john watches as the two buyers settle into the seats by the bar. naturally, his attention is more fixed on the one talking, but the other never leaves his sights.

"in hoenn, you mean."

he chuckles, reaching to pour them a couple of drinks.

"this region's where it's at, for whatever reason."

placing two glasses of whiskey down on the bar, he slides it over to the two.

"you guys from here?"

Martín del Mar

☉

‘In Hoenn, you mean.’
[break][break]
Out of all people, Mars could never deny as much, not with how successful he has been since arriving at the region. Success which, undeniably so, is due to his own efforts and business acumen, but that is also owed in no small part to Hoenn’s booming economy – even without considering his involvement in illegal trade.
[break][break]
The name Martín del Mar is one spoken of more and more in business circles these days, and yet, even someone who has heard it would probably never guess that that same man sits at this bar. His attire, his mannerisms, the way he carries himself… some of the changes are subtle, some are drastic, but they’re all prevalent to the point that a stranger would probably never notice the similarities between them unless comparing pictures. This is intentional, of course.
[break][break]
”Ha. You’re not wrong there.” There's a slight smirk, but his words are dry as he takes the glass, gaze setting on the liquid within, its colour almost as if matching that of his own eyes. The glass is swirled, but he doesn't take a sip.
[break][break]
”I’m not.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering that there’s nothing Hoennian about the accent that coats his every word. Perhaps it’s exactly why the question is asked. ”I’m from Sinnoh, though my partner here is more familiar with Hoenn.” At this, he glances at Cian, easily finding his gaze even in a situation like this one.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

"don't mention it."

with a sip, john pays no other attention to either of them as his men emerge from the back with a crateful of pokeballs.

"ah. only the finest of slowbros."

Martín del Mar

☉

It’s easy.
[break][break]
Way too easy for Mars’ liking.
[break][break]
Everyone loves a smooth deal, sure, but he’s used to gangs being a little more… shady.
[break][break]
At this point, it feels like he could just transfer them some money from an anonymous bank account and they’d take that crateful of pokéballs with them without any issue. Is that really what he wants to do here though?
[break][break]
It’s not what the mission asked for, and it’s not what he had told Cian they would do.
[break][break]
As much as Mars may be who he is, and as much as he may often use his wealth as an advantage and to deal with complicated situations, if Team Rocket isn’t going to reimburse him, he has no interest in it. The last thing he would want is to let them think they can take advantage of his wealth.
[break][break]
So, he'll just have to make sure things go smoothly even if they end up dealing with it the harder way. Easy enough, right?
[break][break]
When his gaze falls on the crate, there are two thoughts that cross his mind: are these really Galarian Slowbro, and what will he decide to do if they are.
[break][break]
”Oh? A nice amount. Mind if we have a closer look?”

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

of course they'd want to have a closer look. who would ever buy pokemon without first calling them out of their pokeballs? it is for this reason that john nods, not suspicious in the slightest.

"knock yourselves out. they're sedated enough."

Martín del Mar

☉

His gaze wanders from the crate to the gang leader, and then to Cian, watching him stand.
[break][break]
What is he thinking right now? How is he feeling?
[break][break]
He’s probably nervous.
[break][break]
Mars remembers what it’s like to feel that way in this sort of situation, and honestly, it makes him hate having to put Cian through the same. Cian doesn’t deserve to have to do these things, especially when he doesn’t want it.
[break][break]
Does Mars himself want it though? Does he enjoy it?
[break][break]
It’s hard to tell. But, while he’s in no rush to follow and approach the crate, when he does, a hand is calmly placed upon Cian’s shoulder. He doesn’t look at him, instead watching the man who reaches for a pokéballs in order to release one of the Slowbro, but still, the meaning of the gesture should be obvious between them: reassurance.
[break][break]
Galarian as it may be, the Slowbro looks as Slowbros often look: dazed, Mars being all too familiar with the sight considering he himself has two of them.
[break][break]
”You did well to sedate them, I hear Galarian Slowbro can be pretty dangerous.”
[break][break]
This too he knows well.
[break][break]
”I bet you went through a lot of trouble to get these… It really is a shame that the people who sent us have no interest in making business with small gangs. It’s nothing personal, really.”
[break][break]
His words are cold, and by the time this warning is given, it’s too late, for three pokémon have been released with complete subtlety. All of them seem harmless at first: Inkay of two different colours, and a cute Brionne that claps her flippers. Yet, with a single snap of Mars’ fingers, that changes way too quickly…
[break][break]
The Inkay allow the heavy veil of HYPNOSIS to fall upon the bar, and the Brionne begins to SING a sweet and sleep-inducing lullaby. To make matters worse, the attack coming from one of the Inkays would break through any possible barriers placed thanks to INFILTRATOR.
[break][break]
Mars is effective at what he does, and he always likes it when the odds are in his favour.
[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

