I TRIED TO TURN TEAM ROCKET INTO GOOD GUYS WITH MECHAS AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY T-SHIRT

[feistytrader]

but hey at least I'm an evil team heir

it only cost me all my friends

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[forprofit]

[He's awake.

Which is an odd thought to have, because he doesn't remember going to sleep, or going to one of their Rocket apartments, which he's apparently in and on the couch...which is being shared by some kid. He sees Ariana and Proton in the corner, so that's a relief. He rubs a pressure point on his forehead, trying to shake off the fog. Well, something must have happened.]

[feistytrader]

[Some kid that was busy trying to thwart your plans. Some kid that was very clearly giving Team Rocket loads of trouble.

But there's another person in the room, and it's the boss, who briefly gives Archer a once over to make sure he's alright before yanking him off the couch and out of the room to talk business with him.]

[forprofit]

[Holy shit it's the Boss oh Giovanni he's missed you so muchoh boy something tells him he's in trouble-

Yeeeeep, definitely in trouble. But nevermind the god Pokemon plan and Petrel now being added to his eternal hit list - he tried to kill who?

Oh. Oh. Well. Wait, what?

Archer gets excused from the room several minutes later, looked dazed and paler than usual. Boss sure is forgiving, huh. He'd be happy to throw himself out the window for this, but...well, let him check something first.

He carefully approaches the couch and stands in front of Silver. This boy...]

[feistytrader]

[In the time that Archer's been gone, Silver's overheard quite some conversation among the rocket grunts, turned off his Pokégear- should he even keep this? He should probably return it to Crys, if she ever even wants to look at his face again- and tried to distract himself by coming up with a few ideas of things Team Rocket could do. Should do.

It's not helping. What's not helping even more is that Archer guy showing back up- although they're technically not enemies anymore, Silver bristles up and gives him just as cold of a look as he would if they were.]

[forprofit]

[It really is him - and not only that, but there is an heir and the heir is here by their side. By far it's the best thing for Team Rocket to have as it rebuilds, with whatever new goals the Boss has in mind.

But first! After staring at the kid for a minute, Archer drops to his knees.] What I did was unforgivable.

[feistytrader]

[...He tries not to gawk at Archer for too long in confusion, but the fact of the matter is that he just can't. He can't even manage to scowl through it. His body is courteous enough to remain tense while he takes a moment to try to process the words coming out of Archer's mouth.

All that... And now he's apologizing for it? This crazy guy? It doesn't make sense to him at all...]

[forprofit]

[Well, to be fair, it doesn't make much sense for Archer either. He should have known in the first place. And Petrel...how did he even let it get this far?

Allow him to babble a bit more!] Had I know who you were...I wasn't myself. I won't ask for your trust immediately but I will do anything I can for you. You only need to say it. [plz notice him]

[feistytrader]

[That's definitely enough to snap him out of it. In fact, it's more than enough.] You almost destroyed two regions, your teammates, and your boss, and that's all you have to say?

[...So he's still a little bitter about the whole thing. Too bitter to even try to pretend he's alright with this bad guy thing. Why wouldn't he be? Things got so bad that reality started to twist and turn around them. He and his friends were almost killed. He's exhausted to the core. That's not even getting into what happened to Arceus and those other three legendary Pokémon.

What difference does he make?]

[forprofit]

Nothing else I could say would make it any better. [What else can he say? He did what he did. He's only staying because Giovanni had ordered him to, even if he hardly deserves it at this point.]

If you want to punish me more harshly, you could.

[feistytrader]

[He's about to get more upset, but he quickly regains a sense of his place- he's the stranger in this situation. Although Archer's actions were stupid and insane, they were stupid enough to get his father's attention. The grunts in the room are full of uncertain feelings about this heir that suddenly showed up. He doesn't need to make a worse impression.

He forces himself to settle down. At the same time, he should... at least try to exert some of that control he supposedly has.] I want you to promise me that you won't try something that stupid. [...He can't just say stupid. He has to make it sound like more than that.] Stupid, reckless, and ineffective. [That's a little better, isn't it? ...It sits even worse with him.]

[forprofit]

[And there's plenty of Grunts' eyes on him after his little outburst. Being led under some kid they're supposed to adore isn't going to be a quick change without Archer to push them up to speed.]

Anything you want. I promise.

[feistytrader]

...Then it's in the past. There's nothing we can do but keep moving forward.

[He needs to follow his own advice, doesn't he? There's nothing he can do. He's burned his bridges. Now he has to work his way into Team Rocket and change it from the inside out.

There's no other place in the world for him now. Nowhere but within the ugly depths of the undead Team Rocket.]

[forprofit]

Very well.

[He'll get off his knees then.

...]

Would you like a drink? [A four course meal? A hot bath? A foot rub?]

It's Yellow!

[viridianhealer]

[Yellow's life is blissfully unaware of anything happening with Silver. Her biggest drama of late was trying to hint something to Red, and getting the cold shoulder for it.

Oh well...

Most of her time is really spent on trying to repair Viridian Forest. The pokémon there are unruly and powerful, and she has to heal a lot of the native Pokémon for their injuries...]

[feistytrader]

[It's been quite a few months, and Silver's no longer the only one in Team Rocket. Gold and Crys have joined him. They're making some good headway in their work.

But the fact of the matter is that they need more power behind the Pokémon they're using- and Silver's made experimentation in those awful basements and theft of trainer's partners strictly off limits.

Which is fine. There are plenty of other strong Pokémon in the world... And if he can strike a deal with Yellow, maybe he can get a little more than strong Pokémon for his grunts.

He's in his casual clothes when he approaches her. No need to make her angry right off the bat. He's gotta play this carefully.

...She's healing Pokémon already, huh...] Yellow?

[viridianhealer]

Hmm? Oh, Silver! Hi, I haven't seen you in ages!

[feistytrader]

Long time no see. [He's been a little you know. Busy. Very busy. But that comes later.

Weavile waves at her to say hello! ...But he doesn't approach her. She can read his mind and memories if she wants to. Besides, she's busy healing. He better hang back.]

[viridianhealer]

Hang on, hang on...

[She'll wrap up what she's doing for the little pidgey, before letting it fly off. She'll come closer! Not a single wobble or yawn - she's been practicing her healing a lot, apparently.]

What brings you all here?

[feistytrader]

[He takes in a big, deep breath. Any answer he has for her won't be the truth, but... Maybe he can give some answer that isn't entirely a lie, either.]

I wanted to see how the forest was doing. [That's not a lie at all.] It's nice and peaceful here. [...And neither is that. The Viridian Forest is just plain nice to be in. If he could spend more time in it, he would...]

[viridianhealer]

It's doing a little better, but the Pokémon are having a hard time. The trees are doing well... but there's still a lot of invading Pokémon that are making things difficult here.

[feistytrader]

[So they are still coming in. And they're strong too, aren't they?] Have you guys tried catching the invading Pokémon?

[viridianhealer]

A bit, but they're very strong and most of the trainers in Viridian aren't very good at it. Green helps, sometimes, but just one or two people trying to get them is really not effective...

[feistytrader]

You'd need some big group of people to clear them all out. Some group as big as Team Rocket.

[Easy, Silver. You're laying it on a little thick.]

[viridianhealer]

Err... well, yes, a group that big...

[feistytrader]

[...Just don't seem nervous. If she says no, it's no. He looks around the area briefly- it looks like he's just in thought, but in reality he's settling his nerves.

But then he looks over at Yellow very calmly and casually. Just play it cool. Just take it easy...]

That's doable. With your permission, of course.