It unsettled Gunner to imagine someone with as much presence and strength as freya morningstar succumbing to poison, but Wolfgang was right. Despite their preference for brutal force, Team Rocket was more than capable of subterfuge. [break][break]

So the agent sighed. "I say you're most likely right. If there was no struggle, she was probably drugged." [break][break]

Until that moment, he had maintained strict professionalism around Wolfgang. But the other man's teasing tone reminded Gunner of stolen, clandestine moments in times past. [break][break]

He paused, blue eyes lingering on Wolfgang's face. Then Gunner was back in job mode, tearing his gaze away as he peeled off his gloves. [break][break]

"We should interrogate every person working at this hotel who visited this room, or interacted with her or her belongings in the days leading up to her disappearance." [break][break]

Though the room did not have cameras installed—for good reason—they could check the footage from the hallway outside.

TAGS – wolfgang volkov[break]
NOTES – mission

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Gunner entered the conference room after Paxton and closed the door behind him. He lingered by the table, still standing, finding himself too restless to sit like the other man had. Paxton's strict professionalism and the little notebook in his hands meant he thought this conversation was work-related. [break][break]

"Look," Gunner said, forging ahead before his stubborn pride could ruin his intention, "I want to apologize for our fight a few months back. For being an asshole and punching you in the face." [break][break]

In all honesty, so much time had passed that he could barely remember the exact words exchanged between the two men. All he remembered was how angry he'd felt and how he'd been unable to control his actions. [break][break]

Gunner looked down, unable to meet Paxton's eyes and feeling foolish.

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – social, ~1 week post-Primeval

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Banquo leaped up to shield its trainer from the briars. Gashes of red dug into the Zeraora's fur-covered skin, eliciting a hiss of pain. But neither man nor Pokémon had time to recover; an EARTHQUAKE from the Golett loosened their footing, sending them scrambling for more solid ground. [break][break]

Gunner's eyes narrowed at the masked man with bright white hair standing next to Elisabeth Fiorelli. What gall he had, to make such critiques of PENELOPE LIVY. Before Gunner could speak up, though, the councilwoman met the insults head-on, undeterred. [break][break]

Instead, the agent gave her a quick nod. "Understood, ma'am." [break][break]

She moved quickly, not waiting for his answer. Magma manifested with a wave of her fingers and rolled toward the terrorists, huge molten balls of fire and death. [break][break]

Gunner turned his attention to the Golett. Reading his trainer's body language, Banquo dashed toward the Ghost-type. Before they could clash, however, weeds and grasses rose up to ensnare the Golett with GRASS KNOT.

TAGS – PENELOPE LIVY jayden cross Elisabeth Fiorelli[break]
NOTES – mission

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Penelope's questions were standard fare, sensible in the context of the situation. But the way she snarled and gnashed her teeth caused Gunner's brow to knit together in consternation. She reminded him of a rabid Pokémon infected with disease. [break][break]

Shaking his head to clear the thought from his mind, he replied, "I met her last year when I was stopping by Gideon's office at the university. It was a brief meeting, since she was just leaving." [break][break]

The agent tried to recall if his brother ever mentioned the girl in conversation afterward, but nothing came to mind. [break][break]

"He doesn't talk much about his students with me, just about his own studies. I doubt he knows anything, since he didn't know about Elisabeth Fiorelli, either." Gunner had to break that news to Gideon himself.

TAGS – PENELOPE LIVY[break]
NOTES – social | takes place after burned in blue

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Gunner nodded slowly, confused by Delilah's question at first. If she suspected Team Rocket, then it was her own responsibility to inform the authorities. Who else would reach out on her behalf? Unless… [break][break]

"If the 14th precinct suspects that Team Rocket is involved, I would hope they inform us. I don't know them personally, but a competent police captain should know when matters have moved beyond his capabilities." [break][break]

He tilted his head at her. [break][break]

"Do you believe the person making death threats at you is with Team Rocket? What's the nature of these threats?" he asked, taking out his phone and pulling open the voice notes app. Recording their conversation was faster than taking notes by hand.

TAGS – Delilah Silph[break]
NOTES – social

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"Just like the rest of them." [break][break]

Like Wolfgang, Gunner pulled on a pair of latex gloves. He watched the former Rocket for a moment to ensure Wolfgang wasn't about to steal anything of Freya's, then started looking through the other end of the room. [break][break]

The other man was right about Psychic-types being the most likely culprit. Gunner pondered this unfortunate fact as he checked the bed for any signs of struggle. Though the covers were in disarray, they looked as if someone had merely been sleeping. [break][break]

There was no blood, nor had items been knocked off the bedside table. In fact, he saw that Freya's wallet, phone, and hotel card key were still there, untouched. [break][break]

"Councilwoman Morningstar has a lot of enemies, considering her active presence on the battlefield," he said, his eyes falling upon a pamphlet for the Ever Grande Draciary. "She's a formidable fighter, too. I doubt she would have let herself been taken without a fight." [break][break]

Yet so far, their findings proved otherwise.

