The Indigo League (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
indigo_league) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
victory_road2020-12-20 03:54 am
indigo_league) wrote in victory_road2020-12-20 03:54 am
How Team Rocket stole Christmas...
All the Rockets were working, putting their plans into place...
Just because there has been an absence of huge heists and explosions, doesn't mean Team Rocket has taken some time off from crime for the holidays. Everything but, in fact!
Under the eye of Jennies and gym leaders everywhere, Team Rocket has been putting their new dastardly plans into action by replacing every mall Santa and Elf (and boy, are there a lot of mall Santas and Elves this time of year!) with their own grunts and privates. Their goal? To scope out all the malls, shopping districts, and shopping centers in the two regions in preparation for the Saturday before Christmas, which just so happens to be the biggest shopping day of the year. No other day in the year has stores just so absolutely glutted with cash and valuables, registers and store safes overflowing with money. Plus there is all that yet unsold merchandise. Really, it just begs for someone to come and steal it.
Doing so would be the heist of the year, the talk of the season and who else but Team Rocket would be able to pull it off?
Of course, being that this is Team Rocket, they cannot help but want both the fortune and the fame. (Or is that infamy?) When you go big, you gotta go loud, and that is exactly what Team Rocket plans to do right at the biggest, busiest, most valuable market of them all: The Goldenrod City Christmas Market.
(Plus if everybody's attention is drawn to Goldenrod City where they've stationed their best and brightest, all the other Rocket members across the two regions will certainly be able to get away with their far more silent dastardly deeds with that much more ease)
Even among Christmas Markets, The Goldenrod City Christmas Markets is something special. There is no market more festive or more beautifully decorated. Winding through a part of town (having outgrown its old stadium home), the various stalls and shops sell valuables that cannot be bought anywhere else; valuable TMs, precious held items, even items like fossils and gems, Goldenrod has it all.
And soon. Team Rocket will have it all.
If a series of people in balaclava masks, heavy coats, and warm hats begin to filter into the Christmas Market as the evening wears on… well, it is the biggest shopping day of the year. And with the December chill nipping at everybody's noses and ears, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be warm while you shop… right?
Towards the end of the evening, as shoppers slowly start leaving for home, their wallets a lot lighter than when they arrived, the various intercoms that have been playing non-stop Christmas music for the last few weeks suddenly cut out with a strangle crackle. The bright and merry Christmas lights suddenly cut out, leaving the market flooded in darkness.
What's happening? A power outage? Did someone forget to pay the power bill?
But no, it's worse. Much worse.
… and make it double...
You better watch out
We’re making you cry
Don’t make us shout
We’re telling you why
Team Rocket is coming to town!”
Dozens upon dozens upon dozens of warmly dressed market-goers suddenly throw off their coats, balaclavas and hats, revealing their Team Rocket uniforms underneath! The lights come back on again, but unlike the cheery twinkling of before, they are all a harsh red now.
Red like the Rocket R that has suddenly appeared everywhere. Even as many of the Rockets are swooping in to steal every TM, battle item, and cashbox that isn’t nailed down, other Rockets are putting Team Rocket’s mark on their surroundings: banners with the Rocket R (which had been hidden very cleverly within other decorations) are suddenly unfurled while the speakers blare something that is definitely not Christmas music. Even the large Christmas Tree at the centre of the market is a target, as a few grunts use their Psychic pokemon to tear the delicate beautiful ornaments of the tree, replacing them with the Rocket symbol.
And while there are always some guards and Jennies at the market, they are quickly surrounded by Rocket privates who deal with them with almost terrifying precision. It's as if they knew exactly what pokemon these Jennies were going to bring and made sure to tailor their teams to that.
With the Jennies dealt with, the chaos is complete. Who can help us now?
And as Goldenrod descends into Rocket chaos, all those who remained at home or who are out on the road will be treated to a very unusual visitor.
His arrival is heralded by the sound of sleigh bells, growing ever closer until suddenly you can spot it: a sleigh. And not just any sleigh. It’s the same sleigh you must have seen over and over in the past few weeks, gracing every advertisement, window display and Christmas decoration. It’s pulled by a singular Stantler which dashes through the air, its hooves skimming the clouds as it guides the sleigh lower and lower until it touches down onto the ground in front of your character (or, should you be inside, onto the roof). The single occupant of the sleigh rises, a massive red-clad man with an equally massive beard, and it is him, the OG (Original Gift-maker).
