silph_co | text (posted immediately after Doppio's intro goes up + LOCKED TIGHT SO DOPPIO CAN'T SEE)

text (posted immediately after Doppio's intro goes up + LOCKED TIGHT SO DOPPIO CAN'T SEE)

As a warning to everyone who can see this, I have reason to believe that Vinegar Doppio, i.e. our newest co-worker, is a plant.

When I met him the other day, immediately prior to said meeting, I overheard him talking on his pokegear to someone he called 'Boss' and the tail end of the conversation that I caught made it sound like he was reporting on the goings-on of our organization to said 'Boss.'

What I *suspect* is that Doppio, rather than being a true otherworld transfer like us, is a *world native* that is pretending to be one of us so that he can report back to the admins and perhaps even Boss Giovanni on what we do in our private spaces and the things we say among each other where there's no world natives to hear us. I can't *prove* this, but given how many jobs we've been pulling this summer, it would make sense for them to want to have a mole among us.

I'd like to be wrong about this. I really would.

That said, I'd urge you all to be cautious with Doppio. Certainly, we should welcome him, be friendly with him, etc. We wouldn't want him to know we're on to him--they might send someone to replace him that *wouldn't* accidentally reveal himself by being overheard. But we might want to keep the likeliness of him being a plant when we choose which information and opinions to share where he might see them.

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wait

is he a spy or is he something that grows outta the ground

He's probably a spy. 'Plant' is just slang for 'spy.'

My, are you ever quick to jump to conclusions and on very little evidence. Being an excessive worrier such as you are is more tiresome than helpful, you know. If they were truly concerned about spying on us, there are much more effective means at their disposal than one singular man.

If you find more conclusive evidence, I might believe you, but for now this seems like little more than paranoid ramblings.

If I overhear him talking to his "Boss" again I'll make sure to record it.

Imagine with me for a moment, a situation where we are spared your paranoia: what else could he have been doing in that conversation? Could, perchance, the "boss" he was speaking to have been someone from his own world? Mayhap they are not in Team Rocket like he is, or mayhap he is. We simply cannot know.

When one jumps to conclusions without verifiable evidence is when one makes poor judgments. One ruled by fear is not the man to make judgments, certainly not sound nor rational ones.

All the same, we should be possessed of a touch of suspicion for any within our ranks. We scarce know one another, particularly those we are not familiar with from our own realities, and so keeping a healthy level of uncertainty should be the default. Not reserved for possible exceptions.

You do know that this whole thing is literally only accessible to Otherworlders, correct?

And even if he is, do you have something to hide, Steven? Other than the radio tower, you aren't in the communal Rocket spaces to begin with so does it really matter if these absolute blundering buffoons see how much more competent those not from here are?

Honestly, turn the paranoid down a notch or two.

[Well, like they say...a broken clock is right twice a day. Good on u, Lydia.]

Fine. You do have a point. We *don't* know who his "Boss" is and my guesses are just that. But the fact that he *does* have this outside "Boss?"

It's as fishy as *hell*, no matter who "Boss" is.

[...]

*Ugh*. You're right. It is. *Damn it*.

Okay. He can't be a world native plant--but that just makes whoever "Boss" is to be a much more worrisome prospect. Especially if "Boss" works with the PGC.

I highly doubt that anyone involved in that PGC nonsense would be letting anyone call them "Boss". And, from what I saw of it, we have a few plants there as well, do we not?

I would think we'd have heard about this whole little thing by this point, heroes do love to talk up their plans and get others to agree with them. That is where my specialty lies, after all.

This I will not contend. However, he is no different than the rest of us. All of us have our own designs, and whether or not we make such apparent to one another, be it by our choice or no, does not change this fact.

He merely slipped in front of you, but he is no less guilty of secrets than any of the rest of us. Regardless, I see him as less of a threat because of it, for a man so sloppy with his secrets is also a man sloppy with far more.

... you do have a point there. It *is* how we learned they were recruiting again.

Right. Sorry about jumping to conclusions... even if I *still* really don't like how the man is answering to his mysterious "Boss."

