Happy birthday, Mayday 🎉

[ateamrocket]

[I. Pippi post #1 (August 14th)]
MAYDAY (UN: proper-rocket) posted:
I think I’ve heard people who leave here and come back say it’s like no time passed at all back home.

So is there any point to tracking time here?
Does it matter?

Sorry for the lowkey existential crisis.
Just got a lot on my mind.

[II. Turnbloom City]
[August 14th. So it’s come again. Mayday sits outside in Turnbloom City, staring at the sky. She kind of already regrets posting that message but oh well. She’s not doing anything in particular, just loitering in her Rocket uniform as per usual. I figured I’d include this in case you wanted to accost her in person, lol.]

[III. Pippi post #2 (Later in the month)]
MAYDAY (UN: proper-rocket) posted:
Come by Grand Theater Hall in one hour if you want to watch an ass kicking

[There's a selfie attached, a young woman in a casual, punk-ish outfit with pinkish red hair sticking out her tongue and posing with an altogether unfamiliar looking Pokémon in front of Grand Theater Hall in Turnbloom. She’s holding up an entry slip for a Normal Rank contest.]

[IV. Wildcard]
[Want to do something else? Hit me up. I'm open for whatever and happy to brainstorm if you want to hit me up via PM or on plurk carrieface! Feel free to use prose instead of brackets - I’ll match you!]

Comments

[ateamrocket]

[Mayday clicks her tongue in distaste. Even if James didn’t say it, that reaction made it clear to her that her coworker had been making life difficult for people here too. She grumbles to herself.]

Stupid little pissant doesn’t know how to stay in his lane.

[“Little”, she says, never mind that he was half a foot taller than her. She doesn’t directly address the first question, moving instead right on to the second.]

Yeah, I am. Executive Mayday Foreman, at your service. [A loose, two fingered salute.] You know, when you said your name was James, I’d hoped that meant the rumors about a Rocket by the name running around were about you. Heh. Figures my luck would run out eventually.

[ateamrocket]

Oh yeah? Heh. That’s good, cause time’s probably the biggest thing in my mind.

[She lowers her arms, stares out into the distance.]

It’s my birthday today.

1/2

[buson]

Oh, right?!

[He must've forgotten, but he'd always be happy to give her a gift...]

You wanna celebrate? I love parties! I know some fun places with good eats... or do you like to keep your parties small? You like cake any?

I can bake! I mostly cook, not really a baker... so nothin' fancy, but, y'know, I can make a box cake an' decorate it... or, hey!

[He's just had like a thousand ideas at once, so maybe he should give her room to answer?! He will pipe down (with great effort) to listen, before he goes on with more ideas.]

[buson]

[Mayday's more subdued tone and the "time" question seem to have finally sunk in for Buson and brought him back down to reality.]

... do you... uh, not like parties?

Or is it 'cause so much time is passin' here? You miss home?

[Stupid! Maybe it isn't that you forgot, but that she didn't bring it up for a reason! Maybe she doesn't like celebrating far from home and family... Buson's mentally kicking himself.]

[ateamrocket]

[Mayday chuckles, appreciative of his well-intentioned enthusiasm and the quick way he tried to backpedal.]

Don’t worry. I don’t have anything against parties. Honestly, I haven’t really ever had that many to have an opinion. My birthday was usually just me an’ mum.

[She never had anyone else to really throw her one.]

…I don’t know if I miss home, exactly. There are definitely things I miss. Definitely some I don’t. It’s just… weird to think about, you know?

[buson]

Really? Sounds nice an' simple.

[Buson didn't tease or mock, he just looked oddly fond and wistful.

He no longer had any negative opinion of Mayday's mother—she was just doing her best, given circumstances—despite his own stances about raising kids as a Team Rocket member... besides, it's far better than abandoning her!

He missed having a family outside of Team Rocket still...]

Yeah. I get it. I don't miss... the way it is, living back home, or what I had to do, but... Johto's beautiful. I still think it is.

