I come, Graymalkin!

[shakespearealien]

Who: Gorthan (shakespearealien) and Descole (scientificflair)
Where: Celadon City
When: During the Rocket Missions on May 2nd.
Summary: Two surprisingly not completely mad scientists conquer a big city. Or something like that!
Rating: PG at most? Probably G, though. Very refined gentlemen here.
Log:

Since a certain incident in summer 1998, Gorthan had wanted to get as much driving practice as possible; so that, eventually, when he got back to Evron, he would finally be able to end his dependence on autopilot and rely on his own intelligence to, say, dodge fire aimed at his ship. However, for this specific mission, driving was not an option for him, as one of his tasks was to supervise the entire operation. He always had his earpiece on, and while he usually did not talk into the transceiver for longer than a routinely question or comment, that is where his attention was pretty much constantly.

However, at one point, he did raise his gaze out of the windows long enough to realize they were about to reach their destination - Celadon City.

He looked at his partner for the mission. The darkness, plus the mask that the man would always wear made it nearly impossible for Gorthan to tell what he was doing, or if he was even awake (this would not be a problem if Gorthan still had his Evronian sight, he mused, which was more based on psychic perception and much less based on light). The alien scientist distanced the microphone from his mouth for a moment.

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair:
Hover through the fog and filthy air."

Surely that would help get his partner in the mood for fetid mischief, if that wasn't already the case.

With his dreadlocks tied up behind his head and under his hat (which also covered his forehead markings), Gorthan, in full Team Rocket uniform, looked just like any Team Rocket Grunt. He had simply a taller, stronger build than the average. Whereas Descole... Gorthan couldn't help but wonder to what extent the man was adamant about his quirks concerning dress.

Comments

[scientificflair]

Descole was still, in fact, awake; the transportation to Celadon City had been incredibly dull, given the darkness, though he imagined it would be infinitely more interesting once the sun was up and everything was visible.

Although he really couldn't say he predicted this would be boring, either, given what they were here to do.

For the time being, however, he'd contented himself with looking out the window at the sheer amount of pitch-black nothingness rolling by, lost in his own thoughts; the quote from Gorthan did get a smile out of him, however. It may not have been visible, but it was audible in his voice, lightening the tone of it quite a bit.

"Something rotten in the state of Kanto, indeed."

[shakespearealien]

Gorthan nodded and smiled in turn.

"The bigger the city is, the more it amplifies the spiral-like effects of panic. That is what we Evronians are taught. While I don't know if that rule is completely true, I have yet to find an exception."

When the vehicle finally stopped, Gorthan was quick to jump off it. "Let's go."

Welcoming them were the bright lights of a large, modern city known for its thriving economy, its colors... and for its recent pollution problem. By the looks (and, more importantly, smell) of it, said problem had just grown a lot worse.

The first thing Gorthan did, after appreciating the piles of trash disseminated along the streets as far as his eyes could see, was release his Ditto. "With any luck, I'll be able to show you something, my friend."

[scientificflair]

Descole had been dying to get out of the vehicle for quite some time; he wasn't exactly opposed to them, but at the same time, long periods of time spent travelling with nothing else to do had never appealed to him. He was the sort that needed to be moving, doing things at all times, and as such stepping out and into the streetlights was incredibly welcome, the motion accompanied with some idle stretching as he took in the general view of the city. Admittedly, it would be much nicer were it not for the sheer amount of rubbish everywhere, but there wasn't much to be done about that.

The glare of the lights revealed something else that was fairly unusual about the evening - the fact that Descole was actually in full Team Rocket uniform for once, without the usual embellishments. The only thing truly separating him from the other grunts were the mask - while it was the one that had been issued by the organization rather than the one he usually wore, there was no reason to wear it now, but the desire to cover his face wasn't anything that was going to change anytime soon - and the fact that, just visible beneath the hat, his hair was a deep shade of copper today. He wasn't a natural redhead, but he wasn't exactly comfortable leaving his hair uncovered, either.

He didn't seem all too uncomfortable with his current attire, however; rather, he was behaving as he usually did - somewhat flamboyant, just a little over-the-top, but generally relaxed.

"Is that so?"

[shakespearealien]

Now that Descole could be seen a little more clearly, Gorthan found himself blinking a little at him. "Is that... a wig?" The question was said a little under his breath. He wasn't really expecting to receive an answer or anything.

"Ah, yes." He lifted his Ditto up in his arms and placed it on his broad shoulder, where the pink blob perched happily. "As is the case with several of these creatures, Kravenn is far more intelligent than he likes people to assume."

Yes. That was what he had named his Ditto. 'Kravenn'.

"Let's explore a bit, shall we? Lead the way, my friend." Gorthan smiled at Descole. Just the fact that he had someone he could call 'friend' was enough to send a feeling of exhilaration coursing through his body... but, as he quickly reminded himself, his emotions had no place in this mission.

[scientificflair]

Descole watched Gorthan interacting with the Ditto for a moment, though he didn't comment; emotional attachment to these creatures really wasn't anything that Descole chose to discuss on a regular basis.

That Togepi still hated him. He couldn't say he blamed it; he hated it quite a bit himself. But it was still supremely annoying.

Regardless, however, he returned that smile Gorthan had offered him; it was more of a smirk on Descole's end, but then, genuine smiling had never been anything he'd been good at. Genuine interaction in general was still...fairly new, really; he was accustomed to using pet terms toward others, but Gorthan's usage of "my friend" seemed...different somehow.

