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"]

A professional like Eva Morales looking at the Aerodactyl as it pecked at the sweetened treat - before dinner, no less! - was discerning. Someone like Artie, however, didn't know any better and though he caught the glance that she sent the fossil pokemon's way, he simply assumed it was adoration.

[break][break] Obviously. How could it not be?

[break][break] He smiled blithely. "Nice to meet you, Eva." He didn't even make a glance towards the Gallade, who no longer interested him. What interested him, instead, however, was this woman and how much she seemed to know about the pokemon that he hadn't even realized existed until a few weeks ago. "You said you know a lot. Care to teach me about any of those things?"

[break][break] Who cared, really, if that wasn't exactly what she'd said?

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Artie clicked his tongue in disapproval. "How does it not?" he says with a huff, gesturing to it. Sure enough, the Circhester prince is correct. The item that is currently in the scientist's possession is hard, heavy and beautiful, all important requirements for any good paperweight.

[break][break] And sure, it might have been good for other things as well, but it wasn't like Artie knew about any of that.

[break][break] As the blond cowers behind the other, he only peeks over the taller @dakota 's shoulder to watch him let the pokemon sniff him. "Yeah, whatever, I - " He steps backwards as the fossil pokemon tries to go for him again. Who knows what else that snotty beak has laid it's hands on? He places the Vulpix on his shoulder then, so he can use both hands to evade the strange pokemon's advances, but Dakota is smart enough to return him. Artie folds his arms with a silent hmph.

[break][break] Artie takes the fossil back when it's returned to him, turning it over in his arm and marveling at it. Even though he's positive it would be an excellent paperweight... he sights, and then actually hands it back to @dakota. "Fine, have it your way. I'd rather you entertaining yourself with it rather than some weird, government nutjob."

[break][break] Maybe - and it was probably very, very rare - Artie was wrong and Dakota was right. He pet the Vulpix on his shoulder, cooing gently at it. To be honest, Artie didn't really give a crap.

+

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The room number was 813.

[break][break] That in itself was a fact that Artie found comical. He wondered if he had been intentional, giving him the same room number as his birthday. At least, that's what he asks as he types a text message to the family Butler, who absolutely Freaks Out. At least, that's what it seems like from the rapid way he responds to the next that Artie had sent him.

[break][break] The conversation goes something like this:

> 813? Really? [break][break]
> ARTHUR?!?! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TEXTS I HAVE SENT YOU [break][break]
> It's a good number~ I'm not complaining, Gerald. Also, it's Artie. [break][break]
> 73 TEXTS. WHERE ARE YOU? WHY HAVENT YOU RESPONDED SOONER? YOUR HIGHNESS [break]
> That's not any better. A-R-T-I-E. Honestly, Gerald, Mother gave you such a thorough background check, you'd have thought you knew how to spell... [break][break]
> ARTHUR FINNIAN VANDERBILT

And that's when Artie puts his phone away, face-down on the table. It is good timing too, because there is a ring on the doorball and the blond only takes a few strides to meet it.

[break][break] His smile is blissful as he greets the "Maid", opening the door to his apartment with a flourish, in nothing but a bathrobe. "My apologies," he says to the other. "I just got out of the shower. Didn't have time to change yet."

[break][break] He gestures to the apartment behind him. "Feel free to start wherever you like. I'm gonna go get some clothes on."

[break][break] The Vanderbilt turns on his heel - of which he is wearing fluffy pink bunny slippers - and disappears into the bedroom. @jade is left in the main room. There are clothes strewn all over the sofa, random books spilled onto the floor, and a strange pink stain on the faux-fur carpet.

[break][break] In the kitchen, there is a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, and somehow also more clothes, as well as a dozen beer bottles and cigarettes.

[break][break] In the bathroom... well, you don't want to go in there.

+ swept under the rug mission

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Her arms felt small and limp in her arms as he embraced her. Honestly, as far as Artie was concerned, this was still a win. He had half been expecting her to dodge — or at the very least, shove him away.

[break][break] His family had never been the loving type either. Well, at least not the hugging type. From anyone who knew the Vanderbilts, they would know Queen Ophelia loved her son plenty — perhaps a bit too much. Sir Arthur was the same way with his son. They did many things for him, but hugging -- they thought it was unbecoming.

[break][break] It was why he hugged Lilly and Nessie as much as he did.

