[video | action for the sevii island crew]

[beastofasister]

[The picture on screen is...probably not what someone would be expecting to see in the middle of December. It's completely devoid of any sort of holiday cheer, or even any wintery imagery at all. Instead, Manaka is seated on the beach, wearing a skirted swimsuit and a sun hat, with a Cleffa snuggled up in her lap and her back resting against the side of a Ponyta lying behind her. There's a suitably beachy-looking drink in her hand, which the Cleffa keeps sneaking sips of while she isn't looking.

Clearly, she flew south for the winter.]

Good afternoon! I was wondering, has anyone visited these islands already? I'm trying to find out if there are any "must see" places to visit, and you know how brochures can be. I can make do on my own if I have to, of course, but—

[The Ponyta snorts softly, then, turning its head to nudge Manaka's shoulder. Whatever it means to say, Manaka takes this as a bid for attention, glancing toward it only briefly before she turns back to her 'Gear with a beaming smile.]

Oh! That's right, I should introduce you! [She reaches back with one hand, stroking its neck as she says:] Look, isn't she beautiful? Jack bought her for me! I used to dream about riding on a pretty white horse, and she's—

[—"even better than that," she means to say, but before she can finish, the screen is suddenly filled with an extreme close-up of a Lampent's face. It only moves as if it were wracked with silent giggles when Manaka makes a noise of frustration.]

Charlotte, get out of the way! You're blocking the camera. [It spins around, audibly laughing as it turns to face Manaka. Some movement can been seen around its body, and when it does move, it becomes apparent that Manaka has risen. It sways and dances out of the way as Manaka attempts to shoo it off-screen, both of them disappearing from the camera's field of vision when Manaka chases after it. The Ponyta whinnies reproachfully as it watches them go.

...The last thing the viewer sees is the smiling face of a Cherrim leaning into frame, curious about the camera—and then an Eevee rudely shoving it aside, the view fading to black as it takes Manaka's 'Gear in its mouth, evidently intending to make off with it.]

Comments

[brokencode]

[Angel had been flipping idly through feeds when she came across the girl. She watched idly, more interested in the beach behind the girl, and the pang of longing that went along with it.]

[But that was all before she heard Jack's name.]

[The second the words left the young girl's lips, Angel felt her heart began to race. A chill ran down her spine, and a cold sweat sprang up. In some ways, the pain was familiar -- the kind of thing she felt almost daily in what felt like almost a lifetime ago.]

[But just as it was similar, the fear felt different, too. Angel knew she was protected, that just the mere mention of Jack's name didn't mean immediate danger. She couldn't say the same for the girl. It was clear that she had some sort of positive relationship with Jack, which was absolutely never a good sign, when it came down to it.]

Excuse me? [Angel lifted her voice a little, all too aware of the fact that the girl's gear was now in the possession of another creature. She had to hope that she would be heard, regardless.] You mentioned a name. Jack, I believe. Can I speak with you about him?

[beastofasister]

[When Angel speaks, shuffling sounds can be heard briefly, complete with Manaka calling out another name in exasperation. ("Chiffon!") Finally, though, she's able to reclaim her 'Gear, sighing out a noise that's equal parts fond and frazzled before she turns her attention to the speaker.]

Mm-hm, of course! [She smiles, perfectly cordial.] Is there something you'd like to know?

[brokencode]

[Angel fidgeted with her hands off screen. She did what she could to keep her expression neutral, but felt her brows pulling tightly together despite her best efforts.]

You... don't mean Handsome Jack, do you? [A frown crossed her lips, thoughts drifting to the other Jack she knew.] Does he have a mask? Metal clasps and all that? [What else was there?] Perhaps a Houndour and a Meowth or two?

[longing video]

[usedstockpile]

[Helllooooo, there, tropical paradise! You have Gil's undivided attention. It's been downright cold in the early Kanto areas, and Gil wants that beach like a cat would a cozy sunbeam. He looks downright hungry as his face pops up on the 'Gear]

Aah, your companions are rather lively, huh? Where are you that looks so nice? Aand...how do you get there?

[thedifferencebetween]

Glad you're enjoying the pony, sweetheart! A girl needs a pony, it's just right.

