"mauvaise idée. i like it!"[break][break]

even if he has no idea what it means. he trusts iseult enough and figures she must've definitely thought this name through.[break][break]

after securing the eggs, james steps over to the wheel (?) and pushes a button to start the engine.[break][break]

"i guess it's like driving a car? not like i know how to, but i've been to the arcade."[break][break]

he steps on the pedal!

[attr="class","ooc"]iseult babineaux[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"me included."[break][break]

though he chuckles, the sigh that follows is all too real. for all the smarts he has, there is still so much he's yet to learn.[break][break]

at avery's lack of a real response, he shrugs, chalking it up to indifference.[break][break]

"gotta love 'em. think my parents are kinda like that, too."[break][break]

typical.[break][break]

"shit. i gotta run. i'll see you around, man!"

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"not really. my family was always too busy and i didn't want to go alone."[break][break]

one of the downsides is keeping the restaurant open all days of the week is the lack of free time they get. in many ways, james didn't have a regular childhood. he helped and worked to get his family through tough times.[break][break]

not much has changed, then.[break][break]

"i'd like to go more, though. as long as i get to go with you."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

despite living in ever grande which some may consider a coastal city (james doesn't), he rarely visits the beach. he could count the number of times he's been with his hands. actually, today might be his ninth time.[break][break]

it may very well be the best time seeing how he's going with his girlfriend Abigail Mikhaylov.[break][break]

his small team of lab assistants are scattered across the beach as well. onigiri sticks close to james' side while the others go about doing their own things.[break][break]

"mm, can we stay like this a bit longer?"[break][break]

james asks, tilting his head up at her.[break][break]

"i like being by your side."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

the bucket falls, and his shoulders are grabbed.[break][break]

"ayo?"[break][break]

confused, the answer is literally shaken out of james as he spits out:[break][break]

"she's on her lunch break!"

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"yes, dr. Eva Morales, one of the smartest and kindest person i know."[break][break]

he's being genuine, clearly, as eva isn't here for him to suck up to. not that he would, anyways, because james believes in earning his place through hard work and dedication.[break][break]

it never occurs to him that the two may be related.[break][break]

"guess not. maybe she's your missing sister."

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"yeah, i do."[break][break]

words leave him with a little more conviction, though they never once waver in meaning because he truly does love her. this is what love is, isn't it? being comfortable in another's presence. wanting them to be happy. looking forward to spending time together.[break][break]

after returning the kiss, he smiles, unable to help himself.[break][break]

"i am very loveable..."[break][break]

he mutters only to grin a moment later.[break][break]

"i'm kidding. i'm glad, too, abi. really, i am."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"like twenty minutes at best. and yeah it was just some onigiri my parents made."[break][break]

wrapped up all nice and cute for their perfect angel of a son.[break][break]

james shrugs.[break][break]

"nah, dr. morales is actually really kind. i'm sure she'll understand."[break][break]

he hopes...

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

there's already a bucket there so james doesn't need to walk off scene, thankfully. he simply stares as his ranger friend gets to work.[break][break]

"i lich rally left for lunch and come back to this, i swear."[break][break]

he sighs. maybe a weird space time distortion happened here?[break][break]

"wow! you're so good at this, ollie. no wonder you're an elite ranger."

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

it is quite a journey from ever grande to new mauville, so james shows up late, but it's not like his bosses can blame him because he also knows Eva Morales is late to the scene.[break][break]

either way, the moment he arrives, he's immediately met with the sight of what looks to be a zoroark, only that it's shades lighter. it looks over their way only to leap at them.[break][break]

"shit!"[break][break]

leaping to the side, james avoids being tackled by the zoroark. his manectric is not as lucky. onigiri is absolutely useless in battles but thankfully james is quick on the draw with a pokeball.[break][break]

"are you okay, onigiri?"

[attr="class","ooc"]zoroark -> h!zoroark[break]
learning bitter malice[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

"recently we've been looking at those weird distortions. they've been pretty neat."[break][break]

though neat isn't exactly a term james would use, but it fits, surprisingly.[break][break]

with no reason to believe otherwise, james nods, taking the lie for what it's presented as.[break][break]

"huh! i didn't know your family's in sinnoh. how are they? oh, and where exactly in sinnoh? i've always wanted to visit."

[attr="class","ooc"]@aver[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

hard cider? on a tuesday night? the rangers sure have it nice.[break][break]

the door opens to james simply standing in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips as he stares up at the ceiling and walls that are just littered with bugs.[break][break]

he doesn't even look back at ollie.[break][break]

"uh, yes and no."[break][break]

what a sticky situation.[break][break]

"any ideas, ranger friend?"

[attr="class","ooc"]ollie morales[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]