"Exhausted. Though that's nothing new for me." Lucas let out a pained laugh. "But I'm hiring an assistant for the summer, so things should be getting easier for me." With any luck the position would extend past the summer months. It'd alleviate untold amounts of stress from the head scientist.

"Been getting into new hobbies like battling too recently. Challenged a few gyms already. So so results on those though." There wasn't any disappointment in his words. They'd been a valuable learning experience for him.
[break]

DAPHNE STONE

"Maybe, better to be safe than sorry though."

Lucas turned his head towards Daphne with a quizzical look. "Really? I thought it was just Alex that left." Lucas had heard the news of her brother's departure from his close friend FERNANDO SILPH .

"Were you expecting some grand changes in the few months you were away?" A pair of men walking down the nearest sidewalk catch Lucas' eye. But as they turn a corner and disappear into the depths of the city he quickly forgets about them. "Besides the contest fiasco I think nothings changed too much."
[break]

DAPHNE STONE

Lucas was happy to see a spoink for once that wasn't guzzling its weight in sugar. As he waited in line for the Rotomi he pivoted his view between the back of Priam's head and the spoink repeatedly.

"Oh I'm um," Lucas is caught off guard as he released his minun. "Late twenties."

It took Lucas a moment to catch site of the tiny dot in the air that was spoinkt. Pointing toward it he directed the Minun's attention in its direction. "Over there buddy, thunder them!" Without a cloud in sight the minun improvised the attack. Jaw unhinged it released a thunder created within the depths of its body.
[break]

Thunder
dominic sinclair marcel maeda priam conrad

Lucas was ecstatic to finally meet some of Priam's friends. He rushed to ask for names and extend a hand in welcome to any who'd take it. As he does so he noticed the significant age gap between them and Priam. He's quick to move on from the glaring fact, since it was the same for him.

Lucas retrieved a pokeball from the Rotomi and returned to the group. He released it and watched as its FLASH FIRE devoured Rapidash's attack.

"Shadow Ball!"
[break]

flash fire + shadow ball
marcel maeda priam conrad dominic sinclair

Despite being stationed at the building's back entrance Lucas could hear the crowd roaring. It permeated the walls of the building.

"So you do this kind of work often?" Lucas asked the other guard as he handed his kabutops a berry block. "Cause honestly this is a first time for me. Well sorta the first time actually. I had a similar job before, but that was a breeze for the most part."

As he spoke the sun continued to set. It painted the their surroundings with hues of orange.
[break]

Mission
Open to one league member

Lucas shined his flashlight down a diglet hole. After seeing no one was home he pulled away and continued to follow the arrows pointing towards the tunnel exit.

He was almost out.
[break]

skip

Cacnea threw one last spike at the car before calling it a quits. It sat down and stared at Lucas as it waited for him to pick it up.

"Yeah I heard Kyle did a number on people. You know him and I went on a date once?"

Lucas walked over and lifted the cacnea up. His hands slipped between its spikes effortlessly. "Thatta boy. You smashed it real good."
[break]

Bailey Cooper

"Isn't it?" There isn't a hint of sarcasm in Lucas' words.

"You mine!" Lucas said enthusiastically. "So basically these mines are full of all kinds of stuff. Evolution stones, gems, and maybe even a fossil here or there. Most of the stuff here natural. Been here since way back. But they also fill it back up from time to time to keep tourism up I think."

Lucas held one canvas bag in each hand. Inside each are a set of tools. "Anyway the best spots for digging are way far out from the entrance. People usually get lazy and start digging right away, which means most of the interesting stuff is all gone here."
[break]

priam conrad

Already receiving its promised reward for helping out cacnea grew lazy. All it wanted now was a long rest in its pot at home. Begrudgingly it continued to attack the abandoned vehicle. Each attack had less strength & vigor behind it than the last.

"I guess it did."

When Bailey mentioned feeling heated Lucas nodded and thought back to the vision he had. Of Bailey battling cait alfric with fire radiating from the victory star mark.

"Well if you ever feel something more than that coming on let me know." The words are sincere. "Anyway," he changed the abruptly. "How goes the elite four battles? Many promising people at all?"
[break]

XVtP5Jeg
Bailey Cooper