trickyoutwice | 1st trick; (video/action for goldenrod base)

[Yeah, losing sucked. Losing sucked ass, especially when it involved watching a guy's miraculously recovered captain getting beaten by some snot-nosed brat. And sure, Niou didn't have anything against snot-nosed brats in the general sense. The one on his tennis team was pretty cute as far as they went — extra gullible, which made his whole determined to the point of stupid schtick endearing instead of just a headache. Niou'd been called one himself plenty of times, and the whole brat thing just meant people weren't smart enough to stop him from doing what he wanted — and as far as he was concerned, that was their problem, not his. But this had been a snot-nosed brat from another team, so he had objections on principle.

Not to mention it sucked even more when he'd gotten snatched right out of the bus on the way home from losing the tournament and woken up to find himself literally in a video game — and cannon fodder for the lame bad guys, at that. He'd have thought it was some a dream or some elaborate joke, except who would bother (besides him), and he'd figured out pretty quickly that he got hungry if he didn't eat and that it hurt if he pinched himself, hoping he'd wake up, that he'd just nodded off against his doubles partner's shoulder.

So, not a dream. Literally stuck in Pokemon Land with no way home. At least being part of a secret evil organization came with a few perks. He didn't have to worry about the usual tropes for the scenario like finding food and somewhere safe to sleep or getting chased by a man-eating monster for comic effect. It wasn't that bad — except for how having to do all the mind-numbing busywork was making him so bored he was actually thinking of the practices where they'd had to run until they puked with something disturbingly like nostalgia. Niou'd kept his head down and played by the rules, hadn't planned to make any waves until he'd figured a little bit more out about Team Rocket. That is, he'd planned to stay out of trouble, but he honestly thought he might die in his sleep just to stop being so bored if he kept being the good, hard-working grunt for one more day.

These idiots thought he'd be happy about suddenly having some drill-camp schedule and regulations and a job? Especially when that job was to go around and do someone else's grunt work because they couldn't be bothered to get off their own asses and do it? It wasn't even like he'd signed up for this the way he had for tennis club. At least with tennis, running suicides until he thought he was actually gonna die and listening to his captain's bitching meant he could play in games. This place, it was all go mop the floors, go run some sketchy as hell game center, go find a toothbrush and scrub your boots and don't even THINK about having fun, and for what?

Nothing, as far as he could tell. Just get more orders and more snooze-worthy things to do and actually be expected to do it if you let them start thinking you were an obedient little errand boy. Yeah, well, he wasn't gonna sit around anymore and play by their stupid rules like some loser. It was their own fault if they couldn't even deal with a little bit of trouble coming from inside the ranks. Sure, Niou could play the thoroughly-cowed Rocket grunt like the best of them, when he wanted to, but that didn't mean he couldn't have a little fun on the side. All he had to do was make sure not to get caught.

For being the headquarters of an evil organization, the base was really way too easy to sneak around. If he ran into someone, he just had to pretend he actually had something important to do and walk a little quickly and no one gave him a second glance. It was pretty convenient that the members were supposed to be up to nefarious deeds, really. When he asked for a few supplies that would've gotten him suspicious stares back home (well, maybe that was just because back home they actually knew him), the poor sap he'd stopped for directions had been only too happy to show him where he could find any number of very useful things. Hell, even the fuzzy fox thing he'd ended up with seemed pretty into the idea of pulling one over on these clowns.

Team Rocket thought they were the biggest baddies around? Whatever, he'd start small. Time to go have a little fun. When he was done, they'd never know what hit them.]

—

[The video that shows up on PokeConnect seems off center — or at least the guy in it is, the view tilted like the PokeGear is propped up on something slightly off to his side. He's a lot more interested in whatever he's fiddling with offscreen than addressing the Gear, anyway, and his attention's focused on whatever it is that's out of frame. If anyone happens to be walking by where he's snuck off to in the Goldenrod Rocket HQ this late at night, they'd find him with a fairly impressive array of tools spread out around him as he does... something to one of the public water fountains. Sitting attentively beside him, his Zorua is watching what he's doing with eager interest and perked ears.]

Give me that screwdriver— no, not that one, the other one— yeah.

[It seems like he's addressing the Zorua since she wags her tail and noses the desired screwdriver over to him. Niou takes just enough time to flash her a thumbs up before he gets back to making his adjustments. Absently, he addresses his Gear as he works.]

So, all you people out there trapped with me in Pokemon Land... What's with this place? Are we really stuck here like some bad Saturday morning cartoon where we've gotta go questing for truth, justice, and the way home? Gotta say, I'm really not wanting any lesson of the day crammed down my throat for five seasons.

