[attr="class","icon"]

it's a bit selfish of james, really, to call on a friend like this when he's not in the best place mentally, but he's also in the mood to hang out which is the first step he's taken in moving away from being so obsessed with work.[break][break]

he hopes em doesn't mind or doesn't find it weird.[break][break]

his concerns flutter to the back of his mind when he sees his friend. he waves, offering a smile that falls flat.[break][break]

"hey em!"[break][break]

he nods.[break][break]

"yeah, work's just been kicking my butt recently, but that's nothing new."[break][break]

his chuckle is accompanied by a gesture for the bartender to come around.[break][break]

"so! what are you drinking?"

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

james doesn't mind how the apartment appears to be flooded with rodents. they're all really cute, and he's a fan of most (every, really) pokemon so he takes them all in with glee.[break][break]

"thank you," he accepts the mug with a smile, quick to sip before setting it down on the counter.[break][break]

he takes a look into the fridge, eyes sifting through various ingredients.[break][break]

"oh i know. i'm about to make us some gyoza."[break][break]

with a smile, he reaches in and starts pulling out the necessary ingredients, then quickly gets to work because it's late and em is probably extra starving by now.[break][break]

while he prepares, he glances over and realizes he could use the help.[break][break]

"could you help boil a pot of water, please?"

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

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

[attr="class","icon"]

james has no ground to stand on, really. he knows he's to blame for all of this, that his obsession with his work has led them here; here, in this pit, there is no escape for him. no way for him to climb out.[break][break]

all he can do is accept it.[break][break]

"i...don't know, if i'm being honest."[break][break]

he'd spent the night here earlier as well, as evidenced by how he's still wearing the same clothes as yesterday. not that she would know, however, as they haven't seen each other in days.[break][break]

the realization hits him.[break][break]

"...i don't think i'm cut out for this."

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

[attr="class","icon"]

our date.[break][break]

"shit—"[break][break]

the sudden rush of guilt he feels lingers even as she kicks the paper. it dwindles just slightly in favor of frustration at the sight of papers scattering all around them. he's going to have to spend hours organizing them later.[break][break]

he abandons the paper for now, finding them to be a lost cause. standing, it's only then that she notices how she's teary-eyed and a little distraught.[break][break]

"shit, abi, i'm so sorry! i, uh, just got so wrapped up in this that i must've forgotten."[break][break]

even now, when faced with the possible end to their relationship, his mind stays connected to his work.[break][break]

"i'm so sorry."

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

the static that flutters across his cheek isn't minded much. he's used to similar feelings from working with pokemon in the league labs. he remembers that plusle and minun duo he and illeana reyes worked on. how they'd zap them every now and then.[break][break]

"pokemon are everything, really. they're our closest friends and our toughest allies."[break][break]

he offers lolo the pawmi more treats as he glances over his shoulder back at em.[break][break]

"just a splah of milk, please. oh right! i have to cook for you."[break][break]

after giving the rest of the treats, he straightens and walks over into the kitchen.

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

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

[attr="class","icon"]

in all honesty, the rift between them has not been as strongly felt by james. his mind has had little time to stray from work, from piles and piles of research and historical data to sift through to better understand how the world works.[break][break]

it never occurs to him that he might lose her until it's too late. how he's been taking her for granted these past few months.[break][break]

"—!"[break][break]

he jolts awake the moment he hits the floor. his face wears a look of confusion as he peers up at her towering frame.[break][break]

"abi? what are you doing here?"[break][break]

why am i on the floor?[break][break]

quickly, he pushes himself off the ground and notices the scattered papers and other junk. he starts picking them up.[break][break]

"what did i forget?"

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

"and he would be right. hello, dumpling."[break][break]

his attention quickly shifts back to the sudden lack of cashew in his hand. he looks at the pawmi, finding it adorable.[break][break]

at em's suggestion, james places his hand flat on the surface, forming a makeshift bridge of sorts that stretches up his arm and onto his shoulder.[break][break]

"come on up! there are more treats up there."