Santa’s jolly face is uncharacteristically serious as he extends a thickly gloved hand, his voice lacking its normal grandfatherly cheer.
Won’t you help me fight tonight?”
Event FAQ
What if my character does not want to help Santa?
Santa will understand. He'll look a little sad, but he will understand. He will depart, though he will give characters a candy cane before he goes.
Wait, is Santa giving us a lift to Goldenrod, then?
Yep! He can do that for everyone at the same time, because Santa is magic like that.
My character wants to help Santa, but they are not a fighter!
Not to worry! Even if your character is not a fighter, Santa can really use their help. You see, today Santa isn't just carting around gifts in his sleigh -- a quick reach into his sack will reveal First Aid kits and potion packs.
For anyone who wants to help out, but who aren't good at fighting, Santa would really appreciate it if they would be willing to help support others who are doing the fighting, and help heal any of the pokemon or people who may have gotten hurt by Team Rocket's shenanigans.
My character wants to help Santa and is willing to fight, but they don’t have any high level pokemon!
Worry not! Santa will provide! For everyone who wants to fight, but only has low-level pokemon, Santa will lend out two (2) of his little helpers: a Jynx in a fur-lined red dress and a Shiny Galar Zigzagoon (adorably candy-striped in red and white.) Both Pokemon are Level 60. Sadly, these are just on loan and Santa will need them back when the fight is over, but they will pose for selfies with you on request.
What about the non-Goldenrod locations? Is Santa sending anyone to fight off the Rocket operatives there?
They’re being taken care of by the Pokemon League, Gym Leaders, and all kinds of trainers from this world. Which doesn’t mean Team Rocket won’t steal some of what they’re aiming for anyway. It just means the other locations won’t be completely defenseless.
I have a Rocket character. Where are they supposed to be during this?
At the Christmas Market, of course! They’re one of the ‘best and the brightest.’
Wait, so when Team Rocket says they’re ‘stealing Christmas’ what they actually mean is that they’re robbing a bunch of places at once on the biggest shopping day of the year and taking over the Christmas Market?
Well, yeah. Did you think they were gonna go the Full Grinch? Nah. Raiding the cashboxes is way more profitable.
So, uh, how are we getting home again?
Time to walk-- No, no. Santa wouldn't do that to people. After everything has been dealt with, he'll give people a lift back to where he picked them up. Unless they'd much rather remain in Goldenrod City, in which case, that is fine too.
C, aka "why is Sylvain like this"
But eventually, he hears a familiar voice, and is already experiencing a moment of exasperated dread even before he whirls to see...this. Scowling deeply, he dashes toward the bandits, ducking and weaving past them to take up a defensive stance beside Sylvain, glaring at him in between keeping his eyes on the enemy Pokemon. In moments, both hands contain pokeballs.]
Sylvain, what did you do??
no subject
[As he does so, a group of rats cling to him, followed by one very large striped creature who has, frankly, been very helpful. Just not helpful enough for Dimitri to immediately track down Claude. Helpful for battles, of course, when Dimitri can't smack people with the walking stick he borrowed, but not this.]
[He does, however, spot the blur of blue that is Felix, and turns to go after him... only to turn onto the scene of his other friend, surrounded by aggravated Rockets and their Pokemon.]
[Well. Dimitri doesn't think twice.]
[Unlike Felix, Dimitri doesn't hesitate to ask questions. Instead, coming in from behind the group of Rockets, Dimitri smacks behind the knees of one to make him hit the ground with a surprised shout. From Dimitri's shoulder, his rats start to take turns using him as a launching pad straight to the faces of various Rocket grunts.]
[A lot of yelling is happening very quickly, and more happens when the Obstagoon behind Dimitri makes a truly stunning Scary Face.]
no subject
You should see the other guy. [His words come out almost slurred. Never mind the fact that there is no other guy, just an inconveniently placed sign post that his face had met. He's pretty sure that's the only reason the Rockets had gotten the drop on him.
