Operation: Express Car; [train plot log]

[these_balls]

Who: Everyone who wants to participate!
Where: Goldenrod City, the Magnet Train, Saffron City.
When: November 23rd, 11AM-5PM
Summary: Heist on the Magnet Train!
Rating: Might go up to PG-13, possibly R if exceptional violence of swearing occurs.
Log:

They've spent the last few days preparing. He wasn't sure at first, how this was going to turn out, but the Team is confident. They are confident and now he, Archer, is also confident. He has no reason to expect failure; he tells himself, even if they fail, this will cement them back in the public eye. A threat again. It makes his collar hot to think.

He reviews the plans again, Petrel's notes and schematics, engineering details. Phase 2 will be the most delicate, but he's confident in the abilities of the recruits. The aliens, the outsiders, are strange, but useful. They have skills no other Grunt would possess. Archer recognizes he has been given a tool, and only a fool would fail to use it.

At 9:30AM on November 23rd, Archer sends a message through the Rocket Network. It is short, and simple, and jubilant.

Operation: Express Car START

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It's a nice day out, considering. Cold, yes, but the kind of cold that buries itself deep in the lungs and blows the mind into crisp clarity. Cheeks are red, movements brisk to retain heat, and around Goldenrod's white-dusted Magnet Train station, the energy is thick enough to taste. People in their thick winter coats press together, some alone, some with families and friends, most with their trusted pokémon. The larger creatures are returned to their balls, tragically fated to miss the voyage, while smaller breeds are held in their trainers' arms or scurrying around their ankles.

The station attendants are supervising while customers pass through, touching the microchipped Rail Pass to the card readers and moving in slow, sluggish trails through the gates. There is no shoving; the atmosphere seems too cheery for it, excitement manifesting in the form of loud, vigorous conversation. The train itself is gloriously slick, smooth and polished as a new bullet or a freshly-minted coin, humming with power. We ask our passengers to please mind their electric-types, reminds the stationmaster over the PA, as we seek to avoid any trouble or inconvenience during the ride.

Once you've passed the gate, find a seat and stow away your luggage. Relax, unwind; it's a long six hours ahead.

[[ ooc: I kindly ask that players please DO NOT POST until all the subthreads have been made. Thank you!

GO FOR IT! Remeber to tag yourselves in!

NOTE: YOU CAN NPC ROCKETS IF YOU CAN'T NAB A PC ROCKET FOR PLOTTY FUNTIEMS. ]]

Comments

[dragonspeak]

[He tries not to gawk too obviously while looking for his seat--this is his first time inside, after all, but judging by the amused glances some of the passengers are sending him, he isn't doing a great job of it.]

Hah, found it! [Merlin grins triumphantly and slides his pack off his shoulders, looking around to see if anyone else he knows is here.]

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

[Well, Izumi was actrually in the train now. Trains, they really weren't his favourite things... but it was a mission handed over so he had no other choises. At least he had an easy job.

Though he's sort of in his thoughts for now and almost bumping into someone on his way, whoops.]

Ah, sorry.

[dragonspeak]

[While moving out of the way, Merlin grabs his seat so he doesn't accidentally lose his balance.]

No harm done! It's a bit difficult to move around in here, isn't it?

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

Yeah, a bit. [He shakes his head.] I knew this place would be crowded, but not this much...

[dragonspeak]

This whole place is sort of... [A pause as he searches for the right word.] squished. Can't really walk in the isles without running into someone else.

[attherailways.livejournal.com]

Exactly... what's worse some seem to like blocking the way by starting to talk with one another in the middle. It's pretty annoying.

[foreveraclone]

[right. try to act normal. FIRST ACTUAL DAY AS A MOLE. TRY TO BE CONVINCING. and not think about Megan. Oh-- this guy looks okay to talk to. Let's talk to him.] Is this seat taken? [he points to the seat next to Merlin's.]

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin glances up, smiling apologetically.] Yeah, sorry. Saving it for a...friend. [He has no idea where Arturia is yet, but he's certain she'll be along any second now.]

This one's not, though. [He nods at the seat right in front of him.] You're here by yourself?

[foreveraclone]

[he was about to shake his head but stops.] Yeah. Thought this would be cool thing to go to.

[dragonspeak]

Have you been on a train like this before? [Merlin leans forward, his attention on the man before him. With a ride six hours long, it'd be good to make new friends and talk, right?]

[foreveraclone]

[he shakes his head.] I've never even been on a train.

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[Hands cover his eyes from behind-]

Guess who~!

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin has no difficulty identifying the voice, so it's with a grin that he replies.]

Minnie! I didn't know you'd be on the train!

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[She giggles, letting him go only to hug him.]

I was keeping it a surprise. It's so good to see you again!

[dragonspeak]

And here I thought I'd have to wait until Yule. [He returns the hug readily.]

Who else are you here with?

[newhero.livejournal.com]

Hey, Merlin!

[as he squishes himself down the aisle toward his seat-- Sora lifts a hand and waves enthusiastically, lifting a shoulder to readjust his bag.]

[dragonspeak]

Sora! [As exciting as going on the train is, Merlin finds he's looking forward to seeing all his friends more. He ruffles Sora's hair as soon as he's close enough.]

I haven't seen you in ages.

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[that hair ruffle's just as familiar and safe as any, and Sora lights up with the biggest grin he's capable of.]

It has been a while, huh? How've you been?

[dragonspeak]

Been...great, actually. [Merlin responds to the grin with a huge smile of his own.] What about you? Just traveling like always?

[solas-ion.livejournal.com]

Would you look at this? I've never seen anything like it. Never even heard of it. Hell of a lot different that chariot or horseback.

[dragonspeak]

[It's a bit of a relief to see someone else awed by the train like he is.]

Loads different. This thing's supposed to go much faster than a carriage or horse, too.

[solas-ion.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I heard that much. Wonder how the hell it does that.

[Your fellow temporal fish out of water has gotcher back, bro.]

[dragonspeak]

Something...to do with the technology, I guess. [He remembers Petrel's diary mentioning something about the mechanics of the train, but the actual explanations might as well have been in another language, for all the good it does him.]

You might get a better explanation if you ask someone else.

[usedjunes.livejournal.com]

[sneak sneak sneak-

guess who just tugged on your shirt, Merlin? but when you turn around, you'll find no one's there! except you may notice a pigtail peeking out from around the seat behind you, but shhhhhhh. Nanako is totally sneaky, okay.]

[dragonspeak]

Na-! [Merlin cuts off his own startled yelp, leaning in to get a better look at her instead.]

Nanako?