MARCH UPDATE

POSTED ON Aug 31, 2023 21:51:29 GMT

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Gunner shifted on his seat in the Corviknight taxi carriage. Across from him sat his boss, PENELOPE LIVY, who had seemingly conjured flows and bubbles of lava just a few minutes ago, setting an office in the POG Bank building on fire.[break][break]

It was not Gunner's first encounter with the powers of an Avatar. He had read enough reports and observed enough abilities first-hand to understand what he'd just witnessed.[break][break]

Yet the suddenness of it—the fact that his own boss had these powers and he didn't know—made the whole incident difficult to swallow.[break][break]

Clearing his throat, Gunner broached the topic with a measure of hesitance. After all, Penelope looked exhausted, as if the entire ordeal had drained her. "Miss Livy, what exactly happened back there?"[break][break]

Below them, the landscape changed as they left the boundary of Slateport City.

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[attr="class","tag"]PENELOPE LIVY

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Captain

Penny, the coveted

She/her

September 25

Petalburg

heterosexual

HBIC Director

Council

5'6" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @penelope

POSTED ON Sept 2, 2023 7:12:04 GMT

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The aftermath of their pog bank excursion was fraught with anxiety. Penelope had done a fair job steeling her emotions long enough to confer with the authorities - to which the root cause of today's incident was swept away under false veil of 'uncertainty' - but her strength all but withered the moment they'd stepped into the taxi.
[break][break]

Pressed up against the cool glass, the councilwoman's hair was sprawled across her shoulders, no longer bound together in the neat braid that'd become an intrinsic part of her workwear. The short flight felt like a story, stretched out through sprawls of twinkling lights and winking stars, and lofty skyscrapers that swallowed the ground in concrete landscaping. Part of her longed to settle into the darkness - to let the lull of the cab to wash over her, drifting her conscious to the oasis that was slumber.
[break][break]

Gunner's question almost instantly grounded her, though.
[break][break]

Penelope didn't move. The exhaustion still coiled her chest, turning every breath into a struggle, a battle barely worth winning.
[break][break]

Several beats of the corvknight's wings separated her first breath from the words that eventually strained out of her.
[break][break]

"What you saw cannot be reported," she started, her voice just barely holding a rasp to it. Slowly, she shifted from her slanted position, adjusting her gaze to rest against his. A hard gleam polished the gold of her ringlets. "Not to it's entirety, at least."

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[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves[break]

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September 5

Fallarbor Town, Hoenn

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paralegal / special agent

lieutenant

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i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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POSTED ON Sept 2, 2023 20:39:00 GMT

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The first words out of Penelope's mouth were so common in an agency shrouded with secrecy that Gunner found himself nodding before he grasped the implications of her words.[break][break]

"Understood, ma'am."[break][break]

Then his brain caught up with the conversation, and he sat back with his hands resting on his knees.[break][break]

"I'll have someone from public relations speak with POG Bank before they can report it to the press. Officially, it will be a Magcargo that got loose and started to fill the office building with lava. Or something like that."[break][break]

Gunner looked Penelope in the eye, waiting for her approval—and her explanation.

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[attr="class","tag"]PENELOPE LIVY

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played by

Captain

Penny, the coveted

She/her

September 25

Petalburg

heterosexual

HBIC Director

Council

5'6" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

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part of

TAG WITH @penelope

POSTED ON Sept 2, 2023 21:24:07 GMT

paxton concordas likes this

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If there was anyone she could trust within the HBIC, it would be Gunner Graves or paxton concordas. She'd spent enough time working over them to understand how they carried themselves, juggling discretion as a means of currency.
[Break][break]
So when Gunner prompted his answer without hesitation, it only served to reassure her what she already knew.
[Break][break]
"Good."
[Break][break]
Closing her eyes, she let out a pent-up breath. One last second of reprieve before reigniting the fueling dread that lingered.
[Break][break]
"I've disclosed this to dahlia goode and the council already, but I'm still writing a report to submit to the rest of AQUA and our auxiliary departments."
[Break][break]
With one flick of the lighter, her eyes shot open again, forcing their gazes to collide. The air between them was tight and fraught with unspoken implications spanning the multiple crimes committed and omitted just half an hour ago.
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"But, given tonight..."
[Break][break]
Slants of light slipped through the windows, painting her face until it was mottled with oranges and reds and the vibrance of sunset.
[Break][break]
"You should be made aware, too. I've bonded with the legendary, Chi-yu, and I suspect that back there was one of my 'abilities'."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves [break]