He might have started to say more, or at least to charge back into the fray now that he has backup. However, the sight of... Well, it's a hell of a sight, is what it comes down to. A number of rats begin to swarm the area, and again, Sylvain is left to wonder if he's imagining it all. A hallucination is the only way he can think to describe the looming figure that the rats shoot from.
But -- no. The more he focuses, and the more rockets fall, the easier it is to make out Dimitri. And... there's something about the nonsensical nature of it all that brings Sylvain back to his senses.
Mostly.]
A whole rescue squad for me? I must be in big trouble.
no subject
[Felix spares a wary glance for Dimitri, but so far it's just rats...mostly...rather than rampaging, so he releases the borrowed Jynx along with Fellstar--who has gotten into a good rhythm backing up the more powerful psychic--and Zoltan, who runs great interference with his immunity to normal attacks. In the meantime, Varley runs off to snatch pokeballs away from Rocket grunts' belts and scatter them under the bandits' feet, laughing as they trip, stumble, and fall on the round objects.]
feralmitri typical violent threats cw
[Dimitri doesn't need the balls as he continues to smash people's legs to the ground, snarling as he does so.]
How dare you - I ought to feed you your own fingers until you choke on them-
[A couple of the Grunts, not used to hearing whatever the FUCK Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd says with his mouth when incensed, start to... back off a bit. He's only smacking people to the ground while his rats run wild, but sir? Sir are you okay over there-]
[He's fine. What Dimitri is truly worried about is Sylvain, as he calls over to him.]
Are you both all right?
Re: feralmitri typical violent threats cw
He might not have seen Dimitri at his worst, but he'd certainly heard his descent down to that point. This -- this seems dangerously close to that.
Varley, Gremlin and the rest of their crew seem to have things relatively under control. Though, if they do seem to struggle, Sylvain lets out the Jynx into the fray. She's worse for wear, but with backup she'll be fine. At Sylvain's instruction, she immediately sets to helping some of the rats fly once more. Mostly, though, Sylvain's focus is on Dimitri. He wades through the crowd, chucking elbows at enemies and guiding wayward rats back to their targets or destinations.
He casts a worried glance back toward Felix. He knows that Felix won't like this anymore than he does -- likely substantially yes. That also troubles Sylvain, his stomach twists at the idea of their tenuous peace with one another falling apart.]
Dimitri -- [His vision swims for a moment, but he blinks through it. His hand claps on Dimitri's shoulder, trying to still him. To draw him back. He tugs on it, an attempt at coaxing him to look Sylvain in the eyes.
The Rockets are falling and fleeing now, woefully unprepared for such an unconventional onslaught. What's more important now is what's happening with Dimitri.]
Mitya. Dima. Look at me.
Re: feralmitri typical violent threats cw
Once the bandits disperse, Felix turns with a fierce scowl only to see Sylvain...reaching out to Dimitri. Gentle. Kind. And the ill feeling intensifies, even more when he hears those childhood nicknames that he hasn't been able to bring himself to speak in a decade. Where was this behavior then, Sylvain? Why didn't you do something then? Why didn't I?
Felix doesn't know how to be gentle or kind. He doesn't know how to think properly with this fear running through his veins like ice water. He snaps, marching up to the two of them and glaring hard up at Dimitri, jabbing a finger toward him.]
Get a hold of yourself, we're not done here. We don't have time for you to lose your wits and let the beast out, and I don't have the patience to deal with you like this again. Shove the boar back where it belongs or so help me I'll do it for you.
no subject
Sylvain's hand, his shoulder. Felix's finger, suddenly in his face. Dimitri blinks, and finds his lungs suddenly burning. How long has he been breathing this hard?
His ribs seem to shudder when he takes a breath, and Dimitri's stare as he looks to Sylvain is - wide eyed, frantic, too bright. He swallows, and finds his throat barely able to manage that much.]
They - I won't let them.
[It's a rasped out growl, shoulders tense to the point of hurting as he forces his fingers not to clench down and break the walking stick in his hand. He's positive he'll do it, if he's not thinking.]
I will not let them take you. They already hurt you, I...
[To the side, the Rattata are squeaking victoriously at the last of the Rocket grunts running off, practically hopping off the ground from the force of it. The Obstagoon watches more carefully, first at the Rockets, and then back at Team Traumatized back there.]
no subject
Felix -- [But his mouth snaps shut when Dimitri speaks. His gaze flashes back to him, and from here Sylvain's hands lift to cup Dimitri's cheeks. He smooths his thumbs over the skin there.]
