victory_road | How Team Rocket stole Christmas...

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How Team Rocket stole Christmas...

'Twas six days before Christmas and all through their base
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.

“Prepare for trouble…
… 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?

Who can save (the Saturday before) Christmas?

---

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.

“Trainer with your poke-might
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.

Threaded | Flat

Rank can have its privileges. At least being a Beta means that, rather than going in directly to nab cashboxes or screw around with the Christmas Tree, Steven Durante is instead directing Grunts who're doing all of that instead via headset on a heavily reinforced metal awning overlooking the center of the Market. As usual while on public Rocket business, he's adopted a thick Chicano accent for the orders he barks into microphone, as opposed to the softer, accentless newscaster's standard English he normally uses on the network.

Sadly, his usual gas mask gambit was nixed for this caper, so instead he's wearing a prominent fake grey beard, attached by spirit gum, along with a large amount of padding at his belly. His glasses are gone, having been replaced by color contacts.

That said, anyone willing to Fly or do a little climbing can easily make it up onto the awning to engage him in battle--although be warned: he fights dirty. Multiple pokemon out of their balls, pokemon attacking trainers directly, personally attacking trainers directly--if there's a nasty tactic, he'll try it.

Well. Mostly. There's a few people who he seems willing to have a perfectly normal Pokemon battle with, but they're few and far between. And mostly kids.

(And if it looks like anyone on the Team he considers to be under his protection is in trouble? Then he's sure as hell teleporting down and jumping into the fray.)

Edited 2020-12-21 17:27 (UTC)

Oh my lord, Santa was real. Here in this world, he was real. (Back home, he might still be her mom considering the matching handwriting, but here he was real.)

Santa had been pretty nice too when Claudia had explained she wasn't much of a battler, giving her a bunch of potions and first aid supplies to help heal people and pokemon. Which is mostly what she's been doing--trying to dodge all the Rockets in the crowd so she can get to the people who really do need her help.

This is just so cool. Claudia's been listening to people on the radio talk about all the crazy stunts that Team Rocket pulls since she got here. She promised the Pokemon Guardian Corps she'd make costumes for them, sure, but she never thought she'd be in the thick of a Rocket caper herself.

Honestly, she's not sure if she's more excited or scared. Possibly both? Probably both.

Edited 2020-12-21 04:48 (UTC)

[There was a big mess happening and Zuke heard it on the radio as he was finished washing the dishes from his and his crews dinner. Needless to say, seeing Santa come to him for help was...

Admittedly not the weirdest thing he had ever seen.

Zuke learned to not stand for this. Always in times like this, he would think to what his partner would have said before probably rushing on her two legs herself. Of course, rushing on her two legs while a ride was immediately available. Life was like that for Bunk Bed Junction.]

Well, as old Mayday helped me say, “We’re gonna bunka, we’re gonna junka, and we’re gonna bam in their faces!”

Come on, guys! We got work to do!

[His team, all full of delicious dinner, all cheered in rebellious joy and off they went! Here was Zuke, feeling just a little bit like the old days with his new crew.]

Oh I did not want to deal with this today.

[Jane happened to be down in the Goldenrod Christmas Market tonight of all nights, doing that last minute shopping - she'd only taken Dinah, Dart, and Deva with her, because they were humanoid and not too big and could behave themselves around people (well, with Dart as a buffer, Dinah and Deva would pretend to tolerate each other, which was better than nothing). She pinches the bridge of her nose as the Rocket banners go up, heaves a sigh as the music changes.]

Seriously? You guys just couldn't wait until January for shenanigans? Seriously?

[She's not quite at this meme levels of done, but give her a little time, she'll get there as she unceremoniously dumps her shopping bags into her backpack, slings it back on, and runs into the fray.

You might find Jane sending Dart out to dispatch with grunts' teams to reclaim stolen goods, or you might find her and Dinah running around and purposefully taking down the Rocket decorations that have gone up, making a ruckus and running off once a Rocket's attention has been caught. Either way, Jane is not making this easy for any nefarious n'er-do-wells, and you are more than welcome to join in...or for Team Rocket, to try and stop this annoying young lady from making a mockery of your work.

Someone should definitely tell her about Santa, though.]

A.

[This sure is happening. Hopping on a weird, hairy man's magical flying sled? Sure, okay. It gets him to Goldenrod at least, which had been his intention all along. And hey, it's a chance to play hero.

He hopes Santa doesn't mind as he changes into his armor. It isn't much, but if he needs to throw a punch or two, at least the metal gauntlets will help.

