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

-----------------------------------------------

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

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Well... he's definitely caught by surprise, but having been raised the way he was, he's quick to action. He has Meimei use Ice Fang on the nearest Weezing. She quickly returns to his side as he rises from his seat.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

...

[Oh... Bugger.

He's just... Maybe leave Yao alone because of their friendship and his Gyarados being trained by him and-]

Yao.

[-Or not :I]

Just want you to know I am here, so do not hit me with pokémon attacks, okay?

[Self preservation; it's a good thing man.

That and he's kinda looking pretty beat up anyway.]

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Don't think that he's not conflicted at all, oh no, he is.]

I already know you are with Team Rocket and I remember what you said before, however, I cannot just stand by and let this plan be carried out.

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

Am not saying sit by- am saying just do not hit me with pokémon.

[He'll think about that statement for a moment]

Or anything else.

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Yī wàn. If this was under other circumstances then perhaps, but I am afraid not. [Translation: You knew this coming someday.]

I will not use Pokemon if you are fine with hand-to-hand combat instead, aru.

[Meimei lets out a whine of protest but is immediately called back into her Pokeball, which was China's way of saying, "Stop whining." He places her ball on his belt with the others.]

Or yet, just stop while you still can. [He's still trying any possible routes to peace.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[How thin is this ice? Too thin, but he's too far into it to see a way back to the safety.]

You know that is no option of mine Yao. I follow my orders.

[He'll put his dukes up, because he has no idea what Yao is going to do with his crazy as hell fighting styles and Jackie Chanesque ability to use household objects as fighting weapons. He's kind of hoping those stories are just fabrications.]

I will not go easy on you.

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[How very lucky for Ivan that the space of this train is too small and cramped for him to do backflips and all those other techniques he learned from the Shaolin monks and additional persons.]

That is fine with me, so don't expect me to go easy on you either.

[Immediately after saying that, he grabs onto the overhang with both hands on either side of him, lifts himself up, and kicks both legs in Ivan's direction full force, aiming for the face. He was hoping that he could just knock the other out and pull him away somewhere to hide until it was all over, but he wasn't putting his hopes too high on that.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[Very lucky indeed. It's also a good thing because Ivan's biggest thing fight wise is Sambo, which focuses very much on dislocating joints and breaking bones. Sadly there's not nearly enough room to pin the Chinaman here which is a terrible shame in Russia's opinion..

He gets his arms up in time for the kick, but it's still a potent hit, the impact pushing his arms forcefully into his nose with enough force to start it bleeding.

He's not out, but he's much closer than he was before, his grin a little more dazed than he probably realised.]

Nice try.

[He'll be going for a haymaker and kind of praying for the same thing Yao was only moments before.]

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Of course, Yao still had his ways. Having lived for so long, he could fight in almost any environment. No Ivan, not here, not here. Not in front of all the children.

The punch hits him square in the chest, forcing him to the ground on his back. The back of his head painfully collides with the ground as he does. He quickly shakes himself out of his daze enough so he can support himself on his hands and send another strong kick at Ivan.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[China admittedly had a lotlittle more experience in the way of hand to hand- Russia was definitely more of a gun man when it came down to it. Still, where there was a will there was a way. Hey baby don't be like that, he's sure you'll enjoy it once they start~ /shot

He moves quickly once the other man is down, though having to watch his step on luggage, pokémon and other people apparently gave the smaller male enough time to get up, shake off his daze and aim a kick, the move catching the Russian just under the ribs, something that, in his opinion, hurt a hell of a lot more than it should of.]

!!!

[His breath was audible as it left him and as he tried to suck it back in, the larger man grabbing the foot that caused his winding tightly, unable to hide the genuine smile that crept on his face, it was an inappropriate time to speak but-]

I hate... How weak these bodies are.

[He kept a hold on the other mans leg, keeping it stretched as he moved to come down on the knee's socket with his elbow in a hard pile driver movement. He could feel how unsteady his grip was however, his fingers still trembling from the impact before; this could easily end up with Yao pulling out and the soviet with possible an elbow out of joint... But the car was too small for anything else and he was runing out of ideas and, annoyingly for him, the stamina to carry much more out.]

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[ASDFGHKJL NONONO. He'd kick, yell, and flail to get you off of him. He doesn't have to be embarrassed in public more than he usually is. Besides, some of his other friends are aboard this train!

Even Yao is surprised by how much effect his blow has on the Russian man. It would not have been as great back home. And-oh damn-now he's got himself trapped. He has a foreboding feeling about what the other is going to do with his leg so he braces himself. What he wasn't expecting was for Ivan to speak. He just sends him a look. It wasn't aggressive, or angry, or sad, but neutral.

Then came the pain. An audible pop is heard as his knee is dislocated.]

!!!!!

[He doesn't cry out loudly, but he does give a grunt. He clenches his teeth tightly. The People's Republic of China was not done yet, though. Ignoring the excuciating pain in his now-useless knee and using the strength in his abs, he pulls his upper body up and strikes his fist at the other's face. If the hit landed, then he'll be wrapping his fingers around Ivan's throat. He didn't want to suffocate the other to the point of death, more like he wanted to stop the air flow long enough to make the other pass out.]

