Tears. Of course, she would not have found that on her own. How could she? All this time, even though she had played model prisoner, that was the thing she had not given her captors. She could cry on command if needed, but she could also hold it in. And she kind of had to. After all, people like Elaine depended on that, at least in her mind. They needed someone stable, someone reliable. To cry in front of them….this was just not the place. Maybe after. It always was maybe after. But after rarely ever came. No matter how much the cracks started showing, she still glued them together to form a proper mask, much like those supposedly being created by the dynite.
[break][break]
Only this one was hers alone. A mask that she was not born to wear, but had decided to wear nonetheless. It was getting harder and harder with time and honestly, had it not been for the information regarding tears, it probably would have worn her down. But that was what she needed. A path forward. She could not see where and how it would wind, but it existed. And that was all that mattered to her.
[break][break]
…or was it? The moment that things started to get moving, when all hell broke lose around her and others came to utilize their chains in fanciful ways, she found herself oddly stopping. It wasn’t that her willpower was faltering, no. She felt as invigorated as anyone else, even though her ribs still hurt. That was why Kurenai and Elaine fighting for her was quite useful.
[break][break]
But while they so instinctively understood their chains, hers seemed different. It wasn’t restraining her much in that moment, no, but it was also not becoming a weapon or a shield. At least not on its own. Why? Why was it always like this? She kept getting into these situations and sure, she did her best and everything. But she was never the one that did the big thing, whatever it might be. Sure, not everyone could be. But at best, she felt like she was contributing something nebulous. Her talk with the admin had just reminded her of that. She never made an impact, it felt.
[break][break]
And here she was, just standing behind that shield, while others turned their chains into swords and other things.
Or rather, into themselves? The thought came to her as she watched Kyr, the stranger that she had nonetheless perceived as quite protective of others, and Elaine, the detective that always sought to find the right angle to attack a problem for. Sure, those were not their solely defining traits, but they were certainly not much of a reach. It made sense, after all. These effects, at least from as brief a glance as she was getting here, were so individualistic, they had to react to something.
[break][break]
If so, what was hers? Who was she, anyway? She had worked a lot in the science department and was able to quickly think things through here. But she was no scientist. She had lived as a con-girl for a long time, but even she could not pretend that this was still who she was this day. She tried to become a proper agent for Rocket, but she still showed concern for a detective that would probably turn her in if she found that out – tearfully, maybe, but almost certainly still.
[break][break]
As always, she found more and more arguments for what she wasn’t, rather than for, well, what she actually was. Even though she had by then told a certain someone that it was fine to choose who you wanted to be, she had always done so in a kind of half-hearted manner. There was always an escape route, always something else to fall back on, plausible deniability, all that jazz.
[break][break]
But then again, she had felt so alive when she had just winged it with that secretary. When she had just taken authority that was not hers and used it for herself.
[break][break]
Violet blinked.
[break][break]
Right. She eyed the nearest Megalopolan that had been downed, but not knocked out or killed. Striding towards him with purpose and simply trusting in others to keep her safe, she flung her own chain towards his, connecting to it. Somehow, she just knew that it would work. Much like she had back there. Even if she was just assuming this authority, it still was hers as long as he believed it. It was that simple. “You there. Stop slacking and show me how to get downstairs,” she ordered him, receiving a simple gesture towards the pit in the process. That was all she needed from that one, so she let him down again, chains relaxing and separating. “I don’t think we need to defeat them here. Just push them back and get to the pit to get down. That’s what the Azelf wants.” Naturally, she did not put that as a question to her allies and just assumed they would go along with it. Even if no one else listened, she figured those two might. No, they would. Because that was her now.
[break][break]

+ protected by Kyrenai Black and Elaine Highland struggles to understand her own toxic chain but ultimately figures out that it is [break][break]Toxic Chain Assumed Authority: A chain with the ability to link up with another's chain and put her will against theirs, trying to assume authority even if she has none[break][break]Uses that to get a hint towards going to the pit and tells the other two to bail and go thereOf9SE5gq

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Screams, both human and those of metal being strained. They could be heard from below. But not the kind that came from someone being injured, or seeing someone getting killed. Unfortunately, she had learned the difference by now. No, this was fear, surprise and shock. Yet, the assassination attempt had seemingly been stopped for the time being.
[break][break]
Not that she had the luxury of focusing too much on all of the things going on below. She was still staring down someone willing to kill people. All that she had to gather from below was that people were still alive, with only the party itself having been murdered.
[break][break]
“No, I think the party is over already. And when you have to go to C or D, it’s probably best to just cut your losses,” Violet replied with a shrug – though she was wary of the Pokemon being released. She had not brought too many of her own to this, of course. But after having been caught unawares multiple times by legendary Pokemon and terrorist attacks, she had learned enough to always come somewhat prepared.
[break][break]
Heck, this wasn’t even the first time someone had collapsed the ground beneath her feet like this in an urban-ish setting. With careful, but quick movements she released her Zarude as soon as she noticed the strategy in play – specifically towards one of the still hanging chandeliers. The dark type, as always, picked up rather quickly, releasing vines both towards her, to catch her fall – and towards the human, trying to capture her while letting the Drapion fall.
[break][break]

