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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.
no subject
Anyway, my paycheck and reputation depend on me interrupting this weird comedy routine, so when the kid sprints by, I seize them by the shoulder and spin them around to face me.]
Playtime's over. Beat it.
cw reference to past child abuse
["Just WHAT do you think you're doing?"]
[They're in trouble.]
["Haven't I told you enough times to just behave?!"]
[The subsequent reaction happens faster than they can think. Dirk might not even have time to process the startled, fearful look in their eyes before they lash out with a blind punch as hard as they can.]
cw same but specifically cw Bro Strider
And I catch this kid's fist in my hand effortlessly.]
no subject
[They snap out a wild kick, barely aimed and entirely desperate, before they turn and attempt to make a break for it. To where? They'll figure that part out later.]
no subject
If this were a random encounter in the street or someone else I know's kid having a go at me or whatever, I'd just let 'em run. No harm, no foul. But my job is to stop this kid and everyone like them. I can't just let them abscond from this little altercation--I have to teach them a lesson, and that lesson needs to thoroughly dissuade any further part in disrupting our work.
I sidestep that clumsy fear-kick and swing out my leg to trip them up, dropping them to the pavement mid-stride.]
What did I just say?
[Play time's over.]
no subject
I'm sorry I'm sorry I won't do it again I'm sorry--!
cw reference to past child abuse the trilogy, ft. Miklan Gautier
And that's half what he expects to find when he stumbles across man and child alike. He doesn't recognize Chip at first, doesn't need to. He has enough chivalry in his bones to do the right thing, friends or not. He already has his hand on his belt, ready to unleash the Jynx at his side, when the kid starts screaming.
He recognizes the voice of course, and the fact that it's one of his own decidedly doesn't help matters. But more than that, he recognizes that fear in their voice. He sees the way they curl into a ball, and suddenly he's not in Goldenrod anymore.
He's on a mountain. He's in a room far from his parents. He's teetering on the edge of a well, seeing just how loud he can make his voice echo. And no matter where he is, there's a flash of angry red, and suddenly he, too, is afraid.
There was never a question that he was going to step in and help the kid. But now, suddenly, it's not about Pokemon battles anymore. It's not even a jaunt into a skirmish that Sylvain isn't taking seriously enough. Chip's desperate pleas hit something deep within Sylvain, a scared child in its own right. Suddenly the whole world is red, bloody in some ways and harsh fire in others. Moreover, it's cold. When he charges forward, it isn't with the bolster of an overconfident knight, but with all of the desperation of a child -- nails bloodied against stone -- trying to fight his way out of a too deep hole.
Sylvain flings himself at the man in front of him, closer to a messy football tackle (if he knew what that was), rather than the graceful interference of a revered knight. Whether he makes contact or not, the metal of his armor rattles angrily against flesh and pavement alike, and it jars parts of Sylvain's body painfully. He doesn't give a damn.
He twists his head to the side toward Chip, eyes blown wide with fear and adrenaline.]
Run.
Dirk: ignore everyone else's trauma in favour of bitchy narrative
Even when I see it coming, it's a lot to ask of me to figure out a solution when I can't fly, flash step, or even have an actual goddamn sword.
Mostly I get the wooden candy cane up between me and mister juggernaut here and then take the rest of the hit to my whole fucking self. The little sound he knocks out of me is fairly undignified. Something like this:]
oof.
[And now I'm pissed. I've got the candy cane shoved up under his chin, trying to jerk his head up and/or apply pressure to his throat.]
Now is that any way to greet Santa?
no subject
[doesn't move.]
[Frozen in fear, they can't make themself to anything more than stare in fear and confusion, not realizing they aren't backed into a corner or thrown in a closet.]
no subject
Not that he does right away. He's distracted, right now, by the fact that Chip hasn't budged. It's difficult to really focus, but in the brief seconds he does, Sylvain recognizes the expression Chip wears. Like with everything else, it feels uncomfortably familiar.
His hand drops to his belt. He'd traded out some of his Pokemon to compensate for the additional two on his team. Now, he's grateful that he'd kept Pooka in the line-up. The Furret comes bounding out in a streak of light. At first, he seems ready to pounce on Santa. Sylvain makes sure to squash that urge.]
Chip. Now.
[The Furret turns, and finds the small pile of scared child. Quickly, they sprint over and wrap around Chip -- not to constrict, but enough to feel the brush of fur against their skin. As he settles in against the child, a deep noise rumbles up from his throat. It's a warning.
With that out of the way, Sylvain turns back to Santa. His knee jams up, aiming for between the other man's legs. He's perfectly happy to fight dirty, after all.]
Where was I? Right -- Met the guy. And he didn't seem to thrilled about beating up kids.
CW: same triggers
But mister Knight In Shining's really not the first person to come up with that strategy. I yank the candy cane back towards me and shove it--with his armoured fucking hands--into his own face with all the muscle I have.
The jab about beating up kids hits a little harder, but not because it's true. 'Beating up kids.' What a fucking crock.]
I'm not beating up kids, I'm just giving the magical gift of learning.
[Sore subject, but I can tell what he's thinking--that I like it, that it makes me feel big and powerful. That I'm in it for the kicks.
It's so absurd I could almost laugh. No, really--in a sick kind of way, it's almost funny.]
I haven't hit 'em once, dunkass.
[The words came out low and taut, though. Menacing. Not a threat, but it could be: the reason I didn't hit this kid isn't because I couldn't. I can do anything I choose.
I chose not to hit this kid.
Fucker. Let's see how he likes this.]
Talus!
[And lo, the reeking form of my Type: NULL comes barrelling in, all metal angles and festive jingling, to crash full bore into this asshole's torso.]
no subject
[With a soft whimper they grab onto Pooka and hug him tightly, burying their face in his fur and praying for something to save them.]
no subject
Sylvain's breath leaves him in a rush on impact -- and then whatever managed to stick around leaves in a rather graceless 'oof' to match Bad Santa's earlier utterance as his back hits the ground. For a moment, he sees stars and forgets that he's actually in the process of fighting a battle.
But he's Sylvain Gautier. He's been wounded worse, and kept fighting. And even if his breaths come in short puffs, he's doing his best to roll out from under the weight of the giant creature and heft himself to his feet.]
Now... listen here. [Sylvain's head spins. He puts his fists up, ready to throw a punch, to tackle -- anything he has to do to get this dastard to back off.] I'm giving you one last warning to go to hell, and leave the kid be.
[He knows he's got no room to talk. But he's always been a man of bluster. The one advantage he does have is a giant weasel baring its teeth at Santa, and that's not really much of anything.]