Despite his lacking interest in the topics of biology or grass pokemon, Levy would've happily stood there and listened to Wren ramble on and on. Oftentimes, he was the silent listener providing the other that mouthpiece to simply be. Levy enjoyed that; and he liked not feeling the pressure of discourse. Wren didn't shame him for being quiet. There was no anxious insistence to fill spaces with noise, it was simply natural for them. "Well... when you put it like that, does sound kinda interesting."It felt special to see that spark of passion in the other's eyes when he discussed these things and he'd never do anything to stifle that passion.
[break][break]
"I had some extra time for it, but I'd rather spend that time with you, I think." As if that was ever in question, especially with the way Wren was dragging him across campus the way he was. Observation had allowed him to notice things most people likely wouldn't see. There was something clearly off about Wren and he nearly insisted, but it didn't feel right. When he didn't want to talk about something, he locked up tight and didn't let anything out. That wasn't exactly mirrored in Wren's nature, but he could afford him that privacy without prying, right? Even if he really wanted to know. "Do you need to write it instead? This can wait... maybe I could help?"
[break][break]
It was fairly clear to him that Wren was lying. The shorter man was a TERRIBLE liar. Unlike Levy, who could lie through his teeth with ease (most of the time). "Something for me?" His eyebrows rose, a little surprised, "Wren— you don't have to get me anything." That didn't mean he wasn't curious to find out what it was. The Boba tea place wasn't far from there luckily. It was a cute place. All pastel shades and cute pokemon illustrations decorating the walls."What kind you want?"

[break][break]


[break][break]

+ wren rourke

Standing there and being the one seen, it has a vulnerable effect. He cant blame the other man for his secrecy, and wishes he could appeal to the same level of anonymity. There is no hiding, no shadow. It's just him, and what a pathetic excuse for a person he makes. Maybe the man will see that in him too, turn away and readily dismiss him. What would he do under that situation? Bite back or back down? Luckily, he doesn't have to find out.[break][break] Even without that direct line of sight, the pressure of that gaze through the other's visor is enough to make him bristle. Like the stray rabid dog he's always been.
[break][break]
There's a sliver of relief when that pressure is finally released, eyes darting down to the Riolu with a matched expression of disregard. "Yes," He nods at the question, glancing back towards the distortion as the underboss explains the situation. He makes it sound simple, though even before the additional information was offered, Levy knows it likely will be anything but simple. "Sounds... simple enough." He mutters anyways, knowing the catch is coming.
[break][break]
And there it is... He barely suppresses the deep sigh of breath that follows. The itch of excitement he feels is unanticipated. The electric shiver that he so rarely feels anymore. Centiskorch appears from the master ball in his hand with a flash of light, disjointed movement of limbs as it follows after him. He's not sure what he should expect, passing through a distortion, but it's there and gone in a flash. Then, he's on the other side.
[break][break]

+ Recruitment: Act I | Martín del Mar

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The greatest fear that Levy had was that one day circumstance would pull them apart, but even more so that Wren would realize how freeing that separation was. It wasn't right for him to want to prevent that from happening. What if Wren was happier with Levy in the rearview, fading farther and farther into the distance? He knew he could be moody and nihilistic, which had to be exhausting. He was not an easy person to be around. Meanwhile, Wren was like a breath of fresh air or sun on a chilly day. Even then, with loneliness still clinging to him, he felt warmer just being in the other's proximity. But it wasn't Wren's job to make him happy, he wasn't Levy's keeper.
[break][break]
It seemed like a simple fix though. If he was afraid that Wren would be happier without his doom and gloom, then he just needed to be less of a raincloud all the time, right? Harder than it sounded though. Maybe he should talk to someone, even if he couldn't really afford it right now. "Words can be powerful and beautiful and mysterious." He shrugged at that, "it's like when you talk about plants and stuff, which is very boring." He teased at that.
[break][break]
"Dunno, but okay. I suppose I can place my solitary lamentation until later." Ever the dramatic one, wasn't he? Yet the loneliness receded like rain fall on hot cement. Wren was just as dramatic, just about other things. It seemed trivial, both of their suspected "problems". There were worst things in the world, surely.
[break][break]
"Really!? No boba tea? That's shocking. I guess we should correct that." Whether he wanted to go or not, Wren was dragging him along without even knowing where they were going. Yet he was highly-attuned to Wren's emotions. After years of being exposed to this bottle of sunshine, well... he knew when something was off. And the way the other's expression diminished then, it made him feel a little nervous and worried.
[break][break]
He almost didn't say anything, out of fear, but that wouldn't be right. "Hey... are you okay?"

