PUZZLE 005 [GOLDENROD CITY - VIDEO/ACTION]

[snapandscoot]

VIDEO

[[The feed opens to Emmy's smiling face, shaking slightly as she adjusts the camera. She appears to be in a square of sorts, sitting on a bench under a tree.]]

Does anyone out there have any advice for when it comes to visiting the Goldenrod gym for a battle? I've heard the leader is a bit childish, and it sometimes causes problems for challengers. Any hints would be appreciated!

~~~

ACTION

[[Her message completed, Emmy places her Pokegear in her pocket and awaits responses. Nearby, her Machamp and her Pignite are sparring. Occasionally she'll give them a word of praise or a correction, but it's clear her mind is elsewhere.

When replies come in, she turns to the side to answer them, displaying a certain reluctance to show her Pokemon on the Pokegear, focusing the camera only on herself as they spar off to the side.

Emmy isn't usually this disconnected from her Pokemon when they're training, but her thoughts have been heavy for the past couple of days, ever since she engaged in communication with an anonymous Team Rocket member. Whoever the person was, they'd unnerved her with their knowledge of her team and their current statuses. For this reason, she's not broadcasting her training session to the network at all.

It bothers her somewhat, as she hates feeling like this. She shouldn't have to hide her Pokemon; she wants to show them off! But if she's going to have any sort of advantage over this Team Rocket member, she has to keep her team a secret. Especially since they mentioned they'd be targeting her specifically. But why?]]

This is all so horribly creepy....

[[She's zapped back to reality as her Pignite goes rolling past her, the victim of a sneaky throw from her Machamp. Pushing her insecurities to the side, she decides to look forward, smiling as said Pignite manages to jump straight back into the battle. After all, isn't that what she should be doing?]]

Comments

[scientificflair]

My god, you're reaching rather far today. I never said anything of the sort; are you done playing mindreader?

[snapandscoot]

[[ARGH]]

I try to talk to you on an adult level and you throw it back in my face! Fine! Carry on being an indignant child about everything, and see how far it gets you!

[[JUST

STORMING OVER TO MACHI, NOW

UGH AT YOU TOO!!]]

[scientificflair]

[Eyeroll

of course you can't see it behind the mask but it is the sentiment that counts]

While that was perfectly mature.

[snapandscoot]

What do you want from me, then?!

[[Fine, she'll stop and turn!]]

I know we're not exactly the best of friends but if we're going to be stuck here for god only knows how long, I'd like to think that at some point I'd be able to try and bring a point up to you without getting some juvenile insult as a response!

[[NOT THAT HER REASON FOR HELPING THE PROFESSOR IS SOMETHING SHE DOESN'T TALK THAT MUCH ABOUT, OR ANYTHING!

ugh]]

[scientificflair]

[He's still looking in your general direction, in a manner of speaking, but he's closed his eyes for a moment. Okay. Let's just. Not start screaming. You want civil? We can do civil.]

And I'd like to think that you would actually bring up points that don't rely on someone reading minds - because as much as I love the fact that I'm supposed to know your motives for absolutely everything you do, and I'm sure you enjoy thinking that you know all of mine, that isn't the way it is in either case.

[...OKAY, THE LEVEL OF CIVILITY IS ARGUABLE BUT IT'S AN ATTEMPT]

[snapandscoot]

[[....she appreciates that you're trying, alright.]]

Then I'll try to be more straight-forward, if you'll actually start listening.

....we Londoners should stick together, you know. At least, while you're behaving yourself.

[scientificflair]

...well, while we're all being straightforward and trying this listening thing, what in the world brought that on?

[No, really, Emmy, that was from right the fuck out of nowhere, do you want to try again]

[snapandscoot]

Do you disagree with me?

[[NOT ANSWERING THAT.]]

1/2

[scientificflair]

Did you just tell me you were going to be more straightforward or not?

[...okay wow let's just

calm down]

2/2 and what is grammar

[scientificflair]

As it stands, Emmy, of course I disagree with you. We don't get along, for all intents and purposes we hate each other, and we're on opposite sides of whatever field you're trying to lay down no matter how we look at it.

That's what I'm going off of. Knowing that, why shouldn't I disagree with you?

[snapandscoot]

.....

[[Dammit, she has to either be straightforward with you and tell you about the texts or not tell you about the texts and make herself a hypocrite!

And then you'll be mad! And the worst part is, she won't blame you!!]]

....I just had something happen to me that quite...strongly reminded me we're not home any more. It wasn't pleasant and I'd really rather not talk about it, if that's alright with you.

