Lex used the opportunity of the walk to pull her hair back into a tight bun in preparation for close combat. She also familiarized herself with the armor, how it moves, how it feels. It’s strange to bear the extra weight. She already feel slower, more cumbersome even though what she chose was the lightest available. It’s tight in places, obviously new and unused. The thief rolls her shoulders and swings her arms as they walk to stretch out the material.

All the while, amber eyes closely watch Chu-e. Obviously, the Underboss knew what he was doing or else they wouldn’t have paired them all up for this mission. Lex wouldn’t waste the opportunity; she’d observe and learn.

Eventually, they find their prey. Lex carefully peered over the ridge at the large, injured Noivern. Looks like luck was on their side today (so far). It’s sleeping, as long as they stayed quiet, they could use the element of surprise against it, “Should we surround it?” she suggested, confident in her stealth skills to be able to quietly sneak past the pokemon and approach from the other side.

notes: Rowan Wrynn & Chu-e Choi

tl;dr: Lex suggests surrounding it

Honestly, Lex wasn’t expecting to see Lulu at something like this. It didn’t seem like something the Head Scientist of Rocket would do. Of course, Lulu wasn’t like any other scientist she had met. In a way it seemed Lulu craved conflict as much as any Rocket Enforcer would. If she didn’t crave it, then she was sure fucking good at starting it.

In a strange, out of character, moment Lex took a second to explore her feelings. The desire to battle Lulu didn’t stem from a sort of vengeance, not today at least. Whatever fight they were about to indulge in wasn’t the one that Lex would consider adequate to satisfy he need for retribution. No, this stemmed from simply wanting to build strength and test her mettle against Hoenn’s best.

“Absolutely,” she returned the grin with a toothy smile, tossing her own pokeball into the air to reveal an Altaria. The Humming Pokemon gracefully floated up into the air. The stark contrast between the two makes for a compelling aesthetic that gathers a small crowd of people to watch the match.

Noivern began with AGILITY, probably Lex’s favorite move. The pokemon puts space between itself and its slower opponent. Winter climbs behind her opponent, dark eyes trained on the bat. It had the height advantage and Winter doesn’t attack yet. Instead, an icy MIST trailed behind, protecting it but also providing a bit of cover for itself if the Noivern decided to turn and bomb towards her.

Lulu Flint

Winter uses MIST!

Touché. Lex grins. She did have the habit of attempting to interrupt his studies in a certain way. Although, she hasn’t for a while. He’s probably been the most productive he’s ever been since before they met. Enough of that though.

The shot was surprising. She isn’t quite sure how she feels. There’s something powerful about holding the gun but the responsibility of it scares her. The recoil startled her, but now she knew it would be coming. Still, she feels lost, a bit confused. She looks towards Killian for guidance, and he answers. Tension, right. She rolls her shoulders in response, attempting to relax. It may be easier now that she knew what to expect.

Killian offers to show her, and she jumps at the opportunity. The extends the handle of the gun towards Killian, “Yea, maybe that’ll help,” If anything, it would let her use to the sound of it too. She may have been around a lot of guns in her line of work, but she hadn’t really been around them when they were fired. She’s felt the cool steel of the barrel pressed against skin, but luckily had never been a victim. Yet.

Killian Decker

Lex hadn’t been to a club in ages so she dressed for the occasion. Tight leather pants, strappy heels, and a cropped, low cut black top. Sexy to blend in, but practical if she still needed to get shit done. The makeup matched: bold eyes and a crimson lip. Lex was accompanied by, well, her twin. An exact replica, minus the scar, trailed behind her. The Zororak’s ILLUSION made them both identical. It was strange to stare back at yourself and it wasn’t a mirror. Nova was doing a wonderful job keeping the illusion strong in the face of all the distractions.

Both copies trailed behind Remiel Calcifet on either side of him. The base thumped and rattled the air. The momentum carried over into her soul, reminding her of day long since passed in Johto. As intoxicating as it was, Lex resisted the pull towards the dance floor and kept her focus on Remiel. They had a job to do, after all. Perhaps she’d come back when her and Killian Decker moved to Sootopolis. She could use a night of belligerent, messy fun before the chaos.

The chill of the alleyway replaced the humid heat of the club as they stepped outside. Goosebumps rose across the real Lex’s flesh, a delayed reaction followed on the copy’s fair skin. Amber eyes followed Remy’s towards the drunken female. A sigh hisses out of her lips, “Didn’t we tell them to keep people away from here?” it was sharp, accusatory. The fools couldn’t even do their job for 10 minutes. It wasn’t her place to confront the owner or head of security. The lowly thief was simply here because for some reasons he was asked to be. A rather neutral glare meets his and both of the copies nodded in unison as turned towards the drunken female.

