2023-12-31: Earning A Future
- Log: Earning A Future
- Cast: Anne Aomori, Arisugawa Joy
- Where: Aomori Pokemon Laboratory, Viridian City
- Date: December 31, 505 PC Filgaian
- Summary: Anne Aomori gets a file on a particularly promising young Rocket--who she thinks is wasted without special attention. Arisugawa Joy, meanwhile, has somewhere to report after the assualt on Oak's lab. They discuss a future worth having.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
The Viridian Pokemon Lab--also known as the Aomori Pokemon Lab, for its head researcher--stands at the edge of town, where its comings and goings are obscured. People on both sides of the law visit here at times, particularly on the weekends, when most of the staff has off.
But today it's Anne who's here, and any visitors for her will be directed into a large room. She sits at the back of it at a desk, tapping away at a computer. Next to her is a tablet, which has certain information on it on a girl she hasn't yet met. There's air freshener in the air, perhaps to cover the aroma of two operatives having to do a lot of pushups...
Or maybe that hasn't happened yet.
Regardless, next to her computer is also an ostentatious flower arrangement with bright and fragrant blooms in it. There's a card, but it's closed, so it can't be read from a distance.
The back of the room, behind the bookshelves and so on, behind tables and terminals, is where to find Anne Aomori--and she is expecting a visitor today. She turns, when she hears steps. "Welcome."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
(This correspondence...)
Joy was expecting a rendezvous point after the mission, but it's surprising that she's been sent the location of a Pokemon Lab -- not exactly something like a safehouse or other discreet location. She's avoided the public transportation for now and rode one of her Pokemon back to Viridian City, and patched herself up...
And now she's here.
She still faintly smells of blood to Anne's keen senses, because she was engaged in actual physical conflict. She's moving a little stiffly, from being struck hard in her sternum, but otherwise, she enters, with that typical intense, focused look on her face.
"A message sent me here." Joy begins, then does a quiet salute. "I'm Arisugawa Joy."
Arisugawa Joy is a name with a fair amount of recognition behind it, because she was the Top Champion of the League five years ago, at ten years of age. She also resigned just a day later, and became the centre of a rumourmill about the Joy Zaibatsu's pressuring her to resign.
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Anne smells the blood, and hides her initial reaction to it, save that she allows her attention to be seen going to that stiff movement. She sees a focused, intent look. She sees injury.
"Good day," Anne says. "That message was sent to me, as well."
She recognizes the name, of course, but she doesn't have to, because she was given an entire dossier on her. She picks up the tablet, and indicates it. "I have been given much information on you."
"My name is Anne Aomori, and I'm a researcher." They are alone in the room. "We have mutual friends. And they tell me that your talents are wasted being treated as a simple grunt..."
"And I have to say, I agree. You didn't force your way through recruitment procedures for no reason, after all."
"...We have much to discuss. But please, have a seat. If you are injured, I can heal you."
"...From there, I have some questions, and I assume you have some for me in turn. Am I right?"
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
"Mrs. Anne Aomori..." Joy repeats in turn. The way she says it feels a bit like a self-ritual to reinforce names in her head. She doesn't quite return direct eye contact, but she's not staring off into the distance, either.
Anne mentions a mutual friend.
(Could it be Mr. Giovanni...? Jessie-sempai? I'm not sure, but...)
Joy takes a seat, and quietly nods at the motion of injuries. She puts a bit of effort to look at Anne in the eyes. It's not a natural gesture for her; it takes a bit of conscious focus to do so.
"I appreciate it, but rank doesn't mean much to me. I joined Team Rocket because... I want to change the world," Joy speaks, with quiet intensity in her voice.
She nods at the topic of questions, though, and of injuries too. "I already bandaged my ribcage and plastered the cuts, but I'm not a doctor..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"Ms.," Anne corrects. "Or Doctor. Either is fine. But I never married." She isn't going to insist on eye contact, though she doesn't look away from Joy at all. She is focused on her.
