030. [Anon Text + Images.]

[explosivecombat]

[Well, good afternoon, network - it's been a few months since this particular device has been active. There's an ID assigned to it, of course; those familiar with Team Rocket's activities in the past may recognize it as belonging to the individual calling himself Seth.

He's been inactive lately, as far as crime goes; that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy.

Today's message comes with a few lines of text and an attachment; the text is definitely deliberate, to say the least.]

What does this world mean to you? Do you think it's something worth protecting, or would you rather sit on the sidelines and watch it burn? This place is more than sunshine and Pokémon battles. If given the choice to make a difference, would you take it?

[As usual, there's a set of photos attached to the message; the first few show a desk in a nondescript room, covered in various mechanical things - those who are familiar with incendiary devices and triggers in your world will likely recognize them. The rest?

Those are bombs. A lot of bombs.

The last two are the usual shot of the Rocket member in question, in full Team uniform and shot from about chest-level, keeping his face and other defining features out of the shot. He's not holding anything stolen this time around; rather, it's one of those white cards that he's used to deliver messages before, 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 it far less identifiable.

LET'S HAVE A WAR.

The final shot is similar to the first; only the card has changed.

OLIVINE CITY.

YOU HAVE THREE DAYS.]

Comments

[explosivecombat]

That's what I said, yes.

[doitrockapella]

[...]

What happened. "Circumstances have changed" — that wasn't about you and me. It's about what's set you off.

[explosivecombat]

More or less.

Exactly what happened is irrelevant; knowing that won't change the outcome, nor will having someone understand it change my mind. I'm not really in the mood to negotiate.

[doitrockapella]

And whoever said either of those reasons are why I'm asking?

[explosivecombat]

Can you claim in complete sincerity that they aren't?

[doitrockapella]

I can claim in complete sincerity that they're not the predominant one.

[explosivecombat]

Will you be there in three days? Or are you going to avoid the place?

[doitrockapella]

What do you think?

[explosivecombat]

I think taffeta and opera gloves will be more than suitable.

[doitrockapella]

It's proper for a symphony.

Now stop changing the subject.

[explosivecombat]

I don't think you're in any position to be giving me orders.

[doitrockapella]

You haven't been this frustrating since your significant other left last summer.

Why does it matter whether I'll be there or not?

[explosivecombat]

Curiosity about the sort of opposition I'll be facing, really.

[doitrockapella]

Don't flatter yourself into thinking I'm going to swing in to save the day, pontificating all the while about how you're never going to get away with this.

If you want to lump me in with the rest of your enemies, that's your decision. But you're not going to be mine.

[explosivecombat]

You're assuming I don't know you well enough to be fully aware that you can oppose me in other ways.

You do get credit for that rather adorable mental image, however.

[doitrockapella]

I'm assuming you're too far off the rails to comprehend or care about what I intend to do.

[explosivecombat]

In the same way that I was supposedly too far off the rails to recognize you last time?

[doitrockapella]

In the way that explains why I win at chess and you don't.

[explosivecombat]

Well, that was a "You'll never get away with this" if I've ever heard one.

Do as you like, Locke. At this point, it matters very little to me. If I'm defeated eventually, then so be it.

[doitrockapella]

This is a charming change of pace. Usually I'm the one who can't figure out why you're doing the things you do, not the other way around.

All you want anymore is your war. Do you really think I'd need all three guesses to work out what it is you're not telling me?

[explosivecombat]

If all you're here for at this point is to be self-congratulatory and attempt to flaunt your supposedly brilliant amounts of understanding and intuition, then I don't know what to say to you outside of "I'm not particularly interested in hearing it."

Do enjoy the rest of your day, however.

[doitrockapella]

Fine.

I'm wearing red. Make sure to match.

[explosivecombat]

Consider it done.