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Alien wasn't too far off, in all likelihood. [break][break]

These things — the Paradox Pokémon — were entirely foreign to their world. That much was becoming abundantly clear the more GIDEON GRAVES studied these creatures. He was fairly confident these samples gathered here today would serve to confirm his growing suspicions.[break][break]

When ollie morales eventually rejoined him, Gideon couldn't help but give the ranger an incredulous look. One of his arms was still being supported by a sling, after all.[break][break]

"That's a stretch, but if you insist,"[break][break]

He was good, but was he one-handed-blood-draw good?[break][break]

Yes. Yes, he was. GIDEON GRAVES had always been good with his hands. So, after Ollie passed him the needle — the fleeting contact between them noted but not acknowledged — the professor got to work.[break][break]

Seconds later, an odd, glowing substance filled the barrel of the syringe. [break][break]

"...almost certainly not blood." He commented again, shooting an almost too excited look Ollie's way.[break][break]

Arceus, what were these things?[break][break]

Gideon quickly packed all the samples away safely in storage. He'd run them when he was ready. In the meantime, it was time to see his friend out.[break][break]

"That should be everything I need for now." With that, he turned back to the ranger.[break][break]

"Thank you again for the help. I couldn't have done this without you." Not entirely true, but for some reason he felt compelled to stroke Ollie's ego a bit.

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The way ollie morales called his name above the din of the waves was a captivating thing. It evoked memories in his mind, too, not at all dissimilar to the ones currently running through his friend's thoughts. [break][break]

But GIDEON GRAVES was a little better at not thinking about it. He was a reserved man by nature, and there was no alcohol here to stoke the flames of his desire. [break][break]

Instead he settled for a slow smolder, taking in Ollie's smile and letting it settle warmly in his chest.[break][break]

"I did. It was a quick taxi from the museum to here."[break][break]

And although his assistant would beg to differ, Gideon shook his head and assured, "Nothing that can't wait."









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To say GIDEON GRAVES was excited would be an understatement.[break][break]

His entire life was dedicated to unveiling the unknown. To adding more to humanity's collective knowledge. So the prospect of venturing into another world? Where numerous discoveries were just waiting to be found?[break][break]

Too tantalizing to pass up. So when Neffatari Nzingha found her way into his inbox, there was no timelines where the professor would have rebuffed her.[break][break]

"Correct," He confirmed, taking the astrobiologist's hand firmly in his and shaking with all the polite professionalism someone of her esteem deserved. [break][break]

"Wonderful to finally meet you in person as well, Nenet. I look forward to working with you today." Releasing his grip, Gideon then gestured to the vehicle they'd rented for the day.[break][break]

"We've got quite the expedition ahead of us."








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She'd caught one, had she? [break][break]

Had it been during the same event where he'd procured his own Paradox Pokémon? ...No, surely not. There was no way a student like Naomi Sato would have been within one hundred miles of a battleground like Granite Cave. [break][break]

So, GIDEON GRAVES accepted her explanation without reservation. He trusted her as a cherished pupil. Why would she lie?[break][break]

"Fascinating," He intoned, leaning slightly forward in his seat to better view the odd creature.[break][break]

As she said, the thing looked similar to a modern-day JIGGLYPUFF, except slightly larger and with more exaggerated features.[break][break]

"As far as what I make of it... well, it's difficult to say." The professor was lost in thought now, metaphorically thumbing through possible ideas and connections within his mind.[break][break]

"More research needs to be done, of course. But the appearance of these Paradox Pokémon coincided with a strange mist found within the Ultra Deep Sea. That's likely not a coincidence," Here his umber gaze returned to Nomi.[break][break]

"Still. I'd love to get a few samples from this one, if you don't mind. We can check for genetic markers and see how similar it actually is to a Jigglypuff."

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The last-minute invitation from ollie morales had ruffled quite a few feathers for GIDEON GRAVES's assistant, who had to juggle rescheduling his day so that the museum director might follow his friend out to Slateport Beach. [break][break]

He'd promised her a thank-you lunch as he hurried out the door. An injured HORSEA sounded quite urgent, after all. Yep, the pep in his step was definitely just caused by the thought of helping a hurt Pokémon.[break][break]

"Ollie!" Gideon called out from farther up the beach, once his CORVIKNIGHT taxi had touched down and he'd walked from the parking lot.[break][break]

As he approached, Proteus the SLOWKING at his side ready to give aid, a small smile involuntarily pulled at the professor's lips at the sight of his friend. [break][break]

They hadn't seen each other for a little while. The ranger still looked as good as ever, though, especially given the way the sun's rays seemed to light him up at every angle. Ollie was beaming — as he always was in Gideon's eyes.[break][break]

"Have you found the Horsea yet?" He asked, breathing a little harder than usual considering his rush to get here.









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Conveniently, all three Pokémon succumbed to the BLISSEY's dulcet, lulling song. Gideon himself was feeling a little sleepy, in fact, but he snapped himself out of it with a few small pats to the cheek.[break][break]

While ollie morales worked on the GREAT TUSK, GIDEON GRAVES entered the pen containing the IRON TREADS.[break][break]

"I'm not convinced this creature even has blood to draw out," The professor commented, edging closer to the odd Paradox Pokémon. He hadn't been able to get this close to the thing before.[break][break]

It was almost entirely mechanical in form — from the outside, it looked more robot than sentient, living being. Upon closer inspection, Gideon saw small, intricate tubing weaving into a metal carapace of sorts. He wondered if perhaps the creature's lifeblood was contained within these tubes.[break][break]

"Grab another needle and bring it over once you're done with that one."

