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Reanimated Pokémon mill about, but they're of no consequence to BARNABY FINCH. It was a scene he'd already witnessed a few times himself by this point. Instead, his focus was on Lulu Flint.[break][break]

"I am."[break][break]

That particular scenario had been one of the most concerning, in his mind. It was an anomaly within an anomaly. A crackle of a voice from the void.[break][break]

"Maldacena is a curious one, isn't he?"[break][break]

Sometimes he helped, sometimes he hindered. His elaborate exploits within cyber space spoke for themselves — he'd given them knowledge that they'd have little way of knowing otherwise.[break][break]

Was he a rogue? Or still affiliated with the DRK Triad?[break][break]

"You never know who's watching."[break][break]

That warning had stayed with Barnaby.

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"I see."[break][break]

BARNABY FINCH's expression turned grim as he thought of bryan delarosa. He'd been lost in the chaos of Sootopolis, missing in action for weeks now. Another casualty among many but hopefully returned soon.[break][break]

"Neon," Admin Bee's voice carried across the Pokémon center upon seeing a steel feather cut several cigarettes in two, sweet yet familiar to mint frost. He'd recognize it as a soft warning. "Leave them to their vices. Any small reprieve from war is a welcome one."[break][break]

He tilted his head in silent acknowledgement of jayden cross, Tempest Quinn and Cillian Quinn as they joined at their respective tables, as well as any others that arrived.[break][break]

Shred earned a pleasantly surprised look, as did priam conrad. Barnaby appreciated hearing the Beast's perspective.[break][break]

When howard slayte, Tempest Quinn, and Cillian Quinn spoke of cogs and machines, BARNABY FINCH was reminded of the likes of Father Winter and his portals into other realms, other spaces. Of the alternate timelines glimpsed by CELEBI's own hand. [break][break]

Every person had a part to play. Simple cogs they were not. howard slayte would remove their humanity — laughable, considering his fondness for the indominable human spirit. Perhaps he only viewed other ROCKETs in that way and not the likes of Navy or other LEAGUE figureheads.[break][break]

"I visited the site once things had settled. To pay my respects, of course," Barnaby's tone turned curious. "And there was this odd cocoon-shaped husk left behind. Empty, but,"[break][break]

"Peculiar."[break][break]

Regardless of Elisabeth Fiorelli's death, Barnaby had faith that THEO BECKETT and Cillian Quinn would adeptly steer their organization. Still, the thought of her lingered in his mind. [break][break]

"I'm not sure if I remember reading about it in the reports."

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• outfit check[break]
• softly chastises mint [break]
• barnaby nods/acknowledges people as they come in[break]
• oh hey wasn't that cocoon weird

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"She purposefully put me in danger."[break][break]

BARNABY FINCH went on to explain how Zev Harcourt had relayed his experience within the Ultra Deep Sea to him. How MATIAS SILPH now knew his ROCKET alias and general appearance. How he'd attacked with deadly force — assuming that Zev was Admin Bee.[break][break]

For a man who relied on anonymity, to have that stripped away by a trusted partner was a betrayal he couldn't quite stomach. Was this wounded pride or something deeper?[break][break]

"If she didn't want to hurt me... why would she tell Matias about my existence?"[break][break]

Barnaby looked to THEO BECKETT with a tired, questioning expression, as if he would have all the answers to this dismal situation.

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BARNABY FINCH is not far behind howard slayte.[break][break]

Where one admin sits, so does the other, giving Bee the opportunity to interact with Howard more closely. The rose was noted, as was the way he crushed it in his palm.[break][break]

"Seizing Petalburg is certainly an impressive feat, Admin Fox..." He admitted first, allowing Howard his accolades.[break][break]

"But I wouldn't say losing an underboss as collateral is 'pretty good,' personally." When Hitoshi Inoue chimed in with a similar sentiment as Howard, Barnaby offered the Beast a passing glance, but soon returned his attention to the other admin.[break][break]

"I've read the reports, of course, but I would love to hear what transpired from you firsthand."

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• outfit check[break]
• :face_with_raised_eyebrow: at howard

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"Ooohh," BARNABY FINCH hummed, excited by the prospect of traveling into the UNOWN dimension. "I like that idea."[break][break]

It was a contained space that guaranteed little to no collateral damage. And if some horrid abomination did spawn from their experiments? He was sure Naomi Sato could sort that out immediately within such a space.[break][break]

"Plus I've never been! What's it like? Have you decorated the place? Made it feel like home?"[break][break]

Probably not. Nevertheless, Barnaby stood up from where he sat, indicating that he was ready to start whenever she was.

