People often don't think Fenelle the type to enjoy things like Visual Novels (or stories in general), but they would be quite wrong. They quite like reading and seeing all those non-sensical stories people come up with, trying to figure out what any of it might mean ... but when dee boots up Rondezview-of-Luv, der goals are different. After all, this app is supposedly as close to real life as can be ...

... and something rather unexpected pops up. Dee frowns, connecting back the dots of the route summary as dee opens it up ...

Dee is aware that a number of higher-ups in the Rocket hierarchy have been found on the app, but this might be a first. Dee immediately also tries to set up a screen capture, wondering if the app might let them - but even without, dee starts the route, or else it might disappear before dee could investigate further.

Seems like it's about catching the culprit behind the infamous Poison-Tea Party way back when ... Reading the options, dee is extremely tempted to pick "I'm here for a cup of tea", wondering if dee should pretend and try to be a good cop (impossible) or not. However, it also feels like the fastest route to get kicked out, given that they're already closed up ...

"Someone made a complaint of screams coming from inside."

MARILYN HASEGAWA

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Compared to before, the stealth mission today has way more manpower. It's also a bit ... difficult if one of them is as clingy as he is, and barely stays in his ball, and only because dee has moved it from der bag to attaching it to der belt. (It's also, arguably, better to have them there, in fact. Easier to reach in a pitch.)

Dee takes out a little laser pointer, switching it to a white colour. Let's go, dee tries to convey with the agreed symbols, but the assembled Grimmsnarl and Bronzong take a moment. Dee waits patiently, before seeing their heads (and bodies) move up and down in agreement, then goes.

(It's so inconvenient when it's actually more convenient to be in physically there to get an easier in ...)

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Grimmsnarl indeed tenses up at the insecurity, seemingly to add to his intimidation - but he doesn't move further. Bronzong and Bisharp have fully lost interest, as they've finally found something more interesting - a solid metal ball that they could do something with. Anything.

It seems like typing it might be- ... however, this is not the face of someone who's comfortable with phones, which Fenelle hasn't thought possible in this day and age. And also because for dem, a chronically online person, some views definitely are warped compared to "normies".

And then. He speaks again-?

Dee frowns as the person moves forward, but doesn't make any hostile moves - this situation is just so very strange to dem, so dee really doesn't know what to expect. And then, there's another moment of confusion. "What did you mean with 'Duck'?" dee asks via TTS, before nodding, "I think this should wo... ..." Dee stops typing.

"You can't read?"

Alphonse Zoram

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Ferrying over the eggs goes over pretty well, all things considered - except the bigger attack which has been swiftly solved. However, as dee moves over with the last eggs from the spot, dee looks around for a moment, then frowns slightly. Dee doesn't spot Josh anywhere - he didn't get lost or swallowed up by something, right? ... nah, that's extremely unlikely. So dee also gets to the shore again, but only found his two pokémon as well, apparently not knowing where he could be either.

It's a bit awkward while waiting, but dee nods at the Feraligatr and Primarina and gives them a thumbs-up with a cheerful smile, that then flattens out to a neutral expression once dee turns away. Actually not a sign of any dubious intent - just the way der facial muscles seem to work, hyper-engaged in conversation and not used at all outside of it. Then dee turns to Josh's pokémon again, signing, I'm quickly away - gotta give back the Lapras. Then, dee scrunches der face a bit, before using exclusively imagery - pointing at the Lapras, moving der hands from demself to the nearby rental station, just to signal that dee wouldn't just jump ship now.

(Even if dee doesn't have any commitment in emotions, dee's curious about the actual delivery, where the eggs might go to.)

After finishing up the rental Lapras business, Josh still hasn't returned. Fenelle's wondering what to do if the champ-ranked would actually not return, but he does then, with a grimm expression that Fenelle regards with a questioning frown, before reading the message and sighing, nodding.

I see. 😔😔
But we could secure the others at least!
Can I see the adresses? I can put up some routing maybe if you don't already got it.

Dee then pulls up der map app on der phone, which also features a routing option as well as other conveniences, and shows it to Josh for a second, before sending another text.

I do a lot of errands, so I know my way around town, too.

The joy of being a fully employed-actual intern.

Josh Devlin

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Tension builds up between the pokémon, quickly subsided as their respective trainers move to calm the situation down. (Or, in Fenelle's case, wait 'till they realise they're over-reacting.) Then, Grimmsnarl returns to a body-guard-ish position, while Bronzong and Bisharp hang back again, trying to occupy themselves while only the Hisuian Goodra doesn't pay the newcomer any mind.

Fenelle frowns at the spoken words, inaudible to dem, and reluctantly puts down the tools and machinery dee has been holding to get out der phone. "I'm deaf, so I didn't hear you. Can you type or write down what you want? I'm working on something," dee lets der text-to-speech, Rocket custom module, work its speech, while gesturing to the space in front of dem.