Hey, when I sober up a little, we'll go down the beach, get you riding. But, uh, I'm not getting out of this beach chair for another hour or so....

[ Action c:

[11121_assumption]

Off screen, Walter is watching Manaka's Pokemon quietly. They were not a well trained group. But they were her Pokemon, not his, and he's found himself too busy dealing with his own Pokemon to lecture anyone on how to train theirs.

Beside him was a low rumble. Chaos pressed against his side, now a Luxray after assisting him in the Icefall Cave. She was watching Manaka's mons with a vague look of distaste. In her eyes they were an different pride, without proper structure or a clear leader. All too busy trying to undermine each other...they ought to establish a leader and respect that, or their pride would fail!

Walter merely pet her spikey fur. As Manaka rushed off he kept an eye on them, sighing and feeling the sand under him. He'd never seen sand. Or the sea. He was debating walking into the ocean and letting the waves flow over his knees.

[beastofasister]

[Manaka's smile remains in place, but her eyebrows pull upward, changing her expression into something puzzled. This woman is taking such pains to clarify which Jack she means—but for what purpose?]

Mm-hm, that's the one. Why do you ask?

[She knows Jack has enemies in this place, but... The concerned furrow of her brow could mean any number of things. She'll have to wait and see before she jumps to any conclusions.]

[brokencode]

[Angel was silent for a long moment. Her fingers fell still, and for a moment she didn't dare to even breathe.]

He... [She drew a heavy, albeit quivering breath.] You should know that he is not a good man. He preys on girls like you.

[She knew from experience. She remembered being that young, how readily she believed in his lies, craved his gifts.]

Please... be careful around him.

[beastofasister]

[Manaka lets her smile fade, tilting her head.]

Eh? What do you mean? [She knows, of course, at least in a general sense. She and Jack have spoken about it before, what it takes to do things others can't. But she looks like the very picture of innocence as she replies, some childish insistence leaking into her voice as she adds:] I didn't have any place to stay, and he helped me!

[The part about preying on girls, though... That's new, and she isn't sure what's meant by that.]

[brokencode]

[Why was this so hard to understand? She'd struggled to explain this before, met doubts in regards to what had happened. As if she wouldn't know better.]

Jack killed me. He's my father and he killed me. [Surely this much would make sense. Angel had been born to Jack, and even she had not been spared from his wrath.]

You mean nothing to him. I have no doubts that he will try to hurt you just as he hurt me.

[beastofasister]

[Oh. His daughter. Jack had mentioned her before, though of course Manaka only has his side of the story. She has no doubt there's more to it—especially now, with the heavy accusation Angel lays at his feet.

Unfortunately, that heaviness means it isn't very persuasive. No one would blame her for not believing something so horrible about a friend, right?]

That's— That's not true! He's taking care of me, and he cares about you, even if you don't want to believe it! [But Manaka doesn't want to close the door on this conversation entirely, so she lets her indignant tone peter out into confusion and uncertainty.] Why would... Why would he do something like that?

[Whatever he did, it must have been necessary, if Angel's cold shoulder hurts him so much. Manaka understands that.]

[beastofasister]

[Manaka notices that longing look, meeting it with a playful giggle.]

Mm-hm! It's the beach, so I figured they deserved to have some fun, too.

They're called the Sevii Islands! There's a boat you can take... My friends and I left from the port in Olivine City. The weather's really nice here, especially since it's starting to get cold up north!

[beastofasister]

Maybe, but I've never had a pony before!

[She fantasized quite a bit about riding with Saber on a beautiful, white horse, but that wasn't the same as having one of her own. And it was even better than a regular horse, more like a magic beast than a regular animal!]

Mm, that's probably a good idea. We wouldn't want you falling off while we're riding!

[She sticks her tongue out, then, teasing.]

[thedifferencebetween]

You can have all the ponies ya want now, doodlebug.

[Jack yawns, shifting in his beach chair. He's sleepy and cloaked in a warm blanket of booze and whatnot. This vacation was what he needed.]

Ha, not that I'd feel it if I did...but no, no, probably wanna avoid that.

