Meeting one of the Big Three [Starter]

[Margaret Knight]

First impressions often made or brake a potential relationship, this was especially the case in the business world. Perhaps it was for that reason that despite her initial excitement at meeting the Rocket Man, she had also been equally nervous about the idea of the famous Rocket Man. Even for someone like her who had no memories of the old earth, especially since she was a mere baby at that time the rumors surrounding the man had become almost akin to a myth among the people. In the end everyone knew the story about the infamous Team Rocket, a crime syndicate that had been a thorn in their community for so long. And yet, this one man was able to change the organization from within, and even turn them into a force that stabilized the economy of their dying world. A person of such influence and fame was a force to be recognized with, and especially with the only true knowledge about the man’s identity being surrounded in rumors that bordered fairytales there was no reason for even the confident Margaret to feel a bit hesitant about meeting him.

“If only I didn’t listen to my father…”

Mumbling under her breath Margaret shuffled uncomfortably in the seat of the expensive carriage. A pair of majestic Rapidash were responsible for pulling forth the vehicle, a man dressed in a formal suit seemingly maneuvering the steeds. Hearing her mumbling the man smiled briefly while addressing her in a proper and respectful tone.

“Lady Margaret, what would the citizen have said if you walked into a peaceful place like the market with a longsword strapped to your belt, a pair of daggers concealed inside your pockets and a large dart gun brandished in your hands? You are the heiress of a prestigious merchant family, not a tomb raider.”

For a moment Margaret couldn’t help but find her cheeks flushing up lightly in embarrassment at the comment made by the man. Despite being her father’s butler Jonathan had been quite a friendly and social person toward her. Certainly, he knew to keep the proper etiquette and address her with respect but he was also much more friendly and direct compared to most of the staff at her father’s mansion. Perhaps it was for that reason she had ventured out on her own, to get a store of her own to manage. Still, there was some truth to what the man told her. She wasn’t really able to go inside a place like that armed to the teeth with weapons, in the end she had her reputation to think of.

“But Jonathan, haven’t you heard the rumors? This isn’t just some old man that we’ll be visiting. It’s the famous Mister R. Weren’t you around when he well… did his stuff?”

The man chuckled softly, seemingly amused at the flustered response of the young woman, when finally he nodded his head curtly in response, a light movement with his hands on the reins of the steeds causing the Rapidash to slow down their pace.

“It’s true, he is the one responsible for changing the business world into what it is today. A lone man, infiltrating the most nefarious crime syndicate in existence and turning it into this powerful force that solved the economic crisis we had to endure. Many even call him a ‘business strategist.’ But he is also quite a mysterious man.”

That was an understatement. Nobody knew his true name, or the reason why he turned Team Rocket upside down from within, a feat that many had considered impossible to accomplish. It was during that moment of silence that the carriage came to a halt before the entrance to the Global Market, and noticing they had arrived at their destination Margaret rose from her seat, opening the door while she gazed with a hint of hesitation at the lone metal building at the center of the plaza.

“Lady Margaret, remember rule one…”

Rule one, one of the several golden rules she was taught about how to be a businesswoman. A merchant wasn’t just something that you were born to be, you were forged into it through trials and tribulations. Of course she knew the rule all too well, for she turned around to face the man, and with a sheepish grin made a playful salute with her fingers.

“Always keep the poker face, I’m off to meet the man himself. With me luck Jonathan.”

The man grinned back at her, and for a moment Margaret could feel her confidence resurfacing within her. It was there at last, her determination to impress the famous Mister R. With a confident and fast-paced stride she walked into the building, holding the envelope that had the letter addressed to her. Of course she was determined to prove herself, for this was the first opportunity given to her to make a name of herself without relying on the wealth of her family. The only thing she had right now was her own wits and verbal prowess, and yet little did she knew the adventures that would await her as a result of this encounter.

“That building must be it…”

It was a lone metal building, right in the middle of the plaza and somehow it eluded an aura of importance, for unlike the various shops and kiosks surrounding the area this one was the lone building right in the center of the plaza. It almost screamed to contain something importance, or in this case: someone of importance. To think this was the place the famous man himself was awaiting her arrival. A man whose accomplishments had made him akin to a legend among the current generation. Of course she was excited? In the end this was one of the dreams she held within her: to become a famous businesswoman whose name was known into the furthest reaches of the planet. Approaching the door, whether it was an automatic one that slid open, or one she opened by hand after knocking, Margaret was soon walking inside and spoke in a calm yet confident tone as she announced her arrival.