Even if the people are kinder an' warmer here an' even if places by the sea're similar, the nature's totally different, s'more like the tropics here.

I miss the scenery... it's a lot greener, but also, more muted? Easy on the eyes. I miss the lakes, shrines, towers... I miss the dialect... I miss the sight'a kimono and the sound'a geta sandals... I miss the geisha too...

The first half year without Bashou was unbearable. I don't think I'd'a liked Ultern much if I was still missin' him all the time.

... it's stuff like that... little familiar sights an' sounds, aside from—of course—important people that you'd miss the most, right?

[He'll pay attention to what she missed the most, maybe ask what her parties with her mom (mum!) were like, and figure out how best to cheer her up!]

[lovelycharming]

[Is he so transparent?! (Yes, James.)

James stands at attention, over-correcting his posture, stiff as a board! He also salutes back! He's trying very hard!!]

Y-yes! It's an honour to meet you, miss Executive Foreman, ma'am! [What a petrified squeak! No wonder the other James bullied this one...

It seems he might be a bit too intimidated by the title to go back to ordinary conversation...]

[ateamrocket]

Oy, oy, no need for all that.

[She chuckles in a humorless, weary way. This kind of reaction was becoming increasingly expected but no less tiresome. …Wait, why was he reacting like this, actually? Was he a Rocket after all?]

I’ve never been one to stand on ceremony. Just treat me like anyone else, alright? I only just became an executive before arriving here, anyway.

[... we've made it this far!]

[lovelycharming]

R-really?

[Hesitatingly, as if he worried it was all a trap...

But, that certainly answered his question... well, now that his cover was blown...

Rather than identify himself like any ordinary person would, he'll proceed to perform the whole introduction, including jumping from side to side, to act out both sides, even using a falsetto for Jessie's parts of the motto!

He even poses with a rose! He's trying very hard! Meowth and Wobbuffet aren't around, so Mime Jr. pops out to helpfully add a "Miiime mime!"]

\o/

[ateamrocket]

[Mayday stares blankly at this unfolding show, not sure what to make of what she’s seeing. Then she laughs, equal parts surprise and amusement.]

Is that how you introduce yourself to “anyone else”?

[She sounds playfully incredulous, but not particularly mocking.]

Quite a spectacle. Can’t help noticing you seem to be playing several roles, there, though. You down a partner?

[lovelycharming]

[James nodded, first proudly, then, despondendantly, as sweet Mime Jr. comfortingly patted his leg. He picked Mime Jr. up to hold close.]

My partner, Jessie, and our team mate, Mewoth... Jessie's my eternal partner!
A fiery redhead, like you, and like you, she also loved to do Pokemon Contests on the side, in disguise...

Meowth's very smart! He taught himself to walk and talk... he sometimes translated Pokemon language for us!

[ateamrocket]

…Don’t have many important people back home. [She looks down at her hands folded in her lap, almost embarrassed to admit it.] Aside from mum, it’s mostly just acquaintances and coworkers I like more than others. I do miss them, though.

……Hell, it’s stupid but I even miss the annoying ones sometimes.

[You probably couldn’t get her to confess that fact to anyone else without torture, and even then, it wouldn’t come easy. She’d rather eat glass than give James or Fred an inch, because lord knows they’d take a mile. ]

The weather here is way different than Topaz. I don’t mind all the sun but I do miss the cooler temperatures sometimes, with those cloudy grey skies and the near constant drizzle.

And I miss flying. And driving! God I miss driving. Cruising down the motorway with the windows down and the music blasting! Weenis loved that too.

[Speaking of…]

I miss seeing all the familiar pokemon. Familiar to me, anyway. I’m sure you all wouldn’t recognize a single one. …Heh. I’m the odd one out around here in a lot of ways.

[It was isolating, being the only one from a land no one had heard of. It was difficult, being a criminal in a place where everyone was treated kindly. It was strange, suddenly having nothing but free time when your whole life had been about doing work.]