They aren't going to take me anywhere. You protected me, and they are gone now. [A hand traces back into his hair.] Just breathe, okay.
[Now his gaze does shift back to Felix. There's still an edge to his gaze, but with Dimitri still coming down all the same, he can swallow it down. The longer he stares, the more that edge dulls, then softens, even.]
We need to move. I am certain they will send reinforcements. Or at least attempt to catch us unawares. [Regardless of their tactics, he knows Felix will agree that exposing Dimitri to further conflict won't help.]
no subject
The rest...the rest he doesn't expect at all. He's never seen Sylvain act like this with Dimitri before. It's jarring. It's...he doesn't understand it, doesn't know where it comes from, and with adrenaline and mild panic still running through him, he has no way of parsing or handling it. He can't think it through, he needs to...he needs to get out of here. Words just come out on their own as he turns his back to them, preparing to leave.]
Do what you want. I'm busy.
no subject
[He feels like he shouldn't be there. Here.]
[Dimitri breathes in again, and takes along the words Sylvain is speaking while he does so. They need to move. Yes, that's right - they always need to move with enemies loose. He wavers in place for a moment, and then there are a group of rats gathering around his feet.]
[Straightening up, still a little wild eyed, Dimitri looks around, lands on Felix. Are they going? Felix is leaving again. Felix is leaving because of him. Breathe out now. Right. A boar. Of course he's a boar. He knew he couldn't outrun his nature.]
An empty building then - come.
[There have to be plenty of them - Team Rocket has run through quite a bit of this city.]
no subject
With that crisis averted, he turns to Felix. All of the fire is gone now, replaced with desperation. He reaches out, nearly grabbing onto Felix's arm but hesitating just short. Disrespecting his personal space seemed like too much -- he's almost the opposite of Dimitri in that respect.
At least as far as he's concerned.]
Felix, don't. [His voice is urgent, but there's no venom there.] I. Need you here with me. We need you.
[He draws his hand back, and instead drapes it around Dimitri's shoulders. This way, he can grab onto Dimitri if he slips again.]
I think I passed one not too far from here. Come on.
no subject
But all that was a few months ago.
Now, he stops and tries to will his mind and heart to stop racing; tries to keep his breath and hands from shaking. His jaw clenches, but he forces the word out:]
...fine.
[He turns back to follow them, but doesn't look either of them in the eye. Fellstar, as he's done several times now, seems to sense the rolling wave of emotions and paws at Felix's leg with a small meow, looking up at him with those too-wide eyes. Felix bends to pick the cat up and carry him in his arms as they go.]
no subject
[Stupid, really. Everything is. Dimitri tries to remember where he is, and lets himself be moved, turned around.]
[The Obstagoon he'd borrowed finally moves over as well now that it's clear the humans here have things... kind of under control. As the only real responsible adult creature in this group, he starts to guide them properly, and nudge them into a small empty storefront where the lights still shine brightly but various things have been left scattered along the floor.]
[Dimitri comes a little more around, a moment later.]
...Felix is staying?
no subject
He hasn't seen Dimitri like this in years, if only by virtue of having not seen the man at all. Now that he has time to process it, panic threatens to grip him.
He twists away before the gnawing tendrils can consume him whole. His eyes lock on Felix's once more, to whom he quietly mouths "thank you."
As he steps inside, he relaxes just a little. The lights burn away the lingering shadows in his mind. Though he lets go of Dimitri, he tries not to stray too far -- just enough to nudge an item or two in front of the door. It won't be much protection, considering the easily broken glass windows beside it, but it will at least by them time.
Confident in their at least momentary safety, he turns back to the group.]
I think I have a few extra first aid kits. Who needs it most?
[Leave it to him to ignore his own banged up face.]
no subject
And then Sylvain turns and by instinct alone Felix glances up to meet his gaze, and at first he's not sure what he's being thanked for. Then the idea percolates through his mind that...what Sylvain said back there, about needing him, maybe it was just...for Dimitri's sake. Which is itself a thought that brings another confusing morass of feelings, but no--Sylvain wouldn't say that and not mean it, right?
