"No, it's fine," Riley replied, shaking his head with a sigh. "I shouldn't have snapped."

[break][break]The girl seemed to brush it off pretty quickly, which Riley was fairly grateful for. He knew that his temper wasn't... the best, but it was a work in progress. Instead, she commented on his two friends, calling them very nice. Riley smiled a little, looking down at Espeon and Umbreon. The latter was still eyeing Momo and Silque with the eyes of a trained watchdog, while the former had taken a moment to sniff the sylveon amicably.

[break]Just as Riley attempted to make some small talk, a disturbance interrupted their conversation, as a few pokémon decided to approach the two of them—first, a klawf, and then a cranidos straggling behind. The girl jumped into action almost immediately, commanding Silque to go ahead and Moonblast on the klawf. Riley supposed that meant the cranidos was left to him. "Umbreon," Riley muttered, looking to the dark-type. "Do your thing."

[break]Springing into action, Umbreon rushed towards the cranidos with narrowed eyes. The cranidos let out a small bleat of surprise at being met with aggression so quickly. Umbreon affixed it with a Mean Look, causing the fossil pokémon to freeze in place. "Alright, Umbreon," he called, crossing his arms. "Use Dark Pulse." With a battle cry, the eeveelution unleashed a wave of darkness from his glowing rings, striking the immobilized rock-type repeatedly.

[break]Riley expected the pokémon to wander off, having been beaten, but instead it stayed there, immobilized. What... exactly was the common practice among trainers when it came to wild pokémon? Maybe he should just...? Pulling an empty pokéball out from his jacket, he tossed it at the cranidos, watching it disappear in a blink of red light. Satisfied, Umbreon padded back towards him, settling down next to his partner.

[break]Looking back to the girl, he listened quietly as she answered his question: she was here to see the sights, while also capturing some pokémon. Riley looked to where the cranidos had been. He had... enjoyed that, somewhat. The girl introduced herself as Momo and her sylveon as Silque, returning his question. "I'm Riley," he replied, scratching the back of his neck. "Espeon, Umbreon, and I are new to Hoenn, so we were just taking in some of the sights, too. Grabbing some pictures." He gestured down at his camera, before shrugging.

[break]"Do... you mind if I join you for a little bit? That was pretty fun."

[break][break]

+ duo wild: rock, fairy, dragon
[break]+ attempting to catch cranidos

[break]

Momo Sakai

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It took a few moments, but soon, Riley could hear footsteps approaching the other side of the door. Standing up straighter, he blinked as the door swung open, revealing... a young person, dressed almost entirely in black. They were about half a foot shorter than him, yet Riley couldn't help but feel thrown by their piercing golden stare. On top of all of that, they wore a rather intimidating mask. Truthfully, it... wasn't exactly who he was expecting to be working at a place like this. But maybe that was just the sort of vibe around here?

[break]Not feeling particularly embarrassed, even with the stranger's sarcastic response, Riley followed him through the entryway, adjusting his camera bag on his back as he took in the interior of the location. At the very least, everything in here seemed to be closer to what he expected out of a pokémon daycare. A subconscious smile twitched onto his face as he caught glimpse of the three baby pokémon: a sprigatito, a pichu, and a pancham. He'd never seen a sprigatito in real life, and pancham were quite rare where he was from.

[break]"No, neither," said Riley, when the worker questioned his reason for being there. "I actually came to ask about a potential business opportunity." Riley crouched down, extending a hand out to the sprigatito in order for her to sniff.

[break]"I'm a photographer, and I've been looking to get some good pokémon photos. I was wondering if you'd let me take some photos of your location and your pokémon, and answer a few questions." Riley looked up, meeting the employee's eyes. "In exchange, I have a friend who works with the news. I could get them to write a nice little fluff piece, using the photos as an advertisement. Thoughts?"

[break][break]

+ SHIGURE URUHA

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"The perfect muse"? Of the two of them, he was the supposed artist, and even he thought that sounded like a crock of shit.

[break]Still, he shrugged and waited for Sierra to point out this so-called muse, perfectly content with waiting until she pointed something out. That said, he couldn't help but eye her a bit warily as she took a swig from her flask. It was... the middle of the day. A workday, no less. He certainly wasn't the type to judge someone's vices, but... it was a little unnerving. It was only when he took passive interest in a nearby Beautifly that he perked up a bit, and Sierra seemed to as well. Finally with a suitable subject, Riley adjusted the settings of his camera, aiming it directly at the pokémon. And then, just as he lined up the perfect shot...

[break]There was a crash, and the Beautifly darted off into the trees.

[break]Riley grimaced, turning his attention to the flying object that came tumbling through the trees. Or, more accurately, the person. It was a boy, maybe a few years younger than him, with a straw hat and a roughed up face. As Riley looked down at him while he was sprawled out on the ground, he brought his camera back up to face and clicked a picture of him, a mild smile creeping onto his lips. He didn't know who the hell this was, but... it did make for a good photo.

