The mood had shifted from professional criminal organization to college freshman in a matter of minutes, it was an uncanny shift, but the man wasn't complaining. His eyes shift from different grunts to rooms on the submarine as they walk Glitch's Dorito guiding the most recent grunt and his superior through the various hallways and corridors. Honestly, he doesn't know what to think of the pink-haired associate, this early in his new life, but he can admit having someone so personable rooming near him didn't sound so terrible.

"I didn't quite expect it to be like this." He says aloud having just passed another group of members, who seemed relatively happy to be in a tanker nearing the bottom of the ocean. "It's a lot more relaxed than I could have ever expected. Is it always like this?" His eyes turn toward the associate a degree of confusion thinly veiled in the question. Just as he asks he recognizes that they were nearing his quarters. "I think I'm over here if memory serves..."

The smoke is dizzying and the heat almost unbearable, but the man had something to protect. On the outside of the pass was what he once considered his home, and still saw as a place to protect, and while fires weren't an uncommon occurrence on the jagged pass this one had grown out of hand. Some grunts had gotten a little too into their drills and Miles took it upon himself to manage the mess.

"Rock Slide, Hydro Pump." The commands are given confidently as more flames are smothered. He'd been holding the flames at bay waiting for the league, rangers anyone to arrive and give him a hand lest the fire consume him and reach Lavaridge. Thankfully Obelos and Sidia still had enough energy to resist the encroaching flames.

Surely someone had to have noticed, by now despite it being the dead of night smoke traveled fast, it was simply a matter of time, or at least that's what he told himself.

Mission Fire Force

An eyebrow raises as his fossil hunting cohort prepares his announcement. Glitch always seemed to be up to something or another, he was a jovial sort and easy to get along with despite or perhaps due to his eccentricities. It's true the rocket simply grew on others and Miles was no exception. And so when he finally decided to spill the darker-skinned rocket couldn't help but feel more than a tinge of happiness for his acquaintance. "I didn't know you had any kind of interest in the league challenge, and now you're a gym leader? Once again you prove to be full of surprises Glitch, congratulations really." Miles offers a rare smile before his eyes focus back on the route not forgetting about the reason for their excursion in the first place.

In all honesty, this was great for the rocket. It could serve as a way out of the life if Glitch wanted it to, and even having that option was something to celebrate, not that they'd take it. "I'll be sure to drop some flowers by on opening day, though I must ask, what's the theme of your new domain?" All gyms had something of a theme in the old days they were type-specific, but the challenge had evolved long since then, leaving an assortment of new combinations for leaders to attempt. Glitch was certainly a creative type and Miles could only imagine what tricks he had stored for his unsuspecting challengers.

What better place to stage his one and only gambit amidst a night of gambling. The incandescent lights of the casino, mixed with the sound of slots and his own apprehensions combine only for the man to strike gold, even before she speaks he can see it in her eyes, in that warmth that she naturally radiated.

He accepts the hastily written napkin carefully making sure it doesn't smear in his hands, less he lose the only link to a certain Stormy. Who despite her name felt like a ray of sunshine. Something he resists the urge to say lest he make the farewell a little too corny. And so he decides on something simpler for the second time this evening.

"I'll see you soon Stormy."

And like that he fades into the crowd joyful despite the nature of his job. After all, he had a ray of light to look forward to to work towards, and that made all the difference in the world.

If only they knew.


wATux3zT

(only cause the mission said)

It was a tough flight, the unleashed bug pokemon were frenzied, as such even the rockets weren't safe to their attacks Miles in particular found himself avoiding an assortment of stingers and blades as he rode atop his prehistoric pokemon. He tucks himself closer to the aerodactyl legs tightening around the monster's torso as a Beedril narrowly misses the rocket keeping his head attached to his shoulders. It was a terrifying experience, but the job had only begun. "Agility." And with that the dragon-like pokemon would move into second gear, at this speed he was about 30 seconds from reaching the tower. Perfect time to update the comms."This is Viper, looking for a status update for the first and second floors."

Regardless of the answer Miles would order the prehistoric reptile to fly in through the third floor, he had to deal with the group of pursuers on his heels. The idea was simple using the tree base to funnel the assortment of enemies as they all couldn't fit through the broken window panes at once.


tl;dr:
- Miles is attacked by the bug pokemon he unleashed while making his way to the guild atop Aerodactyl
- Has Aerodactyl use Agility to gain some distance from him and his pursuers
- Hits up comms wanting to know everyone's status
- Is planning on landing on the third floor using a window to funnel a number of the chasing bugs.

"Well then you're in luck, I have too many worries to count, and speaking on them is all I seem to be able to do." A true statement at the moment, shaping one's path didn't happen in a day, but he'd assumed more reigns on his life and fate as of late, and while that path led to places the analyst couldn't excuse, he'd continue to walk it in the name of the peace he sought for his home.

"There's nothing I'd like more." In this den of greed Miles found something...someone worth hanging onto even if they were transient fated to disappear by daybreak, or perhaps it was reversed in that he was the transient one, unable to remain. A Cinderella whose magic was ticking with each passing second.