Still. It's hard to think straight and the way Sylvain is clinging to Dimitri is confusing and strange, and when they get inside he moves into a corner to lean against the wall and fold his arms with the Espurr perched in them, resting the wooden sword against it beside him as though it were a real one. It's...a bit of a comfort.
He looks over to frown at Sylvain.]
You do, you idiot. [Then, just slightly gentler,] Are you all right?
no subject
[The Obstagoon, fortunately, is there to help as he very gently but very pointedly presses his furry paws down onto Dimitri's shoulders until he's sitting on chair scrounged up. Immediately, the small swarm of rats get up onto him, with Gremlin especially inspecting Dimitri's face.]
[Dimitri ignores them, for the most part, as he looks back to Sylvain.]
They hurt you, Sylvain...
no subject
Aw, Felix. I love you too. [It's meant to be familiar -- he was regularly called an idiot, and responded similarly. Felix was no exception to that. And if it's meant to be any different, Sylvain doesn't show it. Probably the adrenaline.
Perhaps later, he'll realize what he's done.
For now, his attention drifts back to Dimitri. He softens his voice all the more.]
Naw, it wasn't them. [He offers an half-smile, somewhere between forced and reassuring (and as a result, likely neither, in the end).] I was trying to get away and did not notice a sign post. I will probably be real bruised up tomorrow but... mostly they just threatened me with their Pokemon and tried to get me to give up my valuables.
no subject
...whatever. He marches over to Sylvain and snatches the first aid kit from him, opening it to rummage around inside.]
Sit down. You look terrible.
[If Sylvain will let him, he'll clean up the scrapes and bloody nose with surprisingly gentle hands given the way he's scowling. In the meantime, Varley jumps into Sylvain's lap.]
no subject
[It's fine.]
[He watches as Felix so tenderly takes care of Sylvain, the gentleness in his hands. It really drives home the relationship between the two of them... and, suddenly, Dimitri feels as though he is out of place in an entirely different way. Out of place in a way that...]
[Still holding his rats close, Dimitri tries to stand up.]
I will go out then...
[Patiently, the Obstagoon pushes him back down.]
no subject
At some point, his eyes flutter open, and he finds himself smiling at Felix. It's not the cocksure grin that he's been wearing, but something close to gentle, reassuring even.]
I'm fine, Felix. Quit looking at me like that -- your face is going to get stuck.
[His fingers bury within Varley's fur, petting her carefully with a few muted reassurances for her as well. He's quickly distracted, likely to her chagrin, when he hears Dimitri speak.]
And where do you think you're off to? [He's grateful for the Obstagoon taking the initiative -- there's no way Sylvain could have given his current position.] It is a mess out there, Dima. We need to stick together.
no subject
And there's the nickname again. Since when was he back to calling Dimitri that? Last time this Sylvain saw the prince was at the academy, when he insisted on saying 'Your Highness' despite Dimitri's protests. Even at the point where Felix is from, no one has called him 'Dima' anytime in recent memory. So what brought this on?
Felix flicks a sharp and cautious glance at Dimitri over Sylvain's head, but says nothing. He puts the first aid kit down once he's done and retreats back to his corner, although he leaves the cat in Sylvain's lap, where she mews with vague insistence that the petting should resume.]
no subject
[Because it feels as though... Hm. He doesn't like the strange feeling that curls in his chest, and tries to ignore it.]
[Instead, he glances back awkwardly at Felix from beneath the shaggy mess of his hair. With how much Dimitri has been running about, it's become even more disheveled than usual.]
...I promised that I would help.
no subject
Loved ones elicits a twisting feeling in his chest. Abruptly, he remembers his words from only a few minutes prior, and barely suppresses the urge to cringe.
Instead, his attention shifts to Dimitri.]
Sure, but... [Sylvain worries his lip. He's always made a point not to bite them, lest they wind up cut or chapped. To hell with it hear, though, he's worried.] You seemed pretty out of it earlier, Mitya. Are you sure you will be alright alone?
[He looks back to Felix for help.]
no subject
If you go back out there now, you'll just get...confused again. And your rats are worried. [Sure, Felix. It's just the rats who are worried. Not you or anything.] You can help later when your head's screwed on straight again. ...and what did I tell you about your hair?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)