+ Elaine Highland

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“If it was meant that way, these guys would be parading it around all day, with neon lights pointing at it. You might not have noticed, but our captors are not exactly, well, subtle.” Violet suppressed a chuckle, not wanting to make too light of the matter. But she still meant this as she said it. These monkeys were apparently in a hurry to break them. Leaving something like this to be completely missed by the inattentive would be running contrary to everything that had happened so far. Which didn’t mean that this wasn’t their doing. Just that they probably did not quite want them to see it – at least not this way.
[break][break]
Or maybe she was just reaching. Really, Violet was trying to brute-force her way to positivity sometimes. After all, she was trying to reassure Elaine here. Could not exactly do that while doubting herself, now could she? At least, for now she would join the other in silence until Elaine caught herself again.
[break][break]
Which the more direct embrace certainly showed quite well. Vio sighed, softly. She really should get around to doing this in reality, in a more comfortable setting. But that was for the future. For now, they needed to work hard to ensure they actually had one after all. Though, for the time being, she allowed Elaine to take point there, needing to take a breather herself to regain some of what she had just shared with the other. It was important enough to watch her det- the detective go about her work with a reassuring smile. She didn’t really have that much strength left to give others in that moment, even as she followed, observing the Megalopans in their answers, making mental notes and sometimes asking those Elaine missed similar questions.
[break][break]
It was not entirely to her liking – she had joined SPECTRA in part because she disliked how much of their lives were shaped by legendaries – but figuring out what was up with this one felt more and more like a key to get out.
[break][break]

+ Elaine Highland - doing her best to reassure, even if she gives away some of what little she has left, helps asking around for Atzelf in the dream

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Phew. That throw had prevented the worst. Still, getting two nice ones like this was a pretty decent outcome already, alongside the Yamask that she could investigate later. There was only one ball left, though, and she had simply caught the first Pokemon she’d come across.
[break][break]
It was probably best to not just jump the first thing she saw from then on. Hence, she took to the hike again, enjoying nature a bit and watching some other opportunities pass her by. It was only when her alarm informed her that she was nearing the end of her time here that she looked at the Pokemon she came across a bit more thoroughly.
[break][break]
And the one she ultimately settled on was a sleepy little dozer of a Seedot. It had not noticed her, already sleeping in a bed of leaves in the fading sunlight. Something about this little guy or girl did catch her attention, so she decided to just kind of nudge it with the ball, seeking to not even wake it in her capture attempt.
[break][break]

+ Last ball, catching Seedot

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

This just kept on getting better!
[break][break]
Well, in a way. On one hand, she now had been greeted by another interesting Pokemon right away, even another ghost type that she’d wanted. In fact, one she had been after for quite a while.
[break][break]
And now it was here.[break][break]
Trying to steal the Pokeball containing her latest catch. It probably was in character, but she was so dumb-founded by the behaviour that she almost let it run away, not only escaping on its own but also stealing the fox.
[break][break]
Fortunately, she did find her bearings and quickly threw another ball, this time aiming at the Mimikyu.
[break][break]