… I miss being a part of something.

[ateamrocket]

No shit? That’s wild. Sounds like we would hit it off, then. I’m—

—Oh hell, speaking of, what time is it? I better get inside. You should come watch. We can chat more once I’m done wiping the floor with these fools.

[She grins and waves before turning and hustling into the contest hall with Weenis following closely behind.

So! Will you take her up on the offer?]

[lovelycharming]

I'll support you!

[Of course, he will! Mime Jr. mirrored him his eagerness, also promisimg to cheer her on!

He'll be in the audience cheering for her and so will Mime Jr.!]

[buson]

I get it... you look at things differently once you lose 'em...

[It's not forever. She'll be back home someday, most likely... but it's the uncertainty of when that makes it so difficult.

That's fair, monsoon season is still really abrupt and dramatic, not like a drizzling day at all. You don't go out and about in that kind of rain.

He frowned, relating more to that last confession than he'd like to admit. He hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder to briefly pat it... he can't exactly hug a female friend to comfort her, even if it might be more acceptable where Mayday's from, so, this was as far as he'd go!]

I get it... working on the ship's given me some'a that, we all gotta work together to get things done, all in unison, like one body... maybe somethin' like that'll help fill up the gap for you too?

You know, I used to fly too! Me an' my partner did... even though you can't go too far, you can still fly in Ultern! It's just different 'cause they're all seaplanes... no runways here. And y'can drive! Maybe you could take up classes, just so you could ride somethin' without havin' to own it...?

[Buson is not suggesting grand theft auto.]

[ateamrocket]

[The audience oohs and ahhs at the unfamiliar Pokemon on the roster, talking amongst themselves about it right up until the contest begins.

Mayday puts on a hell of a show, building up the tension with each of her move choices and playing to both the judges and the audience alongside her trusty partner. His fire-based repertoire is undeniably cool and well thought out. They’ve clearly practiced a lot. Mayday herself is much more relaxed and energetic than those who know her otherwise might be expecting.

I have no clue if Ultern contests have a battle portion like the anime does or not? But either way, she does what she said she’d do: she sweeps the competition.

Afterwards, catch her getting her filmed with Weenis by an interviewer in the lobby.]

—Kinda nice talking to a normal reporter for a change.

[The interviewer seems confused. Mayday just waves a hand dismissively, distracted by spotting James in the dispersing crowd.]

Don’t worry bout it. We’re all done here, right? Thanks for your support and all that crap. Be sure to catch us next time, too!

[She winks to the camera before brushing past and calling to the other Rocket.]

Oy! What’d ya think?

[ateamrocket]

[Mayday stares in quiet surprise for a moment, then shrugs her shoulders and puts her hands back down into her lap.]

Nah, not right now. I’m all meaned out.

[This was debatable, but she figures Evie wouldn’t call her on it.]

[radleyslittleevie]

That's good! Um ... we could go get something to eat from Aunt Eadie's cafe!

[Aww, glad she's so into something else that really makes her happy... ;3; ]

[lovelycharming]

[James caught snatches of that interview and couldn't help smirking at the interviewer's response.]

You were brilliant! A shoe-in for the Grand Festival, I'm sure...! Ah, wait, they don't do that here...

((DP game-styled Contests, so no battle portion, according to a mod. ^^))

[1/2; tiny bookish brat info dumps—also, this island is canon]

[serperiority]

[That was a mean joke, but it sure made Trip laugh! Older Trip also mockingly called Oshawott "special in a way" about not being able to swim as a Water type, so...]

Maybe it's just because there's no danger here, so everyone's really nice and don't have to worry.
Like Pokemon raised without natural predators. I remember reading about an island where the Pidgey have no predators, so they don't need to fly anymore. They just eat a lot and get really fat, until they stop being able to fly. It's called Pudgy Pidgey Island.

[serperiority]

I have two people to look after me in Ultern.

[See, no names, nice and vague!]