The scene: Fenelle sitting on the floor, cross-legged, with a bunch of small parts in front of dem, and many, many, many laser pointers, taken apart partially or completely.

Alphonse Zoram

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The training course of the day does not exactly look ... inviting. Dee looks at der partner for the day, bowing and waving at them before taking out der phone. "Hello! I'm Fenelle, and I believe we're supposed to do the course together?" dee lets der text-to-speech (the custom rocket module) speak words over the zipzap of the Voltorbs. "I'm deaf, so we can communicate by gestures, sign language, texts ..."

Dee fixes der gaze on the course, too, and its surroundings ... where could dee hack this to make it all over faster?

Calliope Alvara

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Fenelle is more used to the autism gang, which is more attuned to dem and knows how to busy themselves while Fen's hyperfocusing in a dimly lit space. Der current Rocket team, all trained intensely in the fight independence department, having learned quick decision making and constant alertness, are a bit more awkward when Fen's not given them anything to do. The only one who seems kind of happy is the now-Hisuian Goodra, having made himself comfortable close to Fen after a lot of being absent-mindedly shoved away.

With the general boredom however, it's no surprise that they're incredibly alerted as someone opens the door - all of them ready for an attack, until they remember. Hey. We're in HQ. There's no one attacking. (Probably.)

Fen squints as light comes in from the hallway, and looks up. What'cha want? dee signs.

Alphonse Zoram

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Fenelle can't quite hide the relief and feeling of success as the False Surrender hits, impaling the Dusknoir - but he'd be fine, as pokémon so often are by the most gruesome attacks. As Theo recalls Dusknoir, Fenelle also recalls Grimmsnarl - seeing his trembling arms, and the way his hair resembled depressed noodles now.

At Theo's words, Fenelle just looks for a moment at him- before bowing, and signing, I will.

(It feels like dee just passed a test, but dee could not figure out what it was about.)

THEO BECKETT

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Finally holding the food in der hands, Fenelle walks to the side to distribute the Takoyaki to der pokémon. That is, if a Ferroseed didn't just waltz all over it with her spikes all out, snatching the Takoyaki away.

Fenelle makes an indignant sound, but doesn't have to act - the autism gang's entire rage is quickly to focus on the steel type, and she's significantly weakened before dee can actually sign any command. It's ... hmm. Dee steps in before the gang could actually finish her off, signing reassuringly, I'll grab us more Takoyaki later. How about we add this one to our team for now ...

Dee throws a pokéball, with the Ferroseed disappearing inside with a red beam.

capture attempt for the ferroseed

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The competition is fierce in such a market, and truly the question is - where exactly should Fenelle and the gang get their Takoyaki from? It's a tough question, but the winner eventually is the booth where a Tinkatink is using Fairy Wind to enhance and direct the smell of frying dough balls in their direction.

Fenelle is always up for a bit of ingenuity and trickery, so dee quickly walks up to it, getting to order for der entire group.

skipping tinkatink

(Fenelle is slightly regretting der choice not to bring any pokémon whenever dee is being Xuanyi for a bit of a while - it would help immensely in this situation, but it seems to have, eventually, been the right shot. After all, it turned out, quite excitedly, that they haven't been entirely alone.)

Xuanyi's just making the call to give running away their best shot, as a shadow swoops in. They immediately back away more, not grasping the situation at first. Is this another hostile pokémon out for them-?! But then, they notice the rider, and see thin needles glinting in the light, directly aimed at the Corviknight. Their hands lift to cover their mouth in shock, before they realise with relief that the friendly pokémon doesn't seem harmed. Nonetheless, they use that moment of distraction to step away another step, being slightly (quite) intimidated by the black steel bird.

The pink-haired looks at their saviour with relief, however, even- I'm deaf, they sign, waving to maybe catch the other's attention - but she seems to be focused entirely on the Cacturne, which seems to be angry that its easy prey has been intercepted. There's a glint in its eye, and they are in shock once more, but also try to shout - it's a muted, odd sound, made by someone who hasn't ever heard anything before, but seems to know the workings in theory.

"!!"

It's moments before the Cacturne would leap forward with a Sucker Punch.

Mireille Wynter

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Fenelle spots the Pawmo, and frowns - oh, this could maybe be Thea's pokémon- and if that meant that she's around, maybe ... Dee comes to a quick halt, and then gestures for all of der pokémon to do a U-turn and then left to get some distance, just in case.

In hindsight, this Pawmo probably did not belong to Thea - but anyway, the introvert's currently not looking to meet anyone dee knows. We'll get Okonomiyaki later, don't worry. How about some Takoyaki and Slushie first? dee proposes to the confused and partially upset gang - gladly, they're really easy to win over. (Or maybe that's a bad thing, actually-?)

skipping pawmo