It just so happened he was new! Only been in Hoenn a few days, first day on the sub. Fancy that.

Almost teasingly, he lifted a finger to trace her frown in the air.

"You don't seem very happy."

A simple explanation.

The question for his sanity was still up in the air, though.

At least Calem wasn't put off so easy.

Lulu Flint

The glare is met with a smile.

Like anyone drawn to dangerous things, Calem picks up his scotch and makes his way over.

"Alcohol not up to par?" Seating himself next to her, a cheshire grin sticks to his lips as he gets a sip of his own drink.

There isn't any bother to hide how his eyes wander before settling for Lulu Flint's eyes.

A Chimecho bursts from the grass, panicked and charred. His Arcanine is on it's heels, fire in her mouth.

Electricity crackles from his baton, no hesitation as it slams into the psychic type. There is a heady 'thunk' followed by a sizzle, the Chimecho slamming to the ground.

The Arcanine snatches it from the ground, sinking teeth in and shaking her head.

"Down." A pokeball is tossed, sparing the pokemon from slow death while giving it a much worse fate.

The Arcanine snarls but the baton meets her face, not powered this time, so she turns and goes back into the weeds.

"That should be one more tool in my belt, then."

CATCHING CHIMECHO

The sub was impressive. A bit of a walk about had revealed, of all things, a fully intact bar. Complete with bartender.

With little to do other than observe, Calem found himself seated and ordering a scotch.

The place was mostly empty for this time of day, many out doing work or missions or the like. He was one of few unbusy.

Cillian Quinn had told him to be 'good', after all.

But his eyes did linger on one other person present. Curious.

Lulu Flint

Eyes follow the miniscule movement.

He doesn't hide it, in this instance, open in his peering.

Let Cillian Quinn know that he sees.

Until his eyes make their way up to Gavin's, that false cheer more painted on than a clown's makeup.

An endless dance between the two of them until one of them snapped.

"That does lead to a few problems. I will need to find more pokemon to replace them. I hope this doesn't make me less useful to you, sir."

"I will do my best, sir." To those with untrained eyes, the smile would look genuine. Flattered, even.

Cillian Quinn knows very well what hides underneath.

Smoke caresses his face and as always he only smiles.

Sickening and saccharine.

"Unfortunately." A very small shake of the head. "It seems my pokemon did not make the cut. Father had to collect them for me."

He beams again, face lighting up less like the sun and more like a neon sign. False light.

"Except for my Hattrenne. I managed to smuggle her in last minute."

An Arcanine howls in the distance, flushing out prey.

Spine straight, sure footed, even in the rocky expanse of the Jagged Pass, Calem looks picture perfect as always. Not a hair out of place. Not even any dust on his boots from the hard packed earth.

Eyes slide to Cillian Quinn.

"Thank you again for accompanying me on my search today, sir."

Sweet poison drips like honey.

His hand tightens around his baton when the grass rustles.

His eyes shine.

He knows how uncomfortable that he's making Cillian Quinn.

He knows Gavin knows that he knows.

That makes it better.

"Of course, sir." Cotton candy words are spun from the knives in Calem's mouth. "I will make sure to uphold myself with the highest of dignity as long as I'm here."

The problem is they both have very different ideas of what 'without reason' means.

At least he isn't in the police uniform this time. No, that was somewhere buried under sand with the original owner.

"Of course."

Much like the Xatu he commanded, Calem is still. Ice. Unmoving.

"I'm so glad you invited me here, Merlino."

His eyes scan the other, linger on bruises under eyes and sunken in flesh.

"It will be nice to return to work."

As if any of this was normal.

Cillian Quinn

Invitation invitation invitation.

Calem sat across from Cillian Quinn. Skipping over the letting in sequence.

He had been asked to be here, after all.

"You look in good health, Merlino."

A picture perfect smile, fingers laced together, legs crossed.

Relaxed.

"Powerful."

At least Calem sounds more facinated than, like, insulted or angry or something.

Either way, his Arcanine is defeated so he calls her back to her ball.

"An interesting battle. Thank you."

kyle lopez

"I'm sure I'll have a wonderful time!"

His phone pinged, drawing his attention away.

A soft laugh.

"Ah, duty calls. Goodbye, Doug."

John Sullivan