[attr="class","barnaby-words"]

[break]







"Oh?"[break][break]

Even as the simulation began to fade around them, BARNABY FINCH still regarded THEO BECKETT, his expression curious but slightly guarded.[break][break]

What sorts of things did the underboss expect of him?[break][break]

"Tell me more."

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]






Here they go again.[break][break]

BARNABY FINCH rolled his eyes behind his mask, sighing audibly at jayden cross's tender caress.[break][break]

"Three's a bit crowded, don't you think?" He huffed indignantly as the other admin climbed into his lap, removing fern delaney's face from where it had lain (admittedly quite comfortably) against his abdomen.[break][break]

"Though perhaps two would fit just right...? Even if it's a bit tight."[break][break]

The cot groaned under their combined weight.[break][break]

"Jayden? I vote you get the floor."[break][break]

In their tangle of limbs Barnaby's hand snaked it's way down, landing somewhere around fern delaney's thigh. He wasn't too sure. It was hard to see past Jayden's broad torso and obnoxiously large head.[break][break]

"What do you think, Fern?" Barnaby asked, a teasing lilt to his voice.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]



[break]

[attr="class","barnaby-pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolitems"]

[attr="class","itemcoltextbox"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]

[break]







Though he didn't doubt their success, he knew it would be a hard-fought battle.[break][break]

Even as the two great reptiles clashed, sending sparks and metallic blood high into the air, BARNABY FINCH couldn't help the amused smile that tugged at his lips. [break][break]

"Mm. It doesn't take a rocket scientist." [break][break]

Elisabeth Fiorelli tended to be as subtle as a brick to the face. It didn't really surprise him to hear she was at the nexus of their infighting.[break][break]

"What are your plans to ease these tensions?"[break][break]

If THEO BECKETT had a plan at all.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]






Returning to their ward, BARNABY FINCH was the first of their trio to enter the cell. [break][break]

Immediately, he fell into the cot that was pressed against the far corner, stretching his legs out along its length while his torso remained propped up on the stone wall behind it.[break][break]

"I'm assuming the two lovebirds will take the floor?"[break][break]

Only one person could semi-comfortably fit on their cell's single cot, though even the semblance of comfort here was a farfetched idea.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]



[break]

[attr="class","barnaby-pkmn"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]







It was a rather idyllic little tea shop, tucked away on the outskirts of Oldale Town nearest the forest's edge, wreathed in spring flowers and pastel adornments. No wonder Elise Calcifet had decided to sit on the quiet outdoor patio and grace the establishment with her presence — the place was a breath of fresh air.[break][break]

A small reprieve from the stresses of Hoenn's current sociopolitical climate.[break][break]

War was afoot, after all, and the LEAGUE was in the throes of preparing for future conflict.[break][break]

"It's quite a lovely day, isn't it?"[break][break]

Quiet as a shadow, BARNABY FINCH appeared almost as if from nowhere, claiming the seat opposite of her. His countenance was pleasant — charming, even, with warm eyes and a soft smile.[break][break]

"I was actually hoping to catch you, Elise. You don't mind my joining, do you?"

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

[attr="class","barnaby-pkmn"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]






In the end, his bid to lessen howard slayte's punishment fails as the the DUMMY WARD is chosen by the majority. He can only hope the other admin is able to steel himself against what's to come. [break][break]

In the meantime, Barnaby's ward was led to their promised chamber. Their masks sloughed off and stagnant air cooled the skin, offering fleeting relief in the face of what stood before them. A stark room, a towering mask, a man— [break][break]

An alien. A familiar one, at that. VELMOS, but markedly more grotesque than how BARNABY FINCH remembered him. Overtaken by the poison, a slave to the — never-rot? [break][break]

Scanning those gathered, he recognized many in the chamber. For now, however, their faces blurred in the glow of TERASTALLIZED crystal. As Barnaby approached the mask, its azure hue reflected tantalizingly in his eyes. Inexplicably, the light called to him. [break][break]

And then it all went black. [break][break]

---

[break]



[break]

---

[break]

Even when he eventually pulled away from the towering mask, Barnaby couldn't help but dwell on the vision it had presented. His brother's lifeless stare was practically imprinted on the backs of his eyelids. Every time he blinked, he saw those dead eyes. [break][break]

Could the never-rot truly grant his desire? [break][break]

The thought sent a thrill of anticipatory excitement through him — a sentiment that stayed with him as they were ushered into the communal showers. However, Elisabeth Fiorelli's encouraging words barely registered through his purple-tinged haze. [break][break]

"..." [break][break]

He undressed with the others and nodded in her direction to offer some acknowledgement. But it was unfocused, lacking his earlier earnest intensity.[break][break]

The scalding water cleansed the filth from his body but not from his mind.[break][break]

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

• unmasked[break]
• desires to see his brother DEAD[break]
• gets nakey[break]
• is pretty listless in the showers, dwelling on the vision[break]
• acknowledges elisa with a nod

[break][break]

[attr="class","barnaby-pkmn"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]

[break]







"Gather what you can before we're inevitably interrupted," BARNABY FINCH directed soyeon kwan, gesturing toward the glinting DYNITE ORES and TERA CRYSTALS. [break][break]

It had been a hard road to get to the depths of the ULTRA DEEP SEA. Both ROCKETs were looking slightly worse for wear after fighting scores of LEAGUE operatives.[break][break]

But the potential discoveries here made all the effort worth it.[break][break]

Bathed in a cloying magenta hue, Barnaby's eyes lingered longingly at the odd core at the center of this chamber. "I'll handle the radiation, you just focus on harvesting what you need for your experiments."[break][break]

Even as he said this, a bead of blood slowly trailed down from his right nostril.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

[attr="class","itemcolitems"]

[attr="class","itemcoltextbox"]

[attr="class","barnaby-words"]

[break]







Shred Zeppelin looked much different this time around on their second trip together into the RKS Simulation.[break][break]

Inwardly, BARNABY FINCH wondered if being within a simulated universe allowed him some reprieve from the pain of his grievous injuries.[break][break]

"Gyms don't really interest me," The admin offered, allowing Shred full creativity to make the wildest space he could imagine.[break][break]

"I'd rather see what you come up with." As well as the scope and power of this TERA CRYSTAL.

[attr="class","barnaby-notes"]

[attr="class","itemcolitems"]

[attr="class","itemcoltextbox"]