route_1065 | Emmy, the totally cunning and manipulative mastermind

Entry tags:

Emmy, the totally cunning and manipulative mastermind

Who: Frank Archer (

determinator) and Jean Descole (

scientificflair)
Where: The Team Rocket Base, Goldenrod City
When: Nighttime, April 29
Summary: Archer has some serious questions for Descole concerning a British woman he absolutely loathes. For very good reasons, of course.
Rating: PG? Possibly higher if Archer starts swearing.
Log: He spoke to Cobra earlier that night. The information he got was certainly not to his liking.

Descole had taken Emmy Altava's name to protect her; that was the only explanation. There simply wasn't anything else that could possibly explain it. On top of that, Descole had accused Archer of placing Emmy's name on the list due to personal reasons.

Archer had taken a couple of hours to attempt to calm down. He had managed to get the tremors under control at least; though the scowl was still in place and he still looked prepared to shank anyone who so much as dared to look at him.

He knew Descole was working within the science division - it was likely he would be holed up in the labs down there. Sure, he might come across the white-haired woman who looked like she wanted to stab him in the face with a scalpel or Gorthan, and sure, it might have been easier to just call Descole and arrange a meeting... But Archer was furious. He wasn't thinking straight, even after a couple of hours of playing with his cats.

No one had dared accuse him of something so low before. He held plenty of personal grudges; that wasn't the issue. Archer had never once crossed the line between personal and business when it came to something like this. Any personal dislike he held was ignored for work. Of course Descole didn't know this. It was ridiculous to get angry at Descole for something he couldn't have possibly known.

...At the same time, he must have gotten this idea from somewhere. It was possible he was there at the Masquerade and overheard Archer's little... tirade. Even so, that was directed more at Kimblee than at Emmy. He planned to find out just what motivated Descole to insult him like that - and while he was at it, he'd obtain information on just what Descole was trying to do by feeding Cobra lies about Emmy.

He entered the lab, stopping in the doorway and folding his arms. "Descole." The name was clipped short and enunciated harshly. "I need to have a word with you. In private."

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Well, this certainly looked promising from the get-go.

If Descole had any qualms about speaking to Archer, it wasn't present in his expression; the smirk across his features was natural without being malicious - nothing antagonizing about it, simply something he did because genuine smiling didn't come easily to him. It was something he suspected Archer might recognize, given how often he did it himself; it was also something that Archer's white-suited friend was prone to. However, that was precisely why Descole imagined Archer would think nothing of it; when that sort of practiced expression was natural to some, they tended to believe that everyone did it - that expressions were a mask that all people happened to have in common.

It bothered him, somewhat, that he was getting to know how the...stranger people in that organization thought. But so it went.

"Colonel Archer." In contrast to the smirking, there was some warmth to his tone; he knew it likely wouldn't help, as Archer did not seem like a happy person, but it was something. "I have time. Wherever you'd like, really - lead on, my good man."

The expression was completely ignored for the time being - Descole could be the most genuine and appreciative smile in the world and Archer wouldn't have cared. "Excellent." Again, the word is clipped short and it certainly seems to be anything other than excellent.

He turned on his heel and took the lead, locating an empty room not all that far from the labs. Archer had no intention of wasting any time. As soon as he was sure Descole was in the room with him and prepared to listen, Archer turned to him.

"I understand you recently spoke to Cobra about Emmy Altava."

The statement should have been enough to warn Descole, but Archer continued on quickly, "You gave him some horribly inaccurate information. You're attempting to protect her from us, aren't you?"

It was a rhetorical question. Archer folded his arms again, eyes narrowing. "We're not stupid, Descole. It would be best to stop attempting to protect her. If you wish to remain in this organization, you'll tell me exactly why you're trying to feed us false information."

He didn't have the authority and he knew it, but that didn't mean Descole knew. Archer was counting on the cold tone and sense of authority to back up his words.

"While you're at it, you can also explain where and how you got the idea that I was the one who put her name on that list." From the tone, it was quite obvious that Archer knew. He wanted to hear how Descole would justify this.

Ah. Yes, right. That. There really wasn't much of a response to that outside of "Well, shit," now, was there? Thankfully, Descole was better under pressure than that, and he did, in fact, refrain from actually saying "Well, shit."

