VIDEO INTRO [GOLDENROD, EVENING]

[betheman]

[The one who opens the video post- large enough to be a grown man, but somehow not quite that old in the face (makes sense, he's 14)- frankly looks like a mess.

The background of the Pokemon Center is clear- and if one can make out the details, it may well be the Goldenrod one- as while the light approaches evening, the buildings and bustle can somewhat be seen through windows in the background.

The trainer's clothes are covered in dirt, and ash. His hair- normally styled into a pompadour- is disheveled at best and the style is holding on by a thread. Frankly, he looks tired.

(In comparison, the mawile curiously peering from his arms looks as fresh-faced as a daisy.)]

...Greetings, [he starts, voice deep, gruff, and frankly awkward. This isn't...really the kind of call he's familiar with making?] I, the man Gongenzaka, wish to humbly ask assistance; I have been told, others have arrived here, with no warning- however! I, the man Gongenzaka, must then ask...are those others so content with crime that they would accept such a fate!? To wake in the rooms of such a group, and simply turn to those ways would be UNACCEPTABLE..!!

More than this, though kind, the 'Officer Jennies' here claimed there was no reason or truth to my words- to awaken within this 'Team Rocket' unthinkable, I was told..! I the man Gongenzaka, cannot believe that so many others would have come in this way, for them to know this much, and not know of where they awoke!

[For someone humbly asking for assistance, he's gone into a bit of a rant- a panicked one, mind, but a rant all the same. The boy bows his head steeply, nearly squashing the mawile in the process as she scrambles out of the way.]

I, the man Gongenzaka, ask you...what Is this place?

[What he's not asking: how does he replace his clothes with nothing to pay for it, because boy! Those grunts did not appreciate him skipping even before training.]

Comments

[Video]

[hippocarnival]

[Can Yuya smash the call button any harder.]--enzaka! Gongenzaka, where are you?

[Did he listen to a word of that? Not much, not deeply.]

[Video]

[betheman]

[Good news! He has an answer.]

Goldenrod City. I am in the 'Pokemon Center', which is a sort of hospital.

[He's having a bad time.]

[hippocarnival]

You're in the hospital? [Oh, yeah, he doesn't look super great. Yuya would look at his map but he's busy looking at a video feed instead.] Are you hurt? What happened?

[video]

[songstressedout]

G-Gongenzaka!?

[ SOMEONE SHE WASN'T EXPECTING TO SEE TODAY!! OR EVER, TO BE HONEST!! Granted, she's absolutely happy to see him! But... why did he look so terrible? And why was he in Goldenrod?? Presumably Goldenrod, at least. She spent enough time there to recognize the background. ]

Y-You're here!?

[video]

[betheman]

Aah. So I am.

[..............hey wait] NMH- And so are you!? And Yuuya-

I did not see both of you before!

[songstressedout]

H-How are you in Goldenrod!?

[ As far as she knows—which unfortunately isn't as much as she'd like—you're supposed to wake up in New Bark Town! With a lady calling herself your Mother! ]

W-Wait, you are in Goldenrod, right? That's Goldenrod behind you, RIGHT??

[ She needs to know. She's in Ecruteak, she's just a warp away. ]

[fingersandteeth]

... huh. Would you imagine that?

[Steven manages somehow to keep the bitterness out of his tone, but it's a close thing. See, Armin, it's not so easy to leave as all that.]

I'm assuming you're completely without resources at the moment?

[betheman]

[Gongenzaka narrows his eyes.] Am I to take this to mean that, in fact, this is uncommon?

[WHO ANSWERS TO DISTRESS WITH IMAGINE THAT!!!!

Mawile peers curiously at the screen, studying Steven.]

My current state of being is the result of returning for the bag containing this device, and a handful of other things. Otherwise however, you are correct.

[fingersandteeth]

Oh no, it's more that Jennies not listening to things we otherworlders say about Team Rocket seems to be common—at least, I don't think they ever followed up on Riku uncovering some of the organizations they subverted. Sorry, I shouldn't have indulged in sarcasm.

[But still, he does feel vindicated.]

Look, if I give you my address in Goldenrod, do you want to meet me there and I'll help you get some supplies? It's the least I can do.

[As your senior on the Team, anyway. Steven would be surprised to hear that Gongenzaka is only fourteen, but he does sort of have a youngish vibe anyway—and more importantly, he's a newbie.]

Video;

[nightyorb]

The police here are all useless. And maybe not even human. You shouldn't trust them.

[A look of deep distaste.

Also, Riz has got a notepad and pen at the ready (quickly handed to him by the ever-helpful PI) as he gives Gongenzaka a very serious and (what he hopes) professional look. Of course, he looks to be about ten so maybe it doesn't come across as all that professional.]

I work for a non-Jenny-affiliated detective bureau. Can you describe what happened exactly?

Video;

[betheman]

I have learned this, yes... [Why must ACAB be universal!

But. Huh. Gongenzaka blinks, and nods, albeit slowly.] A private investigation? Yes, I can most certainly do this; I, the man Gongenzaka, shall warn you- they appear quite skilled in hiding the entrances to their buildings. When I attempted to lead the 'Jennies' there, it was as if the door had disappeared entirely. When, however, I returned to at least obtain the things that had been left to me for communication, they were waiting.

