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He couldn't blame Isaac for talking to Aurelie. Isaac was a talker, after all. He was constantly bouncing ideas off his inner and outer circles, navigating all of the various ways he might be able to make some kind of difference healing their war-torn world. The Liberator, they called him now. It was a fitting title; he'd always been the better king.[break][break]
"It's all true," Caleb murmured, knowing the truth would sting, but also wanting Aurelie to understand the reality of his situation. She deserved to know, not only because he trusted her, but because Rocket was dangerous...and she ought to steer clear of them as much as possible. Not that he expected her to ever get involved with a criminal organization, but as a maker of weapons, it was always possible they might try and coerce her to their side.[break][break]
He wouldn't put it past them, in any case.[break][break]
"He saved my life. Isaac, I mean," he continued. The memories were a swirling whirlwind now: the ice-tipped claws of jayden cross's ruinous beast, their narrow escape onto the streets of Sootopolis, angelo vestri and Latios appearing like an oceanic deus ex machina, his brother's arrival and his subsequent separation from Isaac, who would have died if not for Suicune's eventual intervention...[break][break]
They'd made it out alive. That's what mattered.[break][break]
"It's not so hard to believe," he sighed softly. How much did Aurelie know about him? It felt like such a jumbled mess: a pendulum swinging back and forth between newly acquainted and twenty-years-of-friendship.[break][break]
"Rocket isn't especially kind to defectors. I escaped Kanto a few years ago, but it was only a matter of time before the sins of my past caught up to me. And besides...my brother and I aren't exactly on good terms." He paused. "He's in Rocket still."

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Caleb's hands began to wander as his mind let go - later, Ollie would break his heart a thousand different ways by refusing to acknowledge the very real way he had kissed Caleb back, touched Caleb back, wanted Caleb back - but in that moment, Caleb couldn't think of a single reason why he shouldn't jump head-first into the deep end.[break][break]
So it was, with eager hands, that he slipped a few fingers below the waistband of Ollie's pajama pants - tugging. So it was, with a primal hunger he hadn't realized had been festering inside of him for so long, that his kisses grew more passionate. Soon, he was pulling Ollie half-onto his lap, all sense of propriety melting away as he enjoyed the way it felt to finally live out this daydream.[break][break]
Perhaps he ought to have heard the footsteps down the hallway: the shuffling of tired feet as someone else emerged from bed, woken by the sounds in the kitchen. Perhaps he ought to have realized that making out in a dormitory kitchen wasn't exactly the wisest (and most sanitary) idea. None of these things crossed his mind: all he could focus on was Ollie.[break][break]
"I - " he murmured against the other boy's lips, at a loss for words, but wanting so badly to convey his feelings more clearly. I want you and I need you and I wish we could date for real were all half-formed sentiments, trying desperately to claw forth from his tortured, teenaged heart.

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benji sawyer had a kindly smile and a jovial spring to his step, the sort of warm-looking fellow that almost certainly had excellent bedside manner. There was something undeniably genuine about his friendly greeting, eyes soft like freshly laundered linens, and any apprehension Caleb might have been feeling about this particular social interaction evaporated as the good doctor's expression turned even more gooey at the sight of Honey.[break][break]
"Caleb Harcourt," he introduced himself, suppressing a chuckle as the dragon turned eagerly towards her newest fan. Shameless, she was. "And yeah, I'm with the Slateport Rangers." He paused, amused by the doctor's fawning. "And this is Honey, my Appletun."[break][break]
As Honey sniffed Benji (apparently deciding instantly that he was worth a kiss in the form of a big sloppy lick), Caleb stretched to begin hauling the crates off her back. Unlatching the restraints, he grunted as he set the first of them on the ground by Benji's feet.[break][break]
"I've got about two dozen recovered eggs here, give or take, and my superiors said you'd know what to do with them. So what's next, doc? I'm at your service for today."[break][break]

TAGS – benji sawyer[break]
NOTES – Mission

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Holowhat?[break][break]
Caleb tried not to let the confusion show on his face. If he had been at that Ranger meeting, he had most certainly been zoning out. Need to pay closer attention, he chastised himself, feeling suddenly embarrassed for his lack of knowledge.[break][break]
Well, it wasn't his fault he'd been captured by Rocket and all that. Life had been...difficult, lately.[break][break]
"A disabling Pokemon..." He considered his options. Lyra lumbered along after Shalin and her Type: Null, craning her neck in both directions to try and spot any suspicious Pokemon activity.[break][break]
"I've got some electric types that can paralyze," he noted. "If you think that would be helpful..."[break][break]
A rustling ahead caught his attention, and he motioned for Lyra to slow down and approach with a measure of caution.

