The beach at night is just as beautiful as it is during the daytime. This didn’t change no matter what shoreline he stood at. The waves sounded the same, the air smelled the same, and the vastness of the lost horizon are entrancing. The ocean’s waves had often been a source of inspiration in another life. Now? Now he just watched, curious but never venturing too far into the forbidden territory. He wasn’t stupid after all. A silent Luxray lay near him, watching and waiting for any possible threats. His trainer was all too air headed for his liking, and Cacio knew better than anyone else that by sheer luck the human had survived death numerous occasions. [break][break]

Mint had been sitting for what felt to the panther pokemon like hours, watching the horizon. And then, his attention drifted sea foam green eyes darting to track movement. He’s not quite sure what he sees, but it’s immediately promising. “Cacio.” He whispered, as the Luxray followed his gaze. Without another word the grunt crept closer and closer to the Lapras, staying out of sight and getting covered with dirt and sand in the process. [break][break]

Mint’s a little too excited, stumbling into the water and freezing on the spot. But the dual type isn’t stupid, and as soon as Mint think it’ll bolt, it doesn’t. He peaked around a dune, eyes wide and mouth agape. “Ohmygods…and actual Lapras!!” he whispered yelled while Cacio kept a glare trained on the pokemon, INTIMIDATing poor Anwhistle. “I don’t know what it’s doing all the way out here, but we’re taking them home.” He added excitedly, causing Cacio to spark slightly from his post on the sand, growling and beginning to bare his fangs at the Lapras.


[break][break]

+ klaus anchoret

[break]
[break]

Lapras swings his head towards the pair when they emerge, his eyes narrowing and a low whistle of warning filling the air as he's Intimidated; a SAFEGUARD flickers to life around Anwhistle in response, its prismatic shimmer dancing like an aurora. His head lowering, the Lapras shuffles where he is in the shallows, torn as to whether to attack or flee from what looks to be an impending battle.
[break][break]
Oblivious to his Lapras's growing distress, Klaus wordlessly approaches his drop site, his figure stilling for a moment to ensure he is truly alone. He continues forwards and digs up a small section near a weathered old tree, an old metal box pulled up and dusted off before its opened. Placing the net he holds within, Klaus carefully recovers the box with dirt and debris, a large stone shuffled atop it to signal its place, and then takes his time to scruff up the surrounding ground to ensure it looks as natural as possible.
[break][break]
With a nod at his work, the man then pads back out of the forest and towards the beach, his watch checked - he was making good time all things considered. Granted, he still needed to get up to the lighthouse and finish some maintenance for the night but that could be easily done after a shower. Allowing his thoughts to turn longingly to his impending shower, Klaus absently rubs at his hair, sending a few crystals of dried sea-salt spilling to the ground as he walks. The water was still cold this time of year, not fatally so, but enough that it was still uncomfortable. A hot shower was just what he needed.
[break][break]
Pulled from his thoughts abruptly at the sound of an angry Lapras thrashing in the water, Klaus crests a final dune to appear on the scene, his brow immediately furrowing at the sight of another person this far out. Hell.
[break][break]
"Hey," he barks out. "Stop fucking around with my Lapras!"

[break][break]

+ mint frost

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Cacio is undeterred by the Safeguard, flickering with electricity. He had enough space for a running start for VOLT SWITCH. A glance as his excited trainer to make sure he was a safe distance up a dune was all ne needed before hissing at the Lapras, ready to bash into its side while it was stuck in the shallows. Mint's about ready to let the panther off the leash when he almost jumped out of his skin. [break][break]

He whipped his head towards the other grunt, eyes wide with surprise. "It's yours?" Mint yelped, forgetting he was a Rocket and stealing pokemon was part of the job description. Cacio turned his head in Klaus' direction snarling aggressively in the hopes that it would deter the stranger from getting any closer to Mint or their target. "I- We- We thought it was wild, I'm sorry!" he said turning to look at Cacio who was still fully on Team 'Steal The Lapras'.

[break][break]

+ klaus anchoret

[break]
[break]

Klaus jumps back as as the Luxray snarls at him, his eyes a touch wide in surprise and hands lifting to display his palms. "Yeah he's mine," the man calls in distraction to Mint, his gaze never leaving the bristling Luxray.
[break][break]
Inching back and to the side down the dune, keeping his distance from Cacio, Klaus cautiously makes his way towards his pokemon. "How ya doing, buddy," he calls absently to the Lapras, a sharp whistle sounding from the pokemon in question which betrays his annoyance. "Yeah me too."
[break][break]
He flashes Mint a brilliant smile, one too wide to be genuine and explains, "Look. I just needed a tree - I hate going in my wetsuit. I'm Klaus. The lighthouse keeper." He jabs his thumb towards the silhouette in the distance for emphasis. "Just checking the shoreline, you know?"
[break][break]
"Can you," he continues, his index finger pointing to the Luxray, "call that off?"



