[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



Rafael stands in the crowd of grunts with an expression as neutral as the colors of his custom-tailored suit. While many decry the League and some propose helping them, Rafael leans toward neither one nor the other. He is in the business of profit, not politics. And so he listens and nods thoughtfully to each proposal, while internally he gives weight to none. He trusts Rocket's leadership to have a plan without his input. It would be foolish of them not to. Instead he waits silently to capitalize on the opportunities that present themselves.[break][break]

Thinking of opportunities, he slides his hand into his pocket, feeling the reassuring presence of his billfold. He had no qualms against theft, but neither did he wish to present the opportunity for one of the working class rabble to enrich themselves at his expense. A brief flicker of his eyes takes in the leather-jacketed ruffian that had accompanied Seraphine D’aureville. A crass mouth, Rafael thinks as @bishop shouts, and undoubtedly sticky fingers. He looks useful.[break][break]

Rafael turns toward Seraphine with a warm smile, responding "Of course, preparation and planning pay dividends. We should not leave our fortunes solely to Fate and the League." There's no reason not to have control.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

A Transfer of Power 3[break]
+ Rafael voices an opinion not to rely on the League alone to solve the crisis.

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



Ha, there's no such thing as priceless artifacts, Miss Wells. Everything has a price. Rafael smiles politely at the woman and takes another sip of his drink as she speaks. His smile brightens as she mentions the desert ruins outside Mauville though he fights to keep a flicker of annoyance from showing after their latest disruption at the excavation.[break][break]

"We are, in fact, conducting a major archaeological endeavor in the desert right now," Rafael beams with excitement, "We absolutely must have you tour the site." Coincidence or espionage? Rafael briefly wonders to himself what it must be like for normal people to live their lives without questioning the motives of every person they talk to. Noble claps again for Nikita, causing Rafael to chuckle. "Noble gets too bored on the dig site, I'm sure he would love to give you the tour himself," he jokes, giving the Snivy a genuine look of sympathy.[break][break]

Let's test the water. "Perhaps we can show you some of the Hsiuian artifacts we have uncovered before they go on public exhibition," he says in a conspiratorial whisper.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Putting on a Front

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



Gifting Minccino to Nomi.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



The Artega Foundation would like to congratulate its newest associate: Minccino. Welcome to the team![break][break]

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]

NOTES

Gachapon

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



From the corners of his eyes, Rafael catches glimpses of the devastation. He overhears Seraphine's plan to help with the injured, but the air is still thick with cries of pain. He eyes the two Excadrill, standing there in the center of the chaos, blank looks in their eyes as if they are unaware of the damage they have caused, confused as to why they had torn so violently into his dig site. Assholes.[break][break]

His Sigilyph rotates toward him, waiting for his next command with anticipation. "Crush them," he gives her the command without a hint of hesitation or cruelty, only with confidence. She soars forward, closing the short distance to the two confused pokemon, who watch the avianoid pokemon approach with curious looks. Rafael watches impassively as the air seems to warp around the pokemon in psychic waves that focus around their heads. The two Excadrill slump over lifelessly, so silently that it seems at odds with the clamor of their surroundings.[break][break]

Grabbing the arm of a foreman rushing past, Rafael commands the man to see that the bodies of the Excadrill are removed before work commences again. Picking up Noble and placing him on his shoulder, Rafael, Sigilyph, and the Snivy head toward the group of people that are beginning to surround Seraphine's Ponyta.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

Mission: Digging Yourself Into a Hole

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



The tropical fruit flavoring and smooth alcoholic burn of the cocktail swirl across Rafael's tongue as he stands at the bar, projecting an air of relaxed enjoyment. A beautiful woman catches his eye as she approaches a nearby docent though Rafael tilts his drink with feigned preoccupation, though his focus goes toward filtering out the sounds of the gala to listen to the conversation. The bartender catches his eye and discreetly mouths 'Wells family. Galar. Medtech.' as the man deftly pours wine for another guest.[break][break]

