021. [Anonymous Text + Images/Locked Audio - Rocket Frequency]

[explosivecombat]

[ANONYMOUS TEXT + IMAGES]

[Kimblee hasn't been back in Goldenrod City for very long; he's well aware of the attack on the Tower, however - his contacts here have made him very aware of that.

He's well aware that he shouldn't do anything rash; however, his pride does have quite the tendency to get involved in decisions where it really has no goddamn business being, and as such, an anonymous text goes out over the network.

Seth's clearly making a reappearance tonight.]

It seems some of you have been enjoying yourselves lately.

[There's no clarification regarding exactly what he's talking about; however, there are, as usual, pictures accompanying the text.

The first is par for the course, as Seth goes; a set of six Pokéballs held in gloved hands, on chest-level with the person holding them - his face isn't visible, but the red R insignia on his uniform clearly is, even in the dim light of the room.

The next three photographs are decidedly more straightforward, in terms of what he's trying to get across; each image contains two Pokémon in heavy, reinforced cages set up in front of a black backdrop of some sort - birds, all of them. They seem alive, though "unharmed" is a bit of a stretch; they seem to have been roughed up quite a bit.

More text, clearly continuing on from the first line.]

So have I.

[One more image follows, similar to the first - though instead of Pokéballs clasped in his hands, he has a white card pinned between his index and middle fingers, the words written on it scrawled out in thick, blocky lettering as though someone had gone over the words repeatedly, obscuring any sort of distinctive handwriting for the sake of making them far less identifiable.

TELL FALKNER THAT SETH SAYS HELLO.]


[AUDIO / PRIVATE - TEAM ROCKET FREQUENCY]

[And a few hours later, once Kimblee has decided he's done instigating for the day, the Rockets will be granted something decidedly more sane and far less...uh, directly ominous.]

A good evening to all of you; I hope that it finds you well.

[Again, the voice over the locked Rocket frequency tonight is calm and possibly surprisingly pleasant, especially given what one usually encounters around the base in Goldenrod; the person speaking is clearly a bit soft-spoken and his voice is gentle in a bit of a high-pitched sort of way, but there's firmness behind his words. Authority. A bit of arrogance, perhaps, but it's just as easily taken for confidence.]

My name is Solf J Kimblee; I hold the rank of Beta in this organization. It's been quite some time since I've been in our beloved hometown; regrettably, business has kept me away, but it won't be that way for much longer.

To those new to the organization - I welcome you to Johto, and I would like to take the time to get to know you personally. I can offer you work and opportunities, should you require direction; should you just want someone to speak to regarding your sudden arrival in this world, I would like to help you - I can't promise you answers, but I can offer my assistance in any way I can. For those who have arrived recently, but haven't met with me personally yet, I would like to invite you to do so as well.

And those of you who have been here for a while - I'll expect some sort of proper report from at least one of you, regarding the incident that occurred last week. Many of you know exactly how well I adhere to Equivalent Exchange; offer me valid information and I'll gladly reward you.

I look forward to speaking with all of you; I would prefer meeting in person, simply know where you are and I'll gladly meet you.

Until then~

Comments

[suck it up Nietzsche]

[doitrockapella]

I wouldn't be calling if it were just about the grandstanding.

[explosivecombat]

Is that so? You have my attention, you know.

[doitrockapella]

Is mistreating the birds really necessary.

[explosivecombat]

You know, of all possible things for you to take offense to, I am completely unsurprised that that's what ended up doing it.

[doitrockapella]

It's one thing to keep them captive. It's another to harm them while you're doing it.

[explosivecombat]

So it is; however, what happens to them isn't necessarily my call.

[doitrockapella]

Were you given specific orders not to treat them with dignity while your organization holds them captive?

[explosivecombat]

That assumes that I'm the one doing the mistreating in the first place, which I don't recall saying.

[doitrockapella]

No, it doesn't. I can't possibly know how your organization hands out its orders — you might all have a blanket rule, or Seth might've been given a set specific to himself. My question was inquiring whether you, specifically, were told not to treat them with respect. Assuming you ever come into contact with them in the first place.

[explosivecombat]

In which case - I wasn't explicitly told that, no.

[doitrockapella]

So there's nothing actively preventing you from helping them. Save for possibly accusations of disloyalty if you were caught, I assume.

[explosivecombat]

Perhaps, but surely you realize that helping them directly does violate several implicit orders.

I'm not helping those birds, if that's what you're dancing around.

[doitrockapella]

Surely someone open-minded enough to appreciate golem-tipping can work out why I might try asking anyway, even realizing that.

There's no need to hurt them. If nothing else, it's inelegant.

[explosivecombat]

[i'm sorry does it look like he gives fucks here or]

And again, I never said that I was hurting them. Refusing to assist makes me an accessory at best.

[doitrockapella]

That was an expression of frustration.

[explosivecombat]

And text conveys no tone.

Regardless, I can't say I blame you, exactly; I don't consider it particularly elegant myself.

[doitrockapella]

I'll make sure to footnote such relevant information in the future.

You know I rarely see the point in needless cruelty.

[explosivecombat]

It would hardly be "needless" were there a point to be seen, most of the time. However, I do have to ask why you continue speaking to me, if it offends you so; you're aware of what I've done.

Attempting to defeat me with my own logic...? I ask due to the earlier questioning.

[doitrockapella]

Not defeat. But response — and persuasion — are both fair game in philosophy.

I doubt I'll ever change your mind any more than you'll change mine. But if there's one thing our previous correspondence has shown, it's that being at odds doesn't inherently mean our ideas will never overlap.

[explosivecombat]

As I've mentioned to you in the past, I've seen battle in many forms; I know better than to assume that all alliances are permanent and all conflicting sides will never find common ground. The human element adds unpredictability to almost all circumstances; I've never denied that.

However, ideally speaking - what would you get out of this?

[doitrockapella]

Out of continuing to talk to you despite my occasional displeasure with you, or out of making an appeal on behalf of some birds I have no appreciable connection to?

[explosivecombat]

Humor me and answer for both.

[doitrockapella]

Enlightened conversation and an assuaged conscience. I am the idealist of our pair.

[explosivecombat]

While I have no qualms about doing what I can to provide the former, I've never been one to offer the latter to anyone, unfortunately.

[doitrockapella]

Few people read Nietzsche to feel better about themselves. That hardly comes as a surprise.

Still, I wouldn't have known for sure if I hadn't tried.