[attr="class","char-words"]No sense of justice, or guided purpose placed him here. It was simply dumb luck; an inconvenience he'd discovered on his way home.
[break][break]
"Take care of it," he grumbles, waving his hand in the general direction of the floating metallic fuck sticks. Baal, needing no further incentive, begins a glorious song. The CLANGOROUS SOUL echoes, sapping vitality for all around performance increases. Acid deflects off the empowered SPECIAL DEFENSE, and with a NOBLE ROAR, he charges.
[break]

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]"Ye, I s'pose that is true isn't it? Impressive kill record ye must have. Tell me, do you have an age limit before ye toss 'em on there? Or are ye usin' the toddlers ta inflate yer numbers?"
[break][break]
His own irritation spikes, but he's had years to reflect on his choices; to reflect and come to terms with his shortcomings, but most importantly, the things he couldn't change.
[break][break]
"But, I'm never one ta turn down a fi-"
[break][break]
His next words are stolen as a pair of Paradox Pokemon coming barreling through a nearby wall. Debris and smoke cloud the roaring creatures, and King immediately goes on high alert, his Lucario already forming an AURA SPHERE between two palms.
[break][break]
Priorities.
[break][break]
He'd deal with that fucker dorian westcliff another time.

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]The fanaticism became very clear as King listens to his excitable speech. Admittedly, the ins-and-outs of the boys interests didn't matter to him, but he wasn't that much of an asshole to say it out loud.
[break][break]
When you started shitting on people's passions, you were truly bottom of the barrel.
[break][break]
"Hold up now, are ye competent at fightin'? Gotta make sure 'fore we head out proper."

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]Dorian's monologue is met with apathetic, annoyed even, silence. Years later and the man still loved to put on a show. Perhaps Rocket wasn't where he belonged, but a circus.
[break][break]
The offer of a challenge, though, forces his lips to spread in a devilish grin.
[break][break]
"Yer a washed-up grunt, Dorian. Who're ye foolin'? Yer clingin' ta some glory of old, beatin' yer shriveled up manhood off ta memories of burnin' children alive probably. Yer a nobody. Every breathe ye take is wasted. But even more than all of that—"
[break][break]
His grin turns into the parody of a sweet-toothed smile.
[break][break]
"—Ye wouldn't last five minutes against me, and we both know it."

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]"'uppose that makes sense." Deploying ground forces to an area from both sides was certainly a sign that there was something more here — something valuable that could change the dynamic of war.
[break][break]
It was all a little too much for his taste.
[break][break]
"Ye would be surprised how little of a chance there is fer someone ta recognize me. 'Sides, ye think I'm the type ta hole up in my place? Ye should know better."

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]King lets loose a long, elongated, and clearly embellished sigh. His eyes roll to land on the Lucario, before focusing loosely back on the man across from him.
[break][break]
"And so the mad dog barks. What a surprise." He allows the Lucario to focus on the cry, keeping his attention front-and-center. "Do ye think I really need a reason ta make yer life difficult?"
[break][break]
He tosses the question half-rhetorically, continuing on regardless.
[break][break]
"Truth be told — I just don't fuckin' like ye."
[break]

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]Another fanatic hell-bent on finding and capturing something unknown, and potentially powerful. Sizing the other man up, he comes up wanting.
[break][break]
"There's been traces," he says, moving his hand in the general area of where he was talking about. "Don't know which mind ye, but somethin' big."
[break][break]
His attention flicks to the scarred, mutilated Swampert at his side. He ponders.
[break][break]
"Lookin' fer help? I got nothin' goin' on this end. Can ye track or do ye need me ta?"

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]The soft pressure of Lucario's paw against his forearm tempers the lashing fury budding on the tip of his tongue. Instead, he lashes out with a kick, knocking over a toddle sized crystal construct.
[break][break]
"I don't want ta hear any more about this, ye? Leave it be. Last warnin'."
[break][break]
Lucario gives Mei a look that says she should drop it. For all of their sake.
[break][break]
"What're ye doin' out 'ere anyways? Not exactly yer typical playground."
[break]

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

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[attr="class","char-words"]King pointedly doesn't laugh as he continues walking ahead, ceruleun orbs regarding Mei out of the corner of his eyes, their expression cold.
[break][break]
Clearly he was not amused by this situation.
[break][break]
"A choice of 'er making I'll remind ye, and 'er next time ye think ta collude." He then shifts his gaze to settle on her, the ice in his gaze transferring to his voice. "'N that'll be the last time that happens, I can promise ye that. I don't need or want ye playin' matchmaker with my life. Got it?"
[break]

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

[attr="class","char-words"]Scar or not, Dorian wasn't the enigma he thought himself to be — at least to the Lucario. It was a little known fact that each creature posssessed their own unique aura. Cataloging them all would be an impossible task, even for the most studious of course, but Xen could not shake the familiarity and disgust that filled him at the 'sight' of the man across from him.
[break][break]
He wasn't alone in that assessment either.
[break][break]
King had met many a killer, psychopath, thief, and more in his time among both organizations and Dorian gave him an uncomfortable feeling. It was more a gut-feeling than anything tangible, and combined with his natural instinct to trust nobody due to his fugitive status, it only cemented his feet in his current spot — otherwise a roadblock for Dorian's path forward.
[break][break]
"Eh, that so? Not much ta explore this way. Recommend ye turn round and try a different corner or two."
[break]

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes

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[attr="class","char-words"]A group? That meant there was more than one person here who posed a random threat to himself.
[break][break]
He clenches his jaw, thinning his lip in disappointment.
[break][break]
"Name's King." His eyes flick to multiple points around him as he searches for another presence. Finding none, he continues.
[break][break]
"Ye huntin' somethin'?"

[attr="class","char-notes"]

notes