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played by

gunsmile

"Lancer"

he / him

September 5

Fallarbor Town, Hoenn

pansexual

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lieutenant

6'1" / 185 cm height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

1,294 posts

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TAG WITH @gunner

POSTED ON Sept 2, 2023 22:10:22 GMT

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Chi-Yu.[break][break]

Gunner had read that name before, but only in the context of data gathered from the suspicious mobile dating game, RONDEZ-VIEW OF LUV. Along with three other Pokémon, the Hoennian government had decided to group them under the label 'Ruinous Beasts'.[break][break]

Ruinous how? Why? Many of the powers granted Avatars could be used for good or ill. Flowing lava and bubbles of magma were no different. It had been unfortunate that Penelope had not had control over her powers in the POG Bank office, but that shouldn't make her or her new patron a liability.[break][break]

Right?[break][break]

"Besides the reports from earlier this year," and the related speculations, he thought but did not say, "what do you know of this Chi-Yu? What has it revealed it you?"[break][break]

And then, because of what had transpired, Gunner's expression softened as he asked:[break][break]

"Are you all right?"

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[attr="class","tag"]PENELOPE LIVY

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played by

Captain

Penny, the coveted

She/her

September 25

Petalburg

heterosexual

HBIC Director

Council

5'6" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

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DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @penelope

POSTED ON Sept 3, 2023 9:03:12 GMT

ollie morales likes this

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What did she know?
[break][break]
Nothing. When the bond first solidified, emotions nearly rend her body, both internally and externally. Her head pounded, her stomach swirled, and temptations and anxieties flowed languidly into one ear and out the other. It wasn't until ollie morales found her, balled up in the corner, barely able to make sense of her own ramblings, that she could begin to recover.
[break][break]
And since then, she's felt the same. Angier maybe, but it was also that time of the month again, so there was no real telling whether those mood swings were her or chi-yu acting on her behalf.
[break][break]
"Not much."
[break][break]
The admission is birthed out through tight lips and curled fists. It was clear how much her ignorance acted as a personal attack against her efficiency as a councilwoman, and now avatar.
[break][break]
"We first met at The Border. It was aggressive -- nearly knocked me out a few times - but then, when we met on mt chimney -"
[break][break]
blurred memories swiped through her mind. Many included MATIAS SILPH, some Moltres. She batted them all away through several blinks and one hard sniff.
[break][break]
"It doesn't talk to me, but it's always...there. It's hard to explain. When he does communicate, it's through feeling. Emotions. "
[break][break]

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played by

gunsmile

"Lancer"

he / him

September 5

Fallarbor Town, Hoenn

pansexual

paralegal / special agent

lieutenant

6'1" / 185 cm height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

1,294 posts

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TAG WITH @gunner

POSTED ON Sept 3, 2023 14:57:36 GMT

angelo vestri likes this

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The frustration that bled through Penelope's words, expression, and body language was completely different from the breezy way angelo vestri had acted while training with his Avatar powers. Gunner saw the pain flash across her face and heard the defensive note in her voice.[break][break]

Questions raced through his head. What did it mean to be an Avatar of a truly unknown Pokémon? To have the bond thrust upon you without first knowing the creature? To have a foreign presence in your mind, impressing its own feelings upon you?[break][break]

Lonely, he thought. Isolating. Othering.[break][break]

Wordlessly, Gunner stood, causing the carriage to sway a little. He crossed the gap that separated him from Penelope and sat down next to her.[break][break]

He wrapped his hand around one of her fists.[break][break]

"You'll figure it all out, Miss Livy. If anyone can, it's the Director of the HBIC," he said, his tone possessing a note of quiet confidence. Then he smiled. "And you won't have to do it alone, either."

