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Cygne does need to apologize. Even if Ash says she doesn't, its necessary for her. Ash drops it and lets her let it all out. He's quiet the whole way through, hands at his side, as Ana quietly rubs into his shoulders, like a little electric warmer of a Pikachu. The entire time, his expression changes from sheepish, to uncertainty, and lopp over to silent confidence.[break][break]

With a calculated sigh, he brushes a hand through his hair, and speaks. "Sunshine. We're best friends. Sure. But so are you to me. No matter what he and I have, we're just homies. We went through a haunted house, a sea of Carvanha, Mt. Pyre, and the Ultra Sea. Not to mention, the Borders. Twice." Ashley smiles, and leans forward.[break][break]

"Don't even know what adventures you two went on... but your bond with him isn't that. It's more. Isn't it?"[break][break]

That name. Kiryu. The name stings worse than a Beedrill in early spring. Wincing at the thought, he honestly leaned back.[break][break]

Her question has him recite his breathing exercises. Four in. Eight hold. Seven out. He's calm. "Eris fixed me up a bit. I got a message to my boyfriend. I tried looking for both of you, but when I went back for you, you were gone. As you said... you got out. He's a special guy. You know?"[break][break]

He smiles. "Then, realizing that you and Isaac weren't on the casualty list, I took that as affirmation." He turns his eyes down and relives the memory and strife of the Ultra Sea. "Needed to be alone. Jelly and Bass didn't make it. Still haven't processed my father either."

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The cacophony of screams. This penthouse was the coffin, and most would be buried here in the blood.[break][break]

Theo's relaxation is rewarded after the shot is made, clean. Precise. Heart shot. Watching Ashley make the final movements closing in ignoring the screams of a man who begged for his life for his family, an Aura Sphere slams him in the stomach, with a bullet to the shoulder and another hitting a clean shot to the head. Silence fills the room, his body falling backwards.[break][break]

So. Much. Blood.[break][break]

Zev's own shot is incredibly accurate, exiting out the back side of the Salazzle owner's throat. Horrifying as it is, the Salazzle immediately begins to rush away. Zev almost doing her a service by removing her abuser from the picture... and that was well and good.[break][break]

The next sounds would haunt anyone forever. The Hatterene's giggles loud, as the screams of the man trapped in the webbing were that of a man on the brink of insanity. All for Isaac to hear. The horror The Psycho Cut and webbing together, it created something truly horrifying in the dead of night.[break][break]

Finally.[break][break]

No one stood in their way now. The Scolipede and Gabite, no Trainer in sight, just followed the Salazzle. The conflict was almost over.[break][break]

Except for one.[break][break]

Ashley's pistol was out, pointed towards the man that birthed him, and his anger, tempered, came out in grisly snarls as What a Wonderful World comes to an abrupt end. Fitting.[break][break]

"Do you know who I am?" The vengeance is cold upon his lips as his growl accentuates his glare, his fury building like a balloon.[break][break]

"No. Why should I?"[break][break]

The twitch of Ash's own left eye has him remove the safety, the barrel pointed at the head.[break][break]

"Katherine Shepard. She's was my mom, jackass."[break][break]

Recognition has him calmly raise a brow. With the most unapologetic look to his gaze, Mr. Byron sees Theo, Zev, and Cillian. All three enter his periphreal, as he ponders how best to approach the room of men that quite literally ended many of his company men. Realizing there is no way out though... he chooses the antagonizing route.[break][break]

"And?"[break][break]

Ashley's hand is shaking, teeth gritted, and bile dripped his mouth more than it ever had before.

