Surprisingly, the Gallade did not want the popsicle and instead of just ignoring Artie as everyone seemed to do, he decided to do something about it. Blue eyes were wide with surprise as the psychic type went to grab his wrist, and instinctively, Artie jerked back.

[break][break] The popsicle fell to the floor with a crack, and immediately Remus dove to the floor to pick up the remains.

[break][break] Artie, on the other hand, was left shocked as the woman's sharp voice broke through, separating the two like siblings who had just gotten caught pulling each other's hair. Blinking, the Circhester prince returned back to his seat and for a few seconds, he didn't say anything. Was he shocked?

[break][break] Then a lazy smile flitted to his face as he leaned his hand back onto his palm, reaching to pick a cherry that was on the tray and pop it into his mouth. At the same time, Remus fluttered back to the table and flew in front of Eva, flapping it's tiny wings. In that tiny moment of distraction, Artie glanced back at the Gallade as if to say You heard her. As if Eva had scolded him, rather than Artie.

[break][break] It was childish.

[break][break] But not entirely his fault, as Artie had never had siblings old enough to fight with, and he was thoroughly enjoying it. As a sign of piece, he moved the wooden tray a bit so that it was in the Gallade's view. There were a few, perhaps more appropriate treats on the menu — a bowl of poke-kibble, a Bouffalant-themed pokemuffin, and a some Dedenne-shaped pokebuns. "Like any of these?" he asked.

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Artie glanced sideways as Eva took one of the popsicles and cracked it into parts. The boy blinked, seemingly impressed and then said, "Oh, that's smart."

[break][break] Apparently, Remy thought so too because the Aerodactyl hopped forward and pecked curiously at the crumbs of ice popsicle that floated around in the tray. As Eva Dumont flicked around some pieces, he let out a little cry of approval and darted forward, nipping at the ice cubes. One of the insects in the popsicle broke free as the pieces melted and tried to get away — however, he was too quick, and the rock bird eagerly slurped up the critters with ease.

[break][break] Meanwhile, Artie's popsicle went unnoticed or at least underappreciated. The boy huffed, standing up and then pressed the popsicle into the Gallade's mouth - did Gallade's have mouths? - and smiled. "Here you go!"

[break][break]

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Artie hummed a bit non-committally under his breath as Eva Morales asked him if he'd asked for his Aerodactyl's sake. "Sure," he said eventually, because that seemed like the thing to say.

[break][break] Honestly, as the woman rambled on, the blond was reminded of a certain other researcher that he'd grown up knowing. @dakota could go off on tangents like this and though he'd tried his darndest to get Artie to soak in any of that knowledge, unfortunately, at 15, 16 and 17, Artie had not been interested in any of it. Wouldn't he have been proud of him now, actually asking someone for help?

[break][break] Though... maybe, Artie's request for knowledge wasn't as genuine as it seemed. Either way...

[break][break] "I see," he said, thoughtfully, as he glanced at the rock bird. Remus had taken to just picking at the cheesecake apart, not actually eating any of it, so maybe this Eva person did know who she was talking about. "'Scuse me!" he said, raising a hand into the air.

[break][break] A random passerby stopped, startled, and then maybe a bit annoyed when they realized that Artie had been calling to him. "Can we get something for my pokemon?" he said.

[break][break] The person - probably a waiter or something - paused. "You want me to get something for your pokemon." It wasn't phrased like a question, but Artie definitely took it as one.

[break][break] "Yeah," he said, smiling. "I think a bug would be nice."

[break][break] "A bug," the other repeated, deadpan. "Where do you think I - "

[break][break] "Yeah, a bug." He looked to the woman across from him. "Bugs right? You said that he should be eating those?"

[break][break] "I - " The woman started, then stopped, once realizing the expectant way that Artie was looking at her. Perfectly pleasant. As if there was nothing strange about this whole thing. Would it even be worth it to try to argue with him? She sighed. "Fine."

[break][break] In a matter of minutes, the woman returned, shoving what appeared to be some popsicle sticks with frozen bugs inside of them. There were three - one for Artie, one for Remus, and one for Eva. Waving the woman off with nothing but a hundred dollar bill, he then picked up said popsicle and offered it to Eva's Gallade. "Here you go," he said. "I don't want mine."

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The fact that @jade was swooning went - quite unfortunately - unnoticed by Artie. The Circhester Prince paid the other no attention as he spun on his heel and disappeared into his bedroom, assumingly for a change of clothes and god knew what else.

[break][break] However, despite the fact that the Vanderbilt heir had momentarily left the room, did not mean that Jade was alone. In fact, he seemed to have company.

[break][break] Perching on a stool not too far away from him, there was a Rookidee. The pokemon tilted it's head to the side as it blinked owlishly at Jade for the way the other leaned against the wall, hand to his chest, as if he needed a moment to come to grips with the sight that he had just witnissed.

[break][break] As Roo looked at the other, blinking her beady little eyes, one might have interpreted her look as bad. As judgmental.

[break][break] Even if Jade were to look back at her, she would not turn away. She would meet him eye-for-eye, her tiny bird eyes staring deep into the young man's soul.

[break][break] Or maybe she was just looking at him to see if he had any treats on hand.

[break][break] Either way, in a flourish, Artie once again appeared. He pulled open the door to his bedroom, this time wearing at least some joggers. But again, no shirt. "Oh," he said, blinking at the pokemon that the other had released. "You have a pokemon."

[break][break] It was not said in a way that was good or bad, just neutral, as Artie plopped on the sofa that probably Louis had recently just cleared. He threw his feet atop the coffee table, the dishes on top of it clinking, perhaps nearly making them fall over.

[break][break] "Sorry," he said, flashing a smile at @jade. "I didn't catch your name. What was it again?" There had been a name when he'd called the company... but well, Artie couldn't be bothered to remember it.

+ swept under the rug mission

[attr="class","pokeclass"]