Yes, everyone seemed to be too busy to continue with the MAGMA research for the time being. Honestly, they must have been quite desperate to resort to the least qualified Beast and Martín del Mar for scientific research. It was a bit comical really. So much, in fact, that Lex didn’t quite have the heart to take it seriously.

Or perhaps she needed a little something, something to make her a bit more pleasant for an afternoon with Martín del Mar. It’s not that she disliked the underboss Mars, she just had a hard time trusting others. It’s something Lex recognized in herself, but did little to change her personality.

Except for today. Today she had a little extra help form some special brownies.

“Hello Mars,” she smiles when she enters the lab, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her leather jackets. She seems . . . more carefree than usual.

“Ghosts? Yes, I prefer them over others,” their stealth, their mystery, their power. It was all very appealing. When Mars released the Illumina Dragapult she couldn’t take her eyes off it, “Whoa, it’s . . . not like my Dragapults,” Lex frowns, considering the options, “What is it?”

Martín del Mar

Her gaze remains fixed on the strange ghost. Instead of the darkness of shadows that typically accompanied the typing, this one cast a strange light that seemed to keep the shadows at bay. How odd.

The look in her eye is curious rather than judgmental which is the typical ‘Lex look’, “Illumina,” she repeats the word. It’s one she has heard before along with the crystalblooms Mars mentions, “But it’s still a ghost?”

The way it behaved seemed strange. Perhaps this process tames them? With a small smile Lex leans over to reach a hand down towards the pokemon’s belly. She scratches it vigorously to get a rise out of the pokemon, “What do we need to do?” she has zero experience with sample collecting . . . aside from the one time she stood there while jayden cross collected samples from her Spectreir.

Martín del Mar

Mars lists off the many things required of them. It seems much more involved than when she helped gather sample from her Spectreir. Perhaps it was because this was even more rare than her ghost companion.

“Hm, alright. Hope you know what you’re doing cause I sure as hell don’t,” Lex draws closer to inspect the Illumina pokemon, “Do you think we’ll need . . . assistance?” she means the assistance of another pokemon. Something that could CALM or even put to SLEEP the dual type to make sure they could safely acquire what they need. Lex frowns at the mention of having to put something in the dragons mouth. That in and of itself sounded dangerous but not as complication as blood. Where the heck would you even draw blood from this thing? In Lex's mind, she just need to make it bleed.

Martín del Mar

The sudden shriek and cacophony of metal clattering against the tile floor is enough to make Lex jump back a bit. She anticipates another, more violent, bit of retaliation from the dragon but it doesn’t come. Lex grunts, frowning as she regains her posture and glares over towards Mars. The smallest hint of a smile twitches at the edge of her lips, “Close one,” she jokes, waving her hand in the air for her shadowed companion to join them on this plane.

“I know what you mean,” she wasn’t expecting to put the beast down just for that little outburst. It seemed to rare to consider such drastic measures. The thief calls forth a ghost from the phantom plane. A subtle chill dissipates through the air as black mist curls around her feet. A pale hand with long, grotesque fingers reaches out and curls over her shoulder. The rest of the abomination follows. The undead Gardevoir is typically an unnerving sight to see for those that aren’t use to its presence.

Melinoe settles behind Lex, floating just high enough for her crimson eyes to peer over her master’s shoulder at the other ghost, “Hypnosis,” she whispers to the Shadow Pokemon. Crimson fades to pale pink as Melinoe fixates on her target. It’s a subtle push at the Dragapult’s consciousness at first, but it blooms into an overwhelming pressure as the pull power of HYPNOSIS attempts to put it to sleep.

Martín del Mar
+ Shadow Gardevoir uses HYPNOSIS to lull bby to sleepies

The Illumina pokemon is easily lulled to sleep. It’s rather cute slumbering and Lex admires the adorable little ghost, giving it an extra little scratch under the chin as it sleeps. Not very professional, but she doesn’t give two shits.

Regardless, they get the job done. Mostly, Mars does. Lex plays along and does what she is told to help, too nervous to mess any of it up. When Mar exclaims they are finished, she sighs in relief, “Alright, that went well I guess,” an unfamiliar smile lights up her otherwise col complexion, “High five!” she promptly gives the Underboss a high five.

“Pleasure uhhh doing science with you?” the statement sounds funny as soon as she utters it. Lex had never been a fan of science. Maybe she was missing out on something.

Naaahhh. She’d stick to her skillset.

“Catch ya later then, Mars,” with a little salute she disappears in a flash of light, the Shadow Gardevoir grabbing her form the darkness to TELEPORT her home.

Martín del Mar
+ Sample sample, science science, :chefkiss: