"New to me, at least," he said with a shrug, eyeballing the various treats they passed. "Seems like it's been there for a bit, the clientele has just kind of fallen off. I'm trying to get some more interest in it." Cap couldn't help but join in Alexei's cackling. "No shit, you too? Granted I was in Johto at the time. But I must've been sixteen, seventeen." Hopefully I won't be doing the same thing forever, either. The nightlife was fun, but he saw a strange and bitter future every time he talked with Slate.[break][break]

Cap cackled at the fake boyfriend stories. He'd had to pull that trick himself more than once, though the angry partners of people he'd flirted with rarely took it quite as graciously as he'd hoped. Still, the risk was worth the reward every time. He reached over and grabbed another dango from Alexei's plate, wrinkling his nose and smiling.[break][break]

"Well who wants to live all the way out in Fortree?" He took a bite of the dango and winced. That sounded shitty. "No offense! I just couldn't imagine living somewhere so rural. I've been in big cities all my life. The hustle and bustle is necessary for my survival at this point, I think." What did people do all day in towns like Fortree and Oldale? Sit and watch the grass grow, he supposed.

[break][break]

+ Alexei Ivanov[break]mission: festival fantasies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

Cap followed the gesture with his gaze, looking across the stalls that lined the road with a discerning eye. He did, however, perk up at the word taiyaki. His head whipped around and he pinned Alexei with a faux-wild-eyed stare.[break][break]

"I love taiyaki. I will fistfight everyone in that line." He giggled and started to lead them down the path. Maybe the line for the taiyaki place wouldn't be that bad. Or maybe he would just cause a scene and ut the line. Cap wasn't above something devious to get a delicious cake in the shape of a fish. His eyebrows popped up when Alexei mentioned bartending "Oh yeah? I've been doing it for forever. Since before I was old enough to drink, if I'm honest. I work over at Ritual in Slateport. You should come by sometime." He sucked a breath through his teeth and rolled his eyes a bit. "Incessantly," he admitted. "Shit that sounds kind of arrogant, doesn't it? But you know how it is." He had no doubts Alexei's tips had been very good.

[break][break]

+ Alexei Ivanov[break]mission: festival fantasies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

Cap made a mental note not to do anything stupid. Not that it was a habit of his, mind, but he didn't need anyone wandering around with video proof of his shenanigans. Especially not a gym leader.[break][break]

Alexei offered up a dango and Cap graciously grabbed a stick. He pulled one of the chewy treats off with his teeth and hummed. "Oh those are good. I'm a sucker for anything sweet, though." A weakness, to be sure. Cap nodded when Alexi suggested he might hit the dango stall again. "I haven't had a chance to eat today, so I'm down to wander the food stalls."[break][break]

As if on cue, he gave his beer pint a swirl and grinned. "Hey, I'm a bartender. I never stop drinking. It's basically part of the job description. Speaking of," he paused to gesture back the way he came. "If you're in the mood for a drink, the bar I work at has a stall right back that way. Slate makes an okay cocktail, I guess." He winks.

[break][break]

+ Alexei Ivanov[break]mission: festival fantasies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

Cap didn't have to wait long before there was a buzz in his pocket. He pulled out his phone, opening the message. A crown? Cap's lip curled. It couldn't have been a single gem or a necklace or anything that was a reasonable size, huh? His fingers flew over the screen to reply.[break][break]

i 👀👀👀 fucking hate 👌👌👌 this ❗❗👑❗❗ wtf

He looked up from his phone, slipping it back into his pocket, and casually scanned the store until he caught sight of Barnaby. Oh god. He looked good. Cap became suddenly aware of how out of place he felt and he swallowed hard. Barnaby was wearing his suit like he'd been born in it. And hell, maybe he had been. Cap took a deep breath, shuttered his uncertainties, and tried to mimic the easy way his companion walked. Ugh.[break][break]

Continuing a disinterested perusal of the goods that were for sale, watching from his peripheral as Barnaby approached the employees. He had their attention in a moment, and Cap began to sidle towards the back room. As he approached (be casual, dammit) he noticed a keypad on the door. He sucked in a breath through his teeth, walking away a few steps without breaking his stride. In a smooth motion, he pulled out his phone again, sending another message to Barnaby.[break][break]

🚨🚨🚨[break]ask for something from the back.