Initially, intends to stick close to his friends. Unfortunately, they all scatter as quickly as they'd landed. It's just as well, no one to hold him back when he gets a little reckless. As it is, he has only two notable Pokemon to fight with -- a "Jynx" and a "Zigzagoon." They look cool, but he isn't sure what he's going to be doing with them.

No matter, he throws himself into the fray, calling out moves that he thinks are legitimate, and throwing fists when they inevitably fail.]

B.

[Naturally, Sylvain had heard some of the gossip by now -- the Jenny's had been captured. The beautiful law enforcers needed help. And while Sylvain might have been a semi-taken man, he's also a chivalrous knight. So that means he's swooping in on every group, and ducking into each shop and alleyway with a first aid kit in hand.]

Any beautiful ladies in dire need of a knight in shining armor?

C.

[It doesn't exactly go well the entire time. Where Sylvain might have once been able to withstand a flock of poorly armed bandits, he now finds himself surrounded by a band of well coordinated Rockets with teams of fierce Pokemon. He doesn't have his horse, his lance, or even his crest to protect him.

It leaves him a mess. His nose is probably bleeding, his head is aching -- all from his own panic to get away from the strong fleet of Pokemon the Rockets brought, rather than from any physical fight -- but that doesn't keep him from grinning like a fool.]

That -- That all you got? [His fingers itch to a Pokeball, glancing at one of the growling creatures as he does.]

D.

[Wildcard. Hit me with anything else!]

Edited 2020-12-21 05:53 (UTC)

If there's anything Akane Tendo's good at? It's fighting huge mobs. Actually, she's probably better at it than she is at one-on-one. As a certain Turkish giant could tell you, you learn to fight differently when you're facing mobs instead of single opponents, and all those weeks of having to beat up sports club boys who wanted to get a date with her, before the morning bell rings... well, they left an impression.

Punching and kicking her way through the crowd, it's probably a good thing that the Jennies aren't planning to arrest anyone for using force against Rockets... although Akane is doing her best to get a look at each Rocket's face before she strikes. Because that's the thing: while she knows that most of Team Rocket is pretty much the Pokemon yakuza, she also knows (because Connie told her) that the ones who came from other worlds are nice, good people, who're being forced to be criminals.

So yeah. Even if she's laying into most of the Rockets in her path, if she thinks she recognizes one from the network--or from the 'family' that Connie introduced her to--she'll disengage from from combat with them and possibly even apologize for getting in their way.

And then go right back onto whaling on the local Rockets. She's here for a reason, after all.

A

[Angel isn't always a frontline fighter. But she doesn't hesitate when this "Santa Claus" comes asking for help. She grabs a team -- a mixed and matched assembly of her own, Krieg's former team, and even one of Armin's pokemon. They don't necessarily have experience fighting in sync, but Angel's team knows these creatures the best.

She'd like to think they know her in kind, too.

As Angel dives into the chaos, she finds herself hesitating. There are a lot of noises, a lot of shouting. It... reminds her of the last time a heist had occurred in Goldenrod, no long after her first arrival.

If only Krieg could see her now.

She stands at the edge of the fray, steeling herself. Her Pokemon wait beside her, glancing about nervously or anxiously, but not yet moving. Not without her.]

B

[Small as Angel is, it's easy to start avoiding the Rockets as they come after her. She doesn't have much weight or experience to speak of, but she doesn't need it. The frail damsel act is enough to entice them in, and when they make a grab for her and her bag, she ducks down in time for Skagbait to deliver a blow to the backs of their heads.

Turning around, she holds her own fist out to the Lucario. She learned this trick some time ago -- a fistbump. She's happy when the creature responds in kind.

Only up close, would anyone be able to see the way she trembled.]

C.

[Though Angel is here to do some fighting, for the most part she's running about delivering aid. From Torch Dragon's back, she can swoop down to where it matters and drop whatever trainers, Jenny's or any one else may need.

Every now and then, she drops in on groups of Rockets, the black Charizard billowing a smokescreen from his mouth before swooping back up.

If anyone looks particularly hurt, scared, or otherwise unnerved, she'll settle the Charizard down beside them.]

Here. Get on. We can get you out!

D.

[Wildcard! Hit me with any ideas you have!]

Edited 2020-12-21 05:55 (UTC)

This is wild.

A couple weeks ago, Greg had no idea who Santa was. Now the guy was giving him and Rose a lift to Goldenrod in his flying sleigh.

