The Indigo League (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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.
im sorry jane
[Carly, mostly, is putting on a big show. It's a great way to distract people after all. True to form, she's also stuck to her Rocket Team- the ones that never made the limelight on her way through to Elite Four Glory.
She's also done a good bit to herself; lowering her voice with some well practiced tricks, shortening up her hair under her hat and clipping it in place (not to mention some temporary dye...)...
Add in coloured contacts alongside a good bit of locked-in-contouring and putting on a domino mask is practically needless! And that's without the part where her very mimikyu has their own little 'disguise'.
In any case, Misty the trained salazzle is making lines of fire while her trainer strikes a pose from above to laugh.] Of course..~! [she calls out to Jane. Sorry Jane! SHE'S A CRIMINAL.] After all, what better way to remind the world of Team Rocket's nefariousness, than to strike when cheer is at its highest..!
no subject
And when holiday stress is hitting its peak? Honestly, I'm shocked more frazzled moms aren't letting their Snubbles go to town on you lot!
[Salazzle...that's poison and fire, isn't it? Jane reaches to her belt and lets out Deva the Indeedee, who looks around at the mayhem with wide, confused eyes.]
Why don't you come on down and prove to me how nefarious you are, hmm?
no subject
[It is, perhaps, too fun to play the villain at times.
Also oh no....That Indeedee looks so confused already..! Well. Sorry Deva, but a battle is a battle is a distraction ultimately.] Down there? I'm no fool...getting up close and personal is a good way to get myself a little too close to the Jennies! But if it's a fight you want...
[Well, Salazzle brings her head back, gathering flames in her throat.]
I can definitely deliver!
no subject
[Ah, that's the situation, is it? Deva frowns and focuses on the Salazzle - it's mostly all the commotion that had confused her, but a battle? That makes perfect sense. She cries out as the battlefield gets weird!]
softly, do you wanna kick her butt before she scurries off? :]]
Well, given that they're already immediately facing a bit of a disadvantage, Carly just nods. okay, Okay, okay...
She'll work with it!!] Hmm!!
Alright- Salazzle, get a flamethrower going! And Mimikyu, [she shouts, the ghost in question rising up with a hiss as the terrain shifts around. No names during Rocket Missions- that'd be real bad for cover!] Charm!
[The mimikyu in question puts up their prettiest fake face, however they can. It's kind of concerning how well that costume's eyes suddenly got all big and cutsey, actually.
In the meantime, Misty's streak of flames are blasting forward.]
If you want her butt to be kicked we can kick her butt :B
Dee!
[Holy shit that's fire we are literally diving out of the way of it, it grazes the Indeedee's tail and that does look uncomfortable, but the worst is avoided for now.]
Try a Psybeam at the fiery one!
[Might as well get that one down if they can...!]
yesssssss
[Easier said than done- you can only sort of see a mental blast, especially in a store covered in rainbow lights, and the lizard is briefly dazed.
The mimikyu continues charging.] WOOD HAMMER!
[Look, that normal typing causes some problems alright.]
hehehe then it shall be so!
Augh - Deva, are you-?
[A sharp nod from the Indeedee - she can keep going.]
Psychic, then!
[The attack rolls out in a wave, hopefully hitting both Pokemon in its wake, but it's entirely likely it could hit one and not the other!]
huhuhuuuuu excellent
HHHAAAAAAAHH-! [It actually takes a bit of focus not to drop into her usual squealing screamy voice, which is great for Her, but not so much for the pokemon. While she's holding onto her hat, Mimikyu is hitting Salazzle in the face, who is hitting her in the face.] G-OH! Shoot!
Both of you, up you get! We can still get more through...Salazzle! Poison Gas! [At the very least that should keep them away right?] Mimikyu, Secret Power! [And that should cover the range! ...Hopefully.
It's occurring to her that she doesn't have a lot they can do at long-range other than use Fire. Hm.]
no subject
[Jane pulls up her scarf over her mouth and nose as Deva pushes back against the Poison Gas with something you would probably want to breathe in much more. It heals status effects, so Jane is hoping it will flush the air out around them and keep Deva from being poisoned...somehow? Look, she doesn't have her Crobat to whip up the wind, she's making due.]
Psybeam again, when you can!
[If they're retreating and going for long range, maybe she can get one more hit in...!]
no subject
[NO!! She hates when people spam the effective stuff!
Snatching Misty under her arm, it's a narrow call for the psybeam. As it is, her mimikyu just got blasted into her other free hand.]
Tch-
Leave a smokescreen, Misty..!
[The lizard hurriedly spits forward a streak of billowing smoke, the cloud quickly growing.
Change of plans, they need to retreat! Sometimes type matches just aren't in their favor!]
no subject
[The Smokescreen is effective! Coughing, Jane hurries to stand close to Deva and grasp her hand so they don't lose each other before neither of them can see. How long might it take for the smoke to clear?]
no subject
As it stands, while the smoke clears after a minute or so, Carly skedaddled as fast as she could once it was up in the air- sure, it's just back into the fray elsewhere, but the handy thing about Rocket Uniforms is you can blend back into the crowd of Grunts.
Thanks,
red-shirtsguys!]