[break][break]

+ mint frost

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Cacio is quick to return to Mint's side, flank pressed against his right leg and facing the ocean, should the Lapras try anything. Even if he had been the one about to try to maul it. Mint doesn't clock the tension, or perhaps this was his attempt to try to dissolve it. He let out a laugh. "Well, duh, he's feral!" he said while the Luxray huffed, tail flicking in annoyance behind him. It's a mix at losing out on a hunt and his trainer's carefree comment. He was...mostly domesticated now. Unfortunately. [break][break]

But the canned wet food slapped so fuck it. "A tree?" Mint echoed before turning to look at the tree line and then back at the smuggler. "Oh- OH! Wow, really? Does it stink up the crotch part?" he asked snickering at the man's plight. His gaze is then directed out to the open waters and the Lapras. "Why do you need a wet suit to check the shores? How far out do you go?" He's never met a light house keeper and without meaning to is set on interrogating the stranger. But he's also a bored thief forced to make another person's acquaintance. Considering his lack of friends, he'd take what he could get. [break][break]

As Klaus called Cacio a 'that' the electric type hissed, bristling lie kan overgrown house cat. Mint was quick to bring the panther's head closer to himself, shushing his partner. "Cacio-! Be nice." he whispered before looking up at Klaus. "Don't worry he's trained!" A blatant lie.

[break][break]

+ klaus anchoret

[break]
[break]

Brow furrowing at the news the Luxray is feral, Klaus hums what he hopes is a soothing note in the electric pokemon's direction. He really hoped that was a poorly landed joke, but given his luck it likely wasn't.
[break][break]
Finally reaching his destination of standing beside the Lapras, Klaus's head tilts at Mint's words. With a snort, he glances askance before supplying with an arched eyebrow, "Do you like swimming through warm water on just your crotch?" He then jerks his thumb back towards the water behind himself, continuing, "I mean I don't need it but it's a hell of a lot easier to go out in a wetsuit than jeans and a t-shirt on Anwhistle. You're gunna get soaked either way, yeah? Dunno about you but I don't like wearing wet jeans." He pauses a moment, considering before answering honestly, "Kinda depends. There's some buoys out there a couple of the local groups use to collect data." Pursing his lips, he guesses, "About one hundred meters?"
[break][break]
He nods slowly as Mint assures him the Luxray is trained, though his face betrays serious doubts as to the validity of the other man's statement. "So what are you doing out here," he questions instead.
[break][break]
"It's late. Not exactly ideal beach-going time."

[break][break]

+ mint frost

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Mint shook his head. "Guess I haven't...really thought about it...but then again, I can't swim." he said with a small laugh. "Oh- I guess- I just kinda assumed you'd be on the sand and not water.." he added looking over at the Lapras. "By the way, I'm sorry uh...A-Anwhistle." he said waving at the dual type while Cacio huffed through his nose. He would not apologize for something that hadn't been their fault. It'd been alone, the beach was desolate. Anyone would've made the same mistake. [break][break]

He looked out to the water again squinting to see the buoys Klaus was talking about before eventually turning his attention back to the lighthouse keeper. "Oh, you know, out for a walk." No the most innocent of answers but for now it was true. "I've been around the place when it's light out but different stuff happens at night. I guess I just wanted to see what." [break][break]

[break][break]He ruffled the fur on the panther's head, Cacio bit at the air in an attempt to reach his hand.

[break][break]

+ klaus anchoret

[break]
[break]

"You should take a swimming class at the Rec Centre if you're going to be out here at night alone," Klaus reprimands, his eyebrow arched dubiously as he peers past Mint towards the desolate stretch of beach just beyond. "I don't like finding dead bodies washed up. Gotta call the police and everything." He kicks a foot lightly into the beach sand as if for emphasis, his toes buried in the wet sand making a crumbling little hill in the wake of the action.
[break][break]
A soft hum sounds from Awhistle at his trainer's words, the Lapras attention swinging to Mint with a thoughtful expression as the green-haired man offers an apology. A tinny whistle sounds from the Lapras in return, his great brown eyes closing briefly before the pokemon looks at Mint again - all seemingly forgiven.
[break][break]
"Right," he them murmurs awkwardly, his hand lifting to scratch at the back of his neck. "I should. Get back to work. Or something." Klaus jabs the thumb of his opposite back towards the open ocean.
[break][break]
"Be careful out here all alone."

[break][break]

+ mint frost

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Mint nodded. He dealt with enough water pokemon that he probably should have learnt to swim by now. Perhaps he'd ask Tempest Quinn in exchange for a few painting lessons. [Break][break]

"Sure!" Mint echoed, perking up before waving him off.


[break][break]

+ klaus anchoret

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