“My name is Margaret Knight, I believe mister R is expecting me?”

[Olive]

Upon entering the building, Margaret would see a single, small room. Shelves lined the walls, covered with thousands of items, some even she had never seen before. Directly in front of her were two wooden chairs that faced a large desk. 

The man behind the desk couldn't have been much older than his mid-thirties. His hair was a golden blonde with a front that ended in a sharp point, facial features were cut in the most handsome way a person could possibly be, and he was dressed in a spiffy nav suit with a white button-up and red tie. For a moment it seemed like the man didn't register her entrance, his fingers loosely grasped a device positioned on his ear that seemed to lead to his very sci-fi glasses - oh wait... 

Quiet grumbles came from the man as he fidgeted with earpiece until tiny sparks began to fly from the glasses. A sigh escaped him as he finally pressed a button on the device which seemed to disconnect the now fried glasses.

"Sorry Querc, I can't fix them. Maybe we should try - " finally the man's eyes found the woman who stood in his doorway. It sounded as if he was on the phone with someone, but he didn't seem to have an X-gear anywhere near, "I'll call you back, I have an appointment," he took on a toothy, sideways smile, "with a very important person." Margaret heard confused cries from the device on the man's ear before he calmly pressed another button, silencing the noise. Was that his X-gear?

Before he spoke another word, the man stood from his chair, made his way to the woman, and extended his hand. "Margaret Knight," his tone was both curious and expecting. He motioned for the woman to take a seat in one of the chairs facing his desk as he took his seat. "Call me Mr. R." His eyes flitted to the front of the desk.

Five pokeballs were lined up in front of the girl, each had a picture of a pokemon in front.

"Numel, Dwebble, Pawniard, Frillish, and Honedge." That same adorable smirk returned to his countenance. 

"Both Numel and Frillish are great choices for a Merchant who makes her own weapons. Numel has the capacity to expel extreme temperatures from its body, making smelting and smithing possible, while Frillish, with a body made almost entirely of seawater, could easily cool and harden your products. Not to mention, the irony of having a Pokemon that is descended from royalty." A chuckle escaped him before he continued.

"Dwebble are excellent at finding rocks, ores, whatever material you might need, and when they evolve, you basically have a mobile anvil."

His eyes floated to the Honedge's pokeball, but he just raised his brow and winked.

"And lastly, Pawniard. Not only an excellent sparring partner, but also a Pokemon who is capable of sharing your workload. They're very tough, and, once trained well, will follow orders to a T."

Fingers clasped together, the man gave Margaret a nod, signifying that it was her turn. Who do you choose?

[Margaret Knight]

While her expression remained calm, borderline neutral as she tried her best to keep on that friendly smile that a skilled poker player might had put on when they wanted to keep their thoughts a secret, there was no denying the fact that the man before her didn’t exactly look like she had expected. While there was no denying the fact that this person was a professional in looks alone already, a nifty suit and a confident demeanor as he seemed to be communicating with someone she couldn’t see, there was still the slight curiosity about one thing: this man looked a lot younger than she had imagined him to be. She had imagined a man at least around the age of her father, but this person at best might had been roughly ten years younger or older than herself. Had this person truly accomplished so much in a much shorter time than she had imagined? Up until now she had expected the man to had made this his life-time work, and yet he actually seemed to be in the very prime of his life! After a moment of silence, for she had properly waited for the man to finish his conversation with what she later only realized to be using the device on his ear as a catalyst the young woman finally extended a hand in return, lightly shaking the hand of the older man while replying with a smile.

“A pleasure to meet you Mister R. It’s an honor to meet someone who has accomplished as much as yourself did. In fact, after all those stories I was raised with I expected someone a bit different… rather than an experienced gentleman like yourself.”