TAGS – wolfgang volkov[break]
NOTES – mission

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When Mila accepted his change in topic without pushing back, a wave of relief washed through Gunner. He allowed himself to relax slightly in her embrace, though his cheeks and neck still burned with embarrassment. [break][break]

The tremble in her voice caused him to look down at her again. Moving by instinct, he dipped his head to press a kiss to her forehead. "It's okay," he murmured into her hair. "You're safe now. Team Rocket can't get to you as long as I'm here. And neither can your father." [break][break]

Mila had never talked about her parents with him before. Gunner had no idea if Ambrois Alexopoulos was still alive, or if he was dead. But silently, he vowed that if it was the former and he ever ran into the man, he'd kill him with his bare hands for hurting Mila. [break][break]

The door opened and a nurse came in, stopping in her tracks when she saw the two lying next to each other on the bed. [break][break]

"Visitation time's over," she said sharply, looking first at Mila, then Gunner. "You need your rest, Mr. Graves." [break][break]

With a sigh, he disentangled himself from his lover and said to her in a quiet voice, "Go. You know where to find me."

TAGS – mila alexopoulos[break]
NOTES – mission

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Suddenly, the earth shuddered. Gunner thought that the volcano might explode again, at first, but noticed the rhythm of the tremors after a few seconds had passed. Something large was stomping across the peak, he realized, moments before a Mamoswine crested the ridge. [break][break]

It released a tremendous trumpet, raising the small hairs on Gunner's neck. And then it started to stampede toward him. [break][break]

"Ywaine!" he called out, but the Carracosta was already moving. [break][break]

Positioning himself in front of Gunner, Ywaine braced himself with IRON DEFENSE as the Mamoswine THRASHED him with its trunk. He retaliated with HYDRO PUMP, forcing the large mammoth back several steps. [break][break]

The pair exchanged blows for a solid minute until another spray of water caused the Mamoswine to fall to its knees. Seizing the opportunity, Gunner tossed a Pokéball.

TAGS – none[break]
NOTES – solo wild with incense (ground) | catching Mamoswine

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Unlike Delilah, Gunner did not take a seat at the conference room's table. He remained standing near the door after closing it for privacy. [break][break]

"Not that I am aware of," he said, frowning. "And if no one from the Bureau has reached out to you about it, then it's likely no one's informed us. You'd be the first." [break][break]

It was not uncommon for police to investigate death threats to a civilian, and in most cases, they handled such matters themselves. The HBIC only involved themselves if the origin of such threats came from large criminal organizations or were matters of national safety. [break][break]

"Do you feel that the 14th precinct are not taking your concerns seriously?" Gunner asked.

TAGS – Delilah Silph[break]
NOTES – social

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Ywaine rumbled a response. Gunner sighed. [break][break]

"Maybe it's just the stress of her job weighing on her, or maybe it's something else," he said. "I swore I would follow her no matter what, and I intend to keep that promise. I just hope she can take care of herself better than Matias could." [break][break]

A young Mudbray trotted into view, crying out mournfully. Gunner's heart twinged with sorrow for the Pokémon. He wondered if she had lost her mother or gotten separated from her herd. But before he could call out to her, she saw him and Ywaine, spooked, and galloped off.

TAGS – none[break]
NOTES – solo wild with incense (ground) | skipping

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A Marowak shuffled forward across the barren landscape, drawn to Gunner's presence. He thought she might be looking for food, but as soon as she saw his Carracosta, she stopped in her tracks. Brandishing her club, she started making aggressive noises. [break][break]

"Looks like we're not welcome up here," Gunner remarked with a slight sigh. Then, in a louder voice, he called out, "It's okay, we'll leave!" [break][break]

He turned and began walking in the opposite direction, not actually departing the peak yet but treading along the perimeter of the crater. His Carracosta lumbered alongside him. [break][break]

"You know, Ywaine," Gunner started, prompting the turtle to look over at him, "I worry about Penny. Seeing this kind of devastation…" He shook his head, but the memories of PENELOPE LIVY's breakdown back in the Giant Chasm refused to leave his mind. [break][break]

"It could have just as easily been her."

TAGS – none[break]
NOTES – solo wild with incense (ground) | skipping

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Though Penelope was not fighting Gunner, she was at the edge of losing her composure entirely. He managed to duck them under the flap of the medical tent and guide her to a chair. As soon as he disentangled himself from her, nurses stepped in to assess the councilwoman. [break][break]

"I know her," Gunner confessed, feeling ashamed for the friendliness he felt toward Nomi at the carnival last summer. "She studies at Slateport University under the name Naomi Sato. My brother is one of her professors, so that's how I met her." [break][break]

Did GIDEON GRAVES know about his student's association with the other pink-haired woman (parker jones), the one who'd beaten him bloody? [break][break]

"I can compile a profile of her as soon as we get back to Ever Grande City," he offered.

TAGS – PENELOPE LIVY[break]
NOTES – social | takes place after burned in blue

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