Greg had explained to Santa that he wasn't much of a brawler and none of his pokemon really battled, but it turned out that Santa was fine with that, because Greg could just go out and give the guys who were fighting first aid.

So that's what he's doing, now that they're in the city. Greg's at the edge of the whole big melee, calling out into cupped hands:

"Hey! Anyone need healing?"

A (Closed To Femblemtroika Travel Group)

Claude's heard of Team Rocket in his various research dives, but only in the abstract; this is his first time encountering them, realizing that they are in fact a genuine present threat. This world has been so peaceful and wholesome so far, compared to the wartorn Fodlan he's freshly from, that he'd almost been lulled into a feeling as though any actual dangerous groups from this world couldn't amount to much, and that they were far removed from anything their group was likely to encounter.

He's not thrilled to have been proven wrong, but when Santa (the significance of this has been mostly lost on him, since Christmas as a whole is unknown in Fodlan) had told them Team Rocket were causing havoc on a holiday and asked for their help in stopping it, he wasn't about to refuse. He doesn't like the thought of people having their happiness ruined, their holidays exploited.

And honestly, when they reach the Goldenrod Christmas Market...that feeling surges in him with a strength he hadn't quite prepared himself for. The place has a genuinely magical feel to it - or, rather, was before the arrival of Team Rocket. Claude can see that much, even after they've been wreaking mayhem. What lights and decorations remain, and are being actively sabotaged as he watches, seem like such pretty, fragile things, meant to do nothing more than be bright and charming and make people smile...and Team Rocket is casually destroying them. As he watches, ornaments fly off the tree in the middle of the market, exploding to fragments on the floor, just to be replaced with a big letter R in red.

What excuse can there be for that? What justification? Destroying harmless things meant to make people happy just to replace them with a stupid symbol to...show off as having ruined something? Claude can have some reluctant sympathy and grief over Edelgard, who's caused a civil war that's divided a continent, because he believes that in her own way, she thinks what she's doing is best for the country - and that she wouldn't make the terrible compromises she does unless she believed them to be necessary. He can understand - if not necessarily agree with - doing terrible things for some greater good, or out of necessity...or even the misguided belief in there being some necessity.

But this is the least necessary, most pointless act of malice he's seen in a long time. No matter what Team Rocket's ultimate goal might be, why the pomp and circumstance? Why go so far out of their way to wreck even the most harmless, inoffensive things? There really can't be any reason than the sort of sadistic, juvenile delight a rather vicious child might find in stomping on an anthill.

He wonders if, on some level, he's outraged for himself and his friends. That, finally in a peaceful world where they can have something nice, like a quiet, happy holiday, Team Rocket's casual destruction of that very thing is so much more of an affront than it would otherwise be. Probably, he thinks. But at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter why; he's angry about it, in a way he rarely gets angry, and he wants to do something. Anything.

He's not particularly paying attention to who's standing beside him when he speaks, but his voice is low and dark in a way people don't often hear it. "We need to stop this."

The Pokéballs Santa loaned him are in his hands already. He'd like to use his own team for this, but he was warned they might not be strong enough for the opposition they'll face here, and he doesn't want to subject them to unfair odds.

B

So, Claude had very much wanted to do something to help combat Team Rocket's efforts here. Thanks to an unexpected opportunity, he's employing some...dynamic tactics.

(Which is to say, he came up with a plan on the fly and is now making it up as he goes along. Not his preferred type of plan, necessarily, but flexibility is key in a strategist.)

To that end, Claude is currently dressed in a Rocket uniform. It fits him quite well, and the fact that this uniform comes with a skirt actually isn't too much of a drawback, all things considered. And look, if he's flat-chested, and has sideburns along his jaw, and the glimpse of leg in between his skirt and his tall boots is kind of hairy...well, so what, buddy, who made you the Gender Police?? Claude acts like there's nothing at all to raise an eyebrow at here, and if anyone's got the charisma and audacity to project a "there's nothing here to question at all" aura, it's Claude von Riegan.

Currently, he's trying to make his way to places where Team Rocket members are thicker. This means he's making his way past, well, the people going after Team Rocket members, trying to stop them. He's aware this has the potential to backfire, and is simply trying to be as inconspicuous and fast as possible at weaving through people. Unfortunately, fast is the natural enemy of careful, and he winds up smacking directly into you.

"Ah - sorry!" Wait, shit, should he be apologizing? Hell, should he even be speaking? Even at its highest, his voice combined with this outfit is likely to make someone take a second look. But, well...it's hard to fight reflex, and it's too late now.

