Arceus, Grigori got the hint already! The Baltoy spun like a top, gyrating in a neat, clean circle as Grigori gave it a wide berth. It didn't even seem to notice him. Or it didn't care. Either way, he let it continue whatever it was doing and moved further on into the zone. Howard didn't seem the type to hoard a singular type of Pokémon.

But Howard was full of surprises. After all, his apartment was filled to the absolute brim with funeral urns. A concerning amount. Maybe he kept a few dozen Sigilyph's in his pc as well.

---

Skipping Baltoy. 4/4 Safari balls

“…” Grigori pondered the question for a few brief moments. Sure, blinded rage carried him here, but it didn’t dictate everything about him. Was this torture, purposeful or otherwise?

“No,” Grigori said. “As if that were the case, I would not have barged into Zev Harcourt ’s workout session. Bastard.” A scowl grew on his face. Damn the man to hell. If Zev couldn’t do his job proper, the least he could do is continue his mistake and ignore her for the rest of his miserable life.

“My pleas, my demands. Fell on deaf ears. Even worse, I’m sure they’ll keep an eye on me for the near future. Unfortunately, the rational side of me agrees with the idea,” Grigori looked down at the ground. All he had to do was think it through for another five minutes, and he’d be in a much better position.

“But that’s not important. I don't do this to watch you suffer. As you said, I can reach you. To me, this means you are reasonable enough—smart enough, to understand. Not that you are easy prey.” He straightened up, cigarette held upright. Ugly black ash fell on his sleeve. That wouldn’t come out. Arceus, this was going to hell rather fast. Just how deep did Howard’s guilt go?

“I know how it feels, Howard. It sucks. Yet I also know that secrets like this build up like a gas leak. The longer it goes unnoticed, the longer you pretend it's not there… the bigger the explosion."

---

howard slayte

...Grigori felt bad, but not quite that bad. Thus, the grunt simply stood in the foliage and undergrowth whilst the Stonjourner waddled along. Its foot (block?) steps shook the last few leaves off the tree as it went on its merry way. Maybe for the better, then. That one alien from the Power Plant held enough weight and sentience as is.

Only Arceus could guess what would happen is the archeologist got his hands on more impossible heavy Pokémon. Might exile himself into the wilderness, never to be seen again.

---

Skipping. 4/4 Safari Balls

Even if this had been by pure coincidence and luck, Grigori felt that something had determined he would be standing in front of one Elisabeth Fiorelli. Arceus, who wanted some karmic revenge? Or perhaps Declan Walsh, to show that he could not attack those above him without consequences. Maybe fate itself felt it necessary for them to meet again.

“Ms. Fiorelli, I only want the truth: did you manipulate conditions in order to ensure I ended up here?” Grigori asked. A question that opened him up for many potential consequences: A slap to the face. Gutting. Torture. Her pet torturing him as she watched with glee. “I must insist that I apologize for my actions during that meeting. I was not in entire control of my actions.”

Emotional manipulation. Likely not intentional, given all that occurred there. One beast went straight to another and tried to gut them, if memory served. Not even Grigori himself could hold anyone accountable or in discontent. Did Elisabeth feel the same?

Speaking of, back to the task at hand. As long as she didn’t kill him where he stood, then there was no question as to his duties. He walked right past Elisabeth, past Shred (the man knew they could all see his obvious, lustful glances, right?), and straight to the door. “Keep your head in check, Mr. Shred.”

He tried to open the door with all his strength. This felt unnecessarily hard. Did they weld the door shut? Maybe a stray, rabid Magcargo had found its way inside and melted the steel into itself. That or a Heatran. Muscles strained, his face grew redder and redder by the second. After a few seconds, he took a short break.

“One… two…” Grigori muttered to himself. At the mental count of three, he put a sudden burst of strength behind his force. Only then did the door finally relent and open for the three grunts.

But the sight of it nearly gave him a heart attack. “For the love of…”

Why was the snail in there?

---

Elisabeth Fiorelli howard slayte Shred

“Trust me, Howard, that is not a story for today,” Grigori insisted. Even if he wanted to, it didn’t seem like Howard would be in the right headspace to know the full truth to their relationship. As much was confirmed; his complexion lost all the sunlight, and he recluded into his own mind.

But he could not relent. Tough love was what he knew best. If this did not work, then... “Admittance is the first step to fixing mistakes, so you are on the right path.”

Grigori pressed the cigarette to his lips again. Arceus, this felt so nice. He could feel all the tension get pulled in with the smoke and nicotine and tar, and get blown away. If only it would stop reproducing in his head. Each cloud of grey only served to offer more room for the red streaks in his vision to respawn. 