When she does make eye contact, Anne is very calm. Her expression is not warm or cold; it is focused, intent. And she is watching Joy.
"Good," Anne says. "That's why I'm in Team Rocket, too. And have been for some time. ...Though I make a point of not publicizing that fact yet; eventually it'll come out, but until then it's convenient to the Team that I can operate without suspicion."
She stands up, then, and walks to Joy. "I'm going to heal you," she says. "All right?" She's not going to force her magic on Joy, but she is adept in healing Symbology.
Otherwise though, "...You want to change the world. Do you have any idea of how you'd like to change it? Of what things you want to change?"
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
"Ms. Anne Aomori," Joy repeats, like she has to correct that entry in whatever mind palace database she puts names in. Anne explains how she was never married. An adult's life is difficult, and varied, Joy reflects...
She makes a point of not publicising her role in Team Rocket. "I'll be discreet," Joy nods.
Healing Symbology. She's experienced it many a time, of course; from other Joys in the family, from the Pokemon Centre, and other situations. She breathes a bit more lightly as the spell washes through her, and slacks a bit.
Anne asks her how she'd like to change the world.
"... I want kids to be able to choose what they want to do in life, on their own," Joy expresses a reason that's very obviously connected to her family pressures. "But more than that..."
Her eyes narrow quietly. Where Anne's expression is intent, Joy matches her focus, though there's youth and inexperience there; it's not the hardened look of someone who's seen a thousand atrocities.
"I know the Ten Wise Men are threatening Nede. I want to fight. The adults around me aren't driven to action. I know Team Rocket feels differently."
She lowers her head, for a moment. "I'll earn the future I desire."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Anne nods, at the correct name. And Joy says she will be discreet. That's all fine.
"There." Anne steps back, and moves to her seat again, to listen to the question. Her long hair stretches behind her, as she reaches up to adjust her round glasses while she focuses.
"I see," she says at first, and notices the way that Joy can match her focus. Experienced or not, she has the drive.
"You're right. And most of Nede is content to wait for more information, to assume that our leaders will handle this matter for us. But you and I know that 'maybe someone else will fix it' isn't good enough."
"Very well," Anne says. "I'm satisfied with that. You mentioned that rank isn't important to you; that's good, because I'm not in the business of most of the hierarchy."
"But I'd like to support your efforts, and ensure that you have what you need to earn that future. To ensure that we together can earn such a future."
"...Not that I intend to leave you to do all the work," she says. "As an adult, I consider it my business as well to act."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Anne's more gentle nature seems to gel quite well with Joy, as though she were expecting someone more rigorous and disciplined. But she definitely senses that there's something serious, with how intense her eyes are, too...
(That's right. 'Don't worry about a thing and let the police handle it...' was what they said...)
Joy quietly nods, and then gestures to her coat. "I... made my own uniform, before I even joined." She doesn't think that Anne would be a stickler for it, though. "And I have most of the Pokemon I've met and raised in my journey." Save one, notably, who didn't agree with her choices.
"I also... ended up fighting some of the outworlders directly. What do you think about them, Miss Anne?"
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Anne can be harsh, but there is no reason to be just now. ...Not with Joy, anyway. Jessie and James could tell some stories...
"I see. So you knew what you wanted. I respect that." Most of the Pokemon she met and raised... "That will be an asset to the Team. Most of our members don't understand Pokemon very well, or how to fight with them beyond the basics." She doesn't talk about how 'nurse training' would be helpful; those aren't the skills she's been told that Joy has, despite her name.
"I see. ...I've met a few of them myself, though on peaceable terms for now. Some from 'Filgaia' and some from 'Lunar'. Their societies are less advanced than ours, but they have much more experience in combat. I think that they could be useful to our plans. ...But that they might also stand in our way."
