♕ TWELFTH COMMAND | VIDEO / ACTION [MAHOGANY TOWN, TEAM ROCKET BASE]

[determinator]

[ VIDEO ]

[The video feed opens to Archer playing with a Venipede. Said Venipede is glaring at the camera - how dare it take his trainer's attention away!]

I've been in Johto for one year.

[Yes, this is a very important announcement. Archer doesn't look up at the camera, instead continuing to toy with Kann's anntenae.]

To those of you who have been here for quite some time, have you decided that you want to stay here? Why or why not?

[To those of you familiar with Archer, he seems quite a bit distant today. The fact that he's not looking at the camera is one sure sign, but he's also looking a little... down, for lack of a better word. He's not even trying to be threatening. This must be a first!]

I'd appreciate any opinions, even from those of you who haven't been here for very long.

[He gestures airily and the Alakazam running the 'Gear turns it off.]

[ ACTION - MAHOGANY TOWN, TEAM ROCKET BASE ]

[Should you find yourself in Mahogany Town today and you decide to explore the Team Rocket Base (which really shouldn't be all that difficult to find if you know what you're looking for), you'll find that the place is rigged with Voltorbs that will explode as soon as they enter a battle. They're not the only threat, however! There are five Psychic-types just waiting beyond there, all with orders to attack any intruders. They're also high leveled, but don't worry! They'll at least let their trainer know before attacking you!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to enter the base and either defeat the Psychic-types or persuade them to keep from attacking! Show them you mean no harm and they won't hurt you! After all, there might be something valuable or useful inside that base probably not...

Archer is holed up in a room inside the base (Kimblee's old room, to be specific), still amusing himself by playing with Kann, the ridiculously powerful Venipede. Feel free to come bother him!]

Comments

[video]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[...oh, hello, you. It's been a while since Zulf has spoken to Archer; he's a bit curious as to what came of their last conversation, dealing with Archer's...horrendously creepy friend, but there are clearly more important things here - he's coming off a bit strangely, and as such he isn't going to just jump him with questions.

The feed is a bit dark, the light source nearby bouncing around a little - clearly he's using Squirt's antennae to light the...wherever he is. It's a bit claustrophobic looking, judging by how tight the corner is over there, but Zulf doesn't seem to mind.

...yeah he's been down in this well shoving Antidotes at Slowpokes for the last god knows how long.]

I'll stay for as long as I'm allowed; this place is beautiful and comes with many opportunities, and I'm beginning to think that my services might be something useful around here eventually.

What about you, if I can ask?

[video - locked]

[determinator]

[Ah, Zulf! It has been awhile, hasn't it? Archer is a bit confused by the background there, but he'll ask about that in a moment. There are more important things to attend to now, like locking the feed down.]

I understand the feeling. I believe I'll remain in this world for awhile longer as well. I have far more opportunities in this world than I would have in my own.

[video - locked]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[...oh. Well, that works too.]

I'm glad to hear that. [And from the sound of it, he genuinely is!] It would be a shame to have you leave.

[video - locked]

[determinator]

Thank you, Zulf.

[He's really not sure what to do with that; Archer isn't used to people actually liking him to some extent. Kimblee is about the only exception here, and it's different with him.]

Where are you? I don't recognize the area.

[A wild topic change appeared!!]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[...you are still so awkward, Archer. It's okay, he's not going to bite you!]

Oh...there's a well in Azalea Town that's seen some hard times lately. I imagine you heard about that? There was a man on the network making sure people were aware.

[He is going to heal every Slowpoke, Archer. :| ]

[determinator]

[Oh... goodness...]

You're trying to heal the Slowpoke, then?

[Oh come on, Cobra couldn't have done that much damage! Right?]

[leaveyourstarburning]

[He is going to heal every Slowpoke.]

That'd be the basic gist of it, yes. They didn't do anything to deserve being treated like that.

[determinator]

No, they certainly didn't. How is it going?

[Not that he really cares about the Slowpoke or anything, but good luck, man?]

[leaveyourstarburning]

It's...going well enough.

[They're kind of painfully stupid and animals tend to not like him. It's going horribly.]

...pardon me for asking, but is everything all right? You seemed a bit down earlier.

[determinator]

[Oh Zulf bb.... You try...]

Well, I suppose things would be better if they weren't poisoned in the first place, but that is good to hear.

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

Well, as I said, I've been here for a year. It's... taking some getting used to. I arrived here shortly after my closest friend was killed - it's been a year since his death.

[That said, Archer is kind of smiling. Kind of. If you squint and tilt your head it might be seen as smiling.]

I miss him terribly.

[leaveyourstarburning]

...I'm sorry.

[He actually is.]

Losing loved ones is always hard; I'll pray for you both.

[............]

Assuming you don't mind.

[determinator]

Ah, no, of course I don't mind. I'm not religious, but I certainly don't mind.

[A-awkward...]

Thank you.

[leaveyourstarburning]

Don't mention it, Archer. It's something I want to do for you.

Did you manage to reconcile with your friend here, by the way? I'm sorry if that's a bit of an awkward topic, but I've been wondering.

[determinator]

Oh, yes, we did. I apologize, I should have let you know about that. Your advice really did help, Zulf. It was a huge misunderstanding and we've worked it out.

[leaveyourstarburning]

A lot of fights like that tend to be - but don't apologize, I'm just glad to hear that you seem to have worked things out between you. You seem rather fond of him.

[FOR. SOME REASON THAT HE STILL HASN'T FIGURED OUT.]

[determinator]

Thank you. I'm very pleased with the way things turned out. We've actually moved up to Mahogany Town; it's quite nice up here. If you don't mind the cold, perhaps you should come visit someday.

[Oh come on, Kimblee's a great guy!!! Totally!!!]

[leaveyourstarburning]

...doesn't it snow often up there?

[no but why tho]

[determinator]

It does, yes. It's going to be incredibly cold during the winter, if this is any indication.

[Because it's not like he started off up here!!]

[leaveyourstarburning]

I've never really been too fond of snow. Maybe I'll give it a chance, but...

[...no seriously he has some really weird memories involving snow

that he thinks might have happened??? not sure if happened

...Kid you had better not reset everything again or he will flip a shit]

[determinator]

You could always wait until spring. I travel to Goldenrod enough, I'm sure we could meet up there at some point.

[leaveyourstarburning]

I would like that, actually.

Do you have business there often, then?

[...what is it that you...do, anyway...]

[determinator]

I do. As much as I enjoy the house up here, there really isn't anywhere to shop or sell things. Since I have been breeding my Pokemon, I prefer to drop off eggs at the Breeding Center. It's better than simply shoving them in the PC.

[THAT'S A LIE he gives them to Team Rocket, but no big deal!]

I rather like travelling. It's nice to get to see civilization every so often as well.

[leaveyourstarburning]

May I asked why you picked somewhere like Mahogany Town, of all places? It doesn't seem like the sort of place you'd normally care for very much, from what I know of you.

[determinator]

It isn't. Kimblee said he wanted to move up here. It's very rare for him to express an opinion like that, so of course I complied. He's normally very passive about things.

[leaveyourstarburning]

Is he...?

[He seemed rather eager to just do whatever he wanted in the forest, though that was...after he...asked your permission to be there in the first place...]

...ah, I suppose I see what you mean. It's a bit strange in general.

[...all. the subtlety. of a blunt axe.]