Dreams and Reality [CW canon-typical organized crime?]

[buson]

Inquiry [tweet peep post to Pippi, also crossposted to Mimmeo; backdated to around May 22nd-23rd, after their trip to Chichi Island in this thread]

BIG GAINS 💪 @(legendarycheatday):

anybody ever successfully or even halfway grow one of these things???

[A photograph of a cut Midnight Bloom from Chichi Island, sitting in a plastic bottle of water, even in the dim light, its petals still faintly glow like moonlight! There’s tissue paper spread out under it, to disguise the low tables of Gukuru House, in case anyone recognizes the exact tables or even clay pottery used at the inn.

Rather different from the anonymous user's usual strict focus on fitness tips, training regimens, and memes!]

Reprieve [present date; primarily for Bashou (bashou) in Gukuru House, but can include anyone else who run into Buson between Chura and Ohritori island]

Buson might have despaired too quickly, earlier. A Team Rocket executive was still a human being. He couldn’t defeat death itself or stop it from claiming a friend of his, but he could at least talk to a human being who terrorized one of his friends who's shaken up from already being taken hostage by Rockets before… even if the Rocket frightening him this time was his superior.
She was, after all, just a human being. Solid. Tangible. Vulnerable.
… something he knew all too well, which made even treating her solely like an enemy or threat to be dealt with quickly difficult. He still pitied her, which would surely aggravate Mayday. She might not be dealt with as quickly and easily as a nameless grunt, but maybe it wouldn't have to go that far, and they could just talk.

Before setting out, Buson would write a note for Bashou, as he didn’t see him up. Maybe he was busy working, maybe he was asleep, or maybe he stepped outside. Buson wasn’t sure at the moment, entirely focused on what he intended to do.

“Taking the ferry.
Friends having an argument.
I got to make peace.
—B.”

And then, he would simply leave it on the table and go, provided there are no interruptions, neither in Gukuru House or the docks, and take the ferry back to Ohritori, simply as a passenger. He’d have a grim and sober air about him and wouldn’t look terribly friendly or approachable today, whether on the ferry or at port, or even in the city, although he might put on a smile for a familiar face or to get information.

Peacekeeping [present date; closed to Mayday (ateamrocket), wherever he finds her]

It might have taken a lot of asking around and following some dead ends, but Buson will find her eventually (maybe to one of her usual haunts or even to whatever abandoned building she’s taken up residence!); he’s always been good at following a trail to find his target.

“Hey, Mayday.”

No honorifics or formalities, just like she asked, but the tone lacks any warmth and his voice is low and quiet, in an almost intimidating fashion. He’s approaching this like his old job, even if it felt twisted using these tactics on a superior who was only acting as a Rocket would…

Well, it isn’t clear-cut treachery yet, they're just talking.

Comments

Let’s frickin gooOOOOOO

[ateamrocket]

There is a Pokémon sitting cross-legged on the floor near the entrance of the abandoned building Mayday had been squatting in for the past several months. He barks when Buson enters. It’s not an exceptionally intimidating bark, but it sure is loud.

”SHIT!”

Mayday, further inside and with her back to the entrance, jumps, the tea in her hand sloshing up and, thankfully, mostly back down into the tin mug. She turns to face the two, her eyes wild and ready for a fight. When what she sees isn’t an intruder but a familiar face, she blinks once, twice. This was unexpected.

She’d never given Buson her location, but she’s not terribly surprised he found her. Rockets gonna Rocket. Also? The people in the city were notoriously chatty, much to her chagrin. The dog continues to bark.

“Oh. Hey. Bloody hell, you startled me. Ah, hang on. Weenis, lay off!” She waves her free hand towards the dog Pokémon, who obediently falls silent. He’s watching you, tho, Buson.

“Didn’t know you were back on the island. What’s the occasion?”

[buson]

The completely unusual Pokemon would have distracted him on other days, the gleam of his armour might've attracted his attention as a possible Steel type or might've made him recall how eager he used to be to trap wild and unusual Pokemon, but today, he primarily only registered it as a possible threat and took one of the pokeballs from his bandolier, prepared to battle if needed.

Buson's manner isn't friendly or casual, it's quiet and steely, gaze cold and hard.

"... came looking for you, actually," he responded, voice low with a thinly veiled fury. "Guess why."

It's delivered more like an order or command, despite her clearly outranking him. It's very domineering, even by Buson's standards of aggressive speech.

[ateamrocket]

Mayday, meanwhile, is in good spirits today. She is informal and breezy, unintentionally and perhaps almost irritatingly flippant. She picks up on the hostility coming from Buson but can’t make heads or tails of it.