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GIDEON GRAVES wasn't exactly a humble man, but he was a pragmatist. He knew that his middle-class background had afforded him academic opportunities that formed the foundation of his current success. He'd been privileged, of course...[break][break]

...but he was no prince, and had never been revered as such by the public. Everything he'd accomplished was due his rigorous dedication. His career was his priority, after all, even at the expense of other facets of his life.[break][break]

"Not as surprising as you might think, actually. I can commiserate, in a way. Our work is important. It sheds light on otherwise dark spots in the world."[break][break]

It was something to be proud of. But the feeling of one's renown outgrowing them? Gideon wasn't nearly famous enough for that sentiment to be on his mind. So, the professor deflected to the topic he suspected Remiel Calcifet was hinting at.[break][break]

"You prefer this work, then? Over politics and bureaucracy?"[break][break]

Not that there wasn't an abundance of that in the scientific world, but still. His position now was very different from royalty.

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Yes, his ears could get redder. [break][break]

"Do you really believe in this sort of thing?" The professor probed skeptically, obviously deflecting. [break][break]

Love. He hadn't had much luck in that department this year. The revelation surrounding Elisabeth Fiorelli and her ties to ROCKET had shaken everything he thought he knew about the sentiment. Instinctively, Gideon's eyes scanned the crowd for Gunner Graves, the one who'd dropped that bomb, but his brother was nowhere to be seen. [break][break]

Yeah, that drink was a must right about now. Luckily, a waiter with a tray of cocktails was walking by. Gideon plucked a glass from the selection (some sort of odd milk concoction) and took a thirsty sip before taking Ollie's place at @nio's table.[break][break]

"I'd like to conduct a reading about my CAREER."[break][break]

That was a safe topic, surely. Still, the professor kept an ear out for the Zodiac Maniac's response to ollie morales.













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Red continued to creep up GIDEON GRAVES's neck, goaded further by ollie morales's touch. [break][break]

While hand-holding may have been commonplace for someone like Ollie, Gideon didn't normally go around doing something like that so casually. If he did, it was only because he was drunk.[break][break]

Arceus, he could really use a drink right about now.[break][break]

Instead, the professor remained painfully sober — but thankfully, the tablets helped to distract him. As his eyes swept over the depictions of dragons, ollie morales found himself distracted by something else entirely. [break][break]

Gideon didn't quite catch the burning heat in his friend's eye when he looked up again, but he could feel some sort of subtle shift in the ranger's demeanor. It was slight, but apparent, even in the way he let his hand fall back to his side. What Gideon saw just beyond Ollie's shoulder was explanation enough for the change.[break][break]

PENELOPE LIVY and Caleb Harcourt. Together, arm in arm. Ah. Gideon knew enough to know that there was history there, between the three of them. He wasn't privy to many details, but he could approximate what was running through Ollie's mind.[break][break]

His hand felt suddenly heavy in its emptiness.[break][break]

Still, it wasn't his business. So, when Ollie beamed up at him, ready to continue their tour of the tablets, Gideon inclined his head in agreement.[break][break]

"You know I do." He replied, blunt as usual, but with a rare warmth. And then Ollie was off again and skating through the crowd, this time stopping at the tablet depicting GARCHOMP. [break][break]

Rejoining his friend, Gideon ran a gentle hand over the stone before placing his palm at its center, as Remiel Calcifet instructed. His communion, however, was swiftly interrupted by a mischievous whisper at his ear.[break][break]

GIDEON GRAVES abruptly cleared his throat — rather loudly, in fact — upon hearing Ollie's teasing words. "Ahem—! Why don't we—" Another stifled cough. "—try and find these constellations in the telescope?"[break][break]

The red had reached his ears now.













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GIDEON GRAVES listened as ollie morales spilled the beans, a muted grin barely curling his lips. [break][break]

As Ollie spoke, Gideon was wholly conscious of his friend's proximity; the brush to his shoulder, the innocent fingers tracing under the lapels of his suit. Small acts to foster an intimacy that the professor was unequipped to deny.[break][break]

If anything, he found himself egging it on even more.[break][break]

When the ranger finished, he'd pick up where the other man left off, placing a hand lightly on Ollie's back to beckon him closer. For the secrecy, of course. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for the other party-goers.[break][break]

"Oh, but I think you left out..." A few, more intricate details were whispered in Ollie's ear, revealing that Gideon already knew of the secret event that was planned to be unveiled. [break][break]

He said all this with a softer, teasing smile. All in good fun. Ollie's happiness was infectious, after all. He knew how to light up a room even with the smallest of gestures.[break][break]

As if on cue, Remiel Calcifet announced the unveiling of the grand surprise: the Draconid Zodiac, carved into twelves intricately detailed stone tablets and put on display for the public to admire.[break][break]

"Shall we?" Gideon's hand wavered for a moment, wanting to reach out to take Ollie's own, but a moment's hesitation led to it shifting upward into a guiding gesture instead.[break][break]

After snaking through a growing crowd, they eventually found their way to the tablets.[break][break]

"You're a Leo, aren't you?" Gideon asked, his gaze gliding over the representative Dragon-type Pokémon.[break][break]

"Which would make you..." A TYRANTRUM in this pantheon.[break][break]

"Ha. How fitting." With a small chuckle, he pointed to the gaping jaws and white pointed teeth of the Fossil Pokémon. One of his favorites, in fact. "A magnetic presence. That sounds about right." [break][break]

His eyes settled back on ollie morales. If his friend were to look, he might notice a newfound warmth in their soft umber depths.












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