038. [ANON TEXT + IMAGES]

[explosivecombat]

[Good afternoon, network! It's a surprisingly nice day today; the sun is out, and while it's not warm per se, it's warm enough to be pleasant.

The last time "Seth"'s device had shown up on the device with this particular sort of message, it'd looked about to snow; he's finding the weather far more favorable this time around.

The first image to hit the network is a view of the streets of Ecruteak, as shot out what looks like a window of some sort; there doesn't seem to be anything on the walls of wherever this was shot from, though the curtains are light and filmy-looking as they billow inward with a light breeze, a bit more elegant than the normal hotel fare. Possibly a private residence of some sort. The leaves are in their full fall colors outside; it's a pretty shot, if not particularly interesting.

The next image is panned down a little – you can still see the window, the curtains having fluttered to a bit more of a standstill, and there's still some of the view of the outdoors; what's new is the table beneath the window, covered in black cases and wires and triggers.

Bombs. Plenty of them.]

I'm not the first one to note that this world isn't safe.

[And there's the text, moments later.]

Aqua and Magma tried to save the world by destroying each other. Some of you try to save the world by destroying me.

Will you succeed this time?

[The next shot is a bit more casual than most of this nature, though as usual, it seems to be set up across a table of some sort. It's his stance that's different; "Seth" has one forearm braced against the wood, and he's leaning forward heavily enough for his stance to look idle, almost bored. As usual, his face isn't in the shot, but if you look you can see the usual Team Rocket insignia emblazoned across his chest; his free hand is holding one of those white cards that he uses to communicate sometimes, pinning it between gloved fingers; the words written out in thick, blocky writing, traced over multiple times to obscure any sort of distinctive handwriting.

LET'S HAVE A WAR.

The second shot is almost identical to the first; only the writing on the card has changed.

ECRUTEAK CITY.

ONE WEEK.




[OOC]

[While the IC timing of this is going to be as he said – the attack will be taking place on the 14th of the month – the log itself will go up on the 10th and will be forward-dated, to circumvent possible continuity issues.

More details about how we're going to run this thing will be forthcoming!]

Comments

[Private Video]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

[Okay, so at first Cobra's just laughing and laughing about this.

He'll stop eventually.

Probably.

Okay, he's done. For the record approves of this in case the ridiculous amount of cackling didn't make that clear.]

Here's hoping they fail!

[Honestly, he's not sure why you like ruining Ecruteak so much Kimblee, but given his neverending grudge against Azalea Town and the Slowpoke Well, he's hardly one to talk.]

And thank you for the advance warning. I was planning on visssiting Johto in the relatively near future, and now I know to posssstpone a trip through that area.

[He'd hate to get blown up or caught in the middle of the righteous hero bomb disposal squad that he's sure will form to deal with this.]

[private text]

[explosivecombat]

Ah, Commander - good to see that you approve, as always.

Is this visit of yours for pleasure or business?

Text

[nvcr]

Thanksgiving is on the 27th. If you're going to take part in some good old-fashioned inter-city warfare, I suggest waiting until then.

[anon text forever]

[explosivecombat]

I've already ruined several holidays for people; I think I'll let them keep that one.

Rocket Frequency; Audio

[scizor_sister]

Ooh, another one so soon?

[First she gets a swird-monster, then the chance to cut loose in battle against a bunch of pirate LARPers, and now this? The holidays last a long time in Johto, it seems.]

[anon text/rocket frequency]

[explosivecombat]

The last month has been interesting. Why stop now?

[Text]

[stitchedupbodyguard]

What the hell is this.

[What else did you expect her to say?]

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

What does it look like?

private text;

[ossifragant]

[You know, there's something to be said about Greed. He has a tendency to take things at face value unless he has a reason not to, but after recent events this is one of those instances where the jigsaw pieces start to make sense. Or he thinks they do at any rate.

There's also that conversation he had months ago now to keep in mind. This situation is reminding him a bit too much of a few different things. But there's always the chance that he's wrong, and if that's the case, hey, that's fine, no big deal.

But we're trying this out anyway.]

You didn't tell me you were throwing a party.

[anon text/private]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, what's this now.

You can keep trying it, if you'd like. Let's see where this goes.]

This is as much advance warning as I give. Should I have done otherwise?

[text]

[sincereheart]

no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you better not blow up anything mister!!!!!!!!!!
we just got done fighting a bunch of evil guys and now you want to come in here and do more bad guy stuff!!!!!!!!!!
well think again!!!!!!!!!
i'm gonna stop you!!!!!!!!!!!!
i mean me and my pokemon are!!!!!!!!

