[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Okay. Well you know, he was looking for pearls, but that doesn't mean he wanted a damn Clamperl. The hell was he gonna do with this thing? He gives it a look, pats it on the head, and dives back in.[break][break]

Come on. There had to be SOMETHING down here...[break][break]

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Summertime blues. There's something to be said about having them this time of year. Usually, he's with some honey somewhere, gettin' busy and swiping a card for love with enough dollar bills raining about to get him his moneyshot. That's certainly how it started.[break][break]

But it's difficult to put into words how last year, he had done that, and where things had gotten to now. Now, he was openly waking up by the morning, and expecting to just... settle. He hadn't gone to a club in months, and he was content. Sure, he found the occasional babe or boo out there, but it was remarkably not as good as he wanted it.[break][break]

The night sky is out. And with it comes the carnival.[break][break]

It's magical, really, a place of enjoyment, excitement, entertainment. And in truth, he wanted nothing to do with it, nothing at all. But then... why did he bring Jasmine Blair?[break][break]

Fuckin' hell, he should have been finding another tight babe to squeeze around him, but these days he had fallen to his norm. In a rut. Like a dry spell. He had partaken in that Amigo app, and yet to all the honeys he had messaged, it felt oddly hollow. There were babes and boos aplenty on there, wanting his goods harder than an addict on black tar heroin, and yet he...[break][break]

Never really gave many of them a response.[break][break]

Here he is now, walking the streets with Jasmine. Having bought one of those candied apples. Shit is awful, gets stuck in his teeth, and honestly, the person making them could learn to make them better, but...[break][break]

There's something about them that makes it better with someone else.[break][break]

"Fun night, huh?"[break][break]

He's not really looking at Jazz. He's not really looking at anyone. He's just kind of... enjoying himself. A pleasant little smile on his face, to show something was up. But nothing to be too concerned with.[break][break]

"Whatcha wanna do first, Jazz?"

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Oh yeah. Think he wasn't going to get in on this action to dive to see what he could get? Nuh-uh, he was makin' bank today. So, with a quick strip of most of his clothes, he does the swimmer's dive in. Time to get him somethin' nice. Nuff pearls and he can get a necklace for uh...[break][break]

That ain't important.[break][break]

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Oh sick, some guy in a dunk tank. This is perfect for dunking. Grabbing the ball, and throwing it full throttle, the roar of the big six foot nine dumbass yells out.[break][break]

"DUNK TIME, HOMBRE"[break][break]

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Magnus learned in his teens about patience. How to best bide one's time in a concrete prison, a juvenile hall that helped developed his mind more than any teacher ever could. He's quiet.[break][break]

One-by-one, they file in. Magnus' gold gaze finds Raju Mystic enter with little Brownie. He gives a nod. Nice to see people make it. Jasmine Blair is next, and she takes her usual spot next to him, legs crossed over him as she pets Galao, who gives an old bark to her in response.[break][break]

"Lotta shit today. Ain't gonna paraphrase either, but we'll start with Hoenn in general when more people arrive." He smirks, feeling his bicep and flexing because, in all honesty, he knew what Jazz liked. Just a little flex, then to relax. His serious air persists.[break][break]

Back to focusing. The doctor (@virgil) is in, and Magnus quickly moves to grab a lighter, but thankfully a quicker raphael dos plumas is on it. Magnus moves to relax. Shooting Raph a look, he gives a confirming nod, thankful he was quick to it, eyes to the door. @suzanne is in next, not late as he was winding up to start, and had a rapport with Doc.[break][break]

Once @marshall was in, Magnus felt ready to start, and as always, he was thinking with his head. Summer heat bore down on them all, and as always, Slade is thinking of the people. Kei would be late. A blow, but number one and number two can take care of the meeting for now. Just a matter of what.[break][break]

"Good enough. Aight. Glad everyone here could make it." He places both hands towards his lap, and focuses dead ahead to the center of the room. No eyes focused on, as he takes in a breath.[break][break]

"Orthrus has grown a great deal in the past twelve years. As most of you know, we started from the bottom in Unova, put our foothold into the region, and moved here to Hoenn about two years ago. The reason for that wasn't just to enjoy the tropical beaches, nice as they can be. Team Rocket has been playin' their hand a lot as of late. Liquidated a lot of crews I used to know with a threat; join or die. Doesn't take a P.I. to know what they're doin'. They got a lot of balls now."[break][break]

