it makes sense that this arm of rocket encourages its employees to travel in pairs, even when not on duty. with the region as volatile as it is, nikkari can appreciate the foresight. of course, at the end of the day, they are but bodies for the machine, for the glory of rocket. 

but so is everyone else. they just don't know what they're beholden to.

he is, unfortunately, privy to his partner's song about him. alecto has a nasty habit of tugging at shadows, teasing eyes away from him, so he doesn't often realize just how easy it is for him to sneak up on people with the gremlin constantly pulling her tricks. 

"i assure you, i have no intention of going anywhere near your genetalia, mitchel," he says as he steps in his field of view. 

mitchel kane

☉

nikkari turns minutely. it's not out of place for idle chatter among like minds in a place like this, but the discussion sets him a little on edge given his current situation. he picks at his sleeve collar and finds an easy smile, though still looks somewhat perturbed as he glances back at the painting. 

"savagery," he says. "i would be inclined to think the artist was rather angry when they painted this." the mottled reds, the raging claw-like strokes. 

"but it wouldn't surprise me. these people have been through a lot." the exhibition itself is a beacon of human triumph. bisecting dimensions, assassins from other realms, and yet humans still find joy in sharing their art with the world.

or perhaps it's less of a triumph and more of a desperate plea to feel significant.

Frank Caffey

☉

the ghostly chains on palamedes' arrows snap and dissipate as the zoroark's night daze intercepts him. the owl turns on his wing now that his cover has been blown, gaining altitude to put him out of range from the zoroark. he circles overhead, ever-watchful and now acting as a sentry to give warning if and when the authorities arrive.

on the ground is a bloodbath. nikkari ducks down behind one of the shipping crates right as bullets rip overhead. strangled screams are cut off with wet choking gurgles. he pokes a head around the corner, dismayed to find a hardened team of pokemon following the commands of the deranged shooter. 

nikkari's earpiece crackles with gunshots and his men dying. he drops another pokeball to the ground. the wide-brimmed hat of his crow tilts as she looks up at him, a tilt to her head when the sounds reach her ears. 

"harrow, give us some cover please," he murmurs. the murkrow flutters up into the air as thick fog rolls out from under her wings, blanketing the field in a haze. 

"all units find cover. protect yourselves; they're not after the cargo."

then, to his companion: "alecto, find that grunt. be their eyes." and so she slinks into the shadows, rematerializing impishly a foot away from leonicio and his rapidash. her eyes gleam and she chitters to the horse, lending her insight on enemy whereabouts with her detect. 

Leonicio Marceliño Thomas Benoit

decidueye backs off
murkrow is above using haze & providing cover
the grunts shift away from a hands-on approach
sableye lends her eyes to g!rapidash

☉

it had been easier said than done to secure his place on an expeditionary team. blood money goes a long way with keeping your name off of public records, but ever since the attack on his cargo ship and the consequent loss of his livelihood, nikkari has been nothing short of careful.

so it's under the guise of ansel goodwin that he travels with these companions. papers aren't usually so difficult to forge, but without his resources, it's been a pain.

he's here for several reasons. first: to see with his own eyes the existence of these other universes that so casually bisect their own. second: to find one Remiel Calcifet . 

following the news, he had been shocked to discover his once-ally had become a turncoat. of course, he knows nothing of this arm of rocket's recent orders to destroy the man on sight. so his eyes gleam at the man's back as they walk. 

alecto clings to his own back, sapphire eyes refracting the muted yellow light that dapples over them. their trek through the forest is burdensome; sweat sticks to the nape of his neck, beads at his lip. he gathers his hair up in a bun and frowns at the discomfort. 

"have you been here before, callan?" he calls to the elite four member.

Callan Young Remiel Calcifet

notes;

☉

with his boat out of commission and a spectacle made by some unruly tyrant (Thomas Benoit), nikkari no longer has an easy road home. bartering for passage has been proven difficult with trade restrictions on the rise and it's not exactly easy to get into contact with the branch of his organization here. 

but that's a puzzle he's shelved for later.

while he's here as an illegal, he might at least enjoy what hoenn has to offer. it's what crossed his mind when he saw an advertisement for the new art gallery. the cash in his pocket is negligible; one can always drum up resources if they have the proper assets (though he's lacking in most, he still has some at his disposal). 

so with a proper cup of tea in his hands, he wanders about. there's no force behind the act to enjoy himself; the art is pleasant, its brush strokes the work of a pained master. he nibbles on a biscuit before a rather peculiar painting and abruptly turns away.

the red was far too angry and dark in that one for his tastes.

