Twenty-Third Sacrament: Unity

[11121_assumption]

Who: Walter, Diana, Jinx and Vanitas
Where: Fuchsia City
When: 5th March
Summary: Four traitors uniting to form something new...?
Rating: T for mentions of Pokemon abuse?

Log: 

The meeting place, arranged by simple, cryptic letters ferried by Pokemon or sent over Gears, was a small, hole-in-wall cafe, off the beaten path nearby the studio. The Purrloin's Paw was a humble place, most often sought by locals as the Starmiebucks around the corner attracted the eyes of tourists and the famous/infamous workers of the studio. On this particular day it was extremely empty, with only two employees behind the counter, quietly talking to themselves.

Walter was already inside, seated at a corner table that let him see the doorway but hid him from direct line of sight. Assumption was sat at his side, club on his lap as he ate a poffin. Gloom was in his shadow, waiting for his command. Once everyone was gathered and general polite welcomes had been made, she had her orders; hypnotise the workers into a deep sleep and lock the door, flipping the sign to 'Sorry! We're Closed!' Then, they could discuss their 'problem' with Team Rocket.

Once they had their chats and made their preparations, they'd simply stroll out into the sunshine, leaving the cafe and it's sleeping workers as it was...possibly minus some treats from the display counter.


[ While this is made for the group to talk as one, feel free to start threads between characters privately to catch up and assume that there's some casual banter going on too! ]

Comments

Loitering outside

[bleedingunversed]

Vanitas had been in the city for a day already and it had given him time to relax after traveling non-stop for almost a week straight. It honestly felt good to be around people he knew, especially Diana as much as he would never let her know that outright, and he ended up spending the majority of his first day in Fuschia just wandering the city and the beach just outside it. And then there'd be the excitement of a certain egg he'd gotten from Walter hatching and yeah Vanitas might have fallen in insta-love with his new little Cubone.

Said Cubone is curled up inside his jacket as he sits on a bench outside the cafe where they're suppose to be meeting, Red Hot the Zangoose sprawled over his lap and partially inside his jacket as well to help keep the little one warm. Vanitas absently petting the latter as Flood hovered upside down by his head messing around with his 'gear. Underneath the bench was Scrapper, the Houndoom seemingly asleep but, as usual, that was just a rouse. Curled up against her was Symphony the Buneary who actually was asleep. And the last member of the group was....well. Sneak was somewhere. Probably.

He'd go inside...in a few minutes. The baby was sleeping and he didn't want to wake her.

[badluckbabe]

Jinx was prompt as ever, mostly because this was the first opportunity she'd been given to prove her intentions to Walter and she wasn't about to let him think she was backing down.

Still seeing Vanitas was a surprise and she slowed her walk for a moment deciding if it was a coincidence or if he was here for the same meeting she was.

She had dressed down a bit, not eager to stand out today and with pink hair that was always an issue. So with a warm stocking cap and scarf as well as a modestly priced jacket she just looked like another person who was eager for spring to finally set in. But of course anyone who had met Jinx could recognize her in an instant.

"I didn't know you were in the neighborhood. What brought you all the way to Kanto?"

[bleedingunversed]

A low growl from Scrapper had alerted Vanitas to someone approaching and he draped his arms over the back of the bench, gaze flicking over to Jinx as she came up. He'd only crossed paths with her a few times but, even with her hair covered, it was hard to forget her face.

"Visiting some old friends," he mused, an eyebrow going up. "What about you? Shouldn't you be gallivanting around Johto or something?" She and Diana were close...had Jinx bailed when Diana did? Or was she here to track down Diana?

Still floating upside down, Flood had stopped fiddling with the 'gear and was watching Jinx with narrowed eyes and a grin. Whatcha up to, girly~

[badluckbabe]

"Huh, me too. Small world."

The phrasing put her on edge. Could "Old friends" Mean more Rocket goons? She was ready to fight her way out of a trap but if Diana got here first that would complicate matters.

"Actually Diana and I came to Kanto for the big Pokemon Contest. Did you see it? I thought everyone had watched it in one way or another."