+ 1/4, warden's ticket, trying to catch Mimikyu

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The first laughing hour had been mostly an act, of course. Their opposition was all but forcing them to do it and she had been worried that this was a special kind of punishment related to the dream at that point. The kind of situation where one made fun of a spark of hope being believed in or such. Yet, she obviously still did it. By that point, Violet had already decided on the role to play here – that of an obedient prisoner that simply did as she was told. And for someone that could cry on command, laughing, especially when it was expected to sound forced, was all the easier. It was simple.
[break][break]
Life itself was simple when one was simply told what to do. By the second laughing hour, she allowed herself to let out something genuine, too. Feeling by then that they truly were given a respite and opportunity in the dream, she decided to let go a little more. Of course, she did not direct it at those she was supposed to ridicule, but rather at their captors, who for once seemed oblivious to something happening beneath their collective noses. There still was a chance of this, too, being some elaborate scheme, but that did not matter. They gave her an opportunity let loose in a small manner and she took it. As simple as that.
[break][break]
Granted, by the third laughing hour, the laugh became more strained, given that she was nursing an injury sustained during the punishment time, her ribs protesting for every laugh. But she still did it. Heck, she’d even been tempted the one time that she had been the one being laughed at. Yet, thanks to her training, she knew better than to let that happen. Violet was not rebelling, but she was refusing to even appear broken. Even if that would make things easier on her. It just was not the role she wished to play, that she needed to play.
[break][break]
So, she refused. Mostly due to the solace offered to her by the dream. Without that, it probably would have been more effective in wearing her down. But the blessing of the dreamscape allowed her to simply put all of that aside. To just obey and observe during the day. To not think until the time came for it during her sleep. That was when she could think unimpeded. Make choices. Make decisions.
[break][break]
And one of them was to trust in someone she knew. There were other Rockets around, but like what always happened in these kinds of events involving a lot of people, she’d ended up with her antithesis. Heck, one she had sought out on her own, even though she had finagled it to a choice encounter of sorts instead. But that was just Violet. She knew that the others were probably working their own angles, so she pursued the one that seemed most fitting to her. Hence, she was watching the suspended will, alongside someone who seemed to be losing heart.
Since this was a dream, she decided to put a certain amount of caution aside and simply hugged Elaine from behind, more profoundly reciprocating a gesture she had been forced to ignore before. “Well, the wardens certainly have. But this is probably not,” she replied to the question poised, thinking that there was more to it than someone simply being a bit sick in the head. No, she had her own suspicions. “If anything, it’s no coincidence that this one is at the core of something that allows us to replenish our minds and willpower, as cold and distant it might seem,” she continued, hugging tighter as if to contrast the distancing words.
[break][break]
“I know you don’t trust yourself completely these days. But you can believe in me. And I know you won’t break. Because you are here. Because this place exists. Because I am here for you. As are the others here close to your heart.” She sighed, briefly. Vio was not someone who liked to share much, but she had to admit that things were a certain way. “And I am not just saying that. I have faith in you.” Another half-lie, another role. It wasn’t just here, in this prison that she felt that way of course. The feeling that always crept up when she was spinning her wheels in one way or another. The reason why she had chosen to take a path of taking advantage of others after running from home instead of becoming a recluse.
[break][break]
Because Violet, or rather, Mina back then, was lacking something inside. The hollow feeling that these days she filled by playing roles, obeying the taskmasters, observing what details she could for her role as a spy. And trying to offer assurance in her role as…whatever she truly was to Elaine. Those roles had always helped fill the void within her heart. They would have to help the growing void in this place, too.
[break][break]

+ Elaine Highland Main action: Laughing Hour and assorted tasks, playing model prisoner sdnD9UMG

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“I know, it is probably kind of stupid. And dangerous. But it also feels right, you know?” Naturally, no one answered. Her Dreepy just looked at her, a bit confused, as she decided to talk to it while they were waiting for something to happen. Elaine had taken off, leaving a little ball of fluff behind. But that dog was in work mode, too, so Vio had decided to abuse the fact that she was here alone to bring out two of her own Pokemon. The Dreepy, which decided to take a little dip into the shadows now and the shiny Rattata currently nestling onto her shoulder.
[break][break]
She sighed, mostly to herself. When left to her own devices like this, the thrill of having the redhead around faded a little and left her with the worst of things – meaningful thoughts. And especially after having announced to reveal a secret later, doubt in that regard returned to her mind for a bit. But it was just doubt. A decision, once made, was one she would stick to, as she remained hidden in a corner herself. That was certainly not where she had imagined that she would spend her time during this occasion, but here she was. Working, again.
[break][break]
Fortunately, she at least came prepared to these sorts of things as well. From below, she could somewhat hear what was going on. The anticipation was palpable, but she could remain calm all the same. She’d seen worse. Even if she failed here, that would only slightly discourage Elaine. But even that one would probably cut her slack, given that she was supposedly a civilian.
[break][break]
Not that she would want to fail, of course. “Get in position, any other Pokemon you see, the usual,” she quietly ordered Dreepy, which had exited the wall next to her and then decided to float about into a more open space. Not that anyone would even notice a small little ghostly dragon in all the garish decorations to begin with. It had not evolved yet, despite being one of her oldest companions. But it had learned a lot. And, honestly, it seemingly loved using its small frame for things like this anyway.
Once it did notice the Bombirdier, it decided to float close to it, while Rattata notified Violet of the person on the deck that was ostensibly directing it. Both human and Pokemon waited for the moment of distraction to act – Dreepy by waiting for the Air Cutter to be started just so it could intervene with an Astonish, not to win any combat or such but to startle the dark type and throw off its aim. Just so it could still cause a scene but not hit where it wanted to. Violet, herself, simply decided to announce herself to the stranger. “You know, that kind of Pokemon is not exactly discreet at all. Do you want to be seen?”
[break][break]
Her tone was....almost dispassionate, maybe even bored. Certainly, she did not express much surprise at any of this at all.

