At the Drop of a Pin... Can (Open)

[Will Aven]

Aven stepped down the street, his face a mask of nothingness, impassive. On this inside he was raging, but it was a controlled rage. He could keep his head calm under most any situation, keep from acting in anger or out of stupid impulse. These days however... well that was getting harder and harder... It was getting to the point where you couldn't even look at a pokemon without getting arrested, unless of course that pokemon was the partner you chose to stand by you. His Lucario for example, the one and only pokemon he'd been able to keep after these blasted Rockets had taken over. Well if he had anything to say about it, the Rockets wouldn't be in power forever. They'd rebuild, bring the pokemon league back, the Elite Four, gym leaders. They'd bring life back to this world.

Aven stopped, Lucario had grabbed his attention and motioned toward a group of Rockets, the fighting type had been on the look out for the time being. Hiding, they didn't trust being seen together. Aven was already in trouble with the law, and his fake IDs could only do so much, he hadn't been able to hack into the database and change the prints they had for him on file yet. That was proving more difficult than he had hoped. The Rockets were even making it more difficult to pass his forged IDs out to people that needed them, they were cracking down more and more. It had gotten to the point where he was passing his IDs around through many hands just to get them where they needed. That ran with risks though.. If someone was caught it might lead them back to him... Each person only knew two other people though. The person they picked up from, and the one they delivered too. Only Aven knew all of them.

Aven turned down the street and sighed, his eyes tracking Lucario through his shadow on the ground. Soon enough he got to where he needed to be, an abandoned building he'd been going to for a while. It was a habit he had formed and urged the other Rebels to listen, live apart as much as possible. If one or two get caught, it doesn't compromise all of them. Some listened, some didn't. Some thought he was crazy, others paranoid, others thought he was right. Still, he liked most of the rebels all but the most extreme ones anyway. The extreme ones bothered him, he was more apt to do things with subtlety.

After closing the door, Aven put a can on top of the door, if someone came in it would fall and alert him. Going to one of the back rooms where Lucario was already waiting opening a can of pokemon food to start eating. The human sat down next to his pokemon and pulled out a can of beans and a spoon. "Eating like kings aren't we buddy?" He stated with a wry smile, opening the can and starting to eat. Waiting, listening for the sound of the can dropping...

[sage]

(Bare with me, if this is total rubbish free free to call me out on it I'll either remove or try again ^^; The Rocket I'm mentioning is a NPC--I think that's allowed?)


Sage was good at keeping his head down, and out of the way. He did good at his job that seemed to make Rockets happy. Really the restaurant he worked in was swarming with them it seemed. But when one went to far, he had to push them away. Really if he said no, he meant no. Just because they were a rocket didn't mean he had to be with them that way right?

Sage's heart was pounding in his chest as he kept running. He never noticed when it started to rain a bit. He was just running. Thankful his shift had been over, and he could vanish for awhile without raising worry. When he slipped, nearly falling, was when he realized it was raining and he should probably find some shelter. Just where was he? He had no idea. He wasn't sure what part of town he had managed to escape to.

He noticed what looked like some abandoned place. The door was ever-so-slightly ajar. So it was there Sage found himself gravitated to. He didn't want his Dody wet--so he headed in alone. He gasped freezing when the can that was apparently on the door fell. Staring down at it. How the heck did that get up there? He groaned, but finished entering, and leaning forward a bit, using fingers to shake his hair a bit to get most of the water out of it. Really, he should of just headed home to hole-up there. But he hadn't been thinking to clearly.

With a breath, he didn't hear anything--but he wasn't listening to the best of his ability... He looked around the place, noticing it was a bit dusty--he never thought to look for any sort of tracks-- and moved letting Dody out of his poke ball. "Well wasn't that fun?" he asked the wingless bird sarcastically. A hand gently pet the beak of the one head that leaned over to him, as if he knew he was upset. Sage managed a weak smile, but didn't say anything more, not trusting himself to. He liked to think Pokemon were still aware of what went on when in the poke ball's, so he had a feeling Dody all ready knew what almost transpired anyhow...