The text itself was meant more to get Barnaby's attention than actually encourage him to pull out his phone. If he was successful, Cap would catch Barnaby's gaze, then flick his eyes to the keypad. Gotta do something about this.

[break][break]

+ BARNABY FINCH[break]mission: a diamond in the rough

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

Cap silently cursed that he'd been willing to work at the Ritual stall for so long. There was no way he was going to be able to see the entirety of the festival before it got too late—or, rather, he got too drunk. He'd wasted too many hours doing something as frivolous as making money. Ah, well, at least that meant he had money to spend. In with one hand, out with the other, he supposed. He meandered his way from stall to stall, his third pint of beer in hand, sampling any free foods. Or ones that came with a five-finger discount.[break][break]

A voice caught his attention and he turned, catching sight of Alexei after a moment. A grin spread across his face and he lifted his beer in a sort of hello toast.[break][break]

"Well, well, look who's taking a break from cleaning out dusty old closets to come slum it with the rest of us. You need more blackmail to fill up that phone?" He gestured to the surrounding crowd. They weren't getting rowdy yet, but the night was still young. Cap was sure there would be more than a few people making fools of themselves before everyone turned in for the night.

[break][break]

+ Alexei Ivanov[break]mission: festival fantasies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

There was no use in complaining, sure, but that didn't mean Cap had any plans on stopping. Even if he had to keep the tirade running as background to their actions. In what world were they supposed to waltz something like that Flygon down the road? Even people who owned Pokemon like that didn't let them wander free in neighborhoods like this. That was just asking to get mugged. Or worse.[break][break]

Their cargo and Maeve both relaxed, and Cap could feel the tightness in his shoulders diminish somewhat. He nodded as Maeve spoke, casting around for anything that might be of use covering up the stupid dragon. He didn't have the money to pay someone for their silence on this job, and the only other option was one he didn't want to entertain again. This job didn't pay well enough to start putting people in the ground.[break][break]

As Maeve made her call, Cap searched through the dingy storefront for anything useful. The shopkeep, more than once, grumbled at him not to touch any merchandise. What a helpful individual. Finally, with a grunt, he pulled off his jacket and draped it over the Flygon's head and neck. That almost did it.[break][break]

"M, gimme a hand here," he said, gesturing for Maeve to give up her jacket to the cause. With Cap's draped over its head and shoulders and hers tied around its middle, both grunts would be chilly but they had a good shot at keeping it under wraps long enough to get the damn thing to the dropoff point. At least that was what he hoped. He shot another glare at the shopkeeper who was all-too-eager for them to be out of his store.

[break][break]

+ maeve[break]mission: poke-trafficking

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

The lunar festival in Rustboro was massive, albeit perhaps not as extravagant as the one being held in Mauville. Even so, visitors flocked from the more rural areas outside the city and even other towns to partake in the grandiose display of festivities. Rustboro had poured extra money into this year's festival specifically in an attempt to attract more tourists. And it was working. Food stalls, games, and all manner of delights lined the streets, sprawling for blocks and blocks.[break][break]

Cap had convinced Virgil to let him set up a small Ritual stall along one of the main food thoroughfares. It could be good to use the festival to drum up some tourist business of their own, after all. Even if they didn't start pulling regulars from out of town, they could make a quick buck or two with one night's work. It was a win-win. He hadn't necessarily asked permission to bring Slate along, but it was better to come back with great profits and ask forgiveness, right?[break][break]

Cap sure hoped so, because Slate's steady presence at their little stall was the only reason he was able to take a break. Cap left the older man to field the orders while he wandered around the festival itself, sampling food and admiring the decorations that lined the streets.

