"So, where did you last see the... Skitty, was it? Maybe it scampered up a tree," Grigori suggested to the younger girl. After all, she had seemed somewhat distraught at the loss of the pokemon. There was no way it could've gone far from the beaten path. Or gotten itself hurt.

Unlike the person he got done 'visiting' earlier. Better to leave that part out, though. Not exactly in the business of scaring people if he could help it.

It also wasn't relevant, outside the 'why' of how he had gotten there. He had seen Eleanor upset with the disappearance, so he offered to help. The least he could do AND do some good in the world. A win-win situation for the both of them.

And in tow was one of his own pokemon. Newly added to his 'band of misfits' was a little Castform. It sure made for quite the contrest. One massive, muscular man accompianied by a dainty little grey blob. It didn't seem too displeased with the detour though. Just a smile on its face as it scanned the nearby grass.

"And forgive me, what was your name again? I don't believe I caught it earlier. You can call me Grigori."

---

eleanor blair teska

Either the Nosepass had just suggested Pumpkin drown herself, or this was yet another metaphor. Even though a burst of anger surged through her metal body, she restrained herself. This wise one surely would not recommend such a thing when she could easily crush him into dust. 

Unlike Nosepass, her species were not known for their wisdom. If anything, they were so desirable because of their penchant for death and destruction. Pawniards served underneath the Bisharp, and they the Kingambit. A hierarchy much like Team Rocket, and just as violent. It's like the two were made for each other specifically. 

So what did it mean then? To sit still is to be free from time itself? Impossible. Not a single soul, Pokémon or human, could free themselves from the shackles of time. A silly idea.

Pumpkin grumbled again, "But to see the forest is the whole point, you lump of stone. To see only the trees is to walk into your demise."

It was true. One time, she'd looked forward to getting a treat from her trainer. She had gotten it, but she was so focused on the snack that she failed to notice the jar said treat was in topple to the ground. Man, the scolding she got from that almost made her punch the dirt.

But she didn't. Instead, she returned to the current. To the now. "When is lunch, o wise stone? I'm starving."

---

howard slayte

As both a boot slammed into his face, and he was pulled from atop the Team Rocket gal and flung right to the Chien Pao, that small voice reminded Grigori that this outcome was possibly the kindest one available. It would've been all too easy for either person (or whom he tackled herself) to make short work of his life. For that, he must be grateful.

And that small voice grew bigger as the large cat grew in size. More powerful. Not that it could do much, but at least he wasn't consumed by that all powerful hatred. That sort of emotion did little to actually solve problems. He knew it all too well. After all, where did his whole life get him? 

Right into a rain of ice and on a crash course for a mythical Pokémon. 

At least, until someone stepped in. A body got in the way of the Chien Pao, one who Grigori knew all too well. "Mr... Walsh? What--" 

Two things stopped him from finishing his sentence. First: that look of hidden hatred. Underneath the calm and stoicism was an ocean of absolute hatred. This was not the visage of a man anyone would want to pick a fight with. Even himself. Second?

The rough landing. Even as his Scizor dashed forward, through the ice and chaos to catch the both of them, the sudden impact gave his body a jolt of pain. How many bruises would he have come morning?

Upon declan walsh 's call for action, Grigori nodded and half-pulled-half-was-pushed out of the Team Rocket leader's grasp. He didn't have to tell the Scizor who to target. It dashed forward, past the thing that Grigori would have to contend with. Right towards the Chien Pao, a nasty Bullet Punch right into it's face. If Scizors could grin, the creature would see one a mile wide on the metallic bug as it swung it's punch.

Meanwhile, Grigori stood in front of the leader. Even if a part of him screamed to run and save himself, and another to join in with whatever grudge Declan had and assault him, he ignored them both. As for his own hatred, the grunt stood firm. There were two options for it to be, and he didn't see any reflections of himself in the newly formed manifestations. Instead, he saw--

Arceus above, was he still not over it? The person who approached was not a new face. He'd seen in a couple years ago, in that garage--

"I'm sorry for my past actions. But you will not claim me yet!"

