Remi hesitates, having conveniently forgot their story trade deal. The glass hovers just past her lips and she twists it to catch the light. She ruminates on the memory, on the cold trickle down her spine.

"I promised him I would protect him. And I did."

She glances at Theo, though her eyes drift back down to the wood grain in the bar.

"He ran into trouble, got into something he shouldn't have. Buried himself too deep and he wanted out-- so I got him out. I would do whatever it took to keep him safe, anything at all."

So when his life had been threatened by a gang that had sunk their claws into him, she hadn't hesitated. Not only had she replaced him and took his burden for her own, but she had severed the head that had kept him trapped there.

mission: recruitment act. 1

THEO BECKETT

☉

Could she? It felt like a dream, a faraway, impossible fairytale.

Tears flow down her face silently, but she is not making a noise. He pulls her away to look at her, and although she meets his gaze, she can't help but feel pain. Pain and longing for something she cannot have.

"Lance.."

She shakes her head slightly, denying it in spite of her desire to stay, to believe him. She wants to believe him. But he is everything that she denied for herself. He was strong, stronger than she had ever been. He had had a life, a family, a direction. Even without his family now, he still held fast to his career. He hadn't given up.

But she had.

"I'll only let you down."

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

Remi's brows raise, flirtatious in their intent, the beginning of a smirk trailing against the glass. She licks her lips, focusing heavily on the taste his drink leaves behind. But what's more curious to her, really, is the look in his eyes and the anticipation in the twitch of his lips.

"I think I like you on the edge of your seat."

But she ultimately leans back and purses her lips, twisting the glass in her hand and examining it curiously.

"It's a bit.. sweet."

Caprice Isaac

☉

Trying to hold her own stoic composure proves harder than she thinks. This girl is really attentive and serious. She can almost see the mental notes she's taking. Remi is absolutely not a bodyguard, not a professional one at least, by any means. She picks up odd jobs, does her best to keep her name out of the negative spotlight, and maintains a reputation across all boards.

Never know when work required bodyguarding as a prerequisite, y'know?

"Pokemon, huh? That's a good mind to have, then. Ever consider going into a career in science? It's a hell of a lot safer than being out here, bodyguarding."

Matilda's awkwardness goes ignored altogether. All she sees now is potential. The girl was curious, smart, smarter than her, arguably. Remi knew only a handful of a lot of things to do with Pokemon. Smuggling them was one thing, poaching them was another. Her time spent with the rangers had lent a hand in that area too-- but Matilda?

She could be the key.

"Tell me more about what sort of Pokemon you study."

mission: digging yourself into a hole

Matilda Greenlaw

☉

"Hm."

Honestly, she isn't sure what to make of it and everything that he's saying. It's why her drink remains untouched, because she can't afford to be unfocused while deliberating such a sensitive topic. His severity is nothing like what she's used to. Past partners of hers had been temporary and ultimately irrelevant. They asked no questions, and only expected her to perform.

But here he was, sitting across from her with an orange peel in his drink, asking her to be a killer.

"Whatever you need me to be."

She taps her fingertips against the counter, considering his words.

"That's a first."

Hoenn had, at first, been temporary. A pit stop in her tumultuous life full of non-commitments. Always on the go, never sticking to one place for too long. A life of loyalty to herself, and only herself, until right now. He was asking her for more, now, more than she's ever been asked of before.

"But I'll see what I can do."

mission: recruitment act. 1

THEO BECKETT

☉

Every few minutes, Remi lowers her sunglasses to peer over the edge and squint. Just to make sure that Eris wasn't getting too close to the edge. Fortunately, the girls Luxray is quite efficient and persistent, consistently bring her back from the edge.

Not that it gave her any semblance of peace. Far from it, really.

In fact, she startles just at the sound of Eris' voice. The woman sits straight up and leans forward, pulling the sunglasses to perch atop her head. After catching her breath and realizing that the child had not, in fact, fallen over the edge and was asking for help, she purses her lips in thought.

"Yes. Do you really think that we're the only intelligent life? Seems a bit narrow minded, no? Of course there is a secret underwater city. What reason would the sea people have to visit the land, after all?"

Remi rises to her feet and moves to lean against the edge of the boat alongside Eris. She smirks, inclining her head to the girl.

"What do you think they look like?"

Eris Halla

☉

"Uh-huh..."

And just like that, their good-feeling bonding moment is cut short by Remi's pride and lack of ability to lay down her defenses. She avoids the woman's frown and clears her throat. Her attention only spans back at the sound of Evelyn's chuckle, and in place of difficult emotion, Remi's flirty, ravenous smirk returns.

"I don't think kind and gentle is what you're lookin' for, beautiful."

Evelyn Vespera

☉

"Column A, column B?"

It seemed he was having a really rough go of it. But frankly, anyone would after spending any amount of time watching those two cubs. It was even giving her a headache.