He simply gives you a slightly manic smile as he tries to figure out whether he can just...quickly duck around and keep moving.

C (Rockets Please Interact!)

Claude's disguise is...relatively okay, if no one is looking too hard or asking any rude questions. The rather chaotic state of the Christmas Market, and his own ability to make the most brazen of bluffs, has helped him get so far as to find some actual Rocket organizers - he's even snagged a couple of pokémon for his troubles! Better in his hands than the Rockets, he figures.

He was hoping to find some main staging point, or some bigwig calling the shots; that kind of intel could lead to a more coordinated effort to shut down all of this. Frustrating his efforts, however, the Rockets seem less centralized than he'd hoped - or, at least, they're not centralized here. A plucky gamble on his part, but aside from leaving the Rockets a couple pokémon down, there hasn't been much payoff.

He accepts this with equanimity. Not every plan pans out, especially the impromptu ones.

However, his luck could be about to run out, whether Claude knows it or not. Claude's disguise is only passable, he's not really engaging in any obvious Rocket activities, he's now moving away from what centralized Rocket areas of activity there are, and - especially worth consideration - Claude's face has been decently visible on the public network recently. And he hasn't really disguised it in any way.

That he's managed to get this far without someone spotting him who could place him is impressive. But he may not be able to get much further like this...are you a Rocket? Do you have sharp eyes, or a good memory for faces? Have you been observing Claude's being kinda sus? Do you want to challenge him?

D - Wildcard

[Anything is fair game! You can run into Claude either while he's dressed normally or while he's in disguise.]

Edited 2020-12-21 13:40 (UTC)

[A - Locked to Thace and Shinobu]
Jules has made an attempt to disguise his too-tall, too-skinny Rocket frame with a bit of extra padding in the shirt, but it's sloppily done and he still puts off an air of a scrawny man trying to look bigger than he is.

He's accompanied by a Porygon-2 and a Metagross, and the Porygon's more concerned with helping Jules gather sweet loot to steal, while the Metagross is engaging in Rocket-sanctioned acts of vandalism. Jules, for his part, is trying to keep to the shadows and let his flashier Pokemon draw more of the attention. Surely he can handle that much without screwing it up.

[B]
Now that most of his uniform has been stolen, Jules is stuck running around half-naked (fortunately, his pants remain) and he's less interested in stealing cash or vandalizing things and more interested in stealing a new shirt, because baby, it's cold outside.

Unfortunately, he's trying to do a little too much, too fast...and he's gotten himself very, very stuck inside an ugly Christmas sweater patterned with frolicking Slugma and Sliggoo. It's pulled up over his head, his arms have gotten tangled in the too-small, too-short sleeves, and he is blindly stumbling around the wrecked booth he'd tried to steal--er, borrow--it from. "HEEEEEEELP!"

Dignity? What's that? His Porygon-2 and Metagross have both pulled off to do other things under the guise of publicly distancing themselves from this guy who is definitely not a member of Team Rocket, and so Jules is on his own unless he can unleash one of the other Pokemon in the Pokeballs on his belt. Such is life.

Edited 2020-12-21 18:24 (UTC)

A - Rat Attack

Dimitri wasn't really prepared for this whole.... thing.

But then, well, a strange man in red with a beard had flown a sleigh in front of the inn, and he'd already known Dimitri and implied that magic existed if one believed, and also they all have to stop these group of bandits from ruining a perfectly nice holiday.

It's a good thing Dimitri was already wearing his armor out of Union Cave.

Still, he is nothing if not a flexible man.. especially at the rage that overcomes him when he sees just what chaos these bandits have caused. It's not the same kind of rage that's channeled through him at Gronder, but it is still a rage... and Dimitri channels that quite well.

It doesn't take much preparation. A stop at the Pokecenter to grab some of his most agile Pokemon, borrowing a walking stick from a store and a large badger-like creature from this Santa... With all of that in hand, Dimitri runs off onto the streets. He has some ideas on what he can do here...

And mostly what he plans on doing, is, well.

If you are around the streets of Goldenrod trying to deal with these Rockets, you may hear a voice yell out, "Duck!"

This is because Dimitri has decided that if these bandits aren't going to play fair, neither is he.

So he's throwing rats, with worrying accuracy, at the faces of anyone in uniform. If you are a Team Rocket member, well... Have fun with that. Have fun with this Rattata suddenly biting your ear, or hair, or nose, while their owner bares his teeth in a way that says he would do similar if you let him get close enough.

