Hello, for those who haven't read any of my stuff before, my name is Amy, and I am commencing a new story today that will be published every month on the 28th until there's twelve chapters. Like it says in my bio, I focus heavily on the human relationships in Pokémon rather than the creatures, and for this story, I really wanted to delve into the world of Team Rocket. What normally gets published monthly is a bit of a letter writing format - I've written letters from Ash Ketchum to his children and vice versa in Dear Darlings and Dear Daddy. More recently came Letters That Changed Everything - like the title suggests, it's very life changing letters between many characters of the anime as adults, as well as the friends they make and children they go on to have, and many OCs. This one will focus solely on the organisation of Team Rocket. And I don't think I'll stick to just a letter writing format, I want to branch out a bit. I did for the first chapter! This one contains a group chat between many of the canon Team Rocket characters - plus the introduction of Jorginho at the end, my OC. He's heavily featuring at the moment in Pikachu Tales, so you can learn more about him there as well as the important role he has in the Team Rocket Trio's lives especially :) But anyway, enough rambling! I hope you enjoy. It's the beginning of a fun challenge for me :D
Within the Team Rocket headquarters, a number of the organization's members were united at the same moment. Sitting up against her headboard, a young woman with hair the color of a magenta rose pulled her phone out of her pocket rather than a snack. A teenager with youthful innocence swung his legs on a kitchen countertop. He looked for something to do while the feline next to him left his noodles to boil and pulled out his phone.
A woman in the gym's changing room hooked her pink, triangular earrings back into her lobes before taking her phone out of her locker and a man stopped fixing his seaweed green bangs to do the same thing. Hair the color of a fragrant flower was being twiddled with by a young man while the other hand touched his device in a dining hall. A girl with ringlets like a doll eagerly reached for hers for the first time in days.
Someone else looked like a fish out of water. This young man with jet-black dyed hair let his phone rest on the dining room table, pretending not to care when it buzzed and buzzed and buzzed some more.
All eight of them logged onto the group chat.
Jessie (Room 335): Does anyone else finish at 6pm?
Meowth (Room 335): Yup.
James (Room 335): Yes, Jessie.
Jessie (Room 335): I know about you two knuckleheads!
Jessie (Room 335): I mean ANYBODY ELSE in Dorm Hall G?
Meowth (Room 335): Touché, Jess. Touché.
Christopher (Room 337): I do, Jessie! I do!
Butch (Room 337): I do as well.
Butch (Room 337): But I might do another workout when I finish.
Meowth (Room 335): Oooh, someone is trying to be a buff guy.
James (Room 335): Well, someone has to be.
Christopher (Room 337): I think that's cool.
Butch (Room 337): Will I see you in the gym, James?
Jessie (Room 335): No chance.
Meowth (Room 335): No chance.
James (Room 335): No chance!
Christopher (Room 337): I still think you're cool too, James.
Cassidy (Room 330): ANYWAY
Cassidy (Room 330): Why do you need to know when everyone finishes, Jessie-Jess?
Cassidy: (Room 330): Do you have a hot date that you need to warn everyone about so they don't wonder why there's puke running down the halls?
Butch (Room 337): That's a low blow even for you.
Christopher (Room 337): Wait, why would that happen?
Jessie (Room 335): The only gunk coming out of anyone's mouth will be from me next time I see you acting like you're not too old for that skirt.
Cassidy (Room 330): We are the exact same age and wear the exact same style of skirt…
Jessie (Room 335): And yet it does wonders for me and horrors for you.
James (Room 335): I think it looks best on me.
Christopher (Room 335): James, you're cool. But it really doesn't!
Jessie (Room 335): Thanks, Mondo. You're a pal.
Christopher (Room 337): Anytime!
James (Room 335): Jessie, why did you want to know what time we all get off work?
Jessie (Room 335): Finally!
Jessie (Room 335): At least someone replied to me.
Cassidy (Room 330): Excuse me? I did?
Jessie (Room 335): Oh.
Jessie (Room 335): Must've gone through my spam filter.
Butch (Room 337): What are you planning, Jessie?
