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

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

[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.]

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[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?

[Diana wasted no time making use of her new surroundings, she walked with her arms laded with her haul from the cafeteria, planning on hoarding some away in her room right now before going back to gorge herself.

She couldn't help herself though and had already tasted the fresh milk, butter, eggs and other quick expiring foods that she'd not sampled in a year. She's still trying to wrap her head around just what's going on though when she's stopped by Anthy.

The pretty young teen shrugs in response.]

No idea. If you're looking for 'em though, mind if I tag along? I kind of just arrived.

Edited 2017-01-24 21:20 (UTC)

You've just arrived as well?

[That's very strange, and concerning - who could be in the habit of kidnapping girls and inducting them into this place? (And yes, that's the strange thing here, and not the food hoarding. After all, Anthy hoards animals, who is she to judge?)

Still, she nods.] I don't mind. Hopefully with more of us, we can find the person in charge.

Fab. [She shifts the weight of the objects in her arms.] Let me just drop this stuff off first.

[Diana sets off at a quicker pace down the hall, calling over her shoulder.] Don't run off without me~ [Her smile and tone are very playful for a complete stranger.

It only takes a minute, then she's chewing on a cereal bar when she comes back.] Oh hey, you didn't run off. Thanks.

Alright.

[And she does, in fact, stay put. The Aipom on her shoulder springs down to chase the Vulpix playfully in circles, but Anthy is still and doesn't mind. It won't do her any good to make enemies here.

She smiles when Diana returns.] It's no trouble. I don't know where I would have run off to if I wanted to, anyway.

Well, at least you're honest.

[Diana's watching the creatures around Anthy wearily as they walk down the halls, she's still not sure about this whole pet thing. What really has her interest though, is Anthy herself, so she's not bothering to hide the looks she keeps casting the girls way before finally asking a question.]

How old are you?

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?

[She smiles at that, the expression a touch genuine. It actually does feel nice to be honest after so long. She doesn't mind the looks, and at the question, just smiles more.]

I'm not sure you'll believe me, but I've lost track.

[Just where she's lost track, though, she'll keep to herself.]

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.]

Fair enough. [Keeping track of days became really difficult after awhile in the FAYZ, plus Diana knew a few of the younger kids who couldn't remember their birthdays which made knowing their age pretty difficult.

Plus, the last adult she'd seen was Alex, if you counted him, which Diana didn't. So Anthy was still a nice novelty.]

And you're okay with these things hanging around you?

Edited 2017-01-26 23:43 (UTC)

[Anthy only blinks when Diana accepts that as an answer, not betraying the slight surprise that springs up in her chest that someone heard that and didn't press her to be specific. Quietly, she reaches up so the Aipom now so comfortable on her shoulder can hold her hand.]

Yes, I am. I've never seen animals like these before, but they're very nice so far, and I've always considered animals my friends.

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.]

And you're not worried it might try and tear out your throat any minute?

Oh no, not at all! [She beams. In her experience, it's people who are more likely to do that sort of thing.] Besides, it doesn't look like this one has the teeth or claws to do something like that.

[As if confirming her words, the Aipom smiles. Yep, those are not really sharp or flesh-rendering kinds of teeth.]

[Diana still doesn't seem to trust the cheerful thing and gives it a look.] That's great for you but mine certainly seemed to have teeth.

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.

Oh? Would you mind showing us?

[Us as in her and her little team, of course.]

[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.

[She shrugs and starts digging in her pockets.]

If you want, I guess.

[She hands the sphere to Anthy and upon its activation a black lizard appears. It takes a moment to get a bearing on its surroundings then starts lashing its tail when it spots Diana. Making an odd chirping noise and stepping closer to her.

Diana folds her arms over her torso protectively.]

[The person Anthy approaches is a very petite young woman, who can't be any older than she appears herself.]

Oh, you must be new here! [No sarcasm, just a cheerful statement of fact.] The people in charge don't talk to us often, or at least not directly. I've been here for a little while, though, so if you have any questions, I can probably answer them!

[Manaka certainly notices the hollowness of Anthy's smile, but she says nothing about it. She isn't one to talk, anyway; her own expression is bright as can be, but somehow empty nonetheless.]

