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. ]

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[That just makes Kato laugh softly, and he shakes his head. His Lunatone, ever curious, watches as Valmont's Pokemon approach but doesn't move toward them.]

No. I'm not a native; I was brought here myself, over a year ago. If you want answers about how it happened, I'm afraid I can't give them to you.

No one knows that particular answer.

[With that cryptic statement, Kato adjusts his grip on his folders and continues to smile.

...or, well, smirk. Same thing!]

Welcome to Team Rocket. You'd best get comfortable.

[ Well, that's less than reassuring. ] You too? Does anyone actually come from this bloody world? Someone must have brought us here!

...Team Rocket?

[ Now that this man mentions it, he does recall seeing that name in the letter that had been left on his bed. At the time he'd been more preoccupied with getting to a phone and getting answers, but... ]

What sort of team do you purport to be, exactly?

[Hmm...how to explain Team Rocket to a total newbie...]

We're a criminal organization dedicated to our own gain. "All Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket"...we steal, we destroy, and we make a general nuisance of ourselves for the protagonist types out there.

All in all, it's rather fun.

[With a soft chuckle, Kato tilts his head so that Valmont can see his eyes through his glasses, and raises an eyebrow.]

Does that sound like something you might be interested in?

[ Well. Huh. A criminal organization? That's something he can deal with. ]

[ He raises an eyebrow to match Kato's. ] General mayhem and... stealing these creatures? Does any of it actually make you any money?

And did whoever brought me here not consider the fact that I have my own criminal organization to run? You have heard of the Dark Hand, I suppose...? [ Yes, he's namedropping. People need to know how important he is! ]

Well I'm still getting paid every week, so we definitely appear to be. If you want a better answer, you'll have to ask the executives.

[...don't ask the executives, Valmont. As for that second question...]

I take it this 'Dark Hand' is your organization? Never heard of it - and I wouldn't go holding your breath, expecting anyone around here to recognize it, either.

As far as Team Rocket is concerned, you're just another grunt. It's up to you to prove that you're worth more than that.

[ Oh, he's going to have a word with those executives. If he ever finds them. But anything else Kato just said is eclipsed by that last bit. ]

...I'm sorry, I believe I misheard you. Did you just call me a grunt?

[ No. No no no. This is not acceptable. How anyone could possibly think - ! They do know who he is, right? Right?! ]

I did indeed just call you a grunt - as a new recruit, that's your rank.

[There's a hint of amusement in Kato's voice, but he manages to keep his smirk from growing too much. Oh, you're going to have fun here, aren't you...]

If you want me to be honest, I'm a Researcher. Basically, the Science Department's equivalent of a Private, which is the rank above yours. Don't worry; I won't ask you to salute.

[...]

Some may, though, so I recommend giving it a practice.

[ He gawks. ]

Are you mad?! I am not going to salute you! You are not in any way my superior, and I refuse to take part in this... this farce! I've agreed to none of this!

[Kato just rolls his eyes, although his smirk doesn't fade.]

I just said I'm not interested-oh, suit yourself. Run along and see how far that attitude gets you with someone who takes the ranking system a bit more seriously than me.

[Turning, Kato mutters something to his Lunatone, and the pair of them started heading back down the hallway.]

[ Of course you're interested. Everyone's interested in him. He's Valmont, dammit!

Wait. ] Where are you going? Come back here! [ You're just going to walk away after that bombshell? So to speak. ] I - I'm not finished with you!

[ Too bad you've got no authority to back that command up, V. ]

[...you know, even though that was rude as hell and he probably shouldn't give this person the time of day, Kato can't resist pausing and turning back to face him.

...look, it's been a bit quiet around here lately and this is kind of. really entertaining him, alright.]

You really need to work on your manners.

[At least he's actually stopped, however - still with that amused smirk on his face. Johto certainly made an interesting decision when they put this individual into the team.

He's always thought it had a dark sense of humour.]

[ He sputters. ] I need to - ! You're the one walking away from me in the middle of a conversation! Now, if you don't mind answering my questions -

[ ...It would help if he'd actually thought of some questions before this point. ]

How did you bring me here? And who was it who decided I ought to participate in this team, as a grunt, of all things? If you had requested that I be the leader, I would have understood, but this...!

[Oh for the love of-]

Are you listening to me at all? I've already told you that I don't know. I don't know how you got here, I don't know why you're at the bottom of the ladder, and frankly, I don't care.

Deal with it.

[And that's that, apparently.]

Now, do you have any practical questions about the Team that you want to ask me, or can I continue on my way?

But I - but -

[ Oh, Valmont, stop sputtering. The man doesn't have any answers. Let's spare him having to watch you stand there like an idiot, shall we? ]

Oh, very well. I can't imagine what kind of organization doesn't tell its employees these things, but... [ For now, he'd better play along. He casts around for another question. ]

Do you only deal in stealing these creatures? Or are other sorts of theft on the table? Bank robberies, for example. That's more the sort of thing I'm used to than is snatching people's pets.

01 $$ [video/action for Rocket base]

[action] WOW TY FOR THIS NOTIF, DW

[action] np! Sorry for late reply!

No problem! o/

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