Of course, the difference in the Absol was caught by Phobos— The Malamar fully straightening with a gurgling hiss escaping the squid's beak; a dangerous pulse of the pattern. "Phobos." Night's sharper tone had the Malamar pausing, shooting its own glare towards the man before ultimately backing down again, the light fading from the patterns along its body.

"My point." Well, at least he wasn't offended by the reaction. More amused than anything, even if he did have to abruptly stop the Malamar from retaliating at the Absols' tension. "Understandable, and respectable. But as it stands, walking will suffice." A flutter of movement from the corner of his eye had the man turning just so. Enough to watch Apple's curious prodding towards what had been a passing Krokorok— though now it just kind of stood there as if trying to figure out what the flying fruit was doing around it as the Flapple continued to bob about around its head.

"All is forgiven it seems, more interested in making friends as it is than holding a grudge." Well, if that was what Apple sought out as a companion, then who was he to deny the Flapple? If the Pokémon was amenable, then he'd not have Phobos shoo it off. "But you're correct. The weather only grows worse as it is, lead the way, Racer"

---

Attempting to catch Krokorok!
Josh Devlin

... Another Bruxish. Honestly, how many of those things were around here? Not that he was complaining, they were a rather colorful fish and interesting to see with their size variations, but still not quite what he was looking for. As so that one as well would need to be tossed back to the sea. What else awaited him?


qiv6aqC1

---

Already Caught
Wishiwashi - Average (35)
Milotic - Large (79)
Bruxish - Extra Small (9)
Remoraid - Average (32)
Sharpedo - Average (42)
Bruxish 2 - Average (55)
Barraskewda - Large (85)

As Roze tucked in a bit closer, Apple would fold her wings back properly—letting the 'apple' shell form in a bit more like an apple, and to keep the Gastly hidden away from view. She knew his ticks, and figured that at least giving him more to hide behind would be better in settling him down.

"As long as you don't try biting me, you're fine." The flapple hummed, leaning her head against a wing to keep an eye out on their surroundings. "I'll help, Phobos likely will as well if you simply tell him why."

---

Pluto Fürst

"I don't quite know their reasons, but I know they haven't abandoned us here, Roze." The flapple crooned, careful of her horn as she nudged at the cheek-area of his face. "They care too much about both of us to just leave us somewhere." The careful patting of a wing in an attempt at comfort.

"They'll be back in no time."

---

Pluto Fürst

"Of course, but you know as well as I that Phobos isn't properly controlled like that. He does as he desires, and in this case. It seems to be herding around the Wild Pokémon to see if they're what you're searching for." Night explained, watching the Malamar shoo the first pair of Pokémon away before it'd slide off further down the cave again to search.

"At the very least, you will be able to decide whether or not they are what you're searching for. I doubt he will keep them restrained or try to combat them for you." At least, he hoped such was the case. As helpful as the Malamar was being, it was a tiny bit frustrating to see how much it still chose to ignore him on the smallest of things.

At least this time, when the Pokémon wandered by—or stayed to stare briefly—there was no Malamar to herd them along. "What of either of them? they seem... oddly peaceful at the moment. A Crabominable and a Baltoy."

---

Pluto Fürst

Well... A sharpedo could possibly work, with his home being so close to the sea all the time... But, would he really want to bring the Shark home? Would Pluto exist comfortably with it? Would the others in the house? mm, perhaps not.

3s8cnuC7

---

Already Caught
Wishiwashi - Average (35)
Milotic - Large (79)
Bruxish - Extra Small (9)
Remoraid - Average (32)
Sharpedo - Average (42)
Bruxish 2 - Average (55)

The Willow Tree was a club comfortably settled within the scenery of Mossdeep. A stubbornly enforced neutral ground and owned by an equally stubborn man. Physical escalations would end as quickly as a single Malamar could manage. Conflict within the boundaries of the club wasn't allowed, the staff was well cared for, and the dancers closely watched for signs of discomfort. Of course, security would step in if anybody tried to do anything with the dancers.

Night was a very particular type of person, he ran a tight ship and expected the best of his employees, but he wasn't cruel. He knew what was happening within his club, knew the people that would come in, and knew when there were new faces among the regulars. He only ever had two rules, and they never changed.

'Don't Start Problems', and 'Don't Bring Trouble With You'. So imagine his surprise when he heard the quiet rumors snaking their way through the club. Someone had come in with a Bounty on their head. Well, it certainly was enough to have a headache brewing in the back of his skull.

"Phobos." Night sighed, drawing the attention of the Malamar waiting at the edge of his desk. "Keep an eye out no doubt a bounty will draw in a bounty hunter... The kind of trouble I have no time for. Deal with it as you always do."

The bright pulses of the pattern atop Phobos' body were enough to display the Malamar's enthusiasm, the strange gurgled purr an unnecessary response as it drifted its way from the office to tuck back into the shadows. While the darkness wouldn't hide it entirely, it was enough to give the faint reflections of the lights against its beak and allow the flickering glow of it its body to pulse with an unheard rhythm.

---

Cade Atreides

The whining only had an amused hum in response as Night looked around them, though the waving from Phobos' tentacles had him looking up to take in the pair of wild Pokémon that the Malamar had managed to wrangle around. Quirking a brow towards the Squid, Night reached a hand over to nudge towards Pluto.

