maskormenace | 01 - video, filtered from archie

[ the feed flickers on to the image of a young girl, sporting her trademark red bandanna. unlike may's usual chipper attitude, her expression at the moment looks a bit uncertain and serious. ]

So... I have a question for you guys. You know Archie, right? The big buff Pokémon Trainer that wears wetsuits a lot? Talks like a pirate?

[ she'll even hold up a drawing to the feed for a visual - it's a bit of a simple, cartoonish sketch (she's 12, cut her some slack), but the blue bandanna, cross-shaped face shadow and shapely beard should be enough to give the right idea to who she's describing. ]

I kind of wanted to know if he's been... "up to" stuff here - like, crime stuff. I don't think you should be worried - I mean, he's a good guy! He just has a really extreme way of going at things, you know? And sometimes those extremes end up being super illegal.

[ she wants to trust his word that he's reformed, but there's a lingering worry in the back of her mind. some of the people here must have been talking to him since before she showed up, and she wants their honest observations to put her . ]

I just wanna know if he's behaving himself like he promised me back home. You guys HAVE to tell me, okay? I think I'm kind of responsible for him at this point. [ she reaches to click the feed off, but before she does- ] And don't tell him I asked!

[ yes, she's basically his tiny parole officer. please report any and all suspicious activity. ]

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He led a gang?

[Jacob blinks, then frowns.]

I want you to tell me more about that group. And what they did.

[ she folds her hands, twiddling her thumbs a bit. ]

It was called Team Aqua. Their goal was to expand the world's oceans and, um, stop human expansion? They did it to make the world a better place for Pokemon to live, but... well...

[ she sighs. the outcome isn't really something that's excusable, even if intentions were in nature's best interest. ]

But they almost caused a big flood. Got it.

[Jacob sighs.]

I don't know. Last time I saw Archie, he was helping to save people's lives. Maybe he's changed. Or he's just really good at hiding who he really is.

[It wouldn't be the first time someone had deceived Jacob about their true nature.]

I want to think he's changed. I really, really do.

[ and if not... well, she'll just do what she did back home again, but it'll be a lot harder the second time around. she wants him to be a friend she can rely on. ]

Everyone I've talked to so far has only had good things to say about him. I think he's really trying to make up for what happened...

That sounds like something he would do. I've been wrong about people before, but... I'm where you're at. I want to believe he's on the level.

[There's a pause.]

My name's Jacob, by the way. I'm one of the heroes around here. If you do find out Archie is doing something illegal, you can tell me and I'll take care of it.

Let's give him the benefit of the doubt, okay? With how everyone's talking about him, I really think he's done with all that villain stuff...

[ please don't prove her wrong. please please please.

she tries to smile. ]

My name's May - I'm a hero, too. [ she pauses. ] Thanks for the offer, but... if that happens, I think I'm gonna talk to him before anything else.

[Jacob blinks.]

Uh. Are you sure you'd want to talk to him alone, May? I think you're kind of...

[Tiny. Really, really tiny and vulnerable-looking.]

...young to be handling a gang leader by yourself. Even if it is Archie.

Sure!

[ she sees no problem in doing such a thing. when you save the world twice over, it takes a lot of potential danger to phase you. ]

I mean, I've already dealt with him alone before, and I'm basically not even "alone" at all. I have my team backing me up!

Your team? You mean your Pokemon, right?

[Still not reassured!]

Yep! I trained them all, and they can take on pretty much anything - or anyone, for that matter.

[ she has the utmost confidence in them! they've saved her butt more times than she can count. ]

They sound great. But just to be safe, take me or someone else with you if you hear Archie's done something wrong, will you?

[ she waves her hand dismissively. ]

Sure, sure. By then, it might take more than just me to kick some sense into him!

Right. And I've got a real strong boot when I need to.

Let's hope we won't need it, though. There are enough bad guys around here already. I don't want Archie to be one of them.

01 - video, filtered from archie

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