“Alright boys, you heard him, speed it up or my sister here will tear you apart,” there was sultry darkness to the threat. To emphasize, the Lex clone smiled, bearing her teeth with a low growl, “C’mon, chop chop,” Lex clapped her hands, causing her shadow to stir. The Shadow Gardevoir emerged, covering the scene in an eerie discomfort with her presence. She’s empty, cold, lifeless. A series of hand signals gives her the command she needs. Pink PSYCHIC energy consumed some of the boxes. The Shadow Pokemon followed the men with her charge, speeding the process along by carrying more than they could manage with Psychic.

Remiel Calcifet

Do it . . . Did she really just say that? She trusts him, trusts he won’t. The tightened grip instills a bit of panic. Maybe she is wrong. Is he actually going to do it? His face is still conflicted, but the grip is tight enough for her to squirm beneath him while the flush of delayed blood flow begins to tint her pale skin red. She suffers in silence, wide eyes begging him to find himself again. At least enough to let her go. Her heart breaks to know this is what it had to come to: holding her life in his own hands.

For now, the darkness loses. His hand slips away from her neck and she instinctively inhales deeply. She embraces him, holding him tight against her chest, “It’s ok, Killian, it’s ok,” she can’t help but feel she pushed too hard. This is partially her fault, “I’m sorry, Killian. It’s ok,” she repeats, burying her face in his dark hair. His scent floods her senses. It’s comforting and familiar, a consistency in the chaos that surrounds them, “I love you, Killian,” Lips press into his forehead and a hand strokes his hair in an attempt to sooth the storm that rages inside, “I’m not leaving, Killian. I’m never leaving you.”

---

June plucks a fresh pokeball from Lex in an attempt to continue going about her business as usual. She had a job to do and would no doubt be reprimanded if she didn’t comply. June moves to snatche the pokeball with the Sneasel when a Theivul suddenly appears form the darkness, knocking June back in an attempt to THIEF the pokeball she’s holding. Unfortunately for the Thievul, it’s empty. And the pokeball consumes the dark-type and clicks with a small hiss as it rocks side to side.

Killian Decker
Dark/Fairy/Poison
Catching the Thievul!
5 pokeballs, 19 premier balls

Friends already? Lex smiles before slipping the black cloth up over her nose, “And you may call me Lex, Natalie,” a gloved hand lightly grasps the doctor’s in return as they give their brief introductions. This has been the longest no one has pissed her off on a mission so far. Lex is hopeful this will go through without a hitch.

“Perfect,” she glances at her watch, “This way,” Lex leads them deeper into the alley. Past the store’s large dumpster there is a steel door. The light above it that is normally on looks like it has been crushed. This is on purpose, of course.

The thief keeps them in the shadows beyond the sight of the security camera. The thief’s shadow stirs restlessly in contrast to her smooth movements. The Gengar hidden within is anxious and hungry. As the watch strike 1:30am, she signals for the Gengar to go.

A shadow flashes across the ground, up the side of the wall and the security camera cracks and flashes in a spark of electricity as the ghost’s fist crushes it. He disappears beneath the door. Lex approaches the door and places a hand on is expectantly, “At 1:30 the second guard always takes his coffee break. The first door on the left in this hallway is the security office. One guard will be there. Incapacitate him,” the door clicks open thanks to the Gengar’s training. Lex opens it and allowed natalie fairchild to enter first. If she failed at her task, Smoke would be ready with a HYPNOSIS.

natalie fairchild

Half way towards the door, Lex paused. She was missing something . . . important. Something they lacked at her apartment because they happened to finish it last night. Her head turned slightly to steal a glance back at the bar. Roach was currently being slapped in cuffs which took all the attention away from, well, everywhere else.

“Kendra!” Lex whispered as she leaned over the bar, “I think someone’s tryna do some coke in the woman’s bathroom. Might wanna get em out of here in case the police start poking around” Kendra nearly dropped what she was doing and hustled her way to the back in a flash. It didn’t take much to swipe the whiskey from the shelf and shove it beneath her jacket. It wasn’t her stealthiest steal but she was drunk. Cut her some slack. She’d pay virgil roach back later . . . probably.

“Alright, now it’s time to go,” she smiled brightly, grabbing Killian Decker’s hand and dragging him out the door before anyone could stop them.

