OOZE

PRESPIRE YOUR STAMINA UNTIL THE BITTER END

“COULDN’T TELL YOU.”

No one really can except Team Rocket itself. In the regard, Fernando agrees wholeheartedly. Perhaps it’s the only way to establish a name for themselves, to latch onto the legacy of a group infamous for all the wrong reason.

“But, I will say that their activity since their announcement does not feel like the Rocket of old.” Considering his audience, Fernando pricks at his words carefully.

“For better or worse, their audaciousness has scaled back since their first invasion in Hoenn.”

WRThJGUy

HEAT POINTS: 498
John Sullivan

Ooze

Just missin' Zac and Selena.

"YEAH. THEY ARE SMARTER. WEAKER, BUT SMARTER."

The quick agreement may or may not have come as a surprise, but Doug was always quick to offer his reasoning.

"They can't win in a straight fight, so they're tryin' to actually convince people they are good for the country instead. Revolutionaries, even."

The youth snorted after a moment, a sneer on his lips.

"And it's working, too."

People were eager to blame their government for every little problem in their lives instead of the literal terrorist organization causing those problems for 4 years straight.

It defied all sense and made his head spin whenever he tried to figure it out.

He had considered stopping to often enough, but if what Mr. Silph was saying was right, then he needed to continue trying until it somehow made sense to him.

"I've been preparing for a while now."

He said suddenly, brow furrowed.

"Had been doing so before Sootopolis, but losing the city... galvanized everyone in the military."

Hey, that was a fancy word used correctly! Nice. He should keep reading more.

That aside, Why was he suddenly telling Mr. Silph about this...?

Well, so far it seemed like his advice could only help, for one.

"I had intended to scrub Mauville clean, but I hadn't really thought it was in danger or anything... It just made me angry, thinking those bastards might be running around free under my nose."

His brow furrowed, jaw setting.

"But after what happened.... More than ever now, I think it's important to take a deep dive into all cities' underground scenes."

Everything had been built up right under Melody Miro's nose, but that wasn't entirely her fault. The League was a damned organization; it couldn't rely on a few hyper competent individuals amongst its numbers to do everything on their own.

"I've managed to acquire info on a few Rocket Outposts within Mauville." He brought his hands together, squeezing tightly. "I need more, though. A lot more. At the very least, I want to know where 70% of them are. I need to find them before they pull off their next stunt."

And crush them all in one fell swoop. Then pick off the scattered remains.

"I don't know how to find any more info reliably, though. I can only pick off so many grunts before Rockets begin to suspect something. Sorry to drop this randomly on ya, but... any advice?"

---

JvU4mYK|
HEAT POINTS: 519

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

OOZE

PRESPIRE YOUR STAMINA UNTIL THE BITTER END

FERNANDO SAYS NOTHING MORE. Doug has a lot to say and adding to his little exposition would only sour the mood. And, in traditional Silph fashion, Fern is a man of few words. Only when the situation necessitates it does he laud tangible advice.

“Tread carefully,” this time his gaze is pointed. Eyebrow match his furrow but his lean toward an expression of caution. It sticks out from the heat pooled in his face.

“If you’re going to take action make sure it’s the right one. All it takes is one wrong move to sully a reputation, Sullivan.”

dUv_IEih

HEAT POINTS: 473
John Sullivan

Ooze

Just missin' Zac and Selena.

"... YEAH, I KNOW."

He scratched furiously at his hair, leaning forward as he clicked his tongue.

Fernando's advice was something that he already knew, but just hearing it from the man made him feel nervous- threw his plans into question inside his own head.

But he was unwilling to stop now.

"But hey. If I succeed, Mauville will be clean. And if I fail, I'll have an excuse to retire. That's what we call a win-win, right?"

A bad, not so funny joke, now that he said it. Bleh.

"Maybe I'll just leave then."

His tone was dry. Everything about him, tired.

He didn't know how many things could go wrong for his reputation to be ruined. But if it got to that- if his best efforts, the best efforts of everyone in the military, ended up making him the villain of the story-

Maybe he should just take the hint and give up then.

He reached over and grabbed the laddle left for them, dumping water onto the stones to increase the hot vapor in the room.

"Ya think it's a bad idea?" He asked as the heat rolled over them, his head slumped down with his mass of black hair falling over his face.

He trusted the man to be brutally honest, if nothing else.

---

bidUx|Ij
HEAT POINTS: 428

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

OOZE

PRESPIRE YOUR STAMINA UNTIL THE BITTER END

STEAM SIZZLES. Hot vapor fills the lungs that inflate with an exhale so exasperated that it comes out with deeper thoughts than the cavities they fill. What’s left in their expiration is punctured answer riddled with defiance.

There is no ‘yes’ to his rhetorical.

“If failure means leaving a post you believe in, what does that say about your resolve? About your patience and practicality?”

9nCGinML

HEAT POINTS: 413
John Sullivan

Ooze

Just missin' Zac and Selena.

"YA DON'T UNDERSTAND, MR. SILPH."

He had already obtained more or less everything he needed from reputation.

"I have m'own criteria for what 'success' means for this mission. So long as I accomplish those... the public can tear me apart for all I care." He said, stretching his arms above his head, setting his jaw firmly.

Reputation was lost a lot easier than it was gained, but...

"There's only one way this mission will be allowed to fail." He promised with a nod.

He would see this through to victory.

Or he would go meet his parents again.

Win-Win, whether Fernando agreed or not.

"I'm more practical than proud anyway. I like to think I ain't a hypocrite, too."

His many conversations with Andy Blackadder had seen some rather pointed comments about the League's competence come to light- from both of them, at that.

"I've critisized people I think ain't making the cut before... Couple of friends o'mine rarely have nice things to say 'bout League, ya see- and I've often agreed with them. Maybe that's what came out back then."

There were far too many people in positions of authority sorely because of seniority or other crap. Specially in the military.

Maybe he was one of them.

"Either way... I should be willing to put what little money I have on m'mouth 'bout it."

Talk was cheap, after all.

He would know what he was by the end of this.

---

Ikzugy8Q
HEAT POINTS: 357

TAG: FERNANDO SILPH

OOZE

PRESPIRE YOUR STAMINA UNTIL THE BITTER END

“PERHAPS,” fernando wagers his money somewhere in the middle. to bet on doug in one avenue or another was… well, a gamble. the only bet he takes it the safety one—on himself.

“but many people criticize the league, often times for things they cannot control.” having been on the receiving end throughout most of his life, it hardly phases him now. experience has taught him how to manage the infamy.

“whatever happens, sullivan, i wish you well, and to keep a level head.”

eQYhCVsM

HEAT POINTS: 339
John Sullivan