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

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

[attr="class","icon"]

"uhh, working on it."[break][break]

his words trail off as he focuses. he does his best to tune his surroundings out but it is a task that soon proves too difficult. he does, however, with the help of Katherine Fairburne's SPOTLIGHT manage to identify how all of the power stations seem to be intertwined in an odd way.[break][break]

connected, almost as though...[break][break]

"...they all power the same thing. something that requires immense energy."[break][break]

the space around them begins to illuminate once more but it's not from the lights. a MASSIVE REIELEKI sparks into existence, LOCK-ON initiating.[break][break]

"no time for wires! we can come back!"[break][break]

13 engage a massive regieleki that has been displaced here by an unknown force.

[break][break]

dNp8tf7R

[attr="class","bottom"]annalise henderson Katherine Fairburne FERNANDO SILPH[break]

"lolo and beignet. adorable."[break][break]

not minding the dedenne crawling up his back, he makes sure to wait until it's settled comfortably before moving off to the tin on the counter.[break][break]

"oh sweet. cashews are great."[break][break]

he pops the tin open and takes one for himself while he walks back over to the tree. slowly, carefully, he offers one to the sleeping pawmi, hoping the smell would wake them up.

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

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

[attr="class","icon"]

the power station is as previously described. abandoned, void of life and energy. even as they approach nothing jumps out at them, the zygarde back out of its pokeball on watch once again.[break][break]

it leaps up to push one of the doors open. it gives immediately, heavy metal swinging to slam into the side which causes layers of dust to scatter.[break][break]

not long after they enter, james speaks up, confident in his observation.[break][break]

"these stations are still operational, or at least they can be."[break][break]

he points to wires that protrude along the ground like overgrown roots. they look smooth to the touch apart from a few spots that have been torn through.[break][break]

"they will need new wires but i think i can get them to work again."[break][break]

even from a distance, he remains wary of the dwarfing xurkitree.[break][break]

"i'm not sure what they power, though."[break][break]

suddenly, the lights above them cut out, soon spreading across the entirety of the plane they stand on in what can only be described as a MASS BLACKOUT.[break][break]

04 experience a temporary, but devastating mass blackout.[break][break]

06 investigate the depowered power stations and their destroyed cords, powerbanks, machinery, etc.[break][break]

🗺️ JAMES BAKER will identify that the power stations need rewiring and/or new wires. he will be unsure of what they power, but it is something that requires immense energy.

[attr="class","bottom"]annalise henderson Katherine Fairburne FERNANDO SILPH[break]

"no, not yet! so i'm extra excited."[break][break]

the warmth of the apartment is much appreciated. he feels it the moment he steps in, sighing as the door closes behind them. his attention immediately falls on the cat tree, and after slipping his shoes off, he closes the distance to start looking for the sleeping pawmi.[break][break]

"i think i see one..."[break][break]

he whispers, not wanting to wake them up. his elgyem floats over, curious to see as well.

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

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

"oh don't even worry about it! my parents are chefs so i learned how to cook growing up. love doing it, actually."[break][break]

but they can argue about it more when they're back in em's apartment. being out there in the freezing cold does them no good, after all.[break][break]

"yes please! love me some pawmi."[break][break]

he trails closely behind.[break][break]

"i'm, like, super into pokemon if you can't already tell. i'm working on my dissertation at the moment on regional variants."

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

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

james finds the way emerson introduces himself as well to be cute, and endearing, but he does not make a comment. he simply peers up with a smile, then back down at the grafaiai.[break][break]

the situation feels lighter after emerson's comment, and james chuckles in return.[break][break]

"no they really didn't. looked like they vacuumed it down."[break][break]

he quickly checks his phone to see if there are any other pending orders waiting but considering how late it is, he's not surprised to see that there are none.[break][break]

"sure, why not? coffee sounds good. oh! and if you have groceries i can cook something for you too. i know you're probably starving without the gyoza."

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

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