Another thing he had no intention of commenting on.

However, wandering down the street in silence wasn't exactly an option, though he seemed reasonably content to take in the scenery, ignoring the smell for the time being. He clasped his hands behind his back lightly as he walked, gaze upturned toward the buildings.

"You've been here longer than I have, Gorthan; have you been to Kanto in your time here, or...?"

[shakespearealien]

"Unfortunately, there is not much I have seen of this world. This is my first time in Kanto. I wonder if a journey in pursuit of the Badges would be enough to motivate me to travel... our work keeps me bound to Goldenrod, however."

Gorthan's hands were joined behind his back as well, but his gaze wandered restlessly, as if he were here as a tourist and every building, even the blandest ones, were works of great artistic interest.

"This city seems... chaotic enough, even without us causing discomfort. Hordes of people, likely unaware of their neighbors' lives, names, or even existence, their fear already immense, yet latent... it will fall easily."

He closes his eyes for a moment, to dismiss the silent objection that his soul raises to his own words. Once he reopens them, he's smiling again.

"Say. There should be a large square right in front of that renowned department store. Assuming our colleagues have acted sensibly, would it not make sense for our objective to be found there?"

[scientificflair]

Descole couldn't say that he was entirely sure what to do with those statements regarding chaos and fear; his thoughts flash, unbidden, to Emmy Altava. For a brief, foolish moment, he considered telling Gorthan - about Archer, about Kimblee, about that list and the false information he'd given that strange man calling himself "Cobra Commander"; about the fact that he was helping someone from the outside...he intended to summon her to Kanto for a while after this was over. Despite the fact that this act would certainly broaden Team Rocket's influence in Kanto, it wasn't nearly as immersed in it as Johto; it would be safer to talk to Emmy here.

He knew, in the end, that he wouldn't say anything. That he would do as he always had; he would handle this alone. But he couldn't say that the idea of trusting someone for once wasn't an appealing one; he entertained the thought from time to time.

Instead, he simply nodded, sure to keep any traces of worry or concern out of his mannerisms.

"It's surprising how often common sense isn't; at the same time, I'm feeling optimistic today - shall we, then?"

He didn't wait for an answer, already diverting their course toward the square in question; he still didn't want to bring up the matter of fear and the city falling, but there was something else that had been said earlier that had caught his interest.

"Ah, you mentioned the badges earlier; some say that's a potential way home." He paused for a moment; not quite hesitant, but almost. "Do you have any interest in returning, Gorthan?"

[shakespearealien]

If anything, the truly foolish thing was Descole's decision not to speak to Gorthan about what was troubling him. Because if you're going to stretch the rules of an overly ruthless Organization, you probably want a partner in crime who has some experience with that kind of thing.

"My home is crumbling and my presence there unwelcome. To wish to return would be to wish ill, perhaps death, upon myself. And yet I cannot say I do not miss my children and my fellow Evronians."

It was not a yes, but it was not a no either. It was a 'things will happen the way they will'. And of course...

"There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all."

He looked at the sky as he recited the quote. The city lights and skyscrapers frustrated his view of the stars, but he persevered nonetheless. What universe was this? What extraterrestrial species inhabited it? Were some Pokémon species truly not originally from Earth? And what if all of them were aliens?

[scientificflair]

Descole took in the quote in silence before nodding a bit; those words, at least, were calming, comforting in their familiarity.

"Since no man of aught he leaves knows, what is 't to leave betimes?"

He paused for a moment, gathering thoughts. "My situation is far removed from yours; not nearly as dire. I agree with your stance, however - what will be, will be."

[shakespearealien]

Gorthan tilts his head to show Descole another oddly warm smile.

"Descole..." He seems to pause for a moment, unsure whether to continue and ask his question. He soon decides that it should be safe enough. "I wish I knew more about you. What are your thoughts? Your aspirations? Who is it you call a friend, both in your world of origin and here?"

[scientificflair]

Descole didn't answer that for so long that it might have implied that he hadn't heard; the mask didn't help when it came to telling exactly what he was thinking. However, when he finally did answer, the reply wasn't a cold one; if anything, it was a bit awkward, but not in a way that indicated that he didn't want to answer - just that he wasn't entirely sure how.

"My thoughts and aspirations change over time, my good man - my grand aspiration is as steadfast as it ever was, admittedly, but it hardly matters here. The Aslant Legacies aren't anything that I can pursue in Johto, after all."

He paused for a moment, considering. "As for my friends back home, I have allies and accomplices. Not friends."

It was about then that the meaning of the question started to sink in, why it had seemed so strange that Gorthan had taken up pet phrasing with him before. Was he really asking about that? That wasn't something that most asked about, in Descole's experience, but now that it was out there...well. Why not.

"I don't see a reason why I shouldn't consider you to be such here, however."

[shakespearealien]

"... I do not have any friends in my world of origin, either. And yet, here..."

Closing his eyes, he smiles sadly. "We have a great deal in common, Descole. If I were to leave, I would..."

The eloquent Evronian seemed suddenly unable to finish his own sentences, for whatever reason. When it became clear that he couldn't finish this one, either, there came a convenient distraction, in the form of Gorthan's Ditto suddenly leaping off his shoulder and wobbling over to a particularly smelly abandoned trash bag.

"Ah, there we go."

Gorthan's eyes and smile brightened.