[break][break]

+ wren rourke

His nerves had numbed, bristling instead with anger. Not at the circumstance itself, but at himself. There was no one to blame but himself for the way his life had turned out — for being alone in the world. You get out of the world what you put into it, and what exactly had he put into anything? It was a wakeup call, this unanticipated loss. Wren wasn't supposed to leave, but how could he not? What was keeping him here?
[break][break]
In any other time, he might have felt the relentless bludgeon of nerves having finally been given an opportunity to do something (even if that something was Rocket). However, right then, there was only the resounding realization that he couldn't afford to mess this up, so he wouldn't. It was really that simple. Even if the instructions given to him were vague and he had no way of knowing if it was even legitimate.
[break][break]
The distortion was fascinating though. Immediately, all thoughts of disgruntlement ended upon seeing it. It wasn't the first time seeing one of these, likely not the last either. Though that did little to diminish the incredulousness of it.
[break][break]
Alinsky, right? "Shi-" He hated the way he jumped in his skin. Typically, he was the one to sneak up on people, not the other way around. "Yes, that's me.... sir." When was the last time he'd called someone sir? Hell if he knew. Idly, he wondered who was behind the mask. Was the anonymity really necessary? Clearly to this man it was.

[break][break]

+ Recruitment: Act I | Martín del Mar

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Wren had a way of digging under every protective layer he'd built. Part of the other lived there, under all of the prickles and spikes, soft warmth blooming up in his chest in a way that was typically unbearable. In truth, he still didn't know what to do with it, even after all these years. Sometimes, Levy felt stunted, afraid that any attempt to understand those feelings would only result in him bumbling and hurting the other on all of his rough edges.
[break][break]
"They're not boring, I think they're interesting. Labs require... interaction." He made a bleh face at the thought of having to engage with multiple lab partners. The idea of possibly failing something on that scale was a level of anxiety he did not need introduced into his life. He was fine with the occasional presentation. What he wrote was a relationship only he and his professors witnessed and that was good enough for him. He didn't really know what would come of it. Eventually, Wren would become a ranger and what would he be doing then?
[break][break]
Well, he certainly wasn't going to tell Wren about his side hustle, that was for sure. He snorted at the Dr. Alinsky comment, before he was nearly taken out by the motion that followed. He froze, eyes a little wider and face clearly reddening as Wren rose up more on his level. A gesture that nearly made him think that the other was preparing to kiss him. He let out the breath he'd been holding when, instead, Wren hooked himself there. Levy allowed the weight to shift a little, the awkward balance of it shifting to his neck. "Yeah, I mean... if you want to. Sure." He cleared his throat, trying not to seem too relieved.


[break][break]

+ wren rourke

"Wren?" Levy muttered, pausing in his step as he turned around to see that very same sunshiney face running up towards him. Leave it to Wren to warm up that cold center, shooing away the storm cloud and cobwebs that had formed there in his absence. Levy jumped, eyes wide as Wren toppled over himself. Ouch. Somehow, even that was endearingly so Wren.
[break][break]
With barely a breath of time, Wren picked himself up. Still, jovial as ever. There was something so communal about the other's joy, it was purely infectious sunshine and sweet things. It didn't matter what kind of day it was, rain or shine, Wren always seemed so happy. It was almost enviable.
[break][break]
"Are you sure you're okay?" Still, something of a smile formed on his lips. Even then, he made sure to check the other over. Wren failed to wipe the dirt away and there was a tiny reddening scratch on his cheek under the grit. "I'm okay, I guess. Yeah, done for the day. And you?" He reached forward then, brushing off the rest of the dirt on his face and assessing the scratch. "I think you'll survive."


[break][break]

+ wren rourke