Locke opened their mouth to remind Remiel Calcifet that they were twenty years old and certainly not a kid anymore, but the prince was already making a beeline for the group around the punch bowl, leaving the younger man at the bottom of the staircase with the minor. Though, from their perspective, it looked like he was more interested in joining in the debauchery than “taking care of it.”

With a long-suffering sigh, they guided Eris Halla and both their Pokémon to one of the lounges adjacent to the main party room, leaving the door ajar in case anyone called for them. ”Sometimes I wonder why I come to these sort of things…”

It felt like the party had only started a few hours ago, yet when Locke glanced at one of the room’s needlessly-large windows he found the sky darkening under the fast-approaching night and distant storm. “That looks nasty…” He said with a thoughtful hum as he watched the clouds roll closer to the seaside manor.

”I could probably beat the storm if ya got somewhere to be.” He offered Eris as he finally released her squirming Yamper to the rug. Kringle-Kringle gave the pup a curious look from behind Fran-Fran. He’d been planning to stay himself, if only for a warm bed for the night.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

It was after the third or fourth time passing under the same gaudy-looking portrait that Locke finally got tired of chasing after the Yamper. “Alright you.” They chided as they scooped up the corgi in exasperation. “I’m pretty sure we’re not even supposed be down her-Oh!”

Maybe they shouldn’t have doubted the pup after all, as who should appear but exactly the pair they’d been looking for.

Locke jogged up to meet them with Eris Halla’s Yamper still in his arms. “There you both are! Everyone’s been-Okay, and we’re going.” He let himself be tugged back down to the main room by Remiel Calcifet, who was wearing antlers and a clown nose for some reason, where things seemed to have gotten even more heated than when he’d left.

He quickly pulled his hand out of Eris’ to cover the young girl’s eyes as they passed two young men getting ready to do more than kiss under a Gallade’s mistletoe, and tried to steer their little troop away from whatever was happening at the punch bowl now.

“Mi-Mister Calcifet…” Locke pleaded, face flushed and hiding behind Eyja’s yellow fur.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

They weren’t flying but god if it didn’t feel like it. The rush of air against their skin; the wind whistling in their ears; the buildings and scenery breaking down into formless shapes and colors as they raced by.

It’d be comforting if Locke’s stomach wasn’t threatening to turn itself inside-out the second they took off.

He squeezed his eyes shut, only cracking one open just long enough to peek down at the phone clutched between Birdie-Birdie and himself. ”U-Up by the mountain! Near the cave entrance!” In the opposite direction of where they were currently speeding towards.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

”Oh yeah! I didn’t think we were that well known,” they admitted sheepishly. ”S’not easy, but it’s good work, and I like it well enough.” It was always a bit embarrassing selling their job in-person, especially since they rarely turned nearly as much of a profit as the work they put in.

”What about you? Don’t think I ever caught what you did.”

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

A deep sigh left Locke has they rounded the corner into one of the mansion’s many hallways. A short glance back at the punch table told them they’d left at just the right time too. At least they all seemed to be having fun.

Even if their intention had just been to get away from the heated scene, they did still plan on following through with their search for Remiel Calcifet. Though as they started their trek through the Calcifet manor, they quickly found that easier said than done. Seriously, who even needed a house this big?!

Though now that he thought about it, he’d met just about everyone at the party now, and none of them seemed to be related to Calcifet as far as he could tell. Did the ambassador really live here completely on his own? Had none of his family come to see him for the holidays, at least?

…Somehow, the mansion felt even bigger than before.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

Locke watched the other man move his hands purposefully, their expression jumping from confusion, to recognition, to apologetic. ”Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t-I’ve never learned sign language…” They admitted sheepishly. ”I think…I sort of understand though?”

He bent down to meet the Delibird, noting the spotty white patches along its beak that indicated its age. Its tail was also very large, so it was likely used to taking charge and bossing others, not the other way around.

Locke turned back to the stranger. ”I think the best we can do is follow it and make sure it gets where it needs to go safely.”

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

”Wha-Huh?!” Locke whipped around to face Dominic Grey, red as a Tomato. Kiss?! They’d just met barely an hour ago. What was this guys name? He’d just said it hadn’t he? Their brain couldn’t conjure it passed the loop of kiss kiss kisskisskiss-



”I’ll go look for him!” He announced a little too loudly, before making an about-face and quickly jogging out of the room.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

”Are we doin’ introductions? M’name’s Locke. I, uh, do this mostly.” He demonstrated by passing the last of his presents, save for the special one, to Dominic Grey. ”Delivery work.”

Locke nodded with a pitiful expression. ”I’ve got one more gift for her, but I can’t find her anywhere,” They admitted as they reached for the punch. ”I’ve been holdin’ on to it for a while actually…”

The haphazard concoction definitely didn’t compare to luka chêne’s cocoa mixture, burning their throat the same way the highball had and leaving that unpleasantly-bitter taste on their tongue. Locke set the cup aside after a few coughs, not quite ready for a second sip.

---

[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz

As they started running out of people to give presents to, a silent headcount told Locke they’d missed an unfamiliar face next to Melody Miro and FERNANDO SILPH and backtracked towards that group. ”Sorry, didn’t see ya earlier,” they told Caprice Isaac before handing the blonde stranger a Pokéball. ”Merry Christmas!”

He gave one last look around. There was only one person present in the room he hadn’t given a gift to yet, and still no sign of Eris Halla. Dejected, Locke returned to the group he’d started the party with, who had all congregated around the punch bowl at this point, sighing as he approached.

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[attr="class","wizzcred"]❤ wizz