B - Christmas Songs Just Became Palatable

Dimitri really wasn't thinking about letting the Lapras he'd met in Union Cave out during all of this. It had simply been a string of bad luck, as far as he's concerned, to have her on his person when he'd scrambled onto Santa's sleigh, and then to forget to change her out when he'd stopped at the Pokecenter

But in the midst of all of This (tm), Karimala's ball had started to shake, and the enormous sea creature had landed in the middle of the street after letting herself out, before Dimitri could stop her.

Dimitri stares, before she leans her long neck down and gently nudges his hand up to his head. Blinking, Dimitri covers his ears... and Karimala the Lapras opens her mouth.

Karimala used SING!

For some of the innocents who have stumbled into the area right as this happens... They'll find themselves being lightly slapped by little Rattata hands while Dimitri carefully lifts thme up, looking maybe mildly apologetic. "I'm sorry - are you awake now?"

C - Chasing after Rockets

At some point, Dimitri may or may not end up helping his friend Claude with a little something. However, well... Dimitri certainly knows how dangerous all of this can be. What would happen if Claude were to get caught? By either Rockets, or someone mistaking him for one?

So if you try to go after that man showing off his fantastic legs in a skirt, you might suddenly have a rat thrown at your head in panic. At least, unlike Dimitri's throws towards actual Rocket members, his rats don't bite in this case. "Ah- I'm sorry!"

Edited 2020-12-21 18:49 (UTC)

[Jean's current team:

] [I really need to do something about those wacko icons, bulbapedia keeps changing the format]

Is Jean using a Rocket invasion as a training exercise? Yes, yes he is.

At his heels are a little Zorua and Deerling, and he's giving them commands in tandem to bring down any Rocket Pokemon he deems weak enough for them to handle on their own. While the Deerling is rather straightforward with its attacks, the Zorua is taking advantage of its Illusion ability to mimic either common Rocket Pokemon or the very Rockets themselves. The smirk on its face kind of gives it away, but the tactic is effective enough.

Don't worry, there are other, grown-up Pokemon with them in case things get dicey. Behind Jean stands a proud Mega Pidgeot, ready to kick ass if the situation should call for it. But Penny is already level 100, so Jean prioritizes putting in his Bisharp, Accelgor or if the young ones need a break.

After awhile, Jean even manages to tie up a couple of particularly stupid grunts, and his Aegislash watches them menacingly. He'll rough them up a little and get what info he can before escorting them to the Jennies.

If anyone needs a hand, he's more than ready to step in!

Edited 2020-12-21 20:57 (UTC)

[Hey, you know that little alley off to the side? The one that leads to a very popular, very fancy jewelry store owned by an harmless old lady? There's a scream coming from it, though it gets cut off quickly. Worth checking, perhaps.

Anyone who decides to investigate had better be prepared, because they'll stumble upon thick whiteness. But not the sort that comes with winter and heavy snows, oh no. Anyone brave enough to touch it (or foolish enough to run at it) will find themselves stuck in a mass of spider webs. The more they try to escape, the thicker they seem to get. And in the shadows, something or someone is watching...

(The poor formerly screaming Rocket is sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Won't someone save him?)]

ooc: [Kazuki's team:

]

This is why he isn't a trainer:

So, Kazuki isn't about to refuse a request from Santa himself, but man, when was the last time he'd actually had a proper battle? Maybe when Ho-oh was going berserk in Ecruteak?

Anyways, his inexperience shows when a level 100 Ampharos that he inherited from someone who had beaten the Elite Four goes around cracking heads like its supposed to, and Kazuki winces at every attack, obviously uncomfortable. There are literal Rattata and Trubbish and such flying through the air, and he's apologizing to the Rockets.

"I'm so sorry, I got him from someone else, he didn't learn that sort of thing from me-- Cotton! Be gentle, okay? I mean... Think like False Swipe! Or like what Xylo is doing!"

Kazuki points over at his Kricketune, who is wrapping up some sleeping Poochyena in a Sticky Web with a very slow and sedate manner. It makes an agreeable violin sound as it is addressed. The Ampharos sighs, and gives Kazuki a really? look while holding back a windmilling Machop with one foot.

Meanwhile, his Primarina, who is also level 100, just stands by and yawns. He's a performer, okay? If he gets in a fight, he'll ruin his mane! And then his Altaria is taking on opponents by giving them big fluffy hugs and then sitting on them like a brooding hen. Kazuki's got a full-on comedy routine going on here...

