MARCH UPDATE

POSTED ON Jan 23, 2023 16:23:44 GMT

BARNABY FINCH likes this

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Standing before the door to Admin Bee's office, Yumi took a deep breath. Finally, a member of Team Rocket's upper brass had recognized her and summoned her for a meeting. A conversation.[break][break]

She hoped, deep in her heart, that this was the opportunity she'd been waiting for: a chance to grab at the power within the crime syndicate. Like with vincenzo de luca, Yumi might have to work under another person's authority for a while, but that was a small sacrifice in the face of her grander vision.[break][break]

Arriving at the office had not been an easy feat. The submarine was a labyrinthine maze of corridors and rooms. Thankfully, she had managed to commandeer a random grunt as a guide, ensuring she was right on time for her appointment.[break][break]

After double checking that her clothing was immaculate, Yumi raised a hand and knocked. As a grunt relatively low on the Rocket ladder, she did not know anything about the man she was about to meet, only that he was in charge of propaganda and public image. Was he charming and social? Clever and witty? Cold and uncompromising one in truth?[break][break]

Either way, she was about to find out.

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

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MADE BY GUNSMILE

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Admin Bee

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April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

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POSTED ON Jan 30, 2023 0:57:47 GMT

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Her knock was met with a prompt opening of the admin's door - not by BARNABY FINCH himself, but by his servant MR. RIME. Yumi Hasegawa was ushered in with a bow before the door closed with a soft click! behind her.[break][break]

"Come in, come in." Barnaby called out cheerfully from behind his desk, rising as the ROCKET grunt made her way to the heart of his office.[break][break]

"Feel free to help yourself," He gestured to a cart near the left-hand side of the space, containing a decadent spread of pastries and a pot of hot tea with all the accoutrements. Hard goods to come by on the ROCKET submarine, to be sure, but something Barnaby liked to offer his guests. [break][break]

Especially those he saw promise in. [break][break]

Whatever she chose - if she decided to partake - would be telekinetically prepared by the MR. RIME. Once Yumi had settled into the plush seat across from him, Barnaby would then ease back into his own ergonomic chair and fold his hands atop his desk.[break][break]

"Thank you for coming, Miss Hasegawa. You're quite the hot commodity, from what I hear. I'm delighted to be able to snag a few minutes of your time." [break][break]

Barnaby's countenance was outwardly friendly and unhostile; his smile bright, his tone pleasant and forthcoming. There was something about his cobalt gaze, however, that if Yumi was perceptive enough to see... well, Barnaby guessed it wouldn't come as much of a surprise to her.[break][break]

A calculating spark. A perceptive glint. Judging her from the moment she walked in and assessing her mettle.[break][break]

"As I'm sure you're aware, I head the PR & Propaganda division. Your large social media presence has recently popped up on my radar. Would you mind speaking on that for a moment? Tell me a little bit about your influencing?"

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]
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TAG WITH @yumi

POSTED ON Jan 30, 2023 12:45:07 GMT

BARNABY FINCH likes this

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[attr="class","yumi2"]

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A pleased smile bloomed on Yumi's face upon seeing the cart of pastries and tea. Inwardly, she was beyond delighted, but strict training since childhood reined in her childish love of sweets. She paused by the cart to peruse the selection, then turned to the Mr. Rime.[break][break]

"Two of these delicate petit fours, and a cup of pure ceylon tea. With cream and a spoon of sugar," she told the attendant Pokémon, silently wishing she could ask for more. Maintaining a prim, elegant demeanor in front of Admin Bee was far more important, however.[break][break]

Yumi lowered herself onto the seat across from her superior. "Thank you for inviting me," she said smoothly. "I'm pleased to finally meet you, sir."[break][break]

Admin Bee wasn't the only one in the room assessing the person in front of him with a keen eye. Though the young woman was the picture of pleasant manners and modern grace, her dark eyes watched him carefully. Her training had taught her not to take others at face value, for beneath them often lurked serpents waiting to strike.[break][break]

Her smile widened at his questions. "Certainly. I started my YouTube and Instagram accounts for twofold reasons: one, as a way to support myself while living in Hoenn, and two, as a way to share my unique life with a wider audience."[break][break]

Briefly, Yumi considered telling Admin Bee that she had a Bachelor's degree in Communications from Wyndon University, but surely he already knew that. It was in her file, after all.[break][break]

"The average young person spends the majority of their time on the Internet as an escape from the dullness of everyday life. They will eat up whatever is novel and different, including a rich girl's life in the big city. That's the sort of commodity I provide through my social media presence."

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

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MADE BY GUNSMILE

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Admin Bee

He / Him

April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

Pansexual

Broadcast Journalist

Admin

6'0" / 183 cm height

i fell for your magic. i tasted your skin. and though this is tragic, at least i found the end.

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POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 0:20:33 GMT

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A rich girl's life in the big city.