[She picks up on Manaka's demeanor fairly easily. Ah-hah...it's not surprising she's not the only one who can do this.]

Thank you. That would be really nice. Do you know if there's a way to speak indirectly to the people in charge, if we can't speak to them directly?

Ooh! [Anthy brightens. What a strange and delightful little creature!] I think it just wants to get to know you. If it's naughty, you can always put it back in its funny ball, right?

Yeh, but it might've already given me rabies by that point.

[She side eyes the creature as it blinks up at her.]

I don't think we'd be given animals that could make us sick right as we come here. Whatever we're here for, getting hurt is probably something the people in charge don't want happening to us.

[At least, not right away.]

I don't think there's a suggestion box, or anything like that. [She punctuates that statement with a little giggle.] Usually, it's just orders getting passed down, and that's not even in person. I guess if you accosted one of the natives long enough, they might agree to pass a message along for you, but I don't think most of them have any more contact with the people in charge than we do.

[Heck, if there even was a suggestion box, Anthy would've taken to that. It's pretty easy to fill one of those up with increasingly distressing messages to get your point across.]

Oh, I see. What a shame. I was really hoping to know exactly what it is I've been brought here to do.

[And quickly cut down anyone's desires to take hold of her and her power. It's hers now, to use as she wills - anyone who thinks otherwise was in for a nasty surprise.]

Oh, that's easy! You were brought here to steal Pokémon—unless they assign you to another job, I guess.

[For what her answer is, she...sounds really, really bubbly still.]

Edited 2017-02-08 04:12 (UTC)

I've heard that - but I meant, I wondered if there was a bigger picture that we may not be seeing.

[Because as asinine as it might be, there is always a bigger picture, a chessmaster beyond the chessmaster. The End of the World is always, in some way and form and permutation, pulling the strings.]

Mm, like they have a goal they're not telling us about? I thought the same thing, but people kept telling me that whoever's in charge isn't smart enough for that.

It's probably nothing to worry about. This world is like a child's dream. It has its own logic, but it feels more like a cartoon or a storybook than real life.

And how would they know that if no one's been able to speak to whoever is in charge?

[She stills, almost imperceptibly, at "child's dream" and "storybook" in Manaka's description. Anything like a storybook is the last thing she needs in the rest of her life. What is this, why is this.]

They've been part of organizations like this before, and according to them, this one doesn't run in a way that makes any sense. Though... Mm, to tell you the truth, I'm not convinced that it matters in a place like this. A lot of things don't work the way they "should" already.

[Normally, Manaka doesn't press the subject. It doesn't matter much to her one way or another. Still, it's nice that someone else sees it her way.]

But is there really a set way something should work? In my experience, nothing is what it seems.

[So even if it seems like her brother's influence is far away...

...Well, we'll cross that bridge if it appears in the path.]

Mm, to an extent. If I drop something from my hand, I would expect it to fall to the ground. If it doesn't, then something is amiss.

But that's a function of "the world," a stable force that constantly arcs back toward a single truth. Humans aren't so immutable, so outliers will always exist.

[Even she had met people that she had found interesting, after all.]

Of course. Even if they are few and far between.

[So many people were so predictable. Even outliers can become predictable, only to become unpredictable when you least expect it.]

[She giggles.]

Of course. There wouldn't be anything noteworthy about them, if they weren't so rare.

[With that said, Manaka pauses, quirking her head to one side as she looks at Anthy. She's still smiling, but there's something in her gaze that seems very intent...]

Oh, by the way. My name is Manaka. What's yours?

[She seems interesting, too. If that's the case, Manaka wants to know more about her.]

[The interest is mutual.]

My name is Anthy Himemiya. I suppose we'll be working together from now on.

Mm-hm, that's right! So if there's ever anything you need help with, you can ask me. We're in this together, after all!

[LOOK, ISN'T SHE NICE AND BUBBLY, SURELY YOU CAN TRUST HER]

Okay, sure!

[SURELY YOU CAN ALSO TRUST ANTHY LOOK AT ALL THIS TRUST GOING ON]

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

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sorry for the delay on this!

it's cool! shit happens :3

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