This is more in his wheelhouse:

Here, this is much more like our boy. Kazuki found a hot chocolate stand, helped the owner shoo the Rockets away, and set everything back up. Now he's handing out free cocoa to anyone who wants some, with his Ribombee and Chimecho floating along after him. He's got a first-aid kit with him too!

"Hot chocolate?" He'll press a cup into any willing hand! "If you or your Pokemon need some fixing up, I've got a kit here, and these two can both use healing moves. Can I help you out at all?"

Edited 2020-12-22 02:04 (UTC)

A

Grant is not a particularly combative person to begin with, and isn’t sure how much good his team will be in a situation like this to begin with - but it became pretty clear, as soon as Santa showed up (and he can not believe that happened) that the rest of his group was going, and he could absolutely not stay behind while Chip got involved in something like this.

However, that… becomes kind of a moot point when, predictably but unfortunately, Chip vanishes from Grant’s sight within minutes in the chaos.

So, now he has two main goals: Help out however he can, and find his kid before they get hurt or bite someone, both of which seem very plausible.

Even with a pair of Pokemon borrowed from Santa for safety’s sake, he’s not exceptionally confident in his battling skills. What he knows he can do, however, is prioritize seeking out allies who look like they could use some help while he looks for Chip - so, if someone’s team is looking rough or they’ve somehow been hurt themself, he’ll approach with Santa-provided medical supplies in hand, casting around a worried look in case the perpetrators are still nearby. “Hey-- you alright? I’ve got, uh… first aid stuff, if you need it.”

B

Alright, so, again: Grant is not confident in his battling skills. He doesn’t get into nearly as many fights as some of those he’s been traveling with, and he’ll be the first to admit he was woefully unprepared for something like this.

But then he comes across one of those Rocket people having cornered a distressed-looking child, with what he can only assume is intent to rob. Grant bristles, only barely remembering to take the Pokeball for that Zigzagoon borrowed from Santa in his hand before starting toward them. For once, he’s actually standing at his full height, in direct opposition to the way he usually tries to use his posture to minimize his size.

Not that that’s got anything to do with Pokemon battling, but, well. If he’s trying to intimidate this Rocket anyway, he might as well just go for it, as much as he ever does. “Hey, back off.”

C

(( Wildcard! Hit me up with whatever ))

Lust was at work in Ecruteak when the rallying cry went out, so to speak, but wasted almost no time in accepting the...unconventional ride to the action.

She's deposited in Goldenrod still dressed for work in her red and white corset and bustle skirt and high heeled boots, a borrowed blanket tied around her shoulders for warmth. In a moment her shiny Houndoom and Primarina are out of their balls and flanking her as she tries to get her bearings.

It's hectic madness in every direction, and Lust is in no way dressed for the occasion, but she's here and ready to fight!

What. The. Hell.

Jack's barely been here two weeks, he is not prepared for this. He doesn't even really know what the hell a team rocket is, but hey, alien Santa Claus asked for his help. That's a thing! And who is he to stand by when ~~Mercenary Day~~ Christmas needs to be saved? Saving holidays is prime hero territory.

Thankfully, Alien!Santa is prepared, and Jack's armed with a pair of borrowed Pokemon. That he knows nothing about. Plus of course his level 12 Wimpod that very much does not want to be here. But it's fine, it's cool, this is all okay....

This is all not okay, actually. It's about at this point that Jack realizes he has no idea how to actually fight other trainers. Other than a few battles with wild Pokemon on the road, he really hasn't done the whole battling thing. He doesn't even know what his borrowed Pokemon can do!

"Okay!" He's got this, he's totally got this! "Who are we fighting, and how the hell do we fight them?"

He hopes punching them is an option, he knows how to punch a dude!

1) YOU'RE AN AGGRON-ER!
[You bet your butt Shiro took Santa's offer. He'd been training in the area of Goldenrod, anyway, so it wouldn't have been a huge detour. Doesn't matter.]

[There's a cluster of Rocket pokemon nearby where they land. Menacing someone - maybe it's you. Maybe it's just an unfair 5 to 1 pokemon battle or maybe there's some real danger in the Rockets vs. Trainer situation here. But if there's one thing Shiro hates since his arrival in this world... it's Team Rocket.]

[Which is why the normally taciturn man goes ham. Instead of any reasonable pokemon - like one of those he'd been training? The flash of light from his belt reveals his enormous goddamn Aggron.]

Kuro. [Oh great, we're speaking monotone. That bodes well for you Rockets.] Take them down.