[break]The boy got up and greeted them, before looking off towards a Pangoro that hovered around the edge of the clearing. Was this the pokémon the boy was fighting with? It seemed almost... teasing more than a serious threat, and the boy indicated that he was going to get right back into it. "Cool. Action shots." Riley joked to Sierra in a deadpan tone, though it was unclear if he'd actually follow up on it or not.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[break]

Sierra Benoit Moss

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"So... what exactly are we looking for?"

[break]Riley tweaked the settings on his camera, looking up at his employer with a bored expression. The two of them were standing in the middle of Petalburg Woods, for reasons Riley didn't fully understand. All he knew was that it was extra credit work for his classes, and it involved photographing wild pokémon. Beyond that, he didn't really care, if he was being honest.

[break]Still, he couldn't help but admire the local wildlife while they stood there. Orre was 95% desert and nearly devoid of pokémon, so the teeming flora and abundant wild was a shock to the system. A smile teased at his face as he watched a Beautifly flutter off between the trees, its wings glittering in the sunlight. With a sigh, he looked to Sierra, tilting his head. "Your call, boss," he said, trying to keep the boredom out of his voice.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[break]

Sierra Benoit , Moss

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Click, click.

[break]Riley lowered his camera, admiring the view. Route 115 was quite a beautiful place, with so much greenery tucked away, and with a beautiful ocean view. He still couldn't get used to all that water. Clouds drifted out over the horizon, blotting out what had been a previously-sunny day. He didn't mind, though—in fact, he couldn't stand too much sun.

[break]In the distance, Riley's Espeon and Umbreon were lounging about, ostensibly protecting him from any wild pokémon while he took his pictures. The two were curled up together, grooming each others' fur. But it wasn't long before Espeon brought his head up, staring into the distance. Moments later, a Sylveon came bounding into view. Umbreon jumped up immediately, alert, while Espeon slowly pulled himself to his feet and gave a nod to the eeveelution and her trainer as they approached.

[break]The latter stuck his nose out in greeting as Silque approached, while Umbreon stared at the two of them warily. As Momo offered a snack to the two of them, Umbreon approached and sniffed the berry, his eyes narrowing. Once he deemed it acceptable, he squinted and took a slow bite, before offering the rest to Espeon, who accepted eagerly. Happy with the treat, the two both relaxed a bit, enjoying the free snack for what it was.

[break]"Hey!"

[break]Riley stormed over, a dark look on his face. His heart pounded anxiously as he surveyed the scene—and then he forced himself to relax. It was just a trainer. Back home, he was so used to... well, it didn't matter. Slumping down a bit, he took a good look at Umbreon and Espeon, before giving the trainer a nod. "Sorry, I thought..." he sighed, shaking his head. "It doesn't matter what I thought."

[break]

He shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling awkward. "What, uh... brings you out here?" Ugh. Small talk.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[break]

Momo Sakai

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Knock, knock.

[break]Riley's knuckles rapped at the door of the pokémon daycare, wearing an expression of muted boredom. Behind him, the sun was beginning its final descent, as the workday nearing its end. He'd timed it out so that he'd arrive at the daycare in the last two of its business hours, so-as to avoid disturbing any of its main business. Did daycares even have a rush period? He couldn't imagine, and yet... who knew.

[break]Taking a sniff of the clean Verdanturf breeze, Riley pulled his brown jacket a little tighter, looking down at his scuffed sneakers with a frown. He didn't look professional at all. In fact, he probably looked like he was going to ask for a place to stay, rather than for a business opportunity. Oh well—it wasn't like he could afford new shoes anyway.

[break]Riley had enjoyed photography ever since he'd been able to afford his first camera—and above all else, he enjoyed taking photos of pokémon. Sure, he enjoyed taking human portraits, too, but there was something about capturing the unique personality of each pokémon that really itched a part of his brain.

[break]In an effort to expand his portfolio, he'd done research into a safe, easy place to get photos of pokémon—and a daycare had been one of the first suggestions. Sure, he could try and capture photos of wild pokémon, but while he had Umbreon and Espeon to defend him, he didn't really want to take any chances. Plus, there were other benefits to taking photos of baby pokémon.

[break]The plan was simple: approach the daycare, ask one of the workers—ideally the owner, but he'd take what he could get—if he could take some photos and ask a few questions. Then, he'd try to sell the photos to a newspaper or something so they could write a fluff piece promoting the business. He got photos for his portfolio, the paper got a cute story, and the daycare got increased attention. It was a win for everyone involved... hopefully. Admittedly, he'd never done anything like this before. What if he was completely brushed off...?