With a furrow of his brow, he wipes away a new bead of sweat. Damn heat, reaching for the beer that Marshall offered, and took a big gulp. With a satisfied noise of content, he takes in a breath.[break][break]

"We're not gettin' liquidated, to start off. Ain't lettin' that happen. I'll fuckin' kill'em before they take away my pack. But, we need to be careful. We're growing big. More shit we pull, the more problems come with it. So... @keira and I went on a little expedition to Mt. Chimney recently. Got us some goods, but one big talking point we had was that... I intend, in the next month or so, to speak with some Rocket and League higher-ups."[break][break]

And then the big finish.[break][break]

"If we can get in the pockets of the big dogs, we can make a profit on their little war. We're too small, too few to make a considerable difference. But a dirty job pays well when it affects the opposite side of the highest bidder. Unfortunately, war is the time where moneymaking is the easiest, and the more trouble they make, the more money we bake." He doesn't like it much at all, but there lies little other option if they want to make sure Rocket knows they are no one's bitch. As such, his gold eyes are serious, viciously so. "Now, I ain't sayin' we gotta stop our operation. Fuck that noise. But if we get on the side of a big top dog in the League, we can get paid for the shit we were already intending to do. Profit for being a thorn in the sides of Rocket. But, if we can get in both of their pockets..." The brighter side of Orthrus would know where this was going.[break][break]

"Open the floor to my pack. I'm bein' transparent as fuck, so gimme your thoughts. You pickin' up what I'm puttin' down? Got some reservations? Troubled? Talk to me."

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Jasmine seemed as confused as Magnus, and judging from the way his gaze kept shooting from Great Tusk to Wisteria, it was clear this Great Tusk was doing something different. Why wasn't it going down easy? He ponders this...[break][break]

Slapping him out of his thoughts, he gives Jazz a reassured look. "Don't worry. We will." No chance for a scenario where they don't. No chance, no way. The fact of the matter was, even if it bloodied him, he would get Jasmine out alive, and live to tomorrow. No sacrifice bullshit, none of that.[break][break]

But where do they go from here?[break][break]

Jasmine didn't want to be in charge, and Magnus understood why. "No time to argue, Jazz. That's an order from your boss." Confidence was worn on his sleeve with ease, a smug look on his face. He was in control. He had no intention of letting her lead alone. But power recognized power, and Jo-Jo hadn't had it. Yet.[break][break]

She pulls him from a BRICK BREAK meant for Magnus' skull, as Wisteria came in with the DRAGON RUSH to smash into the tusked boar's side, but Magnus had an ace.[break][break]

"Jo-Jo. Back at him. Counter." With a flash of the little Riolu's red eyes, with shaking awesome power, he wipes away some blood with a paw. The little Riolu speeds up to the other side, and hits with the same force he was dealt, bloodshot eyes as he quickly closes the distance. Between Wisteria and Jo-Jo, the elephant beast was lookin' rough. But still standing in full... it seemed to be made of sturdy stuff, but weakened greatly now. With some fancy footwork, the Riolu continued to dance in place, and Magnus smirks.[break][break]

"You're pushing it back, keep at it."[break][break]

The elephant comes in with a very angered HEAD SMASH, to tell this Roaring Moon what for.[break][break]

[break]

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Wait a sec... Magnus' eyes shoot open. That was what little Zabaglione was! From Mint was the nice ass! He rubs his chin, and ponders. "A gift wouldn't hurt. Might get my foot in the door."[break][break]

Without much thought, he throws the ball towards the little girl, and captures it. It's a gift he can easily give to him. And, at the very least, if he didn't want it, Coco and Latte would love a sister.

