Gunner couldn't deny the accusation. That he had taken advantage of Mila while technically an authority over her was guilt that had dogged him for years. She'd even teased him about it once or twice. But she'd never held it against him, and she'd always consented. [break][break]

Then Paxton called her a lowlife and Gunner's blood went cold as ice. [break][break]

"Yell at me all you want but don't you dare insult her in front of my face," he snapped, stepping right up to Paxton with the barely restrained aggression of a man seeking the slightest reason to punch something. [break][break]

"She wants nothing to do with Team Rocket. She's terrified of them. And she's done her time in the Amnesty Program. So don't you dare compare her to the likes of Isaac Merlo or Remiel Calcifet."

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"If your brother was a Ranger stationed here in Fallarbor, then you should visit the Ranger headquarters in town and ask around, if you haven't done that already," Gunner said, mentally sorting through all the possible avenues the other man could take to learn more information. [break][break]

Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "And if he wasn't stationed here, they might know something anyway. It wouldn't hurt to ask." [break][break]

Gunner didn't personally know the Fallarbor Ranger Captain, so he couldn't recommend reaching out to them directly. But, at the very least, someone could dig through the records on the stranger's behalf. [break][break]

Then he took out his phone and pulled up the Notes app. "What was your brother's name? And what's your name, for that matter? If I come across anything, I'll let you know. We can exchange contact info. I'm Gunner, by the way." [break][break]

Perhaps it was guilt brought up by knowing he and the stranger's brother could suffer the same fate that prompted this offer. Or perhaps it was his sense of justice rearing its head. Either way, it wouldn't take long to look up a name in the HBIC's civilian database.

TAGS – zata nefertum[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Oh, AmiGO. Of course." [break][break]

That damned app. That godsdamned app that had caused so many arguments between Gunner and Mila that summer. His grip on the cup tightened even more, especially as Paxton continued to speak. [break][break]

"It's hard to hold much conversation when her tongue's down your throat. Or vice versa." [break][break]

Gunner instantly saw red. [break][break]

Without warning, he stood up from his seat and slammed his coffee onto the ground. The plastic lid burst free from the paper cup, sending dark liquid splashing across smooth, tiled stone. [break][break]

"Damn it, Concordas!" Gunner yelled, seething with rage. "Don't you fucking touch her again! I'm seeing her, got that?!" [break][break]

In the quiet of the shrine grounds, his swears and shouts were discordant, intrusive, and violating.

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Mila's accusation was a metaphorical slap in the face, though Gunner shuddered at the thought of sleeping with PENELOPE LIVY of all people. He stared at Mila, incredulous.[break][break]

"I'm not going to fuck Councilwoman Livy!" he said, just as hotly. "She's my boss! You know how I am about work, Mila!"[break][break]

Still, a part of his brain registered that she had complimented him. A slip of the tongue?[break][break]

Several other guests glanced in their direction and decided to see themselves off the balcony, murmuring gossip among themselves. Gunner didn't care. He seethed with disbelieving fury, heat rising in him at the sight of Mila and the thought of her with someone else. Anyone else.[break][break]

"I want you all to myself," he growled, advancing on her until he was right in her face. "You think I'm not going to be pissed off seeing you flirt with other men while looking this hot?"[break][break]

He reached out to grab her wrist, if she'd let him.[break][break]

"What's going on with you and Paxton? You made his suit too, huh? Spent hours on it just like mine?" Gunner scoffed.

TAGS – mila alexopoulos[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The storm of emotions that passed over Paxton's face told Gunner everything he needed to know: that Paxton genuinely hadn't known who Mila was when he'd slept with her. Gunner didn't know whether to be relieved or insulted.[break][break]

Paxton was normally so thorough, especially with reports. How could he have missed this?[break][break]

"Yeah, a while back. Years ago," Gunner admitted, trying to act nonchalant. Yet his grip on his coffee cup tightened; the paper started to crumple beneath his fingers. "How'd you meet her? She hasn't attended Ranger Amnesty Program meetings in a while."

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Gunner fell silent as he listened to the stranger's explanation. Judging from his weariness, he'd been searching for answers for a long time.[break][break]

Despite the sudden pang of pity he felt, however, Gunner knew that he and his own family were in the same situation. If he suddenly died, his parents would receive no explanation. Though Gideon knew about his real career, the government might not deign to share the truth with him.[break][break]

"The people buried here are Fallarbor locals. People who grew up in the town and defended it as best they could. Not all of them were soldiers," Gunner remarked, commenting specifically on the younger man's use of the term 'brothers in arms'. "Most of them were just regular people. Some were Rangers, some were police."[break][break]

He shrugged, then fell silent for a time. When he spoke again, he asked, "What did your brother do for work?"

TAGS – zata nefertum[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Gunner looked up at the sound of approaching footsteps to find a younger man with long, dark hair watching him. He shook his head at the man's question.[break][break]

"No, not family. My family's plot is over that way," Gunner explained, jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the general direction. "This memorial is for those who fell during Team Rocket's attack on Fallarbor, specifically."[break][break]

He paused, trying to formulate the best explanation for his interest in the monument without revealing what he did for a living.[break][break]

"This is my hometown, so it's important to me that Team Rocket failed," he said at length. "Otherwise, who knows what my parents would be suffering through right now."[break][break]

Then, because he'd never seen the young man's face in the area before, Gunner tilted his head at the stranger. "What about you?"