+ Elaine Highland

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Oh?” Apparently, her keen-eyed partner for the day had seen something. Violet squinted in the given direction, trying to make out what it was. She could not see anything herself in the dark of the cave, but when the man decided to grapple with the consequences of life and shot off towards wherever he wanted to go, she spurred her Togekiss to follow swiftly.
[break][break]
However, it seemed like that was to no avail to begin with. Violet sighed, lightly disappointed. “I am not seeing anything. Are you sure you actually saw something?” Or did he just want to have seen something? It would be kind of annoying to have gone down here and not found a single thing, she could relate to that. Yet, even as she looked around, she did not see any small, sentient robot pokemon. Those kind of tended to stand out.
[break][break]

+ Gerald Kaiser

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Ohhh, so pretty. Violet was watching the wild fox rummage through a berry shrub and could not help but be intrigued by it. Using her balls up too quickly was probably not the best thing to do on a safari, but this one, it seemed not just interesting, but also kind of fluffy.
[break][break]
Yes, she just wanted to touch it. Was that a good reason to catch it? Maybe not. She had a lot more critters than she could pet at any given time. But at the same time, she had been given these balls to at least try and catch some Pokemon. She wasn’t going not to use it. And while, on average, she found more Pokemon than she had balls for….well, she wanted this one. So, while it was distracted, she threw one of the safari balls at it from behind.
[break][break]
Not exactly a valorous way to catch a Pokemon, but she did not care too much about that. It could always sue her later.
[break][break]

+ Warden's Ticket, 2/4 balls, catch attempt Nickit

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Survival?” She had already wanted to answer the redhead, but the man’s reply had her taken aback. Not the part about social media. That was just plain dumb. This was a dream, after all. Not like she could make incriminating pictures here. Or any that could possibly be worse than what had happened to her already that day, despite her getting as lucky as she did.
[break][break]
Yet, it was precisely because of these facts that his answer kind of cracked her up. “I guess I was right in thinking that there are idiots in all the wards. I mean, sure, you can cuss up a storm, but apparently you can’t even finish that thought, Andy-dear. Though just to vindicate your delusions I will make up a few stories about the terrible things you did to me if we ever get out of this prison.” Naturally, she shot him a smile as she said these words in the friendliest of tones.
Not that she would really do it, though. Too much work. He was not exactly worth that. No, any man that could not outthink her was not truly worth the effort, as far as Vio was concerned.
[break][break]
“Anyway, that prisoner’s dilemma wasn’t and isn’t about survival. The enemy has already made their intention clear, to wear us down, to break us, to punish us for the sake of punishment. That little game is probably both a litmus test to see how worn down we already are and a means to rile us up against one another. Which is evidently working on this specimen over there,” Violet continued to explain to the redhead, having seamlessly moved from one conversation partner to another. “As for my own vote? I simply wanted to see if it changed anything and to skew the results a little. The cooperates already had it, so there was no harm in seeing what it led to. Simple as that. Unlike a certain someone, I am not just going to try and survive, to try and deflect harm. I am using whatever means I have to find out more about this situation we are in. So that maybe, eventually, I, we, can do something about it. Because in a prison, merely surviving is not enough. It never is.”
[break][break]

+ Aubre McKenna-Settentrione Andrew Fisher

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Intriguing. This Yamask looked decidedly different from the ones she knew. Not just because of its colour. She had grown up with a colony of these things less than a mile away. Violet knew how they looked, even the off-coloured ones. This one had a number of subtle differences to those.
[break][break]
It still behaved similarly to the ones she’d known, quietly, almost motionlessly hovering there in front of her, at least as long as she remained still herself. It offered her curiosity still, which she reciprocated in this instance. Yes, this was one she was going to attempt.
[break][break]
With small movements, she reached for one of the safari balls, trying not to set the ghost type off or see it fly away. Then, she flung said ball towards it, hoping for a simple catch for the time being.
[break][break]

+ Warden's Ticket, 3/4 balls, catch attempt Yamask

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Another assessment down, another reward for herself. Last time, she had gone onto some kind of work-date kind of thing with Elaine. That had been fun in its own right, but she had expected more of a normal date then. Hence, this time around she had decided to not leave it up to others and take the planning into her own hands.
[break][break]
Which meant going for the tried and true method of getting some easy Pokemon by forking over the cash for a ticket. It was not grandiose or an adventure, but she liked it. She could have wasted that money on a shopping spree or something like that but this….it kind of reminded her of a life she’d left behind. The good parts of it. So, she did not mind putting on the good old hiking boots and going for another trip.
[break][break]
She did it infrequently enough to not wear the concept out, after all. Just every now and then, encountering a completely new selection, getting some fresh air and, most importantly, doing something worthwhile just by herself. It just kind of felt…refreshing. In a way it really should not. Yet, it did.


[break][break]

+ Warden's Ticket, 4/4 balls

[attr="class","pokeclass"]