As the woman slides up to the bar and introduces herself, Rafael grasps her hand before giving a polite kiss to the air on each side of her cheeks. Eyeing the docent over Nikita's shoulder, the man signals that she had made a top-tier donation. "Miss Wells, certainly the honor is all mine. My father has always admired the work your family has done in transforming the medical industry so I am truly grateful that you chose to spend your evening with us." Noble began to clap happily at Nikita, his small arms wiggling in excitement as he hissed quietly. Rafael had done this dance with donors so many times and Noble always played his part admirably. "Noble and I would like to thank you for your donation as well," he inclined his head to the Snivy perched on the bar, "and we would certainly love to arrange a visit to one of our archaeological dig sites if you are interested?"[break][break]

Rafael sets his drink on the bar, his face transformed into polite enthusiasm.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Putting on a Front

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



Rafael stands regally at the marble railing of the second-story balcony. The chill of air conditioning blows from the open door behind him, mingling with the warm air of late summer, their opposing temperatures struggling around the man with each eddy of wind. A sculpture garden is visible below, the stone and iron figures illuminated by dazzling lights that sent the old-fashioned architecture of the building aglow.[break][break]

"...and it is with great gratitude that we welcome you to the Groundbreaking Gala," Rafael could hear the host's booming basso clearly through the open doors, "Before we begin with tonight's festivities, please give your attention to our host, Rafael Artega."[break][break]

Tugging the cuffs of his crisp white shirt to extend appropriately below the cut of his charcoal suit, Rafael strides through the doors and onto the stage, sharing a warm smile and nod with attendees at the front tables as he positions himself at the podium. His gaze sweeps the room, taking in the pristine white tablecloths, crystalline agates aglow as centerpieces on each table in lieu of flowers, the crimson and gold banners hanging from the white marble, neat and tidy, presenting the image of perfection that he strove for.[break][break]

"Welcome, my friends, to Groundbreaking. The Artega Foundation is proud to sponsor this evening's event even as we are proud to extend our sponsorship and support to Hoenn's historical research and preservation each and every day. The Artega Foundation's motto is 'Rich Past, Bright Future' and through your attendance here tonight, you provide an even brighter future for Hoenn's archeological efforts. Please enjoy the refreshments, bid on items at the silent auction, and speak with one of the docents in the red jackets if you are interested in making a larger donation." Rafael sweeps the room with a kind smile before stepping away from the podium and heading to one of the bars. Noble eyes him speculatively from where the Snivy sits on the bar near a bottle of expensive brandy.[break][break]

"Yes, Noble, I know it was a good speech, you don't have to tell me," Rafael says to his pokemon as the bartender wordlessly hands him a gemstone-colored cocktail.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

+ Mission: Putting on a Front

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



The growing tremors fill Rafael with aggravation as they shake the table but rage briefly flashes in his eyes as Seraphine mentions heavy equipment. If some lazy ass foreman damaged priceless artifacts trying to excavate with heavy equipment, Rafael would give future archaeologists some more bones to dig up in this benighted desert. It was Noble's defensive posture that clues him in that something else was wrong.[break][break]

"Incoming!" he shouts, his commanding voice carrying through the tent. In a flash, he is out of the tent and into the hot desert sun, letting loose his Sigilyph from her pokeball with a negligent flick of his wrist. The site is in chaos, with workers scrambling away from anything that might collapse during the quake. A particularly violent shock rocks the sands and a nearby embankment collapses, burying an excavation where stone tablets had been exposed just an hour before. Sigilyph lets loose a jarring cry as it swoops forward, a curving reflect shield of hazy light springs up in front of Rafael as the ground heaves upward, spraying blasts of sand and chunks of rock into the air.[break][break]

The violent tremors stop abruptly as sand from the blast rains down, filling the air in choking clouds. Small pebbles continue to ping off the shield for a time until Sigilyph lets it fade away. Rafael strains to see the extent of the damage, but only the pained cries of injured workers are discernable in the aftermath of the explosion. "Sigilyph, air slash!" he commands, and the blast of air cleaves the cloud of sand in twain. Standing within a crater at the center of the dig site are two massive Excadrills, their angry eyes scanning for new targets as their steel blades flex and shudder.

[break]

[attr="class","rafaelooc"]
[break]

NOTES

Mission: Digging Yourself Into a Hole

BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","rafaeltext"]



Redeeming Evolution Pack for Rafael.[break][break]Thanks for the fun events and well-run site. I always enjoy my time in Hoenn!



[break]