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fern delaney | disguised quequeque | mission prompt: the lawless sea [break][break]

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"Unfortunately." he said with a sigh. He was starting to hate Galar. But it was starting to look like he might need to pay the Galarian Rocket branch a visit to do research on the birds they were seeking out now.. At the very least, he should communicate with their science department to see if he could mine any info without being forced to go over. [break][break]

"These birds- they just...came out of the VIOLET BOOK. No dream mist just the book, and a fuck ton of tera crystals." he explained with a shrug. He still couldn't believe it. The moment had shocked the entire hierarchy. "Yeah...at least we still get to work together!" he said with a grin, smoothing over Oscar's loss of position with a happy grin. [break][break]

He nodded along, maneuvering deftly on the ice, only stopping when Oscar's curse echoed through the cave. "Oscar?! You ok?" he asked moving towards him and crouching down. The ice didn't seem to bother him at all, managing to keep balance on metal cleats. He reached a hand to check the back of his head. "You can still see straight, right?" he asked, eyebrows furrowing together. At least, if he needed ice, they had plenty of it. [break][break]

"If you keep falling like that, it'll only take two more before we make it to the ice wall edge." he said, tone light as he teased his friend again before letting him scramble back to his feet. "Hopefully it's not a bad bruise."



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The second she's down, he's syncing their watches. Or well, his Rotom is setting the timer before grinning excitedly. It's eager to explore the abandoned tower and whatever little trinkets it may be able to find to take over. Strangely enough, the mechanisms inside begin to move. He had to assume the clock face was beginning to tick too. She's right. With sudden movement in the clock tower, they'd swing back to investigate. [break][break]

Mint sets to work spreading out quickly and seeking out anything that may be written and still clear. Unfortunately, any parchment or paper adjacent is tattered or turns to dust as soon as he breathes on it. He rises ever higher in the tower, trying to move quickly as his Rotom follows him on his discoveries. Not much grabs his interest. He pilfers a few knick knacks here and there, but none of it offers insight. [break][break]

There's not a lot of art, nor written word. Mint has to draw his own conclusions about this strange society from what they left behind and what the robotic pokemon still worked on. As he takes in what he thought was a working nook, he notices a defunct looking Magearna, chest cavity open with other assorted parts resting next to it on the workbench. Something old and rusted had already been ripped out and a bunch of similar looking pieces had been collected, but nothing quite right he figured. As he smoothed his way past he runs into larger pieces of broken down robots. One piece he shoves to the side to continue walking, clicks open much like the Magearna, except headless. It feels like a puzzle that's easy enough to complete, so he waves off his Rotom and pulls out a knife. His partner buzzed around him, offering enough light for the Beast to find and snap out a gear. He steps back to the workbench to give it a quick comparison before trying to shove the piece into the mostly complete looking Magearna. [break][break]

It clicks in loudly and he has enough sense to pull away his hand before the chest closes and the robot begins spasming. He backs away, suddenly realizing this was probably a bad idea. It probably is. What else could that lunge mean? The Magearna moves suddenly and smashes against a shelf behind him, rattling the old furniture. The movement is enough to shake off a HEAVY BALL that smacks down on the thing with a THUNK! [break][break]

To Mint's surprise, it's captured but seconds after it seemed to be over the ball began moving again. The pilfers the rest of what he can before darting off and back down. As he makes his way back to Xenon, he checks his watch. "Okaaay, time to leave Xenon!" he shouted just as he heard the Magearna burst out of the ball he'd shoved under some heavier looking oak tables. So much for that plan. [break][break]

He lets out his Beheeyem as he takes the stairs two at a time. Just as he makes it to the bottom, his watch goes off. "One second Gnocchi, she should be here any minute." he said as the Beheyeem floated casually next to him. He knew the drill, waited for Mint's companion and bounced. Or until he was threatened. Usually it was the companion one though. [break][break]



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🗺️ the HEAVY BALL can be used to devastate a mechanical pokemon due to its weight. though it can be used to "temporarily capture" a mechanical pokemon, it is prone to malfunctioning, which will cause the mechanical pokemon to escape by the end of your expedition.

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[player]https://file.garden/ZeVxgRo9KEiz9cwa/mp3/agmen%20clientum%20-%20yuki%20kajiura.mp3[/player]

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ollie morales | and i've lived so much life, so much life [break][break]

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The smell of cinnamon fills the air as Raphael cooks. Mint snickers at the poor Snivy before Gelato lets Zabaglione free, and they rush to harass the little grass type. Careful with the egg, Mint takes a grateful sip of his drink before humming in approval. "It's good. You a bartender at your day job? Or- I guess- night job?" he asked with a laugh before carefully setting the glass back on the counter and going back to examining the egg.[break][break]

"Huh?!" A card game? How valuable a species was in this thing? Mint didn't recognize any of the markings so he couldn't be totally sure. Mint let out another laugh. "Not that smart." he huffed as he moved closer to look over Raphael's work, hungry as the bread fried.[break][break]

"Aww Raph," he said, the egg tucked safely against his side and one arm. The other arm reached up to drag his fingers down the man's spine. "You're plenty gentle with me." he said before moving to find something to swaddle the egg with. Though Gelato had already done that, bring him something to cushion and warm the egg. A colorful blanket he could easily tie around it. [break][break]

"I'm pretty good at breeding, you know?" he said as he adjusted the egg.



