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POSTED ON May 29, 2022 4:42:20 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","adrianwt"]

[attr="class","adrianwtw"]"Derek, get out here. I've got a mission."[break][break]

Delivering eggs was the short of it, but there was a hidden difficulty in what they'd be required to do while handling the eggs. For starters, the pokemon inside were apparently very sensitive to changes in air pressure. The caretakers there stressed the health of these eggs was extremely fickle, and even the slightest disturbance could alter them drastically.[break][break]

Once while they were discussing the logistics, he'd reached out to gently stroke the shell of a nearby egg that was being monitored, but the resident nurse on hand (a Chansey) blasted him with an EGG BOMB almost immediately. He could still feel the grit and grime of it, though he'd managed to get himself mostly clean.[break][break]

With the eggs so sensitive that they dare not deliver them through traditional means, they were hoping for the trainers to escort them on foot, but that would require them to contest any wild pokemon between here and Mauville City.
[break][break]

[attr="class","adrianwttag"]DEREK HOFFMAN

[attr="class","adrianwtpokes"][break]

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played by

noble

hoffman

he/him

twenty-eight

october 20th

blackthorn city, johto

heterosexual

ranger

ex-gym leader

5'11" height

old habits die hard, i guess.

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TAG WITH @derek

POSTED ON May 29, 2022 8:57:17 GMT

"Oh?" Derek is quick to accept and get the address, flying atop the back of his Salamence to reach the destination in a timely manner. He wasn't far to begin with, making it a rather quick trip. But the mission Adrian had in mind was anything but quick.

"You gotta be kidding me." After being told that they'd have to deliver them by foot, Derek can't help but feel like it's a poor use of his time. Rather, it would use more of his time than it should. Well, whatever...

"I guess my Salamence will fly ahead. Y'know, to scout for wild pokemon." He turns to the dragon, who seems willing to comply. "Oh, and maybe try to scare them off if you can?" It was worth a try, but even the smallest pokemon often displayed the kind of attitude it took to stand up to a dragon. And what's more, there was no telling if Rocket or some other form of thieves, poachers or the like would attempt to rob them.
Adrian Malcolm
☉

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played by

Fonz

Masculine

October 19

Slateport City

Bisexual

N/A

6'1" height

Just keep running. It's what you do best, isn't it?

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2,417 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @fonz

POSTED ON May 29, 2022 9:07:57 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","adrianwt"]

[attr="class","adrianwtw"]"Hey, these guys will make it right by us."[break][break]

The breeding business was booming. After this job, he was sure they'd get to reap the benefits. He'd already bred a few strangely gifted pokemon here, and he intended to milk it for what it was worth. He hoped this favor would lend itself to that, naturally.[break][break]

Once about a dozen eggs in specialized incubators were loaded onto a trolley, Adrian released a Magnezone to help keep their transport mobile, all without suffering from the terrain. Executing its MAGNET RISE, their operation went forward smoothly.[break][break]

"So, how's the Ranger business keeping up?" Adrian inquires, making for less-than-interesting small talk as they steadily make a break for Mauville City. While they're moving along the route, a band of wild Sneasel are rummaging through the tall grass, keeping an eye on their caravan while Salamence and Magnezone patrol the skies.
[break][break]

[attr="class","adrianwttag"]DEREK HOFFMAN

[attr="class","adrianwtpokes"][break]

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played by

noble

hoffman

he/him

twenty-eight

october 20th

blackthorn city, johto

heterosexual

ranger

ex-gym leader

5'11" height

old habits die hard, i guess.

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TAG WITH @derek

POSTED ON May 30, 2022 0:31:50 GMT

"Yeah, maybe." Derek hasn't been as optimistic lately, and he doubts that the hatchery, with how busy it's been, will be able to do much to compensate them except for the usual. Either way, these were live cargo, so Derek was sure to be extra careful regardless of whether he felt it would be worth it or not.

The next thing that leaves Adrian's mouth comes as a bit of a surprise. "You haven't heard? I'm a gym leader now. I quit the rangers as soon as Katherine made some remark about how Lars hasn't been whipping us into their desired shape." It was a bunch of crap.

"I didn't want to be under anyone's thumb. Like you said, the League, and moreover the people who represent the league... They're not all that great as people." Some of them didn't exactly inspire trust or faith. Hell, they didn't inspire much of anything.

Except maybe all the anti-league rhetoric. "My gym's at Petalburg, just like years before. If you're into badges and that sort of thing, keep it in mind."
Adrian Malcolm
☉

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played by

Fonz

Masculine

October 19

Slateport City

Bisexual

N/A

6'1" height

Just keep running. It's what you do best, isn't it?

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2,417 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @fonz

POSTED ON May 30, 2022 1:43:15 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","adrianwt"]

[attr="class","adrianwtw"]"That's... too bad." It all sounds a little crazy.[break][break]

'Whipped into shape' doesn't have a good vibe to it. Makes them sound like some sort of task force, when they originally served as game wardens and environmentalists. Most were only protectors of the wildlands, and nothing more. Perhaps that is a preconception he's carried over from Sinnoh. But it was still passing strange, to him.[break][break]

Still, it shouldn't surprise him.[break][break]

"Petalburg Gym Leader again, huh? Maybe I'll finally get that badge..." With Howitzer back at his side, that dream is no longer left as smoldering embers, dying out in the pit of a brazier. While they're exchanging all of this, the Sneasel begin darting ahead of them, not yet realized for the threat they pose to his little caravan.
[break][break]

[attr="class","adrianwttag"]DEREK HOFFMAN

[attr="class","adrianwtpokes"][break]

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played by

noble

hoffman

he/him

twenty-eight

october 20th

blackthorn city, johto

heterosexual

ranger

ex-gym leader

5'11" height

old habits die hard, i guess.

