001 - Video

[scratchitti]

[Neku comes on screen, looking very unamused. A little bit of Goldenrod City, not far from the Game Corner, can be seen behind him, and at least he thought to turn his shirt inside out for this because what is buying more clothing?! He seems to be sitting on the sidewalk as people bustle by.

It's been a few hours since he woke up here and any Rockets in the area might have heard him demanding answers before just going outside to stew instead. Checking out the weird chat phone seemed wise, even if he has little interest in chatting with strangers. This might be the best way to find out where the hell he IS]

So, show of hands for every one stuck in this weird delusion.

[As he's talking a Meowth tottles up with a potion in it's paws, offering it to him]

Huh? Erm, thanks.

Okay, so it's too real to be a dream, but I guess just asking what's going on would be too easy.

[The cat comes back again with a... Clefairy keychain? With someone's keys still on it]

Where did you...? Whatever. Does EVERYONE have kleptomaniac animals or is it just m-

NO, NO PUT IT BACK!

[Oh that's a struggling pokeball yeah the cat doesn't look ashamed at all even with someone yelling in the background. Neku jolts up and grabs his pokemon and bolts, the feed cutting off]

Comments

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I woke up there, as well.

[He's not saying anything more out in the open like this, unless you're that curious and want to follow him to the Game Corner- Neku- but it looks like you're a Rocket.

Hopefully you read enough that you know that much as well.]

And that is...unusual, apparently. Most people arrive in a town called New Bark.

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[Ah, so this ass is also part of the thug life.

Meet your co-worker, Neku.]

I kinda gathered that from a few people already. And no one knows why?

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[...Neku, you're not really that dim, are you?]

I'm not talking about this out here.

[He lifts Munashi a bit higher in his arms, who is now steadily trying to keep from whining under her breath from the scratches on her face.]

If you want to know more, come to the Game Corner. If not, you can just figure it out from somebody else.

[Honestly, Nagi has half a mind to just leave Neku to his own devices...but he's going to blow their cover with all of this, and if there's one thing Nagi can't stand, it's a lack of stealth when it comes to this sort of thing.

C'mon man, step it up.]

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Fine.

[He follows, at once wincing at the loudness and brightness of the Game Corner. Yeah he hates this place already.

He hisses mostly under his breath]

Though I don't know why I should be secretive about a group I didn't consciously join.

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[Once they are inside, Nagi seeks one of the empty stools and sits down, pulling a Pokeball off of his belt. He returns Munashi for the time being, intending on getting her to the Pokemon Center later. Though it's the afternoon, and a place like this should be bustling with people, it's mostly empty.

Those that are here are Rockets that Nagi dimly recognizes- so for now, they can speak without being overheard. This is their establishment, after all.]

You're a fool. You're going to get yourself arrested within hours of arriving.

[Yet, even as he says that, something of a smile appears on his face.]

You're part of Team Rocket now, so you're going to have to get used to it.

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[Neku returns his pokemon as well, giving Meowth a sad look]

They can't arrest me if I haven't done anything illegal...

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[Nagi looks away from Neku toward the machine by his shoulder. Hm....maybe he'll try to win a new Pokemon today.

But...right. He's talking to someone, isn't he. And that was a bit of a long pause there in which he just...ignored Neku entirely.]

You really don't know what's going on here, do you?

[No, Nagi. Not everyone has played Pokemon before.]

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[If it's any consolation Neku doesn't... seem perturbed. In fact he doesn't answer at first, his hands on his headphones and head bopping a little.

He can ignore people too]

No, I get that I've been gangpressed. But last I checked you can't be preemptively arrested.

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[Nagi remains quiet for some time, turning over Munashi's pokeball in his hand. There are Rockets scattered all over this region, that much he's certain. He's sure that a at least a few of them by now have had their covers blown by now, but that doesn't mean rookies should be going around blatantly letting everyone know who they are and where the base is.

...Of course, he's a rookie as well, but at least he's being smart about it.]

If you want to tell everyone that, I'm not going to stop you.

I just won't promise that you'll be received with a warm welcome.

[Not like he particularly cares. He'd much rather if the people here hated him as much as he hates them. Stop trying to be friendly to people they don't even know.

It would be easier that way.]

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[Neku scowls]

I haven't done anything and they'll judge me anyway? Well screw them then.

['They' is unclarified, but... pretty obvious. Everyone else.]

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[...Screw them indeed.

Nagi raises an eyebrow, reaching down to clip the pokeball back onto his belt.]

You're going to want to restrain your Pokemon, in the future.