"We'll have to deal with them as individuals until and unless we get more guidance from the Boss." She pauses. "What do you think? You met them in combat. I'm interested in your thoughts, too."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
"I'm not a teacher, but I have some experience teaching people how to be closer to their Pokemon, on what it means to be a Trainer," Joy explains, perhaps already putting a point in Anne's favour, given how she knows some aspects of Team Rocket are much more rough, treating their Pokemon like tools.
The fact that Jessie and James don't was what endeared her to them, too.
"Filgaia. Lunar..." Joy murmurs the terms, in that fact-reinforcing exercise of hers.
What does she think?
"... it was scary," Joy admits, even though her voice doesn't break. But there's a genuinely-felt fear that's reflected in her eyes. "They're experienced warriors in a way really few people in Nede are. If it weren't for my Pokemon, I could have been really badly injured. That was also my first time..."
She's at a bit of a loss for words for a moment. "... I won't forget it anytime soon. I need to remember that feeling, when we fight the Ten Wise Men. I developed the Tandem Style because I knew we would face foes that don't care about League rules... and I think I know I'll have to put it to practice against these outworlders."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
"That's good. I have some, as well; my research is in the area of Pokemon behavior. I've tried to impart to our Team the necessity of careful handling of even stolen Pokemon, of course..." She shakes her head. "Not all are very good at it."
It's a practical matter for Anne, more than a moral one. She cares about Pokemon, but given what is at stake...
"I see." She nods. She notices that fear, sees it in Joy's eyes. It makes her wonder; it makes her want to test her own skills.
But it also makes her concerned for Joy, and Joy might catch the brief moment where Anne looks her over a little more softly.
"I think you will, too. Between just us--I have some skills of that nature myself. I intend to put them into use when it becomes necessary."
"...But I'm hopeful that we can work with at least some of them. I've been introducing a couple of them to our world, to the nature of Pokemon. Even given a couple Pokemon to them. We'll see if it bears fruit."
"Well," she says. "In the meantime... What would make you feel supported? For some operatives, I provide equipment and machinery. For some, I help them with their Pokemon. For some I listen to what their troubles are... and for some I provide structure."
"Think about what you need. Then, we can move forward as a team."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Pokemon behaviour...
"As a Trainer, the most important thing to me is listening to the goals a Pokemon wants to achieve," Joy expresses. "A lot of people become Trainers trying to drag Pokemon that don't have an interest in battle with them... but Pokemon are just like people. There are many that have goals other than battle. Understanding what they want is the first step."
"But stolen Pokemon..." Joy quietly says. "... I don't mind taking Pokemon away from people if they're being abused." But if they're fine...? She's not so sure about that, but she doesn't voice it right away, lest it hurt her chances. But Anne definitely can sense the hesitation there.
Between just the two, she has skills of that nature...
"I... would like to learn from you as well, then. I learnt in self-defence classes, I like doing parkour as a hobby... but I want to refine how I can move and fight as well."
She gave some of the outworlders Pokemon too... and... the way Anne says she listens to their troubles, there's a bit of a glint her eyes...
"...I wouldn't mind..." this is a lot harder, rather than just talking about learning how to fight from Anne. She ends up pausing, then shaking her head, folding her arms gently. "No... nevermind."
What a typical 15 year old behaviour!
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Anne listens to Joy's perspective. She notices the hesitation, too. Focusing on what they want.
"Stealing Pokemon is part of what Team Rocket does," Anne says plainly, "Even from non-abusive situations. We need power to deal with the Ten Wise Men, and that means accumulating it in ways outside our society's rules." A pause. "...But a lot of my job is getting our grunts to treat those stolen Pokemon well enough to get results out of them. Not all of what we do is pretty, but it's part of the cause."
She doesn't always like it either... but her priorities are clear.
"Hmm. There are some things I can teach you," Anne agrees then. There are techniques that are secrets, that she is not free to share, but there are many that are open to others. "And I will do what I can to help you. But understand that my teachings are difficult; I will expect just as much discipline as you needed to become a Champion."
She notices the way she almost says something at the rest. But only almost.