Jessie (Room 335): Well, Buff…
Jessie (Room 335): Does anyone want to gather in my, James and Meowth's room tonight?
Jessie (Room 335): The usual kind of get-together?
Meowth (Room 335): Jeez, Jess. Thanks for warning me and Jimmy that you're planning a social one.
Jessie (Room 335): No one has said they are even coming yet!
James (Room 335): I'll come if it's just us three!
Jessie (Room 335): Ha.
Jessie (Room 335): No.
Butch (Room 337): I'll come as long as it's after 7:30/8. I will be doing that workout straight from my shift.
Christopher (Room 337): I'll be there if you want me to be there, Jessie!
Christopher (Room 337): But you won't make me eat your food again, will you?
James (Room 335): Traumatized!
Jessie (Room 335): No, Christopher. I won't.
Jessie (Room 335): Everyone can bring their own drinks AND snacks.
Christopher (Room 337): Okay!
Christopher (Room 337): I'll be there whenever you want me!
Cassidy (Room 330): Kiss ass.
Jessie (Room 335): You're the best, Mondo.
Jessie (Room 335): James? Meowth? Are you coming or are you annoyed I'm hosting?
Meowth (Room 335): Yes.
James (Room 335): Yes, to both, Meowth?
James (Room 335): Yeah, Jess, fine. I'll be there. But I'm hanging out with my guitar.
Jessie (Room 335): That's fine. But I'm not paying the late music fee if it goes on for too long.
Butch (Room 337): You going, Cassidy?
Butch (Room 337): I can walk you from your room to theirs after I shower if you'd like.
Christopher (Room 337): Ooh!
Domino (Room 330): He just wants to brag that he's been working out again and again!
Cassidy (Room 330): Domino, you're back in the chat!
Cassidy (Room 330): Did they lift your ban?
Domino (Room 330): I deleted the app to focus on a mission. You know that.
Christopher (Room 337): Sure!
Jessie (Room 335): Come on, guys. Final head count.
Jessie (Room 335): Is it just the usual lot coming? No Atilla or Hun or any of those guys?
Domino (Room 335): Don't think so.
Domino (Room 335): I'm in, by the way. Thanks, Jessie. I could use some fun.
James (Room 335): Atilla AND Hun were the ones banned from the chat.
James (Room 335): Remember the party they threw?
Jessie (Room 335): Not really.
James (Room 335): Exactly. That's why they got banned.
James (Room 335): I don't think the toilets ever recovered from all of the alcohol spewed.
Domino (Room 330): Ewww!
Christopher (Room 337): Shall I walk you to the party, Domino?
Christopher (Room 337): Seeing as Butch might be walking your sister?
Cassidy (Room 330): He WILL be walking me.
Cassidy (Room 330): Thanks, Hutch.
Butch (Room 337): It's Butch.
Butch (Room 337): But anytime, Crutch.
Domino (Room 330): Let's see, Chris.
Meowth (Room 335): Ooh Chrissy boy! That's classic woman code for never in a million years!
Jessie (Room 335): GUYS!
Jessie (Room 335): Just answer yes or no to coming or not.
Jessie (Room 335): 7 pm at me, James, and Meowth's place.
Butch (Room 337): Yes.
Cassidy (Room 330): Fine.
Cassidy (Room 330): Yes.
Christopher (Room 337): Yes, Jessie!
James (Room 335): Yes, Jess.
Christopher (Room 337): Meowth says yes too. He's tired of typing.
Cassidy (Room 330): Well, he is a Pokémon.
Christopher (Room 337): Meowth says he's more human than you.
James (Room 335): He can't help having three fingers.
Cassidy (Room 330): Can't he?
Meowth (Room 335): Well, I'm holding up one finger to you now.
Christopher (Room 337): He is!
Christopher (Room 337): That's funny.
Jessie (Room 335): Domino?
Domino (Room 330): Yes. See you later.
James (Room 335): Great. That's finally sorted.
James (Room 335): See you later then guys?
James (Room 335): I take it that's all, Jess?
Jessie: (Room 335) WAIT!
Jessie (Room 335): Are you going to invite anyone else with you?
James (Room 335): Like who?