[THORN MAYER]

The black haired female had been watching him for several days. Not because he was a target per se, but because the two had a history. She knew him, knew his though process, knew his way of thinking it was a huge advantage but disadvantage, because frankly, he knew the same about her. She stood hiding in the corners knowing that this abandoned building would draw rebels in like a light did to bug pokemon. She waited, crouched down. The footsteps and the way they moved, she knew exactly who it was, and was able to pinpoint his location. She shifted slightly and as he walked passed her, she stood up placing one hand over his eyes, the other over his mouth. "Guess who...." She looked down to see her Espeon's tail lashing out as she stood head to head with his lucario...that would be an interesting match for sure. Her Espeon was her partner in crime and did everything with her, it was no surprise she was about to attack an enemys pokemon. Espeon was ready to defend Thorn with his life.


Thorn let go but gave Aven a forceful nudge before waving her hand through the air as if he was dismissed. "You get away because quite frankly I'm not after you, I just wanted to show you that if I were after you I'd be able to catch you fairly easily." She smirked. She pointed to the little red R on her black shirt to prove her authority in this situation. Depending on who the person was, she let them go on their way. As a Rocket admin she supposed she had that authority. Giovanni rarely stuck his nose in any situation and he wasn't even in Kanto. He was in Goldenrod city trying to take over there. She didn't wait for him to respond as she paced back and forth, it wasn't until a tin can fell that her blue eyes went straight towards the door. "Smart move...." She closed her eyes tuning into the number of footsteps...one two...three four? She looked at Aven for just a moment. She crouched low behind some boxes and peered around the corner.

Her eyes fell on a pair of large feet and a pair of human feet, but the pokemon feet she would know anywhere. It was a doduo! She waved her Espeon over to stand guard, he would growl if he came any closer. "But it looks like even you can't hide from an expert Rocket." She whispered in a friendly tone. She wasn't about to give her friend a long time, but sometimes it was nice just to prove herself once in awhile. This time around SHE won.

[Will Aven]

Aven sensed the hands coming for him a split second before they covered his eyes and mouth. Even before she spoke, he'd recognize Thorn anywhere. She let go and pushed him away, waving her hand as if dismissing him. Glancing at the R on her shirt, so the rumors from his contacts had been right. She was a Rocket. He had to admit, that broke his heart more than a little. Sure they had been rivals, but there had been a few of those nights in the winter, in a tent pressed together for warmth. The good meals after the battles, laughing and telling jokes, comparing strategies. He knew how she thought just as much as she knew how he thought, if it came down too it though... could he fight her as an enemy? Could he fight her all out, knowing that one of them could get hurt or even die?

His mind was pulled from all these thoughts and more when he heard the can drop, she called it a smart move. "What can I say? My options are limited." He whispered moving to the door and peeking out of it, a human male and a Doduo. Well... He moved slowly and quietly over to the boxes, kneeling down beside Thorn. "I don't suppose my luck has changed and that's NOT one of your friends is it?" He whispered, trying to keep all the bitterness out of his voice as he motioned Lucario over to where he had been standing before. The two had such a strong bond that if something needed his attention, he'd know and he'd know quietly. Almost like the bond that was between...

Aven pushed the thought aside, he didn't need to be distracted right now. It wasn't exactly a great secret that he had issues with the Rockets, but then again unless you were a Rocket, a member of their little fanclub. It was a safe bet that you had issues with them. He let out a sigh and decided that there was only one way to find out, but he had to prove to Thorn that he could still surprise her. So what did he do? Tell her his plan? No she probably already knew what he was about to do. Tell her to stay put? No, she wouldn't listen anyway. Tell her not to attack? No, he knew she wouldn't attack unless needed, she wasn't cruel, even if she was on the wrong side. No, he didn't do any of that. Instead he resisted every single urge he had telling him not too, and reached over and grabbed her hand quickly. Giving it a soft squeeze. Then he leaned over and kissed her cheek quickly.

