And now, a not-really-public-at-all service announcement.

[hasearthbooks]

Who: Gorthan (hasearthbooks) and YOU, provided you're in Team Rocket.
Where: Action log at the Goldenrod City Rocket base.
When: Video broadcast on December 2nd; action log may take place any time after that.
Summary: Rockets, please give your small contribution to the creation of awesome evil. Mod-approved.
Rating: PG for blood-drawing and evil scheming.
Log:

Comments

Video response.

[meatysoviet]

[While he's arrogant enough to feel that he IS worthy of being part of this project, there's something about it that pushes his paranoia button.]

Have only one question- is this volunteer project, or... "volunteer" project?

[He used to only one of those types of projects, and it was very much the one inside the air-quotes.]

[hasearthbooks]

[... You're the bastard who hurt Minnie, aren't you? Because of that, Gorthan has a bit of a beef with you, but he doesn't plan to act on it anytime soon.

... Of course, he will still be a little patronizing, because that's simply how he is.]

Without quotation marks. But I'm sure I could make it mandatory, if that is what you would prefer.

[Video]

[meatysoviet]

[Guilty as charged Gorthan, guilty as charged.

Come now Gorthan, he was just doing his job. you can't tell him that if it had come down to it, you wouldn't have done the same, doing your job and all.

Who would've thought smacking one woman would give him such a popularity boost, from all sides it seems. It's almost a shame guns were non-existant in Johto, all things considered.]

Mandatory for me? My my, I am feeling so special all of a sudden.

Did I say that I would? I do not think I did- learn to listen and then you will no longer need to assume.

[Video]

[hasearthbooks]

[Um, smacking a woman when you're like, four times as big as her and perhaps more? Not nice, not even in Gorthan's book. Gorthan's book being one that has some pretty disturbing stuff in it that he's perfectly okay with.]

It is purely voluntary, I assure you. Though, if you ask me, I would very much like you to contribute. I have heard great things of you - Ivan, is it?

[video]

[hackintheaster]

[Robin's a little iffy with anything to do with his dna, so he's kind of suspicious of this whole idea. Not only that, but what Gorthan and or Team Rocket might plan on doing with it.]

This genetic data bank wouldn't have anything to do with your previous profession, would it?

[video]

[hasearthbooks]

Well. What if it does?

[Yyyeah, we've already established that you aren't exactly loyal, so... expect a fair bit of condescension.]

Re: [video]

[hackintheaster]

[He can take it for now, especially since he doesn't think TR's after him. Not yet, anyway.

He shrugs.]

Just curious.

[video]

[hasearthbooks]

[His tone is decidedly gentler and less assertive when he speaks next.]

Just put your questions into words, and I will answer them. You have several on your mind, don't you?

[action]

[explosivecombat]

[Well! Kimblee and Gorthan have already had quite the discussion regarding this...genetic thing, and as such Kimblee isn't surprised when he sees that video. He's been lying low outside of Goldenrod City since the incident on the Magnet Train, given that people on that train had seen his face, but Gorthan had said within the next few weeks; clearly, it's just a matter of ensuring that any warrant that may have been out for his arrest expires

[action]

[hasearthbooks]

[Gorthan furrows his brow a little. He was looking forward to showing Kimblee the shiny new lab and all the awesome and surprisingly not completely primitive instruments that have been placed at his disposal... but, alas, Kimblee doesn't seem to be in the mood for discussing things like that. At all.

Gorthan infers that he'd better go the route he usually goes with his crankier mutants: serviceable, mellow and even motherly, yet firm.]

... You don't seem relaxed. Don't worry, this will only take a moment.

I'll need your arm.

[He's already wearing gloves and has a tourniquet ready.]

[explosivecombat]

[...let him wake up a bit first, Gorthan, and then you can nerd at him all you like.

As it stands, he's already shrugging his coat and suit jacket off, for the sake of easier access, and working at unfastening the cuff at one of his sleeves. He's managed to purchase gloves at the department store in town, white in color but thick enough to not allow one to see through them; they're not quite as long as the gloves issued by Team Rocket and decidedly more comfortable, as far as Kimblee is concerned, and as they cut off just above the wrist he doesn't see a need to remove them for this.]

My apologies, then, but it's been a bit of a long morning.

[And he's managed to get that sleeve undone; have at, good sir.]

Needles have never bothered me; do as you will.

[hasearthbooks]

[As he ties the tourniquet around Kimblee's upper arm... well. He won't ask why he insists on keeping his gloves on, and at the same time... it's too odd not to remark on it.]