[anon text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[Oh, this is going to be amusing.]

I welcome the attempt.

[anon text]

[fauxtographs]

[It was odd, really, how much the picture of Ecruteak unnerved Emmy when it appeared on her feed. Why did she suddenly feel so strange? There was nothing suspicious about it; if anything, it was quite a pretty shot. So why...?

The second picture clears everything up rather quickly. Paralyzed, she can't help but scroll through all the information, her hand trembling slightly, eyes wide. When she's finished, she drops her Gear onto her bed as if it's suddenly become red hot, her hands flying to her mouth. Kimblee had said that Seth was still around, but since she hadn't seen him herself (although she'd kept an eye out), she didn't want to believe it.

How horrible.

After a moment, she gingerly picks her Gear back up, switching the settings and quickly typing out a return message.]

Why are you doing this? What could you possibly gain from scaring people like this?

[She already knows the answer - he's told her himself - but sitting her doing nothing feels...wrong. It's then that it hits her, after her message is sent and she's looking at the pictures again, that they're wearing the same uniform, and it makes her feel sick. This attack...if it's being done in the name of Team Rocket, then...how is she supposed to stop it, without endangering herself?]

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

[The response she'll get is prompt, at least, if not precisely helpful.]

What could you possibly gain from any explanation I might give you?

[anon text]

[unkinder]

'This time'. I feel as if in my short time of being here, I must have missed something.

Have you done this before?

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

Many times.

I don't have a precise schedule; I strike when inspiration hits, usually.

[text]

[ajustcaws]

oh are you kidding me!?!?! it is SO ON, buster!! you'll regret even THINKING of trying to carry out your evil plans and disrupt the peace!!

[anon text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[...oh good lord]

Is that so?

Perhaps I look forward to seeing what you do in response.

[anon text]

[exeggutorhead]

I always seem to be in the wrong place for your wars.

I suppose I'll just be keeping an eye out for any broadcasts and enjoying the show.

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

Most would consider that first part a good thing, you know.

What would you do were you present, through curiosity?

text;

[angerpoints]

[... well, well. And here Yusuke'd just started getting bored. He'd kicked himself for not having tracked this person down the last time he threatened to blow a city up. This time, he was gonna make sure they weren't so lucky.]

Same old gimmick as before, huh? You really oughta get more creative with your threats. You're starting to become predictable.

You're on, asshole. I'll see you in Ecruteak.

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

It's less a lack of creativity and more adhering to what works. Believe me, you wouldn't like my idea of getting more creative.

But if you're going to attend, I'm not going to stop you. I'll be looking forward to it.

[text]

[lieutenantantichrist]

[Blake wasn't paying a whole lot of attention to what seemed to be somebody's arty photos.

Then the text gets his attention. He barely pauses long enough to jab out a reply before throwing some shit in a bag and headed out to get on his bat.]

Have some fun in your last week on earth, asshole.

[anon text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[...ah, there's the head-smashing brigade...]

I'll see you soon.

Anon Text

[dreamsofahero]

Why wait a week?

*...or at least, that's all he types for now; having effectively lived in Ecruteak for over a year, he fully intends to take to the streets between replies to see if he can pinpoint where the view shown in the first photo could have been taken from*

[anon text]

[explosivecombat]

[Have fun with that, Sion.]

It's not very fair if I don't allow some advance warning.

[AUDIO - PRIVATE]

[sadisticwarfare]

[The response comes in a bit late, but when it does, Archer's voice is tense.]

Is there any reason why you've decided to let everyone know about our plans or is this just because you're bored?

[private text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[The response will likewise be delayed, but that's more because the facepunch brigade showed up on the device and they're all a little tetchy.]

Don't worry, Archer, I know what I'm doing.

[dead philosophers forever]

[doitrockapella]

Did something happen to one of your valuables since I saw you last?

[It probably says something that this is the first conclusion she arrives at by now, but at least it's far from the first time a post like this has resulted in a OH SHIT DID SOMETHING HAPPEN reaction out of her...]

[of course.]

[explosivecombat]

[The response is prompt, at least.]

No, everything is fine. This time it's orders, plain and simple.

[text]

[enjoymyatelier]

What do you even have against Ecruteak? It's a perfectly nice city, and if you blow up my yard then so help me I am going to do everything I can to see precisely what it takes to have someone waking up at the nearest Pokemon Center.

[anon text forever]

[explosivecombat]

[Kayneth, oh my god.]

Does it make you feel better to know that your yard isn't specifically a target?