Rather, that smirk deepened a bit; outwardly, he didn't seem bothered in the least. "If I wish to remain in this organization...? I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that you had the power to remove me in the first place; you aren't listed anywhere as someone I'm supposed to report to, or as anyone who can issue reprimands. So really, why don't you do us both a very, very large favor and stop acting like you can speak for the organization at all?"

He shifted a bit then, his hand flicking up dismissively. "As for your name, it was a guess, nothing more. I can't think of anyone else that would put her name on that list for no reason at all, and you know as well as I do that she isn't a threat."

Shame he didn't fall for that. Oh well, Archer brushed that off with a shake of his head. "As someone who happens to have earned our superiors' favor? Yes, I do happen to have more influence within this organization."

Said "superiors" were really only Cobra Commander, but that wasn't something Descole needed to know.

"She is hardly on there for no reason. Someone within our organization deems her a threat and contacted Cobra about her. That's really all their is to it. Now why don't you stop avoiding the issue and tell me why you wanted to take her name in the first place?"

He wouldn't be dissuaded that easily, after all.

Edited 2012-04-30 20:03 (UTC)

Descole laughed a bit at that, the sound dark. "Ah, but now you're assuming that you're the only person in this organization with the favor of our superior officers, Colonel. We work in rather different divisions, after all; the science division reports straight up the chain of command, rather than having to settle for working with those of...lesser rank and climbing the ladder rung by rung. We're commissioned directly, you see."

That wasn't a lie, just misleading: the science division, at least judging by Gorthan's assignments, did work on direct commission. However, the most contact Descole himself had with anyone that might have passed for a superior officer was getting shouted at for being out of uniform for the umpteenth time. However, that wasn't important; what was important was keeping Archer suspecting they were on reasonably even ground.

"Given that you hold no more sway in this organization than I do, I would recommend not trying to press me for information that you have no business knowing. Or do you have a personal reason for being so invested in this?"

Archer's expression went from irritated to furious somewhere in Descole's speech, but he carefully recomposed it under the guise of clearing his throat. Had the situation been any different, he would have admired Descole's points and would have continued to pick at them - rather than attacking Archer's own stance, Descole was defending his own. It would have been interesting to see if the man would change tactics after awhile.

But that didn't matter. At that moment, the only thing Archer cared about was getting information out of this man. He let go of that argument and ignored it.

"You tell me. You certainly seemed quite certain that I had a very personal motive for putting her name on that list when you spoke with Cobra."

Archer's expression darkened again. He didn't bother to compose it.

"Tell me, Descole; what all do you know about me? I can assure you, you don't know nearly enough to make assumptions like that."

Yes, he mad.

Descole shook his head a bit at that, offering another of those flamboyantly dismissive gestures as he did so. "Was I mistaken in assuming you would have any sort of personal reason?"

"Where would you get an idea like that anyway? You're avoiding the question."

Of course Archer refused to answer that. He had no idea where Descole had gotten this information from short of asking Emmy herself. If that was the case, then clearly they had been in correspondence. It wasn't quite enough, but it was a start. If he was communicating with Emmy, it was likely that they did like each other to some extent. Why he would put his neck on the line for her was beyond Archer; but that didn't matter.

Descole could definitely tell that this was agitating the hell out of Archer; at the same time, he couldn't say that he minded very much.

"So are you, you realize. It looks to be a bit of a stalemate."

If he hadn't promised Cobra he'd return with information, Archer would have stormed off right then and there. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in irritation.

He needed to calm down and think this through rationally.

"Very well then. It's none of your concern anymore, anyway. I merely wanted to see what spurred you to insult me like that."

Fine. It was time to try a different tactic.

"Emmy Altava has been taken off your hands. I'll be dealing with her from now on. You should have thought twice before giving Cobra false information."

Descole pauses for a moment at that, drawing one of his hands upward and setting it against his chin contemplatively; he doesn't seem disturbed, exactly, just thinking. "You're a very cunning man, Colonel Archer; I'll grant you that much. But I still think I have reason to not believe you."