[break]"Hello?" Riley called, a few moments after knocking on the door. Was he just supposed to walk in? "Can I come in?" He asked, trying to keep the nerves from his voice.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[break]

SHIGURE URUHA

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Having grown up in the shitty, sand-filled region of Orre, Riley wasn't exactly prepared for Hoenn's... natural beauty.

[break]For one thing, there was so much... greenery. Grass, as far as the eyes could see, and dense forests that were incredibly easy to get lost in. In the desert, you could basically see for miles and miles around you, so by comparison, a forest felt nearly claustrophobic. The only real greenery in Orre was Agate Village and its surrounding areas, and Riley had never actually had the opportunity to visit. 

[break]On a similar note... water. There were so many rivers and lakes scattered around Hoenn, more than he'd ever seen in his entire life. Not to mention, well, the ocean. He'd only visited Gateon Port once or twice in his life, so touching down in Slateport City and going to the beach for the first time was... magical. Intimidating, too. The depths of the ocean were filled with unseen wonders and hidden terrors. The idea was enough to shake him to his core... not that he would ever admit it.

[break]Click... Snap!

[break]The roar of Meteor Falls was nearly enough to drown out the sound of his camera. Riley lowered it from his face, taking a shaky breath as he admired the falls once more. He wasn't much of a landscape photographer, but it was one of his required classes. As such, he'd decided to hike out to Meteor Falls for a weekend trip, having heard about the natural beauty of the falls. And, well... what could he say? It certainly didn't disappoint.

[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[break][break]Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"This is so, so stupid."

[break][break]Riley wasn't entirely certain how he kept getting into this sort of trouble. Was his luck really that bad? He'd hoped that Hoenn would be a new leaf and now, well... he was walking through a shady part of town, basically asking to get mugged. But he'd do anything for his family, and Espeon was his family. Probably the closest thing he had to it, actually.

[break][break]The past day had been a bit of a blur. He'd woken up in the early morning, having already slept rather poorly, to the sound of loud, panicked barking. Somehow, in the middle of the night, his Espeon had completely disappeared. When Umbreon had realized that his partner had disappeared, he'd basically lost it, letting out a series of panicked whines and howls. It was so unlike Espeon to leave without notice like this—though occasionally a bit neurotic, Espeon was usually a calming presence to Umbreon's high emotions.

[break][break]It just didn't make sense.

[break][break]Riley and Umbreon had spent the day searching Slateport, to no avail. As the two of them searched, Umbreon's anxiety and distress began to build, until the poor dark-type was basically beside himself with worry. And to be honest, Riley was right there with him. Especially as they began to hear... rumours. Whisperings of children and pokémon alike being taken in the middle of the night, leaving no trace behind them.

[break][break]Which is how they ended up here. Walking down a street in Slateport's outskirts during the dead of night, a prime target to get jumped and mugged. Or like, murdered. But when Riley had asked people about the disappearances, most had pointed him in this direction as a suspicious part of town. So... they pushed forward. Hopefully, they'd find Espeon safe and sound.

[break][break]"Don't worry, buddy," Riley murmured to the anxious Umbreon, who padded two paces in front of him, his fur spiked in anxiety. "We'll find him. I promise."

[break][break]

+ MISSION: Pied Pipers [DD]

[break][break]ever blackwell

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

AWOOOOOOO....

In the dead of night, the chorus of howls was enough to send a shiver down Riley's spine. "...The hell was that?" he muttered, sitting up straight. 

A few days prior, he'd taken a small camping trip to Mt. Chimney, nominally in an effort to see the sights of Hoenn. He hadn't exactly run into many wild pokémon since he'd been out here, but now... well, that seemed bound to change.

Espeon and Umbreon, his faithful companions, stirred from their shared huddle a few feet away. Umbreon stood up immediately, his fur spiking up in agitation. Espeon, meanwhile, affixed Riley with a calm, knowing gaze. His red gem gleamed in the moonlight. Riley sighed.

"C'mon, guys," he grumbled, getting to his feet. "Let's check it out, I suppose." At his lead, Espeon got to his feet, stretching out his back with a silent yawn, blinking his eyes once or twice. "I know, bud," Riley cooed, his eyes softening a bit. Poor Espeon was not built to operate at this time of night. Once both of his pokémon were up and alert, Riley led them in the direction of the howling, his curiosity piqued.

As they climbed up the ridge, they came across a rather strange sight: a horde of Lycanroc and Rockruff, gathering in the Jagged Pass. The group continued to howl, their cries echoing across the stone and creating a harmonious noise. Most curiously, some of the pokémon were coloured... strangely. A beautiful midnight blue.

Riley did not consider himself a trainer in the strictest sense of the word. But even still, curiosity tugged at his heart. Taking an empty pokéball, he crept forward, approaching the swarm slowly.

"Stay close to me, guys," he muttered to his pokémon, who followed quietly behind. "Let's just go in, catch one, and get out. Clear as mud."

---

T_CINAgm

riley maddox

☉