[attr="class","icon"]

"yeah! those are anomalies."[break][break]

he nods as equally enthused.[break][break]

"they're basically events that deviate from the natural order of things. it's what the division researches, and we currently need more researchers."[break][break]

as he explains, a honedge passes by, though chooses not to engage with them.[break][break]

"so, if you're interested, let me know! it would be great to have you."

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]
elec/steel[break]
skipping![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"uhh..."[break][break]

he weighs both options, considering them before deciding on the latter. the first, as chill as it is, may give her the impression that he's boring. which he is, but still, he's trying.[break][break]

"the shooting range sounds fun! i'm not sure how good at it i'll be, but let's try it."

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

[attr="class","icon"]

as he's working on bringing power back to whatever this is, he quickly realizes that they would've failed without the ELECTIRIZER provided by FERNANDO SILPH. he's grateful to have the councilman as their benefactor even if he doesn't say as much.[break][break]

"nice!"[break][break]

he turns to give Rory Faust a high-five, unable to help himself as this is all exciting.[break][break]

shrugging his backpack back on, he nods at the rest of the group before starting down the now-illuminated path.[break][break]

zygarde leads the way, though it does not take long until it barks to get the group to stop.[break][break]

"what is it?"[break][break]

he approaches carefully, then lowers to a knee to examine what appears to be a loose switch of some kind on the ground. carefully, he flicks it.[break][break]

what appears to be a THUNDER CAGE sparks to life before them, likely to get absorbed by Katherine Fairburne's marowak.[break][break]

"looks like it could've been a trap of some kind."[break][break]

08 involve the item "electirizer" in some way.[break][break]

25 involve the use of a temporary THUNDER CAGE (e.g. not the actual move) that can be adorned by natural phenomena or machinery to protect you against the elements.

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH Katherine Fairburne Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"you're good."[break][break]

they're all—he says they but he really just means him and Rory Faust—a little on edge despite this being their third venture back into the ultra plant. it still remains unknown territories for the most part, though they have started to learn more about it.[break][break]

"i think this is it!"[break][break]

the main control board of the circuitry. as complicated as the wires look, even james is able to tell which ones are the important ones.[break][break]

"rory, help me with this please."[break][break]

with Rory Faust's help, they manage to resolder the circuitry, causing the power to activate all along the path they can see.

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH Katherine Fairburne Rory Faust[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"nihilego, yes!"[break][break]

he would've clapped his hands together in excitement if not for the banana he's holding.[break][break]

"no i haven't but i'm hoping to. we're planning to visit each rift to investigate them. i believe there are different ultra beasts in each one."[break][break]

but, again, he's talking too much about work. so after a brief glance around, he points off to their right.[break][break]

"wanna try our luck at one of the stalls?"

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

james is friendly! yes, that's true. but he's had to learn to adapt and change from the reclusive nerd he once was in school.[break][break]

"heh, comes with practice."[break][break]

a concept that can be applied to both socializing and cooking.[break][break]

this time, their gyozas turn out much better. well, his turns out the same, but with his guidance em's is looking better as well. properly folded with the contents staying inside.[break][break]

"you did it! that looks good."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-elgyem color-shiny"]

[attr="class","icon"]

"oh, you give me way too much credit, em."[break][break]

far too much.[break][break]

"truth is i barely see either and it's no one's fault but my own. i've lost friends, fuck, i just lost my girlfriend a few days ago as well because of it."[break][break]

he shrugs a shoulder, finger tracing along the curve of his glass.[break][break]

"but work is everything i know. it's what i love doing. i don't know what i'd be doing otherwise."[break][break]

delivering food, probably.

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

[attr="class","icon"]

"it is, yeah, but i'm joined by some of the league's best so i'll be fine."[break][break]

he can think of no trainer more capable than Katherine Fairburne. her connection to her patron helps as well, of course, but that's not what he's referring to.[break][break]

after taking a bite of his banana, he quickly chews and swallows while nodding.[break][break]

"mhm! have you heard of xurkitree? they're an ultra beast. super cool and super powerful."[break][break]

and super dangerous, though he leaves that part out.[break][break]

"sorry, i'm probably talking about work too much. but i guess you're used to that..."

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

[attr="class","icon"]

to make it easier for the seller, he orders the same thing as her, not wanting to cause too much trouble. he's fine with a chocolate-banana covered in sprinkles![break][break]

"so, so busy."[break][break]

but fulfilling. he leaves that part out.[break][break]

it's almost too easy for him to continue talking about work.[break][break]

"have you heard of those rifts that opened up around hoenn? i've gone into one of them and investigated it for work."

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

[attr="class","icon"]

james laughs as well not because of em's answer but because of his laugh, finding it almost too easy to join in.[break][break]

"me?"[break][break]

he thinks for a moment, then laughs again even before he answers.[break][break]

"go out more."[break][break]

finally, he raises his drink and sips.[break][break]

"spend more time with my friends and family. i think i've been too much of a recluse recently. basically shut myself off from everyone for months."

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

"it's...uh..."[break][break]

he cannot help but laugh as well when he looks down at the attempted gyoza.[break][break]

"not so bad!!! really. actually, it looks pretty good for your first try."[break][break]

but, yeah, it is pretty bad. but in the end as long as it folds together and closes and holds then it's fine![break][break]

"i get that. same here, actually. which is why i'm also glad that part of my life is over. now i get to make gyoza with cooler people like you."[break][break]

he nudges his elbow into em's shoulder, chuckling.[break][break]

"okay, try one more time but this time try mirroring me."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-elgyem color-shiny"]

[attr="class","icon"]

"it's kinda top secret."[break][break]

not really. he just likes pretending that it is.[break][break]

"it's for a specific division within silph co."[break][break]

but before he could explain more, the sound of a bird draws his attention above. his eyes widen at the sight of a KILOWATTREL — he'd only read about them in articles! to see one in person...[break][break]

he reaches into his backpack and holds up a berry, offering it. it swoops down low to accept, then circles around james before landing on his shoulder.[break][break]

"okay, cool."[break][break]

he smiles, then turns back to rory.[break][break]

"have you heard of an anomaly?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Rory Faust[break]
elec/steel[break]
catching kilowattrel![break]

[attr="class","icon"]

"that seems fair."[break][break]

he breathes a sigh of relief at her acceptance. so too does his elgyem that had been hiding behind his head this whole time. blueberry jelly bean finally pokes its head around in greeting.[break][break]

"how, uh,"[break][break]

he stutters as they start walking towards one of the nearest food stalls.[break][break]

"how are you?"

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