victory_road | ROCKET BATTLE LOG

As the clock nears 10 PM on Saturday, the manor (or the parts of it that people aren’t blocked off from, anyway) is completely abuzz with speculation and gossip. What could Lance possibly be planning to announce? And why haven’t any of the Elite Four even been around? They’re fairly reclusive, but it’s safe to say that everyone is at least a little curious, if not actively suspicious.

But it’s time for the big reveal, so manor staff are bustling around, reminding everybody to be in the ballroom in a few minutes for Lance’s important unveiling of… well, whatever it is he’s unveiling! The staff all seem pretty excited, so it must be big, right?

There’s been plenty of room to dance and move around in the Ballroom until now, but with everybody packed in there at once, the space is a little tighter. Especially with the small stage and podium set up in the middle. As the last (or seemingly last, assuming there aren’t any carefree stragglers who didn’t bother turning up on time) person is ushered in by staff, complete with whispers of "Psst! Hurry up, it’s almost time!", the door to the ballroom is shut and the lights dim slightly, sending a hush over the audience.

After some fumbling from whoever’s in charge of the lights (... wait, is that Captain Garfield and his Rattata up there? He’s a theater tech too?! That guy must REALLY be a jack of all trades!), a spotlight flips on and centers on the podium, where the head staffer (who might be recognized as the one with the terrible hipster mustache who’s been doing a PARTICULARLY egregious amount of schmoozing and sucking-up to trainers over the course of the party) is stepping up to the podium.

He clears his throat.

"Welcome, welcome, ladies and gentlemen! On behalf of the Elite Four, we’re all so happy you could join us! We hope you’ve all been having as good a time as we have, because I’ve got to say, I think this is our best party yet!"

He looks around at the assembled trainers eagerly, as though anticipating unanimous agreement.

When there’s an impatient buzz (and a shout of "Get on with it already!" from someone) instead, he laughs awkwardly.

"Oh, yes, well, we’re all here for one reason, right? To see what Lance has brought you all here for! Well, folks, as you can see, he’s not here with us right now… He’s had a bit of a-- how shall we say… an accident! So sad, I know! But fortunately, he’s graciously allowing us to make his announcement for him. Which is…"

On cue, the spotlight turns stark red. If anyone has the presence of mind to look, Captain Garfield's Rattata is holding a bit of red plastic filter in front of it.

But chances are, everyone’s attention is probably going to stay on the stage, because the guy at the podium literally just RIPPED HIS CLOTHING OFF DRAMATICALLY, revealing… yes… a very, very familiar black-and-red uniform underneath.

It’s followed immediately by more ripping sounds as other staff and even some partygoers scattered throughout the audience follow his lead, and the telltale noises and flashing of Pokemon being released from their balls. And many voices, all yelling at once...

"PREPARE FOR TROUBLE! AND MAKE IT DOUBLE!!"

The music shifts.

OOC Notes: The number of characters who must participate in the battle to call it a success is 37! In order to keep track, once you have made your first comment to this post (either a toplevel or a tag to someone else!), please bring it to the CHECK IN THREAD by 10 PM EST tomorrow! YOUR COMMENT MUST BE POSTED TO THIS THREAD IN ORDER FOR IT TO COUNT TOWARDS THE TOTAL.

GUESS WHAT GUYS?

glittertextmaker.info

OOC notes: Here it is, the part where your characters get to explore the Rocket Base and discover its secrets! Maps of each level will be posted in this top post as they are opened up, with blacked out sections being revealed as obstacles are cleared. Obstacle clearing will be based on total comment count to any mod comment with a count listed, whether those comments are contained in a single thread or spread out over multiple different ones. As many people can comment to an obstacle or base level as wish to, for as long as they want, even after it has been cleared. There are a total of two obstacles (including the first one) which are triggered by character actions we will be watching for!

Anyone who wants to thread anything out in the base or mansion during the time characters are trapped (and who doesn't want to use this log for whatever reason) is free to make their own network/action posts with whatever they like! But mods will not be coming around to those with interaction, and they will not count towards clearing obstacles.

Questions? Ask them HERE!

NOTE FOR ITEM RNG: In order for the mods to give out your item, your character must be actively looking through the loot piles in whatever tag you'd like us to respond to with your item! Items can also be given out in the middle of an existing thread between characters, whenever they get around to searching the piles! The header does not have to be in your toplevel.

Links List

Level One

OBSTACLE - KEY CARD (CLEARED)

OBSTACLE - CONVEYOR BELT HELL (CLEARED)

Level Two

Level Three

ELITE 4 JAIL

OBSTACLE - FREE THE LEGENDARY

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She'd disappeared ten minutes before the announcement to pin her hair up and put her lenses-less glasses on. It was the best way to try and calm her rattled nerves, putting on that old persona. Shedding the girl and becoming the Witch. It's a lot harder to do nowadays, because even as she emerges in her uniform, Calyx's Pokeball in her hand, the sheer chaos makes her heart clench up...but...she has to try, she has to try...]

