explosivecombat | 023. [Anonymous Text + Images/Video]

023. [Anonymous Text + Images/Video]

[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.]

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If you say it like that, people will surely try to set up traps... some people are rather stubborn to make things work.

[A year. And that sure is the now-familiar Rocket "R" insignia, too — which means this Seth guy has got to be one of the higher-ups in the organization by now, at least given the somewhat skewed perception of time that people seem to use around here. A year in corporate America might only lift you from tiny cubicle to slightly larger cubicle; around here, a year's a noteworthy achievement. And from the way he's talking, he is some kind of bigshot, or at least bigger than the ones she's been running into so far.

And he's in Goldenrod City. Maybe that means he's in the base?

This one's going to take some planning. Moreso than just her usual recon. Guys like this are smart, and she's not Sophie. So how do you get into the confidence of a criminal?

...You demonstrate that you're one, too.]

I like the sound of "rewarded". What's in it for me?

And perhaps I enjoy a challenge; I certainly wouldn't be doing this in the first place if I didn't.

[Oh, what's this...?]

And who might you be? If you're using this channel, I assume you're one of ours.

If you're making an announcement like that, I assume you're good at what you do.

I'm interested.

I like to think I am, yes, though you aren't answering my question. And you are...?

[Needless to say, Archer is furious when he sees the message on his 'Gear. He was furious the first time Kimblee tried something like this - that little post where he offered to hand out information for no damn reason - but this? This can only end badly. People are going to rise to the challenge and Kimblee is going to have to battle them. As far as Archer's aware, Kimblee hasn't prepared his Pokémon to respond to non-verbal commands. Which means that if he battles, Kimblee will have to yell out commands to get his Pokémon to obey and people will hear his voice. He's been very good about hiding that in the past, but now? Is he getting sloppy just because he hasn't been entertained lately? It doesn't help that Kimblee tends to keep his Pokémon out around the house and he does have some particularly rare ones; if word of this gets back to Isaac (or god forbid, Isaac challenges "Seth"), he could easily put the pieces together. Sure, he's Kimblee's boyfriend, but he's also got an incredibly strong sense of right-and-wrong and probably won't stay silent about it. Even if Isaac doesn't get involved, some of those Pokémon are unique enough to draw attention to Kimblee for even having them in the first place. Yes, he's been good about not battling with his set reserved for Team Rocket, but he was never supposed to openly challenge people like this!

In short, Archer is furious. When he responds, it's a private message straight to Kimblee's 'Gear and it's set to audio. Kimblee already knows that Archer hasn't been sleeping well for the past several weeks and he already knows that Archer will be furious (at least, he had better know), but there's no reason for Archer to show just how badly this is pissing him off. He can control his voice slightly better than his expression when he's pissed. ...Sometimes.]

Care to tell me why you sent that message out to everyone?

[...Though admittedly, it's pretty hard to control his rage when he wants to do nothing but throw tables at Kimblee for making such a stupid decision. Archer's voice is very tense and he sounds like he's going to break into shrieking histrionics at a moment's notice. Have fun, Kimblee.]

Alice. I'm new. But I don't want to stay that way for long.

[...this is going to end beautifully, he can tell already.

It takes him a moment to respond to the message; when he does, he's likewise using the audio setting, simply because he imagines Archer won't be too thrilled at receiving text. Kimblee still hates talking into the device - it feels unbelievably stupid, really - but better that than risk further irritation.]

Would you prefer to discuss this in person, Archer?

[...Depends. Would you like the closest object thrown at your head?]

Give me your reasoning first.

[He's usually not this short with Kimblee, but he really can't say he cares at this point.]

And so you seek me out, rather than our superiors? Or has no one approached you?

Don't misunderstand me, I'm not disinterested.

Why don't you tell me why you're so opposed, as you know I'm a sound battler?

I would have thought that would be obvious.

[The sarcasm there is downright vicious, but he continues after a moment.]

I'm not concerned about you losing. I'm concerned that your Pokémon will be recognizable and will be traced back to you. I'm even more concerned that someone will recognize your voice. Just how do you plan on ordering your Pokémon around without giving that away?

[Hopefully not with a Psychic-type, since that would leave you short one team member.]