[The Aggron roars. Which is about the last warning before it launches itself at the opposing pokemon... and the Team Rocket Grunts.]

2) DECK A ROCKET WITH A FIST

That's it!

[Somewhere in the fray, this local dorito has just witnessed some poor unfortunate grunt wrenching a cash register away from a young teen selling their home-made goods. That's it. That's the final straw. Shiro's pokemon freeze where they're defending, their eyes going wide. Oh no.]

I've had it with these godforsaken Rockets... ruining every single good thing!

[And Shiro rears back with his right arm. The metal arm.]

[To straight up CLOCK the register-thieving grunt across the jaw. The grunt goes sprawling.]

That was for the Lapras!

((ooc: open to all! Tag-team, gawkers? Rescues? Rockets... may not have a good time. Shiro really. Really hates these guys.))

A

[Cecil really should have known something would happen. There's always something going on in December. Yet here he is, taken by surprise in the middle of his shopping, with no Pokémon by his side as he'd been hoping to grab their presents. He has a full set of six pokéballs on his person, of course... but they're at the bottom of one of his numerous shopping bags.

He'll find a moment to take his Pokémon out soon enough, but in the meantime? You can bet he's smacking people around with the bags.]

B

[Oh wow, Delibird sure is popular today! Thank you, Santa! Even Cecil is holding one now, carefully shielding it from most hits with his long tanking experience. An unfair strategy, maybe, but it's keeping the bird safe and sound.

(Yes, he knows his coat is on fire. He's fine. Everything's fine.)

When the pair finds a Rocket and their team, they carefully turn to face them and aim a pres-]

Tellah, stop them in their tracks!

[-uh. The blast of ice that follows is very much not a present.]

C

[Wildcard! Run into him, attack him, ask him for directions...]

"HOLD UP!"

Old habits die hard, apparently - as Shadowmaru strikes a pose before one of the Rockets, displaying his pokeball like a badge. He's flanked by Frogadier, Oricorio and Venipede. All prepped and raring for battle.

They uh. They don't get very far. If only because Shadowmaru's pokemon are definitely under-leveled. Just Venipede is left standing, and the shiny bug looks worse for wear. Shadowmaru has gathered his frog and bird behind him. Absolutely ready to physically throw down with the Rocket's Wheezing.

... Please help him.

Vinegar Doppio has always had an uncanny knack for looking unimpressive. Even among the other Rockets, his heavy disguise is unremarkable - and when it comes off...

Well, when it comes off, he still doesn't look like much, is the thing. He never does and never has. Even though he was promoted after an elaborate Halloween scheme, he looks largely indistinguishable from, if not even goofier than the average Grunt, thanks to the way he's swimming in his own oversized uniform.

But that can be one of his strengths, because as it turns out, he is very serious about this operation. His loyalty isn't towards Team Rocket, exactly, but -

Climb ever higher. Pave the way for my ascension, and we will conquer this organization from within. I can't do it without you, Doppio... My sweetest Doppio.

- it is a powerful, all-consuming loyalty, nonetheless.

He has done his part in dealing with security so far, but that isn't enough; he has to go above and beyond. His eyes are on the most valuable gems and fossils he can find, and if he isn't stopped, he will take all he can get his hands on. Not only does he want to impress, he is confident that he can - after all, this Team Rocket is barely a real criminal organization. If the Boss had access to all of his resources here, the takeover would have been long complete.

If you want to stop this tenacious Private, he will lead with his strongest Pokémon, one that he has never even shown to anyone in his civilian garb. If his ace gets knocked out... Well, he'll have to hope he isn't unfortunate enough to be fighting someone who knows the entire rest of his team. He's open to communicating with fellow Rockets as well, for coordination purposes or otherwise.

Or maybe you just want to bully him, no matter which side you're on. Perfectly understandable. He does look like a great target for it.

[Tonight is a night of quite a few revelations! Chip's head is spinning a bit that Santa really IS real, and that he fights crime against the not-Troupe Comet, and they got to ride in his sleigh--]

[But they have an important mission! And they're gonna do it!]

[Luckily between the stronger members of their team and the loaners from Santa, Chip is able to hold their own against most of the Rocket grunts. In fact, they're fighting them maybe...too well. Seeing as they're currently chasing one down that's actively hollering for help.]

Would someone grab this kid already, Arceus' sake!!

Gimme the keycard, I beat you fair 'n square!!

I TOLD YOU I DON'T HAVE ANY STINKING CARD!!

Liar!! Get back here!!

[...so...who will you help??]

