silph_co | And Someday, We'll Shine... [Action

[Anthy couldn't recall when she'd fallen asleep. She couldn't recall if she'd even gone into a building to sleep in the first place - all she remembered was the winding road, the warmth of Chuchu on her shoulder, and the strength her newfound freedom had given her. And yet, here she was, in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar expectations. The letter she'd found had borne no rose crest, it was true, but she had still crumpled the paper with incredible prejudice.

Somehow, someway, she'd been captured, inducted into some scheme and given orders. Again. The thought makes her mouth hot and bitter, and the absence of Chuchu makes it all the worse. The creatures in the balls she'd found, a fluffy little fox and a monkey so much like her little companion, eased the shock somewhat - it was always easier to be around animals - but they also made her more confused. Why take Chuchu and give her two different friends? Why take her away from her journey at all? Who was in charge here, who decided this? She needed to find out immediately.

(It's not Akio, she has to tell herself, if it was then he would have been there in the room, too, ready to pounce. Ready to start the duels anew. No, above all, she would never give in to that.)

And so, this is how anyone in the Rocket Headquarters today will stumble across Anthy - clad in a rather pink outfit, purple hair loose and free, an Aipom seated comfortably on her shoulder and a Vulpix at her heels. She walks with purpose, even though it's clear that everything around her is unfamiliar, given how she'll stop to stare at signs or through cracks in doorways. If she sees you, she'll approach, and ask in a soft, even voice,]

Excuse me? Would you happen to know who is in charge here? I would like to speak to them, please.

[She adds a smile at the end, and if you're perceptive enough, you might notice the hollowness of the expression, the coldness in her eyes. She's holding everything in, saving it for the big boss. Oh yes, she is broiling mad.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jack's gotten used to Rocket HQ filling up with teenage girls. He's not even complaining, they seem capable and useful. But he does kind of wonder. Whatever. He's just dropping by base to make sure he's seen there, he is trying to gather a revolution. But apparently he's dropping by at just the right time.]

Hey there, cupcake! Uh...yeah, the people in charge won't actually talk to us. Beyond the passing down of ridiculous and stupid rules and jobs. I'm kind of unofficially in charge of us transplants, though... Handsome Jack, what can I do for ya?

[...Well, that's not the kind of information she'd wanted to hear - but then again, when was being ensnared by the wills of others ever easy? And "unofficially" didn't mean anything in regards to Anthy being brought here or for any avenue for her to return home, so she can hold onto her anger for someone else. In the meantime, though, she's quite aware of how vulnerable she is, even with new animal friends by her side. She needs facts, and she needs people to want to help her, and Anthy knows of a way to get those things, even if...

Even if retreating into persona of the Rose Bride makes her sick to her stomach. At least, she tells herself, she has plenty of agency. Folding her hands in front of her and letting her eyes close as she smiles, she responds,]

It's nice to meet you, Mister Jack. Do you happen to know what exactly "us transplants" are here to do?

Supposedly? We're here to steal Pokemon. That will eventually lead to ruling the world? I...I dunno. A space llama kidnapped us, according to all popular theory, your guess is really as good as mine.

[Jack just shrugs. The whole thing's insane and he's not going to try and make it sound any less so.]

But hey, you're now a member of a top secret and supposedly elite underground organization. That again, thinks it's gonna take over the world by stealing all the animals.

Not too many of us llama victims are down with that.

[Mainly because it's a stupid, stupid plan.]

And Pokemon are...these animals?

[She's never heard of them before, despite being from the 90's. It comes with being shut up in a luxurious prison of an academy for who knows how long. But besides that...she's been brought here to steal them from others?

...Definitely not sure how to feel about that, and for a brief moment, the concern shows on her face. At the very least, according to this man, it's not the most popular of plans.]

They are very sweet...but what makes them worth taking?

Yeah. Everybody gets one, we get two. They're what this whole planet revolves around. Catching'em, training'em, pitting'em against everybody else's...there's a whole thing. Professional levels and crap, I dunno.

