victory_road | Friday the thirteenth doesn't usually get this whacky

[DAYS 1 TO 2]

[At the start of the weird weekend as it's so called, Emporio doesn't initially realize it's that time of the year yet again. The last time, things began rather typically after all- which meant he woke up and immediately had his (second) stand back, and very quickly became aware of it by way of waking up to a cloud man in his face.

That doesn't happen this time, largely because he doesn't have his stand. Instead when he wakes up, he soon sees that his skin is grey.]

W...What..?

[No, there's more than that- he's got strange candy-corn seeming ram's horns, and his very shirt is different- there's what looks to be a circle on it in rusty red, a single dot at the center.

Really he's more concerned about the horns and skin and such though.

Over the course of the day, he mostly wanders because of this- trying to puzzle out what's going on, why it's going on like this, and-]

...Oh. [There are a LOT more ghost pokemon than typical following him.] Uhhhh...hi..?

[Alright at least one of these guys can't possibly be a ghost-]

[DAY 3]

[The third day brings a much needed return to normal- Emporio is his usual, semi-dark self with oddly brilliant blond hair under a hat, and beside him can be seen a humanoid figure practically formed of clouds. Dressed for the weather- it is a bit chilly, and he's not about to ask Weather Report to warm it up right now- he sits casually upon a bench, watching the power-throwing madness around him.]

...What a weird weekend...

[He hopes they aren't like this next time...so tiring...]

[Close by, but not too close, a uniformed member of Team Rocket is watching. Watching, and trying to assess the situation. Because...]

Boss, I can't find anything like it in the Pokédex. Does that mean it's a stand?

[... Which. Sure is an observation. But if there is anyone that Diavolo is ever patient and gentle with, it's Doppio.] Indeed, Doppio. From your description, I assumed that to be the case from the very beginning, but I must praise your thoroughness. Not many people would think to check.

Oh, well, I just thought... There's Pokémon that look like animals, Pokémon that look like rocks, Pokémon that look like trees... There could be Pokémon that look like stands, too. [Impeccable logic.] But more importantly, what should I do, Boss? You've been taking advantage of your King Crimson to gather resources more efficiently, but if there's another stand user here, shouldn't we get him out of the way first? Should I close the distance, sir?

[Sure, he looks like a kid, but business is business.]

Easy, my Doppio. It's too soon to act. Put your talents to use, and even if we cannot unearth what the child's stand is capable of, we can prepare for whatever comes next.

[... Right. Epitaph. Doppio grabs a pebble - it's too small to do much harm, but that's not what it's for. He's going to throw it and then hide elsewhere... but what will the kid do in response?

Show him, Epitaph.]

[A lot is going on behind Emporio, but suffice to say he doesn't expect much of anything to happen. As it is, the pebble is definitely going to hit, and he's definitely just going to turn around- 'Ow! ....what on earth?'- and otherwise not really leave where he is.

Weather's response is even blander. It's not as if the pebble was harmful in any way other than minor inconvenience after all. All Weather does is stare at Emporio, hardly moving any more than that.

How boring.]

[Oh. Well, then. Doppio throws the pebble, and sure enough, that's all that happens.]

I think he's just a regular kid, Boss. Uh, other than the stand, [he whispers into the receiver.]

A "regular kid" does not simply acquire a stand. You must keep your guard up.

Okay, but... That probably means we can handle him without too much of a problem, right? Even if he's not a threat, it's better if no one catches on to what we've been doing.

[A thoughtful pause.] ... Indeed. Very well then, Doppio: approach him as you see fit, but should he use his stand, you must NOT react to its appearance in any way - merely come as close as you can. I will do the rest.

[... Doppio opens his mouth, distantly wondering if the Boss isn't putting too much faith in him, and then even more distantly wondering where he is right now if he's so close he can come handle the situation himself, but instead of voicing any of those thoughts, he simply nods and complies.

A standard, stealthy approach to begin with, then: sneaking up behind the boy, Doppio aims to reach for... either any visible Pokéballs, or his bag. You know, like a regular Rocket would.]

[Oh boy.

Weather doesn't respond, but one of Emporio's pokemon certainly do. The moment something is near a pokeball, it starts to move. And then the ball breaks.

And then there's a large haunter there.]

WU-H!

[Nearly knocking Emporio over in the process but-] Oxy, what-

[Quick Doppio! Lie,]

[Alright, well. Not exactly what he wanted. Gives him something to stare at other than the stand, though! Just... focus on the Pokémon. The Pokémon and the kid. NOT the stand.]

...

[Maybe he can... try and keep rolling with the lie he was already trying to sell?]

Hand over your Pokémon, kid!

[Bold words from someone wearing a uniform that looks several sizes too large.]

[There's an incredibly fatal flaw in this plan of Doppio's.

Everyone sees stands on the weird weekends.

As it is though, he doesn't even think Weather's really needed for that- Oxy is plenty quick to aim at levitating Doppio on the spot.] ....No?

[Let's be real, of all the flaws in this particular plan, that's the most excusable one. He couldn't have known, after all.]

Wha-- Ah! Ahhh! You're not supposed to do that! [USING POKÉMON ATTACKS ON PEOPLE SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED IN TRAINING SOMEHOW???