“Me?” She blinks again, moving to a small table and sitting down the mug. “Beats the hell out of me. You’ve sure got a bug-type up your ass about it, though, by the sounds of it. What’s up?”

[buson]

Well, that lended itself to misinterpetation.

The flippant attitude did irritate him and he closed in quickly, slammed a hand on the table, anger flashing in his eyes.

"CUT THE CRAP, MAYDAY! Didn't threaten anyone recently? Someone you weren't even stealing anything from?"

[ateamrocket]

Mayday jumps again. The Armourwoof by the door shifts, growls. He doesn’t appreciate your tone. Mayday doesn’t either, frankly, but she’s more shaken and incredulous than agitated at the moment. She holds up her hands defensively, palms turned out towards him.

“Fuck, dude! Easy! I threaten people all the time!” This was hardly newsworthy, Buson! What’s your point!?

[buson]

It isn’t newsworthy. It’s typical and expected of a Rocket, but he’d expected a bit better from an executive. A little more selective, more professional.

Mayday’s… not really resisting or escalating things on her end, so even Buson’s anger started to fade. There was no point in screaming at her when she truly didn’t know what he was talking about.

He straightened, no longer looming over the table, and continued at a quiet and level, more restrained tone, although his wording was still rather harshط

“… if you really can’t control yourself, steer clear of the DJ and that radio show, alright? Can I trust you to do that much? … he’s already been taken hostage before and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t reopen old wounds for the hell of it. He isn’t even in your way…”

[ateamrocket]

Mayday was, unfortunately for the general public, pretty indiscriminately terrible. She hadn’t been an executive long enough yet to reign in that wild streak. Maybe she never would.

She stares, taking in his words. Then, she involuntarily laughs, but quickly catches it in her throat, realizing that it was probably not the response he was wanting. She puts down her hands.

“That’s what this is about? Are you serious? That was just a little lighthearted trolling! I even had the good courtesy to not call on the air!”

She wants to say maybe the DJ should grow thicker skin, but she doesn’t. Buson seems really upset about this, for some reason. Actually, wait a second…

“How the hell do you even know about that?”

1/2

[buson]

It's not that, unfortunately, no executives were generally horrible to anyone, but most were at least above petty theft and terrorizing strangers without something to really gain from it... there absolutely were executives with reputations for excessive cruelty...

As it were, Buson had no reason to use violent force.

Mayday was cooperative.

At this point, if she had another seat, he'd have pulled it over to the table.

He did give her one very sharp, but brief look at the laugh she quickly stifled, but made no comment.

"Threats aren't a joke, Mayday. Dunno if your mother's still alive, but if she was, and I called you up and said I was gonna abduct her, beat her up, or worse, would you accept the joke excuse?"

Even that threat was sanitized for Mayday's sake, not to escalate the situation, because he genuinely did not want to bring this to blows if she really was that ignorant of the seriousness of what she'd done.

[buson]

"Unfortunately for you, the DJ's a friend of mine."

His own answers will be brief. He came to ask her questions, not the other way around.

[ Bashou said 'nvm it's people problems' ]

[bashou]

Bashou was awake and working in his room, but he was keeping quiet, even typing as gently as possible. This wasn't for anyone else's sake but his own: Bashou could hear that Buson was awake, but he hadn't been awake for long enough to enter conversation mode yet. Maybe soon.

Buson seemed to be moving around faster and more loudly than usual. Just as Bashou was getting curious about what was going on, he heard the main door close. He waited for a few minutes, but Buson didn't come back. They didn't have to report to each other, of course, and Buson had a social life, not to mention a job that kept him travelling...so it was no surprise that he was going out.

Walking into the main room, Bashou saw a note on the table. Buson's handwriting, too, looked 'louder' than usual. But it seemed he was fine, just caught up in some other people's drama again.

Couldn't be me.

Bashou wasn't concerned. It sounded like it could be dangerous, but it wasn't like Buson was a stranger to danger.

He would get some tea and go back to working. He was sure Buson would tell him about it, if he wanted to, when he got back...

[aaand if he wants to hear how it went!]

[buson]

It would be between three to four hours before Buson came back, between the ride to and from Ohritori, and all the leg work to track Mayday down, although the confrontation itself went by quickly and surprisingly smoothly?

He was sweaty and tired, but in good mood. Nothing too harrowing happened, and he certainly didn't look like he'd been in any kind of fight.

"I'm home," he announced, hands in his pockets.

Re: [aaand if he wants to hear how it went!]

[bashou]

By this time, Bashou was...still working, but he had moved into the main room, with the screen doors open, to make the most of the breeze. He looked up when Buson arrived, scanning him for any signs of injury or distress, but there was nothing he could see. And Buson didn't seem to be storming around as much as he had been earlier.

