Rain, storms bring with them a strange comfort.

Gavin walks without an umbrella, allows the downpour to soak into his clothes and settle against his skin. Sootopolis is different from Fallarbor in every way — the air here is clear, clean, smells of salt rather than the musk of ashfall. The sea fills his lungs as he draws deep breaths and thinks to his patron, slumbering in the deep.

This will be ours, soon.

A promise, to Lugia and to himself. To Rocket.

Slick hair is pushed back from his forehead as he approaches Killian Decker, offering a curt nod and a quirk of his lip in greeting. He doesn't speak, merely assessing the other for preparedness before leading the way inside.

They know who they're here to see.

Comfort fades as they step inside, damp clothes sticking to his skin.

Gavin allows Killian Decker to take the helm, for this was as much a test as it was an operation. He watches the trainer at the front desk slump under the effects of hypnosis, sharp amber eyes shifting between frightened faces in the room.

When someone reaches for a phone, a quick DISCHARGE of energy from his Rotom intercepts the signal. The lights flicker as the electricity pulses through the room.

"Compliance will ensure your safety. We only want to talk."

After an uncomfortable pause, a nurse leans over to the intercom and summons the staff to the front. They gather nervously, glancing between each other and the two men who stand in the center of the lobby. Miasma swirls at Gavin's feet.

Whether or not Killian Decker realizes it, there is a purpose for the fog of corruption that pools beneath Gavin's feet. It fills his lungs as he breathes, steady and slow, and his focus sharpens. His pulse quickens as adrenaline floods through his veins.

If anyone got any bad ideas, Gavin would be ready.

For now, he is calm, leaning next to the door and observing the nervous crowd as Rocket's newest admin makes his debut performance. They had once thought to move away from the crude tools of their past, but Gavin sees no harm in the blackmail that might spare the lives of so many in the long run. What were these little threats in comparison to what Blackwell would have done? They'd have chained up the man's entire family and forced him to work under threat of their death.

This, Gavin tells himself, is nothing at all.

"Only a little cooperation," he replies. His smile doesn't reach his eyes, a dangerous flash of teeth. "There will come a time when our agents have need of this space, and your services within it. You're going to give it to them."

Gavin chuckles low in his throat when the doctor demands to know who they work for.

He doesn't answer.

Shadows swirl in defiance of the air that circulates through the vents above, miasma coiling around his feet like some ethereal serpent. There is no need to further state the threat... or so Gavin assumes before one of their hostages makes a break for the door.

He sighs.

Moving quicker than could be considered natural, the underboss steps into their path. From a luxury ball in his blazer emerges an Eelektross sporting dark crystal growths across its lithe body. Gavin whistles, gestures, and the shadow Pokemon COILS around the would-be escapee. It's clearly not a comfortable experience; further pleas are strangled as electricity pulses through their limbs.

"Compliance will ensure your safety." Gavin repeats his earlier words, malice threading his once pleasant tone. "Failure to comply — do I really need to spell it out?"

He clicks his tongue, and Eelektross releases its hold. It slithers to Gavin's side, and he strokes a hand along its serpentine spine. The nurse collapses, muscles seizing.

"Anyone else?"

Gavin lapses back into silence, albeit a menacing one with the Eelektross sparking at his side. His amber gaze shifts between those gathered in turn, never allowing them to get too comfortable before they'd once again feel his scrutiny.

Associate. Gavin's lip quirks.

"Just one thing, and we'll be on our way."

His smile is sharp.

"If you go to the League, we will find out. There will be consequences. As to what those consequences might be..." He clicks his tongue, and Eelektross's body surges with the energy of a VOLT SWITCH as it returns to him. "I'll leave it up to your imagination."

His smile widens before it vanishes, and he leads the way out of the Pokemon Center.

"You handled yourself well, Decker."

"Killian."

His tongue wraps around the familiar name, deliberate.

"Had I expected you to fail, I'd have been more involved. You weren't promoted without reason. Rocket has faith in you, and so do I."

He'd put forth Killian Decker's name among others for consideration, after all. It had not been easy to think of a replacement for Maeda.

"It was only a compliment. Where to next?"

Ignorant to the true meaning of Killian Decker's reservation, Gavin flicks his wrist in dismissal of the apology.

"Don't worry about it."

It's a hell of a power move for a duo of criminals to waltz directly into the police station, but Gavin's faith in the admin shows in the lack of hesitation before he follows. He smirks at the mention of the Black Market.

"Never can keep their hands clean, can they? Need anything in particular from me?"

He was content to play mostly silent observer, if not.