it took all of taiga's power to not say 'ok, old man'. gaultier was a man deserving respect which was something rare when it came to the people taiga constantly was around.[break]
"yeah, mood!" replying in the most zoomer manner in comparison, she awkwardly took gaultier's hand and shook it. obviously, taiga was used to dealing with more rough and tumble people so gaultier was honestly a change - perhaps a welcome one. "eh, yeah ..." she recalled lorelei, looking to the distance as if afraid to shit-talk her even here, at a safe distance, given how she had threatened to gut jaskier one too many times to the point she was ready to act on it. "i'm just here to see what we can get. i also brought this!" proudly, she held out the [INCENSE] in her hands. like a child wanting to be praised, she wiggled it in front of gaultier's face.[break]
"this baby will bring us so many dragons," she said proudly as she took off the top and lit the container up, putting it to use.

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@gaultier

The mannerisms couldn't be any more stark in contrast. Though he had to admit he found the redhead charming in some degree. Perhaps Lorelei was right to pick her as a protege -- the young trainer so keen on fire types seemed like the perfect person to step up and take on the responsibility of their own operation. In the midst of his own wondering and wandering, he couldn't help but notice the duality of pokemon set before them. Gible often roamed in rocky caves while Skrelp preferred the oceans. Though he couldn't help but notice the goofy dance that the little land shark performed as if to get Taiga's attention. He covered his mouth with a gloved hand and chuckled at the dragon.

"I think that Gible seems a little fond of you, Miss Black."

While she focused on the Gible, Gaultier himself took on the shrimp. A water type wouldn't hurt to have.

[ CATCHING SKRELP ]

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@taiga

"YEAHHH, LOOK AT THAT LIL' BITER!" taiga yelled out excitedly, immediately pulling out her oldest trick in her book - her charizard throwing out another winding flamethrower to weaken the dragon type before taiga followed up with a pokeball toss. excited to approach the rocking pokeball, taiga also plodded over to gaultier with a sparkle in her eyes. "do you like pokemon that look like pieces of sea debris or something?" she was kind of curious about the kalosian man. it wasn't every day she was in proper company, aside from lorelei trying to whip her into shape metaphorically and literally. rubbing at her back at this thought, she looked to her charizard who was also eyeing the pokeball the gible was residing in - as if wanting to see its new friend already. "tch! not like its little dance got my attention or anything! skrelp seems to like you more!" truly, the pokemon had just been floating like it was dead on the surface of the water. maybe in that way it reflected gaultier?

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@gaultier

Seemed the young woman was a little sensitive to things Gaultier himself hadn't even said. He picked up the ball that held his newfound Skrelp and placed it with the rest of his pokemon. Her question earned a chuckle from him however. He supposed he could humor Taiga if only for a brief moment.

"No, I like things that show promise. This creature may seem worthless at first glance, but its evolution, Dragalge, is quite formidable. Did you know its poison can melt through metal?"

As they continued their excursion, he caught sight of the pokemon they'd stumbled across and turned away, disinterested. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the creatures from his sight and spoke to Taiga once more.

"Have your choice of the two. I have no need of them."

[ SKIP ]

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@taiga

"aw, no love for the starmie?"[break]
although taiga was inherently a fire-type trainer through and through, all her newest acquisitions were blue in some way, shape, or form. perhaps that's what made her sympathize with the starmie who seemed to not give a single fuck about them. it was more than happy just skirting over the surface of the water sideways, spinning at high speeds like a beyblade. taiga had to have it.[break]
"alright, air slash!" with that, the charizard sprung into action and another pokeball was tossed before moving forward.

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@gaultier

"Perhaps part of me is already satisfied with the Skrelp. No need to double down on water types."

Such a statement seemed counterintuitive given a majority of his team consisted of dragons. Not that he'd ever seen himself as a dragon tamer, but they had a certain charm to them. His eyes landed on the Quaxly before he turned to look at Taiga. Perhaps he'd be biting back his words too soon. With a sharp inhale, he took out another poke ball and threw it at the water duck. Something of it seemed charming, as though it wouldn't be a pokemon he'd use in battle -- rather a one in a sense of aesthetic.

"I spoke too soon, it seems."

[ CATCHING QUAXLY ]

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@taiga

"so yer a softie, huh?" taiga joked, her eyes turning into cheshire half-moons to show her amusement at the slick man's quick pokeball throw. commanding another air slash from her charizard to aid in the catching, she stamped on without much of a thought. the goldeen was seemingly with its own swarm of a family and she didn't have it in herself to pull it away from its group so onward they went to look for more pokemon.[break]

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@gaultier

Soft wasn't necessarily a word Gaultier would use to describe himself. Often he was stern, self-interested, and dedicated purely to his work. Had Esmee made him softer? It was a possibility. A shame, she was starting to make him care for others other than himself. He threw out his Revaroom and allowed it to take to the field a bit. A newer entry to his party, best to get it out and about. And it seemed the softy comment wouldn't be quelled given his interest in the Noibat. For once, he felt free to speak to Taiga -- she was different from his typical company, ergo he supposed he could confide in her if but for a moment.

"Perhaps I am," he offered with a chuckle. "Perhaps love does that to you. It feels terrifying to say that word, but it feels like the right one for Esmee and I. What of you? Anyone special?"

After his comment, the Revaroom charged forward with an Assurance to weaken the Noibat a bit before Gaultier threw yet another poke ball.

[ CATCHING NOIBAT ]

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@taiga

"WOAH, YOU GUYS FINALLY DATING?" taiga yelled out excitedly, one finger full-on pointing at gaultier as if accusing him of a heinous crime. "that's sweet, i guess." truthfully, love was such a weird thing - even if taiga could say she, too, was experiencing it. "i'm glad for you two. about time it was official." it was annoying to her how the two of them would bounce around together in the velvet room during their visits but the blonde half of them would constantly disappoint with the avoidance of admitting they were dating. in a way, taiga was happy. in other ways, she was a bit shy because of the question now pointed at her in return. "er ... dunno." yeah, there was. "you know jaskier right? he works in my department." another air slash and pokeball was tossed in the interim as she paused between her next thought, aiming for the poliwrath. "he's my guy." another pause, an awkward scratch of her chin. she spent so much time with jaskier that it felt weird talking about him. the way gaultier spoke of esmee made her wonder ... how did he speak of her? probably just bitching about her, most likely. "or my man, i guess. depends on the day. sometimes he acts like a sad little puppy but the others he's out here protecting me from myself somehow." a sneer-chuckle. "i love that dumbass. guess you can relate."

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@gaultier