Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/866443754243227658/Shin_Megami_Tensei_IV_OST_-_Aboveground_Urban_Area_B_-_256_kbps.mp3[/player]
"KINDA RECKLESS, DON'CHA THINK?"

The words came moments after the rocket took his seat at the food court. He probably saw the source of them coming a mile away.

A youth came to stand before the rocket's table, grabbing at an empty chair and pulling it out for himself.

"A public space, with that face. Ya must love living on the edge." The youth said as he slowly took a seat.

"Well... I wouldn't expect any less from someone with yer reputation." What a bold brat; but then, he wasn't just any kid.

Though far from his home turf, the Gym Leader of Mauville City's badged cap was easily unmistakable, even outside of his usual military regalia.

"Hello, Dorian Westcliff. Since ya went through all the trouble of comin' 'ere... Let's chat."

Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/866443754243227658/Shin_Megami_Tensei_IV_OST_-_Aboveground_Urban_Area_B_-_256_kbps.mp3[/player]
"Ya could not resist arrest. That would be nice." Doug snarked at the man while regarding him with a blank stare.

The former rocket beast looked about the same as he had when he helped ruin Doug's life, some... what, 6 years ago? That seemed about right. On the other hand, the young gym leader only had a passing resemblance to his old self- and was little more than one amongst thousands of this man's victims.


"Mauville or not, if I've seen ya, I can't well ignore ya." Doug replied as he leaned back onto his seat, his fingers drumming at the table. "War Criminals are kind of priority targets. Royal treatment, even. Aren't cha lucky?"

The drumming seazed as the youth crossed one leg over the other, tipping his hat down.

"But then, that ain't quite what's happening'ere." He said, smiling. "I almost got tired of waiting. Thought the tip might've been a bust."

"Tell me, Dorian Westcliff. Do you know who I am?"

Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/866443754243227658/Shin_Megami_Tensei_IV_OST_-_Aboveground_Urban_Area_B_-_256_kbps.mp3[/player]
"Very good." He said condescendingly, his lip curling. "I guess your head is good for something."

Change in management? This piece of shit.

Will your screaming be just as smug?

Calm down, John.

"Think a little harder for next time." He said after a moment, tipping his head. "I want you to remember exactly who I am."

He stood up.

"Wouldn't want'cha to think ya didn't bring things upon yerself, after all." He said, turning to leave.

He took a few steps away, before stopping. His weight shifted from one leg to the other, a hum leaving him as he tipped his head back as in thought.

"Oh! And- gather yer lil' friends. Maybe get 'em out of my city." He said simply. "I'm cleaning house soon- and I don't really care for vermin."

Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/866443754243227658/Shin_Megami_Tensei_IV_OST_-_Aboveground_Urban_Area_B_-_256_kbps.mp3[/player]
"You know, that would be intimidating." Doug mused, his gaze wandering up, before he snorted.

"That is, if Team Rocket hadn't lost most o' the wars it's been in."

Out of three wars, the record was 1 win, 2 subsequent loses. Johto, Hoenn... God bless the undeniable record.

"You guys kinda suck at the whole Open Warfare thing, don't you?" The soldier mocked, laughing. He looked over his shoulder at Dorian, grinning cheekily. "Once the rest of the world caught up to ya in violence, ya learned the value of numbers the hard way, eh?"

Rocket's violence in Kanto was the first ever recorded use of pokemon against fellow humans, if memory on the old setting text doesn't fail the writer.

"Maybe that's why you gotta hide behind civilians now." He mused, turning his gaze up once again in seeming thought. "Well, the people of Sootopolis will figure ya out soon enough. Ya can only tolerate vermin in your house for so long."

Even if the top brass of rocket behaved according to their own propaganda, the thugs at the bottom rung thought they owned the place. Sootopolis crime rates would surely climb up; no amount of discipline could fully stop the gangsters that made up the bulk of Rocket.

"... Say, while I still have ya here." He said, humming in thought as he half turned towards Dorian. "I don't expect much from you, but... Why did you join rocket?"

Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/866443754243227658/Shin_Megami_Tensei_IV_OST_-_Aboveground_Urban_Area_B_-_256_kbps.mp3[/player]

"Hn." He uttered, jaw tightening as he gripped the brim of his cap. "Guess a Spinda can't change its spots after all."

Though there was no little amount of anger to be found in the man's smarmy response, there was also a sense of slight... relief. Or perhaps it was a feeling of vindication?

Him openly admitting that Team Rocket was actively fooling the public... Well. It certainly helped keep his conscience clear, whenever he got a bit rough with rockets. Perhaps this was what kept a veteran of the war like MATIAS SILPH uncompromising against them.

When the man's story came, it started so familiarly that Doug almost sighed.

"Wasn't expecting ya to, Mr. Westcliff." He said. "Wouldn't do ya any good now. Ya've burned all other bridges."

A man with his reputation, with his crimes- even if he sold out all of rocket, every undercover member, every plan, every hidden location, every secret identity and double life...

Life in prison would still be the most he could hope for. And that was only if Doug could not succeed at convincing the court the electric chair was the only option.

"All I'm 'earing is that ya were a low life before Rocket, and yer still a low life now." Doug said without an ounce of sympathy, looking down on the man. "I try to be even handed with ya folk, since Rocket likes to prey on the unfortunate... But I can tell ya've always been trash."

Or maybe he was biased beyond sympathy.

He turned and began walking away.

"I almost can't wait to take you out." He said, before gesturing with his fingers a farewell. "Later, Mr. Westcliff. Next time you see me, you will remember who I am. One way or another."

Mall Madness

The past will haunt you, dorian westcliff

As the two men with entwined fates parted ways, the skies of Slateport took on ugly, dark tones, rain beginning to drizzle down upon the city.

Doug found himself dismissing the soldiers that had accompanied him over the comms, muttering heartfelt thanks into the mic before inserting himself into a crowd as the rain began to pour.

He found himself lightheaded as he wandered around the streets, brushing against people whose faces he did not register. Before long, he was suddenly stumbling into an alleyway away from the crowd of passerbys, leaning onto an old brick wall as he bent at the waist.

He vomited on the floor as his trembling knees finally gave out, emptying his stomach's contents on the asphalt as the heavy rain continued to fall.

"What the hell... What the hell are ya so scared of...?" The young man muttered as he forced himself to stand back up, shoulder leaning against the wall. "You gonna let'im get away j-just because yer a little 'fraid...?"

His hand tightened into a fist, slamming against the wall as he raised a cold gaze ahead. Swiping his hand past his cheek, he brushed off remnants of vile on his pant leg.

"I'll kill you... I'll kill you... _{I'll kill you...}" Muttered the youth under his breath as he walked himself back into the streets, disappearing among the crowd...