Her ego would deal with that later once she determined if she had to worry about him. The last time they'd met face to face he'd been chasing down mean, tough pokemon to add to his team. He was the kind of trainer who probably had worked hard to win just like her.

Speaking of pokemon she glances warily up at Flood and smiles coyly waving her fingers in greeting.

[bleedingunversed]

"I participated, actually," Vanitas said smoothly, a grin on his lips now. "My Ribombee, Undertaker, wanted to be in the Tough competition so we entered. It was entertaining if nothing else." As he spoke he was watching her, studying her. The way she mentioned Diana was casually and it sounded as if they were still in Kanto together. Which meant they had come to Fuschia together..possibly?

Flood flipped right side up and giggled at Jinx, eyes glowing softly.

"Why so tense?" she teased and Vanitas reached up to swat at her.

"Knock it off, brat," he muttered, still watching Jinx. "...Are you here to meet Diana and Walter?"

Might as well be blunt about it.

[badluckbabe]

"Ah, I didn't see that competition because I was getting ready for my own round." She remarked idly. Now she wanted to go back and review the footage from the other rounds. Maybe it would inspire her next attempt at victory.

And then Vanitas in all his blunt glory asked the important question. She relaxed instantly.

"Yeah, guess you are as well. Don't tell me you ditched Team Rocket too?"

[keep_surviving]

"Hi Scrapper." Diana greets the Houndoom first, with caution.

One because she knows the dog will see her before Vanitas does. And two because she's still wary and not entirely comfortable with other people's dogs. Heck, she wasn't even comfortable around her own Houndoom.

She's stood a few paces away, Isla stood beside her, ribbon wrapped affectionately through one of her belt loops. Two Murkrow sit on her shoulders. One large, one scrawny and small. Strut and his son, Pro. They both caw in greeting and flutter over to hi to Flood.

In her arms is what appears to a perfectly round ball of green feathers. Diana's grinning at him. "Hey, lil' bro."

[bleedingunversed]

Scrapper's ears flick and she cracks open one eye, peering over at Diana before letting out a chuffing bark in greeting which is probably the friendliest she gets with anyone outside of Vanitas. It gets a grin out of said young man as he sits up slightly, slipping an arm under Red Hot to keep the Zangoose from slipping off his lap.

"Hey, sis," he mused with a snort, not even trying to fight the grin that was working it's way onto his lips. "About time you got here."

Flipping herself around Flood giggled and waved at Diana then twirled around the pair of Murkrow, eyes narrowed in delight.

"Birdie, birds, hello!" she mused before sinking down to sit on the back of the bench.

[keep_surviving]

The Murkrow landed on either side of Flood and began squawking and chittering at her pleasantly.

Diana closes the gap though her eyes still flicker to the Houndoom. She can't hug him as they both have their arms full so she just presses their foreheads together and brushes their noses in an Eskimo kiss before pulling back and sticking her tongue out.

"Brat. I was here before you. I just felt like sleeping in."

[bleedingunversed]

It's a gesture that's new to Vanitas but he doesn't pull away from it, squinting at her a bit but his grin widens nonetheless.

"Weirdo," he murmured with a chuckle tinging his words, the young man rolling his eyes as she pulled back. "Whatever you say~ I was still here before you so I win." Clearly that's how it works, Diana. "..It's good to see you."

Underneath the bench Scrapper snorts softly and closes her eyes again, turning her head a bit to nuzzle against Symphony.

Idiots.

[keep_surviving]

"But you love me~" Diana teases in a sing song voice, shifting her orb of green to one arm so she can reach up and ruffle his hair. "Good to see you too... I missed you."

She moves to look at what he has bundled up. "Holy shit. That's adorable. Did you get it from Walt?"

[keep_surviving]

Once the waitresses are out, Diana hops up from her seat and goes behind the counter to pilfer some food. "Anyone want anything?"

At her side is her ever loyal Sylveon, Isla, who offers to carry some of Diana's spoils back to the table with her ribbons.

With her hands and her mouth full, Diana returns to the table, dropping the collection down for people to grab what they requested before she ate it. She washes down a large cookie with a swig of bottled water and grins at everyone gathered.