TAGS – Shalin Nariya[break]
NOTES – Mission

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TAGS – coal doe[break]
NOTES – Mission[break][break]

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TAGS – coal doe[break]
NOTES – Mission[break][break]

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TAGS – Victor Haas[break]
NOTES – Mission[break][break]

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Her enthusiasm was admirable, considering she had just recovered from a nasty punch to the head. It was the sort of grit the League needed right now, he realized. She might be young, but they were living in an "all hands on deck" sort of timeline these days.[break][break]
"Elite Ranger out of Slateport," he confirmed. "We're recruiting right now, if that sort of work interests you. No pressure, though."[break][break]
He wasn't going to force anyone to join their ranks, didn't sit well with him after being coerced into Team Rocket in his youth - even if becoming a Ranger was a far more altruistic path to take. Caleb felt strongly about personal choice.[break][break]
"Anyway, if you're all good to get going..." He eyed her, just to make sure she could actually keep up. "Follow me."[break][break]
He motioned for Nox and Comet, whistling softly. The two scurried off to scout ahead, and Caleb began walking in the direction he had originally been heading before he'd run into Thea. His nose itched, an acidic scent to the air as he continued deeper into the forest, confirming that he was getting close to the epicenter of the poison outbreak.[break][break]
After a few footfalls, he glanced back to see if she and her Pokemon were actually trailing after him.

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Which each stammered rebuttal, Greyson reduces himself, makes himself small in the face of his own helpless uncertainty. It is a pathetic display of bravado. Caleb is familiar with the tactic, though he'd spent less time at this stage - moving more swiftly than Greyson into dejected self-hate.[break][break]
"You did your job?"[break][break]
He shakes his head, scoffing at the absurdity of the claim.[break][break]
"Your job is to be a role model for the citizens of Hoenn. Your job is to provide an educational and challenging training opportunity by allowing the most qualified Pokemon battlers to enter your arena. Your job is to advise the League council, and help guide our government towards a safer future."[break][break]
Caleb steps into Greyson's outstretched hand, lets his accusatory finger poke him in the chest.[break][break]
"You're right. You are better than me. But not because you would have killed a Rocket."[break][break]
His eyes are compassionate, even as he shoulders yet another would-be ally's misplaced anger.[break][break]
"You're better because you didn't."

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Caleb looked between the girl and her Primeape, obviously still bemused.[break][break]
"He...punched you," he echoed, making sure he'd heard that right.[break][break]
But then she continued on with her explanation, and the title martial artist finally set things straight. She was training with her Pokemon, and it had gone too far. That made sense, he supposed.[break][break]
He was relieved to hear she hadn't encountered anything dangerous in these woods, at least. Not yet, anyway.[break][break]
Which, actually, gave him an idea.[break][break]
"If you're looking to train, maybe you can help me out with something," he offered.[break][break]
Technically, he wasn't supposed to let civilians get involved in Ranger business, but she was already here and if he walked away, what if she did end up getting attacked? At least this way, he could keep an eye on her.[break][break]
"There are supposedly poisonous crystablooms growing in this forest, causing toxic swamps and gas to ruin the ecosystem. Might even be rampaging poison Pokemon about. I'm supposed to clear the area."[break][break]
He shrugged, glancing at her trio of Pokemon. Nox clicked, as if in support of Caleb's idea.[break][break]
"Would probably go faster if you and your Pokemon tagged along."

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TAGS – Victor Haas[break]
NOTES – Mission[break][break]

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The hand that jabs his chest is shaking. The tremors are subtle, but they betray Greyson's lies all the same.[break][break]
"What are you so afraid of? Appearing weak?" He asks calmly, ignoring the insults. If Greyson wanted a heated argument, a reason to kick him out, he wouldn't get one. "You want so badly for me to believe you'd really have killed her."[break][break]
He shakes his head, but it isn't disgust that colors his expression: it's pity.[break][break]
"Murdering someone in cold blood - even someone you think deserves it - doesn't make a man strong. Doesn't make him brave."[break][break]
The accusations come, and Caleb knows what Greyson's getting at. He could have predicted it. Traitor, the other man labels him with every prying question.[break][break]
"I ran, same as you. Then you abandoned me, so I had to find my own way out of that cursed chasm."[break][break]
During the cave-in, Caleb had exchanged words with BARNABY FINCH. But Greyson hadn't asked him about that, not explicitly.

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