"Indeed? And what would that be?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Colonel, but I believe you're the sort of man who likes to see results. Your impatience with your Pokémon, despite them doing exactly what you told them to do, seemed to indicate that much to me. You're willing to work for what you get, don't misunderstand me; I'm not calling you lazy or ineffective - I believe you work very hard. But you like to see results as soon as possible; if you don't get those results as quickly as you like, you're unhappy and unsatisfied."

He paused again, lowering his hand to clasp it with the other in front of him.

"Given that you like to see results, it would make more sense to me if you had told me right away that I had been removed from my post. Blindsiding me with that would have practically guaranteed an immediate, large reaction, if I were protecting Emmy Altava. However, you chose to demand why I would suspect you personally of putting her on the list - something which you should have known wouldn't get you anywhere, by the way, as it has an immediate answer if I really do have something to hide - and then you've done nothing to answer any of the other questions I've raised.

Furthermore - if you had no reason to have put her on the list, you would have told me so yourself. Instead, you've been insisting that she was put on there 'for a reason', and avoiding the question of whether I was mistaken for thinking you had a reason in the first place. You're really just digging yourself a deeper hole by refusing to speak on the matter."

Archer stood there, taking all that in carefully. His expression remained composed though - this was the most Descole had said to him the entire time. Clearly there was something he could pick apart here...?

"Again, you're assuming you know me better than you do. I'm more bothered by the fact that you felt the need to drag my name into this. She was placed on that list by another, not me; feel free to ask Cobra if you don't believe me. But instead of asking that, you assumed I put her name on the list because of whatever personal vendetta I may or may not have against her."

His expression once again shifted to irritation. "That isn't acceptable, Descole. Perhaps you let your personal grudges interfere with your work, but I don't. That is the main reason why I came down here to confront you."

There was a brief pause while Archer collected his thoughts. He could argue this well enough if he wasn't furious.

"Yes, I do have something of a personal grudge against Emmy Altava. That is none of your concern, nor is it anyone else's business. I do not let my personal life interfere with that of my professional life. She is on the list because of someone else - whether theirs is a grudge or not, I can't say.

"I felt that this was more pressing of an issue. Again, if you don't believe me, feel free to contact Cobra about it; but you have been removed from the assignment. Perhaps next time you'll consider providing us with correct information."

Descole let him finish; this wasn't anything too devastating, really.

"Oh, don't get me wrong - I fully intend to contact the good Commander about it, because the only person who seems bothered by this possibly being a personal grudge is you. He told me directly that he didn't care what reason anyone had for putting her on that list; she would be destroyed regardless. Do you really not understand that you're literally the only person in this situation that's bothered by this? I simply told him that I had reason to think you were possibly acting out of personal bias. If that were something that bothered him, he had a right to know. However, Cobra doesn't care, and quite frankly, neither do I."

Dammit. He was right. There was no way around it; the only person this was bothering was Archer himself.

"...Fine. It's really only important to me. That doesn't chance things any. I still found it more important to discuss this."

"If you're truly here for a discussion, Colonel, then I'll thank you not to try to threaten the information out of me. But fine. For now, I'll humor you."

Finally, getting somewhere.

"I'm not asking that you be a perfect gentleman; I understand that you're angry. I'm just asking that you approach this like a rational adult. Ask me your questions civilly and I'll answer whatever you like about this."

He did not like the way Descole was speaking to him; it sounded like a parent scolding a child. It infuriated him even further. There was nothing to be done about it now though; if he wanted to get information for Cobra, he'd have to play nice.

"Fine. Why did you offer Cobra incorrect information about Emmy? She certainly doesn't train Psychic-types - had someone taken that advice and went into battle against her with Dark-types, they wouldn't have stood a chance."

"To answer your question, Colonel, let me pose one of my own - how did you become familiar with Emmy's Pokémon? I'm not challenging you; just indulge me for now and you'll receive your answer."

"She's battled against my training partner before. He told me about what she has. Why?"

That would, presumably, be Mr. Kimblee...so he was right in assuming that Kimblee had fed Archer information regarding Emmy. Good to know.