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There were two friendly faces. Ashley felt a little more at peace, but that's short-lived. The chance of getting to work with them, if they had a three-person thing going on, was low. Impressively low. So many candidates here, even if they worked probably best together, if this was like what that one guy said...[break][break]

Should prepare for the worst case scenario.[break][break]

Isaac Merlo's agreement did help ease his shoulders, while ana fell's explanation of the last time they did it with Slateport... Ashley turns his gaze down. Shit... was he just not living there exactly before?[break][break]

That thought is short-lived in his mind.[break][break]

The Yamper-esque girl, Xenon Antheil, was calling them primitives? It... it made him almost respect that? It was so ridiculous but so weirdly touching. His lips parted just a centimeter, as if attempting to make a retort... but her calling them trash, save Isaac, he just shrugs. Don't say I didn't warn you, lady.[break][break]

There's a number of others here. Oh hey, that's Gerald Kaiser. He could work with him to see how he does in the heist he was cooking up. Makoto Kurumi too.[break][break]

Deciding to at least be nice, and respond to the blonde couple nearest him, he nods. "Where was I during the Blacephelon attack... huh." It suddenly gets hot in here at the thought. He hadn't brought terrible powerful Pokemon, but power can be toppled with enough creativity.[break][break]

Heeding Isaac's warning at least, he reveals himself to the growing crowd. "Name's Sawyer. Look forward to working with all of you."[break][break]

He thinks to himself though Hopefully not all of you though.

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With Isaac asleep... Ashley has an internal bet. Things hadn't been affecting them yet. In truth, he systematically planned to be asleep during the time he imagined things would go the most to shit. If so that way, he was woken up and to be awake the whole way through. Really, he didn't like pulling that on Isaac, or Kepler, but he wasn't risking another phantom cardiac arrest episode.[break][break]

No chance in hell.[break][break]

He may have accepted the job, but Ashley wasn't taking any chances. So, he planned around it, did his best to formulate the plan of least resistance. It was a slight-bit control-freaky, he realizes, but it's in a way that only hurts him.[break][break]

It doesn't really occur to him how much it hurts them both if they found out.[break][break]

Kep's words are... they're said in a way that has him shiver quietly to himself, but Ashley shakes it off. He knows Kep doesn't mean it the way he says it. That, and with Hagakure, he's certain his boy will be safe. Hagakure was that lifeline.[break][break]

There they were. Back-to-back. Ashley's mind was awake. In fact, he was wired, not by caffeine but a small fear. Neither would be hit by tonight. No chance... Bongo, Pluto, and Venus were out scouting. Bass was flying in the sky above. He even had Toothless slithering by his side like a danger noodle, ready to charge a cocked THUNDER WAVE like a snake shotgun.[break][break]

When Kep sees something, Ashley would get up himself. Toothless around his neck, Bongo nearby, and Bass flying about, scanning the world. Ash watches Kep for a moment, until...[break][break]

He hears something the other direction. The... pitch of something inhumane, the dragging across dirt, of something heavy. It's far in the darkness of the night, but Ashley feels the sweat trickle down the nape of his neck.[break][break]

"What... is that...?"[break][break]

It wasn't close. Maybe it would pas-[break][break]

KEP. No time to pursue that thought. His whole body turned as he heard Kep's cry, and with Kepler scrambling back to him, realized what was going on. Was... was his shadow not there? He bit the corner of his lip. His plan was done; only having planned for the middle of the night. Dammit.[break][break]

"Bass, cover him. Bongo, to my side." Pulling up Toothless like a shotgun, he called out as soon as Kepler makes it back to him. "THUNDER WAVE!" Deadly seriousness begotten from Zev has him ruthlessly focused to fire pure crackling lightning to light up the area and attempt to dispel... whatever it was that attacked his love. With a thunderous boom, Toothless fires the wave of thunder behind Kep. Hitting... the ground?[break][break]

Ashley grimaces. Did he miss?[break][break]

What?[break][break]

That dragging was getting closer over his shoulder. He wasn't paying it any mind...