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"Yes."[break][break]

There was no hesitation in BARNABY FINCH's response. [break][break]

"But," He looked away toward the sea, biting his lower lip in uncertainty. "You might not now."[break][break]

A plan derailed. THEO BECKETT wasn't known to tolerate failure. Would he be surprised by this divulgence?[break][break]

"...I broke things off with Elisabeth."

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War. The thought pushed sleep from his mind entirely. [break][break]

How could he ask for such an impossibility? [break][break]

A softness came over BARNABY FINCH as he looked down at his lover. He pitied the man, in a way. So in love, so entangled by his own emotions that logic rarely won out. [break][break]

Somehow, during this twilight hour, it was an endearing thing. Something to be protected.[break][break]

"If I could run away with you and leave this war behind," A hand crept up to cover Caleb Harcourt's own, guiding it to rest over his heart. "I would." [break][break]

Barnaby's grip tightened as the next words left his lips. [break][break]

"...but you know I can't, Caleb."

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"My, what a dreary outlook, Howard. I hardly recognize you." The physical was one thing — but had he lost his constitution as well? Where was the champion of the people from before? "The pain must have addled your brain."[break][break]

The two men talked quietly, hushed by the late hour and the scant illumination. Only a small lamp by the headboard and an assortment of LEDs on various pieces of equipment lit the room. Otherwise it was only darkness.[break][break]

It was quite an intimate affair in that regard. BARNABY FINCH handled howard slayte with a gentle care reserved for tending to bedridden loved ones. Settling stray hairs away from his face with a delicate finger, wiping beads of sweat from his brow before they could fall into the abyss behind his KEY STONE. [break][break]

Affection he didn't necessarily show everyone.[break][break]

"You wouldn't have done what you did if we were all simply replaceable."[break][break]

His tone was soft, gentle, guiding. Putting pieces back into place.[break][break]

"Godkillers are not so commonplace."[break][break]

A beat, and then he added, "You passed, you know."

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"Not yet," Admin Bee cooed, his voice a calming salve to ease Howard's dark desires.[break][break]

But it would be so easy, wouldn't it? He was already on the brink — a little nudge would suffice... [break][break]

"Who's going to do all of our clerical work if you leave us so soon?" BARNABY FINCH teased, humor thrumming in his throat. Ribbing Howard usually worked to get his heart beating faster and blood pressure up. Would it now, under such dire circumstances?[break][break]

"You're not allowed to die, Admin Fox. There's much still to do."[break][break]

howard slayte had made himself known in quite the explosive way. He was now on the chessboard — and barred from leaving.[break][break]

"Perhaps I can make you a little more comfortable, though, hm?"[break][break]

Six or so button taps at the equipment near the headboard of the hospital bed resulted in Howard's morphine drip pumping again, ahead of schedule.

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"I didn't choose Rocket."[break][break]

BARNABY FINCH was intermingled and interwoven and intertwined by a strangling knot of familial obligation, of circumstances beyond his control, that kept him rooted in the ranks of TEAM ROCKET.[break][break]

"In fact, if I'd had a choice, it wouldn't have been this." [break][break]

What had he told Elisabeth Fiorelli all those years ago? That he'd been born in a cage?[break][break]

"...but that sort of life was never an option for me."[break][break]

To defect would guarantee a miserable, otiose demise — and that wasn't the sort of death he was destined for. Not now, with Hoenn's fate so tied with his own.[break][break]

"Sometimes," Barnaby paused for a moment, breaking eye contact from Grigori Sokolov to sweep his cobalt gaze over the city below. "We make due with our lots in life. We come to terms with what we have."[break][break]

"I did," A beat, and then the two men were looking at one another once again. "And I hope you have, too."[break][break]

"I'll need you as focused as you can be in the war ahead."

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"Oh, Howard."[break][break]

What a pitiful sight Admin Fox made. Beaten, broken, half-dead from a succulent poison coursing through his body.[break][break]

Where was that earlier confidence now? Perhaps it had crumbled away like half of Dewford.[break][break]

"Flew a little too close to the sun, didn't we?"[break][break]

BARNABY FINCH watched his colleague from where he sat at his bedside, in a middling, uncomfortable hospital chair. Hearing Howard's pained moan, however, caused him to lean closer and place a soft hand on the man's good arm.[break][break]

Perhaps he could offer Howard some relief? Siphoning energy from living beings came easily now — could he capture DYNERGY from a body as well?[break][break]

It quickly became apparent that this hypothesis proved fruitless: just attempting it left him feeling a foreboding unease, as if simply trying would be unsafe.[break][break]

He removed his hand with a sigh.[break][break]

"I warned you."

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