[WAR] Role Play: Terminus

[XaiakuX]

Lance Harper
Harper Industries Headquarters in Goldenrod City
Affected RPers: @TheProtobabe @Grassy_Aggron @Velocity @Death's Spook

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"So, you want to play this way, Speedy?" Lance asked, challenging his Scyther. The emerald mantis hissed at him and raised his scythe arms to intimidate Lance. Lance simply grinned and laughed at Speedy, "You'll need to do better than that, Speedy. It's been two years, and that old trick doesn't work on me."

Lance reared back and swung on his own Pokémon. Speedy simply ducked to the side, buried a scythe into the dirt, and using his own arm as leverage, delivered some level of drop kick which knocked Lance to the ground.

"That's not even a Pokémon attack, you idiot!" Lance cursed his Scyther. Lance stood to his feet, and immediately charged the giant insect. His shoulder slammed into the Pokémon's chest and knocked it back a couple of feet. The creature was surprised that his trainer finally managed to land a hit. However, this also made him angry. He glared at Lance, who was gearing up for another charge. At this point, Speedy was ready for him.

Lance came running with a fist back, ready to strike the Scyther. Just as the fist was coming down, Speedy stepped back, and threw out one of his incredibly sharp arms. The original intent was to strike Lance with the blunt side of his arm. However, blinded by fury, the Bug Pokémon nailed Lance Harper in the chest with the sharp edge of his scythe.

Lance hit the ground, writhing in agony. Blood was pouring from his chest, and his screams echoed throughout the courtyard of the Harper family estate. This brought everyone readily available to his immediate aid. Lance's father, Oliver Harper, returned Speedy to his Pokéball, and readied his family for the worst.

---

Lance looked her up and down, "Wow, you clean up nicely, Helena," he said, hinting a genuine interest. Just as swiftly as he spoke his comment, his attitude shifted back to business. "Alright, so there's this doctor that used to be connected to my family and Giovanni. There's a good chance that she probably knows something about where he might be," he opened up a drawer and retrieved a tattered leather-bound journal. "She was an old friend of my mother's, although they grew distant after Alastair was born. I don't know why, and I don't know all the facts. But this hunch might be our best connection at this point."

He began to flip through the pages of the journal and pace about, "She's a doctor over at Goldenrod General Hospital. I'm hoping I might be able to get some contact information from this book, because it'd be a real pain in the backside to have to drive all the way across the city to get to her." He noticed other possible links that he didn't bother sharing with Helena. However, when he didn't find Claressa's information in the journal, he sighed, and closed the journal.

"It looks like we're going to have to head over there. That's the first actual step here, it seems. So, here's my idea," He held the journal in his right hand, and turned to face her, "After we play our public roles and head over to the hospital, we'll split up. At that point I'll distract the doctor, if she isn't already busy with patients. While that's happening, you can sneak into her office and try to dig up some dirt."

Lance paused for a moment, and sighed. He turned his gaze to the laptop that sat upon the mahogany desk right next to him. "Part of this is to get back at Giovanni. But I want to make sure he learns a lesson. I don't want him dead. I want him to learn that every crime he's ever committed has a consequence. I want him to pay the right way," he closed his eyes as he finished speaking. "Part of me hates him. But, if I act out violently, or attempt to take revenge.. That doesn't make me any better than him."

"I can't forget about this war, either. The people will look to me for some level of direction. I can't imagine myself being any level of soldier, general, or warlord. While Kanto is blaming us for this, the real enemy is going to be Hoenn. They started all of this. We must make amends with Kanto, then join forces to take down Hoenn, and put a stop to all of this madness." At this point, Lance was just thinking out loud. When he realized this, he quickly snapped back into focus.

He tucked the journal into the inner pocket of his blazer, and closed the desk drawer. "Listen, I'm sorry for just kind of forcing you to do all this. I sometimes get really caught up in the moment of things," his voice was honest, but he spoke to her indirectly. He turned to face her, and smiled, "Since I didn't ask you, before, I'll ask now. Will you help me to take down Giovanni? Will you, the only other person who knows this secret, help me save my company, my city, and my country from this tyrannical psychopath?"

It was at this point that an unexpected surprise came bursting into his office. A tall fellow who appeared brooding in physique, yet otherwise cheerful. You wouldn't expect such a positive vibe off of this tall stranger. Yet, this was no stranger to Lance. Lance was present for this tall man's birth, and every day after until he turned sixteen. This cheerful giant was his younger brother, Alastair. He was thrown off guard with the sudden embrace, and feigned being crushed by his arms. "Oof! Alastair, it has been too.. long," he stuck his words, gently squirmed from the hug, and then placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Little brother has come home! I haven't seen you in.. well.. two years," his words trailed off at the end, with unhappy memories resurfacing. He immediately shrugged off those memories, in order to retain a comfortable reunion with his only living family member. "You must have many stories to tell of your travels! We were just leaving, and you're welcome to join us. We're going to the Hospital across town to visit the patients and wish them well. To also thank the soldiers who have been fighting for us against Kanto and Hoenn. Sounds like a good tactic to say that the Harper name isn't going down without a fight."

He patted his brother's shoulder and turned focus to Helena, "My goodness, I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot to introduce you to my new friend! Alastair this is Helena, she's a potential investor in the company. I'm really trying to pick this company back up after everything that's happened. It's hopeful that she will be a great asset to us in the long term of things."

[OoC: I imagine a response will also be allowed for my question to Helena before Alastair walks in.]