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The hug catches Ashley off guard, as once Cygne gets the chance to, she does so, and the apology baffles him. Still, with a big smile, hugging back, he shakes his head best he can.[break][break]

"Don't need to apologize, Sunshine. I know what it's like."[break][break]

Isaac's eye was the victim the last time. This time, it was something less permanent. Ashley could walk off emotional and verbal abuse. He had Theo as a mentor, and somehow came out the other side more than most. That had to say something about him.[break][break]

It was still nice to hear the apology.[break][break]

Attempting to pull from the hug now, he winces at a slight bit of pain still in his chest. Rib was still healing. He still felt pain. "Let's sit down and catch up. Kep has me on house arrest for the whole week." He's chuckling a bit, but as he gestures towards the couch, he sits, his Pikachu hopping across the back, and now laying on Ashley's shoulders with a happy squeak.[break][break]

"So... what happened after I left?"

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Every giggle is music, the melody he loves to hear, and so he presses more and more towards the forehead, proceeding to hold him tighter until the question is posed.[break][break]

"I hope so. Guy is a trooper for being one long as he has." He looks away, rushing a hand through those curls, and with a silent fervor save the sound of his heart's consistent beating, he closes his eyes.[break][break]

Then he says it.[break][break]

"He led me to you. Kinda his fault." Quietly snickering about the fact that it was basically Isaac's own doing. Inhaling for four beats, holding it for eight, and exhaling for seven, he finally continues. "That's not completely fair. I could have walked away."[break][break]

"I just wanted to make you smile."[break][break]

Rosy cheeks has him think back to that day grocery shopping and making sushi for the boys. Something that day really did affect him. Didn't know what, but it just knocked the wind out of him.[break][break]

"My heart is going crazy, isn't it?"

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"Again."[break][break]

The little gooey slug makes their way onto the grass, rolling around like a ball of fun and energy. The little Goomy stopping short in front of Ashley, and deflating a bit, before sucking in air, and attempting to harden their gooey composition in a PROTECT... finding it difficult, nigh impossible to keep the form going, before re-deflating.[break][break]

"Don't sweat it, Laguna. It's a process. Come here buddy." Ruffling the goo with his hands, he pulls Laguna to a small hug.[break][break]

Those few hours inside of the Ultra Sea had taught him something important. Offense was fine, sure, but... defensive maneuvers were a survival necessity. So, he had begun training Pokemon little by little. Today, Laguna was going to learn how to protect itself. If things go wrong, he NEEDED that safety.[break][break]

No more Draco Meteors redirected. Sometimes, the best defense... was a good defense.[break][break]

Placing Laguna in his arms, he hoisted the little guy up, and tossed him into the air and caught him. The cute little goo boy plops down onto his arms, and stays there lackadaisily, giddy and happy.[break][break]

... like a bat or a bear he once knew. Ashley's eyes prick a tear.[break][break]

Shit.[break][break]

Wiping his face a little, he just lays there, decompressing in the wilds, letting his mind go. Some rest and relaxation would do them all some good.

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There's a pause from Ashley, as he recounts all of those involves to best answer. "Sure. Isaac, for one. You know how well he does. Cygne, his girl. And a few more operatives come to mind, like Gerald and Makoto. Maybe more." His words are like electricity leaving his lips, as he holds Kep tightly, sure not to press palms together.[break][break]

Turning Kepler to him, and letting him place hands to his apron to wipe them there if need be, he looks closely, tilting the chin up to look him in those beautiful emerald eyes.[break][break]

"Gotta ask an admin for permission. Probably gonna ask Jayden Cross." He thinks on it, and nods quietly. "It's a lot. I want to be set for life. Just in case."[break][break]

His gaze looks to the door. With a troubled breath for a moment, he swivels back, hands pressing into their back, as he tries to smile.[break][break]

"Contingencies. And spoiling you makes me happy so-"[break][break]

A small kiss, meant for Kep's nose. He may be worried, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from being a sappy mess. He liked to be that.[break][break]

"Okay. Strawberry time, let's get to it. These are gonna be delicious." Ash pulls them back to the caramelized strawberries at hand, ready to make these strawberries into the best they could. Never once leaving Kepler's side, leaning over him to help.[break][break]

They were almost done.