What a subtle way to say she had expected an old geezer instead of a middle-aged man. Nevertheless, it seemed that fortune smiled upon her, for the man had decided to cut to the case of their visit. While she was uncertain about the reason behind her visit, whether it was funding for her project to establish a suitable resource for mercenaries and survivors alike to find the means to protect those in their care, or a more personal reason… it seemed the reason required for her to have a Pokémon, and to say that she was going to be given a choice from a rather… curious assortment was an understatement. Furrowing her eyebrows in a thoughtful look the young woman listened careful to every word that the man was saying. Numel were quite famous among blacksmiths due to the ability to expel intense amount of heat from their bodies, making them easily able to melt things that would normally demand a forge. She could already imagine the amount of possibilities a Pokémon like that would possess. Her own mobile forge, and one that could help her craft the weapons she needed to make a living.

Frilish at the other hand were the opposite, excellent at cooling down the heat from said weapons to ensure the quality at the end was as high as it could possibly be. Not to mention, the fact they were said to be a royal type of Pokémon was pretty fascinating and ironic for one who was part of the Knight family. Dwebble were famous for their ability to track down various ores and minerals, and would make a perfect resource gatherer should she have the need for one of them.

Nevertheless, it was rather curious how Mister R had decided to skip over the Honedge’s explanation, the reaction he gave to her when he arrived at that point filling her with a bit of amusement, but finally they arrived at her final potential choice: A Pawniard. They were quite a tough and durable species, an excellent sparring partner for those who wanted to practice their combat skills, but also strong enough to help her carry heavy baggage. A Pokémon like that would be perfect both as a bodyguard, but also to help carry the various supplies she’d have to bring to her shop. All of them had a potential purpose to her, and in the end she couldn’t help but find herself smile briefly at the man.

“Each and every one of them seems to be carefully chosen in such a way they have some use or benefit for my goals, choices that wouldn’t been possible without an extensive research into the people you’re supposed to meet. I applaud your eye for detail and information network Mister R.”

She finally approached the desk, lightly lowering a hand to rest a pointed finger on the picture of the Pawniard. In the end her choice had been made. Despite each single one having a solid potential use to her future ambitions, there was no denying that in her eyes the Pawniard was the best solution.

“Despite the difficult choice of picking one of all those excellent partners, I believe a Pawniard would help me the most. Not only will his toughness and strength provide a great boon as one to share the burden of my work, in the end we can’t always rely on mercenaries for protection, so a tough guardian like a Pawniard will surely bring forth a positive advantage in the early stage of my ambitions.”

She finally turned her gaze back toward the man, folding her arms beneath her chest while she explained in a tone that betrayed her curiosity and interest.

“Yet, forgive my bluntness for asking the following: While it’s unlikely that you aren’t aware of my desire to start a weapon manufactory in Port City, I am slightly confused at what reason a man of your influence and power would have for a meeting with someone like myself. There is little for you to gain out of it... Then again, it’s not like I’m complaining, this meeting could be an opportunity for me to step out of the shadows of my ancestors and surpass them.”

It was part of humanity’s nature, the desire to evolve and surpass those that came before them. And yet, despite this all there was no mistaking the fact that for some reason Margaret was rather happy, for there was a certain fire in her eyes, that same type a woman had when she was determined to accomplish something.

[Olive]

With an airy chuckle, the man allowed a slight digression, "You remind me of one Anita Nguyen." He shook his head nostalgia before he pointed to the window near the entrance of his building. "See that Kiosk out there? That is the only weapon's vendor in the settlements," a shrug, "or at least the only reputable one." A curious curve in R's lip ushered a sense of slight distress, "And unfortunately, those are so basic that they might not work on whatever else is further out there."

With a quick raise of the brow the man remembered that there was still an important aspect of the meeting to cover.  He pulled a few items from his own desk drawers and slid them to the far end of the desk while simultaneously retrieving the four unchosen pokeballs to return to the desk's mysterious insides. The items included an X-gear and Holo Chip, 3 pokeballs, and a purse of 100₪. "As an established merchant, I'm sure you make enough to buy whatever you need to adventure, but, since you'll be helping me throughout the foreseeable future, I'd like to help you out in any way I can." His eyes shifted to the shelves piled with items on either wall. "Pick any five." (limit 1 weapon, 1 key item, anything under 35₪)

---

Once Margaret chose her items, R continued the previous conversation. "To answer your question, I believe that you hold the key, or rather the blade, to ensuring the success of our future settlements. Now, we have Mercenaries who train their Pokemon to combat Feral threats, but Ferals are adapted to fighting off enemy Pokemon, and when they get bigger..." he leaned in to stare into the woman's eyes, "and believe me they do. We, the humans will need to lend our hands in battle."