[break][break]

+ Alexei Ivanov[break]mission: festival fantasies

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

These were some of his least favorite jobs: ones where he was potentially visible, where flubbing it meant bringing the whole house of cards that was his life crashing down on his head. Even so, money was money, and he wasn't in a position to say no to any job that crossed his path. So here he was, dressed in the best rented suit he could afford, perusing the aisles of jewelry with a disapproving eye. He was supposed to meet a contact here, someone else from Team Rocket who could assist in lifting the precious stones the buyer was looking for. It made sense to double the purpose of hanging around in the store; might as well case the joint while he was waiting. Cap eyed a display of necklaces, curling his lip a bit. In all honesty, the sparkly rocks all looked the same to him. He couldn't have picked out a priceless one from a piece of shiny glass if he had a gun to his head. But he acted as though they weren't worth his time all the same. That was what rich people did, right?

[break][break]

+ BARNABY FINCH[break]mission: a diamond in the rough

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

She finally took his arm and Cap pulled a face, an expression that was somewhere between surprise and delight. "Oh, you're funny," he said, a lopsided grin tilting his lips. "I'll admit, I didn't peg you for the type. I'm Caprice, by the way. Not that I don't like 'Smiles'." There were those who would say not to judge a book by its cover, but Cap knew the advantages of being able to make a snap expectation about a person's character from how they carried themselves. And, in rare cases like this, he had the joy of being surprised.[break][break]

They walked arm-in-arm down the street from their meeting place to the assigned pickup spot. Luckily, it wasn't more than a couple of blocks away, so they didn't have far to go. Cap guessed that was a blessing for his new compatriot. An otherwise unremarkable storefront, one that might seem closed to passersby, was their first destination. Cap stopped at the door and rapped rhythmically with his knuckles. There was a moment of shuffling on the other side before the door opened. A gruff figure stared them both down then stepped aside and allowed the pair to enter.[break][break]

Inside, they found their cargo: a Flygon, muzzled and its wings restrained. Even in the dim light, Caprice could tell the Pokemon's colors were strange. He chewed his lip, a dozen possibilities running through his head at once. There was a voice in his mind—a loud one—that told him to keep it. Certainly, that thing was worth more than what they were getting paid to move it. He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose.[break][break]

"How the hell are we supposed to move this thing?" He gestured vaguely at the six-foot-tall dragon. There was no way they would be able to walk anywhere without drawing some attention. "What, couldn't spring for a spare Pokeball to put it in?" The shop owner shrugged and grunted. That clearly wasn't any of their business. Cap rolled his eyes and looked to Maeve for an idea.

[break][break]

+ maeve[break]mission: poke-trafficking

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

His eyes narrowed, mouth pursed into a thin line. It's a bit... sweet. There was a certain special sting to it. Had he mixed it wrong? Had he judged her tastes wrong? Maybe the flair had, indeed, been too flashy. He broke into a grin saying, "What, you don't like sweet things?" Righting himself, he leaned away from Remi for a moment to take another order. As he poured the martini and took payment, he gave his guest a sidelong glance. "You know," he said, sliding the martini over to the other customer before turning fully back to Remi again. "I never did get your name."

[break][break]

+ Remi Cassel

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

He leaned across the bar as she drew the glass up to her lips and took a sip. The Boulevardier was a twist on the classic Negroni. Swapping in bourbon whiskey instead of gin would take the crisp, bitter Negroni and elevate it into something complex, warm, and rich. A subtle, bittersweet hit of citrus paved the way for the spice and booziness of the whiskey. It was a perfect winter cocktail. Cap folded his arms, elbows braced against the bartop, and watched.[break][break]

"Well? How long are you gonna keep me on the edge of my seat, hunny?" A smirk broke his too-intense stare briefly. "You can tell me if you like it. Your secret's safe with me. Well... me and Slate. I tell that man everything." While not precisely the truth, Cap did corner Slate every so often for a gossip session, much to the latter's displeasure. Cap figured he was growing on the old man.

[break][break]

+ Remi Cassel

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky