A COIN HAS TWO SIDES

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charting the (non-)romance between[break]Zev Harcourt & Neffatari Nzingha

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I. FLIRTATIONS (June–December 2022)[break][break]
Zev and Nenet meet purely by chance on her first night in Hoenn: she visits his bar, and he charms her into his bed. Over the next several months, chance encounters and the occasional rendezvous turn into regular dinners and nightly visits.[break][break]

And as time goes on, both of them come to realize how similar they are: married to their respective jobs, they have little interest in affection or romance. At first, the arrangement has no strings attached. But when Zev celebrates Nenet's birthday with a homecooked Alolan meal, she thinks they must actually be dating.[break][break]

Zev, however, remains in the dark.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ DON'T LET HER FIND THE BODY ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ STARHUNT ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ CHASING STARLIGHT ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ RAIN CHECK ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ BAKING IS WHISK-Y BUSINESS ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ THE FIREWORKS IN YOUR EYES ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ MAYBE WE ARE SOMETHING MORE ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ WISHES ON FALLEN STARS ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ SYZYGY ft. Neffatari Nzingha & Caleb Harcourt

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II. COMMITMENT (December 2022–April 2023)[break][break]
Eventually, through a conversation with Aurelie Lefevre, Zev comes to the same realization as Nenet: that perhaps they are actually dating. He confirms it with her during a romantic date one winter's night. And their relationship continues as it is, for a time.[break][break]

But then the Battle of Dewford (Postdormitum) occurs in April. As a result of the grievous stab wound he receives from Caleb Harcourt, Zev ends up revealing the truth of his identity and personality to Nenet.[break][break]

Then, despite all the lies and revelations, she makes the choice to marry him, tying them together as legal partners. And, seeing how she accepts his sociopathy and still cares for him regardless, he agrees.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ XMAS GREED ft. Aurelie Lefevre[break]
▸ ILLUMINATED ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ PIECES OF GLASS ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ AUBADE ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ CHEAP BEER AND NICOTINE ft. Neffatari Nzingha

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III. DEVOTION (April 2023–Present)[break][break]
Every good marriage of convenience transforms, eventually, into genuine affection.[break][break]

More to be added…[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ A RARE AFFECTION ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ YOU AND ME DOWN BY THE SEA ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ SHE FOUND THE BODY ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ ULTRA CRATER: NZ ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ FOREWARNINGS ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ SMOG: NENET & ZEV ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ FEAR & SOLACE ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ BLOOD PRICE ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ BACKFIRE ft. BARNABY FINCH[break]
▸ QUIESCENCE ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ CANDYLAND ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ THE MAN-SHAPED VOID ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ INCONVENIENT TRUTHS ft. Neffatari Nzingha[break]
▸ THE LIGHT THAT BURNS THE SKY (Father Winter 2 event)[break]
▸ SYNCHRONICITY (Father Winter 2 event)[break]
▸ SAUDADE ft. Neffatari Nzingha

MY BROTHER, MY WAR

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the drama and conflicts between[break]Zev Harcourt & Caleb Harcourt

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I. THE HUNT (June 2019–November 2022)[break][break]
Growing up, Zev and his brother Caleb Harcourt stuck together, no matter what. They remained close even as adults, with Zev helping Caleb graduate from college, find a job, and get an apartment with him. But then, one day, Caleb vanished.[break][break]

Convinced his younger brother was kidnapped by the League, Zev followed Caleb's trail to Hoenn. For the next three years, he searched everywhere, enlisting the help of Cillian Quinn, an old associate from Kanto. But it wasn't until Aurelie Lefevre had a run-in with Caleb that Zev started to piece together where his brother might be.[break][break]

Finally, Zev and Caleb reunite—on the battlefield in Littleroot Town, on the day the METENO 99943 meteoroid is supposed to crash into Hoenn.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ OLD FACES, NEW COUNTRY ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ THIS ROUND'S ON ME ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ TROTH ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ WHEN ALL HECK BREAKS LOOSE ft. Aurelie Lefevre[break]
▸ CAUSE EVERYONE'S CRAZY 'BOUT A SHARPE DRESSED MAN ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ AN INQUIRY: LITTLEROOT ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ GATHERING STORM - BRING ON THE HEMORRHAGING ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ PAAA: LITTLEROOT TOWN & CAIN AND ABEL ft. Caleb Harcourt

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II. A PRECARIOUS TRUCE (November 2022–April 2023)[break][break]
Following the METENO 99943 incident, Zev and Caleb meet again at the former's bar. They agree to a truce: Zev protects Caleb from other members of Team Rocket who wish to kill him, and Caleb keeps Zev's true identity a secret. Multiple times since then, they encounter each other in public and are forced to act civil.[break][break]

