Enzo seemed to have this magical ability to encourage certain reactions out of him, generally negative. He didn't know anyone more capable of getting under his skin and rubbing him wrong than him. It was either annoying or awe-inspiring. This was an incredibly dumb hill to die on, Kosei was aware of that. He also knew that by reacting this way, he was only making a bigger idiot out of himself. Even when he was trying his hardest to win, he was fixing himself up to lose. Or at least, it ended up feeling like a loss even when he'd arguably won. Now, winning over someone had never been a point of vexation for him before Enzo. So, why now had he chosen to allow someone to bother him so much?
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"Weeping? Sure, from how hard I'll be laughing at you. Alright." He rolled his eyes, arms crossed. Already, he was wanting to kill himself for subjecting himself to a week stuck in the same place as this arrogant asshole. Really, what was he thinking? He'd never thought himself into self-torment, but now he was beginning to question his own motive.
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He wasn't anticipating the blunt smack to the back of the head and had to resist the urge to throttle the bastard. It had been his own provocation after all. Still, that didn't save him from the irritation he felt steaming off of him. Yeah so where are we going? Chop chop, hound dog. His eyebrows lifted, admittedly in surprise at that. Immediate anger followed swiftly after, as there was nothing more irritating to him than being called a dog. Even if by many pretenses, it was an accurate title. "Oh you're funny, you think I'm going to direct you in this? Uh uh, not happening. It's time to be a big boy and handle your own shit." Pulling his bag up, he hastily walked across the beach in the direction of the treeline. First things first, he needed fresh water and a good place to camp.

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+ vincenzo de luca | deserted island

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Kosei didn't want to discuss the details of the job because that would require listening to Enzo. It would require knowing that he was going to do grunt work for this slimy lizard of a man while his daughter was in the room and having to live with his pride after the fact. Maybe it would be different if he hadn't been so righteous at the end of their partnership. It served him right that he would have to struggle with the consequences of his actions the second things got difficult.
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The gesture of coffee was unanticipated but clearly begrudging. "Sure, since you're offering." That was the only reason he'd agreed if only to see the man regret even offering. Granted, Kosei felt like he survived purely off instinct and caffeine, constantly having to keep up with this ADHD demon he toted around.
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As to be expected, Cassius was as thrilled to see him as he was to see the ugly mutt. Miu, however, was positively vibrant with her excitement as she ran across the office to greet the pokemon. Kosei could feel a tenseness in him, having his child be so close to something with so many teeth was unsettling. However, he didn't worry about having his Onix babysit her so he couldn't be choosey.
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Seeing her contentment, he turned his attention to business. "The nature doesn't matter, something that can be dealt with quickly and pays will do." This kind of business left a bad taste in his mouth.

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vincenzo de luca

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

He had seen the nastier side of Enzo's pride and his temper. It wasn't something he normally stoked, if only because the bastard held onto grudges better than any relationship he'd ever been in. It just never aided him to provoke the other's natural instinct to be superior. This time, however, oh — he couldn't quite help himself. Part of him was a bit sick and tired of being ordered around. At one time, such a sentiment came somewhat naturally to the guy who spent his whole life obeying orders. With Enzo, however, it had never sat right on him.
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It didn't take a genius to suggest this was probably going to backfire. Nothing good from putting people like them in desperate and provoked situations. They were more likely to result in murdering one another than prove anything. It was, really, all a little pointless. It was merely the posturing of flashy Oricorios.
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His own confidence did not subvert the very will of Enzo's tenacity, thus he was in no position to think this would be an easy win. He could hope though. He really just wanted to see Enzo complain and beg to be assisted. It might be nice to see all that smarmy wit and superiority complex crumple just a little bit. Kosei would even resist the urge to boast too much and even resist the desire to record the inevitable downfall. He scoffed at that, "Not gonna happen, De Luca. You're going down." The boat jostled some as the waves pressed it into the sandy shore. There was no turning around now. The fisherman announced he'd be back at the decided time, but there was an emergency signal if need be. It might very well be needed if the trash prince needed it, but Kosei would not.
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He pulled himself free, holding out a hand for the other in as condescending a manner as he could. "Need help, little prince?" Though he was certain that Enzo would smack it away. The rules were to bring only what could be carried on their backs. Luckily, Kosei was good at packing and thinking ahead so he felt confident that he was prepared. Hopefully.
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This was going to be a long week.
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+ vincenzo de luca | deserted island

