004. Action for northern Route 34/also one other thing

[scientificflair]

[PRIVATE TEXT TO EMMY ALTAVA]

We need to talk. Now.


[ACTION]

[Well, some of you may remember that...weirdly terse post from Descole that went out about a month ago, asking exactly how one would know if their Pokémon that requires happiness to evolve is anywhere near pleased with you. You'll be pleased to know that it's -

...seriously not anything he'll have to worry about anytime soon. No. Really. It's not.

It's not exactly something he's keeping to himself, either. Oh, no. It's incredibly evident in several ways, the primary one being the fact that he's currently skulking around on Route 34, just outside of Goldenrod City, and that Togepi he's been training is currently wailing up a storm.

Descole doesn't seem to know what he's supposed to do with the fact that the damn thing simply will not stop crying; to his credit, he isn't just up and ditching the thing, though from the look of it he's clearly considering - once in a while he'll get fed up and stomp off a few feet, only for the wailing to intensify the further he gets. The result is this...bizarre storming back-and-forth routine, simply because Descole is the paragon of grace and charm and he cannot figure out how to make the damn thing shut up.

Yes, he has tried everything from leaving it alone to being in its presence to...yelling at it to shut up. No, he has not worked out the incredibly obvious solution of "pick the little crying eggthing up."

-50 PICARATS FOR YOU, DESCOLE.]

Comments

[to action!]

[snapandscoot]

[[Emmy has spotted Descole on her descent into Goldenrod, so she directs her Fearow to land near him.]]

Now remember, Fearo, take the landing easy....!

[[...THEY'RE COMING IN FAST]]

Nearly got it....!!!

[[....AND LANDING! AND SKIDDING!!

.....BUT THEY'RE GOOD!

HELLO DESCOLE HOW ARE YOU

YOU'VE NOW GOT EMMY PERCHED ON A HYPER-LOOKING FEAROW BASICALLY.....WITHIN A FOOT OF YOU

PERFECT LANDING, RIGHT?]]

[scientificflair]

[ARE

YOU

INSANE]

...Emmy...

[NO REALLY

ABOUT THE ONLY SAVING GRACE HERE IS THAT YOU HAVE TERRIFIED HIS TOGEPI INTO SHUTTING UP FOR A MOMENT]

[snapandscoot]

Not too bad for a first landing at that speed! We'll work on getting even faster, Fearo!

[[Let her now happily hop off and smile at you, Descole!]]

You wanted to speak to me?

[scientificflair]

...Yes. I believe something may have come up in regards to your -

[...and the Togepi over there has decided that being ignored is really not helping the current situation. There it goes again.

This. Eggthing. Emmy.]

[snapandscoot]

[[...oh my god what is that noise, it sounds like a shrieking baby-]]

Ahhh! How cute!

[[LET HER SCAMPER OVER AND PICK YOU UP

OMG IT'S ADORABLE

SHE DOESN'T NORMALLY GO GAGA OVER BBTHINGS BUT LOOK AT THIS EGGTHING]]

Is it yours?

[scientificflair]

[OH, THANK GOD, IT'S SHUT UP.

No, really, the Togepi looks decidedly less inclined to start screaming again now that he's being held; admittedly, he has no idea who the Hairwoman is over here, but he does not seem to mind being cooed over for a while. He's looking bewildered as hell, but he's content to roll with it for now.

And so, from the look of it, is Descole; good lord, that is a relief, Emmy, you don't even know - he's been dealing with the screaming for quite some time now. He hasn't been dealing very well, of course, but...]

It is, yes, though it's been proving a bit difficult lately.

[SO. RELIEVED. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.]

[snapandscoot]

[[Heeee aren't you an adorable bbthing

just let her bounce you up and down a bit, okay

...especially if you're going to stay nice and quiet like that]]

I'll say; it's got quite a set of lungs on it! But it's so adorable!

[[You can just have such a smile, alright]]

I didn't think you were the type to have such a cute Pokemon, Descole!

[scientificflair]

[You can have the most flippant gesture ever for your effort, Emmy.]