Unbeknownst to Caleb, Zev has recruited ROSALIE FLETCHER, a former partner from Kanto, to befriend and spy on him. As the two grow closer, they start developing feelings for each other, drawing Caleb deeper into Zev's trap.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ WITH GREAT POWER ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ A WOLF AT THE DOOR ft. Isaac Merlo & Caleb Harcourt[break]
▸ SYZYGY ft. Neffatari Nzingha & Caleb Harcourt[break]
▸ DEVIL'S BARGAIN ft. ROSALIE FLETCHER

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III. SCORCHED EARTH (April 2023–Present)[break][break]
Unfortunately for Zev, using Rosalie against Caleb backfires at the Battle of Dewford. In a clash between brothers, Caleb stabs Zev in self-defense, shattering their truce. Zev perceives this action as a personal betrayal, one he can never forget nor forgive.[break][break]

More to be added…[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ BLOOD OF MY BROTHER ft. Caleb Harcourt[break]
▸ REVOCATION ft. Cillian Quinn[break]
▸ OH BROTHER MINE ft. BARNABY FINCH[break]
▸ A HELL OF YOUR OWN MAKING ft. Caleb Harcourt[break]
▸ IMMORTAL HATE ft. Caleb Harcourt & angelo vestri

THEY CALL IT STOCKHOLM SYNDROME

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the toxic mentor/protégé relationship of[break]Zev Harcourt & Isaac Merlo

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I. ENTRAPMENT (July 2022)[break][break]
One fateful night in July, Zev saves the life of Isaac Merlo, a young grunt in the thick of trouble. They run into each other a couple more times before Zev, who recognizes the boy's keen mind and sharp wit, offers Isaac a job at his bar, Howling at the Moon. Eventually, Zev offers Isaac a chance to grow stronger and better himself—not just through Pokémon battling, but through physical training, too.[break][break]

Thus begins a unique mentor/student relationship between two men who couldn't be any more different.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ WHY DO YOU FIGHT? ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ LITERALLY NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN WHEN EATING A CAKE POP ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ WITNESSING DUPLICITY ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ I NEED TO BE MORE THAN ME ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ LATE NIGHT DOWNTIME ft. Isaac Merlo

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II. OBEDIENCE (July 2022–April 2023)[break][break]
Over several months, Isaac proves his loyalty time and time again to Zev. Eventually, Zev deems Isaac someone he can trust and depend upon. He reveals choice parts of his past to the younger man, such as information about Caleb Harcourt. However, with those glimpses come peeks at Zev's true self, which frighten and fascinate Isaac.[break][break]

After the METENO 99943 incident, Isaac continues to prove his loyalty to Zev despite Zev's delusions about Caleb. But the first cracks have begun to form, held together for now by emotional debt and manipulation.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ THE SPLASHFEST HUSTLE ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ REVISIONS ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ CAUSE EVERYONE'S CRAZY 'BOUT A SHARPE DRESSED MAN ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ GATHERING STORM - BRING ON THE HEMORRHAGING ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ A WOLF AT THE DOOR ft. Isaac Merlo & Caleb Harcourt[break]
▸ A HOUSEWARMING VISIT ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ INTO THE FOLD ft. Isaac Merlo

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III. DOUBT (April–August 2023)[break][break]
Increasingly faced with the reality that he and Team Rocket are diametrically opposed, Isaac finds himself grappling with his loyalty to Zev. He starts to question Zev's actions and motives, especially following the betrayal Zev feels regarding Caleb.[break][break]

At the same time, Zev starts to have his own doubts about Isaac. Despite the lessons imparted upon him, Isaac still possesses a soft and weak heart, unable to carry out dark deeds for Team Rocket's sake.[break][break]

Zev's Avatarship of Necrozma and the events of the Battle of the Ancient Tomb (Goodbye Galar) drive Isaac further away from Team Rocket's agenda, until everything finally comes to a head in the middle of an RKS simulation.[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO DREAM ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ KANE ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ SIMON SAYS ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ DOC, THERE'S A HOLE WHERE SOMETHING WAS ft. ana fell[break]
▸ S.P.E.C.T.R.A. TRINITY TRIALS member event[break]
▸ REVELATIONS ft. Isaac Merlo

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IV. DEFECTION (August 2023–Present)[break][break]
To be added…[break][break]

RELEVANT THREADS:[break][break]
▸ LESSER MEGALOPOLIS: ZI ft. Isaac Merlo[break]
▸ SHORE: ISAAC VS ZEV ft. Isaac Merlo