"One of you, sucker punch!"

Spinda, the one that knows that move, splits off from his partner. He meets the Bronzor's PAYBACK with his own super-charged fist. This time, he seems totally composed and purposeful. One has to wonder, then, if the dizzy, drunken dancer is just an act.

Meanwhile, the REVELATION DANCE manages to zippy zap across the stage to buzz both bears. Fortunately, the second Spinda has too much of a one-track mind to worry about it too much. He is far too busy COPYCATING the PAYBACK to deliver it right into that pesky birds kisser.

Melody Miro

☉

His horror only fueled her. Did he just sass-wave her insult? Remi raises her brows, visibly amused.

"Sorry, hunny, I'm only speaking the truth."

Not even the exquisite display of his bartending and drink mixing abilities convinces her, in the moment. She merely watches him shake everything together and pour it out. It's pretty, but is it good? Does it hit the spot?

Remi's lips purse she her eyes squint, though one is hidden behind her patch, as he brings out a match. That was curious. He finishes the drink with a spark of flame and she blinks, visibly impressed.

"Hm."

And then she lifts it to her lips to taste.

Caprice Isaac

☉

Where at first tiny bear paws are clubbing, thumping, whacking, and bashing at a feathery form, that form soon turns into what feels like a pillow-case. The bears begin to grapple with the air as a result of the Oricorio's FEATHER DANCE. It turns them all around and they thrash about wildly, unable to tell the difference between themselves, the feather decoys, and the bird in question.

Remi grimaces a bit.

Fortunately, they all seem to still somehow be in tune with the music. There was music playing, right? Her tiny tot dancers were naturals. Naturally clumsy, maybe.

"Woohoo!"

She's attempting to keep their motivation up while a GYRO BALLing Bronzor goes flying stage left. The woman blinks, brows raised, and gestures a thumb at the spiraling Pokemon.

"Is he alright? Oh-- right. The teeter dance. Gotcha."

Melody Miro

☉

Remi weeps openly, but the sound is not unattractive as it may have been had this been the real world. Her tears become flower petals much the same that the words Luka speaks do. When she finally reopens her eyes, her cheek is pressed close to the other woman's chest. They are surrounded by beautiful, fragrant petals, and she is cocooned in warmth and acceptance.

The two of them cry together, their softness painful even in spite of the beauty it brings. But it feels.. freeing. Like a weight is being lifted from tired shoulders. It hurts to let go as she has, but Luka's presence makes it just a little bit easier, and a little less scary. Her uneven breaths soften as she steadies herself, focusing on the feeling of Luka's hand against her cheek.

She exhales softly, her breath bouncing back against her with Luka's closeness. Warm lips press to her forehead and, surprisingly, she doesn't recoil or feel the slightest bit overwhelmed. Instead, all she can feel is Luka's love washing over her, and somehow, someway, it feels a bit like Roman's too.

Luka's ask is both intimate and innocent, a whispered breath against her cheek. Their noses touch, their breathing syncs and the urge to kiss her is vivid and intimidating. But instead, Remi's lips brush against the woman's cheek as she leans into her again. She hugs her tight, breathing in the sweet smell of her hair and swallowing her fears.

"You have already given me more than I deserve, my dear."

And in the real world, Remi's fitful, nightmarish sleep relaxes. Her pillow is damp from her tears, but she finally rests peacefully.

mission: dream eater

luka chêne

☉

Cute as he was, the intensity of his stare and the pressure he puts on his elbows as he leans in makes her feel like squirming. She doesn't, because she's held her own against gang leaders and the head of the rangers back in Sinnoh-- but still.

"People talk, my dear, you can't stop idle chatter on the entire submarine unless you plan on sound-proofing every single room on the boat. Or cast a silencing spell, but I don't think you or I believe in magic."

Information came to those who kept their eyes bright and their tails bushy. Remi, in particular, was quite investigative and persistent. Where people were whispering, she was listening.

"Sorry to burst your bubble."

Cillian Quinn

☉

Remi follows with a sway of her hips. Her little black dress clings, a little window of opportunity shown with each stride as poised calves peek behind the elegant split of fabric. Truly, she's stunning, if only the man of her current affection thought to look.

No matter, she was here to win it big - taking him home later was a bonus objective. But optional.

Where Felix sits, Remi hovers by his side. She would be his 'good luck charm', choosing to sit out and pay him the utmost attention. And, while she did so, she would be pulling puppet strings and ensuring that the winnings went to him -- when convenient and inconspicuous. After all, winning too much was suspicious, too.

Eventually, Felix turns to speak to her, and one warm hand presses gently into his shoulder to offer a subtle squeeze.

"Only when I'm feeling particularly playful."

mission: rigged gacha rolls

Felix Gallagher

☉