The closest thing to a kitchen they had in the Rocket HQ, that wasn't already reserved by other parties, was a laboratory. Still, it wasn't so bad, Belial thought. He'd done well with worse during his days in the military.

Speaking of his experience in the military, the laboratory table that once held beakers and science equipment was now covered with neatly arranged kitchenware and polished utensils— much as Belial liked to arrange his menagerie of military-grade weapons back home.

He took a step back from the table when he finished and held his hands behind his back, examining his work with a pleased smile. "Not bad, eh Circe?"

The SHINY SPEWPA hanging upside from the laboratory ceiling chirps in agreement. Though its attention turns to the open door when Belial's assigned partner (octavia nuys ) walks in.

---

⚠ mission: affection's confections

MISSION + octavia nuys

☉

A FENNEKIN that passes by on the path sings a LUCKY CHANT. It happily ignores the mercenary captain and his Riolu as it goes about its day. Unlike them, it is entirely unfettered by the heat and ash in the air.

The pair don't bother to stop and challenge either. There are bound to be much larger opponents ahead anyway.

---

⏭ skipping (1/3)

SOLO WILD + BRAVO

☉

Cunning eyes narrow with rich pleasure at the sight of her. "You're my first date? I'd rather you be my last, beautiful." He smirks with a devilish gleam, taking the seat beside her before folding one leg across the other and reaching out for her hand. Should she offer it, the black-haired Stone would bend down to gently peck its surface.

"Belial Stone, at your service. But you can call me Bel." He says, his eyes locked seductively onto her own as he leans back in his chair and releases her hand.

His Mienshao, in the meantime, jumps onto the table before taking a sniff of her. "That's Chai." He adds, briefly regarding the curious kung-fu Pokémon with a look. He waves her off.

"But enough about her," Belial continues, leaning in with interest. "Do you ever go to the kitchen and realize you’re the tastiest snack you have?"

---

💕 TURN 1/4

SPEED DATE + Antoinette Spina

☉

The FIERY PASS was a crucible that molded champions! Or so the people of Lavaridge had told him. It certainly wasn't the easiest place in Hoenn to traverse, though, from what he'd experienced so far.

BRAVO the SHINY RIOLU seemed eager to take on the challenge, however. Together, commander and Pokémon hiked up trails of brimstone and ash.

---

➼ searching...

SOLO WILD + BRAVO

☉

The RAGEPOWDER that filled the air reached their nostrils before they could do anything to avoid it. Vulture caws filled the air like the terrible song of Greek furies, Hecate flapping her wings frantically as she flew about. Belial, in the meantime, fared no better. 

"GRAAAAH!!" He growls in anger, grabbing his head with both hands as he tries to control himself. When he realizes his dosed up Mandibuzz has set his sights on him, however, the instinct for survival is the only thing that prompts him to run into the forest. Funny enough, when he passes through a bush he ends up revealing the hiding spot for their trickster.

The SHINY SCATTERBUG attempts desperately to crawl back into the bush afterwards. But Hecate sends it airborne with a GUST. This flap of her wings manages to clear the ragepowder lingering in the air, too, and Belial finally finds some sense within himself: enough to pull out an empty ball and cast it at the bug.

---

✨ catching shiny scatterbug ✨
➼ looking for: growlithe, shiny scatterbug, cyndaquil

SAFARI ZONE + HECATE

☉

Though it's slightly at his own expense, Belial can appreciate a good tease when it's deserved.

He smirks at the beautiful stranger, deciding then to stop being a little pansy about the heat and submerge himself even further. The fact that he's suppressing another hiss is clear on his expression as he does so, but he manages to wade in up to his waist without breaking the façade. 

Couldn't look weak in front of a lovely lady, now could he? The fact that he'd always had a thing for blondes didn't help much either. So on with the casual bravado.

"Y-Yeah. You could say that." The man eventually responds with a chuckle, his Oshawott taking its time to follow in tow meanwhile. It casts its scalchop into the water before it dips a foot in with a happy hum.

"Maybe I have you and Lucifer to thank for that." Belial continues, casting a dazzling smile at the woman and her Umbreon. Though, mostly just her.

---

📍 poppywine spring, lavaridge town
⚠ mission: new year, new me

AHOGADO + Amber Lenoir

☉

Around the dawn of the new year, Belial Stone and GARAND the OSHAWOTT pay a visit to one of Lavaridge's many hot springs: the POPPYWINE SPRING. Famous for the hanging gardens and fields of flowers that surround it, the locale is also popular for being unisex and allowing its guests to freely mingle together in its little slice of paradise. And anyone who knew Belial knew that he absolutely loved to meet new people.

The black sheep of the Stone family arrives in nothing but a pair of black Speedos and a white towel hanging over his shoulder. His little Oshawott tags along behind as he saunters towards the main spring, admiring the dreamlike view past the light steam that fills the air like a fog. Before long, however, Belial sheds his towel onto the stone-paved ground before dipping in.

"Sssskk, ow, ow... that's fucking hot." He mutters under his breath, having only taken one step down the carved stairs leading into the natural pool.

---

📍 poppywine spring, lavaridge town
⚠ mission: new year, new me

AHOGADO + Amber Lenoir

☉

The wolf had been stalking them since ten minutes back. It cared not for the goliath traipsing through the forest, but for the pillar of man-flesh that walked beside it. When the human stopped to tighten the laces of his boot, falling behind the Barbaracle, that's when the Mightyena finally decided to strike.

The CRUNCH it attempted to land, however, was met with the sudden strike of baton. Jawbone cracked and echoed into the night as the dog fell to the ground with a yelp. Just as it attempted to stagger back up, however, it felt a sharp pain strike at its ribs as it was knocked back down.

The beat-down that ensued didn't last long. Just long enough for the Barbaracle to come back, really. And even then, it only gazed upon the sight of the battered canine and his sweaty, smirking master for a few mere moments before a timer ball was dropped onto the beast.

---

✨ catching mightyena
🕯️ DARK-TYPE incense active

SOLO WILD + POLYPHEMUS

☉

Hecate irritates the GROWLITHE with short pecks and caws of laughter. It barks at the vulture, helplessly, from the ground below. Its fangs drip with fire (FIRE FANG) as it continually attempts to leap into the air and snag a wing.

Eventually, however, Hecate has had enough of playing with the pup. She strikes it down mercilessly with a GUST, sending it crashing into a boulder shortly thereafter. Belial slides in afterward with an empty timer ball, and casts it to secure his capture.

---

✨ catching growlithe
➼ looking for: growlithe, scatterbug, cyndaquil

SAFARI ZONE + HECATE

☉

A behemoth stomps through the dark of the Fortree forest. Leading this monstrous BARBARACLE is a cloaked figure walks with a smoking thurible in hand. The DARK-TYPE INCENSE within it stirs in the air, carried by the cold breeze throughout the landscape.

The witch at the night market had assured him it would attract worthy challengers. Now he would see.

---

SEARCHING
🕯️ DARK-TYPE incense active

SOLO WILD + POLYPHEMUS

☉