[He pauses, momentarily distracted by the water fountain. Apparently something's gone right, because now Niou's looking quite pleased with himself. When he speaks again, he turns his head to grin at the Gear, sardonic and a little mocking.]

Come on, not everyone's drunk the Kool-Aid, right? There's gotta be someone who doesn't think this whole getting dropped off at summer Pokemon camp is all totally normal.

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Yeah! If you stick with me, a lot of people will find me to be a good example with blending in with Johto's finest and everything! [ ....She's still so oblivious. ]

I'll be counting on you, then, Teach.

[But speaking of getting in trouble...]

We should probably get going though. The, uh, maintenance [right. "maintenance"] I was doing's kinda unauthorized.

No one patrols this area but me, but okay. Where are we going...? [ She's slightly confused. ]

What, no one? They don't even walk through and get thirsty?

[Well, now he's just disappointed. All that hard work for his trick gone to waste. On the other hand, Momo is suddenly seeming like a much more valuable resource than she had a minute ago. He could use a friend who knows little details like that.]

We should go anyway, though. We can go anywhere. You could give me a tour, show me all the places people do use a lot. I get lost easily, ya know.

Most Team Rocket officials get water bottles that they refill before bed. That's because no one wants to be caught dead walking around at night by an administrator. [ It won't go to waste. But it will cause a spectacular reaction. ]

You do? In that case, you should follow me! I know all of the best recreational rooms and where most sleeping quarters are.

Lead the way, Teach. What happens if you get caught by an administrator?

[Niou's only regret is that if his trap happens to catch anyone by chance, he won't be here to see it. Too bad he doesn't have the supplies to rig a camera or something up yet, but the knowledge that the improved fountain is there, waiting to catch some unsuspecting sucker, is enough satisfaction for one day.]

You have a conversation with them...? I'm not sure. I never really talked to them, ever. They don't come out at night, but no one wants to encounter them if they come out at night.

[ She isn't sure how else to explain it. It was just the possibility most people were afraid of. ]

So they're like the boogeyman, huh. Guess if it works, they don't need to go around actually doing anything.

[He shrugs, filing away that bit of information.]

Have you ever actually talked to the Boss or is he one of those nebulous figures always lurking in the shadows, too?

Basically. By creating a reputation that they're always watching, people are scared to act up. [ Or at least act up in public. ]

I haven't, but I've seen pictures of him and seen his voice and himself during transmissions. But I never seen or talked to him one on one or physically.

Guess you're lucky, huh? Talking to the guy probably means you're in deep shit.

[He is a little curious, though, even if Niou intends never to actually talk to the Big Bad Boss himself.]

What's he sound like? I haven't been around long enough for any transmissions.

[But if he can change that, maybe it's a voice he can imitate.]

Or maybe it means you've done something brilliant!

[ Momo's never done that either. Oops. That's a hashtag moment. ]

He has a really deep, gravely, authoritative voice. Everything he says sounds like a speech and a command at the same time. [ ...That's probably not very helpful. ]

[Noooot particularly, no. But there are ways around someone not being able to describe things. Ah, the advent of modern technology.]

Sounds real impressive. Hey, do we keep recordings of old transmissions anywhere? You know, so newbies like me can get up to speed?

[ Momo hums briefly before coming up with an unsatisfactory answer. She really doesn't know these things ]

I think you can go back to them on your gear, but he's never made an official announcement over it, to my recollection. He only does things over the PA to keep himself out of any type of reach. Athena is mostly the person that commands everyone, but I think she does it under his league.

Man, we've really got the whole evil organization of complicated bureaucracy thing going on, don't we? Guess it's kind of nice that we're not working for totally incompetent bad guys, though.

Y-yeah! They're only mildly incompetent! [ Oop. I bet that already shows though. ]

[He gives her a startled glance — he hadn't actually expected someone like her to agree with him even that much — and laughs.]

And good is dumb, so we're still coming out on top. [He stops at one of the doors they're passing.] This's my room. Thanks for the tour, Teach. Guess I'll see ya around.

I know some intelligent good people... [ Like Captain ~*~*~Aizen~*~*~ ] All right! If you need anything, let me know! [ Niou slightly unnerves her, but she can't ignore the fact that he seems like he's slightly off in this organization, like her. Not because he's evil, she certainly believes he's a "wrong side of the tracks" type of fellow, but he doesn't seem to like authority very much. ]

Sure thing.

[And with a wave he vanishes into his room.]

1st trick; (video/action for goldenrod base)

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