A few stories, hm? From steamy sauna cybers to chance encounters with Mewtwo she has a few things to tell. Maybe not now, though. To entertain her partner, she consider it in silence for a moment, leaning back slightly with a teasing smile, “Perhaps next time,” she purrs, already attempting to rope her into a second meeting. Of course, that all depended on how this one ended. Only time and wine would tell.

Her manicured fingers gently trace the base of the wine glass in front of her, gliding up the stem to settle beneath the gentle curve of the crystal. Toni takes a quick sip of the ruby liquid before peeling it away from her lips.

Ophelia gets what she wants, a light, airy laugh, “Very happy, of course,” she corrects, setting the glass back down on the white linen cloth, “You’ve done so well, Fi” and I’m so proud, “Seeing you expand the business to Hoenn is an incredible feat,” and I’ve missed you. She intentionally leaves some things unsaid. No need to scare her off so quickly.

---

ophelia coin

When Ophelia reached out, Toni could barely believe it. Here? In Hoenn? It was a pleasant surprise to hear from her and even more so when there was a dinner invitation that followed.

Unlike the woman in front of her, toni’s is composed, relaxed, a permanent light smile dancing across the edges of her pink lips. It was good to see her, even better to see her doing so well. The ceo of a successful bank? Fifi had come a long way since their time in Sinnoh. Although Toni wasn’t there for the important parts of her growth, Toni still felt a sense of pride for simply having been a part of her life.

“Hoenn’s been . . . interesting. It’s quite different from Sinnoh,” and more dangerous, so she’s come to realize. Toni shifts with her, also leaning forward to hear Ophelia’s lowered voice. It’s just as sweet as she remembers it, “I’m surprised to see you here as well,” she admits, her smile growing into a charming smirk, “But very happy to.”

---

ophelia coin
outfit

There’s hesitation, confusion, pressure, and suddenly the world around them is vibrating with psychic energy. Toni can feel it too, and she’s again shifting and tensing beneath its burden.

The voices molded themselves into one, though still distinct. One was hesitant, the other more sure. The physical being seemed agitated while it struggled to form the right words to answer her question.

Destiny.

Miracle eye pushes forward, taking away the Houndoom’s advantage over the foreign pokemon. Again, the Deerling mews in distress while flutily attempting to escape. Alpha is then consumed by a similar psychic hold. A deep growl rumbles through her throat. It intensifies under the combined snarls of her pack mates as she struggles against the man-made beast.

Toni is quick to react, snatching a pokeball from her side to attempt to return Alpha to her pokeball, “Not my pokemon,” she growls defensively, protecting what is hers, “But I can find you others.”

---

FERNANDO SILPH

In response, Toni simply shrugs, taking a sip of the bubbling champagne. She can’t argue with that. These functions were typically quite boring but necessary to keep the family happy and involved in the socialite world they intended on being a part of.

Her posture shifts, watching the stronger move towards the Clefable on the makeshift throne. With a waggle of the pokemon’s fingers, the party goers that haven’t left the room, find themselves rising, “What the-?!” Toni gasps, inevitably dropping the glass of champagne. Instead of falling with a crash, it simply floats out of her reach. Pity, it was good champagne.

Her fingers reach to cling to anything to keep her from tumbling through the air. Unfortunately, she finds herself in a similar predicament. The tables and chairs float too and she slowly spins through the air, silver dress and all.

“Can you please end this,” she growls between clenched teeth. It’s unclear whether she’s speaking to the party host, the security, or Belial Stone himself.

---

Belial Stone

With manicured fingers she peels the sunglasses off her face to watch the show. Her lips twitch into a small smile at King’s wink and she even goes as far as the give the rotund man a small wave when he glances over.

Toni doesn’t flinch at uncomfortable sounds that follow. She isn’t one to participate in such activities, but she is also not unfamiliar with them. King was the kind of man she’d hire for something like this. In a way, she considered this a working interview if a client of hers ever needed to be scared straight.

The woman’s smile brightens as king turns back to her once the job is done, “You’re efficient - I like that,” she slips the sunglasses back on, taking a step closer. An arm gently slips to hook onto his, “is that all the business you have to take care of?” is it time to play?

---

KING WAYLAND

The fire creeps closer, pressing an oppressive heat upon them. Toni can feel the beads of sweat pooling at her brow. It’s not just the heat that causes her the discomfort.

Toni’s stance shifts beneath the silence. She no longer hears the beast’s voice in her head. She watches in silence too as the Deerling falls to its knees once released from the pokemon’s psychic grip.

The scenarios run through her mind like a river. There are many bends and turns, forks in its flow that create alternate paths. This is a strange situation to be in. A new pokemon that seems too powerful to catch. Hell, it spoke to her.

