Pewter Heist Discussion - video (2/24)

[conniemaheswaran]

[Connie had scheduled a video conference with the rest of the heist team a few hours ago, to "go over details" and "double-check something." As vague as all of that was. She's the last to come online just a minute after everybody else has arrived, and-]

[When the video feed clicks on, Connie's unconscious, bloody, and bruised body is slumped against her chair, while some thing casually reclines on it inspecting her painted black nails. She has cyan skin and some kind of custom Rocket uniform with golden highlights, long, billowy sleeves, and bell-bottom pants. Her hair is straight and white with a golden skunk streak, hanging down almost to her waist while the bangs completely obscure her eyes. Two thick gold lines arranged in a geometrical lightning bolt shape run up from her chin to where her eyes would be, and her smirk is downright devilish.]

Oh, hello dears♡ Sorry if you were expecting little Con-Con down there, I'm afraid that she's a tad... late.

[The stranger's voice is deep and velvety with a hint of an inhuman growl in the bass, and- wait, is Connie's chest not moving? It's definitely not moving. She laughs at her own pun, raising the back of her hand to her cheek and releasing a perfect]

OHOHOHOHOHOHO!

[Her bangs fly back, revealing eyes with pure black sclera and irises the color as her skin.]

[Abruptly, the dignity laugh fades and transitions into a genuine and familiar giggle, full of snorts and wheezes. "Connie's" body on the floor gets up, joining in with inhuman yips as the real Connie's posture makes the almost-imperceptible switch from "arrogant, almost hubristic" to "regular confident."]

Oh my stars, you should've seen the look on you guys's faces! They were priceless.

[Connie clears her throat as the illusion fades, revealing that her "unconscious body" was in fact a Zorua projecting an illusion.]

So, two things. One: I got my disguise on lock. As you can already tell. Thanks for the tips, Carly! Two: meet the first member of my Rocket Infiltration Team, Arsène. [Connie raises her hand, and the Zorua slaps it with his tail.] His illusions still need work, [DO THEY?!] but with a little practice Arsène should be a huge help in missions.

I just wanted to give you guys a demonstration before we moved on with the heist planning so you wouldn't be surprised.

Comments

[conniemaheswaran]

[Connie, still disguised, cocks her head to the side. Only the two Steves hadn't seen her face so far, and judging by the fact that this one didn't strike her as a high school bully with poor grammar-]

Is that you, Durante? Yeah, it's me. Connie. You know... wait, did you think I wasn't a kid when we talked over text?

[fingersandteeth]

I thought you were in college.

[conniemaheswaran]

What part of me remotely suggested that I'm in college?!

[maybe your entire demeanor, connie,]

[fingersandteeth]

Everything about you suggested you were in college! And it was over text! I wasn't going to interrogate everyone over their ages!

[Maybe he should have.]

[conniemaheswaran]

I have to admit, I'm kinda flattered, but nah. The closest I've gotten to college is studying for entrance exams back home. I was actually gearing up to take a few before I came here.

[She... cannot be older than sixteen.]

[fingersandteeth]

Right.

[He pinches the bridge of his nose. Babies. He's surrounded by babies.]

[conniemaheswaran]

...okay, I admit that prank was a little immature, but I can handle myself!

[fingersandteeth]

[... she's a kid. But all the others trust her to get things done and it's not a if this world isn't remarkably permissive in what it lets kids do. But still.]

I really hope you can. They'll be easier on you if you get caught than some of the rest of us, but...

[Ugh. He really doesn't want to see her in jail.]

[conniemaheswaran]

Even though my Pokémon... aren't quite up to snuff yet, I'm pretty confident in my ability to defend myself.

Not to brag,

[Absolutely to brag]

But I hunted monsters back home, starting when I was twelve. Actual, real, big monsters. Not alone, mind you! Just know that I've been trained by the very best in self defense. I can take care of myself.

[fingersandteeth]

All right. Just-- be careful, okay? I'd hate to see you get hurt.

[PROTECTIVE BIG BROTHER INSTINCTS, ENGAGED.]

[conniemaheswaran]

I will. I'm not stupid, I know how dangerous all of this is.

[For a brief moment, Connie's confident mask breaks, revealing genuine worry underneath the layers of body paint and makeup. Fear, even. But it's quickly gone.]

Like I said: I can handle myself. Don't worry about me, worry about keeping... worry about yourself, actually. Dirk will be fine; I've fought him before and he take care of himself.

[fingersandteeth]

I mean, I broke out of what basically amounts to Fairyland. [With about eleven other people, half of who didn't make it out with him. Most of whom contributed a lot more to the escape than he did.] I'm not a complete neophyte either.

[conniemaheswaran]

Now that sounds like a story...

[Connie's eyes shine with excitement before she realizes something and coughs, looking away.]

That you're probably not too eager to share. Sorry.

[fingersandteeth]

Not during heist planning, no. It's-- kind of something that's easier to talk about one-on-one.

[He's quiet for a moment, looking off to the side and then back at his screen.]

But hey, maybe I'll tell you after this is all over.