.

action;

[eagletalons]

If I remember correctly, Seismic Toss is available as a TM, which Bismarck and Alexander are able to learn. Meanwhile, Atomos already knows Rollout, which is one thing in my favor, so he may go first.

[Except...] But because Siren already knows Sing, she's another possible starting Pokémon.

[text]

[darkenedgales]

[He was pretty natural back there, so who knows...]

"squad"? "us"? wait a sec, I'm not following you.

when did we ditch casual conversation and enter some sorta job interview?

[text]

[soggypastry]

Who said we were ever in casual conversation to begin with? Though I did say "if", so go ahead and hang up if you don't feel like helping out.

[grapecape]

[Whoa. What did he just get offered?]

What exactly is it that I would be joining?

[soggypastry]

[Allies. Possible friends. ...probable headaches? Who even knows, man.]

A group of trainers that stand against what Team Rocket does. We have a name, but I can't tell you until I'm sure you can be trusted.

[text]

[darkenedgales]

[Well, that's not suspicious at all... but also intriguing. Because from what he's gathered so far, there's some unspecified "they" who would be willing to protect this world and he's somehow managed to ignore their existence up until now. Knowing more would be nice, and it's not like he "doesn't feel like helping out", so...]

so who's "us" anyway?

[text]

[soggypastry]

[Suspicious and paranoid. That's the name of Lightning's game these days, so he's...not going to get much intel. Whoops.]

Just a group of trainers trying to keep Team Rocket from doing any more damage. I'm surprised you don't know about us already; last I heard, you were friends with one of our members, and she's not that good at keeping things secret.

[grapecape]

[Ondorus steps away from the 'Gear for a few minutes to consider the choice. Allies. A group with a motive.

Negatives? Possibility of endangering himself, and more importantly, Olivia (and whatever other Pokemon he may befriend in the future). Possibility of endangering other members of the group, if he fails to meet necessary standards.

...Positives? Direction. Coordination. A better chance of making an impact. Having allies. Being an ally. (And there's nothing Ondorus is better at than that.)

He returns and types out a message.]

I've given it thought. I would like to join you - that is, if you'll have someone who's been in Johto for not much more than a week.

action;

[soggypastry]

Think it could work? Sing's not the most accurate move around when you get down to it, and Whitney's a competent fighter early on in the battle. [Until she starts losing, anyway.]

action;

[eagletalons]

We will just have to work on that, wont we? Siren is competent enough even if Sing fails.

I plan on practicing outside at route 34 and 35 just to be on the safe side.

[soggypastry]

[Wow. That was fast. She...wasn't expecting someone to come flat out and just say that. She was expecting to have to pull a few ears and send out a few guilt trips.

Not that she's complaining, though. If this guy's got the team and will to back up his words, they can use the help.]

Like I said, I'd need to be sure I can trust you first. The length of your stay isn't an issue; a week or a year, so long as I know you're not going to turn around and betray us.

[grapecape]

That's more than understandable. Is there anything you would like to know, or have me do, to confirm my intention?

action;

[soggypastry]

[nod nod.] Then we'll stick around for a while. Probably a good idea, anyway. [frown.] I definitely need some of these people in person before making any calls about them.

Re: text;

[dreamsofahero]

*he's already given her as much of an answer as he cares to in public; whether she reads between the lines for it (not to mention acting on it) is up to her*

You refer to the police? While it's certainly possible, until there's reason to believe otherwise I would rather give them the benefit of the doubt; it's not unlikely that the local laws here served this world's residents well indeed before we foreigners arrived.

Though I presume from your response that you are indeed disastisfied with their handling of the matter, as I asked in my first comment. In which case one might then presume you have an interesting in either aiding them, or forming a vigilante system of justice of your own?

[soggypastry]

No. I could ask you if you were a member of Team Rocket or not, but I doubt you'd come flat out and say you are.

We'd need to meet in person first, before I make any kind of decision about you. What city are you in right now?

[If barely a week in Johto is the truth, then he couldn't have gotten far.]

[grapecape]

Cherrygrove. I've been working at the Pokemon Center since I reached the city, and planned to set out for Violet this Friday afternoon.

[infinitejustice]

Indeed.

I just hope nothing that bad happens here.