ohmyarceus | July - August Test Drive Meme

[It's tempting to keep the charade up. But any more and they'll gather more attention than he cares about, so he finally bears his teeth in his trademark fangs smirk.]

Who do you think I am?

No way .....!

But they said that I won't be supervised, so can't I just take a mission and take as long as possible to complete it? Or. Maybe I can be an informer? Though I don't know who I'd be telling insider knowledge yet... Is it even needed? Sorry, but they don't seem to be exactly that, well, good at being evil...

[Definitely not up to Bakura's high standards, at least. Which idiot picks their subordinates by numbers rather than reliability and skills?!]

I guess. I don't really know the mechanics of how it works. I'd think they'd start checking in on you if they didn't hear back for a really long time.

[That would only be logical, at least.]

Being an informer would be really dangerous. There's a police force, but they don't seem that equipped to handle these guys. Team Rocket's a menace. They mainly like stealing Pokemon from people.

[Radley is disgusted by it.]

Then that's all the more reason to start doing something about it, right? I can't do much about my position since I've already been tagged as 'evil', but that doesn't mean that I have to just roll over and settle with it!

[Not even his real host would do that. Actually, trying to defeat the system from the inside is exactly what Bakura believes Ryou would try to do. It's the only smart move to make, if one doesn't mind being self-sacrificing to a stupid extend and is more than a little reckless when it comes to helping others. Neither of them would just roll over and take it.]

That said... Uhm. It's probably stupid to ask, but would you help me with that Rotom? I only have one pokemon that's not really doing what I tell it to half of the time, and getting another seems to be a good idea. Especially if those people are that dangerous.

[It's half a lie: he does have one that's got a mind of its own regarding the means of executing its orders, but there's also another that's doing exactly what Bakura wants it to.]

The spirit. [There's fear in his voice, yes, but there's also an edge. Ryou's standing up to the spirit today, not willing to let him get to him.]

How did you get here? I don't have the Ring anymore.

[He'd left it in Egypt, with the other items. He hasn't had it for a while now.

~~And then Mani and Aigami got their hands on it, but that's a separate issue that Ryou doesn't really want to think about too hard.~~]

Oh, I think it'd be great to be able to topple their control. It's just I know it'd never be easy. And I'm not sure who you'd even report to. You'd think there'd be an anti-Team Rocket taskforce or something, but I haven't heard of one.

[Radley heaves a sigh at being asked to help. He still doesn't really trust this guy, and the last thing he wants to do is get implicated in a Rocket scheme. He's trying to establish himself as the honest, upright citizen he is. But on the other hand, if the guy is sincere and he means it about toppling Team Rocket, Radley is all for that and wants to help.]

Ghost Pokemon are tricky. Normal moves don't work on them at all. I think some other kinds don't work either, but I haven't familiarized myself too much with the ins and outs of it. I try to avoid battling the Ghost types. So I'm not sure I even have any that can help.

[This is true. And he doesn't like to risk their safety. However, he might be willing to see if a Psychic attack would work from a distance.]

Aw. You really still think that it's you who controls the Ring!

[When it has always been the other way round. Getting rid of the Ring has never worked. Ryou's will on wearing it has never mattered. Why should all this change all of a sudden?!

Bakura shrugs his Rocket Jacket off casually as he slinks right next to the 'other' teen.]

-your past and your future, landlord! I'm the one who decides!!

Well, all I have is this little guy here, so any help would be much appreciated! All we have to do is to lure it out and weaken it somehow, right? I'm usually pretty good with the occult, so befriending a ghost should be easy. As long as it's just a pokemon, I mean~

[To prove his point he releases his alolan vulpix and picks it up. It promptly tries to growl intimidatingly at Radley.]

[Radley flinches, but then slowly relaxes as he realizes this is the Ice version and not the Fire one of which he is afraid. Still, being encased in ice wouldn't be fun either, even though he doesn't fear it like he does being burned or electrocuted. And he has darn good reasons to fear the latter, especially.]

... Are you allowed to ask the shopkeeper if he wants help getting rid of the Rotom?

[He might feel better about helping if so. He's still very iffy on the whole matter. If he just knew whether he could trust this guy or if he's being set up as a patsy....

Evie the Eevee warbles up at the Vulpix, asking if this is all on the level. Not that that will necessarily help, but she wants to try!]

