Killian Decker

all pretext falls away the second the creature appears from the orb. she shuts her laptop, likely cracking the screen in the process and leans forward. the arbok stirs beneath her but doesn't make any other movements.

he knew better than to interrupt her when she was focused like this.

"an ultra beast as i live and breathe."

she stands, turning a sharp gaze turns downwards at killian as the beast skitters away. his bait worked. she knew. he knew. she wasn't so proud to act coy about it.

"where did you get it? do you have more?"

"I came across it during my excursion at Meteor Falls. It was palling around with a pack of Bagon. Unfortunately, I only found the one."

Killian glances in Poipole's direction. The creature can't bring itself to meet the admin's gaze. Its light blue eyes stare down at the ground instead.

A hefty sigh leaves his lips, and his attention returns to Natalie. "As you can see, it's rather shy." Killian was still working on getting it to warm up to him. His progress so far had been mixed at best.

"You're welcome to take a closer look."

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

"if you're looking for someone for him to warm up too, i'm afraid you've chosen wrong."

she leans over the table, inspecting the nervous pokemon better.

"there are tests i'd like to run..."

her eyes catch killian's and she sits again. now it was time for negotiations.

"you wish to be an avatar. that much is obvious. but to which mythical pokemon?"

"No, I've chosen correctly."

Feeling her eyes, Poipole squirms and attempts to hide behind Killian. A raised hand stops the beast in its track. It glances at its trainer who's attention remains fixed on Natalie.

"I figured you would." and he'd let her, they were friends after all.

Espeon meows from his lap, demanding attention. Fingers scratch at the underside of Loveless's chin while he talks.

The question she's asked is an interesting one. "That's difficult to answer. What information I have about the Pokemon in question is limited, you see." an understatement.

"I'm not sure if it's capable of forming that kind of connection."

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

natalie's eyes narrow.

"and what pokemon do you have in mind?"

this immediately removed lugia from her mind. as interesting as it would've been to see killian and Cillian Quinn clash, it sadly wouldn't be the case.

"and if you're coming to me, am i to assume.. others wouldn't want you to attain this 'bond'?"

syfus writhed beneath her.

"One not from this world - an alien from beyond the stars."

Killian was privy to its existence due in part to Stormy Silph. The woman had shared with him what little information she had on the creature. That included its name.

"Deoxys." the name rolls off his tongue with a hunger. A deep-rooted desire to make the Pokemon his own is impossible to hide.

"That's what the League is calling it, at least."

Shoulders shrug in casual dismissal of her question. "I doubt anyone in Rocket would be against it." but who was to say for sure.

"Besides, my main concern is finding it at the moment. I'll worry about bonding with it once I do."

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

the name meant nothing to her. natalie held no lasting friendships, or contacts, with the researchers that studied the stars. still, the idea of a mythical pokemon whose origins originated in space was highly interesting.

"is there confirmation it is still on the planet?"

her mind lingers on the woman who primarily ran the labs- Lulu Flint - and her creative designs.

"have you asked dr. flint for help?"

despite having zero skin in the game, natalie was invested. to get a sample of that pokemon...

she nearly shivers at the thought.

He shakes his head.

"It caused...an incident during the war with the Ultra Beasts and flew off into space."

"But from what I've heard, there were traces of it left behind." if they could get their hands on some. Then perhaps they'd be able to track it down. Call it back to Earth to be captured and tamed.

His instinct is to frown at the mention of Lulu Flint. Natalie doesn't know that Killian's...distaste for the woman runs deep. So can't be upset at the casual mention of her aid.

"No, and I don't think I will." he's reserved, a hint of coldness at the edge of his voice. "I came to you and not her for a reason." a friendly smile.

"Or are you not up for the challenge?"

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

she leans back into her chair, throwing one leg over the other knee. she recognized the edge in his voice; the cold, almost daring gaze to push the subject.

so she doesn't.

"bring me the samples and i will see what i can do. i will work with dr. flint myself, if need be."

her eyes narrow, voice turning quickly gaining an edge to it.

"i will assume you're being coy, killian, and not actually taunting me."

she licks her lips.

"i do not enjoy my work being questioned."

"It's not as simple as bringing them to you." Killian sighs.

"I don't have them. It was hard enough to get the information." again, his thoughts flashback to Stormy. To how difficult she'd been and the exchange he'd had to make.

"But when I get one, you'll be the first to know."

The viper bares her fangs with a hiss.

Killian chuckles, the devil's smile slicked across his face. "You can relax, Natalie." it's not his intention to make another enemy in Rocket. He had two too many of them already.

"I'm not questioning your work. You're smart, a genius - I can see that." honeywords attempt to dull the woman's edge.

"Just curious about your resolve."

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

"i'm aware. consider it a open invitation. once you have them- bring it to me. i'll see what i can do."

natalie blinks, exhaustion from the full work day weighing on heavy lids.

"my resolve and my work are one in the same. remember that, killian."

she retracts her fangs; stows her venom. but her gaze is still pointed and analyzing.

"and what of miss briarwood? should i expect to assist her as well?"

killian's relationship with Alexandra Briarwood was no secret. and if it was? it certainly wasn't a good one.

"No, Lex doesn't have anything to do with this." not unless he needed something stolen.

"We don't do everything together." nor should they. As apparantly that was making her weak according to some.

There's something gnawing at the back of Killian's mind. It's difficult to ignore.

"Interested in getting a drink with me? You look like you could use a break."

natalie fairchild

Killian Decker

which means she probably wouldn't approve.

interesting.

natalie raises an eyebrow at the mans offer.

"surely you're not looking to take advantage of a tired, over-worked woman, are you killian?"