Ground Wire || Giovanni + Lt. Surge
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Giovanni checked his watch for what mustāve been the tenth time in half as many minutes. The gesture made him grit his teeth, frustrated by his own impatience. Realizing heād been doing nothing but watching the minutes tick by was the last strawāGiovanni stood and bent to grab his suitcase by the handle on its side.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā There was no point in waiting around in the city when he could be waiting on board the Sinnoh-bound ship. The vessel would not be departing for another two hours, but there was no harm in being on it well before it left the harbor. At least then he would not have the added stress of having to worry over everyone who so much as glanced in his direction.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Not that he was very obviously himself, of course. His ādisguiseā was nothing spectacular, but it served its purpose. In the cold weather of a Kanto winter, a thick black coat and hat hardly stood out among the other, similarly-dressed citizens. Heād left his hair un-styled, too. It was not a look he was fond of, with his hair falling distractingly into his face, but it was a successful enough obfuscation.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā As he left the cafe heād been waiting in, Giovanni adjusted his gray knit scarf to fall over the bottom half of his faceāanother concealment of his identity. The timing and weather was part of why he was in the region at all, given how much easier it was to hide oneās identity when hats, scarves, and bulky jackets were the norm for the season.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The otherĀ reason for his chancy visit to the region was far more compelling, however.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā In five years, Giovanni had done more training than he ever had at any other point in his life. He had a new team of PokĆ©mon, new strengths, next to nothing to lose, and everything to gain from his plans. The time heād lost after his failure would not go to waste; the return of Team Rocket would be gradual, an insidious infiltration that would be undetectable until the moment it became unstoppable. This was his plan. He had not traveled to Kanto, the source of all his troubles, for mere sentimentality, after all.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The thought of the progress heād made on his trip compelled him through the streets of Vermilion City towards the harbor. Heād never spent much time in Vermilion, but he knew it well enough to navigate; there was a shorter route to his destination that involved some paths between buildings. They were narrowāwide enough for two people two walk shoulder-to-shoulderābut would keep him out of the open until he arrived at the shore.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā He could see the water and was nearly through the path when someone stepped in front of the view. A tall man with blond hair that made Giovanni halt in his tracks, stunned and infuriated by the sight. He mightāve laughed, if the situation wasnāt so utterly terrible. Who but Lieutenant Surge? Who elseĀ would cross his path? Could nothing ever be easy?
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The man was looking directly at him. There would be no sense in pretending they didnāt both know exactly who they were looking at, even if it took the Lieutenant a moment to truly believe his eyes.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā With the ever-familiar feeling of the situation unraveling out of control before his eyes, Giovanni lifted his free hand to pull his scarf down and address the Vermilion leader. āAh, Lieutenant,ā he said, his hand returning to rest in his pocket. āIsnāt this anā¦ unexpected surprise.ā To put it lightly.
Lt. Surge didnāt often take shortcuts, unless he was in a hurry - some sketchy, and often unpleasant sort of people liked to loiter in back alleys and along easier routes, even in the towns and cities Gym Leaders were active and trying to help the community in. Heād completely forgotten why he had chosen this particular route to hit the local convenience store as soon as he made a turn and came face to face with the man headed the opposite way, but he knew exactly who it was the instant he saw him. It was impossible to mistake the way the way he walked with such purpose, and the impeccable posture. This manā¦ he kept his distance on principle alone, because he found him so infuriating, and could almost never keep his temper in check when he was around.
The blondās expression of surprise hardened into a frown as Giovanni spoke, setting his nerves on edge.Ā āGiovanni. Funny, heard you split the region a while back.ā His blue eyes flicked to the suitcase in the manās hand, and the other as he tucked it into his pocket. Hands concealed in coats, pockets, bags, and anywhere decent-sized like that made the Lieutenant nervous - there could easily be a sharp knife, a pistol, or similarly sized but highly effective weapon in that handās grasp when it reappeared.Ā āGlad to see that was just a rumor. You should visit some of your former colleagues, you know. For old timeās sake.ā Lt. Surge knew he was flirting with disaster in this, but he couldnāt seem to contain his displeasure at encountering Giovanni unexpectedly.
āSo, where are you headed? Off on some sort of vacation? Or just going to vanish again?ā He wanted to snub Giovanni, to openly mock him, and to call him out - the rumors of his links to Team Rocket when Giovanni had not started off as widespread gossip, but when they had reared their head to become less secretly whispered, the blond Gym Leader had silently paid attention to it. And from what he observed, well... he wasnāt a gossip, but he did try to keep aware of things going on regarding his fellow Gym Leaders. But then it occurred to him, even if Giovanni wasnāt armed... he might have PokĆ©mon to battle with, and all Lt. Surge had on him was his Voltorb.
Lt. Surge wasnāt going to let his facade of being tough waver, but he knew this could go bad pretty quick, if he wasnāt careful. Heād have to really consider if it was worth it to hassle Giovanni for whatever reason, but also wanted to voice his displeasure. He had some strong opinions about the former Gym Leader for Viridian City, and he wanted to express them, but...