[Jack shrugs.]

You can read all about it on your handheld thing. Not all of'em are cute little critters, don't let present examples fool you.

[This is said with a skeptical look down at the flop eared, fat puppy at his feet.]

We're supposed to make them fight?

[Now that didn't sound right. Sure, it was natural for animals to fight at times, or be violent when the situation called for it, but to make it institutionalized? It's worrisome indeed.

She'll look over to the fat puppy with a smile, though. Aw, what a good boy.] Now I'm sure that's not true. All animals can be cute if you take the time to get to know them.

'Making them' sounds like they don't do it anyway. Which they do. A lot. You can hardly go five feet outside a city without wild ones wanting to challenge yours. It's just what they do, I dunno. I think they were genetically engineered for it.

[Jack can only shrug again. Pokemon fight. It was what they did. Most of them, anyway.]

The ones that aren't into it...they just don't. This guy's never been in a real battle in his life. And uh, no. No. I have a literal bag of garbage. It has eyes. And the worst breath ever. It is not cute.

I see...

[It still sounds very strange, but it's probably also something she'll need to see to believe. And even at the garbage comment, she smiles brightly.]

Oh no! How awful!

[You don't look like you think it's awful...]

You'll see what I mean. There's millions of'em, it's all anyone does, it's...honestly it's insane and logic screwed off and left this planet to rot a long, long time ago.

[He doesn't even try and make sense of it anymore, he's just working with it as best he can.]

I dunno what the hell kind of place you came from, but there's no weapons here, uh...I dunno, I'm not the welcome wagon, I don't have a speech prepared or anything. Oh, you can live here free. 'Cause you're a Rocket. There's a cafeteria, the food sucks. But some of it's that so bad it's good kinda junk, at least. A rec room... uh, lots of teenage girls around, actually. That should be nice for you...

[Oh, great. More teenage girls - as if she didn't just come from a coed academy full of teenage girls. Truly, it might be a good idea to get better accustomed to people, but she had kind of wanted to do that at her own pace, not be launched into another dorming and cohabitating situation. The Aipom on her shoulder looks thoroughly unimpressed in her stead.]

I see. It should be easy to make friends here, then. But, Mister Jack, when you say I'm a "Rocket", what exactly does that mean? Besides stealing more of these animals, like you mentioned.

You're a member of Team Rocket. We're a secret organization, so don't tell anybody. You get certain perks, an allowance, but you gotta do Rocket stuff. Steal Pokemon, mostly.

[Jack throws up his hands. He still can't get over how inane and childish the whole thing seems.]

They like ya to wear your uniform around base, you'll have a quota to meet, don't get caught...it's not rocket science.

Ha!

Mm...no, it doesn't sound very difficult.

[Morally, she's not too conflicted - it stings, and it's incredibly disappointing to find herself in a situation where she'll have to be used. However, Anthy thinks to herself, there doesn't seem to be anyone like her brother around - and in that lies a great amount of freedom. And besides, she knows better now. No one here will be pushing her around for any sort of power. It doesn't change that she knows it's technically wrong, but if this is for her survival, she's already paid deeper prices before.

Very quickly, she's decided that this place was going to oblige to her terms, and there's no way around that.]

It really isn't. And...like I mentioned, a lot of us aren't thrilled with the situation around here. Things could change. Probably will. Don't worry about it. Just make sure you meet your quota and hang around base for the first couple weeks you're here, the higher ups won't bug ya any.

[Hey, she's a transplant and she's here for a reason. She could be another for Team Handsome! Because sure, why not have an organization that's nothing but teenage girls and weird dudes and Felix.]

It's gonna be fine, sweetheart, don't worry.

[Team Handsome? Whoa there mister, let's cross that bridge when we get to it.]

Oh, I'm not worried. But, thank you Mister Jack.

And Someday, We'll Shine... [Action - Goldenrod Base]

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