It's almost on cue. as he feels eyes on his back glances from afar. It was time to get back to work and close out for the evening. lest he hold up the staff, most of whom were already uncomfortable with the terms of the pickup, His carriage was set to mold itself back into a pumpkin.

" However," that eager smile was now tinted with a slight sadness. "I have to go for the evening. An appointment to keep." Leaving it here was best, if they continued he'd be a danger to her after all he was regarded as a criminal by society regardless of how noble he felt his goals were.

But the alcohol speaks, or rather it makes that internal voice the one he's prone to smothering with rationale, and logic louder. He doesn't need to hear it because it's apparent even to that very same rationale. Accepting that transience here and now would be a mistake. The man couldn't remember the last time he'd vocalized even a portion of his concerns.

Fuck it.

"Hey, I know I have to leave, but I'd be a colossal idiot if I didn't at least pose the question." He speaks quickly not because he's rushing to leave, but because he wants to stay. and for all the researcher's wordiness and wisdom he can't grasp how to say it. He was leaving himself vulnerable, something the scientist hadn't done for many months so many that he seems to have forgotten how.

"There's a place I'd like to take you to, or rather ask you to accompany..." He takes a breath deciding to take it from the top. "Maybe we share that second drink in a week or so if you're free and if you have the time maybe we mold that drink into a date?"

Some things were best-left simple.

“It is, Almost as if you’ve come out of a noir novel. There’s a very distinct air about you Ms. Gray as unscientific as that may be. Perhaps stoic is the word? Aloof?” He teases, but there was definite truth in that.

“I can definitely see the opposite side of the coin as well. After all the mysteries of pokemon are as complex and far reaching as there are species.” he’d eye the pokemon out and about currently as he spoke each had their own secrets waiting to be revealed.

It’s as he muses on the mysteries of pokemon that his cell vibrates. It’s a simple text, but one that warrants a frown if at least temporarily. “I suppose that’s my cue, an acquaintance seems to have run into some trouble, though I’d much rather stay and chat. Time had definitely gotten away from him, the curse of good conversation. It’s rare that I meet people with taste so similar to my own, in the day to day. If I learn any good stories in my journeys I’d like your thoughts on them.”

“That’s all to say we should share contacts.” It took him longer than realized to get to the point (as it so often did.)

When she spoke of the late Leona Sharp Miles could only nod, He’d be damned if he didn’t know it, she deserved better than he could have ever given.

As the conversation transitions the researcher finds his attention had been commanded by his conversation partner her response much like the city was full of hope. While she leans over the banner he finds his back against it neck craning to watch both the woman and the city, and while the focus was shared it was nowhere near equal.

“Reborn...” he repeats it to himself An answer to remember one that I like more than my own.” He doesn’t disagree, and though his own thoughts followed different lines hers were appreciated and brought a feeling that was difficult to describe.

“I see tenacity.” He begins, “A city even more, a country of people who will not let the circumstances beat them regardless of what they may be.” His whole body turns to face the metropolis. “They will fight as long as they need to and they will sacrifice for their home until it is safe. And in that how many will fall through the cracks?

“That’s why I believe peace must be achieved sooner than later. The people of Slateport, of Hoenn definitely have the strength and fortitude to weather whatever storm comes, but they shouldn’t have to.” And therein lied a portion of his sadness. “But all anyone seems to see on the horizon is war and that scares me.

Sorry, his focus returns to the woman, Party foul I know but that’s what’s been on the mind, well that and a particularly perceptive, kind woman who I’ve had the pleasure of spending a portion evening with. “

“I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. My mother used to say all it takes to save someone is a reach of the hand. Corny I know, but I don’t think she was wrong. ”

And it’s on that note he reaches for hers sharing a shake. He smiles, though his mind lingers for a moment shifting between how cute his conversation partner happened to be and his inability to protect the woman he’d just spoken of. His his gaze would leave hers moving to the cityscape that was Slateport fearingHe’d stared too long.

It was a blemished city, even here he could see cranes in the distance structures only half rebuilt, but in those blemishes there was beauty, despite everything it was full of life, hope.

“What do you think of Slateport, Stormy? If you had to describe it in a single word what would it be?” he takes a sip making note to pace himself now, a slip of the tongue could lead to disaster, disaster that the poison stirring in his hand was known to cause.

“That is of course if you don’t mind me asking.

“Just a touch of sadness on a poetically beautiful evening. Nothing a conversation with an appealing stranger can’t save me from.”

Beautiful, vaguely familiar, perhaps an actress or something along those lines? He dives for an answer, but its too cloudy to reach at the moment. He’d sacrificed that clarity for peace of mind tonight. It’s a trade he’s yet to regret.

There were a wealth of worries that threatened to spill into the man, worries that his glass held comfortably at bay, the true savior of the night thus far.

“Miles, and who do I have the honor of branding my evening’s hero.” the researcher doesn’t miss a beat his eyes acutely focused on his new partner still attempting to decipher where exactly he’d seen her.