Karma truly was an unforgiving bitch. His soul groaned as he raised his fists against his ...enemy? once more. Covered in blood, Grigori's manifestation walked perfectly right towards him, smug face still in its prime. A figure in peak health and shape. He had it all. Everything that the grunt yearned for. Jealously jabbed in the back of his head, but he pushed it aside.

 If the first time had been in a red, jealous rage, then this time would be with relative peace of mind. Plus whatever Declan had in store for himself. If only he had brought Brick with him...

---

Tl;dr
 - Gets kicked and thrown right to Chien Pao. Understandable have a day.
 -Grigori Notices Declan Walsh's hidden fury as the man saves him
 - Scizor catches them, and after Declan Walsh orders the group to capture the Chien Pao it instead decides to +2 252+ Atk Technician Scizor Bullet Punch vs. 0 HP / 4 Def Chien-Pao: 516-608 (171.4 - 201.9%) -- guaranteed OHKO
 - Grigori, somehow suppressing his anger and jealousy, decides to fight a former friend in the shape of a perfect being conjured by Chien Pao and attempt to stop anything that the Chien Pao would have in store for Declan Walsh (He is cheesed to meet them)

For the both of them, the start of their interaction to the current time had been eight minutes.

Pumpkin still felt it too long regardless. A restlessness stirred in her... bones? But even with that all too familiar itch, that scratch only satiated by violence, the words this Nosepass uttered as calmly as a warm spring breeze. Something else stirred within.

Even though she had yet to decipher the first phrase, the rock continued. This one made sense, at least. Patience was a virtue; a lesson Grigori all but shoved down her throat. Everyone always claimed the importance of patience, yet none of the people that spoke it got any younger. Curious.

"No one lasts forever, yet you go as if you have all the time in the world..." Pumpkin chided. It was always the ones who thought themselves clever that begged for life at the end of their rope.

"A quiet soul requires no attention," the Nosepass said. Now what did this one mean? Perhaps it was best to stay calm? But every soul required attention. That's what Grigori said. She didn't like to listen to him, but this pokemon that sat in front of her stood a fighting chance to dethrone him. 

The Bisharp grumbled, "What about the now, dumb rock? Speak about our current situation."

---

howard slayte

PURCHASING/REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

3X Gachapons (From the anniversary Catch Pack) (0 PD)
3x Premium Gachapons (From the anniversary Catch Pack as well, 2x Fairy ones and 1x Normal one

TOTAL

do come again!

How long had they stared at each other? To Pumpkin, it felt like an eternity. She had been told to be on her best behavior since the last little excursion had been… cut short. Unlike last time, though, Grigori had absolutely made sure that the message got across. The way he had addressed her, that dark look, the ominous aura. Terrifying.

So, she had caused minimal mayhem this time around. Thirty minutes in, the worst it had gotten was a bump on the head of some foolish Riolu that thought itself tough. Stupid runt.

That was until she spotted the rock. At first, she thought some other rock type had felt creative. Maybe some Solrock or Lunatone had constructed the object with their mind powers and lost interest. The Bisharp had approached the rock, ready to let out some much-needed steam. And just as she was about to obliterate it, the damn thing lit up.

“A gentle hand, a quiet people.”

She had stopped in her tracks. Did the rock just talk? That was not possible unless the rock was not a rock and a fellow Pokémon. Which it turned out to be.

So, she had stared at the thing. A few steps back and while seated on the floor, the two had an unofficial staring contest. Yet at this point, Pumpkin felt the opponent could not physically lose. It hadn’t blinked in so long.

But she refused to budge. If she could not break a rock with a single strike, then she’d try again and again until the stone crumbled to dust. Metaphorically speaking. As soon as she could figure out what the hell that last phrase meant.

“...”

Did time pass the same way it did for her with the Nosepass?

---

howard slayte