You're wearing your gloves.

[It's a simple statement, the tone deprived of anything that might indicate a judgment of any sort. Of course that oddity sparks his curiosity, but he's also aware that now is perhaps not best the time to ask prying questions. Anyway! Nice cubital fossa, sir. Gorthan will now be feeling for a vein, if you don't mind.]

[Video]

[serpensrex]

[Didn’t he just discuss this subject with Gorthan? And decline? ]

What? Who authorized this? And why wasn’t I informed beforehand?

[And since when do they have a Science Division? No one tells him anything!]

[Video]

[hasearthbooks]

[Oh Cobra Commander. You are cute.]

Ah, so you weren't? Well, you've been informed now.

Do relax. It's just a blood sampling whose results I will catalog and archive, nothing more. I won't be performing experiments on you, or anyone for that matter.

[Video -> Action]

[serpensrex]

[He still doesn’t completely trust Gorthan, but he figures refusing would almost certainly negatively affect his standing in the organization.]

Very well! I will be there in one hour!

[And sure enough, about an hour later, a very grumpy Cobra Commander arrives in full Rocket uniform, aside from his silver faceplate instead of the traditional Rocket mask.]

[Action.]

[hasearthbooks]

[Oh my Evron! Gorthan finally gets to see what you look like! ... Except not really, because you have that... mask and stuff, listen, pal, how do you even see?]

Greetings, Commander. I feel honored to finally meet you in person.

[Gorthan rises from his chair and walks up to Cobra, smiling and extending his hand.]

I am afraid there has been a terrible misunderstanding. I will be more than glad to dispel your doubts.

[ACTION]

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's been quite awhile, hasn't it? Archer has certainly kept himself busy learning more about the Pokémon that inhabit this world. He's taken a special interest in how they evolve and breed, but that's not important now.]

[He'll arrive not long after that video is sent out, looking about as smug as usual. He's had a few rough nights here and there, but overall he's fine. He will be walking into your lab carrying that Meowth though, since he can never seem to be without her for five seconds.]

Good morning, Gorthan. I was wondering if you were going to get this project of yours off the ground.

[He'll do as asked and take a seat, setting the cat down on the floor. She immediately jumps up onto his lap and starts purring contentedly. Archer sighs.] No, get down, you. [That's followed by another attempt to set the cat on the floor. She actually looks like she's pouting now; clearly she's picked up some traits from her owner. The cat actually does have a name that isn't "Eggbeast" now, but like hell he's going to call her that in front

[Action] and you should be on AIM more often ;A;

[hasearthbooks]

[He's... reasonably okay with there being a cat in the lab, as long as she stays quiet, which seems to be the case, at least for the moment.]

Good morning. Don't you trust me enough to simply wonder when, as opposed to if? I like to believe I am a man of my word.

[Since he's been carrying a cat, the first thing Gorthan will do is clean Archer's elbow pit using a bit of alcohol.]

You seem to have grown attached to it. [He means the cat, obviously.] Allow me to remark that it's quite beautiful.

[ACTION] - I really should. W h o o p s.

[sadisticwarfare]

[Archer smirks at that, watching Gorthan work rather than looking at him. Archer rarely makes eye contact as it is; he's much more interested in what Gorthan's doing than what he's saying. That doesn't mean he isn't listening, however.]

Oh I don't doubt that; I merely was wondering if our superiors would be okay trusting this endeavor to a lower-ranking officer. Unless you've been promoted?

[In that case? How did you do it; he doesn't deserve to be a Grunt.]

...Ah, yes, I suppose you could say I have.

[That's possibly the understatement of the year. He lavishes attention on that thing. She's entirely useless for battle though, but he carries her around just about everywhere anyway.]

[Evidently the cat seems to understand the compliment, for she'll just start winding around Gorthan's legs like cats do, looking for more affection.]

Knock it off. You'll get attention when we're done.

[hasearthbooks]

I've been assigned to the science division, quite simply. And while I have received no formal promotion whatsoever, my knowledge and experience in this particular branch of science is such that for the organization to keep me from practicing it would have been wasteful and a shame.

[And while that doesn't look like an understatement, it is. Gorthan being the top science authority on Evron, etc.

He... recoils a little at the cat moving against him, what is affection and how do you receive it. But eventually he relaxes into it a bit.]

I do hope she understands your words. For, as you said, I have no intention to reciprocate her displays quite yet. [Especially since he's wearing latex gloves and stuff.] Have you given her a name?

[That said, he will tie a tourniquet around Archer's upper arm.]