[... is that your way of subtly casting shade on him, Emet-Selch? Well. At least you're being less blatantly insulting to his face.]

... I hate to say it, but you have a point. He could have at least gone to the *roof* before reporting in to "Boss."

[Ironically it isn't! While what he says could be applied to his thoughts towards Steven, that for once was not his aim. Small miracles!]

Precisely! That he would show his hand so readily either speaks of incompetence or purpose. Though, I have my doubts of the latter.

[The smallest off all.

But at least Steven is being serious about not rising to your bait all the time.]

We should probably treat this as if it's the latter anyway, just in case.

Nay, we should treat it as the former, but doubt not the possibility of the latter. This is how one staves off confirmation bias and allows for proper investigation. Once enough evidence is collected to properly incriminate his intent, then we administer equivalent action if needs be.

However, as I said, he is no more guilty of aught than the rest of us, like as not. We all are possessed of secrets that, should one only be made half privy to their context, might lead the witnessing party to suspect ill of us or our intent.

Edited 2020-08-30 23:48 (UTC)

[... ugh. Given that Steven did kind of betray Team Rocket for Armin, Hades isn't even wrong. He hates it that Hades has a point ~~and it's not on his head.~~]

Ugh. I suppose you're right.

[He still doesn't trust him. He distrusts him more than you, even.]

Oft is the case.

However, I am not imploring you to trust him, rather to be wary of more than merely he. Yet, this does not mean one should go down a path of paranoia and obsession, either. Rather, one should always be ready to expect betrayal, even from those you otherwise believe incapable.

Truly, we only know our own minds, and even then, some do not even that.

[He hates that you're giving him genuinely good advice with no more condescension than you would anyone else. He doesn't trust it.

Did that ridiculous airport gift box change things that much? God, this is stupid.]

I suppose you've got a point.

Edited 2020-08-31 02:09 (UTC)

Indeed I do. Glad am I that you can see reason.

Now, if you do find aught of importance in his behavior to report, then I suggest you do so, but do try to be objective with your observations. Otherwise you could very well secure yourself an enemy that might otherwise have been an ally.

[...Sound familiar?]

[Given what a bigoted piece of trash you are—and you are, Steven remembers what you said about 'subjugating primitive peoples' (his brown ass) to Jack—he highly doubts that. But whatever. He can eat his crow like a good boy who wants to make peace.

He's just going to not reply to that. He doesn't quite trust what he'll say.]

[See, he could take that as a hint and leave it be. Or, he could press the conversation and see where it goes. After all, it isn't as if he's said anything offensive, merely facts. That these facts can apply to their situation does not change that he's warning Steven against making the same mistake.

It's actually a genuine warning, too.]

Is your silence because I have inspired reflection, or are you attempting to give me the cold shoulder? It is no matter, I know the semblance of togetherness is important to you, and as such it would serve you well to heed my advice.

[But if Steven leaves it at that, then so shall he. So much for the olive branch.]

[You don't have to like someone to work together with them, Steven reminds himself. You don't have to like someone to work together with them.]

I'm not sure if 'ally' isn't a bit strong of a word, [he types finally,] but you're correct that lack of objectivity has, on occasion, been my downfall.

[You can do it, Steven. Eat that fucking crow.]

Oh? Does it mean something more intimate to you than what it ought to be?

After all, it is not unheard of to hate one's ally, fondness is scarcely a qualifier.

Edited 2020-09-02 05:48 (UTC)

We're getting off-topic, Emet-Selch.

[And that's all he has to say about that.]

On the contrary, I have stayed on topic this whole time. Unless you've come under the misapprehension I was meaning something else?

Really, all I was saying is you need not like the lad to make him an ally.

[He's not talking to you anymore, Emet-Selch.

No matter what else you type in there to needle him, he's not going to reply any longer. Asshole.]

Edited 2020-09-02 07:17 (UTC)

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text (posted immediately after Doppio's intro goes up + LOCKED TIGHT SO DOPPIO CAN'T SEE)

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of not off i hate typos

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