“But mistakes do not disappear on their own,” he said shortly after. “Sooner, rather than later, you need to make amends. Come clean. Try to right your wrong.”

Don’t be like me, he wanted to beg and scream. Do as I say, not as I do. 

"Howard, you need to tell June the truth. If not for her sake, or my sake, then for yours." Grigori pondered if Howard could even comprehend the absolute state of panic and terror he held in his face. His body. The grunt had to hold himself back from storming over, giving him a big hug, and telling him that everything would be alright.

---

howard slayte

Grigori probably needed to make amends for the way he acted that one day. Even if he had promised to- and succeeded in- fixing his door. And he'd notice people talking about the potential Pokémon within the Safari Zone this month, so...

Here he was. A Sigilyph would be the perfect gift! Just needed to find it...

PURCHASING/REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

1X Premium Safari Ticket (50 PD)

TOTAL

do come again!

50 PD

“A story for another day,” Grigori let go and backed off from Howard. He still wanted to throttle the man until he begged for forgiveness, but perhaps that wouldn’t get him anywhere. Even if inadvertently, the admission of guilt would suffice for the moment. But not forever.

He knew that all too well.

“For now, let’s just say June’s the daughter of an old friend.”

Old, dead ‘friend’, killed with his own two hands. The reason she was even on the island to begin with.

“She also doesn’t know it was you,” Grigori walked over to the table. He didn’t bother with any of the chairs, but instead put his weight against the top. He pulled out a carton from his back pocket and produced a long, narrow tube. A cigarette. It’s been ages since he’s had one, but he needs to be relatively calm right now.

He lights the tube and takes a long drag from it. “A Clawitzer, Howard? Not only did you lie, you came up with a shitty one. Why?”

---

howard slayte

As soon as Howard finished his own little rant, Grigori acted fast. He shoved a palm into Howard’s chest. He grabbed the sweatshirt, reversed their positions, and pushed. Their short journey ended abruptly when Howard’s back hit the door propped up against the frame. It held, but did not seem to appreciate it.

Grigori got closer and closer until their faces were a foot away. “Then let me use my words to paint a very-fucking-pretty picture for you: there’s this person, who went on that island that sprouted from the sea. They own a nice disguise, a full suit of metal. They also own a shiny Golurk, very capable. Let’s say this person saw a Rocket Grunt shoot down a League courier from the sky with a Clawitzer.”

“Now, this is quite a specific scenario, I admit,” Grigori shoved his face further into the archeologist. His two good eyes against one. “But to me, something just isn’t adding up. And you claim to be a rather smart individual. So, tell me– what’s not right about this fucking scenario, Howard? Any educated guesses?”

---

howard slayte

Grigori’s fury broke only for a moment as the door came off the wall. He hadn’t realized quite how hard he’d gone on the poor thing. It was almost enough to distract him from the shitty, tired looking Howard that greeted him. Yelled at him. Cursed him out.

He looked rather red, right about now. Just as red as Grigori’s own face and vision. All guilt of his action left rather fast.

The grunt barged in, picked up the door, and lifted it off the ground. Careful enough to avoid the numerous ancient artifacts, but not so much that it couldn’t give the tenet a heart attack as he moved. Howard called him whatever the hell he wanted, but he returned the broken door to its rightful position. Not at all fixed, but at least they could pretend to have a modicum of privacy.

They’d need it. Howard needed it.

“A fucking Clawitzer, Howard?” Grigori suddenly burst out. The door rattled from the sheer volume and weight of his words. Urns quivered on their shelves, and a single ancient coin on the table jumped off the edge. Grigori did not acknowledge any of this, as he took a step closer to Howard. If June's eyes struck fear into hearts, these climbed right in and killed them from the inside-out.

“For fuck's sake, are you trying to impress Shred with your inadequacy?!”

---

howard slayte

Admin Bee would know more about the Jayden Cross situation than Grigori. It sounded like the man spoke from experience, but in that experience, he did not know himself. Nor would he assume. He simply trusted the other and continued following along.

However, once the questioning was turned back on him, Grigori ‘hmmm’-ed and looked at the surroundings. What a place this was, a power plant. He knew someone who’d likely feel at home in here. All sorts of machines to investigate, and systems to tinker with. Not for him, though. It was well beyond his pay grade to know exactly how things worked.

“I’m afraid I know little, and think about it even less, Mr. Bee,” Grigori stated simply. Much occurred during that day, and the birds had appeared much too late for him to seriously consider it.

“I’m sure they have a meaning and purpose, though. Perhaps a sign?”

Sign for what, though? The event could be spun in numerous directions, and at least half of them wouldn’t be far-fetched in his eyes. This grunt would let the rest of them decide and discuss what they meant for Rocket. They’d likely decipher some hidden meaning much faster, more efficiently, and a lot more coherent than his thoughts.