In the midst of the Santas Amok, such as they are, Trainers may encounter a Santa that's a little bit... different.

He's shorter, for one thing. And... fancier. Way fancier. Instead of the traditional white and red suit, he's donned something more like a long and heavy robe, still red (of course) but now brocaded in gold. His boots rise halfway up his calf, and his beard is longer and more grizzled, with braids worked in and a gold ring near the end of its length. In his hands, he carries a large carved wooden candy cane.

And beside him trots not a Stantler, but a jauntily-outfitted Type:Null, a Santa cap atop its plume and jingling bells affixed to each of the four horizontal corners of its helmet.

His vicinity reeks of weed.

Yes, it's Rocket Beta Dirk Strider himself, under cover to evade detection by his unwitting bro and somewhat more worrisomely witted 'friend,' recent Champion Jane Crocker.

His self-appointed duty? Finding the offworld Players and sorting them out, the better to make way for the Game's Rocket Grunts to commit their larcenous crimes.

And you know?

He really thought the identification process would be harder.

Dirk likes to think himself a warrior-philosopher, but it doesn't take his kind of genius--or any kind, really--to put two and two together, even in this kind of chaos. And it doesn't take long for him to notice a trend.

Seriously, Obstagoon are rare enough in monochrome, nevermind these lurid hues, but even if that weren't the case--outside of one really weird night in the Ice Path, he's never seen this many Jynx in one place.

He doesn't know who's arming the new Players, but they've made bright blue and fuschia targets out of them.

The veterans were easy; they make quick work of the mindless grunts and almost unanimously give their Pokemon new names upon capture, so paying even a little bit of attention to the field of chaos gives him their locations.

Regardless of a Trainer's level of experience or their Pokemon's strength, Dirk arrives on the scene in dramatic fashion. He prefers dropping in from above--off a roof or stall cover, perhaps--but he's not picky. More than one person is tripped mid-stride, the hook of his solid wood candy cane looped around their ankle: look up, and there he is. (It's the only time they'll likely ever need to look "up" to see him.)

"Sup."

...what, were you expecting 'ho ho ho?'

Tree (re)Decoration
Scorpia is actually right near the tree, doing a reprise of "Princess Santa" with fake beard done up in ornate braids in spite of the womanly figure and handing out candy canes to kids tagging along with shopping parents. When the reveal happens, her smile falls, and she steps back. "Sorry, kids. Princess Santa got captured by Team Rocket, and... Rocket has dibs on Christmas now! Ho Ho Ho!"

With a couple tugs, her robe-style Santa outfit is more of a dress slit to the hip, and her belt and hat are flipped to show the Rocket logo.

After that, a Ribombee and Hawlucha in little santa hats with Rocket badges pinned on them are blowing down ornaments and replacing them with Rocket-themed decorations respectively, while down below Scorpia protects them and the rest of the decorating squad as best she can. The Pokemon at her disposal are an Oddish and Skorupi on status duty, and a Donphan and Eiscue primarily on attack. Each have their own hats and badges.

And if her Pokemon aren't enough, ever seen a lady Santa sucker punch and throw someone? Now you just may have! Scorpia only goes after trainers herself if they're starting it, or there's no other choice to protect her Pokemon, however.

on Jenny detail
While Scorpia isn't among the group that takes out the Jennies in the Market, she's one of the ones who's provided all that information, and who can spot off-duty Jennies coming to help.

Or reinforcements coming in from other locations after word gets out.

So after getting relieved from tree duty, she patrols near the edges of the market and can be spotted laying into plain-clothes Jennies and their off-duty teams, or newly arrived Jennies and their police-Pokemon. Funny, but Scorpia seems to know some of the special commands Jennies use with their partners, which don't work per se, but always cause a little extra confusion.

Help the Jennies?

Other shenanigans
In between Scorpia's official assignments, she can be spotted taking part in a little bit of looting during quiet moments, or tossing other Rockets healing items and/or sending her own team in for backup. Or maybe she's getting challenged by Real Santa's Recruits!

In any event, there's a tall, buff woman in a modified Santa outfit, braided beard and all, wearing a slightly wild grin and pumping her fist. "Let's do this!"

Edited 2021-01-05 05:48 (UTC)

Threaded | Flat

Page 1 of 2

QUESTIONS

Steven Durante | OC | Rocket Beta | OTA

Claudia Kishi | The Baby-Sitters Club | OTA

Zuke | No Straight Roads

Jane Crocker | Homestuck | OTA

Sylvain Gautier | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | OTA