closed audio, open "video"

[epitaffio]

[AUDIO, LOCKED TO TEAM ROCKET]

Hey, everybody! [Ahh, Doppio's chipper voice backed by the quiet murmur of a running river. Is there a more soothing sound?] I dunno about you, but I think it's been a while since we've had a proper headcount, so I thought I could get something started. I know we're not supposed to stand out and all, and it's not like I'm planning anything... but it's nice to know who's around, right?

[A perfectly fine pretext to update his running list of offworld members of Team Rocket and their ranks, right? Right.]

So, um, I'm just gonna introduce myself and say something about what I'm up to, and if you want, you can do the same thing. [There is a splash, and Doppio's next words are not meant for the people on the other end of the line:] Haha, hi-- Wow, you look rattled. Uh, okay, bye. Where was I? Right!

[BACK ON TRACK. He clears his throat and begins.]

My name's Vinegar Doppio, I'm a private, and right now I'm just outside Blackthorn City - not on duty or anything, I just wanna try and get the badge. Once I'm done here I'm thinking I'll probably--

[There is the sound of something whizzing through the air. Several somethings, in fact. And then, there is the sound of Doppio shrieking.]


[VIDEO, OTA]

[Only moments have passed, but in that time, Doppio has managed to a) leave the Rocket line and b) turn on the video feed entirely by accident while attempting to bolt. Not that the feed... shows much, aside from the characteristically shaky view of someone running for their life while holding a camera in one hand.]

Sorry-- I know I was in the middle of something but a situation's come up--! [The very next thing Doppio hears is simultaneously loud and clear & completely inaudible to anybody else -] Doppio, stop! You're not on the Rocket line anymore! [- which, oh, is an appreciated heads-up, wow he didn't even realise the Boss was on the line too, but also it gets him fumbling and umming and uhhing as he tries to redirect his speech...

However, he doesn't have to fumble for long. His pursuers soon chime in, giving Doppio reasons to reevaluate his priorities.]

Stop, dammit! I'm not done with you yet! [A man's voice, deep and imposing. For some reason, it's accompanied by the sounds of jingling metal.]

My apologies, sir, my legs aren't what they used to be - [An old man's voice, tired and pondering.] - but if I may, I believe you have nothing to fear, since...

I know I can't die for good, but it's still gonna HURT, [Doppio whines, before adding in genuine confusion:] Wait, you're here too?

[And then, just as a third man's voice is heard, Doppio abruptly stops running - and with the motion, the video feed captures the shape of the voice's very blurry owner.]

Will you pipe down already?

[Currently, Doppio has no idea what in the fuck is going on. The sound of a gunshot rings out. There are yet more specters approaching, though the rest are by and large indistinct.]

Comments

[crystalmaster]

[Radley stares at the feed, baffled.] Are you okay?! What's going on there?!

[epitaffio]

[The feed vibrates. Then it shakes violently. It seems Doppio nearly dropped his PokéGear.]

Who's there-- Shit!

[Well, great. He's broadcasting this to randos AND there's-- oh god there are several guys with guns and as he readjusts the camera there is an incredibly menacing-looking... goth... jester guy behind him...]

I-I gotta run!

[So he does. He definitely doesn't remember to turn off the feed first, though, which means the shakycam continues.]

[crystalmaster]

[Radley continues to be bewildered and concerned, but not knowing where Doppio is, he doesn't know how to help. The area definitely doesn't look familiar, though. He just watches, staring in disbelief whenever he catches sight of any of the bizarre people chasing Doppio. There's not much else he can do.]

[epitaffio]

[Does Radley stick around for long? Because this goes on for A While. A lot of running. A lot of Shaky Cam-ing. Many metal objects - not exclusively bullets - flying dangerously close to Doppio. Decidedly un-PG13 language.

But later, after the feed has been turned off - which, if Radley was still watching, happened somewhere around the fifth time the goth jester guy declared his intent to kill
Doppio, and conspicuously in the middle of a sentence - there is finally a reply. Through text.]

Everything's fine!!

[crystalmaster]

[Radley is still there. He looks at the text with a bit of confused suspicion.]

It's fine?! How did you calm them down?

[epitaffio]

It turns out they're just ghosts, so it doesn't actually matter!
Crazy, right?

[crystalmaster]

... That is pretty loco. Weren't they throwing things at you?! Are they poltergeists?

[text]

[talkyourwayout]

[The message is a little delayed, because Louie doesn't at all know what to make of what he saw and heard. The gunshot, Doppio talking about dying-- It's a lot for him to take in, and he's not nearly composed enough to respond right away or - when he finally does - to respond verbally.]

Doppio, you're okay, right?

