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"Teacher, Preacher" by mocha (PG-13)
Fandom: POKÉMON
Pairing: Gen
Length: 5035 words
Author on DW:![[dreamwidth.org profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mochamocha
Author on AO3 & FFnet:![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
mochawhip![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/232260-5703554/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
mochawhip | mochawhip
Author Website: Fanfic Master List
Why this must be read: Pokémon gameverse canon is somewhat notorious for being lax in developing its antagonists, but "Teacher, Preacher" develops Team Rocket in spades. The author doesn't hold any punches: each of the characters is depicted in a very harsh light, and their flaws are laid out for you to see. Just when you believe that they couldn't get any more despicable, however, Mocha sneaks up on you and, against all odds, manages to make every single character redeemable, sympathetic, and remarkably whole. All in all, this piece is a very nuanced study of the dynamics between the upper echelons of Team Rocket: the Boss, his Executives, and his young son, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who loves or is interested by Team Rocket, or antagonists in general.
Excerpt:
Archer finds Petrel five years after joining Team Rocket near the power plant. His skills in explosives, fumbling with disguises, and obsession for smoking Koffing eventually cause the plant to explode which, fortunately, was Archer’s mission in the first place, but Petrel added an extra thrill to the conclusion.
Archer likes his take on life and Petrel knows how to create the best entertainment. Archer sweet-talks and brings him before Giovanni with the tips of his gloves singed and smoking.
Archer finds Proton the year after. His tests on radios in the forest lead him to hearing rumors in a local town about a vicious threat and the morality behind roasted Farfetch’d with leek. It intrigues him so much that he finds the man (breaks into his house), introduces himself (the man pins him down with knives to the kitchen floor first), and kindly asks if the host has Farfetch’d to serve.
Archer likes his taste, and so does Proton. They burn his house and Archer brings him to Giovanni with the flavor of tortured flesh on his tongue.
Ariana takes a few weeks to adjust to the intrusion. Her make-up goes missing (Petrel always wanted the higher-quality stuff) and Proton has a nasty habit (good habit, in Archer’s opinion) of leaving out dishes with his latest cooking adventures piled on top. Petrel eventually purchases new make-up to replace his thefts and Proton wins her over with the finest slice of Slowpoke tail, only because Ariana joked that it’s so bizarre they might as well sell it.
Giovanni sees them work best in a group. Archer accepts his reasoning without question and gladly takes missions that involve the others. Four is a clean number, sharp and stable like a square.
Silver sees them all with a unique expression on his face for each. The scent of flesh makes his nose scrunch up when Proton is near. Petrel at least attempts to make the boy laugh, but the smoke from his cigarettes causes Silver to cough instead.
"Teacher, Preacher" (can also be read on AO3 and FFnet)
Pairing: Gen
Length: 5035 words
Author on DW:
mochamochaAuthor on AO3 & FFnet:
Author Website: Fanfic Master List
Why this must be read: Pokémon gameverse canon is somewhat notorious for being lax in developing its antagonists, but "Teacher, Preacher" develops Team Rocket in spades. The author doesn't hold any punches: each of the characters is depicted in a very harsh light, and their flaws are laid out for you to see. Just when you believe that they couldn't get any more despicable, however, Mocha sneaks up on you and, against all odds, manages to make every single character redeemable, sympathetic, and remarkably whole. All in all, this piece is a very nuanced study of the dynamics between the upper echelons of Team Rocket: the Boss, his Executives, and his young son, and I heartily recommend it to anyone who loves or is interested by Team Rocket, or antagonists in general.
Excerpt:
Archer finds Petrel five years after joining Team Rocket near the power plant. His skills in explosives, fumbling with disguises, and obsession for smoking Koffing eventually cause the plant to explode which, fortunately, was Archer’s mission in the first place, but Petrel added an extra thrill to the conclusion.
Archer likes his take on life and Petrel knows how to create the best entertainment. Archer sweet-talks and brings him before Giovanni with the tips of his gloves singed and smoking.
Archer finds Proton the year after. His tests on radios in the forest lead him to hearing rumors in a local town about a vicious threat and the morality behind roasted Farfetch’d with leek. It intrigues him so much that he finds the man (breaks into his house), introduces himself (the man pins him down with knives to the kitchen floor first), and kindly asks if the host has Farfetch’d to serve.
Archer likes his taste, and so does Proton. They burn his house and Archer brings him to Giovanni with the flavor of tortured flesh on his tongue.
Ariana takes a few weeks to adjust to the intrusion. Her make-up goes missing (Petrel always wanted the higher-quality stuff) and Proton has a nasty habit (good habit, in Archer’s opinion) of leaving out dishes with his latest cooking adventures piled on top. Petrel eventually purchases new make-up to replace his thefts and Proton wins her over with the finest slice of Slowpoke tail, only because Ariana joked that it’s so bizarre they might as well sell it.
Giovanni sees them work best in a group. Archer accepts his reasoning without question and gladly takes missions that involve the others. Four is a clean number, sharp and stable like a square.
Silver sees them all with a unique expression on his face for each. The scent of flesh makes his nose scrunch up when Proton is near. Petrel at least attempts to make the boy laugh, but the smoke from his cigarettes causes Silver to cough instead.
"Teacher, Preacher" (can also be read on AO3 and FFnet)