[usedstockpile]

Aah, bother, that's a hike and a half. I need to get something that can fly...any way there's a ferry from Pallette town?

[beastofasister]

I wouldn't know, but if there's a port there, there must be boats!

Oh, I know! You could buy one of those new ride pagers. That way, even if you don't have a Pokémon that can fly, they can take you wherever you want to go!

[Yeah Gil, use your infinity money you don't have access to.]

[usedstockpile]

I dug around a bit and there's one out of Vermillion, which isn't too far.

Wait. Ride pager? Is that like a taxi? Ok I need to go shopping...

[Jokes on you cus Gil withdrew his purse and liquidated like 10 big nuggets when he got that stupid fish! Not that he remembers. He just was happy to have cash.]

[brokencode]

[Angel's expression tightened, brows lowering over her eyes and lips twisting into a scowl. Jack had taken care of her too, at least up until he needed something. Even then, he believed he was doing right by her, even if he was incredibly off-base about it all. And for a long time, Angel herself had believed his lies.]

He can care for me all he wishes. It does not change the fact that he ruined my life for his own gain.

[As for the why of it, even she hadn't figured out as much. She'd spent years asking why she hadn't been enough for him as she was. She'd cursed herself for being a siren, being easily manipulated, all of it.]

If you are smart, you will run away from him as fast as you can. If you even have the slightest thing in you that he wants, he won't settle until he has destroyed you.

[beastofasister]

Mm.

[She hums in acknowledgment, petting Jubilee's mane as she does so. It's just too bad that Saber isn't here; as much as she appreciates what Jack has done for her, he isn't the man she has dreamt of sharing this with...

But if she keeps thinking like that, she'll start to feel gloomy, so she stops.]

That'd be even worse! You could be seriously hurt and not even know it.

[beastofasister]

That doesn't make any sense! Even if... Even if what you're saying is true, what could I give him here? And how is he supposed to destroy me?

[Maybe if they were in another world, Angel's words would have some truth to them... But even then, Manaka would have little to fear. She knows that for a fact.]

You're just... You're telling me to just leave after everything he's done for me, but I don't even know you! Where am I supposed to go, anyway? Without Jack, I wouldn't have anywhere to live.

[brokencode]

An ego boost? A pawn? There is plenty Jack still needs, even in an innocuous place such as this.

[She shook her head. She knew she was asking a lot of the girl. Angel had been knocking on death's door, and even she struggled to spurn the man. In a place as peaceful as this, it would be almost tempting to continue on.]

[But Angel still knew better.]

There are plenty of places. Inns. Centers. Money and work is not so hard to come by, either. [She drew in a small breath.] I have friends that might take you in, if I asked. They know Jack. They know what kind of man he is.

[thedifferencebetween]

Oh come on, it'd take a hell of a lot more than a fall off a horse into some sand to hurt me!

action

[moneylogues]

[Felix saw the video first, actually, but it doesn't take long for him to be where Manaka's at. They're all pretty close together right now, after all. Feels a little dumb to reply by gear when he can just walk over there, y'know.

He might be laughing a little at all the antics going on with her Pokemon.]

Having a little trouble with your buddies there?

[beastofasister]

[By the time Felix finds Manaka, she's caught Charlotte in a very literal way, her hands clutched around the base of the Lampent's body. This...hasn't actually achieved much of anything; Charlotte giggles where it floats high in the air, constantly craning upward like it's trying to lift Manaka off the ground along with it. She only has her toes in the sand now, so it might be getting close...]

Oh! [But then Felix speaks up, and Manaka releases her grip, feet dropping back to the ground. She doesn't seem especially embarrassed, kneading one of her palms as Charlotte lowers itself to peek over her shoulder.] They're just playing, I think... It's the beach, so I'm sure they want to have fun, too!

[beastofasister]

Sometime after Manaka had calmed and corralled her unruly entourage, she approached the spot Walter had claimed for himself. As usual, she cradled one of her Pokémon in her arms—though unlike normal, it was Charlotte. Maybe she had decided that her Lampent needed a little bit of extra attention, after the way she had acted out earlier...

In any case, once she drew close enough, she leaned forward, looking him over. "Hm... Aren't you a little hot in that?"