[attr="class","jayden"] it had caught him off-guard when the other had offered him for drinks. not, of course, that he was opposed.

[break][break] people simply didn't invite him out often.

[break][break] "my poison?" his brow furrowed. the likes of people such as Elisabeth Fiorelli or any of rocket's other specialists may seemed more equipped to deal with it. before he could respond, however, the bartender came over.

[break][break] ah.

[break][break] "a whisky is fine," he says, nodding at the man. he glances back over towards Felix Gallagher . "do you have a preference?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"]+ n/a

[attr="class","jayden"] two peas in a pod. perhaps he and Felix Gallagher had more in common than they knew.

[break][break] "as do you," he says, reaching for the drink as it is set down in front of him. the glass clinks against the edges as it is brought up to his lips.

[break][break] working at rocket. what a strange thing to say — and yet with it told jayden all he needed to know about Felix Gallagher and his relationship with rocket.

[break][break] "my entire life," he says, reminded of the conversation they'd almost had on their mission. "but i only came to hoenn a bit before —" he pauses, just to make sure no one overhead. "blackwell's death."

[break][break] a taboo word for most, but jayden had dealt with worse fears. SILAS BLACKWELL scared him as much as his own father. he also respected the man just as much.

[break][break] "what about you? you mentioned ANVIL?"

[break][break] he'd only heard the mutterings of the organization, and knew of it's connections to Remiel Calcifet . after all, they'd only been hired in the time that jayden had been away.

[attr="class","noodles"]+ n/a

[attr="class","jayden"] from his response, jayden surmises that Felix Gallagher was not aware. which surprised him.

[break][break] though, perhaps it was his fault. jayden knew that he often had the bad habit of assuming that everyone knew more than him, which was soon proving not to be the case.

[break][break] "my father and mother were both rockets," he offered. the reminder of his parents still send a shiver down his spine, but he hid it by nursing the whiskey in hand. the golden liquid burns on the way down his throat.

[break][break] he nods.

[break][break] "you must be close to calcifet then." he recalls the meeting that he had with Remiel Calcifet and oscar clayton not too long ago, when he'd been filled in on SPECTRA and the happenings. unfortunately, jayden hadn't made it in time for the exams.

[break][break] not that it really mattered — his former beast status had made him a shoe-in for participation already. or at the very least, that's what he presumed.

[break][break] "my return from kanto was not in time for the exams, i'm afraid."

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"]+ n/a

[attr="class","jayden"] he stares at the bottom of the glass, which is now empty. jayden blinks, gesturing for the bartender to refill their drinks. in the meantime, he asks for a tray of truffle fries as well.

[break][break] the ex-beast glances sideways at his companion. "yes."

[break][break] it may have seemed unusual, though he was sure he wasn't the only one that Remiel Calcifet had personally chosen to participate. after all, not every rocket could be expected to drop their responsibility to partake in the special event.

[break][break] that being said, perhaps it was because jayden had already proved himself. beast or not, his experience spoke for itself.

[break][break] "how are you liking rocket, then?" he said, bringing the drink to his lips again as he looks at the other. his cheeks are warm.

[attr="class","noodles"]Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","jayden"] what did he think about SPECTRA? what was there to think about it?

[break][break] "work is work," he repeats just what Felix Gallagher said moments ago, but there is a small smile tucked into the corner of his mouth. maybe it's the alcohol.

[break][break] placing the glass down, he shifts in his seat to turn to the other. "it's an interesting endeavor," he says, with some sense of finality. "i'm excited to see where it goes."

[break][break] he's excited to what it might mean for rocket. because, after all, rocket will always be at the forefront of his thoughts.

[break][break] it's simply how he was built.

[attr="class","noodles"]Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","jayden"] Avatars.

[break][break] It was not the first time that he had heard the word — certainly, such a thing would have been impossible with the amount of time he had already spent on Hoenn. However, it was also not the first time that he had discussed such things with another. Briefly, he remembers a conversation with an old acquaintance. He words of siobhan burke echoes in his mind:

[break][break] 'Jayden, do you want to be an Avatar?'

[break][break] Back then, Jayden had spoken of fate — how they were no more responsible for their own fate, than they were for their own life. Yet, how fitting it was, that his fate would draw him here — sitting by one Felix Gallagher, discussing the very same topic again.

[break][break] Yet, perhaps, in a different way.

[break][break] "Whichever division my skills would be of most use," he says, simply.

[break][break] His head tilts, turning his iris gaze over to the other.

[break][break] "And you, Felix? Do you have a goal in mind?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"]Felix Gallagher

[attr="class","jayden"] MATIAS SILPH. There it is again - something hot runs through his veins, accompanied by something bitter indeed. He remembers the words of Cillian Quinn.

[break][break] The man that killed Chu-e Choi. They'll get him back.

[break][break] Was this it? Was this his chance?

[break][break] "Any reason?" he says, attempting to seem ambivalent. Though perhaps it's obvious. After all, Jayden has never been particularly good at holding his feelings back — at least, not when it came to their late underboss.

[break][break] He takes a swig of the alcohol again, if for anything than to distract himself.

[break][break] "Who else is with you?" he asks instead, gaze turning to look at Felix Gallagher for the first time. He knew very little about the other, but Jayden had never been quite the type to second-guess his Rocket comrades. Loyalty bled through them as much as blood did. At least, that was as far as he was concerned.

[break][break]

[attr="class","noodles"]Felix Gallagher