His eating flatters and comforts her - she's glad he's well enough to have an appetite, and that he can appreciate a good curry. But her own bite floats before her mouth at his confession. She can't even imagine it. [break][break]

Training Howard? Adopting him into the Rocket fold? It's mad. [break][break]

Somehow, she'd figured he fell into Rocket for some simple motive entirely of his own like debt or access to better archaeological sites. "I had no idea," she said as neutrally as she could manage. She didn't know how to be diplomatic here. As a Rocket, Montgomery had done them a great favor in honing Howard. But he wouldn't want to hear that. And she didn't know how to move forward with this knowledge in a mindful way. "Is... is he angry at you for bringing him to Rocket or for leaving it yourself?" [break][break]

She shouldn't prod. It's a bad look to want more information about Howard's loyalty to the organization, but she's always gotten the impression that his relationship to Rocket has differed from that that the other admins had.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break]

His nervousness was clear to her with his fidgeting. She showed mercy and brought over the curry and naan without further delay to let things move along, though his answer made it clear that he wouldn't dodge the conversation any longer. [break][break]

"He has proven himself recently." She doesn't mention Petalburg by name, but it hangs between them. "I did not expect for you two to cross paths." She had considered sharing her favor for Montgomery with her closest Rocket allies, but she'd decided against it as the risk was too great. It wouldn't only compromise the appearance of her loyalty - and she was dedicated to Rocket - but it might also put a crosshair on Montgomery. [break][break]

Maybe her choice was the wrong one. She sours at the thought of him being pummeled. "He has never struck me as a sadist." The realization simmers in her mind much as the curry does on her tongue. Gently, so as not to sound accusatory, she asks, "Have you angered him before?"

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break]

She sighed softly and leaned into his touch. "Of course you are." She owed him for a lot. "And you are right, of course. I feel like there is never enough time." And despite that feeling, she felt some comfort at the idea that she could always earn more time by hopping into another reality through the dream realm. Accomplishing that feat to begin with was the hurdle that forced her to rush through things and live in her laboratory. [break][break]

Her house needed more company. She had tried to get in the habit of letting her psychic pokemon roam it when she wasn't in need of their services. It doubled as security. "I think I have earned Moira's trust more than ever before. It seems like something that comes easily, like you and your Skarmory. I was raised to treat pokemon as tools, so it does not come naturally to me to trust them like companions." Pipsqueak's faith in Montgomery was clear as day. Ameena doubted she could pull the illumina status out of any pokemon. The illumina Aegislash she owned as a lucky find, not a cultivated success.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – get in sygna[break][break]

The urge to protect him left her in state of vigilance, but she relaxed as she heard him pad him over. She leaned back against him, pleased he could move without a significant limp. "This is for you," she explained after turning into him for an additional kiss. "Potato curry is hearty and good for your healing." Her mum had made it when Ameena caught an annual flu. She associated it with medicine so much that she never ate it outside of being sick, but sharing it with him would make it taste sweeter. [break][break]

She had debated telling him, but she assessed that the benefits outweighed the costs. "I reached out to howard slayte ." She'd blown up his phone, but the details of her outreach weren't the focus here. [break][break]

"He does not get to walk away from this." She's in no position to threaten him. He holds rank over her. Worse still, she was unwilling to risk his death because of how valuable he was to her research with the Galar dream, his involuntary participation in the Gemini study, and his recent relationship with Dynergy. He was the perfect subject for testing a newer theory of hers. [break][break]

But he deserved his licks.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break]

Lavender tea sits between them. Her greatest privilege is the occasional indulgence in Montgomery as their schedules allow. These lazy days where there's no great task nor any conflict performance are the ones she looks forward to the most. Previously, she only had successful laboratory days to look forward to, but he's a powerful incentive for her to wake up each day. [break][break]

"Restraining myself to the laboratory less has only improved my relationship with Musharna." Moira floated in the corner of the bedroom, asleep herself. Even without intending to, Montgomery's indirectly contributed to better advancements in her research.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – get in sygna[break][break]

The explanation is insufficient. [break][break]

It is also enough for her to begin her tirade. But he comes first, so she coordinates his relief with the staff as they deem him fit to leave. He's escorted to her home, a complex that is sanitized to the point it appears more like an open house than a lived-in home. Glasswork and gold accents fill each room, but there are a few small terrariums filling shelves and other displays as proud results of Rosemary Lovelace's fine craftsmanship. [break][break]