"I don't settle for shoddy work... but neither do I aim to send our operatives unprepared into a dangerous field."
"But the same principle is what I go on for our operatives. I needed to know your goals. What you wanted. If you weren't on board with our mission, then no amount of training would've made any difference."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Anne is firm with her on what Team Rocket does, and it snaps Joy out of that hesitation from earlier. She weighs that feeling for a moment longer, then...
"Power..." she murmurs. That's right. To earn the future she desires... in order to fight... it's useless if they don't have power. They'll need the aid of powerful Pokemon, if their Trainers don't agree to join them.
"I... understand," she says. She's about eighty percent there, perhaps. But Anne mentions that she can teach her, and that has her light up just a bit.
Her teachings are difficult; she'll need just as much discipline as when she became Champion.
"... I will fight," is what she falls back on. "And to that end, I won't back down from difficult training. I won't give up."
Is she on board with the mission?
"In order to protect the peoples of this nation against the Ten Wise Men..." she murmurs. "Power is needed..."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Eighty percent is a start. It'll do, for the moment. Anne isn't going to press harder than by stating the truth plainly, for now.
If Joy indeed pushed herself into recruiting on her own, then her commitment will stand, or it won't.
Anne does watch Joy light up a little. "Good," Anne says. "Then we'll fight together. I'll hold you to that resolve."
Power.
"Yes. That is what it's going to take." A pause. "Do you have any more questions for me?" she asks. "Otherwise, we can set up a start to your training. I can teach athletics, acrobatics, and basic combat approaches to start."
She nods, then. "You are welcome to come by the lab when you need to, regardless. Eventually it'll come out that I'm working with the Boss... But I don't intend to stop work when that happens."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
Power...
"... I met the Boss five years ago, during my journey," Joy shares quietly, eyes closed. "He was the only opponent that truly defeated me. And at that point, he showed me that I wasn't truly listening to what my Pokemon desired. I haven't forgotten that advice at all."
Does she have any more questions for her?
"Not... at the moment," Joy answers, slowly pulling up out of her chair on the mention of training. She looks down at her palms for a moment, then back towards Anne. "I'm in your care, Miss Anne."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
Joy shares her story, and Anne meditates on it for a moment, calmly regarding her new student and teammate. What did Joy's Pokemon truly desire, then?
"Good," she says. "...I've known him a long time, myself. Since I was your age. And I've never seen him fail to get what he set his mind to in the end."
Does that include the salvation of Nede? They'll see.
"Very good," Anne says, and stands up as well. "You'll need comfortable, loose clothes, and soft shoes. I will provide what weapons you don't already have."
"We can begin as early as tonight. Rest until then, and do whatever else you need to."
<Pose Tracker> Arisugawa Joy has posed.
What did her Pokemon truly desire? That's a question with, perhaps, a pretty complicated answer, and one with a different answer for each of the many companions she's had, but... what was the missing ingredient?
Anne knew the Boss since her age? That's a long time to know someone.
"What the Boss wants..." she murmurs. What does Giovanni truly want? He's still an enigma to her, what's really in his heart.
Joy nods to Anne as she explains that she'll need comfortable clothing and shoes -- training gear, then -- and... weapons... they're going to be using weapons. She shouldn't be surprised, but...
"There's... one more thing," Joy says as she half-turns to the exit. "I do have psychic talents, but... you don't have to worry about me reading your mind or heart. And you have my promise on that. I stopped listening to people's hearts years ago."
<Pose Tracker> Anne Aomori has posed.
It's not really Anne's business, yet. She's curious, but she won't push for those answers. They are between Arisugawa's Pokemon and herself.
Anne is 40 Nedian years old. She has a few people she's known that long, by now. A number. But Giovanni still stands out.
Weapons, they will. But--one more thing?
"I see," Anne answers, and doesn't blink. "I accept your word."
Anne has had dealings with psychics, before. But rare is the one who says they won't even try.
"...I prefer it that way. I express my heart in my own way."