[epitaffio]

[Doppio's reply is delayed further, because it takes him a Bit to realise he is, in fact, not in danger at all, and it's only then that he can take the time to write.]

Yeah, they're just ghosts.

[What a fucking mess, though. Especially considering certain other people who saw this...]

[talkyourwayout]

Okay, good. I guess. I mean, those things aren't great even if they're just spirits.

I'm really not loving that they showed up. Especially the timing of it.

[epitaffio]

The timing? What do you mean?

[talkyourwayout]

Oh, I'm in Olivine right now, right on the water.

Plus, I don't know, it was the big aggressive birds and then the bigger, more aggressive birds, now this. And the ghost Zorua! Those were just a little annoying, but it feels like more stuff's been happening lately. Maybe I've been lucky, but it doesn't seem like things have been this crazy since, well, the temple was found. And that wasn't as bad, either.

[epitaffio]

[The water...? Oh, did that fish do this? Well, nice to have confirmation.]

I guess I see where you're coming from.
Hey... do you think it means anything?
That stuff is happening more, I mean?

[talkyourwayout]

Yeah, I've been wondering that, and I think it does. I mean, it usually does.

I can't be sure, but it feels like a pattern here.

[text]

[nellacerniera]

[Wow, okay, there is a lot to unpack here.

Those voices--that one very familiar voice and that blurry shape--

He's... he's not sure how to address that right now. Not with his own ghosts looming over his shoulder at the moment. He puts his Gear down for a few moments, long enough to properly compartmentalize all of that, before he responds.

... In text, because he's not sure he can trust his facial expressions or voice right about now.]

Are you alright?

[... But, also?

Bruno Bucciarati will remember this.]

dusts off this tag i'm so sorry about the wait

[epitaffio]

[There are several things to consider here.

The first is that Doppio only reads this message once he knows he is, in fact, safe. It's not the best idea to sit around and read when you are under the impression that you're in danger, even if said danger is pain rather than death.

The second is that when Doppio reads this message, sees who it's from and remembers what he broadcast, he realises that he IS in danger. He may not be sure exactly what was visible, but Bucciarati is sharp. He may have very well seen more than enough.

Good thing the Boss hasn't hung up yet. Doppio doesn't know how how well he could navigate this on his own.]

Yeah, actually
It turns out they're just weird ghosts?

it's all good!

[nellacerniera]

Small mercies, I guess.
Can't really call it reassuring, though, considering I've got a few of my own.

[It's for the best to approach this cautiously.

... plus, there really isn't a delicate way to word "hey why are you being haunted by people I recognize," which is the main thing saving Doppio from Bucciarati trying to broach the topic.]

At least all of this seems more annoying than dangerous, though.

[epitaffio]

[Two people is a small sample size... but knowing how this place works, it does point to this being a widespread phenomenon. Hmm.

So then, what if...?]

You too?
Do you know your ghosts?

[nellacerniera]

Some better than others. There's a few I don't really know personally, even if I do recognize them.

[epitaffio]

[Yes. Thank goodness. He can take advantage of this!]

It's weird, right?
I don't really know any of these guys.

[nellacerniera]

[This...

Still seems weird to him, frankly. He's not going to say anything directly right now because he's got enough to contend with at the moment, but... Mmmm, he doesn't like what his gut feeling's telling him.]

It's definitely weird.
Really, none of them?

[... Well.]

[orangesmith]

...What the fuck?

[That's all Narancia's got for now, since he's got his own ghost problems to deal with.

Though maybe, if Doppio pays attention, he might catch Narancia squinting at that last voice. Does he find that one familiar?]

[epitaffio]

Who's-- Shit! Fuck!

[The feed goes bumpy, once again - Doppio seems to be stepping back, and within a moment, the reason for that may become clear. That last voice that Narancia may or may not have recognised speaks again:]

Who WAS that? Let me see-- Hand that thing over, brat!

N-No!

[orangesmith]

[Yeah, Narancia definitely recognizes that voice.]

Is that Abbacchio?! Why is he following you too?! [Fun fact: multiple people can be haunted by the same person! And poor Narancia had just gotten over the shock of seeing Abbacchio's ghost following him around. So finding out he's following Doppio too? Not a fun surprise.]

[epitaffio]

Na-- [Aaand Abbacchio's voice is cutting him off.] Narancia?

[This is bad. This is very, very bad. But as if it weren't enough, the other deep man's voice can be heard, too -]

Are you seriously still on the phone while I'm trying to kill you? And why are you talking to one of them?

[The sound of that voice has been coming closer, closer, close enough to reach out--

At which point Doppio must chuck his Pokégear a few feet away or something, because what can be seen for brief moments is something like this. Doppio screams.]