"I saw your note, but you were already gone." Bashou closed his laptop and gave Buson his full attention. "I hoped it was nothing too serious, but I know that you can take care of yourself, so I didn't go chasing after you. Is everything alright?"

[buson]

He smiled at Bashou's display of concern, shrugged and gestured broadly, to show he wasn't injured in any way. He's fine, he's the picture of health!

"Yeah, turned out to be a piece of cake," Buson said, shutting the door and taking a seat, stretching and cracking his neck and back. "Just findin' her was the hard part, since he didn't wanna break any rules by givin' me her numbers, even if they are burners, and I didn't wanna scare him more by breakin' in to get it, since he had bad experiences with Rockets before. Which is what started this whole thing. She threatens people a lot. As a joke. He, uh, didn't take it that way. So I was lookin' around for her on foot, like when I had to track down that kid... which is why it took so long. Holed up in some abandoned buildin'."

"You didn't miss anythin'. I only slammed a table. Didn't even have to lay a hand on her. Glad for it, too, I don't really wanna hurt her. She's not, uh... culpable."

That made her sound like she's either a child or insane, maybe he should've picked a better word...

"... not as much as the rest of us?"

That's terribly vague and not much better.

[bashou]

Bashou listened with only the occasional polite nod or 'hmm' to show that he was engaged in the conversation. He was trying to be, and he thought he could roughly follow along. But it was only when Buson had finished speaking that he finally asked:

"Who are we talking about?"

// OOC: I don't think Bashou knows what's going on, except that he probably heard that radio broadcast with Mayday's call since he also called in. Other than that, he hasn't met Mayday and I don't think he knows that Buson is friends with Ken? But let me know if you want me to give him a bit of context rather than Buson having to explain everything! Depends if they've discussed any of it before, I guess?

[buson]

((I expect him to know nothing or near to it~ o/ I don't think Buson would have told him about either of them, except maybe that "there is one other Rocket on the island" when they were in Ohritori and he may have mentioned Ken in passing, but no details. I also expected Buson to be there when Bashou called in! And trying hard to contain laughter at Bashou's complete failure to be menacing on radio and subsequent frustration, at least until the call ended.))

"Oh, uh... the guy's a drinkin' buddy, you talked to him earlier... on the radio. He's the host. He's oblivious like that in person too, don't worry about it... but Rocket stuff really scares him."

He didn't really want to name names, so it didn't sound like he was airing Ken's business, but... if Bashou's asking, he can't not answer.

"He said hi, by the way. Wanted to invite you to have cold zenzai with us next time to cool off, but told him you don't like people much, though you like azuki. He figured you were shy—his words, not mine, don't shoot the messenger—just from the call. Mentioned I was there when you called in. We were having shaved ice when he told me about Mayday calling again. She was, uh, the Rocket who taunted him. She dresses like a grunt, tried to mug me once, but apparently, she's an executive in her world. Galarian. Redhead. Swears like a sailor, perpetually looks like she sucked on a lemon, but she's cute when she smiles."

... yeah, the last part was definitely not necessary, but Buson felt it noteworthy.

[bashou]

"The guy from the radio!?"

Bashou almost blushed, recalling how he'd tried to put fear (of himself and his Pawniard) into the people of Ultern, but Ken had kept such a tight hold of the conversation, without Bashou even realising it. Like he was some kind of wizard.

Anyway, it didn't matter. Bashou hadn't been trying to scare Ken specifically. He was just trying to recreate a little bit of what he had in Rocket, where people knew him and stayed away from him. Not that anyone was bothering him here, though! He was just trying to stay ahead of the game...

"Um...I would go with you...? Not for drinks, but...maybe food, during the day, if you're there...? I can always leave after, so I don't spoil your fun..."

It wasn't something that Bashou was itching to do, but he wouldn't have minded meeting Ken in person. Even though he knew he'd probably still come across as shy, so this wasn't about fixing perceptions...

"So...the 'peace' you were trying to make was between the radio man and Mayday?"

Bashou paused to think about this, and the implications of Buson acting as a mediator for a Rocket versus a non-Rocket...had that ever happened before? It didn't matter to Bashou; he just found it interesting.

"Well...you said 'her world', so I assume she's not from our Rocket..."

[1/2; aww]

[buson]

“The one an’ only.”

At Bashou’s offer to come along, Buson’s eyes widened and he eagerly nodded. “It’d be fun! You won’t spoil any fun, Bashou, we just talk. On the dock, in the day! I see him a lot when I come back from a voyage, he’s a nice guy, respectable, won’t be any trouble at all. Not the publicly drinkin’ in daylight sort, I’d reckon.”