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

There were better things they could be doing than subjecting themselves to this. Egotism was the largest cause, but also a persistent stubbornness in both of them. 
They both had something to prove. To whom? Well, that varied and differed depending on who asked. Kosei was, admittedly, feeling a little cocky about the entire thing. Surviving out in nature was so far from Enzo's ballpark that he figured he had this in the bag.
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Being a military brat, his parents had an austere belief in strength and independence. They cultivated that in him and used it as an excuse not to offer their son a single flake of affection. "It's not good for him," they'd say, "it doesn't instill hard-working and self-reliant values." Such utter bullshit, but they were right, in a way. He certainly didn't have to rely on anyone to survive.
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The old fishing boat rocked as it carried them to the shore. There was an obnoxious stink of fish in the air that he hoped was aggressively assaulting his partner. The island loomed before them, looking almost forbidding from this angle.
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They wouldn't have much daylight to work things out, which wasn't Kosei's favorite thing. Though he was not about to be the first to complain, he'd reserve that to the slimeball beside him. "Still sure about this? We can still turn back if you want." He couldn't help but be a bit of an asshole before it started.

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+ vincenzo de luca | deserted island

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The bitter taste still stained his tongue, the sentiment clearly mutual from the look on the other man's face. In a way, Kosei couldn't entirely blame his old friend for being bitter. Things hadn't ended well and now he was here again to eat his words. That didn't mean he was prepared to apologize about anything he'd said. He still believed that the other was just a slimy charlatan, hell bent on proving to the world he wasn't nobody street trash. If Enzo wanted to pretend to be something he wasn't then whatever. Kosei wasn't going to consider the fact that he too was playing pretend by returning to the military.
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Hypocrite, he knew what he was. It didn't matter though. He was allowed to call himself that, Enzo certainly wasn't. Miu was clearly enchanted anyways, so there was no turning back. Enzo always did have that effect on her. It was annoying as shit. "Uh huh, I have!" She began rambling on about different kids in her class and the things she'd learned.
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Kosei glared back, considering again just how easy it could be to turn around. Granted, Miu wouldn't make it easy on him but she was five and would get over it eventually. He'd get her some icecream to shut her up. There, he stood, until the other impatiently beckoned him on. His hands tightened into fists at his sides, frustration palpable. Sadly, like the good dog, he followed after them. This was the last job, the last one.
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Of course, Enzo spared no expense. Kosei had known it all by memory, but there were new additions and lavish expenses that he hadn't seen prior. Leave it to Enzo to somehow cram more stuff into this gaudy building. He close the door of the study behind him. He noted the houndoom, which Miu was excitedly anxious to meet again. Cassius had never liked him and, frankly, he didn't like the mutt either.
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"There's nothing to discuss, I just need a quick job and I'll be gone."


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vincenzo de luca

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

His stomach sunk a little as they walked through the front door of this godawful establishment he'd had indirect involvement in causing. God, this was so annoying. He spotted Enzo almost immediately, he was hard to miss. In a room full of people, most people focused on the pale snake with his endearing, cheap smile. Enzo slipped out from behind the front desk, prancing towards them with an expression that made Kosei want to bite down until he tasted blood. Those words almost made him turn around, throw Miu over his shoulder, and evacuate out the same door he entered through.
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He'd made the choice to come back here. There were other ways to make money, but not the kind of money he needed with the urgency he required. The Nimbus was a hub for all the worst things in the world. Though asking for a job (even if temporary), was about as humiliating as it got.
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"I'm not crawl—"
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"Uncle Enzo!" Miu screeched, launching herself forward into awaiting arms. Kosei could feel his eye twitch. Don't make a scene, he reminded himself. It was not his daughter's fault that she couldn't see the bastard for what he was. Then again, that meant the possibility of her seeing him for what he was too.
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"You know why I'm here. Can we get this over with? A quick job, that's it."




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vincenzo de luca

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]