[NICE SEGUE NAGI...]

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From stealing or from fighting, because last I checked your pokemon started that.

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Fighting unprovoked.

[His Vulpix was provoked, you shut your mouth.]

The thievery is your problem to deal with.

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That was an accident, she fired first.

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[And again, Nagi just ignores Neku, instead reaching into his bag to pull out a coin case, setting it on the console in front of him. During their conversation, Nagi's Pikachu has been still on his shoulder, watching Neku with curious, brown eyes.

As his trainer just...turns from him and proceeds to ignore him from there on, the Pikachu leans forward a little, trying to sniff Neku's sleeve. Are you just going to stand there or...are you going to pet him, what's happening here.]

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[He scowls, and turns up his music enough that it can be heard outside his phones.

WE CAN BE PA BRO, THAT'S FINE

But Pikachu looking for attention makes him... not smile, but soften a little. He reaches out and attempts to scritch behind a ear]

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[The music is slightly irritating, especially since he can hear it past the noise of the game he's begun to play after slipping a coin into the machine., but he ignores it anyway.

The Pikachu seems pleased by Neku's movement, because after leaning forward a little to give him better access to scratching behind his ear, he suddenly hops off of Nagi's shoulder and onto Neku's, quickly scurrying to the shoulder farthest from Nagi.

Feeling the weight suddenly leave him, Nagi stiffens and turns around just in time to see his Pikachu snickering, hiding behind Neku's collar.]

Isogu! Get back here.

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He just wants a little attention.

[Neku is snickering too, also behind his collar. He reaches into his bag and finds the trail mix that came with his starting gear, and offers some to Isogu]

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[HOOOLY CRAP

Isogu practically lights up when Neku offers him the trail mix, taking it from his hands into his paws so he can nibble on it, still watching Nagi cheekily from his spot on Neku's shoulder.

Nagi's shoulders tense as his gaze narrows, glaring hard at Isogu. He's always been a stubborn thing- constantly vying for attention from anything that breathes, and taking particular glee in causing grief for his trainer when he couldn't get it from him.

But those soft little "Pi pi pi"s he lets out after finishing off the trail mix and rubbing his face against Neku's as best he can without knocking against his headphones tell him that he's not going to be moving any time soon.

So he pauses the game and stands instead, reaching out to try and grab Isogu by force- who quickly jerks back and hops out of reach, clinging to Neku's collar.]

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[Okay, before now Nagi has been aggravating, but useful in a way.

But now Neku is outright pissed, turning to face the other with a deep scowl]

Hey, don't manhandle him!

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[Nagi lets out a sharp breath, biting as he reaches for Isogu again. The Pikachu manages to keep out of reach either way, his cheeks beginning to spark in warning.

YEAH NAGI, DON'T MANHANDLE ME >8C

And at the same time, Neku might feel the prickle of electricity along the back of his neck, there. Not enough to hurt, but enough to feel like static cling has caused his clothing to begin to stick to itself and his body.]

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[Okay yeah no. He's not about to yell at the rabbit-rat for defending himself but he's not letting the most important thing get shocked either.

So he takes his headphones and music player off, of course 8D]

I'd be careful.

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[As Isogu continues to neatly evade Nagi, the boy feels his face growing hot with frustration. If he could, he would have forced the Pokemon away from Neku a long time ago, without so much as lifting a finger.

Leaning back in his seat, Nagi pulls away, instead reaching a hand up to nudge the Abra snoozing on his shoulder, causing him to stir and lift his head blearily. Once the Pokemon is awake, he whispers something in his ear.

There's a moment of delay as the Abra fights to wake himself up fully, a bit confused by the command, since he recognizes the Pokemon before him as part of the team.

He lifts his claws, and suddenly Isogu is pulled from Neku's shoulder and up into the air, startling the Pikachu and causing him to kick his legs a little and cry out in protest.]

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HOLY SHIT

[SORRY NAGI BUT HE DIDN'T EXPECT PSYCHOKINESIS WITH LIVING PEOPLE OKAY... even if it's actually Abra]

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[Neku's sudden exclamation doesn't phase Nagi at all- in fact, all it manages to do is cause him to smile ever so slightly, pleased by these developments, clearly. The Abra carefully lifts Isogu and deposits him back where he was on Nagi's shoulder before releasing his hold.

Isogu's ears twitch, and he and Nagi share a brief glance before he settles down a bit, his posture a bit stiff, but subdued. Doesn't look like he's going to be going anywhere any time soon.]

What? Haven't you seen a Psychic Pokemon before?