whitehairedprettyboy | 01 $$ [video/action for Rocket base]

Excuse me!

[ A man with a long white ponytail and an immaculately tailored (though unusually green) suit graces your PokéGear screen this morning. He appears rather put out, for some reason. ]

I demand to know who is in charge here! I ask that you kindly return me to where I came from! I'm a very busy man, and I don't appreciate being... kidnapped, or whatever it is you've done to me!

[ He pauses, takes a breath, and smooths down the front of his suit. ]

Whoever you are, it is in your best interest to release me before my employees get here. [ His lip curls. ] And if you were going to go so far as to provide me with clothes, you might at least have made them a bit more fashionable. How you expected me to wear those rags...

[ Having said his piece, he reaches for the Gear, presumably to turn it off, when a long green snout comes abruptly into view, sniffing inquisitively. His Snivy's curious about the lighty box, it seems. ]

Ah, yes - and if someone could elucidate me as to what exactly these... creatures are, it would be most appreciated. At least this one seems to have good sense, for the most part - stop smelling that!

[ The Snivy straightens up, trying to look dignified. This is the sort of Snivy who would never think of sticking his face all over a PokéGear. What would make you think that? ]

[ The man, for his part, turns back to the camera. ] If you can provide me with some answers as to what's going on in this place, I will see to it that you are handsomely rewarded. The sooner, the better.

[ And the feed shuts off. ]

-----

[ Any Rockets hanging around the base, feel free to bug Valmont if you run into him in the hallway! You'll recognize him. He's the one in very non-regulation green and a foul mood. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, what in the world would you call them, then? They're animals, and they're under my ownership! If there's another word for that, I haven't heard of it.

[ The Snivy looks thoughtful - Nagi's got a point, he's no pet! He's a strong independent Pokémon who don't need no man! The Stunky, however, doesn't seem to much mind. ]

[See, Snivy, you're going to go places.]

They are more than just pets. I don't know if you've realized it yet, but they can do things simple animals cannot do.

[ You're gonna go far, Snivy. ]

If you're referring to the vines this one [ he gestures at the Snivy ] is able to manifest, then yes, I had been rather aware of that. [ Said with a certain dryness. ] But I fail to see how this precludes their being considered pets. They're merely pets with freakish abilities, that's all.

[ The Snivy looks a notch more disgruntled. He respects you, trainer, but he doesn't really approve of being called a freak. ]

[Yeah, he understands the feeling.]

You would be surprised. You're new here, and assuming you have no idea where you are prior to coming here-

[Which, clearly, you don't]

-you really don't understand what they are capable of. Tell me that you can find a fox in your world that can breathe fire, or a psychic that can lift you off of the ground without moving a finger, or a mouse that can electrocute you with a single touch, and then tell me how freakish they are.

[He could also point out that that Snivy of yours could easily choke you in your sleep with those vines if it wanted but that's not any of his business.]

That sort of thing is common here. It's isn't unique. But they certainly can't be compared to a pet you might find back home.

[ He raises an eyebrow. ] Are you trying to imply that the powers you just mentioned aren't freakish? Dangerous, I'll grant you, but hardly what I'd call normal.

[ Valmont is incredibly lucky that his Snivy likes him. That's all that has to be said on this matter. ]

You're telling me those sorts of powers are par for the course in this world? Interesting. [ A slow grin spreads across his face. Combustion, levitation, electrocution - it's just like the talismans! If he were to acquire some more of these creatures for himself... who knows what powers he'd have access to? ]

[Valmont, you already have some of those. You just don't know how to use them.

Nagi sighs, closing his eyes.]

If they weren't, you wouldn't be the only one asking about it.

[ The only powers he's seen from these two are some vines and the ability to smell disgusting. Hardly as impressive as Nagi made some of the others sound. ]

Yes, well... [ He can't argue with that. Though he doesn't appreciate being made to feel foolish over it. ] Now that we've established that these powers are common, how would one go about finding creatures that have them?

[....This man hasn't left the base yet, has he.]

All you have to do is step outside. They are everywhere.

[ No. No he hasn't. He can't find his way around this stupid hideout. There must be a door to the outside somewhere, right? ...Right? ]

Everywhere, you say. [ Oh, yes. That is undisguised greed in his eyes. ] Free for the taking. Excellent. I just hope they're more like the ones you described than they are like your blasted bird. [ He puts a hand to his poor injured hair. ]

[If the Hoothoot takes any offense to that he doesn't let it show, simply turning his head to the side, blinking out of sync. Actually, he just really wants to tug on Valmont's hair again, but he can't quite...reach it...]

Certainly...If you can capture them.

[Good luck trying without Pokeballs, because apparently Nagi feels like leaving that detail out.]

[ And Valmont has no intention of letting him reach it. Suffer, Seiun. Suffer. ]

Capture them? Do I look like some sort of big-game hunter? Surely there's some other way one can acquire these animals.

[ Why are you expecting Nagi to help you out here... ]

[|8C]

Of course. You can't expect for them to just come with you on their own.

[They're not pets.]

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.

[ They're totally pets. Just... really really weird pets. ]

[ Valmont grits his teeth at the dismissive answer, but as the boy seems disinclined to provide any further information... ] Fine. I suppose I'll work it out myself, then. [ I'll start my own way of catching Pokémon! With blackjack! And hookers! ]

It's been a pleasure, I'm sure. [ He begins heading back down the hall - one of these doors has to lead to a way out! ]

[Nagi watches quietly as Valmont goes, smiling slightly to himself as he notices that he's headed further into the base.

And with that he turns around to head back to his room, making a mental note to shut the door behind him so Seiun can't get out.]

01 $$ [video/action for Rocket base]

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