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played by

Captain

Penny, the coveted

She/her

September 25

Petalburg

heterosexual

HBIC Director

Council

5'6" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

2,708 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @penelope

POSTED ON Sept 3, 2023 21:06:49 GMT

Eva Morales likes this

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No effort was made to mask the surge of shock that raced up her neck, through her face, bewitching eyes to flatten into large saucers, and eyebrows to lick hairlines.
[Break][break]
Gunner was many things -- sedulous, reliable, thorough -- but never once did Penelope consider he could be comforting, too.
[Break][break]
Turning her shoulders to face him, she swung her other arm around, bringing her free hand to cup around his. There, she gave him a gentle squeeze.
[Break][break]
"I appreciate you, gunner," she smiled back tentatively, and a bittersweet glimmer danced across her eyes.
[Break][break]
"It's been... difficult. No two avatarships look to be the same, so there's not much regulation on 'proper proceedings'," at least none that she was aware of, "but I'm starting to think that's because there weren't so many complications with the others."[Break][break]

Eva Morales, Laurence Anderson, Razz Kingsman - did they possess something she fundamentally lacked? Or, were they just better by nature, to be able to create formidable bonds with these deities?
[Break][break]
The thought nearly scorced the taxi in another pit of magma.
[Break][break]
"I've made plans to visit Eva Morales and see what she recommends. From there, we'll see what happens."
[break][break]

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played by

gunsmile

"Lancer"

he / him

September 5

Fallarbor Town, Hoenn

pansexual

paralegal / special agent

lieutenant

6'1" / 185 cm height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

1,294 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gunner

POSTED ON Sept 4, 2023 23:02:18 GMT

Eva Morales likes this

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Protocol and regulations had nothing to say about where the line was when comforting a professional superior. Gunner returned the squeeze of Penelope's hand, then withdrew to put some space between them.[break][break]

"That sounds like a good idea," he said, regarding the appointment with Eva Morales. Then a memory came to him, one he'd all but forgotten but now bloomed in his mind, as clear as day.[break][break]

"I actually helped her once," Gunner continued, turning back to his boss. "With her Avatar powers, I mean. She was in a park in Ever Grande City, trying to form a shield of wind."[break][break]

He mimicked the way she had waved her arms around to summon the barrier, though his own movements were vague and clumsy.[break][break]

"If you need help with figuring out and mastering your powers, I'd be more than happy to help you, too. And since there are certain hazards that come with them, we can do it somewhere in the wilderness, away from prying eyes."[break][break]

Somewhere Penelope could practice without fear or shame holding her back.

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[attr="class","tag"]PENELOPE LIVY

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MADE BY GUNSMILE

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played by

Captain

Penny, the coveted

She/her

September 25

Petalburg

heterosexual

HBIC Director

Council

5'6" height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

2,708 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @penelope

POSTED ON Sept 5, 2023 5:44:46 GMT

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"Mmm."
[Break][break]
A deluge of methods of refusal flooded her mouth and she nearly puffed out her cheeks to contain them all.
[Break][break]
Weakness was a title branded onto her like she were cattle and the league her farm. So much strength coalesced in the others around them; even looking past the elite four, her head scientists easily had her beat, both with experience and victories. It was easy fall victim to complacency
[Break][break]
But now, with a legendary latched onto her, invading nearly every space once considered sacred, weak was the last arrow she would allow to pierce her back.
[Break][break]
But was there anything weak in accepting help?
[Break][break]
Her lips pursed together and she gave Gunner a long, hard look. One that painted the act of contemplation far more vividly than any explanation she could muster.
[Break][break]
"Okay."
[Break][break]
The answer was solidified by a nod.
[Break][break]
"It'd have to be after hours, though,"They were far too busy to expend working hours for something of this nature. "We could go to route 111. It'll be sandy, but there would be no forestry, so damage can remain negligible."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Gunner Graves [break]

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played by

gunsmile

"Lancer"

he / him

September 5

Fallarbor Town, Hoenn

pansexual

paralegal / special agent

lieutenant

6'1" / 185 cm height

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

awards

1,294 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @gunner