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For the life of her, Serena could not quite explain why she felt so comfortable around Gunner. Especially considering their small little history. They had not been on the friendliest of terms that was for sure. But for some reason, while she sat here absentmindedly stirring her milkshake, lost in thought, she felt she could confide in him. [break][break]

Especially after this sudden revelation. "Ever since that last excursion...the one on route 120...I've been feeling off." She admitted with a deep frown crossing her features. "I haven't been able to rest and it feels like..." she said as she clutched her chest. "It feels like something is missing...but for the life of me I can't recall."[break][break]

With a sigh she also slid back in the booth. "When I do manage to close my eyes, my dreams offer some small release but whenever I wake up I feel just as lost as before." she continued with a pinch of her nose as if to ease the tension in her head. "Mmm...perhaps worse...definitely with more questions."[break][break]

It was silent for a long moment before she realized she'd unloaded a lot. "Uh...my bad." she said as she sat up straight. "I don't know why I just..." she frowned again before shaking her head.

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When the waitress arrived with their milkshakes Serena thanked her before ripping the paper off her straws and putting them in her drink. She listened while Gunner briefly talked about the dream he had meanwhile she took a lengthy sip from her vanilla shake. However, at the mention of a tavern she almost choked. [break][break]

What were the odds that the both of them would have similar dreams? "No, no, no." she said with a shake of her head once she managed to get her coughs under control. Using the napkin she coughed into she wiped at her mouth. "I've never owned a bar before that's not really...." she was going to say it wasn't really her thing but was that true now?[break][break]

Honestly, now that she thought about it. Relaxing and running a homey tavern and inn like she did in her dream sounded nice. She couldn't exactly see herself pulling that off at the moment but give her a few years and maybe she could have something cooking. Serena looked visibly pale as she continued to think to herself. [break][break]

"...Funny you mention a bar though." she finally said after a moment, a forced laugh escaping her lips. "In my dream, there was a bar I ran too." She slowly began to mix the whipped cream in her shake with her straw. "...What are the odds we dreamed about the same thing?"

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Serena nodded as she listened along. Rain began to rhythmically drum against the diner's window beside them. She was slightly surprised to hear that Gunner had also been plagued by funky dreams too but honestly in their line of work that wasn't exactly strange. However the strange bit came when he mentioned that she was in them. [break][break]

Crimson hues widened in surprise before a small smirk formed on her lips. Leaning against her hand that rested on the table she decided to tease him, which seemed way too natural to do at this point. "Dreaming about me hmm?" Serena said with a chuckle. "What's gotten into you? You never would've admitted to something like that before." she said as she wiped at a tear. "Do tell though. Just what was I up to in this fantasy of yours?"

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There it was, the million dollar question. Serena frowned for a moment and traced the patterns on the wooden table with her nail gently. "Honestly?" she asked as she searched for the real truth amongst the fog and confusion. "I can't make heads or tails of it. All I know is, after it all...I've had the nastiest headache I've ever experienced in my life."[break][break]

She said as she gingerly touched her head. "No amount of drugs help either." she said then paused, "Well...cannabis and liquor dull it a bit." she admitted with a shrug. While sharing her thoughts with him she found herself relaxing, like this was a normal thing to do. In fact, the next thing that left her lips probably never would've done so had things been like they used to. [break][break]

"I keep having the same dreams over and over again too." she admits as she glances up at him. "It's so fucking weird, I honestly feel like I'm losing it." she said with a chuckle before shaking her head. "Hopefully things have been better on your end, though."

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He laughed. [break][break]

Gunner didn't swat her hand away or glare her like he used to. He laughed as he gently took hold of her wrist and pushed it down from his head. Serena was left too stunned to speak but at the same time there was the faintest feeling tickling the back of her mind that made her feel like this was...natural?[break][break]

Serena's brows knitted together in a light frown as clear confusion flashed across her features. In spite of all of this, Gunner seemed amused. His gaze was light and it wasn't uncomfortable in any way. Their eyes locked for a moment more before he eventually turned his attention back to the menu, reminding her of where they were once again. [break][break]

The waitress' sudden return caught Serena off guard as she quickly snapped her gaze to the menu again. Gunner questioned what she would be getting but she hadn't the faintest clue. She'd been...preoccupied. "Um," she muttered as her eyes frantically scanned the page. "Mmm, they have a spicy classic cheeseburger that's speaking to my soul." she said as she tapped the laminated menu.[break][break]

"I'd like that, no pickles, done medium rare. With a vanilla shake and a water with lemon please." She said as she glanced at the woman who's eyes seemed to linger on her scar for a second longer than Serena felt comfortable. Serena handed her the menu and tucked a piece of onyx colored hair behind her ear before turning her attention to Gunner.[break][break]

"What about you, tough guy? Settled on anything?" She asked with curiosity dancing around in those crimson hues of hers. Except her curiosity wasn't exactly directed towards what Gunner would be eating. But she had a feeling deep down that he knew what she really wanted to know already.