“If you permit it, I’m more interested in your thoughts on the matter,” Grigori said. “And if you’ll allow me to help carry some equipment.”

---

BARNABY FINCH

“How long until the cast can come off her wing?”

“I dunno. Couple weeks. Stupid fucking Clawitzer.”

“I take it, then, that a Clawitzer did this? How?”

“Don’t want to talk about it.”

“Miss June, I find that talking about things that bother us makes it easier to cope with the memories, the trauma. Common humanity. As much or as little as you want, but to do it at all is good for you.”

“... Got shot out of the sky. Bunch of rocks, huge explosion. This guy with a Golurk said he saw a Clawitzer with a Rocket Grunt attacked us. Dressed in full armor, some League dick head. Helped me get back to a camp, but…”

“I see... but?”

“Well… he said ‘Glory to Rocket’ and flew off. But that wasn’t the weirdest part. He… Grigori, he knew my name.”

“... You said dressed in full armor and had a Golurk?”

“Might’ve been a shiny one, I don’t know. Sound familiar to any League people you know?”

“... Miss June, I hate to cut our visit short. But I think I need to talk with someone really fast. I promise I’ll return later tonight.”

---

By the time Grigori stomped up the stairs, three at a time, he could barely contain his emotions. Mister-Howard-Fucking-Slayte. Fucker showed off his shit to him before he went to that stupid island. He’s seen the Golurk before, as well. Which apartment was his, again? No, no, no…

Here. Grigori slammed his fist into the door numerous times. There wasn’t an immediate response. He banged on the door again.

The grunt had told himself he couldn’t go after anyone else in Team Rocket for their potential actions– despite the strong urge to. Zev and the other beasts were likely keeping an eye on him, based on his fuck up with that particular one. It hurt his soul, yet the bastard's words had yet to leave his mind. Frustration that he could not help the one he cares for, all because she had to pick a side to make money.

Because he put her in the situation to begin with.

And he couldn’t even fucking guarantee her safety from monsters like him.

But Howard? Howard Slayte? His own friend? This could not stand, nor happen again. One more time. This problem would be nipped at the bud, before it could blossom into a flower much like his own.

Grigori punched the door until it threatened to come off its hinges. 

---

howard slayte

PURCHASING/REDEEMING

Welcome to the poké mart!

Scizor
1X Tera Crystal (Event, Tera Fire) (0 PD)
1X Extra Move Slot (Blood Mud Iron) (0 PD)
3X TMs (Events, Bug Bite/Trailblaze/Assurance replacing X-Scizzor/Wing Attack/6th Move) (0 PD)
1X Move Tutor (Dual Wingbeat, Seventh Move) (75 PD)

Kingambit
1X Tera Crystal (Event, Fighting) (0 PD)
2X TMs (Swords Dance/Reversal for Night Slash/6th Move) (0 PD)
1X Egg Tutor (Event, Sucker Punch for Slash) (0 PD)
1X Occa berry (Event, Adding Defiant) (0 PD)

Druddigon
1X Tera Crystal (Event, Dragon) (0 PD)
1X Tm (Event, Stealth Rock, 5th Move) (0 PD)
1X Level Up (Event, Chip Away, 6th Move) (0 PD)
1X Egg Tutor (Event, Glare for Iron Head) (0 PD)

Yamask
1X Form Change (to Yamask-Galar) (50 PD)
1X Type 1 Evolution (To Runerigus) (100 PD)
3X Level Up Tutors (2 From events, Earthquake/Crafty Shield/Destiny Bond for Astonish/Shadow Ball/Hex)  (40 PD)
1X Egg Tutor (From Event, Memento for Disable) (0 PD)

Tyrouge
1X Type 1 Evolution (Into Hitmonchan) (100 PD)
5X Level Up (Bullet Punch/Fire Punch/Ice Punch/Thunder Punch/Counter for Tackle/Focus Energy/Fake Out/Helping Hand/6th Move) (200 PD)

Rockruff
1X Type 1 Evolution (Lycanroc-Dusk) (100 PD)
1X Level Up (Accelerock for Howl) (40 PD)
1X TM (Drill Run for Double Team) (60 PD)
1X Egg Tutor (Thrash for Roar) (80 PD)

Tarountula
1X Type 1 Evolution (Spidops) (100 PD)
2X TM (Lunge/Low Kick for Bug Bite/Counter) (120 PD)


1X Tera Orb (500 PD)
1X Custom Pokemon Ticket (For Ursaluna-Bloodmoon, Blood Moon/Moonlight/Calm Mind/Earth Power/Vacuum Wave/Rain Dance) (0 PD)
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do come again!

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