pokedressing | (no subject)

(no subject)

[A Pokémon! Something that most people have to wait for, something that people prepare their whole lives for. Others kids are lucky enough to have one as a pet in their home, one that belongs to the parents or guardians.

But, like everyone that came to the island, this young red-head got his own choice of three Pokémon! And he picked one, very easily he picked one. A Nidoran♂!]

Dad's gonna be so surprised! I'll make you super strong and super fast!

[He's so excited, tugging on the Pokémon's ears. The Nidoran doesn't seem to mind!]

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...? Mother?

[Whoa. Silver blinks up at her in surprise!]

I don't know, I think so? I don't know where he is.

Yes, it's me. I'm here. I'm glad you're okay, sweetie.

[She'll absently pat him on the head for a moment, looking distracted. If Silver doesn't know where Giovanni is, that means he's probably not here. What is she supposed to do now? Making the important decisions was always his job. Or Archer's.]

I still don't know very much about this place, only what I was told when I arrived. From what it sounds like, we're stuck on this island until we can find someone who knows a way back...do you think any of the other admins might be here, if we looked around for them? They'll know what to do.

[Ariana are you seriously asking your own kid for advice here]

? I dunno. You can ask Archer if you don't know, mother. But he was annoying so I left.

Archer!? He's here?

Yeah. Why wouldn't he?

[The people in his life are always there!]

Why're you so worried, mother?

Because I don't know what's going on and we're not supposed to be here...!

[She catches herself and stops. He's just a kid. What would he know?]

I'm sorry, Silver. I'm...I'm just trying to figure some things out. Will you come with me to look for Archer? I need to talk to him about what we're supposed to do here.

Nuh-uh, he'll want to keep me inside all day!

Well...you shouldn't argue with grown-ups, sweetie. I'm sure Archer only wants what's best for you. You wouldn't talk to your father like that, would you?

Father wouldn't bother telling me.

[Giovanni sort of shoved Silver on Archer and other nanny-grunts for the most part.]

Besides! I gotta practice, and train my new best friend!

Oh...

[Well, if Giovanni lets him do what he wants—]

I promise you, we'll only be talking about Team Rocket and the island. Archer won't make you do anything you don't want to. I just want you to come with me so you don't get lost.

...I'll let you practice with your pokémon on the way? [PARENTING, ADMIN. YOU ARE NOT VERY GOOD AT IT. But she really does need to go find Archer, and as tempting as it is to let the kid run off and do what he wants, she's not confident she'd be able to find him again in a place like this...]

Whatever... but you gotta boss Archer around if he tries to be a jerk!

Okay! Okay, yes. Just so long as you stay with me.

[Relieved! Man oh man this was easier when we could pawn you off on the grunts, kiddo. Ariana will laugh nervously a bit and glance around.]

Archer won't be a jerk, you'll see. He's going to help us. Do you remember where you last saw him, Silver?

He was annoying me because I had a Pokémon.

Did you find that when you got here? I got one too. It seems like a lot of people did, but I don't really know much about it.

What Pokémon did you get, mother?

A Murkrow. I don't know if it's strong, but it was free, so I took it. I should have grabbed the others but they disappeared.

I wonder if they were valuable...

Just make that one cool.

[Make it cool?] It's just a Murkrow.

Yeah but it's yours. I'm gonna make this Nidoran the best Nidoran ever! I'm gonna beat father's Nidoking someday!

I'm sure if you work hard and put your faith in Team Rocket, you'll be a very powerful trainer someday like him. I never had much skill, but...your father is the strongest there is. That is why we follow him.

Yeah! But I don't need Team Rocket. Father didn't have Team Rocket helping him!

[She stops dead in the middle of her walk and rounds on Silver, expression stricken.]

Don't need Team—Silver, how can you say that? Team Rocket is everything to your father! ...And to me! To all of us!

[Gosh he really doesn't get why the adults react that way, like it's such a bad thing to say.]

He didn't have it though! So I can do it like that too.

[For a moment, Ariana stares at Silver as though she's never quite seen him before. Then, she simply shakes her head agitatedly, starting to walk again—perhaps a bit faster than strictly necessary, for his smaller legs to keep up.]

You're just saying that now, Silver. You'll understand someday. Team Rocket is everything, everything Giovanni worked for...we exist to serve. No matter what happens.

[Anything else is just a setback, a mistake. She has to make herself believe that.

No matter what some no-account kid from Pallet Town might have said or done back home.]

[He runs after her, grabbing at her shirt.]

Wait for me! Wait, no, pick me up! Carry me, mother!