He’s so happy, he could hug Bashou! But he’d reign it in to just a a hand on his shoulder. (He could have pulled him in for a one-armed hug at least, but that’d be dragging him half-way over the table and he didn’t want to do that…)

“Let’s see if he’s on the dock tomorrow around noon.”

[After all that other stuff]

[kenfrompokemon]

[Ken can be found at his usual hangout spot at the pier in Port Opportune, watching the sea. He's got a habit of scanning the boats at the harbor to see if Buson's boat is around, these days. He spots the boat, but it seems like Buson's already gone home. He's a bit disappointed, he'd been hoping to talk to him when he got here.

Ken sticks around for a while to watch the sea, then starts heading home... and then he spots a familiar blonde head in the crowd.]

Oh! [He waves with a smile.] Buson!

[buson]

[He's not taking the cargo ship today, because he isn't on the job, nor borrowing a boat to ride himself... so he was only riding the. ferry as a passenger in plain clothes, so it must have been easier to miss him... he went right back home to Bashou first, too, so it would be a little while before he headed out in the evening, well-rested and bathed (so no longer smelling like he'd been out in the hot sun all day!)

Still in a high spirits from how peacefully the matter was resolved peacefully, Buson turned at the familiar voice, out between the shops, and waved casually.]

Yo, Ken! Ulsai.

[It seemed he was carrying some sort of gift he'd gotten wrapped in colourful, stenciled, bingata furoshiki cloth.]

[kenfrompokemon]

[Ken weaves through the crowd to get to Buson, and stops in front of him.]

Ulsai! How's it going? How did... um.

[He hesitates, glancing around before lowering his voice.]

Did you talk with her yet?

[buson]

[He's so quiet! Acting so conspiratory... like she'll know. It's amusing and reminds him of new recruits, but he drops his voice, too, since he doesn't want him to be scared.]

Relax. She's still in Ohritori.

It's fine, she never meant a word, she thought you'd understand, since she made the other calls during the intermission. She threatens a lotta people, she didn't even know who I was talkin' about when I came in. She was never gonna hurt ya.

But she'll steer clear of you an' the radio show from now on, don't worry.

1/2

[kenfrompokemon]

I- I mean, I didn't think she was here or anything! I was just, you know, trying to be inconspicuous...

[He blushes as he realizes he might've just made them look more suspicious.

But he's clearly relieved to hear the news.]

Oh, good...! I'm glad she understood after all. I mean, she seemed all right when she wasn't heckling or threatening, so I wanted to believe in her...

[kenfrompokemon]

But seriously, what was she thinking, calling during the break and saying something like that? It felt like she was trying to deliver some kind of a message directly at the radio station!

[Since they're still in public, Ken tries to dance around the subject, not mentioning the word 'threat' or Mayday's name, or anything too specific.]

...I'll still play the music she requested, though. No hard feelings. Even if it's probably for the best if she doesn't call again.

[buson]

She picked up on your fear, when you cut her off, and wanted to pick on you, most likely. She was probably just bored and it seemed fun to her at the time. [Like a schoolyard bully.]

She wanted to hear some music? It’s probably fine. Maybe play it again for her, sometime.

… she didn’t really think it’d scare you, she… doesn’t know how to act as anything but like a crook, you could say. It probably is best you two don’t mix, but I guess I just wanted to let you know, even if it doesn’t change anythin’.

I wanna say her bark’s worse than her bite, but she might still be dangerous to someone outside’a our group, so… it’s smart for you to keep your wits about you an’ not trust her too much.

[Buson: "don't do this thing" Ken: "well now I want to do that thing"]

[kenfrompokemon]

...Don't say that. She couldn't have picked up on that, I was perfectly professional!

[Ken doesn't want to hear those are Mayday's reasons for doing what she did. He doesn't want to hate her, so he just decides to reject it.]

I'm not actually the one who decides on what we play, that'd be my boss... But I put her request forward and he put the music in the list, so I'll play her kind of music sometimes.

[It's a little bit frustrating to hear constant explanations of why Ken shouldn't interact with Mayday, and a part of him wants to be defiant. After all, they had a perfectly civil interaction in the end! Mayday even sounded grateful to Ken for it! Maybe... maybe she just wants to talk to somebody! Maybe she's not that bad!

...And Maybe Ken's being stupid. Maybe Buson's right, and talking to her would just be bad for Ken. But... Just talking over the phone couldn't be angerous, not after Buson's already told her not to threaten him.

He sighs, looking down.]

...You're right. Like I said, it's probably for the best.

[But privately, he thinks he's going to take another look at the list of blocked numbers. Maybe he'll call her on his free time sometime, or maybe not. It kind of feels bad to just let this end like this, without talking to her again... He'll just keep the number, just in case.]