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Relax, she says.[break][break]

It's something that Magnus CAN do. Will he though? No. It's working him up. But he lets it simmer. He lets it boil, and though he's boiling more than a Clauncher at a seafood place, he's doing this for Lani. Isn't about him. This is a date. A good time between the duo. Lani was one of his.[break][break]

Years ago, he said he'd take care of Lani. And... years ago, he meant that. He would. He would be there, to assist. And now, this guy might take that away from him, and the jealousy spiked like a punch to the jawline.[break][break]

He relaxes his fist.[break][break]

"Sorry, princess." He's definitely sorry that he is, but he can't help it. But then comes the dance.[break][break]

He was boiling before. Now though, he's on fire. He knows he's not the biggest special dancer, as he frequented the clubs more often than not, but once the music began, and the dancing started, it was like a whole new level. The show, the encouragement, the sex appeal. If one didn't know any better, he'd have popped a blood vessel. On FIRE. But he kept it in. He held it close. He swallowed pride, venom and poison.[break][break]

Once the song was over, and the instructor praised them, Magnus felt confident. He had a few things working against him, but he had the general vibe. Two lines, back and forth over them, moving spinning, seeing his princess be the sexiest one in the room.[break][break]

Hearing Lani's excitement made it worth it all, and so he smiles back. This was a great idea after all, and so his grip, a little tight, comes over.[break][break]

"Damn right, I can." No hesitation. No lack of confidence, there is no if, there is no but. He CAN mimic the instructor. He WILL.[break][break]

And so, the music starts again, matching outfits together. And Magnus begins his own movements, and he does his best to mimic the instructor. It isn't perfect. It's quite sloppy, but the Instructor tilts their head. He was still making it work. What was phenomenal was the brain inside of the head. Even if rough around the edges, Maggie was actually pulling it off. He's no prodigy, it still needed refining, but as the instructor barked commands to them...[break][break]

Magnus follows the orders, and grins. A hand to her hand, a step to her step, everything on two lines.[break][break]

This is why it was so important to read a book. Because Jack Magnus was nobody's fool. This was his woman. One of two. And he meant to keep to his promise.

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Well. Fuck.[break][break]

As Magnus was able to get Jazz out of the way, the BULLDOZE charges ahead, and slams right into Wisteria's ZEN HEADBUTT, a clash that sends a shockwave through the whole cave area. They seemed to be fairly even in power, and as both sides slammed head-to-head, the Great Tusk is thrusted backwards, and trumpets a war cry. The elephant beast prepares again, foot moving the dirt beneath it. The dragon its first victim, and it would claim victory.[break][break]

Magnus, holding onto Jasmine now, would get a moment to respond with a coo, enjoying the feeling of her in his arms. "With you? Maybe. I like some dirty dancing, but I think Tusky here is taking the dirt a little too literally." He's smirking, ear-to-ear, and looks behind the big elephant beast.[break][break]

Jo-Jo is charging up, powering himself up with a charged VACUUM WAVE, light blue wind coalescing around the Riolu, as it prepares to fire off, leaping into the air, blasting it out, only for the Great Tusk to immediately change target's, whipping around with the tusks to slap the Riolu out of the air with a MEGAHORN, only to spin back to be facing back to Wisteria.[break][break]

And Magnus' brow furrows, as he watches Jo-Jo slam hard into the rock wall, his hat knocked off his head. The cowboy was not particularly strong, but brave. Bloodied and bruised, the Riolu gets to his feet, shaky. Magnus' worry is plain on his face.[break][break]

Good thing he brought another, just in case.[break][break]

And the Great Tusk smirks at its counterpart before itself in Wisteria, and prepares to charge them too.[break][break]

"Alright. You got the bigger power. You lead, I'll follow." Just for now, letting her down, and letting her take the lead here.[break][break]

This was gonna get messy.[break][break]

[break]

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]

[attr="class","magnus1body"]

Fighting Ring not enough, maybe host club security? "Sure nuff. That should be doable. Just gotta talk to my girl Lani." He leans back a bit more.[break][break]

It's human, wanting to aspire to be better, to not fall into weakness, but Magnus just leans back. "I respect tryin', kid. I do. What are your weaknesses then? List them out." It's fine to say wanting to overcome them, but this was a self-evaluation. What weaknesses did he have? Magnus knew his. He was too loyal. He was ride or die a lot of the time. That put friction with Jasmine Blair and Leilani Ka’uhane, because his jealousy put them in arguments often. He didn't like when he lost what was his.[break][break]

It was a crude way to see his partners. He admits that. He accepts that. He wishes it weren't so, but he knows it is.[break][break]

For now. The road to overcoming one's flaws, is set by understanding what those were.

[attr="class","magnus1credit"]