[He scowls at that, but continues.]

I, the man Gongenzaka, awoke in a room with a number of beds and tables- there was a letter upon a desk, as well as a sack of things, including a uniform of some kind, and two pokeballs. Upon reading the letter, I made to seek exit immediately.

[He'll read for the letter for Riz, of course.]

Video;

[nightyorb]

Don't worry, I'm proficient in Investigation.

[So far, what he has heard about Team Rocket hasn't particularly painted them as a huge threat, but criminals are criminals! And the fact that the Jennies aren't acting on something that is, at the very least, a kidnapping makes him suspicious too.

Could the Jennies be in league with Team Rocket?

Fuck, that's certainly a theory that requires more investigation. Riz quickly scribbles 'Jennies in league with Team Rocket??' on his notepad, tears it off and hands it to PI to hang on the board, before he turns his attention back to the guy on the screen.]

What was in the letter?

video;

[breakyourlife]

Oh, dude, you are in so much trouble.

[Steve is eyeing that Mawile with no small amount of trepidation. If it's anything like his starter... Gon isn't in for a fun time for defecting from the Rockets so quickly and so publicly.]

video;

[betheman]

[Mawile's a planner. A patient muncher. Also, given the state of her trainer, clearly violence will do nothing!

Anyway Gongenzaka eyes Steve with no small amount of displeasure.]

Do you feel that I, the man Gongenzaka, should cow under such pressures then? To turn so cowardly upon my honor, and upon the welfare of others..?

video;

[breakyourlife]

[Steve, meanwhile, is not a planner otherwise he might have thought this through better. Something he's already caught onto. Too bad he couldn't have done that before opening his mouth.]

They aren't cowards! They're criminals. You think they're going to like you telling the whole world you went to the cops about them?

Private

[islandshore]

....You're a part of Team Rocket, huh?

Steven might've mentioned you already, but I'm Riku. Been fighting the Rocket since I was a teen.

[He brings a hand to his chin, brows furrowed. How to handle this...]

Since you exposed your connections on a public network, you might be in trouble. The Rockets don't take 'betrayal' sitting down. What I'd suggest is find a safe place to lie low. Find some more experienced trainers to watch your back.

Got a place in Celadon packed with high level Pokemon if you need to hit the road, but I guess that depends on how things go with Steven.

Private

[betheman]

[Oh, there are private options...] Given they reacted more violently to my leaving with my things than to my approach to the authorities, I can see that. But I have withstood their flames, and shall do so again.

At the moment, I, the man Gongenzaka, intend to travel with friends from home. Yuzu, who has been here half a year it seems, and Yuuya, who has just arrived.

I shall make note of 'Celadon', however.

Private

[islandshore]

Buddy system doesn't hurt, especially if your friends have tough enough teams to back you up. As for the authorities...

[Riku brings a hand to his face, grumbling.]

Ugh. Don't get me started. I literally broke into the Rocket HQ with some other trainers years ago, and the Jennies still wouldn't take my complaints seriously. The locals just don't wanna admit that almost all the major cities are controlled by a crime syndicate.

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[epitaffio]

[...

Well, this seems more poorly-thought out than actively malicious. Maybe there's no NEED to go right for the nuclear option.]

Isn't this kind of dangerous?
If there's more people waking up in this world and getting brought into a criminal group...
That means they might be reading this too, right?

[Also, don't think too hard about why there's no video attached to this. It's Fine.]

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[betheman]

That was made clear when attacked while leaving.

However I refuse to back down to such threats! I did not ask to be part of this, and I will not take part!

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[epitaffio]

Really?
They're gonna come after you, you know.

[Video, I couldn't resist for long]

[speedweed]

[Good thing he's used to seeing people looking way too large for their ages, so he's not even really questioning it. Though he seems calm enough sitting near a lake, a salazzle snoozing in his lap, as is normal.]

They really don't seem to take things all that seriously, from what I've noticed. Though good on you for getting out, it took a little longer than I'd care to admit for me to do much the same.

I wouldn't worry too much about them other than the stray annoyance trying to torment you, though they're quite easy to deal with or scare off. Which, given your appearance, I assume you'd be able to right intimidate them. [That's... supposed to be a compliment.]

oh, bless tho,

[betheman]

The same happened to you then!? [he exclaims, before furrowing his brows.] ...If they are wise enough to realize that I, the man Gongenzaka, shall not buckle to force of any kind, that would be ideal; I shall be travelling with friends, after all...

[Video]

[shiningkindness]

[ Having only been in this world for a week, Fluttershy isn't sure she's someone really equipped to answer most of his questions. She hasn't even actually heard about Team Rocket yet, which is probably a problem.

Still, the fact that he'd woken up somewhere different is a little strange, and considering his ranting a bit she wants to at least check on him first. ]

H-Hello? Um...are you all right?

[Video] sorry for the delay ;w;

[betheman]

MNH-

[no he can't look like he's whining-] ...I, the man Gongenzaka, shall recover...I must steel myself, and reign my emotions in!