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

[ 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose you could say the same for me as well. I have some things I'd like to take care of here before I return.

[That's partially true! Except for the part where he'd rather stay here since he can actually get promoted and all that. :| ]

Think you'll have enough time to finish those things? You never know when your time's going to run out around here.

[Partial truths are still truths. She likes to stay here because, hey, she's alive here. But she'd never say that to random strangers. Nope. Never.]

I certainly hope I will. I don't like leaving things unfinished. And you, miss...?

[He understands completely. He wouldn't say anything about being unsure about whether he's alive or dead!]

Lightning. And I finish was I start, if given the chance.

[Which would be a not-so-veiled threat if she knew exactly who he was, but now it's just a calm statement of fact. Someone's confident.]

[So it is her! He thought as much from the information on the 'Gear, but...! Well, she's certainly a fascinating woman, he'll give her that.]

Of course. It would be ridiculous to leave work unfinished.

[Fascinatingly stubborn, perhaps. And maybe a bit reckless. Not that hiding her name would have done any good, what with the 'Gear pumping out those details anyway.]

That depends on the situation. Sometimes it's better to leave the work unfinished than lose something else because you didn't leave it.

Hmm. I suppose you do have a point there. I take it you've experienced this before?

Enough times to know what I'm talking about when it comes to this. But I don't know many people who haven't experienced getting yanked out of something important before coming here.

It seems as though whoever's in charge here has horrible timing.

That's the polite way of putting it. Whoever it is hasn't gotten any better with their timing over the past two years I've been here, either.

You've been here for that long? My condolences. I suppose it doesn't get any easier after the two year mark?

Two years and two days, as of today. [a pause as she shakes her head, then continues.] But whether it gets easier or not depends on your mindset about this world, alhough it never stops surprising you. Even when you think you've finally gotten used to it.

That certainly does seem to be the case. [Not that he's complaining; it's kept things interesting after all.] Let me rephrase the question then: has it gotten any easier for you, Miss Lightening?

[interesting, fresh, and sometimes worrying. Especially when it seems the world itself is out for their blood...or broken bones, as her month in the Center can prove.]

Sometimes easier, sometimes harder. It depends on the situation, so there's no real way to generalize it like that.

[And besides, it's only been a couple days since she passed her two year mark. It's like birthdays; it's not just a snap of the fingers and poof, everything's different.]

[Archer is silent for a moment, considering that. Lighting certainly does have a point.]

You're right. Time will tell, I suppose. Thank you for your time, Miss Lightening.

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

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