Butch (Room 337): I'll have to check my massively long friend list.
Meowth (Room 335): Who are you inviting this time, Jess?
Jessie (Room 335): Well…
Christopher (Room 337): This isn't going to be good!
Jessie (Room 335): Have you guys met that new summer trainee yet?
Jessie (Room 335): The one with the accent, the black hair, and all of the earrings.
Cassidy (Room 330): Earrings? They're as fake as yours, Jessie-Jess.
Jessie (Room 335): Fake as you?
Jessie (Room 335): Well, guys?
Butch (Room 337): Seen him. But not met him. He looks interesting.
Cassidy (Room 330): Seen him. I spoke to him but not much.
Butch (Room 337): He's not from Kanto, right?
Cassidy (Room 330): No. But that's not why we didn't speak much. He's pretty surly.
James (Room 335): He does look a bit stern.
Jessie (Room 335): You've met him?
James (Room 335): No. He's sitting at the other table across from me now.
Butch (Room 337): What's his name again?
Butch (Room 337): Jorge?
Butch (Room 337): You say it like George, right?
James (Room 335): No. And no.
James (Room 335): Guess he's been dealing with everyone getting his name wrong. No wonder he's keeping to himself.
Meowth (Room 335): I can relate!
Jessie (Room 335): Your name is a species, Meowth.
Jessie (Room 335): Not everything is about you.
Meowth (Room 335): Says you, bub!
Domino (Room 330): You guys mean Jorginho?
Domino (Room 330): He lives in Room 333. With Oscar. The cargo pilot.
Jessie (Room 335): You've met him? Spoken to him?
Domino (Room 330): No.
Domino (Room 330): Chance would be a fine thing!
Cassidy (Room 330): Meaning?
Domino (Room 330): Jessie isn't the only one wanting to get to know him.
Cassidy (Room 330): Don't even think about it.
Cassidy (Room 330): He could be bad news.
Christopher (Room 337): He's actually really nice!
Christopher (Room 337): He held a door open for me! And said 'See you around, little man!'
Jessie (Room 335): So, you've spoken to him?
Jessie (Room 335): And you decided to wait for ages and only tell us now?
Christopher (Room 337): Well, everyone else was typing!
Meowth (Room 335): Nice one, Chrissy boy.
Meowth (Room 335): You've let down your girlfriend.
Christopher (Room 337): She's not my girlfriend.
Christopher (Room 337): I agree with Jessie though. He's new. We should invite him. And I agree with Domino too.
Meowth (Room 335): Oh, is the new guy your BOYFRIEND?
James (Room 335): Grow up.
James (Room 335): Oh wait, you'd still come up to my knee.
Jessie (Room 335): Ha!
Meowth (Room 335): I'll dig my claws into your knee if you don't watch ya mouth, Jimmy.
Cassidy (Room 330): So, is Jorginho or whatever being invited?
Cassidy (Room 330): I need to know so I can keep my sister away from him!
Domino (Room 330): Like you'd need to do that.
Domino (Room 330): I could hardly look at him from passing him in the hallway.
Christopher (Room 337): Imagine you being in the same room as him then!
James (Room 335): Well, I am right now and it's not terrible.
James (Room 335): He's just staring at his phone like crazy.
Jessie (Room 335): SOOO…
Jessie (Room 335): Same format as before. Yes or no. Invite Jorginho tonight?
Domino (Room 330): Yes.
Cassidy (Room 330): God.
Cassidy (Room 330): Yes. Fine. I'll deal with it. I don't care.
Butch (Room 337): You really do.
Butch (Room 337): But yes. Invite him. He probably would enjoy getting to know some people on our floor.
Meowth (Room 335): Yes. Invite him. Invite who you want.
Christopher (Room 337): I'd like to see him again!
Cassidy (Room 330): He seems a bit weird.
Cassidy (Room 330): He looks like he's about to sing that it's Friday and he's in love.
James (Room 335): No, he doesn't.
Meowth (Room 335): He does a bit!
Christopher (Room 337): I think he looks cool!
Domino (Room 330): You think everyone looks and is cool, Christopher!
Domino (Room 330): But I agree.
