worktodo | 008 | Saffron City

[Ladies and gentlemen of Johto and Kanto, something rather odd is afoot on your network today. Upon closer inspection, it appears to be the ceiling of some kind of garage-like room, rendered in video and slo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-owly moving past at a glacial — yet determined — pace. In fact, it's probably what the ceiling would look like if a Gear camera was pointed at it while that aforementioned Gear was being stolen by a pair of Shuckles.

Which, as a matter of fact, is exactly what's happening.

Unfortunately for these criminal masterminds, their getaway is moving at approximately the speed of molasses left out on a park bench in Siberia, so more likely than not they're going to be noticed before anything productive comes of it.]

Well, you look like you check out, pal...

[—and apparently Albert is somewhere in the vicinity, too, given the proximity of his voice as, presumably unbeknownst to him, his Gear goes Shuckling across the floor.]

No obvious growths, no changes in teeth or coat, eyes still look bright, appetite's good...

[The purple head and glittering diamond eyes of a Sableye creep into view on the camera now, disrupting the slow-moving shot of the ceiling, and a minute later things go dark as two little clawed hands close over the lens and Gear.]

Huh. Doesn't look like there's an upper limit to these things after all. Never mind the fact that education of yours just cost as much as grad school, if not — what're you doing, Impy? Don't play with that. Just leave it there, it's fine.

[The darkness recedes, and now the Gear is on its side on a lab table — one currently covered in the pieces of fifteen broken TMs — and Albert is visible next to it. He's wearing his lab coat and gloves as usual, and is holding a Buneary who is rather nonchalantly nibbling at a piece of lettuce.

Albert continues his inspection of the Buneary another few moments, then checks his watch and heads out of sight, still carrying the Pokemon in his arms.]

Sweep and Scrappy can take care of the mess. Let's get you back in the cage, Bruce.

[And on that note, purple hands descend again, and after a few buttons click, the Gear switches off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[[Hey, aren't you that exceedingly grumpy fellow who got rather annoyed at him when he blew up Olivine Lighthouse? It just so happens that Kato is rather bored this morning, as one gets when they have to wait for processes to finish, so he's fully ready to get into trolling mode and see if he can get another rise out of Albert, when he realises just what all those colourful fragments are.

... Damn. This looks like it could actually be interesting.

Unwilling to take the risk that he could be recognized (this chap seemed like the sort who wouldn't forget a face, particularly not a villainous one), Kato takes a few moments to throw on a simple, yet convincing disguise consisting of a plain black shirt, greying blonde hair and some makeup around his eyes and mouth to age himself a bit. Finishing the look with a set of brown contacts, he opens up the feed and smiles pleasantly, dropping his voice to deem it (hopefully) unrecognizable.]]

Would I be correct in assuming you've used all those TMs on that one Pokemon?

[[Interesting choice of Pokemon, at least.]]

[Albert's on his way back from putting Bruce away when the voice emerges from his Gear, which is what abruptly clues him in to the fact that the Gear's been on in the first place — dammit, Impy, this is exactly why he doesn't want you playing with stuff like this. You switch it on by mistake and now random people are calling him up with questions.

He checks his watch again before picking the Gear up, shifting it from hand to hand as he heads for the door, divesting himself of his lab coat as he goes.]

This thing wasn't supposed to be on. How much got recorded?

[He pokes at it a little, examining the video before pushing buttons until his call transfers back over to Kato's line.]

I figured he could use an education.

Nothing too incriminating, if that's what you're concerned about.

[[Really, is there a legal limit to how many TMs one can use on a Pokemon? What about a physical limit? Kato is aware that there are certain Pokemon that can handle many different sorts of moves - 'Normal' types, apparently - but he's never really investigated them or their potential. Perhaps he should look into it.

Slightly annoyed that this unpleasant man has got the advantage over him, in this instance, Kato continues to smile, forcing himself to make it none too tight.]]

That's quite the education; are you raising him for battle? He'd be a force to be reckoned with.

[A legal limit would involve there actually being laws in the first place, and if there's a physical limit, Albert hasn't found it yet. The only thing that's stopping him from dumping another sixty moves onto this rabbit is the fact that they're not available for purchase yet.]

Incriminating implies I was doing something wrong.

[So either you've just got an interesting vocabulary, Mr. Stranger, or you're implying something. And either way, you're an idiot.]

He's a rabbit. If I can raise him to not eat my papers and poop them out all over my house, I'll consider it a triumph.

I see you have high aspirations as a trainer.

[[w e l p he was going to try and be civil so he could get deets but this is obviously going to be a bit of a marathon effort because the passive aggression is strong with this one]]

It seems somewhat of a waste to teach your 'rabbit', as you call it, so many techniques only to have it live in a cage as a pet.

[[no really bro

what the hell are you doing]]

[IF YOU COME AWAY FROM A SOCIAL INTERACTION LIKING ALBERT ROSENFIELD, YOU...probably weren't talking to Albert Rosenfield. Or he's been possessed. Or it's Opposite Day and this is Bizarro World.]

Seems pretty mercenary to take one look at him and jump right to thinking about how I can win fights with him. He's a rabbit, not a prizefighter.

[Also violence, why would you ever.]

[[wait what you don't like violence

god he knew there was a reason he didn't like you]]

He's a Pokemon, not a rabbit, and their main purpose is to win battles for their trainers. What else was I to think when I see you stuffing him full of techniques?

It's a fascinating idea and it would be a shame if you didn't let it evolve to its full potential, that's all.

[ABSOLUTE PACIFISM 4-LYFE, BRO.]

We're told their purpose is to win battles for their trainers. On the other hand, some of us like to think for ourselves, and occasionally look outside the box.

[[THIS BLASPHEMY RN]]

Well if you think their purpose is to be shoved in cages and little else, then by all means, have a party. You could make your own highly-powered zoo.

I, however, would rather have my Pokemon earn their keep.

[YOUR FACE IS BLASPHEMY, DISGUISED MASKED MAN.]

For what? You win some pieces of plastic and some bragging rights? If that's what makes you happy.

[[NO

YOUR

FACE]]

I'm not really the traditional sort of trainer; my Pokemon assist me with my research.

[[by constantly blowing themselves up oop]]

I simply don't see the point of letting such potential wither away to nothing. These creatures are weapons waiting to be optimized.

[STRANGER DANGER SENSES TINGLING NOW, KATO.]

Weapons waiting to be optimized? It's a bunny rabbit. Are you out of your mind?

[[AT LEAST HE ISN'T TALKING ABOUT THE ART OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION

YET]]

I'm not the one packing said 'bunny rabbit' with a multitude of ways to maim and injure.

[[it seems like an hilarious idea though ngl]]

Pokemon are unnatural creatures with highly unnatural abilities. Why not use them in the way they were clearly intended to be used?

To do what? Maim and injure people for the hell of it? What the hell kind of rationale is that? That's like saying if you have a gun you might as well just go shoot somebody with it because if not, then what's the point.

Why own a gun if you have no intention of using it? It's highly wasteful.

[[starting to sense

that we may have differing worldviews here]]

You don't have to main and injure, but you could certainly do more than just letting the creature rot in a cage. My personal choice would be the former, but I'm aware that I'm rather unique in my visions.

[...what is the deal with these psychopaths calling him up for a chat, does he just have a sign taped to his back that says GREAT CONVERSATIONALIST FOR MURDERERS AND MADMEN or something.]

Your vision is to raise up an army of attack rabbits to maim and injure the populace just because a) they can, and b) you can't think of anything better to do with your time?

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