Nestled in the front of her hoodie was DiDi. A newly hatched, bright green ball of feathers, dozing against Diana's body heat.

[badluckbabe]

"Grab a couple of croissant for Me and Destiny, I'll get the honey and jams."

Jinx was already helping to make the little meeting more substantial for a meal by grabbing various spreads and condiments from another part of the counter. Destiny the Cleffa was sitting on her head looking only slightly less pink then Jinx's own hair. Occasionally she would tug on a pawful of hair and Jinx would wince.

"Alright alright I'll get this one too. Sheesh you're needy."

Rising back to her feet she grinned with an armful of options bringing them back to the table. "Fresh jar of Nutella too. I haven't had any in awhile."

[11121_assumption]

Walter politely refused; he had paid for something to eat and drink while he was waiting and Assumption copied his gesture. He'd had his poffin! Once everyone had grabbed food and somewhat settled, he spoke. There was time to idly chat later. For now, he needed everyone on the same page.

"Team Rocket has come after me for abandoning them and taking from them. I imagine they have come for you as well, or will seek to do so." He opened, finishing off the coffee he had purchased and putting the mug down on the table. "But, they are pathetic. Their strength only comes in numbers...and I do not think, we will have been the only ones to leave them." He let the suggestion hang, gauging their reactions. Assumption stood on his chair, so he could easily be part of the discussion.

[bleedingunversed]

Vanitas just snorted, leaning back in his seat and tucking his arms behind his head. He had passed on the food as well--for now. (Though nothing would stop Flood from stuffing her face and the face of little Veritas who was seated on Vanitas's lap currently.)

"Honestly I don't know how anyone stays with them. They're more pathetic than some of the morons I dealt with back home," he mused, glancing down to make sure his Phantump partner was being careful with the quiet little Cubone before glancing at Walter then at the girls. "If there's more like us, we could outnumber them. Or at least over power them. It's not like they're that much of a threat, like Walter said."

He smirked, shrugging absently.

"I mean, they have people like Jack in charge. Real scary."

[keep_surviving]

"Are you saying you don't find Pop's scary, Vani?" Diana flashes him a grin playfully as she coos at the little Cubone and offer her half a brownie.

She leans back against her seat, taking a bite from the rest brownie. "I think there could be others, that got away. Because, I just don't think that Team Rocket are that smart."

Her hand reaches to idly pet Isla's head. "I figured we'd have a harder time. Running off and stuff. But, even with the ones that showed up, we've been okay. And can see others slipping out."

Her gaze switches to Jinx. "And Ji seems to having fun with some particularity dumb ones."

Idle Conversation

[11121_assumption]

As the group talks, they sometimes stray into casual chatter that wasn't so much about their goals but more general catching up. And while focused, Walter could take the change of pace once they'd covered the most pressing details of this meeting.

For the most part he was quiet, but once addressed he'd engage more in the conversation. It helped that Assumption was friendly, and would offer the fellow Pokemon present a Puff from the table. Here you go friend!

[bleedingunversed]

Vanitas had been waiting in a lull in things to approach Walter and when he finally got the chance...okay, so maybe he was hesitating. The last time they had been in the same place as one another hadn't exactly gone well. At all. And it's not like they had ever really gotten along prior to the whole bailing on Team Rocket.

His Pokemon had other plans for him, though, and it was Veritas the Cubone that made her way over before Vanitas could intervene. The day old Cubone peered curiously at Assumption and Walter, dragging her bone club with her and tilting her head at them in an almost thoughtful manner.

"It's not nice to stare~" Flood mused as she drifted over, circling the little Cubone and giggling as Veritas just blinked at her. The Phantump waved at Assumption then grinned broadly at Walter as Vanitas slowly approached because goddamn his Pokemon. "Hello, Mr. Walter~"

[11121_assumption]

Assumption smiled to his fellow bone-wearing Pokemon and slipped down to her level, tapping his club against the floor. "Hello."

Walter was used to Pokemon talking to him, and he'd spent enough time around ghosts to be used to their haunting voices. Assumption occasionally spoke to him like that even, now more adapted to it after developing the ability slowly after evolving. "Hello. You are with Vanitas, aren't you?" He vaguely remembered him having a Woobat and a Phantump, back when they had first met.

