best_laid_plans | Turn 004 // Video/Action

[Malik's learned a few things about being a proper Rocket in Johto. One, the region's inhabitants are well-intended souls - useful for leading them on. Two, he alone can't possibly execute the maneuvers necessary for his revenge.

Malik Ishtar, aspiring Pokémon "trainer", needs to make some friends. And he knows just the place he wants to do it.

Taking advantage of Yuugi and Bakura's journey, Malik spends his weekly Rocket allowance on a shiny red bicycle (plus a bit of last week's on a ~~Moltres~~ phoenix decal). He then gathers supplies and heads for Violet City, to witness the aftermath firsthand. The music changes when he rides the bike, which intrigues him (and gives rise to a theory) - but he doesn't have time to ponder metaphysics.

Travel, he finds, sounds much better on paper.

Malik pedals into Violet tired, cold, hungry, and disgruntled: he'd picked up a new Pokémon, but it doesn't seem interested in cooperating just yet. In fact, it's actually prancing ahead, so all Malik sees of it is

Nonetheless, he switches on his Gear and broadcasts.]

Ah, good morning, everybody. I have a favor to ask.

I've just come into Violet, to check up on things - late, I know, I'm sorry, I hope everyone's all right - but since I got teleported away from this area before, I don't know my way around. Could someone spare an afternoon, or an hour or two? I shouldn't need much.

Thanks. I'd be happy to help anyone out while I'm here in return!

Here's where I am.

[He pans the camera around his surroundings and lets it scan across his new Pokémon, too. Maybe someone knows what these can do; he's heard he'd had one on his last stay. So far, however, he's not impressed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Trust? Why on earth would you waste time getting these idiots to trust yo-

[Never mind, he figured it out.]

Wait, you plan to use them, don't you?

[Congratulations, you win! Malik sounds amused.]

They're all too eager with the right encouragement.

And once they've exhausted their worth....

[He snorts, since you can't hear a shrug.]

Disposal's cathartic.

Oh, I completely understand the disposal part, but wouldn't it make more sense to hire someone to use these people for you? That way if ssssomeone were to catch on, they wouldn't be able to get their hands on you!

[Which is what he does back home. Zartan and the others can spend time in jail while he escapes to plot some more.]

[Maybe you're not as inept as he thought. That could actually be handy.]

Of course - in an ideal situation. But one has to find those people at some point, as well.

Unless you're volunteering, which I somehow doubt.

I'm not. And while I had a number of people willing to do ssssuch a thing back home, none of them are here. It's sssimply something one should keep an eye out for.

And I've been doing exactly that.

In the meantime, there's always someone willing to "help".

[He gravitated towards established criminals for minions back home, since their desires were easier to read and manipulate. But if Johto's handing him good guys, he'll make do.]

You should have too much trouble with that! These idiots are always willing to help! They even share information with complete strangers! All you have to do is assssk!

Yes, I'm finding it convenient so far.

And who knows what other talents they might possess....

[Showing a bit more of his hand than usual? Sure. But he can't help attempting to one-up fellow schemers when it comes to concocting plots.]

Other talents?

[You've lost him.]

It's quite simple. Perhaps someone's a skilled trainer. Perhaps someone has a knack for making maps. Or maybe they're simply a trusting soul.

Why wouldn't they use their talents to assist a new friend? And why wouldn't they believe him if he, say - accused someone else of unspeakable crimes?

I don't suppose there's anyone here in particular who's irritated you.

[Though you haven't exactly made yourself - innocuous, from what he's seen. To say the least.]

Oh, I ssssee. You want to frame someone! How delightfully vile!

[He's pulled off similar tricks, but usually goes straight to the framing and skips the befriending step.]

There's a list of people! And it grows longer every day!

[Malik chuckles. In spite of himself, he can't help but preach his own brand of payback (though he doubts it's your style, anyway).]

Then I'll give you a recommendation. Hit someone physically, they get back up.

Hit someone emotionally, they might never recover.

Turn the world against them....and they have nowhere to hide.

Oh, I'm well aware of that. Unfortunately, turning the world against someone is no easy feat. I'm ssspeaking from experience, of course. I've managed to turn entire governments against people, but even that took time, effort, and an incredible amount of money!

Too bad you're operating on wits and an allowance, then.

[Which is his way of acknowledging yes, the resource drain here is a major pain. Actually, you've done surprisingly well. Which means Malik can too.]

Too bad, indeed! Why if I had even the smallest fraction of what I had in my world in Johto, I would have conquered this place months ago!

I've no doubt.

[Was that sardonic? Hard to tell. It could also be approval.]

Still, if we pool what we've got, things still get done. No takers on meeting your demands, I gather?

Of course not! These people are far too stupid to know when they should surrender!

[While he's all for labeling the majority of humanity "stupid", he's not sure that's the issue here. But sure, let's go with that.]

Then I wish you the best of luck in penetrating their naive skulls.

I'll approach the issue myself, in my own way.

Best of luck to you as well. I look forward to sssseeing the results of your deception!

You won't.

[A beat, then with extra smirking.]

Until it's too late for them to change anything....

[And he hangs up, because like hey is he going to let you hear him cackle like a madman. He'd like to think he has a reputation for sophistication to maintain.]

Turn 004 // Video/Action

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