023. [Anonymous Text + Images/Video]

[explosivecombat]

[An anonymous text will be going out to the network today; the ID is consistent with the one that usually sends out things along these lines from Seth.

Surprisingly (and lbr, probably refreshingly), there aren't any images of Seth's "work" prefacing the text; it simply gets to the point.]

It's been a year since we first met. As predicted, I'm still doing just fine. Those who stated I would be caught before the year mark have officially failed in their task.

But as I've said before, I like to level the playing field a bit once in a while. It keeps things interesting for me. And since people in this place tend to like their anniversaries, I thought I would celebrate mine with an invitation for you.

I'm in Goldenrod City for the next week. If you want a battle, you're more than welcome to it.

I have eyes all over the city. Set up a trap for me and I'll know. But meet me as my equal and you'll be rewarded.

No tricks. No lies. Just battle.

Contact me and we'll see what can be arranged.

[The text is punctuated with an image, taken in what appears to be a mostly-dark meeting room; the focus of the picture is on a set of six Ultra Balls, shining dimly from what little light is illuminating the room. Visible behind the table they're set on is what's clearly a Team Rocket member, visible from the upper chest to about his hips; he's leaning against the table, gloved hands braced on either side of the set of Ultra Balls, and as usual, the red R insignia on his shirt is able to be seen easily enough.

The second attachment is a brief video. Though his face is still out of the shot, the Rocket in question seems to have seated himself behind that table; the Ultra Balls are still displayed in front of him, but a white card is obscuring some of them, pinned between two of his fingers. The card is handwritten in thick, blocky lettering, as though they've been written over repeatedly, obscuring the handwriting and making them less identifiable.

MY NAME IS SETH. A YEAR AGO TODAY, I BEGAN MY WORK.

AND I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE WANTED TO MEET ME IN PERSON.

He turns the card over slowly; there are two words written on the back, in the same style as the front.

ANY CHALLENGERS?]


[OOC]

[If there are any takers when it comes to this challenge of Kimblee's, there will be a log set up later this week to accommodate all your battling needs! This post is for the sake of arranging such things, should anyone be interested in trying to throttle the bastard. This isn't a plot so much as it is a post in two parts, so to speak.]

Comments

[nostabbing]

[Twenty minutes to "freshen up" really translated more into ten and ten — ten to don the Rocket Grunt costume (might as well go with the company uniform, and the range of motion isn't so bad, albeit not nearly as optimal as her catsuit) and yank her hair up into a sensible no-nonsense ponytail, and ten to arrive at the training room early and find a place to hide so she can watch this Seth guy as he shows up. Social tells aren't in any way her forte — grifting is Sophie's job by far — but physical tells, the way someone walks and moves, where they look and how they conduct their stance? That's useful. That will give her an early heads-up as to what she's getting into.

And she knows from the minute she spots him that he is, at least, at least as influential as he holds himself out to be. There's a confidence in the way he walks, like he belongs here in this environment. Sniveling weasels don't walk like predator cats.

(They also don't dress like Archie.)

Once he's in, she makes her appearance, timed carefully to draw attention without making him wait too long.]

So you're Seth.

[No fanfare, no bravado. She knows how to walk like a predator cat too.]

[explosivecombat]

[A light smirk crosses his features at the greeting; he's keeping his hands in his pockets for now, tipping his head slightly as he studies her, tries to get some idea of what he's looking at.

Social tells may not be her forte, but they are his.

He doesn't seem displeased with what he sees, however.]

That's what some call me, yes. Alice, wasn't it? A pleasure.

[nostabbing]

[It's the small talk that'll burn her, and she knows it; selling a story is one thing, but maintaining it and adapting it on the fly is quite another. Strange as it is to think of it that way, maybe it's just that she's too honest to grift the way that Sophie does. She can't be someone else when she's just Parker.

Luckily, Parker is a thief, and a thief is what she needs to be right now. When she approaches, it's cool and collected, unconcerned by the prospect of what she's about to do.]

That's right. I'm new.

["What some call me". Should she push that? Maybe he wants her to...but maybe she shouldn't. Sophie would know. She doesn't.]

Did you bring my reward?

[explosivecombat]

[...well. She certainly isn't backwards about coming forwards with regards to this reward, is she?]

I reward those who deserve it; I can be very good to you, should you warrant the attention. Show me enough potential and I'll see what I can do for you.

[nostabbing]

[There. Good. This is her playing field now. Convincing this guy she's the real deal isn't a problem, when "the real deal" demands that she be a thief.

She reaches back, giving her ponytail a yank to tighten it as she sizes him up, not bothering to hide that she's looking. No point. That's the way encounters like this work.]

What I do is get my hands on things people don't want me to have. But if I pick the course, you might think I'm setting you up.

[She gestures offhandedly to the training room, a sweeping motion of her hand.]

So why don't you pick one, in whatever combination of obstacles you want, and make those balls as hard to get to as you can? And then we'll see how good I am at making your toys disappear.

[explosivecombat]

Literally any combination of my choosing, then?

[He seems far more amused at this than he should be; he knows these training areas rather well when it comes to what's available, given that he's been working on rebuilding his own skillset recently. Said skillset involving crazy amounts of parkour.]

You're certainly confident, I'll give you that much. No restrictions?

[nostabbing]

[Crazy amounts of parkour is one area where they'll get along smashingly, coincidentally enough. And he's likely to see a fair bit of it today, depending on the course he sets. Fortunately, she's ready for whatever he throws at her — or at least, as ready as she's been every other time she's boasted about being able to do something regardless of whether or not she knew for certain that she could.

Which happens fairly frequently, all things considered, but hey. More often than not it's a gamble that pays out.]

Well, you won't learn much about what I can do if you pick a configuration that's physically impossible to bypass.

[When she says it, it doesn't sound like hesitance or backpedaling — if anything, it's a matter-of-fact observation of something they both should already know, and once that doesn't seem to concern her much.]

I'd recommend the lasers, though. They're fun.