[break]

How novel. He'd already known the cursory details, of course. Perused her accounts, took note of her follower statistics. Her numbers were impressive considering the short amount of time she'd been in Hoenn, that much was obvious.[break][break]

"And what makes your life unique? What endears you to your audience?"[break][break]

The admin's tone continued to be conversational and pleasant. He took a sip of his black tea, leaned back in his chair, leather creaking softly as he did so.[break][break]

He was curious how Yumi would respond. It would likely be telling of how she viewed herself.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]

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POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 0:41:09 GMT

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Yumi had anticipated this question. After all, everyone could make an account on social media, post whatever they wanted, and claim to be an influencer. But people did not want sameness. They wanted to view beautiful things, elevated to a quality beyond the norm.[break][break]

They wanted something radical, as long as they could observe it from the comfort of their homes.[break][break]

"I provide a level of candor that my audience wishes they had," Yumi said with full confidence in her answer. "I find that my attitude turns a lot of people away, but it attracts a lot of people, too."[break][break]

The Mr. Rime brought over her snacks and tea, which she accepted with a gracious tilt of her head. Sipping the tea, she allowed herself a moment to enjoy the rich flavor before holding it low in her lap.[break][break]

"People feel comfortable when they think you're being honest. They feel familiar with you, like they can relate. And in that state, they are easily swayed. It helps to have a pretty face, beautiful clothing, and an eye for an artistic photo."

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

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MADE BY GUNSMILE

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Admin Bee

He / Him

April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

Pansexual

Broadcast Journalist

Admin

6'0" / 183 cm height

i fell for your magic. i tasted your skin. and though this is tragic, at least i found the end.

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TAG WITH @barnaby

POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 1:43:37 GMT

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BARNABY FINCH appreciated candor, to a degree.[break][break]

It had its time and place. And with the right personality, to the right audience, could be abundantly effective. Looking at the woman sitting so confidently in front of him, the admin saw the merits of this approach.[break][break]

She was strong. And strong women could have an almost gravitational pull on the public.[break][break]

But there was something to be said about finesse and the give and take that came with their brand of subterfuge. He wondered if she had the flexibility he was looking for.[break][break]

"Be careful who you trust. Even the devil was once an angel..." Barnaby quipped airily, pulling the quote from somewhere in the recesses of his memory, before trailing off.[break][break]

He smiled. It was an encouraging gesture; one that showed his approval for what she'd contributed so far.[break][break]

"Tell me about your background. What molded the Yumi sitting in front of me?"

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]

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august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

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TAG WITH @yumi

POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 10:25:58 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi2"]

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Yumi understood Bee's warning as advice from a senior to a junior; she was old enough, too, to know better than to scoff at the gesture. Admin Bee did not look that much older than her, but to achieve such a high-ranking position within Team Rocket meant he was smarter and more wily than he looked.[break][break]

And though she guessed he'd already read her file, hearing the events from the perspective of one who'd lived it told a different story altogether.[break][break]

"I'm the only daughter of Goldenrod City's Hasegawa family," Yumi explained, matching the breezy tone of the admin across from her. "From a young age, my parents trained me to become the heir, to take over our business one day after both my grandfather and father pass."[break][break]

She recalled her earliest lessons: how to dress, how to sit, how to charm with good manners. Her mother had scolded her every time she had even a hair out of place.[break][break]

"My childhood was full of difficult lessons and high expectations. Be self-assured but demure, seductive but untouchable. Manipulate others while projecting the image of whatever they want."[break][break]

Pausing for effect, Yumi took another sip of tea.[break][break]

"I continued that education in university. I have a Bachelor's in Communications, with a specialty in marketing. And I'm currently running the social media pages for the Nimbus, a hotel in Mossdeep."

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

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MADE BY GUNSMILE

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Admin Bee

He / Him

April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

Pansexual

Broadcast Journalist

Admin

6'0" / 183 cm height

i fell for your magic. i tasted your skin. and though this is tragic, at least i found the end.

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TAG WITH @barnaby

POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 16:27:03 GMT

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BARNABY FINCH took all of her answers in turn, carefully filing them away into his mental folder on Yumi Hasegawa. Her upbringing, her skills. He couldn’t help but notice that they appeared to have several things in common – at least where familial obligation was concerned. Did she resent her family, too, he wondered?[break][break]

“Then why are you here and not in Johto? You've been under a microscope your entire life. What's changed?” She was the heir, after all. Unclutching their talons now seemed odd to the admin.[break][break]

Her comment on degrees and social media caused him to pitch an eyebrow. The Nimbus rang a bell. He’d read somewhere in their database that the establishment had ROCKET connections. vincenzo de luca, if memory served. Perhaps he would reach out soon to further those connections.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]

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POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 16:54:00 GMT

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[attr="class","yumi2"]

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Yumi's confident smile cooled into a disdainful sort of aloofness. Subconsciously, she sat straighter in the chair. "Because in my family's eyes, I am a mere tool. Perhaps that's common, but I don't have to accept it."[break][break]

Though she wouldn't dare air her family's dirty laundry, she had no trouble speaking about the injustice they enacted against her.[break][break]

Her voice grew firm, resolute. "I have a right to my own agency, Mr. Bee. My own power. And anyone who won't recognize that will learn to stay out of my way."[break][break]

The people she left behind in Johto thought she would wither and die without the Hasegawa's resources. They thought she would crawl back to them on hands and knees, begging for aid, willing to bend to their wishes so long as they did not leave her in the dust.[break][break]

She'd show them just how wrong they were.