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"Conga, actually. Conga and Bongo." Ashley corrected, though not reprimanding Kara at all for that at all. In fact, Bongo was giving a nod, even to Bonegette or Bongoo. It was funny, and Bongo hadn't laughed like that in years. It gave him an idea.[break][break]

He'd have to deposit that to her later.[break][break]

However, it was the football play of a century, watching the world's fastest flying fire chicken dismantle a Combee within seconds. Ashley and Bongo stared on with a very brotherly reaction. Ash, almost disturbed by the mass of angry hot embers, Bongo, impressed but flabbergasted by the tiny little thing.[break][break]

When Kara asks the question as the Torchic bounds back, Ash snickers. "Nah. That blocks airways and can lead to some problems. Water me up, sis!" He throws over his water bottle, about one-fourth empty, as he tosses one more ball out.[break][break]

A shiny little Grookey pops out, the little light green monkey hanging off of Ashley's arm, as Ash turns his head.[break][break]

"Hey. Kara?"[break][break]

He looks to Conga, and points to Kara.[break][break]

"You mind looking after her for me?" Conga stared at Ashley, and with a smile looks to Kara with a big wave.[break][break]

All while another four Combee were on their way, ready for the revenge to come.

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Though the threats are in no way idle, Ashley can feel those fingertips dig in. He winces a moment, only to feel his favorite pair of lips touch his, admittedly leaning further in and almost falling over to try and hold it a second longer.[break][break]

Kep's own worry to his bones cracking has Ashley laugh, cough, laugh some more in a pained way, as he looks down. "No no no, I'm good. I got transport." He pulls out his Pokeball, and with it, the familiar gorilla comes out, exhausted eyes looking over to Kep. Bongo can't hold it in and hugs the heck out of his second favorite human, before letting the smaller one go, to eye Ashley.[break][break]

They share a very, very brief fist bump.[break][break]

"Apartment, bud. On the do-" Very carefully, both Ashley and Kepler are scooped up in the massive gorilla's strong arms, as the big lug nods to Pluto, and begins walking casually off the beach.[break][break]

The reliable Bongo. The best gorilla man could have. "Good grief, Bongo." The gorilla gives a big, toothy, absolutely shiny grin, and Ash's heart quietly melts, as he turns to Kep, lacing fingers into Kep's own hand with his own.[break][break]

Shooting a small beam to Kep as they walk on, Ashley lets the gorilla give them the delivery home.

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Sheesh, it's busy here.[break][break]

Leaning against a wall in this featureless space, Ashley can hear the commotion. Whole bunch of Grunts on the lower end. Some girl (Xenon Antheil) is screaming, gaining the attention or ire of those nearby. Another pouting (Hitoshi Inoue) and wanting the fun to start, the craze of both Grunts evident. If it weren't for the intervening duo (Kouji Matsubara, elijah gardner) saying what was on Ash's mind, he'd have said something himself.[break][break]

Yawning quietly to the side, he pushes off the wall, and gestures to the lot, pushing a pinky in his ear, silver eyes attempting to go over all of them.[break][break]

"Yeah, underdog like a little Yamper." It's not an insult, at least, he hopes it isn't seen as one. It's mostly responding to Sylvia Cousteau. "Betting the test is to measure resolve. Knowing Rocket... shit's already started. Examining us as we speak." He points to the cameras around the room, yawning again much louder. Once his eyes pricked with water, and he placed them back, he gestures towards the Pokemon present.[break][break]

When Alba Evovae speaks, Ash throws a thumb over their way.[break][break]

"Probably got the right of it. Trinity. Three. Probably a means to find out how you work in a team. Called a Team for a reason." It's easy enough to understand. Working as a team, in Team Rocket. Kind of a prerequisite. "Death matches though... seems pretty narrow." After all, if they were to do that, most of them would do well enough. Taking a second to look at the others in this room, he just gives them a friendly smile. No reason to be antagonistic to these people.

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