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BARNABY FINCH watched Caleb Harcourt's unfurling with a leisurely composure: his jaw cradled between thumb and index finger, elbow propped on the arm of his chair, one leg hitched across the knee of the other.[break][break]

He didn't look away, even as his guest endured blow after blow. Even when he fell to the ground, his blood squelching beneath jayden cross's boot. Even — no, especially — when Caleb crawled across the stained floor, begging for release. From the pain, from life, from him.[break][break]

"Not yet." [break][break]

Barnaby replied softly, unfolding his legs and leaning forward to better take in the man at his feet.[break][break]

He'd done just as expected. A rewarding hand reached out to cup the ranger's jaw and stroke his battered cheek with a comforting roll of Barnaby's thumb. It was a fleeting touch, however; his hand soon shifted to hold the man's chin, smearing blood across his face in the process.[break][break]

"Thank you for your help today," Barnaby's raised voice indicated that he was talking to jayden cross, though he kept his eyes trained on Caleb Harcourt's crumpled body. [break][break]

"I'll finish up here."

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The subsiding fanfare and the playing of the show's introductory jingle denoted that it was time once again to begin yet another episode.[break][break]

"Welcome to 'The Bee's Knees' with me, your host, Barnaby Finch!"[break][break]

Cheers echoed out around the studio, seeming to be even more enthusiastic than usual. Could it be because of the particular guest sitting across from Barnaby?[break][break]

"Joining us today is Melody Miro, one of Hoenn's Elite Four members — and a newly-christened Champion Rank trainer! Melody, thank you for taking time out of your day to come talk with us."[break][break]

As always, Barnaby regarded the woman beside him with a stunning smile — meant to appear inviting and charming all at once.[break][break]

"Tell me, how does it feel to be the very first Champion Ranked trainer in Hoenn? I was on the edge of my seat watching your match, that's for sure. I can't imagine the emotions you must be feeling."

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BARNABY FINCH saw ollie morales' freefall and thought his victory was clinched. Below the man was solid earth — a guaranteed death at this height.[break][break]

Of course, the man's DRAGONITE still insisted on being annoying. Riderless, it shot out a DRACO METEOR toward them.[break][break]

SHAYMIN swooped in to counter with its own attack: SEED FLARE.[break][break]

The two moves clashed, sending a shockwave that radiated out along with pungent smoke that obscured much of the nearby area. Now, there was no sign of the ranger, hidden as he was below the smog.[break][break]

Barnaby didn't bother following further. There was no point.[break][break]

He was likely dead anyway.

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TOTAL: 450 MP[break]
+ 100 MP for sky mission[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 250 MP for "tying" an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission

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Sand erupted between the two men, giving Barnaby a few lucky seconds to backpedal and put some distance between himself and Greyson Connors.[break][break]

This fight had gone on long enough. It was high time to put an end to all the foreplay and get to the finale. Especially after witnessing the Elite Four member's transformation. So he had a Sygna Suit, huh?[break][break]

That complicated things.[break][break]

A low whistle escaped the admin's lips: a call to arms that snapped his BLACEPHALON's confusion. It knew what that meant, and carried out its orders with maniacal glee. Rushing forward with arms outstretched, it'd attempt to grab hold of VESPIQUEN in a bear hug-type maneuver. If that wasn't possible, it'd still get as close as it could before...[break][break]

BOOM! Having its MIND BLOWN was like detonating a bomb at close range. The power of it was enough to knock out the Ultra Beast — and hopefully the insect queen with it.[break][break]

Meanwhile, BARNABY FINCH had his own battle to contend with.[break][break]

"That's my line." He replied, all bravado in the face of such unequal odds. Barnaby had no Sygna Suit to rely on, so had to settle for the next best thing.[break][break]

Throwing out a Poké Ball, an enormous creature emerged in a haze of shadowy energy. A STEELIX — but different from the typical specimen. This serpent was forty feet tall and made of an amalgamation of dark metal and jutting crystals, with a predatory stare that spoke to its ferocious nature.[break][break]

It took the brunt of the SPRINGTIDE STORM while barely flinching and moved to meet Greyson Connors head-on. Opening its gaping maw, the STEELIX released a powerful FLASH CANNON toward the man.

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TOTAL: 275 MP[break]
+ 100 MP for shore mission[break]
+ 50 MP for participation in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 25 MP for using an ultra beast in your thread[break]
+ 50 MP for KO'd pokemon[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission[break]
+ 10 MP per IC post in an RT battle/mission

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"...You're right." [break][break]

Though his fumbling way of speaking evoked otherwise, Barnaby observed the Beast before him with a critical eye, deciding within the span of a few seconds whether Mint truly carried himself like a child. [break][break]

"You're not. So I'm sure we won't need to have this conversation again in the future." There was a warning, thinly-veiled, behind his words.[break][break]

"Will we?" His grip tightened around the man's jaw, pressuring him both verbally and physically to comply.[break][break]

If he decided to obey, mint frost's submission would earn him a small, but pleasant smile from the admin, and a shift in tone to something more agreeable.[break][break]

"Now," He'd release Mint's chin and part with a few soft pats to the man's cheek.[break][break]

"Get off my desk."

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Blackmail, huh?[break][break]

Typical. And not all that surprising, though Barnaby did idly wonder from who or what he weaseled their identities. [break][break]

For all he knew, however, Caleb Harcourt could be bluffing. But that didn't really matter, in the end. Eyes half-lidded, with an expression that was seemingly unimpressed, he leaned in to the ranger's ear in kind. In the same motion, his palm further pressed into Barnaby's throat.[break][break]

"You've become quite the annoying gnat, haven't you?" His lips grazed the soft flesh of the man's cheek as he spoke, unhurried, unafraid.[break][break]

"It sounds like I should just crush you now, hm?" Was that palpable disappointment in his voice? [break][break]

"Alright. I'll play along."[break][break]

Beside them, a sudden heat radiated from Odette's open maw. She was ready to strike, depending on how cooperative Caleb decided to be.[break][break]

"Tell me what you know."












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BARNABY FINCH wasn't expecting a reunion so soon.[break][break]

From across the chamber a familiar LEAGUE dog made himself known. Crackling energy from his MAGNEZONE warned of redemption, giving Barnaby enough time to release a suitable counter.[break][break]

A dark-hided CAMERUPT materialized onto the field and PROTECTED her master just in the nick of time.[break][break]

"What a welcome!" The ROCKET admin taunted behind the veil of his Pokémon's protection. He locked eyes with jack wainwright before continuing, "Missed me that much, did you?"[break][break]

Whistling lowly, Barnaby instructed his CAMERUPT to continue once the ZAP CANNON had subsided. She didn't move, however, but simply YAWNED in the direction of the MAGNEZONE.












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