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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Admin Bee

He / Him

April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

Pansexual

Broadcast Journalist

Admin

6'0" / 183 cm height

i fell for your magic. i tasted your skin. and though this is tragic, at least i found the end.

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TAG WITH @barnaby

POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 17:46:16 GMT

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“Do you not worry they’ll cut you off?” Barnaby asked, taking another casual sip from his teacup. He noticed the change in her demeanor, but didn’t comment on it. In fact, curiosity made him probe further. “A tool is meant to be used. If it loses that usefulness, it’s thrown out of the toolbox.”[break][break]

However she responded, he would end on this note:[break][break]

“You do have a right to your own power. But how will you use that power in service to Rocket?” [break][break]

Here he straightened in his chair and leaned his elbows on the desk, folding his hands together. His chin rested where his fingers met, cradling a face whose expression had turned unsettlingly serious.[break][break]

“You have promise, Miss Hasegawa. That much is clear to me.” But promise wasn’t enough. He wanted concrete ideas and strategies. [break][break]

“Explain to me how your social media presence will aid Rocket.”

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]

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august 1

Goldenrod City, Johto

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POSTED ON Apr 28, 2023 18:32:20 GMT

BARNABY FINCH likes this

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[attr="class","yumi2"]

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Yumi sipped her tea as well, trying to keep her body from stiffening any further. Putting aside the cup, she sank a fork into a petit four to lift a portion to her mouth. Before eating it, however, she confirmed Admin Bee's suspicions.[break][break]

"They've already cut me off." She'd hated it at first, but had grown past that emotion. "I work now, between social media and the Nimbus, so I make my own money."[break][break]

Which was nothing compared to her family's vast wealth, but she hoped that discrepancy would not remain for long.[break][break]

Finally, the admin asked about the real reason she'd been summoned to his office. She took the time to finish her tiny mouthful of dessert and to wash it down with some tea before replying.[break][break]

"Team Rocket's public image is not the most pristine. Quite the opposite, actually. If we want to prevent more loss to our ranks, and especially if we want to gain supporters, we need to manipulate the masses with propaganda. Do we have any kind of social media presence? If not, we're behind on the times."[break][break]

Yumi finished her tea, draining the cup.[break][break]

"Allow me to sway the hearts of the common man for the glory of Team Rocket. You won't find anyone better for this task."

[attr="class","ooc"]

[attr="class","tag"]BARNABY FINCH

[break]

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Recruitment Act II[break]
⬥ Outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","credit"]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[googlefont=Poppins]
[newclass=.yumi2]--accent:#B76E79;[/newclass]
[newclass=.yumi2]font:13px Roboto;letter-spacing:.2px;line-height:15px;[/newclass]
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Admin Bee

He / Him

April 12

Lumiose City, Kalos

Pansexual

Broadcast Journalist

Admin

6'0" / 183 cm height

i fell for your magic. i tasted your skin. and though this is tragic, at least i found the end.

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POSTED ON Apr 29, 2023 1:24:44 GMT

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"We do."[break][break]

In fact, Barnaby's first objective as admin had been piloting a pet project of his that he'd been tinkering with for years, even before his emigration from Kalos: a collaborative network meant to instill political division and fragment the LEAGUE identity.[break][break]

It consisted of ROCKETs like Yumi Hasegawa, paid contractors, actors, lobbyists, even media bots. All meant to sow seeds of distrust within the government. In theory, this would encourage the public to be more willing to consider alternative leadership.[break][break]

Even BARNABY FINCH himself was apart of the program under his journalist persona, though she didn't need to know that. Not yet.[break][break]

"..." The admin didn't immediately respond to her assurance. Calculating eyes observed her, unflinching, as he mulled over all that he'd heard here today. [break][break]

Then, he leaned back. Clasped his hands together, smiling that charming, beaming smile... which may or may not have looked vaguely familiar to Yumi.[break][break]

"I have no doubt you'll meet my every expectation, Miss Hasegawa. In fact, I have just the job for you in mind. Let me work out the details and I'll be in touch soon."[break][break]

With that, Barnaby stood, signaling an end to their meeting.[break][break]

"I look forward to working with you in the future."[break][break]

He extended a hand to shake - an added finality to a blossoming partnership.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

Yumi Hasegawa[break]

RECRUITMENT: ACT II[break]

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