[Voicemail for Mr. Champion Lance @dracooutrage.bsky.social] I'd like to see you tonight. 24th floor, Celadon Wynaut Towers. Don't bring any friends. Ciao.

[Last spotted at a local gym in the wealthy part of town. Is reported to have sat at the smoothie bar for half an hour before leaving with an older woman.]

[Oh they're going to have soooo much fun. Let's find out how much Proton has learned about this Archer in the last few days, shall we?]

[Crazy. Kind of like being on Giovanni's leash was the only thing keeping him in check this whole time.]

[Gotta find him first! Really should have been watching his internet usage more closely. Searching Lance that much isn't healthy for anyone.]

[Good morning, everyone. Archer is missing from the safe house and so is 20kg of explosives.]

How unfortunate for you. Oh well.

It might even lighten your mood.

Is it? It seems like every other day to me.

One glass of wine wont hurt. Treat yourself.

It must have been a particularly stressful day for you.

That's the plan.

I see. You really ought to take better care of yourself.

[Sounds like the kind of smile that's getting him filed into the 'prey' category.] Silver, of course. I'll be sure to remember that this time.

Oh, I see. Forgive me, some things have slipped my mind lately. Including your name, ....? [This is code for 'I'm from a different universe and everything I know about my life with Team Rocket is from what I googled last night'.]

And your father is...?

He seems quite reasonable to me, but then again, I haven't made him angry yet.

I'm always level-headed. Call it a talent.

Codename: Looker An International Police officer who travels the world investigating various villainous teams.

Proton, why is the upstairs bedroom a weapon's cache?

Of course. I welcome the challenge.

[ temp pin ] Portrayal of Pokémon: Legends Z-A main protagonist

Exactly. And if I should become a criminal in the process, then who's to decide that's wrong?

@sagittarianexec.bsky.social Might be somewhat difficult given the extensive bounty for his arrest. Hide those features behind an Entei mask, or Suicune if he must wear white-and-blue, and a passably enjoyable night may be possible.

You might not like to hear this, but in another life, you're just the same.

If you were given a fresh start, how would you use it? Would you do the same thing over again, or would you take the new path laying before you?

[←Has been up all night sligoogling himself. Is still at it, actually.] Fascinating... four counts of felony arson? I've been busy.

[Perfect. Relax while you can, Proton. You're going to need it.]

It's a good thing I didn't listen to you, or I'd be locked up in a maximum security prison right now. You never did have anything worthwhile to say.

You wont. [Slurps his noodles.] You said there were clean clothes? I want a shower after this.

You wont touch me. You're afraid of me. I can tell. [Proton can have the keys. Archer isn't going to fight him. He's going all in, gambling on the strength of the aura that his shadowy other self must possess.]

What do you mean? I 𝘢𝘮 Archer. [Immensely untrustworthy smile.]

You don't get it. Of course you don't get it. You've never worked a day in your life. [Suddenly he remembers his noodles, and turns to get them from the microwave. Have you ever seen someone stir noodles with manic energy? Now you have.] There's no where else to go from here. Don't you see?

[Yeah, it's gonna be a while before that happens. This situation has done a number on him.] I'm-- I'm no one. A salaryman. Finance. 200k a year. Bowing to the whims of CEOs and bastards with more money than brains day in and day out when all this time I could've been sitting on the top of the pile.

[Everything lined up with the bits he'd heard from others. As ridiculous as it all seemed, he really didn't think this guy was lying to him.] I'm second in command. Of all of Team Rocket. [Archer laughs. Quietly at first, then louder. He sounds a bit like he's losing his mind. He is, a little.]

[Archer's brain immediately starts running lists on the most important questions to ask. The answers he REALLY wants are ones Proton doesn't have; how this happened, what to do next. Who knows how long he'll be stuck like this... that makes the most important task --

As if be being here has anything to do with what I want. [He takes the liberty of rifling through the cupboards, settling on a protein bar. The water gets emptied into a cup noodle that he pops in the microwave, and he helps himself to a beer anyway. Because he's rude like that.]

Tell me there's something inside there besides beer.

Well what would you call it? [The place is... surprisingly nice.] So this is where all the money you steal goes. I was expecting cockroaches and holes punched in the walls.

Excuse me for having survival instincts.

[Hard side-eye.] Is that your plan? Get me in clothes marking me as one of you so you can use it as blackmail?

[Ignores Proton and continues his muttering. But he does keep up, he doesn't have a choice. Nor does he have any choice but to follow Proton into the close quarters of the elevator. He tries to flatten some of the wrinkles on his suit as they rise.] I hope this safehouse of yours has a shower.

[Well, he's following, but he's muttering under his breath the entire time.] This is stupid. I'm going to be murdered, and it's not even my 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.

Like I have a choice. Like hell I'm going into international custody without knowing what charges they're bringing on me.

Yes, I just HAPPENED to steal a suit tailored perfectly to my body. This is insane. You're insane. We both are.

[He's putting so many pieces together at once.] That still doesn't explain why 𝘐 don't remember this. Or why my card doesn't work.

I. AM NOT. A CRIMINAL.

Cut the shit. You've been unhelpful since the beginning. WHY am I suddenly wanted. Why are you acting like I should expect this. I've. Done. NOTHING.

[Well FINE, he's not dealing with this bullshit too, he's leaving.]

There are police. Stalking me. Everywhere. WHY.