Standing he flashed a lop-sided grin at Thorn before stepping through the door, motioning for Lucario to follow him. "You know, it's considered rude to barge into someone's home. And this ain't much but.." He motioned around the place, he'd never bothered to clean this room. He hoped that anyone who looked in would think the place was abandoned. He'd only cleaned out the room he stayed in most, even that he hadn't managed to do anything with yet. He had to be careful, he was supposed to be a poor citizen after all. Even if he did have money and other supplies hidden in several places throughout the city. He'd probably have to move them all now considering Thorn knew him so well.. Lucario stepped out of their room and leaned against the door frame, looking out at their second set of uninvited guests.

[sage]

Sage hadn't noticed the soft voices due to the purring-like cooing his Dody was making from his petting. But when a voice spoke -to- him Sage jumped and whirled around from facing Dody. "Uhm.. I apologize... I thought it was abandoned... It started raining.. and uhm... I was a bit lost..." a faint nervous laugh escaped him as he unconsciously stepped back closer to Dody as the Pokemon appeared behind the other man to lean against the door frame, "Why, don't I uh, get going... And not be a bother... or intruder..." he had no idea if he was rocket or not, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to find out.

Really, Sage hadn't meant to intrude on anyone, he just had been stupid running to where he wasn't sure and got caught in the rain. He could tolerate the rain more if he needed to. Hopefully finding his way back wouldn't be to hard. Really all he needed to do was get to a part of town he recognized then he could get home.

A hand gently set against Dody's chest the bird Pokemon was ruffled up and ready to fight. Sage really didn't want to fight. Really he saw no real point in it. Someone always got hurt, even if you tried not to let things get that far. "so.... I'll just... go?" he asked softly, taking a step towards the door. Really he didn't want trouble...


[-shot for lameness-]

[THORN MAYER]

Thorn pressed her palm to where Aven had kissed her. She looked down for a moment suddenly a feeling of sadness washed over her. She and Aven had a romantic history back at the school they went to together, but their rivalry over powered that and it just didn't work out. However this time her mind fell to Akira.... He had gone missing Thorn had said she was going to change sides, to fight with him, but that night he had vanished. She made her hand into a tight first a growl escaping through bared teeth. She knew what happened, the rockets got rid of him, they saw him as a threat maybe they killed him, maybe sent him to some far away land who knows. Her nostrils flared as she stood up going around to the left. Maybe I'll...just go?" Oh not today. Today she was on work. Thorn snuck up behind him standing in front of the door. "You can't leave."


The girl raised a hand to her lips making a SHHH motion by pursing her lips. She pointed to the door and heard running footsteps and muffled shouts. Rockets. Thorn was no longer that kind girl at the park, she was working meaning no one was safe unless she thought highly of them or felt like being nice. "Sage you are super bold to have your doduo out on the streets don't you know thats illegal. You see I can get away with it. I just turns out you ran into a person who's like on the top ten wanted list unfortunately. Lucky for you Aven and I go way back so I do my best to make sure he's okay. But now I need to babysit TWO people." Thorn placed her ear to the glass and muttered a few curse words under her breath. She tapped her ear piece once or twice saying a few words, muttering some code exchanges.

"So you're telling me you've caught sight of the rebel...but lost him and think he may be in the abandoned building...check your map I'm in here you nitwit I've got nothing. Just some empty boxes if you wanna come check...you have everything on lockdown until they've been captured? Well if you could just do your....Yes I can stay in the building...Yes I'll tell you if I find anything...THANK YOU ARIUS!" She rolled her eyes before sitting in front of the door. "This isn't his house don't let him lie to you." She added softly. "He lives at my abode."

[Will Aven]

Truth be told Aven's mind was still on Thorn, even he hadn't expected that he'd actually go through with that. The guy in front of him started stuttering and freaking out, saying that he would leave if he was a bother. He could hear the rain outside, he raised his hand and waved the comments aside, starting to speak. "Hey man it's raining, stay insi-" He was cut off by Thorn barging into the room, she started in that he couldn't leave. Then she went off on another rant, she apparently knew this person named Sage. "Top ten really? I was bumped up again?" He stated blinking a few times and looking back at Lucario, who simply shrugged at him and shook his head. The pokemon hadn't heard that one either.