I'm supposed to clean bathrooms for a month as part of my newbie hazing? Sounds to me like a month wasted when I could be doing something a lot more productive.

[Play it cool, "Alice". Don't overplay the part. That's what Sophie would say, right? Just sink right back into the character and let it go, natural.]

Seeking you out's just one way of showing initiative.

This again.

[There's a definite coldness to Kimblee's voice when he speaks, an odd, blunted tone that gives away nothing.]

I'm not terribly inclined to simply sit here and take your assumptions that I'm going to be completely incompetent, Archer. If you have a legitimate complaint to bring to me that isn't based on you refusing to acknowledge that I can actually do my job, then I'll be more than pleased to discuss it with you. Until then, I'm not interested.

I never denied that.

All right, then. For now I'll humor you - what is it you do, exactly? Back in your world.

Right, because refusing to tell me how you plan on pulling this off is going to give me so much confidence in your abilities, Kimblee.

[If you listen closely, you might be able to hear the sound of a chair being pushed back so Archer can stand and properly yell at the 'Gear.]

You're being ridiculous again! What is the point in challenging these people to a battle? They'll discover some of the members of your team and prepare strategies against them for the future! Yes you have plenty of other Pokémon in reserve, but to waste them like this is completely senseless! What the hell are you thinking? What good is this going to do us? And don't even try to claim that you're testing out the people who might attempt to stop us in the future - most of them post to the network and reveal what Pokémon they're already training, and the ones that don't can easily be challenged by one of your underlings. There's no reason to challenge them yourself and risk outing yourself to the entire population. We don't have time for this!

Back in my world, I let my skills do the talking.

Want to see me make those toys of yours disappear?

[She's been pilfering Pokeballs for the past few days, just to get used to the balance and weight of lifting spherical objects instead of wallets and IDs. By now, the practice should've paid off.]

[oh for the love of]

Where are you? We're discussing this in person.

So you can storm out once I say something you don't like?

[...Probably shouldn't have said that...]

Where do you think I am? I'm still going over research notes.

[And you know, trying to be productive unlike a certain someone!!!]

I might have time for something like that.

Name your location.

Training Center A, twenty minutes.

I'll freshen up first.

[Don't rise to it, Kimblee. Don't you dare.

It takes him a moment to calm himself down; he responds once he relaxes a bit, giving no damns that Archer is effectively receiving silence as he gets there.]

...five minutes, then. Don't go anywhere.

[He shuts the feed down after that; Archer won't be hard to find, obviously, reclusive as he is. Kimblee knocks before entering, though it's more of a formality before he opens the door anyway.]

Archer.

[He closes the door behind him, though he remains near it; he doesn't lean back against it, as he usually does - rather, he remains away from the wall, folding his hands behind his back.]

You have my apologies for upsetting you.

[Archer doesn't say anything while Kimblee is silent, though he does have to wonder if Kimblee has simply hung up on him. He wouldn't be surprised. Part of him is morbidly pleased with that thought - it means he's won, right? - but he feels a distinct sense of relief when Kimblee starts talking again. Archer sets the 'Gear aside and waits.

He's still standing when Kimblee enters, though he's examining the papers again and appears to have calmed down a bit. He's also bothered to move any items he could potentially throw at Kimblee out of the way since he knows that would end badly. Still, he's surprised by Kimblee's apology, and his expression shows it.]

I...

[He's completely at a loss for words, and for some reason, feels vaguely mad that Kimblee just apologized without letting him shriek a bit more first.]

...Yes, well. I would like an explanation for this.

[He would ask why Kimblee didn't come to him first, but that much is obvious. He would have told Kimblee no.]

[His tone is rather formal when he addresses him; his annoyance obvious in how clipped his words are coming out. He can't say that he cares.]

I admit that this is at least partially due to restlessness, as I've been barred in many ways from doing my job properly. Not the least of which is a lack of communication and proper orders from my superior officer.

[Sorry, was that slightly out of line?]

As I've been unable to carry out any of my duties properly, I've taken it upon myself to return to furthering my own personal projects. My apologies if this isn't to your liking.

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023. [Anonymous Text + Images/Video]

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text; | rocket frequency

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anonymous text; | rocket frequency

same headers forever basically

I was trying to find a way to say that but it did not quite happen

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