That's why it would be nice if we could at least....be civil with one another, since I know getting along is a bit of a stretch.

[scientificflair]

[Right. After a moment, he folds his arms, casting his gaze off to the side while he thinks that over.]

I monitor many of the posts that others make - for the reason that you stated: we're obviously not in London anymore. I obviously don't reply to many of those posts, but I do check what's available to the public.

There were images that were sent out recently, by an anonymous member of Team Rocket. You responded.

Does this have to do with that?

[snapandscoot]

....how did you....!!

[[.....she didn't even realise that other people could see those texts. How painfully stupid!]]

...how much of the conversation did you see?

[scientificflair]

Enough to know why you're disturbed; you stopped responding, after a while, and I can't say that I blame you.

I'm willing to leave it at that, if you still don't want to discuss it.

[snapandscoot]

....I don't mind. I haven't....really discussed it with anyone yet, so.

[[....this is....really weird, but for some reason she's happy to talk about it now that she knows you understand how she feels.]]

But your intuition was right; that's the reason I'm...a bit off, at the moment.

I don't know what to do, and it's...bothering me.

[scientificflair]

[Hm.]

And how much do you know about the organization as a whole?

[snapandscoot]

....not much, really. Just that they're a very bad pack of people.

And one of their members appears to be stalking me for some reason.

[scientificflair]

And how many of their members do you know?

[snapandscoot]

Well....none, actually. Do you know any?

[scientificflair]

[You know, Emmy, he's willing to forgive you not knowing about Luke, because that boy has apparently gotten strange as hell in the last ten years. At the same time, Archer has about all the subtlety of a sack of bricks being swung at your face by your Machamp. Hell, he has about all the subtlety of your Machamp swinging a sack of bricks at your face from each arm.]

You don't really think they all go around in uniform, flaunting their affiliation at every opportunity, do you?

[snapandscoot]

Well.....no, obviously. Like I said, I'm not that familiar with the organization!

[[Calm, Emmy! We're calm! Staying calm!]]

What are you trying to say?

[scientificflair]

I would think that much would be obvious.

[W E L P

OUR CIVILITY RATION FOR THE DAY

IT HAS UP AND DRIED OUT

WE ARE STAYING CALM BUT OUR PATIENCE IS CLEARLY RUNNING ON FUMES]

Not to continue to feed any feelings of paranoia, Emmy, but you have no way to know who's a member and who isn't. So I would suggest you watch what you say in the future.

That's all.

[snapandscoot]

Watch what I say? What, to every single person I ever interact with?!

[[SHE'S NOT. YELLING BUT IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS SHE'S FAIRLY DISPLEASED WITH YOU, JFC]]

I'm not going to live that way, Descole! This....this person isn't going to intimidate me!

There's a difference between being careful and just...living in a bubble of fear! Which is what he wants!!

[scientificflair]

[wow

w o w

Emmy

you are receiving a speech

hopefully your body is ready]

Emmy, are you honestly self-centered enough to believe this person cares whether you live in a "bubble of fear" or not? I don't know if you noticed exactly how seriously "he" - nice assumption there, by the way - was taking you during that conversation, but whomever that person was, they seem confident enough in their abilities to not consider you a threat at all. Somehow I doubt they care whether you're terrified or not.

That was a generalized threat, not something specifically catered to you; really, for all you know they could have pulled that little trick with the Pokémon on everyone they talked to, so until you find out how that was done, the fact is that that wasn't even necessarily anything special.

And as nice assumptions were mentioned earlier, let's start in on that last one, shall we - you really need to stop reaching to see the conclusions you want to see and listen to what's actually being said to you; I don't recall telling you to be terrified of everyone, just watch what you say. For the love of god, did it ever cross your mind as a possibility that I might be working with the person somehow? Or that someone you've met in Johto might be working with them? Do you really think that everyone is going to tell you the truth? That no one lies?

[snapandscoot]

[[not

really

jfc

you can really talk, can't you

a-and it's not like you've got a point or anything!!]]

....w-well....

[[UGH my god how dare you be full of good points this is tripping her out will you stop]]

Are you working for them, then?