Thorn started talking into an earpiece, trainer and pokemon looked at each other again, both ready to start moving if they needed too. He heard the foot steps outside, Lucario looked around the building. He knew the pokemon as sensing the Auras of the people outside the building, judging from the way the Aura pokemon was holding himself it didn't like what it was sensing. Aven couldn't blame the pokemon, he didn't need to be able to sense Auras to know that the people on the other side of the wall were bad news. He could feel it just like he could feel Thorn struggling on the radio. Why she decided to do this he didn't know for sure, but he suspected.

Aven walked over to Thorn when she got off the radio, smiling when she said that he didn't live there. Though he blinked in surprise when she said that he lived with her, well that was news to him. Smiling again he sat down by her looking over at her for a moment, before looking back up at the newcomer, he thought Thorn had mentioned his name as being Sage. "Well you heard the lady, not my place. Make yourself comfortable." Truth be told he wouldn't have stopped the kid from staying here for as long as he needed. As a Rebel himself he knew how hard it was to find a place to sleep for the night at times. That's why he had staked his claim here, it was a place he could sleep on a regular basis. He had food stored here, a little money, some padding he had found to make beds for both himself and Lucario. The pokemon refused his pokeball unless absolutely necessary. Instead he chose to travel out of sight as needed, still as stubborn as the pokemon was he would go into his pokeball if needed.

Lucario stepped over to Espeon, looked down at the psychic type, motioned at their trainers with one hand then rolled his eyes. His expression clearly saying; "Humans, what are we going to do with them?" The pokemon then sat down right there where he had been standing.

[sage]

Sage was left a bit stunned seeing Thorn, he had met her at that park... But at her words he frowned a bit, "Well I didn't have Dody out until after I got in here..." he stated a bit defensively. Really, he had 'behaved' with the rules this time. It wasn't his fault his Dody didn't really like the ball. And he really had thought no one else was in here. Really, what was with that rule anyhow? What harm could letting them loose be? They didn't typically fight on their own, or there would really be no land left due to the power pokemon have.

But seemed she wasn't going to try turning him in? He blinked a few times surprised, seeing as they both sat.. They... Were they an item? He shrugged mentally before he motioned to Doduo, who soon sat down, one head fixing its feathers, the other staring at Sage until he sat down to lightly lean against the wingless bird. A hand unconsciously rubbed the head that laid it's beak on his shoulder after he had sat down. He figured being quiet was a good thing right now, so he didn't argue farther with her about having his pokemon out. Honestly all three of them were rule breakers it seemed, as there were two other pokemon out.


[annnnd Bam >>; I think my brain exploded]

[THORN MAYER]

Thorn looked from Sage to Aven then back to sage again. "No no its not what you think. We aren't together we are best friends from an old school...enemies now though. He's on the top ten most wanted list. Frankly I caught him this time I could catch him again. Its easy. I use my days off to gather information. I now know your doduo likes to go for runs in the mornings." She pointed out. Her attention turned to a rattling noise as something seemed to be tugging on the door. "Espeon Psychic!" Her Espeon stepped forward ever so slightly closing its eyes. Soon they were glowing and a strange aura surrounded the door. "He will be able to hold that for awhile but will need a rest." She paced around the abandoned warehouse looking for an obvious way out. Why should SHE have to be trapped in this dust pit. Honestly, she shouldn't have to be. He's an old friend though, I'll consider this repayment and our due's will be even.

The black haired girl spotted a back room door leading to nowhere. This must have been a storage unit. Why would they build a unit leading to other buildings that was just silly. It was obvious the rocket was getting frustrated. Why did the Rockets have to be out raiding around. "I bet they caught sight of those damn spies....infiltrating our computer system...pfft She was honestly talking to herself, but it was audible so everyone else could hear here too.