Edited 2022-07-07 02:16 (UTC)

[Ryou wants to argue, but he knows that he's never really controlled the Ring. He's the one who always went out of his way to claim it back every time he got separated from it despite knowing he would be possessed again. He's the one who chose to keep it for so long, instead of doing something to try and get rid of it.

Flinching back as the spirit comes up next to him, Ryou's hand goes to the Pokéball containing his Hisuian Zorua, ready to let it out at a moments notice should he need to.]

I'm not your landlord. [Then, before he can regret it:] If I were, I should have kicked you out long ago.

[If anything, the spirit was more of a squatter in hindsight. Someone who'd just let himself in without permission and refused to leave.]

I actually find them quite fascinating. Most of my team are ghost-types.

[Well, if he's holding out his hand... maybe he's not so bad...? Chenzira slowly reaches out a hand to pat Bakura's with before withdrawing again and hiding himself more behind Marik's shoulder.]

Ice and ghost... Those are incredibly fitting for you. I'm not at all surprised.

[He reaches up to pat Chenzira on the head. It's okay, buddy. This is daddy's jerkhead... friend?]

... So, are you actually here to catch some Rotom or was that just a guise?

[If he did something as stupid as choosing to fight his Zorua would be faced with Bakura's team: a Haunter and an Alolan Vulpix. It's a cruel irony that Bakura's combination of a ghost and a fox mirrors the nature of Ryou's own monster, although for once the Spirit had no hand in it.]

Oh? [He moves out of Ryou's personal bubble so that he can properly smirk at him.] Then I guess I should have called you 'Host' after all. My bad for trying to be less derogatory.

[Just to make a point Bakura slowly circles around the other, making it obvious that he's the hunter here. It doesn't matter if Ryou suddenly thinks that he can bite back, Bakura will always be the apex predator in any relationship he's in. He won't allow to be anything less than that.]

You think that you can stand up to me now that we finally meet like 'this' for once? That, too, is fair, I guess. I'm the one who kept stealing your body after all. It's only natural you have a grudge against me. But, aren't you forgetting something important?

[Bakura's Haunter lets out a victorious laugh, but the Spirit himself only shows that he is pleased with a brief upturn of the corners of his lips. Taking his hand back, he returns his attention to Marik.]

I can see why the ghost, but why the ice?

[He offers a shrug.]

I might as well. I heard it has the ability to change its secondary elements, that should be useful. Besides, I have a cover story to keep up.

[Bakura stares openly at him, not bothering to hide his unspoken question at the reaction to what most would consider an adorable little fox. In Bakura's opinion it's a mean little anklebiter that has an unhealthy obsession with him for whatever godforsaken reason, but Radley shouldn't know any of that. So why that flinch?]

I don't see why that shouldn't be alright.

[He is definitely being set up, but not in a way Radley might be worried about. Bakura is planning on keeping his guise of an inept/actually a good guy team rocket member up for now, and the more to corroborate his story, the better. Having 'witnesses' is definitely an important step.

As if knowing that, his vulpix wriggles a little in response to the Eevee's question and simply strains up to try and lick its trainer's cheek. Looking back down, it snuggles against Bakura's chest and yawns, as if to say that they'll be doing alright even if these meddlers won't agree to help. 'Ghost' is all the fighting power its trainer needs!]

[Radley definitely finds Vulpix cute. He's thinking of getting one of the Alolan ones, actually. But he doesn't give any explanation for the brief, misplaced fear. He's not about to tell a stranger of his phobias about being burned or electrocuted.

He chuckles at the cuteness, but doesn't find that very convincing. Still, maybe he can do something to help without getting himself implicated in anything.]

Okay, you go ask him and try to catch it. If you're not able to and you get it outside, maybe one of mine can secretly send an attack at it that might disarm it.

[He's still not sure it will work.]

[Yeah, he's not going to do that. How stupid does Radley think 'he' is?]

That's the same as just going on my own, though, isn't it? If I've asked too much of you please just tell me, I won't think less of you. I know that dealing with ghost types is supposed to be tricky.

[chicken!]

[Oh that's a big scary laugh. Chenzira's sinking lower so only a bit of his eyes and his headcrest are visible. Poor dear.]

Because of your albinism and you're a cold bastard. Or so I assume.

[The blonde looks around, mostly to gauge where they're at.]

Alright. I suppose I can assist you.

[He gives Bakura a stern look that's utterly pointless in the end.]

I'm not joining Team Rocket though so don't get any ideas.