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"I suppose that's the least I can offer in exchange for this fine meal." Mint returned with dramatic flair. He didn't worry too much about the why in the end. He just makes a mental note to ask him out later. Soon. By phone call. After all, he wasn't uninterested, just...busy. And hopefully a lot less busy now without a legendary bird wreaking havoc on his mental psyche.[break][break]

As the Snivy waddled up, with Gelato and Zabaglione watching curiously ( Gelato has a paw on Zabaglione so the excitable pup wouldn't bump into the grass type ), Mint stopped his work. His eyes briefly move over to Raphael before replying with a quick, "Gummy bear, all the way baby." [break][break]

He crouched down towards the serpent like pokemon. "Whatcha got there, sweetie?" he said, looking over the egg in his grasp and carefully offering to take it from his hands. He waits for affirmation before carefully picking it up and hugging the egg gently. "You been to the daycare recently?" e asked, looking over the shell. Some scuff marks, maybe a stain that he could polish off easily. No warmth. Not that it's a bad thing. "It's not that far along." he noted, hefting it up once or twice to judge the weight. [break][break]

"Kind of big...species is probably large too." he noted. "Where'd you find this?" he asked, looking down at Herbie.



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The purple Zigzagoon has no concerns for the Snivy and races straight to Raphael, familiar with his scent. The pudgy boy had clocked the man's scent ages ago, having been the one to proudly steal a shirt of his and squirreling it away for Mint. A joke that had gone on far too long. Mint still had it... [break][break]

Gelato on the other hand gave Raphael a proper sniff, as guarded as Mint was, but making it more obvious. The Alolan Ninetails is quick to put distance between them, moving to sniff and herd the Snivy and the egg.

Mint is still rushing, clearing the laundry and setting the machines into their cycles before shoving everything to the side in his room. He comes back only slightly flushed with color and moves to greet Raphael properly. "Hehe, another tithe? What's the occasion this time?" he asked as he helped pick up the groceries and began digging in to organize them. He knew why. He'd been avoidant, full of excuses. Hiding bruises and gashes the man might find if Mint wasn't careful. Raphael, after all, was a dangerous man. Not because of his fists or his strength, but because he had a way about him that made Mint vulnerable. [break][break]

And he hated that. The vulnerable part, not-...not him. [break][break]

So he was careful because maybe Raph didn't get what exactly was on his mind, but sometimes he looked at him in a way that felt like he sensed more than Mint let on. But then again, maybe Mint was being paranoid. Maybe it was nothing. He wants to ignore it. He'd missed him too, after all. [break][break]

"Huh? Late birthday present?" he asked, trying to remember if Raphael even knew it. Gods, what had he even done on his birthday this year? Definitely celebrated it late.


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It had been a rough last month. Work had ramped up. He was splitting his time between contests and the occasional stream into Area Zero. And the echoes of Galarian Articuno haunted his dreams. Unintentionally. He hoped anyway. Since then, the bird had gone dormant, probably out of lack of interest or, as Mint thought more hopefully, to allow its avatar time for rest. [break][break]

And rest, Mint had. When he could. Happily, he'd taken a few slower days leading into a long, long weekend where he could sleep in, clean up a couple week's worth of chores around the apartment, and get in some cozy game streaming. [break][break]

At least, that had been the plan. Standing amidst a messy hall full of piles of clothes he needed to sort through hand wash, he heard the door knock. Idly he wondered if that was food delivery. Then he remembered he hadn't ordered anything. Nor was he expecting a package. He creeps quietly towards the door, only for Zabaglione to throw himself towards the front door barking excitedly. [break][break]

Gelato followed, idly stretching his body and all 9 tails before settling down to watch the door and howl for Mint's attention. "So much for checking the peephole first." he muttered as he retied the ponytail and tugged on a loose fitting crew neck over his crop top. Billowy cotton swallows him up, having purposefully bought it 2 or 3 sizes too large. Who needed a snuggie when you could just buy XL. He tries to tug down his yoga shows down his thighs for decency before moving to calm down his dogs. "Coming!" he yelled, snapping his fingers for Zaba to move back and for Gelato to shut up. [break][break]

He opens the door a crack squinting before quickly craning his neck up. His frown widened into an immediate smile as he greeted the visitor. "Raph- hi!" There's a pause and then he shuts the door a little bit more trying to hide the state of his living room. "W-what brings you here? And- hiiii~" he said smiling once more once he saw the Snivy. [break][break]

He doesn't want to turn him away, but he doesn't want him inside either. Not when his place was so messy. He tugs the falling crewneck up his shoulder. "Uhh, if you come in just- you know- close your eyes for a minute ok?" he said as he turned back to the mess, shooing off his dogs who ignored him, and immediately moved forward to sniff and bark at Raphael. Mint trusts Raph won't peek as he makes a mad dash for a laundry basket and begins simply picking things off the ground and tossing it in to put in a corner and deal with later. "Kitchen's clear! Have anything you like." While his fridge was nearly empty, Mint's kitchen and pantry often had a rather nice selection of snacks and airplane bottles of liquor. For fun.


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