R stood from his chair and began to slowly pace behind the desk. "Gunpowder is strictly prohibited here, for good, historical reason, but our current quote unquote armories are still fairly medieval." He threw an open-handed gesture to the fried holo glasses on the desk, "Even with technology like this."

Another chuckle came from the man as he seated himself, "My point: I believe your passion will aid the expansion of the colony, and in more marketable terms, sprout more competition within the settlements to help keep the economy stable. I don't believe in monopolies after all, but it's not like many people from PokeEarth knew the intricacies of creating such defined products without the use of machines.

So, I'm asking that you do whatever you can to forge new weapons, create new, revolutionary ideas, and aid the colonies in the way of expansion, defense, and economy. A pretty big job, but I'm sure one you can handle." His countenance flipped to a closed-eye grin, "After all, I'm nearing retirement, and someone will need to step up soon." R gave the woman no time to respond to his real age before moving to the closing of the conversation, 

"Of course, you can always text or make an appointment to meet with me, but in the meantime, do you have any questions?"    

---

Received Pawniard! May choose name, gender, ability, and personality

((I may have started to ramble a bit - sorry, much the tired x3))

[Margaret Knight]

When she had been told she reminded the middle-aged man of a certain 'Anita Nguyen' Margaret couldn't help but find her cheeks getting a light crimson tint to them. Of course she would get embarrassed! To be told by one of the famous big three that she reminded them of the famous Ambassador was a compliment far greater than what most would be able to comprehend. However, the focus of their conversation soon allowed her to regain her more stoic and serious demeanor as she followed the gesture of the man, looking at the kiosk that was nearby. It was a weapon vendor, and quite a basic one at that also. Those weapons might serve well against small predators and a human burglar but to deal with a proper feral threat was something those weapons were ill-suited for. Currently they could enjoy their prosperity thanks to the protection of their own domestic Pokémon, the combined effort of mercenaries and those Pokémon keeping the feral threat at bay. However, an important question to ask oneself at that point was: How long till this threat would swoop over their defenses? Mister R seemed to share her concern, and the answer she sought earlier had finally been delivered: He had lend her a hand because he believed she might be able to advance technology in such a way that her passion for weaponry and gunnery would someday allow them to obtain suitable protection against the feral threat. Still, the words that followed afterwards left her speechless for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing into a frown while she shook her head lightly in response.

"I will not disappoint your expectations of me. Nevertheless, with the law forbidding the use of gunpowder, we'll have to consider searching for an alternative. I'll make certain to inform you once I establish some ideas."

She turned her gaze toward the shelves that contained the various items that were prepared for people like her. Five items... Five items that she was allowed to take along with her onto this task. It wasn't going to be an easy challenge, but easy tasks bored her.

"Then I believe I will pick the following items from your generous supply."

The first item was a tool bag, a logical choice for a merchant like herself. Not only was she a merchant but also a craftswoman at heart, so the presence of a tool bag would prove to be a incredible benefit to one like her. Then she had picked a dagger, in the end in a world like theirs some form of self-defense would truly be a necessary thing to possess. Next on the list she had picked a simple bag of Pokémon food to keep her new companion fed. And afterwards she picked a pocketknife and a pickaxe. She turned her gaze back at Mister R and exclaimed in a calm tone as she picked up the pokéball that contained the Pawniard, brushing her fingertips against the surface of the sphere.

"I believe I shall get ready to spend some time with the partner you were so kind to provide me with. Thank you for your time Mister R."

---
Items obtained:
Tool bag, dagger, bag of Pokémon food, pocket knife and a pickaxe

Pawniard details:
Ability: Inner Focus
Gender: Male
Name: Berserker
Personality: will be properly defined in the next thread when I actually write him out ^^

[Jenn]

Thread closed!  Good luck Trainer!