[Because doing grunt work is so under him~

But he leads the way towards the Rotom occupied building. (While Chenzira crawls around to Marik's front to avoid direct line of sight from the tomb robber and scary ghost.)]

[The kid seems pretty gullible, honestly. But Radley hadn't planned to abandon him.]

Honestly, I don't know if any of mine even have attacks that will work on Ghost Pokemon. If it doesn't work, they'll just attack mine.

[And he's not crazy about being seen with someone from Team Rocket either.]

Weren't you supposed to look like you were doing this on your own anyway? What if someone from Team Rocket is secretly watching you?

[Bakura's haunter reacts by vanishing into thin air, it's eyes disappearing last. Bakura just huffs and runs a hand through his hair to get it back in (dis)order. HE's obviously used to just letting his monsters run free as they please.]

-and here I thought you had something profound to say for once. Shame on me!

[He rolls his eyes as he starts to walk - back to the shop he's been waiting at earlier, although his bearings make him look like a different person now.]

Too generous of you~ Do you really think I'd team up with those losers?

I'm not your host anymore. [Ryou's getting braver, rejecting the claim that he's still the spirit's host. He's still on edge though, spinning around to keep the spirit in sight as he's circled like a piece of prey.

Then he's asked if he's forgetting something and he blinks, stepping back again as best he can while being circled. He continues tokeep a tight grip on that Pokéball, taking comfort in one of the few possible defences he might have here.]

What am I forgetting? [What does the spirit want now?]

[His smile turns absolutely evil.]

That with my own body I don't need you anymore!

[No more protection because Bakura has to protect his precious vessel or compromises because he needs Ryou's co-operation. With Ryou's insistence that they are no longer connected, all those protective clauses will be voided too.]

[Ryou pales at that, the full implications hitting him all at once. No more playing host means the spirit no longer has to keep him safe, and knowing his track record...]

Get out here, Banshee! [It's now that he calls out that Zorua, hoping for some bit of protection against the spirit. As the Zorua in question appears, it stares back and forth between Ryou and the spirit for a few seconds, briefly startled by Ryou's seeming 'twin', before fixing a glare at the spirit.]

Edited 2022-07-08 00:31 (UTC)

[Ryou is lucky that Bakura misunderstands and is confused over being called a banshee all of a sudden. He rears back slightly, just enough to pull his face out of direct attack range, but once he realizes what's really going on--

-he smiles.]

Ghost! Darkness! Heel!

[There is only one flash from the pokeballs on his belt. The resulting Alolan Vulpix manages an impressive angry growl as it stands between its owner and the Zorua, its fur standing on edge with an icy wind that's already creating ice crystals on the ends of its fur. It's pretty obvious where it's taking its temper from.

But the real problem is the chuckle from right behind and a little above Ryou's head, where the Haunter Bakura had out and hidden the whole time slowly appears.]

Still want to fight?

[Bakura's voice is sweet as he inclines his head, smiles in a mockery of Ryou's own expression ....and then suddenly lunges forward.]

Got you!

[His finger rests on Ryou's nose.]

((ooc: Let me know if you'd prefer Ryou to dodge and I'll edit the tag right away! o/ ))

[Chenzira never strays far, generally always hanging off Marik's shoulders or on top of his head. He's clingy - both literally and figuratively. Not that Marik minds.]

It makes the most sense. Sorry for not being profound enough for you.

[The blonde picks up the pace to stay ahead of Bakura, grabbing the handle to the shop door.]

There's some hope for you yet, Bakura. Perhaps you're not a total scumbag.

[And before the albino can reply, Marik opens the door and heads inside.

Cheeky bastard.]

[At first, it looks like the spirit only has the Vulpix. Ryou's about to take the risk, but then the chuckle from behind him causes him to turn around and see the Haunter right behind him.

Banshee is unafraid of the Haunter, being a Ghost/Normal type, but Ryou is less certain of the odds of a two on one fight. He's so busy looking between the Vulpix and the Haunter, shocked at how easily the spirit had gotten the jump on him, that he doesn't notice the spirit lunging until he's already touching his nose.]

Back off! [He tries to step back, but finds he can't get far with the Haunter behind him and jolts to a halt.

Banshee, seeing her trainer upset, begins charging up a Bitter Malice attack to try and chase off the Haunter. However, this means that the Hisuian Zorua isn't paying attention to the Vulpix behind her anymore.

July - August Test Drive Meme

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