C-Come on out! Use Confusion!

[The Espeon she releases does not use Confusion. When it pops out, its focus is on Anthy alone...and it tries to push her back into the shadows.]

No - no, we have to fight - Calyx, please...

As Anthy backed away, she'd draw close to another Rocket - Walter. He noticed her as she let her Espeon try to ease her back into the shadows. Silently he approached her and considered her thoughtfully.

"...The perimeter needs to be patrolled. To make sure the forcefield doesn't falter." Would she pick up on what he was trying to do?

[Huh? She jumps a little when a voice is in her ear, and though the black uniform doesn't calm her nerves in the least...]

...Are you sure?

[Shouldn't she stay? What will they do to her if she doesn't...]

"To prevent the trainers from escaping." He murmured. It wasn't a lie. It wasn't what they had been told to do...but it wasn't what they hadn't been told to do either. That's how he was justifying it and, truthfully, he had intended to do it himself to avoid the actual act of stealing Pokemon.

He leaned down to whisper to her. "My name is Walter. If they ask who told you to do this. I normally work in the labs. If you don't want to fight, then go."

He didn't know what the punishment would be either. But he had endured a lot, even when he had obeyed the Order. He could handle Team Rocket's treatment of him...he thought.

...It wouldn't be wrong.

[She gets what you're picking up, buddy, and scoops the Espeon into her arms, holding on even as Calyx squirms a little to try and lead the way herself.]

Mine is Anthy. I - I'll stay, but - I'm not going to be much help.

[Just let her stay on the edges please don't let her be sucked into the crowd then everything will go pear-shaped]

Walter nodded. At his side, Chaos was growling softly, tail swishing and looking for an unlucky trainer to jump at. Walter placed a hand in her mane, to hold her back for a moment as he spoke to Anthy. He was still looking at her thoughtfully. Most Rockets seemed to either revel in the role or simply went with it. Anthy was the first he met who seemed....uncomfortable with it, at least.

"...Take this." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a purple, misty looking orb. "It's a Smoke Bomb. Throw it down and run if you must." He had been intending to give it to one of his Non-Rocket friends...but he didn't have a chance to see many of them and the few he had, he hadn't figured out how to give them the item without outing himself.

[She takes it with a nod, her hand shaking. Her Espeon finally looks at Walter properly, its gaze thankful in her trainer's stead.]

Thank you. I. I'll find a way to make it up to you.

Walter nodded again. He didn't really expect Anthy to 'make it up' to him. But what was done, was done. He let go of Chaos and the Luxray roared at the crowd, cowing some of the weaker and less experienced trainers into backing away from them or outright fleeing into the havoc. As she prowled forward Walter followed her.

[And Anthy will take the opportunity to part from him, letting Calyx out of her arms as the Espeon made an effort to intimidate anyone that might cross their path. Her notched ears and the aura of a Psychic attack do wonders for that.

Mark her words, Walter, she'll repay you for this.]

You can stay behind me.

[Manaka's voice is as sugary as ever, albeit muffled by the neck sock pulled up over her chin and mouth, which makes it sound cold amidst the chaos. The doesn't wait for Anthy to answer before she puts herself between her and the rest of the crowd, glancing back over her shoulder with what seems to be a smile hidden under her mask.]

Just attack when no one is paying attention to you.

[...That's not something she expects. Shielding from Manaka? What?

Still, Anthy manages a nod, and kneels down to nudge Calyx forward.]

I'll try. If she listens.

[Too many people have seen Junior and Henriette can't be caught in this mess and Setina only knows so many moves...]

[She said so earlier, didn't she? Anthy is free to fall back on her, if she needs the help.]

I'm sure you can do it. [Her gaze turns downward, then, toward Calyx.] Right? You don't have to worry; nothing bad will happen to her.

[She says that with such certainty that it's hard to doubt she's sincere.]

[...Hm.

Calyx looks at Manaka hard, ears flattening a bit against her head, and then pushes her face against Anthy again. Nope, go in to the shadow.]

Ah-

[Manaka pauses — or, rather, she remains stone still, meeting Calyx's stare with a tilt of the head. When she finds herself refused, she merely shrugs, withdrawing one of her own pokéballs as she turns forward again.]

Suit yourself. She can still stay behind me if she wants, but I'm not going to take any blows for her if you won't help out.

[It's a simple statement of fact. A weak link can be strengthened, but she won't carry one that's dead weight.]

[Calyx doesn't respond - or, more accurately, she pointedly ignores the barb. This will keep any blows from coming her way, of course the Espeon is right!]

I'm sorry...

Mm~m, don't be. If there's nothing to be done for it, that's just the way things are.

[Anthy doesn't respond to that. There is always something that can be done - even if it's so obvious you can't even see it in front of your nose. But Manaka's not ready for that kind of talk, and this isn't the place for it, so instead she'll let her Espeon push her back and away.

Gosh, her personal report is going to be a mess.]

ROCKET BATTLE LOG

cw: enochlophobia

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short n sweet :x

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