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1,361 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @derek

POSTED ON May 30, 2022 6:39:49 GMT

"Yeah, it is." Derek didn't think he'd ever be in that kind of situation, but he was, and so he was quick to find a way out of it.

"Also, it's a different badge than I had last time." Derek admits, knowing his gym routine from before was quite different from the one he had now. And he was the sole gym leader this time as well, rather than it being a joint effort. "Just don't expect me to go easy on ya, alright?" Even if he wasn't supposed to go all out and make sure his opponent lost, Derek loathed the eye of pulling punches.

By now the movement up ahead had caught the attention of Derek's pokemon. Racing back towards them, it swooped down when one of the Sneasel jumped out to try and rob one of them of their eggs. But thanks to the Salamence, they were caught in it's maw and carried away quite a ways before being dropped into the treetops. Nothing fatal would occur, but it'd certainly scare the pokemon enough to deter it from coming back. The rest were Adrian's problem...
Adrian Malcolm
☉

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played by

Fonz

Masculine

October 19

Slateport City

Bisexual

N/A

6'1" height

Just keep running. It's what you do best, isn't it?

awards

2,417 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @fonz

POSTED ON May 30, 2022 9:43:43 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","adrianwt"]

[attr="class","adrianwtw"]"I'll hold you to it."[break][break]

A sportsmanlike duel, not just a test of basic battle skills. Hoenn had a way of forging trainers in fire, but they would be doing themselves a service not to hold anything back. Speaking of, Adrian notices the Sneasel Derek's Salamence flies off with, though at first it just seems uncanny. Only after a few passing moments does he grow suspicious, casting a weary gaze across the fields surrounding them.[break][break]

From all sides they came, fast and hidden.[break][break]

"Magnezone, stop the cart. Gently." Even without the reminder the cart would be delicately lowered, the effect of MAGNET RISE wearing off as the pokemon closed in on them. Adrian could see them through the blades of grass, grabbing a pokeball and whipping it towards one of them to stun it. The capture failed, but it bought him a little time.[break][break]

The pokemon flashed their claws in a show of aggression.[break][break]

From out of another pokeball came a Mudsdale he hadn't used in a long time. It was only by chance he'd brought it along, originally considering pulling the cargo along on a wagon. But he'd decided against it after due thought.[break][break]

"Mudsdale, do me a favor and Mud Sport the cargo here. Magnezone, follow up with Discharge."[break][break]

They had to do what they could to safeguard the eggs from the wild pokemon, but also his own volatile battling style. And it worked like a charm, allowing the electricity to bounce off the dirt harmlessly while the assailing Sneasel were caught in the current of Magnezone's attack.
[break][break]

[attr="class","adrianwttag"]DEREK HOFFMAN

[attr="class","adrianwtpokes"][break]

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played by

noble

hoffman

he/him

twenty-eight

october 20th

blackthorn city, johto

heterosexual

ranger

ex-gym leader

5'11" height

old habits die hard, i guess.

awards

1,361 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @derek

POSTED ON May 30, 2022 21:27:19 GMT

Derek can only nod at their words to show that it's welcome. And in a few moments it becomes just a little more apparent that Adrian doesn't battle recklessly. Using mud thanks to the Mudsdale, his Magnezone can electrocute the Sneasel indiscriminately. Which made clearing them out so much easier, so much so that Derek didn't even have to participate.

"You got a Magnezone too, huh?" Though he wasn't too accustomed to seeing them in Johto, the Magnemite line was always a welcome sight. Well, that went for just about every steel type pokemon. "What types of pokemon do you specialize in anyway?" With nothing left to do but continue pressing on, Derek figured he might as well continue to strike up conversation that sated his curiosity surrounding Adrian.
Adrian Malcolm
☉

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played by

Fonz

Masculine

October 19

Slateport City

Bisexual

N/A

6'1" height

Just keep running. It's what you do best, isn't it?

awards

2,417 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @fonz

POSTED ON May 31, 2022 4:26:47 GMT

[nospaces]

[attr="class","adrianwt"]

[attr="class","adrianwtw"]"You two stay out, in case we need you again."[break][break]

Mudsdale followed alongside them while Magnezone resumed its duties levitating the caravan's cargo, joined by a third pokemon Adrian released; Shiftry.[break][break]

"Think you can clean up this dirt, Shiftry?"[break][break]

With a barely-gentle whip of its fans, Shiftry's WHIRLWIND picked up, throwing the loose dust into the four winds and making clean their precious freight. As they continued along, Adrian could see when pokemon were beginning to wander too close, and would send Mudsdale or Shiftry further out to ward off the curious critters.[break][break]

"Yeah, I raised this guy after seeing people fly around on them." It was handy and made him less susceptible to electrical attacks while airborne, but it never felt quite as graceful as allowing a bird to take flight with you braced against its wings. Still, he much preferred it to risking the chance at catching a stray thunderbolt.[break][break]

"I don't really specialize, but I do like Dark moves."[break][break]

As they pushed ahead, he could see the Mauville Hills jutting over the horizon. First they'd have to pass over a small creek, but after that it would be a straight shot.[break][break]

"So, what's after this for ya?" If they weren't already tending to plans elsewhere, perhaps they could get a round of drinks after this. It was better than drinking alone.
[break][break]

[attr="class","adrianwttag"]DEREK HOFFMAN

[attr="class","adrianwtpokes"][break]

close tab

played by

noble

hoffman

he/him

twenty-eight

october 20th

blackthorn city, johto

heterosexual

ranger

ex-gym leader

5'11" height

old habits die hard, i guess.

awards

1,361 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @derek