It hadn't been the best of first meetings and he had meant exactly what he had told him; if Vanitas had tried to steal his Pokemon again, he would have killed him. And while he was still wary, Diana had vouched for him. Given he had abandoned Team Rocket...it didn't mean he was good and wouldn't cause trouble. If anything Walter would be shocked if that was the case, given their communications regarding their ex-employers. But it meant that he cared about Pokemon, and had come to him for advice.

It meant something, although whether it was a meaningful something or a more casual something had yet to be seen.

[bleedingunversed]

Vertas blinked and watched Assumption as he moved down to her level, the little thing startling slightly as he tapped his club to the floor. Her gaze lingered on it before she looked at her own little bone, still for a moment before she leaned over to tap it against the floor as well. Once done, she blinked and looked to the larger Pokemon--she did it right?

"More like he's with us," Flood corrected in a sassy tone before dissolving into giggles as she floated closer to Walter and sank down to perch on the arm of his chair. "We've been training him well. Some humans just take time."

"Shut up, Flood," Vanitas muttered as he got close enough now to hear what she was saying, lazily glaring at her as she covered her mouth and started to giggle again. His glare softened out into something more neutral as he shifted his gaze to Walter and he nodded to the older man, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

Ugh. This was one of those awkward things people always talked about, wasn't it?

[11121_assumption]

Assumption wagged his tail. Yes, that's right! He nodded encouragingly, and tapped a different rhythm. "How are you?" He asked. The taps actually matched their conversation so far; the first taps he had used were to say hello to others in the area. This was to ask how things were.

"Hmm. I think some of my Pokemon would feel the same way." She was clearly a sassy little thing. Walter knew certain Pokemon of his who would proclaim to be more in charge of him than he was of them. Although he didn't know if they proclaimed as much to other people. Hopefully not.

At Vanitas approach he nodded back. It was a bit awkward but for Walter it was more because they hadn't liked each other at first but were now...well, here. He'd never actually been in a position where he could, or would, have considered forgiveness towards someone who purposefully wronged him. Yet he and Vanitas had some common ground that made this, probably not strictly required, but advantageous to them both.

"Vanitas. Flood was your starter, weren't they?"

[keep_surviving]

Isla takes the puff with a chime-like cry and delicately holds it with her ribbons as she nibbles at it.

"Deja vu." Diana smiles as she sits opposite him, small green bird still dozing in her hoodie.

She pulls two Pokeballs out from her bag, letting out two Zorua. To the untrained eye, they would be identical, but Walter would clearly see the redder eye markings of one and the longer ears of the other.

[11121_assumption]

"Hello Diana." He nodded to her, then smiled as he saw his Pokemon. "Truth."

Truth yipped excitedly when he saw Walter, bounding over to him and sitting right by him proudly. He hadn't grown much but he was nearly evolving! He's so strong now! Walter pet the top of his head, softly murmuring to him as Truth leaned into the touch. "I'm glad you're back."

In turn he retrieved a pokeball from his belt and opened it, careful that the Pokemon would appear beside the table and not on it. And there he is! Soren the Nidorino.

[keep_surviving]

Soren shook his head as he took in his surroundings, then twitched his large ears as he spotted Diana.

"Soren!" Diana turned in her chair to face him, leaning down as the creature trotted over to her. "Hello handsome."

She reached out and scratched under chin, unafraid of his various spikes. Despite his slightly large size, she still cooed at him. "Don't you look so big and strong?"

The Pokemon closed its eyes in pleasure and made a low noise to indicate he liked the attention, his spines shuddering akin to the way a dog would tag its tail.

[11121_assumption]

Walter gave Soren's pokeball to Diana, placing it in front of her on the table. "Soren is a very capable Pokemon. If you would like him to receive additional training in the future, I would train him again."

Because Soren had been a very willing Pokemon to train, and not a bother among his team. He knew Diana did not favour training as greatly as he did. But in their circumstances, it paid to have strong, loyal Pokemon on their side. Diana had several already...but more could never hurt.