Oh, believe me, it's for the sake of the evolutions it's capable of, not its...current state.

[I am a serious villain with a ridiculously cute eggthing

take me seriously dammit]

[snapandscoot]

[[......so srsly

...

:3]]

Well, while I'm keeping it quiet; what did you want to speak to me about? Your message was rather blunt.

[scientificflair]

[...just keep on keeping it quiet and we'll be fine.]

Yes, of course. Before I begin - have you heard anything further from that anonymous friend of yours?

[snapandscoot]

...not since the attack on those poor Kimono girls, no.

[[....this doesn't bode well.]]

...is this related to that?

[scientificflair]

...I believe it may be, yes.

[All right, let's figure out how to do this. Descole doesn't want to get kicked out of the organization, as questionable as he finds some of its members; he has his own reasons for that. As such, he can't directly tell Emmy any names, as that's outing other members and would not be smiled upon; nor can he directly show her any conversations that were had over the secure line.

Of course, he couldn't exactly out himself directly, either, and he managed to get his point across without saying anything specific. This is a bit more difficult, however.

Let's start with the basics, then - there are some things that can be said.]

It seems that I was...mistaken when I doubted that you would possibly be targeted.

[snapandscoot]

[[....her breath catches in her throat, and Emmy instinctively cuddles the bbthing closer.]]

...I....what do you mean by that?

[scientificflair]

I can't go into great detail regarding what's been said; however, I can tell you that there was a list of names circulating. Potential threats to the organization and the like.

Your name was on it.

[snapandscoot]

....so....what does it mean? That my name was on the 'list'?

[scientificflair]

[He looks away at that, irritated.]

Emmy, if it's severe enough that I feel the need to tell you...

[snapandscoot]

You mean......!!

[[.....oh. oh...oh dear.]]

B-But I haven't done anything!

[scientificflair]

Well, I certainly wasn't the one to put your name there. Clearly someone thinks you did something to warrant being on it!

Can you think of anyone you've angered? And if not, anyone who might be petty enough to consider putting your name out there for the entire organization to see? Surely you must know someone who would consider doing such a thing - someone who might get rather disproportionately angry at you for perceived slights. Think for a moment.

[C'mon, Emmy, c'monnnn...he can't give names here, but...]

1/2

[snapandscoot]

.....someone......I-I don't know, I don't think I've.....

[[.....wait a minute

petty...

disproportionally angry....for perceived...slights-

...a memory flashes into her head, then; the Masquerade, holding onto Kimblee's arm, laughing happily and going outside to walk in the garden, only to be stopped by...]]

2/2

[snapandscoot]

...Archer!

[scientificflair]

[20 PICARATS AWARDED, GODDAMN

That said, Descole does seem rather pleased that the appropriate conclusion was reached. Darkly pleased, sure, but still pleased.]

Have you had any further run-ins with him since that...issue he felt the need to have in public back in February?

[snapandscoot]

Just the occasional tense conversation...I can tell he's really not very fond of me.

[[SHE WILL TAKE THOSE PICARATS

AND JUST

JUST UGH, DESCOLE, JUST UGH]]

But to go to this extreme....!! I simply cannot believe it, Descole! Who knew he was so petty? And all this over a man! He's like a jealous schoolgirl!

[scientificflair]

Over a man?

[................well this is news]

...Emmy, how much do I really want to know...

[snapandscoot]

A friend of mine, Descole! You know Mr Kimblee; my date for the Masquerade? We're not together, if that's what you're thinking!!

[[...why she suddenly felt the urge to adamantly make that point clear is a mystery, but that's....not the point, right now!!]]

And besides, doesn't that make it all the more ridiculous? Archer is telling people to go after me just because Mr Kimblee likes taking me out on the occasional platonic date to a coffee shop!

[[WHAT VALENTINE'S DAY SHENANIGANS]]

[scientificflair]

[CAN WE GET ON THE SAME PAGE HERE PLEASE]

That wasn't what I meant! I never said you were together -

[WHARRGARBLWHARRGARBL JESUS CHRIST]

Are they gay?!