Frank Caffey

☉

alecto chuckles again and dives to safety, forcing nikkari to turn. he shields himself right as the rocket grunt's swanna is struck by a shock of electricity. the air cracks and pops; nikkari whistles. the little gremlin emerges from her pocket of shadow and nikkari is about to follow up with a verbal command when the swanna's master gets testy.

above, in the skyline, an owl is responding to nikkari's whistle. avian eyes scan the docks for the vigilante. he isn't hard to spot, given the bursts of light coming from the other two pokemon he releases.

the decidueye circles and then draws his bow. shadows arc down from the air in an attempt to pin the man's shadow down with a spirit shackle. 

they still need to be covert, but the galarian rockets aren't going to roll over and take it. nikkari steps away, slinking into the shadows after alecto, and waits for the sounds of battle as his security teams make for the intruder.

Leonicio Marceliño Thomas Benoit

decidueye attempts to spirit shackle thomas' shadow
rocket grunts pour out of the ship towards thomas
nikkari yeets from the Loud One (ily)

☉

this one is an asset and yet he's had to keep closer tabs on him the most. some men have an aura about them that exudes attention and demands loyalty. rinc is one such man; unchecked, he could move mountains. whether or not he knows it is unbeknownst to kari. 

besides, they're only his own observations, biased as they may be. though the urge to check the rest of the room for fiona tickles the back of his neck, he ignores it and smiles back. 

he reaches into his pocket, shifting to the side so he can tug his wallet out. glancing at the worn bills, he matches their worth with two bills of his own, tossing them haphazardly across the table. 

it's still a strange act, tossing money about so casually. he's watched people cross loved ones and devour each other for much less. his own mother has done what outsiders might call 'unspeakable actions' to get by. nikkari just knows this as survival.

"the game is spades. dealer," he starts, bridging the deck with practiced hands, "gets final bid." it's a game they've played before, though not a favorite of many and he thinks with confidence, that includes rinc.

"start at two or pass," he says as he finishes doling out the cards. he tilts his own just slightly off the table and then tucks them back down, looking to the man for his bid with one brow raised.

Lulu Flint

☉

men his age are studying. men his age are fighting for a chance at the top of their field, testing their limits against galar's gym circuit. men his age are making memories of their first loves and their first loss. he envies them sometimes, that they might be so plain as to sit in a bar and order a pilsner and think the world their oyster. 

he cradles his guinness and sighs over how much he would rather the taste of a dry red, but this bar doesn't serve wine. he's fairly certain if he were to order a glass he'd either get laughed at or at the very least, a turned cup of vinegar.

but that's neither here nor there. he isn't here to languish over a bottle and quiet company. he isn't here to make memories that might last a lifetime. 

though the deal is done and the raucous laughter bespeaks the end of a shift, nikkari is anything but off the clock. 

to his left is a woman who's been eying him all night. she'd performed excellently tonight; natalia will hear about it from her little bird and some of the pressure will loosen around her neck. the man in front of him attempting - and failing - to start a card game fumbles the cards and they spill out over the table. 

kari sighs and goes to scoop them up, offering an easy smile and the offer to deal. interest is piqued and some of the folks who'd been nonchalantly chattering across the table turn their attention, suddenly enamored at the idea of a friendly game.

Lulu Flint

☉

his gaze wanders over the pier. it's absent of dockhands or security; the former are conveniently not scheduled and the latter have been paid off. careful steps take him down from the ramp of the cargo ship. he weaves around the efficient line of workers that carry out his orders, and their cargo. 

the hoennian arm of the organization melds with his own crew. he withdraws a folder, checking the shipping manifest while gulls circle overhead. something cackles at his back and golden eyes flick upward. 

he tucks the manifest back into his coat pocket and pauses as he passes by a grunt. "you're welcome to come with me if you've had your fill of this," he offers plainly. another cackle and he turns his head, eyes narrowing. 

a creature crawls out from within his shadow. claws scrabble against the hardy wood of the dock. she flashes brilliant teeth and cocks her head.

"your swanna," he says with a nod in its direction, "can it give us some rain? alecto smells trouble."

Leonicio Marceliño Thomas Benoit

☉