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A sudden, unexpected breeze ruffles his hair and gives him goosebumps. For a minute he worries the ghosts have decided to come to him. That wasn't how that was supposed to work, right? Ghosts didn't leave the place they haunted, not unless you caught them and took them away. [break][break]

River catches the ball, tosses it up one more time, and then sits up to see a young man and his Aerodactyl landing not far away. He's talking, wait what? Pretty boy?[break][break]

Just the phrase puts a smirk on his face as he resumes tossing the Pokeball up and down in the air - just to encourage the positive attention both from the equally pretty boy and his terrifying Pokemon.[break][break]

"Yeah, apparently they have no one better to deal with these fuckers."[break][break]

He makes no point to hide the fact that he is absolutely looking the stranger up and down.[break][break]

"River. It's a pleasure."

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River wasn't particularly shy, nor was he all that concerned about admitting that he was here for the ghost problem. Literally anyone could have been hired for this, he supposed. Honestly, he just hadn't thought about the repercussions behind it. Good thing this guy was playing for the same team.[break][break]

And, while he shows no outward anxiety toward the giant dinosaur Pokemon with the rows of fangs and terrifying transfixed stare, River was more than likely shitting his pants on the inside. It was just a lucky break that he was good at maintaining his poker face. Maybe it was his baby blues and the bored stare he had mastered.[break][break]

Being beautiful had its perks.[break][break]

"Sweet idea, really, but apparently they need this place intact. They made that pretty clear, anyway."[break][break]

He shrugs, indifferent. All they had to do was chase out a couple of ghost-type Pokemon and send them packing. Easy enough. Couldn't be much worse than that Runegrigus he had encountered with the underboss. Or maybe it could - it wasn't like River had much experience with the ghost-type department.[break][break]

Rex's handshake is firm and rather enthusiastic, bringing a flirtatious grin to his face. When he retracts his hand, he glances away to play the indifferent hard-to-get vibe. Sort of. He was also easily distracted and eager to get this job over with. [break][break]

"Sounds good to me, Rex."[break][break]

While Rex has a mask, however, River has nothing. He's either bold or stupid - but it is what it is. And now it's time to get to work.[break][break]

But he chuckles at the man's next comment about 'getting to know each other'. He glances back at the man with a devilish smirk before making his way to the lighthouse. And, as expected, the lights start to flicker immediately as they approach. The air grows colder and his skin pricks with unease. There's definitely something here.[break][break]

"Alright - come on out, Baby. You know how to sniff out a ghost, right?"[break][break]

The shiny Luxio appears from his belt, rubbing against the boys pantleg and weaving in and out of his legs before jumping forward.

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River whistles quietly under his breath as they enter the lighthouse. Upon entering, nothing seems overly amiss. It's cold, it's dark, and there's certainly an unsettling feeling, but nothing is... out of place. [break][break]

Other than the fact that he can feel something feeling up his arm like fingers of dread. But when he looks back, Rex is nowhere close to him to have made contact. He might have minded a little less if he had been close enough to touch.[break][break]

Baby seems unsettled by the area now that she's adjusted to the dark and realized what it is they're doing. The Luxio's fur stands on end as she approaches. She creeps closer to a dark corner and is promptly met with a Gastly's face. The Pokemon LICKS her face, temporarily paralyzing her both physically and in actual fear.[break][break]

She squeals in surprise, stiff as a board when she falls to the side. She would eventually recover and lick her fur back down, but the damage and humiliation was done.[break][break]

"Looks like we've got Gastly to deal with. Wonderful."[break][break]

River glances back at the man and his Aerodactyl, curious as to what they might do. Baby is crackling with electricity, but seemed responsive (in a good way) to Rex's compliment. She really was a cutie. Unless he had been talking about River.

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Rex bursts into laughter and River stares at him wide-eyed and bewildered, but he decides that it really was kind of funny. Kind of. Baby definitely did not share the sentiment, however, and was rightfully pissed off by the entire ordeal. [break][break]

She begins to CHARGE pulling any electricity still running through the lighthouse to power her up. Her fur rises as static electricity clings to her body, and then she promptly DISCHARGES the energy, blasting the Gastly as they surround her. They shriek and disband.[break][break]

But that isn't the last of them. River fumbles for more backup, especially when Rex mentions that he has more Pokemon that are ultimately more destructive. [break][break]

"I have a few, maybe. Kind of."[break][break]

And then he retrieves his Pincurchin and Pyukumukyu, two tiny Pokemon that sit on either palm. The spiky one blows bubbles in a steady BUBBLE BEAM while the smooth one SOAKS every ghost in sight.[break][break]

"I'm not much of a ghost-hunter though."

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River shoots the man a look when he hears a choked squeak. Confusion furrows his brow and he glances over his other shoulder, looking for the source of the sound because surely, surely, that couldn't have been his partner.[break][break]

"Was that you, man? What sort of noise was that?"[break][break]

Regardless, it seems his pair of tiny Pokemon are effective in beating them back. The ghosts begin to disperse, especially thanks to Rex's Pokemon's THUNDER FANG. A few more sparks fly and River is regarding Rex with renewed interest at his flirty comment. Even if it was also a bit insulting. [break][break]

"They're underdogs, dude. Small but mighty, don't underestimate the ones who look unsuspecting."[break][break]

But he winks, encouraging the flirting. And when he hears the guy yelling over the noise, River is thoroughly amused and interested.[break][break]

"Oh, I've been around. You must not have seen me."

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Tsk. River scoffs, shaking his head. But beneath his expression is a smirk. The reaction he had gotten for his two tiny Pokemon wasn't at all out of the ordinary. One might almost say that it was a perk of his - people stuck around because of some reason. Maybe it was his Pokemon's adorable charm. How could someone be a terrible person if they had two tiny cuties like his?[break][break]

Or something.[break][break]

Besides, Rex's laughter was pretty attractive and River fed off of the attention he was receiving. It wasn't negative attention in the slightest, and that made it all worth it. Disbelief was just as good as awe.[break][break]

The commotion continues as does their oddly charming and flirty conversation. They're simultaneously having a good time and finding success in their mission to clear the lighthouse of ghosts. Wouldn't Rocket just be so proud of them.[break][break]

"Are you flirting with me, Rex?"[break][break]

He chuckles, retaining his bad boy smirk. His attention drags as he pulls away and back to his Luxio who weaves about the room like a dancer, zapping everything in her way. [break][break]

But River is easily distracted again by Rex's boasting. It amuses him greatly that the man is working so hard to impress him. He quite liked the thought - that someone was invested in keeping his attention.[break][break]

"Little of this, little of that. Y'know."[break][break]

But did he? Frankly, River didn't even know what he did. But he was still in the organization, so he had to be good for something.

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