cambox | Da Future

[That's more than enough of an incentive to get moving. He's quick to hang up, but makes sure he seems calm and casual before heading over.

And he's good at it. The lack of any present stress could even be unsettling.]

[The person in the alley is wearing just a generic suit, but has a mask and gloves on. He tucks his phone in his chest pocket, and casually puts his hands in his pants pockets.]

So! Nice to meet you, Mr. Silver. We'll be anchored north of here, outside the Seaside Cave. We're not looking for a fight, so the only Pokémon that should be on you is Gene. Arrive at 6:25 am tomorrow. If we see you coming with other Pokémon on your belt or with tipping off the cops, we'll set sail. And we'll give you your kids when you pass us Gene's ball.

Capiche?

You got it. I've never been a big fan of the cops anyway.

[Shorter than him- 5'8"? 5'9"?- and of a pretty unimpressive build. He stands casually, but it would be easy to knock him off balance. Either he's really cocky or just plain stupid.

But the most defining trait is that he's not dead yet.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow will fix that.]

[He's got that cockiness of "I've got you where it hurts so I know you won't hit me" going on.]

Alright, then. You stay here in Undella until then. Ciao.

[He gives a two-fingered salute, before turning around and heading off.

Enjoy that, Silver!]

[Enjoy it. Right.

He stays in Undella town as directed; he has Honchkrow fly off with his Pokémon outside of Genesect at some point in the day. He even takes his jacket. So much for his Pokémon helping him out, right? It's not like his Pokémon can ask for help. They know better.

Yeah right. Once Honchkrow's a good distance away, he lets out Weavile to round up some of the Sneasel and Weavile living nearby. Weavile heard the plan from his ball. He knows what to do. Honchkrow then heads home to find Kingdra, who takes off into the water to gather her own forces in the water. Feraligatr and Gyarados would stand out too much. From there, he heads out of the house again and wanders around with the frustration that comes from knowing that he has to wait.

He doesn't sleep; there's no way he could get to sleep after something like this, and he can't head home or risk missing the time anyway. When the time finally comes, he heads over to their ship- once again, he's completely calm.]

[Silver will arrive, the massive ex-Plasma ship anchored. But there's no signs of a crew, and things are silent. No one seems to be outside of the ship or looking to the shore to look for Silver. Perhaps the ladder was supposed to be lowered at exactly 6:25?

But the minutes pass, and nothing. Not a sound from the ship, aside from the water slapping against its sides.

Time is passing, but there's no response whatsoever from the ship.]

[There's only so long he can wait before deciding to just enter the ship. There's no way he can jump and grab onto the ledge from this distance and there's nothing that he can use to help himself up nearby...

...He settles for swimming and looking for some kind of leverage to get up and into the ship; luckily Kingdra is there and gives him a boost up to the edge of the ship so he can haul himself up, over, and onto it.

Time to search for his kids. Sure, he's soaked, but beyond that, it shouldn't be too difficult to sneak around and find his kids...]

[No, it absolutely isn't hard - sitting right there on deck is Barett, clinging onto his sister. Next to him is his Ninetales, looking beat up and worn out.

But everything on deck is charred and burned. There's people, who aren't burned to death but have been beaten up and knocked unconscious. It's a surprisingly gritty scene, and Barett's ninetales growls before recognizing who it was that was hopping over the edge.

Barett doesn't look, staring coldly at the floor.]

[What happened here what's going on where-

...Blue? Barett? They're... Sitting together...?

Taking in the scene takes him a second; so does finding his legs. He pets Ninetales for a moment in thanks before getting up and running over to them.]

Hey, Barett! Blue! [Are you two okay please don't be hurt please be okay-]

[Barett looks up, a frightening look on his face. A look that Silver's worn, himself, on occasion.

But it melts away in an instant, as Barett stands up and grasps his father. Blue scrambles up, too, waking up from sleep and hugging him, too.]

[He doesn't have anything to say. He simply holds onto both of them a far too tightly- he's glad they're okay, he is so glad they're okay--

No. Enough of that. The two of them must be terrified, being kidnapped and dragged on a ship like this. They didn't deserve this. This never should have happened to them.]

You two aren't hurt, are you? [That's a good start.]

They made me... I told them to leave us alone, but they wouldn't.

...I never want to fight again.

...But he was so cool, dad, Barett's like really strong.

[He tries to be reassuring. He really, really tries.

But he can feel it. He can feel that burning hatred boiling up inside of him. Besides, this situation doesn't call for it. They're not completely safe yet.]

I want you two to get off the ship while I take care of rounding these guys up. Kingdra's right outside and Weavile's nearby. If you see anyone else approach the two of you, yell as loudly as you can.

No!

[The coldness breaks away in an instant, as Barett clings to his father as hard as he can. He starts crying.]

Please, please, I just wanna go home!

[Blue is shaken, too, and Barett's breakdown just triggers hers.]

I don't wanna be here...

[Silver visibly winces at the sound of both of them, but- but not yet. Even as he wipes away their tears, he hardens his expression.]

If I don't take care of these guys, they could get up and come after you again. [That's the reality of the situation. It's cruel to say, but he has to say it.] It'll take me a few minutes, and then we're going home.

Now go. [In fact, he'll carry the both of them to the edge of the ship before releasing the ramp that not so gracefully hits the shore before setting them down and encouraging them to move off of the ship.]

Daddy, call the police, Grandma always says the police are there to help...

I will. [Not. But if that's what it takes to reassure them, then so be it.]

Then let's go!

Don't argue with me. [His tone is far sharper, colder, and more demanding than it's ever been before. He's not having it. Not right now.]

Shut up, dad.

[Barett's not scared of Silver, not after these guys. He isn't letting go of Silver's pant leg any time soon.]

It's not gonna do anything.

[He looks like, for the first time, he's about to yell at them... But he thinks it over for a moment. What's the best course of option here? What should he do?

Kingdra bobs her head out from under the water... and that's when it hits him. From behind Blue's head and out of his kids' vision, he does quick one handed sign language (thanks Leaf, thanks for getting him to learn something so vital for this situation) to get his command across to Kingdra.

Sink it.

She nods and dives back underwater; she knows to wait until they're far away from the ship.

With that taken care of, Silver lifts both Blue and Barett up and starts walking off the ship. It's not as satisfying and filled with retribution, but it's just as final.]

[They both cling to him, Barett especially. Blue calms down sooner, being the more emotionally stable child, but Barett's clinginess is going to last the whole way home.]

[Which is fine. Weavile and several Sneasel accompany them on their way home.

Of course, as they head home, Kingdra makes quick work of the anchor to the ship and uses Surf to guide the ship in the direction she wants it; once it's far from the shore and effectively stranded, she fires several dragon pulses into the ship's bottom to preemptively help sink it before completely bringing it down with a Whirlpool. She still manages to swim home before the three of them arrive.

When they all get home, it's just time to hug and stay close and together for the day.]

Da Future

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)