@ritual

Thread Link: Excursion: Meteor Falls B[break]
Thread Type: Event; 5 pages[break]
Berry: Noodles[break]
Berry Effect: Allows a pokemon to fully evolve [break]
Thread Summary: Lex is able to steal a fragment of the primal energy crystal to deliver to Rocket.

The Red Team’s strong pull was met with an equally strong pull from the Blue Team, “Damn it!” Lex cursed as their progress was immediately lost. A DISCHARGE cracked through the air, electrifying them with its power. Fury boiled at the edges of her patience, “Throw em off balance!” it’s a sharp command laced with the intention to make the ground swallow them whole. Nitro again obeyed. The Tauros stomped forward, pounding the ground threateningly with enough power to make the earth shudder and tear towards the Blue Team with an EARTHQUAKE.

@redteam

bvsHLark+50

Red Team Total = 1056

Assurance
Wild Charge
Double-Edge
Zen Headbutt
Close Combat
Earthquake

“Ugh!” a heavy yank pulled her team forward but from somewhere an opposing force stopped an real progress. They were neck and neck but still had a lot of fight left in them. Lex took the opportunity to readjust her grip. Gritting her teeth she summoned her Tauros over with a swift jerk of her head. The bull stomped the ground and snorted, “Let’s give our team a quick jolt of energy, yea?” Nitro reared up, landing with a thud. Electricity crackled along his brown fur in sharp snaps before he barreled forward in a WILD CHARGE to spark life back into the Red Team.

@redteam
vIR2c4xi+50

735 + 91 = 826

Assurance
Wild Charge
Double-Edge
Zen Headbutt
Close Combat
Earthquake

Lex wrapped her arms tight around the rope, driving with her legs to pull back towards their side, “Arcues fucking damn it this is gonna go on forever,” she grunted. They needed some help. Amber eyes flashed over towards the Tauros she had with her, “C’mon Nitro, we need some ASSURANCE[ that we’re gonna win!” The beast nodded his thick head, channeling his inner darkness before stomping back to give the red team the ASSURANCE they needed to win this thing!

ov819OxN+50

(1//6)
Tauros used ASSURANCE (dark)

RED TEAM = 223

Crowd? What crowd? At least for this battle, her attention was fully focused on him. He was looking, she could tell. She loved it, her grin spreading even wider at his comment.

The problem with fighting Killian Decker was that she’s predictable. He knows all her little tricks and the way she strategies. Of course, she knew Killian well too. But unlike her, she switched things up every once in a while. Lex didn’t, she’s a one trick pony which is honestly why she agreed to something like this tournament. Lex needed the practice, desperately.

“Phantom!” War obeyed. As the Flareon dashed forward with a Fire Spin, the equine stepped forward and into the spectral plane, disappearing from sight and avoiding the wrath of the fiery vortex.

Jolteon, on the other hand, was consumed in a circle of flames. The electric-type winced and growled at the Flareon as the fire buffeted her dual colored coat, “Slow him down,” The command is headed with a nod. Claws raked against the sand as another wave of electricity coursed over her body, stimulating her muscles with another AGILITY. Dark eyes peered through flames at the other eeveelution before the Jolteon dashed forward towards the Flareon with impressive speed. Her hair stood on end as a silent, numbing wave of electricity pulsed towards her chosen target.

War uses PHANTOM FORCE and disappears!
Jolteon is trapped in Fire Spin!
Jolteon uses AGILITY and THUNDER WAVE!

Killian Decker

Despite leaping away after the Thunder Punch, the fiery vortex of the FIRE SPIN still followed. Another crack of electricity ran over his body as the Raichu attempted to yet again outrun the Fire Spin with an AGILITY but to know avail.

The hot hiss of fire against raw skin made the mouse cringe, sending him off balance and rolling across the sand. It was convenient timing for the Rapidash. The FIRE BLAST, in all its searing glory, consumed the electric-type in the inferno. King and seared sand flew from the collision point. Lex winced, knowing that had to hurt. Despite the struggle to get back up, King managed. There was a moment where Lex considered returning the pokemon, but decided against it. It was good for him to learn to fight ruthlessly until she said otherwise.

The charred Raichusprang forward and leapt into the air. Consumed in fire and electricity, the mouse pokemon let a wicked bolt of lightning flash from his core towards the Rapidash in a THUNDER SHOCK.

Greyson Connors

King uses AGILITY!
He is hurt by FIRE SPIN!
King is hit with FIRE BLAST!
He uses THUNDER SHOCK!