But either way, it seems like things are quickly getting out of hand.]

P-Put me down...! I'm dizzy, please put me down!

[Oxy refuses. Emporio just trades a look with Weather.] You're not supposed to steal either but you just tried that...I'm surprised actually. This is the first time I've really seen someone from Team Rocket...

[He thought it'd be more impressive...]

I... It's my job! I am supposed to steal!

[Probably not the most impressive argument either, but he's trying to buy himself some time. He's not quite close enough to strike, but if he tries using Epitaph at this distance, the kid is sure to notice all the same...!]

....that's really not a great excuse....

Anyway, I thought you guys could pick targets. I know someone in your group, and they definitely haven't tried to steal from me...

...Especially not on these kinds of weekends. You're kind of lucky if I think about it, [Emporio realizes as he looks to Weather.] ...I don't think Weather would have liked it if things got bad at all...

[Is he implying that a regular rocket should be able to see this guy!?]

[What is he talking about? Why wouldn't they steal from this kid? If it was anything important, surely, they would have covered it during training.

... And what is he talking about afterwards?]

These weekends...?

[He glances directly at the stand, but-- No, wrong move, he can't, nothing this kid just said directly confirms he ought to be able to see it - he opts to simply flail harder, legs kicking in the air.]

I-I don't get what you're talking about at all! Please, just put me down!

Mhnnn...I guess even the people here would have to deal with them... [Not that he knows where Doppio stands on things, but hey.]

See Weather? [Well now he's confirming it.] He's sort of...a power from where I came from I guess? ...He's really protective though, is the thing.

[Oxy is, reluctantly, putting Doppio down though. Reluctantly. She makes a threatening growl that sounds like it could change at any given moment. And you can't punch a ghost, Dop.]

...Anyway, sometimes a weekend comes up where people who came from other worlds get their powers back. So, you should probably not try to steal pokemon from anyone from another world when things seem weird.

...

Especially if you see things like Weather. That could be dangerous.

[wow he actually cares...]

What?! [He was supposed to see it???

Well, shit. Is it more or less suspicious now that his eyes keep flitting back and forth between the kid and his stand? What is he supposed to do? And what about the fact that this just HAPPENS, apparently? What's the plan now? He needs a plan!

He brings a sweaty hand to his sweating face, covering his mouth in a panicked grip--

And there is the muffled sound of a phone.]

[Hahahaaa...] Yeah... ...he probably looks a lot like a pokemon, I guess...but I promise, he's not..!

[Frankly, nothing was suspicious until now. It almost sounds like a phone. Almost.

Except...maybe more like someone making phone sounds??? Uh.

Well at least Doppio can run if he wants, but-] ...Are you ok?

I... Uh... I-I need to take this call...!

[He turns his head away - the call is coming from behind him, isn't it? - and the "phone" rings again.]

Uh....Okay..?

[Maybe it's just a weird ring-tone..? Uh.

Well, he's not going to make him stick around at least!]

[DON'T MIND HIM, he's just crawling behind a rock - the phone rings once more before he finds where he apparently dropped it. Kind of a bulky one, but with his luck and the constant spatial disorientation, he's already burned through a few, so he'll take what he can get.

A conversation ensues in panicked, hushed whispers and thoughtful mutters that are so quiet they might as well be inaudible outside of Doppio's head. Does Emporio interrupt, or does he figure he's better off walking away from this?]

[Well of course he isn't interrupting. That would be rude.

Emporio just shrugs it off, and goes back to what he was doing, which was sitting and watching the clouds. Even if this guy's kind of suspect.]

[EXCELLENT. That means he gets to carry out a new set of instructions. So, after a beep... Doppio approaches again. Less sneakily this time, as if to indicate he means no harm whatsoever.]

You... said that's not a Pokémon, right?

[Hey, he'll take that. ...Whatever it means.]

...Nope. This is 'Weather Report'. He's...I guess part of my soul now? It's sort of hard to explain Stands, honestly...I'll try my best if you want though.

Um... Sure! Unless you don't like the idea of telling a thief this kind of thing.

[He's not actually interested in knowing what a Stand is, of course; even though Doppio doesn't truly have one of his own, he understands the basics. But if he wants an answer to the question he does want to ask, then he'd better play his role well.]

Well, you might just forget it honestly? ...Memories from these parts of the year can be kind of hazy.

...also, I know people who probably work with you...so if all you were trying was this, it should be fine.

[Ultimately, the bigger worry with Team Rocket for him has been literally running from them en-masse while trying to convince him to join. It's been...really weird. Someone mistakenly trying to steal a pokeball is kind of a weird comfort actually!]

[Hazy, huh...? Good to know. How does that work for someone whose memory is a little lacking on the best of days, he wonders?

Well, it should be fine as long as he reports back to the Boss as quickly as possible.]

People... from other places, you mean? Do they have Stands too?

[THAT'S what he wants to know.]

One might..? [And to be entirely fair he only knows that there's more than one possibility in there because everyone Panicked in Sinnoh.]

I'm more familiar with hermana's girlfriend honestly...and she's from an entirely different world.

Emporio Alniño | JJBA (Stone Ocean) - Contains End Spoilers | OTA

day 3

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