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Just as things had been before her last major endeavor, Serena had agent Graves as her little baby-sitter for her 'important' league missions. Except before, Serena would've felt mildly annoyed, amused, or slightly apathetic to it all. Now she was struggling to keep focus due to intense feelings of desire for the man now across from her. [break][break]

It wasn't so bad that she would pounce on him at any given chance or anything. There was something there. Something that told her it wouldn't work but yet the residual feelings were still there. Serena just couldn't make heads or tails of it. Ever since that last excursion she'd been left with blistering headaches and walking around with her mind in a bit of a fog. [break][break]

Not to mention the restlessness. She couldn't get any sleep because every time she closed her eyes she was plagued by the vivid images of a time way less advanced than their own. 'You've finally gone mad, Malcolm.' is what she ended up telling herself. So she did the usual, made do and tried her best to just ignore it all. It would go away eventually right?[break][break]

Except uncharacteristically after their mission tonight, Mr. Stuck-up-with-a-rod-up-my-ass-angsty-pants agent Graves, invited her out to dinner. It wasn't anything special, just a burger joint that she'd seen buzzing about on social media lately. Still, this was something agent Graves would never do. At least, that's what she thought before. Once the unlikely pair was settled Serena began to peruse the menu, her stomach lightly growling now that the scent of greasy food was in the air.[break][break]

"Apparently this is the best place for Unovan burgers in Slateport," Gunner said suddenly. Serena slowly glanced up from her menu and stared at him suspiciously. What was going on? Was he...attempting small talk with her? The agent Graves?! "Their Castelia City sauce is supposed to be really good."[break][break]

Serena was left blinking at him, absolutely flabbergasted by what she was hearing and seeing right now. Suddenly, before she could think any better, she felt herself reaching out to place the back of her hand against Gunner's forehead. "Are you alright? You don't have a fever or anything right?"

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Malcolm Stone[break][break]

NOTES

💀 :eyes: let's get toxic xD[break]
💀 mission: a star is born [break]
💀 outfit

MADE BY GUNSMILE

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The hairs on her arms and the back of her neck were on end. She hadn't expected the explosion but luckily these past few years Serena hadn't been idly standing by, despite how little progress she'd made in preparing for this encounter. "Fuck..." she muttered to herself as she brushed herself off. Dodging the explosion had been close. [break][break]

Like almost singe your eyebrows off close.[break][break]

"My, my, my..." Serena's eyes narrowed as she turned her glare towards the voice of her sworn enemy. The Blacephalon following behind her was indeed familiar. It hit her with a powerful yet sickening feeling of nostalgia. Serena's jaw clenched as she actively resisted the urge to gnash her teeth. She thought she had prepared herself for this but everything was hitting her just as hard as she assumed it would've it she hadn't prepared. [break][break]

"Aren't you just a sight for sore eyes, Serena? Just as defenseless as you were in Sootopolis..." A provoking greeting, but that's what Katherine was best at. Serena wasn't the same as she was back then. The issues was, had her change been enough? Serena scoffed. No, not that it mattered anyway. This was by design after all, her loss here tonight. Perhaps in general. [break][break]

"Still as charming as ever, Katherine." Serena said as she released her Doublades from their sheath's. "You haven't changed one bit." Just like all those years ago, Joker would stand by her side against Katherine's Blacephalon as well. Except this time he was out of sight. Times had changed and while she might not be able to do much, she'd do something, for sure. [break][break]

"Tell me, have I kept you waiting long?" she asked. Serena shook her head. "Not at all, I just got here." Serena said as she tightened her grip on her Doublades. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Serena said with a dry tone. She was playing around anyway, anything to buy her enough time for Joker to get into position. "Miss me that much?" [break][break]

No sooner had the words left her lips did she notice the glint of Joker sneaking through the shadows and getting into position. He'd used MIMIC on the Blacephalon and had been moving into position to use it's copied version of MIND BLOWN. It wouldn't hit as hard as Blacephalon's, just like it hadn't all those years ago. But that wasn't the true purpose. The Purpose was to disable the move. [break][break]

"I've missed you too." Serena said and jumped back just as Joker's MIND BLOWN erupted with a concentrated explosion of it's own. This wouldn't do anything to Katherine, she already knew this, but the evening was young and the fight was just getting started. This needed to be believable and they needed to start so that the plan could finally begin.

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Gwen didn't even have the opportunity to reach the table where they had set up their little lunch. Artemis bristled in her arms which alerted Serena to the change. Glancing around she noticed that an intruder had infiltrated their midst. Not pleased with this dog interfering with her snack time, Gwen was about ready to put her new found skill to the test. [break][break]

"One second Gwen." Serena said as she put Artemis down and reached for a pokeball. "They must've been hungry. Probably smelled all the food." She said with a grin. Serena wasn't opposed to feeding them if they managed not to touch her berries. In the back her Deerling stood protective vigil over the berry jewels. No threat or danger would come to her crops with on her watch. [break][break]

"If you're hungry, come with me." Serena said as she walked slowly towards the Boltund. "Otherwise, these guys might give you some trouble." she said as she gestured to her pokémon behind her that were bristling. Just waiting for the command from their Trainer. "Wouldn't want that now would you?" she said as she tossed the empty pokeball in her hand.

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