Attack. Run. She loses either way, and Toni doesn’t like to lose.

seek out all pokemon.

The words run through her mind again, punctuated by the feminine voice that slips through. one of each. She eyes her own Houndoom with a protective unease. Her fingers flex over their pokeballs.

She stands to her full height, “You seek out all pokemon – why?” perhaps she could help with that.

For a price.

---

FERNANDO SILPH

Hmm,” she hums, nodding, not surprised at all. Most men are idiots anyway. Very few actually impressed her.

With a wave of her hand, Toni let’s King take the lead, “Please do,” she motioned vaguely towards the food truck as he steps forward to pound on the door. It’s not long until the rather disgusting little man makes his appearance.

It takes quite a bit for Toni to not recoil at the sight of him. She didn’t know what to expect but it wasn’t the man that peaked out at them. This man just oozed with creepy.

In a rather impressive display, King pins the rotund man to the ground. From her short distance away, Toni leans forward a bit to gauge the man’s reaction. King’s display of domination brings a small smile to her lips as she watches the predator in action.

---

KING WAYLAND

Yes, best that you do,” she agrees, keeping a certain sweetness in her smile that feigns innocence. They’re both quite far from that.

There’s a certain longing that stirs inside her when he steps away. Without hesitation, she follows, turning her gaze to the rather average looking food truck in the parking lot. When the stop she peers at it from beneath her sunglasses. Toni’s dark lips twist in disappoint, “It doesn’t look too impressive,” she sighs, removing her sunglasses from her face and hooking them onto the loose blouse, “Up close and personal, of course,” Was there any other acceptable way?

---

KING WAYLAND

He stops suddenly, forcing her to half step to avoid running into him. She recognizes the coy grin. They’ve played this game before and they played it well. Toni’s smile turns sweet, and with a small step she cuts the distance between them in half as she looks up at him. A hand reaches forward, fingers gently tracing the seam of his shirt. She likes the idea of letting him give her one, “I think we can work something out.”

---

KING WAYLAND

After a moment of consideration, Toni smiles, shaking her head. She glances over to King with a rather salacious smirk, “I don’t like to get my hands too dirty,” at least in with this sort of thing, “I’ll watch you work,” after another moment, she shrugs her shoulders, her tone taking on more of a tease, “Perhaps you’ll even impress me.”

---

KING WAYLAND

human.

Toni’s eyes widen as the voice hums through her head. She heard the first words but it doesn’t register until now that it is the pokemon speaking to her. A pokemon that can clearly communicate? It’s unheard of.

The woman stands as the oppressive nature of Mewtwo’s presence becomes more tolerable. At her side, her hands clench into tight fists, nails digging into her palms with a subtle sting of pain, “Yes,” she hisses, her gaze moving towards Alpha, “And so are those,” she points next towards the Deerling. It’s not entirely a lie. They were about to be hers until they were rudely interrupted.

---

FERNANDO SILPH

Flipping a table? Her eyes roll at such unnecessary theatrics. It’s definitely a man, his voice confirms it. There’s something familiar about it, but not familiar enough for her to recognize it outright. It materializes as an unshakable curiosity.

Toni’s dark eyes turn back towards the Clefable as the masked man refers to her. Didn’t pay? Tsk tsk. For a moment, Toni recalls some of the rather questionable things she’s hired other to do on her behalf when the patrons to her business couldn’t pay. For a moment, she feels a bit of sympathy for the Clefable, but it doesn’t last long.

“But at a party? Really, how distasteful. ” there’s obvious judgment in her voice laced with a bit of disgust if only for her ruined evening. As many of the party goers scatter as a result of the fight, Toni remains in place, simply sipping on her champagne. She has no intention of getting involved. It seems this character isn’t going to give up even as security rushes him.

The woman leans left as a splinter of table rushes by her right side. Unfazed, she takes another sip of champagne, watching the events unfold as if she was watching this evening’s entertainment.

---

Belial Stone

Her lips curl into a pleasant smile, likely recalling he same memories he is referring to. The smile turns a bit wicked as the memories take on a more corporeal feeling. Suddenly, her legs feel a bit weak, but she pays it no mind. Subtly, her head shakes as if to physically dispel the thoughts. Not this time . . . maybe.

Toni hums, feigning an aire of ignorance as if she barely remembers, “I suppose I do,” but the wicked smile still tugging at her lips betrays her, of course she remembers.

”Hmm, that poor man,” she shakes her head, recalling some of the rather unpleasant things she’s hired other to do for her when certain patrons to their business couldn’t pay, “I assume you’ll make an example out of him?” there’s a bit of excitement in her question. Considering how they met at a fighting arena, it could be assumed she enjoyed such thrills.

---

KING WAYLAND