"Neither are a Snom, but they are still Pokémon. They do not catch my interest, but perhaps yours?" While he doubted they would, the sharper motion from his other hand had Phobos slowly lowering the pair back down—to allow them to run off if Pluto decided he wasn't interested in either of them.

"Both being Ice types is promising, the insect you're after will likely be here. A Snom is only a few inches smaller than a Swinub, afterall."

---

Pluto Fürst

Oh... oh no, that wasn't good she recognized that tremor. It was rare these days, though it was a dangerous thing to see when Rozes' memories started to gnaw at him, like a litter of poochyena over a rawhide bone.

Folding her wings in as close as she could get, Apple would begin to sway, hoping without prompting that Roze would go along with it. "Breathe, Roze. Focus on me little one." the energy that had been keeping her going— the stress, the momentary panic—was beginning to fade, allowing the near-constant exhaustion back into her voice. "We are Not abandoned. They are merely doing something that they couldn't bring us for. They'll be back by Nightfall, I'm sure of it."

---

Pluto Fürst

"From all the information I've gathered on this location, it's mainly Ice and Ground Types that are here, dear. The only one you have with you that could have an issue with either typing is Soot." Night hummed, though he'd stiffen at the sudden hands shoved against his back, sucking in a sharp breath before he'd shuffle a bit to dislodge the freezing digits.

"While Apple will not be seeing any form of battles, at most she will be here as moral support." A Grass and dragon type? Against ice types? Absolutely not. Night was not letting her get involved. Which left Phobos as the one to deal with any battles if there was no other way around it. But as Pluto continued to speak, Night could only give an affectionate sigh. Reaching up to press a finger against his mouth with a soft "Hush."

He could hear Phobos pause just ahead of them, and the odd squeak like the Malamar were holding a tentacle to its beak in an attempt to not laugh. "You desired to locate a Snom, Phobos has been antsy to go exploring again. If anything, neither of you will owe a favor to each other, you can stop worrying about that now." Night explained, giving a slight shrug as he glanced about the icy cave, tugging the jacket in a bit closer to him as a hand raised to press against the breast pocket—assuring himself of the presence of Apple's Pokeball.

"Now, just look in the crevices of rocks and the walls... And you might be able to find one. If not, let Roze search as well, he should have little trouble here with Phobos to accompany him."

---

Pluto Fürst

Her glare wouldn't drop until the stranger—employee?—had left. Finally allowing the Flapple to lower her wings a bit before curling them inwards. Making some attempt to cradle the Gastly to her tiny chest like how Night would cradle her during her naps; any bit of comfort she could offer to the Ghost Pokémon.

"I know you do, I want to go home too, Roze. But right now, we have to behave and maybe time will go by faster to have them picking us up sooner." It sounded hard even for herself to believe, but there was only so much Apple could do in her attempts to calm the frantic Pokémon before he could lose it.

"It'll be over and we'll be home before you know it."

---

Pluto Fürst

A Remoraid... While they were cute, he didn't have much a need for one. So he'd return it to the water. Perhaps in time it would grow larger, or evolve... or help another Pokémon evolve. He supposed he'd just have to wait and see. Though now that the fish had been returned, another line would be cast, and perhaps his patience rewarded.... so far though, that Milotic was rather tempting to find again...

NEXoIT0K

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Already Caught
Wishiwashi - Average (35)
Milotic - Large (79)
Bruxish - Extra Small (9)
Remoraid - Average (32)
Sharpedo - Average (42)

Ah, well. That certainly made sense. Night didn't expect anyone to be familiar with what Phobos was to begin with; he had long grown used to explaining it to curious passerby when the Malamar dragged him out for an exploration adventure.

"Phobos is a Malamar. Their species is commonly referred to as the 'Overturning Pokémon'" He'd explain, patient despite the much harsher thrashing from his bag. At least until a little green horn had managed to find the flap he was holding shut— and promptly poked upwards through it at a pace that it had the man's hand jolting upwards, giving the Flapple within enough space to wiggle her way out.

Where the dragon just. Kind of hovered there for a moment, mouth half opened as though it were about to start making a fuss of its own, before it had noticed Josh's presence. Instinct at least managed to keep it upright; the frantic little beats of its apple-skin wings having it bouncing in its spot with a curious look over the new arrivals to their company. Though at Aslan's greeting purr, the Flapple seemed to shake herself out of whatever stupor she'd been in momentarily to give a quieter chirrup of greeting in return towards the trio.

"You've met Phobos," A motion towards the Malamar again, who by this time had shifted his glare from Josh onto Twilight instead— "He gets a rise out of causing mischief, so it's best to ignore him." Night explained, ignoring the flail of a tentacle in his general direction to instead scoop the Flapple from the air and cradle her carefully in his arm. "And this one is Apple. Rather upset about her beauty sleep being interrupted a few moments ago." Again, the Flapple would give a quiet chirrup of greeting, this time at least in confirmation of her name.

"As for myself. My name is Night, though I am known to be referred to as 'Nightmare' if that is your fancy." While he'd look over the riding gear, Night would eventually give a shake of his head. "As kind of an offer as that is. I find it hard to trust a Pokémon I have not had extensive interaction with. They may be well behaved, but it does not take much for a signal to be missed and accidents to happen. I will be fine with walking all the way back."

---

Josh Devlin