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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?
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Date: 2012-08-30 03:18 am (UTC)[... Might as well go for all the damn badges at this rate.]
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Date: 2012-08-30 03:52 am (UTC)The ferry should still be leaving from Olivine, but I don't know what we could expect when we get there. I never went to Cianwood before.
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Date: 2012-08-30 03:54 am (UTC)action;
Date: 2012-08-30 04:25 am (UTC)action;
Date: 2012-08-30 04:28 am (UTC)A map on paper would be preferable, so we can draw on it. Though I imagine I would start by visiting Whitney again.
[... Oh man remember what happened last time?]
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Date: 2012-08-30 04:57 am (UTC)Think you can handle her? She's still a pain these days.
[She doesn't doubt his capabilities as a trainer, but when it comes to dealing with Whitney? ...yeah she's a problem.]
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Date: 2012-08-30 05:02 am (UTC)I still remember our last fight. [Not.
Pretty.]
I hope she doesn't carry a grudge.
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Date: 2012-08-30 05:39 am (UTC)You don't look like you used to, Hope. I doubt she'd recognize you before you could get the badge and get out.
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Date: 2012-08-30 05:57 am (UTC)Then I can handle her. [If you can handle pushy employees, you can handle any pushy keet.]
Her Pokémon would be another matter, but I can handle that as well.
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Date: 2012-08-31 03:37 am (UTC)So long as you train up enough. I'm not sure Alexander could take her entire team by himself.
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Date: 2012-08-31 03:49 am (UTC)action;
Date: 2012-08-31 09:12 am (UTC)[other than Sen, but he's...clearly busy with Palum. Having way too much fun.]
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Date: 2012-08-31 09:36 am (UTC)[Except...] But because Siren already knows Sing, she's another possible starting Pokémon.
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Date: 2012-08-31 11:07 am (UTC)action;
Date: 2012-08-31 11:12 am (UTC)I plan on practicing outside at route 34 and 35 just to be on the safe side.
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Date: 2012-08-31 12:57 pm (UTC)action;
Date: 2012-08-31 01:25 pm (UTC)I see. Are any of them close by?
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Date: 2012-08-31 01:44 pm (UTC)[She'd be lying if she she said she hadn't considered heading out on her own, but the thought had lingered for only a moment. She wouldn't leave him behind.]
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Date: 2012-08-31 02:16 pm (UTC)I'm willing to put that gym challenge on hold if you want to meet them as soon as possible.
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Date: 2012-09-01 07:05 am (UTC)No. [she exhales, lowering her hands back to her sides] We need to find or make some kind of stable rallying point, and flying all over Johto isn't going to do that. Goldenrod's as good a place as any to get started.
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Date: 2012-09-02 01:48 am (UTC)[Raises a hand to grasp her shoulder. He's concerned, because it's been a pretty rough few months for all of them, especially for her.]
Don't work yourself too hard-- you know I'm here when you need help, right? [Oh hey wasn't he the one getting this kind of speech a while back.]
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Date: 2012-09-02 07:37 am (UTC)I'm just used to handling this on my own. Ven tries, but there's not much he can actually do. Some of these people are just...[siiiigh. that should be answer enough.]
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Date: 2012-09-02 08:06 am (UTC)I may not have been in the military, but I'd like to think that I know a thing or two about directing various groups of people. [He is, after all, the one who retained his power and standing in a corporation for hundreds of years.]
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Date: 2012-09-02 09:22 am (UTC)[that's a rhetorical question, shota-bro. You don't have to answer it.]
I think it's the loners we're going to have more trouble with than anyone else. The ones that care enough once they're in squads aren't that much of a problem.
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Date: 2012-09-02 01:06 pm (UTC)I know exactly who you mean. [Shinn, among others :\] We also seem to have more mavericks replying and while some seem promising, I think some need to learn about boundaries and whatnot.
Do you think a type of system could be integrated, aside from simply organizing people into squads?
[Learn how to interact with each other and when not to step over the line, etc etc]
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