[break][break] When he pulled away, he noticed the flat way she responded to him and thought nothing of it, watching as she picked the discarded box of hairdye from the floor. It was only then he noticed the color - a color that was nothing like his own - and mentally ticked it away somewhere in the recesses of his memory, in case he were to come across her again.

[break][break] As she turned away, he gave a big wave and crowed, "See you soon, sha-sha! Get home safe!"

[break][break] Wherever, was home for her anyway?

+ Lulu Flint

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Well, then you must not have been to a good one," he rebutted, pouting, but then letting out a laugh as he puffed smoke into the air. "Have it your way," he said finally, relenting. He couldn't force her to do anything she didn't want to do — he'd learned that the hard way, back when they'd been kids. "But if you ever change your mind..." He let his voice hang in the air, just like that, though he doubted she would ever take the bite.

[break][break] With it finished, Artie threw the cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his shoe. It was a bit ironic, his fancy italian shoes crushing a cigarette that he'd bought out of a convenience store of all things. How would mother have looked at him then?

[break][break] "Can't argue with you," he said, glancing at her. Sha-sha had never really fit in — not like him, who had always shined with all the attention. They were different, but at least for that, he could agree. Their family sucked, never let him do what he wanted, so he'd had to go.

[break][break] He grinned at her, and then tried to swing his arms around her in a loving hug. "That's why I like you best, sha-sha," he said, in a bit of a sing-song, as if he hadn't forgotten her entire existence until mere moments ago.

+ Lulu Flint

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

@dakota rambled, and as per usual, Artie barely listened to him. He'd grown used to it, having spent many hours in the other man's lab as a teenager, trying to get out of homework at any possible chance. That being said, as he leaned into his hands to listen to him, he had to admit that he was sort of cute. In an incredibly nerdy way, of course.

[break][break] It was a good thing that there was no quiz at the end of this lecture, 'cause Artie would not have done well.

[break][break] He blinked, however, as Kota leaned in close and suddenly exclaimed that his very cool paperweight was not a paperweight but a dumb fossil. His brows knitted together. "Uh," he said, frowning. "You sure? I'm pretttty sure it's just a rock."

[break][break] The Vanderbilt heir yelped when he felt something cold against his neck. He jumped out of his chair, bringing the Vulpix along with it and then hid behind Dakota. "Um," he said. It wasn't often that he felt flustered. "You can have his interest, thank you very much." He ran his fingers through the Vulpix fur to soothe himself more than anything.

[break][break] Artie wanted nothing to do with that weird, ugly pokemon.

[break][break] That's why he was grateful for the distraction. "Huh? Oh no, this is my paperweight," he said, trying to pull the fossil from the other's grasp. "It doesn't matter how much I like you, Kota, I'm not gonna let you steal it."

+

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

As Eva set the pokemon on the table, the Aerodactyl hopped forth, flapping it's tiny wings. He then walked over to the wooden tray that had already been set between them, poking at a cherry cheesecake decorated with tiny Swinub.

[break][break] Artie huffed, but then smiled. "Now you wanna eat?" It was a pokeberry cheesecake, actually, which made it safe for pokemon to eat. He reached for a plastic fork and cut a piece off so that the pokemon could nibble at it while he listened to the woman speak.

[break][break] Blinking, the Circhester prince leaned into his own palms and looked at the other. There was a bit of a twinkle in his eye. "Yeah, I know, " he said. "I guess I am pretty cute." Did he know that she'd been referring to his pokemon, not him? Or was he just playing stupid? Knowing Artie, it could have just as likely been a little bit of both. "I'm Artie, " he said, sitting up again, and offering his hand for a shake. "You can call me Finn too — it's my middle name."

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It was adorable, he had to admit.

[break][break] The Aerodactyl hopped to the other blond, taking easily to her presence like a fish to water, and chirped happily at her. The pokemon let out a trill of appreciation as she scratched him between the ears, and Artie had no choice but to watch, in half-amazement, that she managed to handle him so well. The entire time that Artie had him... well, he only seemed to give him trouble.

[break][break] When she sat down, Artie followed suit, swinging his legs over the wooden bench. He grabbed one of the takoyaki and popped in into his mouth, as she wave done of Remy's legs at him. He laughed. "Does he?" he said, before realizing his mouth was full. He swallowedd, then dabbed at his lips with a napkin. "You seem to know a lot." His eyes twinkled curiously at her.

+ Eva Morales

[attr="class","pokeclass"]