[attr="class","icon"]

after a rough landing, he slinks out of the pod and calls his ultra beast back out, finding some sense of security underneath it.[break][break]

"yeah, we'll smash through it."[break][break]

it's a crude way to put it but it'll do.[break][break]

after a nod, he watches his xurkitree lumber forward to throw POWER WHIPS coated in electricity that seems to counteract what surrounds it. it does not take long until it crumbles, giving way to them.[break][break]

"...clear?"

9XOM|r2P

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH wolfgang volkov Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

it isn't until the shapes behind them shrink to the point of being unrecognizable does he breathe a sigh of relief. even on his fourth visit here, he finds himself having to play catch up often.[break][break]

he wonders if that feeling will ever fade.[break][break]

"i agree with wolfgang. the buildings are a safe bet."[break][break]

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH wolfgang volkov Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"oh don't even mention it. i wanted to help, and i'm glad that i could!"[break][break]

he returns a smile as sweet as the donuts before him. he reaches for one, though doesn't bite into it yet.[break][break]

looking back at her, he continues, wanting to share.[break][break]

"i'm really looking forward to working with you. i think that's, like, super cool. i think we'll work great together."

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"that's a good answer!"[break][break]

it shows character, heart, and confidence. all of which will surely land her the job.[break][break]

"sorry, i broke character, but you should lean into that, rory. show them your passion! show them what it means to you and just how much you love it."[break][break]

he smiles, beaming.[break][break]

"right. what strengths do you bring to the team?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"yes! i hope so too."[break][break]

because he sees their partnership extending even after their work with type: null is complete.[break][break]

at her question, he looks over, recognizing it instantly.[break][break]

"that's a dracozolt, from galar. they're one of the friendlier dragons."[break][break]

he misses the perrserker as a result.

[attr="class","bottom"]Shalin Nariya[break]
elec/steel[break]
skipping![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

very quickly overwhelmed, the rats climb all over him, and he falls back as well to let them bury him underneath a pile of rats that are mostly interested in the food, he thinks.[break][break]

still, this makes him their leader.[break][break]

"it's probably the food but i like to think it's me!"[break][break]

he laughs.[break][break]

"i need to get a rat too. or a few. or many."

[attr="class","bottom"]emerson whitlock[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"i'll certainly try."[break][break]

it's a simple game in theory but it sounds terribly difficult in execution. much like the shooting game previously.[break][break]

but he takes the paper wand and kneels down, ready to start fishing.[break][break]

unsurprisingly, he fails his first few attempts.[break][break]

"maybe i'll have better luck if i watch you first."

[attr="class","bottom"]Abigail Mikhaylov[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"i guess that's possible, yes. but they're more...sentient than porygon, if that makes sense."[break][break]

hearing something LOCKING-ON to them, james looks around, seeing the odd magnezone sticking out from the bush.[break][break]

he nods in its direction and watches his duraludon rush off toward it, ready to smack it into a pokeball.[break][break]

"i don't know, though. that's just my gut feeling about it all."

[attr="class","bottom"]Shalin Nariya[break]
elec/steel[break]
catching magnezone![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"okay, okay! i won't look. i promise."[break][break]

and unlike some men, james keeps his promises.[break][break]

in the ten minutes where she wanders off, his mind does the same as well, thinking back to where he had left off with work, and more importantly, the things that still need to be done after this.[break][break]

but he shifts back easily enough when she gets back. his eyes widen at the steaming delights, expression immediately brightening.[break][break]

"holy! rory, you didn't have to! but they look so good."

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

when she talks, he finds himself leaning closer, listening intently to what she says.[break][break]

"no, you're not! you're fine."[break][break]

he does his best to reassure her but he's also not the best at interviews so there isn't much he can do, really.[break][break]

"okay, how about this...why do you think you're a good fit for aeos?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"recon! recon! recon!"[break][break]

they all converge on wolfgang volkov's SUBSTITUTE rotom, ending its non-existent life before it even began.[break][break]

"let's get out of here!"[break][break]

he recalls his xurkitree and hops into the spacecraft, making sure to strap himself in before leaning forward to tap Rory Faust's seat.[break][break]

"go, go, go!"

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH wolfgang volkov Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

it's another late night in the office; most nights are like this one, so he doesn't find it out of the ordinary. if anything, there's comfort in this routine.[break][break]

he's glad he's not alone tonight, though.[break][break]

"thanks for staying late with me, wolfgang."[break][break]

it's extra special as well because wolfgang has always worked from home. still, he can't help but glance at his phone every now and then to check and see if Rory Faust's replied to his text.[break][break]

he looks at his colleague.[break][break]

"you wanna order in or quickly go out to grab something?"

[attr="class","bottom"]wolfgang volkov[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"there's still so much we don't know about them."[break][break]

he starts, still sympathizing with shalin but it is what it is. this is the cost of knowledge.[break][break]

a dracozolt waddles by, keeping to itself.[break][break]

"they're pokemon, but they're sort of...man-made? constructs, in a way. and their sole purpose as far as i can gather is to combat ultra beasts."

[attr="class","bottom"]Shalin Nariya[break]
elec/steel[break]
skipping![break]