TAGS – zata nefertum[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]tao event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]TAO DRAGONS 1

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]You find yourselves atop a tall stone tower. There, you encounter a two robed men with a RESHIRAM and ZEKROM. The older one stands beside the RESHIRAM, while the younger stands across from him with a ZEKROM. The two resemble each other. The older shouts, "we must live in pursuit of the truth!"[break][break]

The younger retorts, "what does the truth matter should one's ideals be compromised?"[break][break]

The RESHIRAM and ZEKROM rush toward each other to clash in lightning and flame.

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]xerneas event

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]TREE OF LIFE 1-A

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]You water the tree. Suddenly, you hear a crackling sound of moving wood, the bare tree's branches swaying as if alive. Around you, the petrified Pokemon stir alive. The stone crumbles apart as new fur, hide and scale emerge.[break][break]

The tree settles back into dormancy, but the Pokemon eventually turn to you in thanks.[break][break]

Curiously, these Pokemon feature brilliant markings that glow and glimmer beautifully in the dappled sunlight. Whether they were originally Illumina Pokemon or not is uncertain, but they shine bright with gratitude.

Panic seized Gunner as the darkness swept over him and Eva, as the floor gave way and they entered freefall. But then he felt her grab him as powerful winds directed them to safety.[break][break]

"Thanks," he said, relieved, his heart pounding in his ears as adrenaline ran through his veins.[break][break]

He followed Eva from the cave and into light. Squinting, he beheld the magnificent, shining tree in front of them with less familiarity, having only heard of it from reports.[break][break]

"The Tree of Life," Gunner murmured, staring in awe. Then, as his gaze lowered to the stone Pokémon surrounding the tree, his amazement transformed into cautious concern. "I wonder what happened here."[break][break]

Eyes still lingering on the statues, he followed Eva to the base of the tree. As she touched its bark, he walked in a circle around it. On the other side, he coincidentally stumbled upon a watering can, full with cool water.[break][break]

"Hey, I found something here," Gunner said, picking up the can and pouring the water over the tree's roots.[break][break]

TAGS – Eva Morales[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Gunner hated this charade, pretending that he didn't already know anything about Paxton's dalliance with Mila. But neither could Gunner flat-out accuse Paxton of sleeping with his girlfriend, because in truth, he and Mila weren't dating.[break][break]

Technically, nothing was stopping her from seeing other people. Except that she was his, in a way Gunner couldn't put into words.[break][break]

"That's her. mila alexopoulos," the Fallarbor native said, before taking another sip of coffee. And then he dropped the bomb he knew would freak Paxton out: "She's a former Rocket, you know. A defector. I was assigned to oversee her re-acclimation into society."

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

PENELOPE LIVY's comment about mila alexopoulos being paxton concordas's date for the night sent another spike of territorial jealousy lancing through Gunner. Instinctively, he pulled Mila closer to his side using the arm she was holding.[break][break]

But before he could get in a word edgewise, the two women entered a masterful battle of wits and cattiness. Mila's fingers dug harder into his bicep with every blow Penelope dealt her; if he hadn't been wearing a suit, she might actually have been able to hurt him.[break][break]

Caleb Harcourt swooped in to disrupt the shit-slinging. Gunner nodded a greeting back at him, reining in his anger to voice a professional, "Caleb."[break][break]

The other man's invitation to Penelope to dance did not faze Gunner at all, unaware of her renewed relationship with ollie morales. When she drew close to thank Gunner for the drink and to wish him luck, however, he tensed with the anticipation that Mila would not take the motion well.[break][break]

"Have fun on the dance floor, you two," he managed before Caleb and Penelope vanished into the crowd.[break][break]

Leaving Gunner alone with Mila.[break][break]

He downed the rest of his drink in one go and whirled upon her. "Come with me," he hissed, intending to drag her through the Observatory until they could reach a more private place to have a furious argument. On the way, he set his empty glass down on a high-top table.[break][break]

"What is your problem?" Gunner demanded once they were alone.[break][break]

Unnoticed by the man in his fury, a sprig of mistletoe hung above them, tied to the ornamental curve of a ceiling light.

TAGS – league holiday party[break]
NOTES[break]
– open to interactions![break]
– suit[break]
– Instinctively grows more territorial/possessive about mila alexopoulos when PENELOPE LIVY calls her Paxton's +1. Greets Caleb Harcourt and wishes him and Penny fun on the dance floor. Drags Mila to a private place to have an argument, not realizing there is mistletoe above them.

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Paxton's unconcerned reaction only stoked Gunner's ire more. It revealed itself in the way the corner of his mouth twitched in displeasure. He tore his gaze away, in an effort to stop himself from punching his colleague in the face.[break][break]

Perhaps Gunner should have been relieved that Paxton's interest in Mila was so surface-level. But the man was a fool, and fools did stupid things.[break][break]

"What's she look like?" he asked, attempting to sound casual and utterly failing.

TAGS – paxton concordas[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]