Butch (Room 337): I bet he'll be fun once he settles in.
Butch (Room 337): And he doesn't look weird. Or at least he won't once he takes out the earrings.
James (Room 335): You guys kinda suck.
Cassidy (Room 330): Jessie-Jess, aren't you going to sort James out like you normally do for that comment?
Jessie: (Room 335): Nah.
James (Room 335): As if any of us are the definition of normal!
Cassidy (Room 330): Speak for yourself.
Butch (Room 337): James has a point.
Butch (Room 337): Hey, if he DOES sing that song, James can play it on guitar!
Butch (Room 337): How cool would that be!
Meowth (Room 335): Very lame.
Christopher (Room 337): Cool!
Jessie (Room 335): You're changing the subject, Butch.
Cassidy (Room 330): He is.
Butch (Room 337): I am.
Butch (Room 337): Because I do agree with James. You guys kinda suck sometimes. We don't know anything about him.
Butch (Room 337): All of us should know better before judging.
Meowth (Room 335): Goody two shoes.
Meowth (Room 335): But yeah. Agreed.
Domino (Room 330): I agree, Butch.
Jessie (Room 335): Me too.
Jessie (Room 335): I think he will be a great addition tonight.
Jessie (Room 335): That's why I had the brilliant idea of inviting him.
Cassidy (Room 330): Inviting a weirdo.
Butch (Room 337): Hey guys?
Butch (Room 337): Have you ever noticed how Jorginho has been added to this group chat already?
Butch: (Room 337): And it says seen next to his name under every message that we've been sending?
Meowth (Room 335): ****!
Meowth (Room 335): Jeez.
Meowth (Room 335): They blocked swearing again.
Jorginho (Room 333): Yep.
Jorginho (Room 333): Hi.
Jorginho (Room 333): Yes, I have been added to this group. Yes, my name is Jorginho. Spelled like that.
Jorginho (Room 333): I'm in Room 333. With Oscar. Not that I've seen him much yet.
Jorginho (Room 333): And yes, I have seen every message that you've sent. Especially the ones about me.
Jorginho (Room 333): So, thanks for that.
Cassidy (Room 330): Oops.
Domino (Room 330) Hi, Jorginho.
James (Room 335): You guys fully suck.
And with that, the connection between one of the group members and all of the others was lost. The man who brushed a hand through his lavender locks grew tired of more than just the technology. And before a text wondering why he had stopped replying could be sent – or even one posing who was to formally invite the newcomer – James left his seat at the dining table and went to introduce himself to Jorginho. To apologize to him. And to tell him about their gathering.
Jorginho did not look up straight away and instead stared at the blank screen of his phone even with the hurt that it had caused him.
But James continually ran a hand through his hair and stood on the other side of the table, looking down at where Jorginho was sitting. He smiled. The newcomer did not smile back. But despite it all, he didn't quite have it in him to chase the stranger away. To remain alone.
Jorginho tossed his phone to the side. He had always known he had a good reason to hate technology.
He invited James to sit.
There you go! Thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed :) I always knew I wanted to begin with this chapter to set the tone as well as hint of dynamics within Team Rocket and what is to come but I underestimated it a bit, I have to say! It took a lot longer than usual with all of the room numbers and making sure it flowed and even the written words before and after the chat. It was, however, a challenge I enjoyed. Like I mentioned, this chapter just sets things up really. The rivalry between Jessie and Cassidy in the anime is ever-present here. If you're familiar with Team Rocket beyond the anime then you might remember the character Mondo from the radio drama. He is a bit of an assistant in Team Rocket, and is fond of the TRio, especially Jessie. I head-canon that he is the same character as Christopher, their friend from the Sinnoh episode Noodles! Roamin' Off. He is a character I would love to focus more on, both here and in my other stories. And as for Jorginho, well, he's certainly getting his moment in the sun in my stories! But importantly so. He's one of those hugely evolving characters - and absolutely a big part of my heart right now :P Anyways, enough rambling again! Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you next month. For those who are more aware of my work, my Pikachu Tales hiatus is coming to an end and I am returning to it on September 11th. Perhaps I'll see some more of you there :)
Amy signing out!