Holy fuck spellcheck stop changing the damn word >:O

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[Then they will see our beautiful blossoming... Whatever this is. He doesn't know anymore

He's still focusing on his breathing, sucking in audibly heavy breaths as he moves to pull away from the other man, looking up just in time to see the hit coming for his face. He moved back instinctively, though his foot caught behind him, sending him reeling forward into the fist coming for him, the hit catching him just under the eye socket.

He felt himself hiss at the contact, though the sound was cut off by a hand he hadn't even seem ramming into his throat, eyes widening visibly as he felt it clench around his vocal chords firmly.]

Yaccchhkk--!!

[He could feel his body starting to tighten and restrict as it was starved of oxygen, guttural sounds leaving him as the Russian's hands scrabbled at the other man's wrist to pry and tear it from its hold on his neck. It was harder to do so with gloves on apparently, but the Russian didn't have time to remove them; he could already see a blackout framing his vision, the darkness steadily creeping over his vision like a shroud.]

Ngh...!?

[He couldn't be caught- not now, not when he was doing so well...!]

I hate it when it does that :c

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Our beautiful blossoming hate-love? Or violent love?

He's giving Ivan direct eye contact. The brown orbs are reflecting a fierceness he's always shown when in combat, yet if one were to look deeply, they might see a twinge of pleading. He struggles to keep his hands around the other's throat as the bigger hands attempt to pry his own away. Not to mention his entire leg hurt like hell.]

Just stop while you can, Yī wàn. There's still time, aru. Do not force me to continue.

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[It's certainly violent in any case~

He can't help but look into the gaze fixed on him, needing something to focus on to keep him conscious, hearing enough of what Yao was saying over the sound of his blood in his ears to think on it; Going against Team Rocket now? There was no point! What else was there to do in this place? Nothing. Nothing interesting anyway, and he might as well have something to do here while he was kept here, so why not work for Team Rocket? He already knew he was good at following orders, whether he supported the cause of not...]

...

[He grabbed the other man's hand as tightly as he could muster, unsure of whether this actually was what he wanted or not. It wasn't as if it mattered
in any case; if he stopped he'd be jailed, or worse all things considered, if he didn't then Yao finished him off, and his now very human survival instinct was kicking into overdrive.]

Hng... Kkch--Y_ao!!

[Oxygen, he needed oxygen--]

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Oh yes~ He can feel his grip slipping as the other grips his hand tightly. He's also beginning to feel some fatigue. Memories of the Sino-Soviet Split are resurfacing in his mind.]

You are only a chess piece to them, Yī wàn! Don't let them take advantage of you! I know how it feels!

[He's definitely been used as a puppet before and none of those times were pleasant experiences.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[He feels the fatigue in the other man's grip, giving one last twist of the wrist to try and get the other man off him. If it was a success, then he wasn't going to waste his time being arrogant about it- Yao was obviously far from taking this matter lightly- a few more moments and he'd have been out like a light.

Whatever happened though, the Asian's words had struck some kind of chord, even if said chord was a particularly pleasant one. He could to the other man about it later, but for now, he had to get out of his current situation, however that came about..]

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[There's another grunt of pain as his wrist is twisted. Now with two usless limbs, he falls to his side.

With the little strength he has left, he uses his good hand to grip the other's pants leg. He could only imagine himself as looking very pathetic and weak.]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[There's a flash of concern on his face as the other man's hand comes away so easily, the Russian somewhat suprised he'd managed to injure the other man so seriously, but he wasn't going to get overly comfortable, though the other country seemed to be doing his best to keep him there.

He didn't know whether to stay and make sure the other man was alright... Or aim a heavy boot to the other man's head and finished what was pretty much a done job.]

... Tch-

[He pulled away, pulling his pant leg from the smaller man's hold, making sure he was fully out of Yao's reach before pushing him out of the aisle, away from the attacks and people running to avoid them. He'd think on what the other man said- but not here, not where there were so many temptations to distract him.

He didn't do much else, other than keep just out of hands reach.]

Stop being stubborn and start healing already. We will talk again soon.

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

[Great... now he was being moved as easily as a doll. If his knee wasn't bad, he would have stood up. For now, though, all he does is lie limp. If only his knee and wrist would pop themselves back into place like they would back home. He looks up at Ivan, saying nothing.

At that moment he was very tempted to break it to the other up front about the USSR's dissolution, he even opens his mouth to say something but catches himself in time and clamps it shut. It's not like saying that would make the situation any better. In fact, it would make things even worse.]

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

[ There's a Muk attack coming for Yao's Glaceon from behind. While Takumi isn't exactly the strongest Pokemon, he manages to counter the attack with Rapid Spin. ]

Yao... Are you alright?

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Meimei--! [Then he sees another Pokemon block it. He turns his head to face her, nodding.]

I am. Thank you, for what you just did. I am sorry that our first meeting in person had to be like this, aru.

[seikaprez.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it. I've had lots of first in-person encounters on this train exactly like this one. [ She says that with total disgust, not at Yao but at the Rockets. ]

Careful. They're probably going to target your Pokemon.

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Meimei is perfectly capable of fending for herself, but it's always better to have reinforcements.

[With that said he releases Li the Dewgong.]

[moezawa.livejournal.com]

[ Suddenly, more Pokemon appear, surrounding the two trainers and their Pokemon. She trusts that Yao will be okay, but anything can happen, and it doesn't help to be careful. ]

You take the left side, I'll take the right?

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

Of course.

[He has both Li and Meimei use Ice Shard.]