Thorns Espeon looked at Lucario his tail twisting gleefully. {b]"Esp pe pe eon." Humans are odd but mine knows best most of the time. Does whats best for us. The psychic pokemon focused at his task at hand not wanting to disappoint its trainer. He turned his head towards the doduo nodding once before focusing his energy on the door. They were outside and if they all got caught...frankly it wouldn't pretty.

[Will Aven]

Aven couldn't help it, he laughed when he heard Thorn start explaining their relationship. He felt it was a bit more complicated than that, and to showcase that point, he playfully bumped his shoulder into her's. The Doduo sat down with it's trainer, he'd never quite understood how Doduo could control their bodies with two heads, or Dodrio for that matter... It all seemed a bit complicated, he could probably ask his dad, the scientist of the family, but he didn't want to risk getting his family in trouble. They had enough issues without him causing more by contacting them. That bridge was burned for the moment.

Then he heard the rattling and the tugging on the door, Thorn's Espeon used Psychic to keep it all in place for now, but he couldn't hold it forever. Thorn was up, trying to think of something to do to keep them all safe... However, all three of them couldn't get out in one piece. No, the Rockets knew someone was here and wouldn't rest until they could prove it. Aven looked over at Lucario, who simply nodded his agreement with the plan he had formed on the fly.

Lucario looked down at Espeon and made the gruff barking sounds his species was known for. "Your's looks out for you and her pokemon, and William due to their history. Mine looks out for everyone, he wants to be able to travel and train pokemon again. Challenge gyms and become the champion of the Elite Four. He's put his dreams on hold while these..." Lucario spat on the ground as he said the word, "Rockets try to ruin the world. And they are succeeding."

Aven ran quickly into the back room, the one Thorn had been looking at. Brushing dust off the floor he pulled open a trap door and motioned for everyone to climb in. "Go! Lucario and I will hold them off." He stated walking back into the front room, there would be no coming back here. "Lucario have the ability to learn Psychic, so it won't be too bad. Go, I'll hold them off for now and then escape later." Trainer and pokemon stood in front of the door, the Lucario took a stance and started charging an Aura Sphere. The moment they were through the trap door and it was closed again, whoever was on the other side would get blasted with an unbelievable number of Aura Spheres. "Go now! They know someone is here now, get out I'll hold them off."

[sage]

Sage was left stunned, but he silently stood, really he didn't know why they'd be after him, he wasn't a rebel. Granted they didn't know that... HE had only came here to get shelter from the rain. What a bad choice that had been.. He watched him but frowned, "Leaving you behind makes little sense" he muttered softly. Really a trap door, unless there was only one path he seemed to be the one to know the layout of this place. He looked at Doduo and sighed, he knew he wouldn't fit, and the bird didn't like small dark places either, so with a movement he called him back, holding tightly to the ball before he put it in his pocket. He looked to Thorn, ready to follow her if need be...

[It's laaaaame Dx]

[THORN MAYER]

Thorn looked at the trap door then back at Aven. "Are you crazy I can't just leave you here! Even with Lucario there's no way you could hold your own. If you go and they see me they will leave!" She knew her words were hopeless as Lucario had already began an aura sphere attack. "You really are a pain in the ass sometimes...." Espeons eyes stopped glowing, and she motioned to the door with her hand. "Come on sage, you too." She grabbed the follower by the hand before running towards the back where the trap door was located. The girl didn't even bother with what appeared to be a rusted later, instead she jumped. feet first , she landed gracefully, but was unsure about Sage.

"You okay?" She was used to jumping from high places and landing, Sage probably not, but at least she was able to cushion the fall. She could hear water dripping, and this passage was cold and the air felt damp. "Espeon form a ball of energy so I can see please." The pokemon parted its jaws and soon the area in front of them was lit up EVER so slightly, enough that Thorn could see. "Oh this is gross..." Thorn made note of the stone walls, and assumed this was a cellar passageway. "Now we wait..." She looked ahead and could see darker passages, and made note that this was probably part of the underground sewer system, they could really end up anywhere if they wanted too...the thing they had to do was to make sure they didn't get lost.