"So you're assuming she trains only six, then." The incredibly haughty tone to his voice was more than enough to imply what he likely thought of that. "Really, Colonel, she's not nearly as dumb as you assume she is - do you think that she's going to be trying to take down this organization with Pokémon she's used out in the open, in front of people?"

No, that's not possible. Emmy Altava was nowhere near smart enough to come up with that. Archer frowned.

"I don't doubt that she has other Pokémon. How would she be able to train them all? She has spent quite some time travelling, correct?"

Archer shifted his weight slightly and folded his hands behind his back.

"Training multiple Pokémon is very difficult even if you're staying in one place. I doubt she's found any way to consistently gain five levels every week for all her Pokémon."

One question for you, then, Archer.

"And how unfortunate would it be if you're wrong?"

No, no, don't answer that, it's rhetorical; Descole continued on easily, that smirk firmly back in place.

"Then you would be the one suspected of giving Cobra false information, wouldn't you? Really, it would be a horrible blow to his confidence in you as an informant, as you're giving him outdated information. A shame, really, given your...ambition. You really can't afford a setback, now, can you?"

He shook his head. "Allow me to answer your question regarding why I selected Emmy as a target. She's under the employ of a personal rival of mine, back in London. Said rival is currently here, in Johto; should something befall his precious assistant, it would be a tremendous personal blow to him.

"He's spited me too many times in the past for me to allow it to stand, yet he's been in Johto far longer than I; he's too powerful at this point for me to stage a direct attack. And if I can't attack him directly, I'll work to set him back in any way I can."

Archer frowned again. No, he was right; if Archer was wrong and Emmy was training Psychic-types...

"What proof do you have? If you can prove it, I'd be more than happy to support you in your endeavors."

The statement was a bit stiff, but otherwise calm. Archer looked as though he'd calmed down a great deal though in reality, he was far more agitated than before. If Descole was right and Emmy did have another set of Pokémon he didn't know about...

No. But Kimblee would have found out about them and said something. She trusted Kimblee, didn't she?

...He'd have to call Kimblee tonight. This was something he needed to verify.

That just got a laugh out of him.

"What proof do you have on you about what she trains, other than the word of a man who isn't present?"

Archer quirked an eyebrow. "Kimblee wouldn't lie to me. He has traveled with Emmy in the past and at least knows what she usually trains."

"Ah, you're misunderstanding - what good does Kimblee's word do me? For all I know you're both liars, mind you."

"Have you battled her? Have you seen her battle? She uses the same six Pokémon."

...Technically Kimblee never confirmed that, but Archer didn't really care all that much at the moment. The agitation was getting to him; he ran a hand through his hair and shifted position again.

"If you don't believe me, your best bet would be to actually battle her."

Oh, Descole could tell. He knew he was likely going to start treading on dangerous ground eventually, if he agitated Archer too badly; at the same time, he'd never really been one to shy away from risks.

"Ah, but I wasn't asking you what my best bet would be - I was asking you to present proof on the spot. The same thing you just asked me, really.

"And if you can't do it, I don't see why you expect me to."

"Would you like me to get proof, then? I can easily obtain it."

...He was going to have to ask Kimblee to take some pictures or something. He wasn't entirely sure how to go about doing it, but bluffing was always Archer's default response. It had worked so much better back home. Was he losing his touch here?

...Descole admittedly had no idea how he'd managed to somehow take control of the conversation and force Archer to provide proof of anything when Descole was the one stabbing everyone in the back here, but he wasn't going to complain.

"Please do."

"And in return, I'll expect your own proof."

He had really lost his touch here. That shouldn't have happened at all, and that was only serving to frustrate Archer even more.

Should he feel sorry for you, Archer? Because really...

"Of course. Once it can be obtained, it's yours." In contrast to Archer's frustration, Descole was perfectly calm. "Now, are we done here?"

It had been a long time since Archer had felt this defeated. Seven months, actually. That memory didn't spur him on to keep fighting however, and Archer held up his hands in surrender, glancing away.

"Yes, yes, we're done here. Thank you for your time."

He sounded irritated, but there wasn't anything left to be done. At least not until later that evening, when Kimblee would hopefully call and he could complain properly.

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Emmy, the totally cunning and manipulative mastermind

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