ROCKET BATTLE LOG

[indigo_league]

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

Comments

[notvaljean]

[Blitz leans on Angel, closing his eyes. This has been a very long, very eventful day for him, and he's just going to take a moment to rest here. He likes Pretty Voice, but she never pets him, so he's just going to take advantage of this.]

Pretty sure. Blitz has been furious every time it happened to him.

[Jean gives Angel's shoulder a squeeze, then starts walking towards the Electrodes. If any of them start to crackle at him, he'll stop; he figures he knows Electrode body language pretty well by now, and will be able to tell when they're getting distressed. Well... more distressed than they already are. These guys look like they've been run ragged.]

I mean... most people never just talk to them, you know? They don't try to get to know them. So they act like assholes to try and get attention, and then they get attention for being assholes, and so they keep being assholes.

[One of the Electrodes crackles in warning, and Jean stops immediately, dropping slowly into a crouch so he's on the same level they are.]

Angel, do you have any candy on you?

[brokencode]

[Angel had been handing out puffs left and right during the party proper, but she'd brought a fair few for that purpose. There weren't quite enough for each Electrode to have a whole puff to themselves, but splitting them into halves did the trick.]

[Angel carefully crept closer, handing the collected pile over to him and then resting a hand on his shoulder. She could imagine she'd be in a similar position, were they dealing with a horde of harassed Sylveon.]

Tell me what else you need me to do, Jean. You know them best.

[notvaljean]

Thank you.

[Jean takes the puffs and holds them up, so the trapped Electrodes can see them.]

Just talk to them. Be nice. They like it when you're nice to them.

[Angel is much better at being sweet and nice than Jean is, so between the two of them, they might make some headway.]

Are you guys hungry? I'm going to give these to Blitz--this one, right here, he's like you, see?--and he's going to bring them to you. We're going to stay over here.

[Blitz rolls up beside Jean, and Jean puts a treat in his new World's Okayest Trainer mug before letting Blitz take it in his mouth.]

We have enough for everyone, but he can only carry one at a time. Be patient, he'll get to all of you.

[Blitz rolls bravely forward. It's never been so apparent that he's on the smaller side for an Electrode than it is right now, when he's right next to some of his bigger relatives.]

[brokencode]

[The hand against Jean's shoulder tightened all the more. She wasn't afraid, per se, just nervous for Blitz and his proximity to the other Electrode's. There were a number of ways this could end -- with Blitz hurt severely, or perhaps with the cat-like creature churning about in its cage.]

Blitz is a very good friend of ours, and I think he'd like to be yours too. We all would be.

[A few days prior, she'd stressed to Armin the importance of talking and communicating with Pokemon. She'd be remiss to ignore her own words.]

[And right now, she had a lot to say. The cages upstairs had been bad enough. This right here was nothing short of awful, not to mention reminiscent of a time she would have much rather forgotten.]

I know how much it hurts to be used for someone else's purpose. They probably hurt you, made you this angry. I had someone who did that to me, too. But if you stop, I promise that we'll protect you. Jean, myself, and all of our friends.

I don't have to hurt anymore, and neither do you.

[notvaljean]

[Blitz rolls gamely forward, to the nearest Electrode. The other Pokemon watches him through narrowed eyes, suspicious of his intentions. Blitz stops without getting too close, and carefully upends the mug, letting the Pokepuff roll out and onto the floor. The other Electrode's eyes widen--a treat? It's been so long since it's had a treat! It was certain that the cake was a lie! It looks at Blitz, then back at the treat, then back at Blitz. Blitz, in a rare show of patience and generosity, nudges the puff forward.]

See? It's like Angel said: we want to be your friends.

[]Jean is hardly breathing, he's so tense. Angel is gripping him hard enough to make his shoulder ache, but he barely notices. All his energy and intentions are focused on the Electrodes.]

Not all people are bad. We want to help you.

[He'll ask later about what Angel said, about not having to hurt anymore, but now isn't the time.]

[The Electrode is still unsure... but it rolls forward and snatches the treat away, retreating to eat it. The other Electrodes watch with interest, and one of them--a smaller one, almost Blitz-sized--rolls forward, its expression hungry and longing.]

See? And there's more where that comes from. Blitz, why don't you give the next one to our little friend over there?

[Blitz rolls back for another puff, and Jean turns to Angel, lowering his voice.]

Do you think it's working?

[brokencode]

[The siren leaned back against him, grip loosening as relief swam through her. The Electrodes seemed at enough at ease to not immediately attempt an attack, and the combined gentleness of both Jean and Blitz seemed to assure her of that.]

I think so. [The hand on his shoulder slid down a little, now wrapping loosely around him in a half-embrace.] You did wonderfully -- you and Blitz both.

[She hoped there would be enough puffs left over for her to heap them onto Blitz later. If anyone was a hero here, it was the Electrode. Jean deserved a healthy amount of credit, but their own Electrode had swallowed his pride and personality long enough to make things right.]

[She was proud of him.]

We'll get you out safe, and once we do, there will be plenty more Pokepuffs for you. I promise.

[notvaljean]

[Blitz is really stepping up the plate here, being both brave and humble, and Jean has never been prouder of his little death ball. Blitz might be an ass most of the time, but he's coming through when it matters.]

Thanks. We're trying.

[Jean is so intent on the Electrodes that he barely notices Angel has her arm around him, something that would normally bring him great joy. Blitz continues rolling back and forth, bringing the Pokepuff halves over until they've all be distributed. The last Electrode to get one is the biggest one of the bunch, a massive specimen that towers over Blitz. It looks like it's almost as big as Marcel, and Jean holds his breath as Blitz approaches it.]

[Blitz rolls up fearlessly, and deposits the treat in front of the big Electrode. It looks at it, then back at Blitz, before messily devouring the puff in one bite. Then, before Blitz can roll away, the big Electrode pounces on him, and Jean half leaps to his feet.]

Don't hurt him!

[No, the big Electrode isn't aiming to hurt; it's rubbing its face on Blitz and making the crooning sound Blitz used to make when he was playing with the kittens. Jean's heart starts beating again, and he collapses next to Angel.]

Gods...

[brokencode]

[As Jean lurched forward, Angel leapt backward, going for what, she wasn't sure. Perhaps she might have snatched at a pokeball, hoping to catch the creature just as she'd caught the Gorebyss earlier. Or maybe she might have gone for a weaker Pokemon, just to keep the creature at bay.]

[Whatever her plan, it mattered not. The electrode wasn't keen on hurting anyone, and Angel found herself breathing out a sigh of relief. Blitz might have been a jerk at times, but he was becoming one of her favorite jerks.]

I think... I'm going to need a long nap and a lot of ice cream after this endeavor is over. [She glanced toward Jean, then wrapped her fingers around his.] Are you alright, my friend?

this will probably be my last tag on this, I'm trying to cut down :)

[notvaljean]

[The big Electrode is all over Blitz, and Blitz is, although slightly confused, accepting its affection. He's even crooning back a little, and rocking back and forth beside the larger Pokemon. It's kind of fascinating; Jean has never seen Blitz interact with anyone of his own kind before.]

So much ice cream.

[Jean is going to go to the shop, sit down, and just ask them to keep it coming until his stomach is ready to burst. He'll need it after all this.]

I'm fine. Just a little startled. [He manages a crooked smile at Angel before turning back to the Electrodes.] I know Blitz can take care of himself, but seeing that big one go after him... damn.