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

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Blank, white ceiling. This is what she gets for trying to play the "hero."

Xion sighs as she lies on her bed, her right arm heavily bandaged and a sling supporting her now broken forearm. New bandages and gauze pads applied. Blisseys and Chanseys moseying about.

... she can't stay here.

Xion heaves as she sits up, a dull pain awakening in her senses. They've given her medicine, did the long procedure of making sure her forearm is secure in its new hold and told her to rest.

Looks like the coast is clear. The Nurses and doctors were busy looking over other people.

Time to slip out and check on her friends and Saffron! ]

[ripped]

[ Hey look, they can be bandage buddies. Nero meets her right outside her room; it's a good thing he's got good reflexes, because he stops just in time to avoid bumping into her. ]

Hey.

[ He's got a bandage on his jawline from a burn--either from Red shooting fireballs so close to his face or all the Acid the poison-types were spewing around, it's hard to tell. One of his legs is bandages up under his jeans, but he's not limping too noticeably. Nothing broken, but that can be attributed partly to good fortune and partly to being, well, close to two hundred pounds of sheer muscle. ]

You look like shit.

[ Also he is the nicest. ]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She doesn't even know what that word means. But it obviously means something that... isn't clean. Or something. ]

You don't look too good yourself. [ Slightly limping herself as she walks closer. ] But you look fine?

[ripped]

I inhaled some toxic smoke or something. [ He waves it off like WHATEVER, NO BIG, not like taking Toxic Gas to the lungs is dangerous or anything, tch. ] The rest of it's under the clothes.

[ Kyrie's probably the only one who'll ever see it, but his arms are dotted with small acid burns--he's got his sleeves pulled down fully now to hide them. ]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

You're really tough. [ It's half-praise, half-observation. ]

It's nice to finally meet you, Nero. [ Proper introduction and not on a jacked, chaotic train. ]

[ripped]

That's what happens when you hunt demons for a living, I guess.

[ At the greeting, he nods. A pause, and then, quieter: ] I owe you one. ...thanks.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Hunted demons... That explains it. [ Nope, not finding that odd in itself. Hello, Heartless.

She blinks at that, then smiles. ] You don't need to owe me anything. I'm happy to help.

[ripped]

Yeah, well, Kyrie could've been hurt if you hadn't stepped in. [ Not necessarily true; more like he would've been hurt taking the hit that Xion ended up cushioning. ] You're pretty tough yourself.

[ JUST ACCEPT HIS GRATITUDE, OKAY, IT'S A RARE AND FLEETING THING. ]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

Thank you. [ L-LOL OKAY. /TAKES IT ] By the way, how is she? I can assume she's okay. You were really working to protect her.

[ripped]

She's fine. Off tending to the sick and needy, as usual.

[ He says that with kind exasperation and a hint of pride; he knows he's lucky to have found someone as selfless and giving as Kyrie, even if it comes with the unfortunate side-effect of having to share her attentions. ]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

She's really kind. It's nice to know she has someone like you.

[ She tries to take in a deep breath, but visibly winces. Ow. Ow. ]

[ripped]

[ Jeez, Xion, Nero isn't used to this much complimenting in one conversation. He's glad when she winces, because it gives him something else to focus on. ]

Did a number on you, huh? Is it the ribs?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Such a tsundere, Nero. She almost slumps when he mentions it. ]

Yeah. They said I was lucky: another hit and they would've caved.

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[Not so fast, Xion. Right as she's about to step up, she'll be getting a light tap on the shoulder.]

And where do you think you're going?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Startled! She stands... or tries to, but with her ankle... She stares up at him, nonetheless. ]

Out?

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

In that condition?

[He doesn't look entirely convinced, but... that's because he's a worried friend.]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

... I just don't want to get cooped up like this, with what's happened.

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[Awww, Xion. Riku can sympathize; chances are he'd do the same thing.]

Well, we better hurry, otherwise the nurses might catch on.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She eagerly nods. ] Okay!

[ J-Just gonna have to bear with her a bit. The ankle and her ribs... ]

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

[Aww, Xion. That won't do.]

Need some help?

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

I-I'm fine. I can do this...

[ 'Cept she might pull something in her ankle again at this rate. ]

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

Xion.

[He'll step closer to her.]

C'mon. I don't want you to overdo it.

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ Sluuuumps. Yeah, she's running on pure stubbornness right now. At least in terms of just wanting to go somewhere other than the Center. ]

Okay...

[islandshore.livejournal.com]

I'll stay close; don't worry.

[You can just... lean against him like he's some sorta crutch. Nothing too weird, nope.]

[ordalias.livejournal.com]

[ She moves to do just that, head pressing against his shoulder while she leans against him. Sure, she's been close to Riku before, but not... like this?

... It kinda makes her pay attention to the muscles of his arm. So strong! Maybe she can ask Riku later how to get like that.

She sighs once she's comfortable... unaware of the stares they're starting to get. ]

Thank you, Riku. [ Small smile! ]