Every mistake Mars could have made, he has made in the past, and for each one of them he paid a painful price.
[break][break]
Effectiveness is not something that comes innately; it’s something that was learned, something that was beaten into him over years of performing all sorts of different missions and tasks – some much like this one.
[break][break]
Mars being Mars, he obviously doesn’t bother with explaining all that when Cian reacts with surprise and confusion though. All he does is smile and shrug.
[break][break]
”Ha. Yeah… Sleep moves aren’t sure-fire and most don’t hit a lot of targets, so you’re always better off doubling down – or tripling, I guess.” He explains, and he smirks, oh so easily going back to the same Mars he usually is.
[break][break]
Honestly, he’s just glad they haven’t had any problems so far, because the truth is the reason Mars is being even more careful about not taking any risks is because Cian is here with him.
[break][break]
Who knows, if he cared enough to apply this same effectiveness to the battlefield, then perhaps he’d be a terrifying trainer.
[break][break]
”Let’s grab the crate and get out of here.”
[break][break]
The Slowbro is also asleep, and he returns it to its pokéball before looking at Cian one more time.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

unbeknownst to both of them, a little solosis has long rendered the INFILTRATOR useless with an intuitive SKILL SWAP, allowing another solosis to form a barrier of PROTECT that wraps around john.

naturally, he plays along, falling asleep on the bar as he waits for the perfect opportunity.

he doesn't have to wait long.

the moment cian reaches for the crate, another PSYCHIC engulfs him and immediately flings him across the room. using the distraction, john runs towards the backdoor with both solosis closely behind.

Martín del Mar

☉

It all was too good to be true, Mars had known as much.
[break][break]
If thinking logically, it makes sense: no matter how prepared he may be, it’s important to account for factors like a margin of error, dealing with a smart opponent, or those things that are simply beyond his control.
[break][break]
Mars knows all this, and yet, when the PSYCHIC flings Cian across the room, his mind definitely doesn’t bother with rationalizing the situation.
[break][break]
”Fuck.”
[break][break]
It pisses him off, and for a split second, when looking for the culprit and seeing the gang leader leave his subordinates behind and run out of the bar’s back door like a coward, Mars considers chasing after him for the sole sake of making him pay for what he had just done.
[break][break]
His concern over Cian wins though, as it would win every time.
[break][break]
Thus, the distraction works like a charm, because trusting the pokémon to look after both the crate and the sleeping gang members, he rushes to Cian’s side.
[break][break]
”You okay?”
[break][break]
While he had been perfectly calm before, worry now paints its colours in Mars' expression.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER

He doesn’t look fine.
[break][break]
”Hey, woah, take it easy there.”
[break][break]
Concerned, Mars kneels down next to him, a hand gently reaching for Cian’s cheek.
[break][break]
He definitely doesn’t look fine at all. Fuck.
[break][break][break]
”I’m okay, yeah… I think you may have hit your head. Let me help you up so we can get out here.”
[break][break]
Will Cian be okay?
[break][break]
A million thoughts rush through Mars’ mind, but he's conscious enough of the situation they're in to call out a fourth pokémon before all this becomes all too distracting: this time, a Hatterene.
[break][break]
”Atropos, use Heal Pulse, then I’m gonna need you to move that crate.”
[break][break]
Worried as he may be, Mars is all too aware of the risk they're still in, and he knows he needs to get both Cian and the crate out of here as soon as possible. He's used to working under stressful conditions, so this is no different, right?
[break][break]
Except that it is, because of course it is, no matter how hard Mars may try to remain effective and focused on the objective.

[BREAK][BREAK]

+ CIAN MAHER