Materials are in hand, Love Balls decorated with worn stickers.

Be not what they expect.

"Beckett." It sounds almost fond. Yet,

"Not at all."

He's still tired, covered in bandages.

"You?"

The Naganadel, no matter how well trained, would flit closer to Chu-e like a moth to the flame- drawn to the thing slumbering inside him.

[attr="class","beck"]"no complaints."

the way his naganadel drifts forward does not go unnoticed. he clicks his tongue, ordering it to stop. he doesn't bother turning to look if it does.

"here for a nice walk?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

"Nah." A pokeball is tossed out, a Mawile lands, shakes herself and stretches. Her eyes narrow at THEO BECKETT and the unfamiliar pokemon.

"Need to practice with this one."

obey or die the memory of It screams at the Narganadel.

But nothing will change.

[attr="class","beck"]"ah."

he has a few choices in his blazer should he need them, but he has his suspicions. his eyes float back over to the ultra beast, then back at choi.

"any preferences?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

"You don't have to join me,"

Is offered first. He reaches up and tucks his hair behind his ear. A small tap of a partially hidden piercing and the Mawile screams, bursts into new.

A snap, not quite the clicks he had been taught, his own spin, sees the pokemon roaring and tears washing down her face, sudden, at some perceived pain the act had brought.

"but if you do, just something that can wear her out."

OBEY or DIE

As well trained as the mosquito was, would it still attack it's creator? Defy it's god?

(Yes, in the end, but not without it's own form of consequence.)

---

- Mega Mawile used Fake Tears

[attr="class","beck"]"okay."

he takes a step back, allowing them the space of the battlefield. the obvious type-disadvantage limits their options but not much needs to be done.

a click sounds, bringing with it a sudden increase in temperature as a HEAT WAVE washes over the battlefield.

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

A step is taken back, out of range of any errant attacks.

"Tank it."

The Mawile flicks her eyes back to Chu-e before tensing up. She lets the flames lap over her, shudders and shakes as the flames scald the metal of her body.

She pants, another snap- she leaps, jaws open to Crunch.

[attr="class","beck"]unmoving, naganadel tanks the CRUNCH, teeth sinking through tough flesh. but like an obedient pet, it awaits orders.

a click causes the HEAT WAVE to continue.

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

Skin heats a scalding red, scorching, teeth grit to keep the screaming inside.

The teeth of the Crunch dig deeper as well. This isn't so much about winning for what Chu-e wants.

"I heard you got a promotion."

[attr="class","beck"]"a gift, too."

his eyes narrow, unsure what choi's goals for his mawile are. he shrugs it off, deciding it not his business to know. or care.

"how do you feel about it?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

The grasp slackens, heat sears, and Mawile falls limp.

Molten metal drips.

Chu-e huffs, displeased, but calls his pokemon back as the last dredges of her Mega Evolution fade away. Still not strong enough yet.

"Why do you want to know?" An eyebrow raises, head tilts, something amused offered on his lips.

[attr="class","beck"]the HEAT WAVE dissipates after a final click.

what he says next comes out easier than he thought, perhaps eased by the fact that choi won't be here for much longer.

"i care about your opinion."

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

Not one, but three pokeballs tossed out. A Hattrene, Clefable, and Grimmsnarl stand before them.

"Attack them."

The three pokemon, spread out and brace but make no move to retaliate.

"You would be the first."