Despite him being safe in her space, anxiety gnaws at her. She has to dedicate her time to the kitchen, leaning over a curry, to keep herself busy enough to stop poking at his sleeping form. She's already left her scathing remarks for Howard on her phone. There's nothing else to do but wait.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break]

She had a Montgomery problem. [break][break]

After their public fight in the routes to keep up appearances, she had expected to see him more frequently to help lick wounds and affirm that nothing had changed despite the battle. It was too juvenile to admit aloud, but she felt insecure about getting in the last blow. She didn't want to extend herself past his forgiveness. [break][break]

Days of silence forced her hand. She thought of him too much to hold herself back any longer. She had received no reply after sending an anonymous gift basket to his PD, which was the last straw. Her people hacked into his phone and the results left her calling up a psychic companion to teleport her only minutes later.[break][break]

He had been unconscious upon her entry, giving her a long enough time to let guilt consume her to the point she would sacrifice anything for his forgiveness. [break][break]

She moved to his side as he rasped - before the words even processed in her mind. "Montgomery," her voice thick and urgent, "please, tell me what happened. Was - was this me?" Unown hadn't struck him this hard, had he? Montgomery looked like he was barely walking away from death's door. Had he been jumped afterwards? She had played out a thousand horrific scenarios. [break][break]

Despite her reputable composure, her eyes were already wet.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break]

Daring. She liked that about him, his audacity. It got him into trouble, too, but she could forgive his transgressions. "Until next time, Deputy."[break][break]

Unown was quick on the draw. She pulled back from his lunge while Unown used hidden power to force him back - though the Unown's prowess was enhanced by its shadow power and the strike created a larger impact to blow him backwards than she could have predicted. She gave the pokemon a sharp look before the two of them disappeared into the shadows, leaving a hopefully-not-concussed Montgomery to gather himself and his own thoughts.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [1110][break]

Her eyes lit up at the idea. This wasn't something linked to Rocket, so she could afford to reach out to public scholars instead of relying on Rocket scientists. [break][break]

"Brilliant," she praised, bringing him close for a kiss. "If museums do not bore you, we could make a day of it." The ask had come naturally, before her mind could stop her. It was a stupid proposition, and mushy, which she did not do. [break][break]

"I mean," she backpeddled, "I have taken enough of your time. I can visit when I find a moment. No worries about it."

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – [break][break]

Pleasant isn't a common occurrence in Ameena's dreams, but tonight, she's blessed with the rare privilege. Montgomery James and her sit at his farm house, enjoying drinks and each other's company. They discuss battle scars, and she shares the bullet wound in her shoulder from an excursion with Zev Harcourt to kill a military officer who, according to her sleuthing, had had a hand in the murder of her mum. It's not the kindest story, but it's a victory, and she's pleased to revel in it beside him. [break][break]

Things take a more explicit turn, but the focus is more on the overwhelming sense of safety she has in his presence. He's proven himself time and time again to be capable, and it's easy to let her guard down. It shouldn't be, but it is. [break][break]

After indulging, she wraps up in a robe and insists on making a lavender tea for them both. She'll instill an appreciation for a good cuppa in him, come hell or high water. [break][break]

But his bedroom door opens into a library. [break][break]

With Howard. [break][break]

Her dreams rarely transition like this, but there's a heaviness to it that plants the seed of paranoia in her mind. "So much for a good tea," she laments with good humor. "Is there anything worth reading in here?"

TAGS – howard slayte [break]

NOTES – eyepatch on left eye [break]
MERGE FARM?[break]
Dreams of Montgomery -> enters Howard's library[break]
You're all welcome to see whatever you wanna see but I don't wanna hear complaints if you see Montgomery NUDE (my present to you)[break][break]odzab_pr

Bitter blades pierce Corviknight's natural armor enough to ruin her flight path, forcing her to descend to the ground with minimal control. "Arceus," Ameena seethed even as Priam and Razziel gave their all in trying to conquer Zacian and her vessel. "We need more time to win this fight. Time we do not have." [break][break]

With the Toxtricity, Priam's knowledge, and Ameena's elevated toys, they should have been able to win this fight, but Navy's patron was a stronger force than she had expected. They could most certainly win this fight, but they wouldn't win anytime soon. [break][break]

Unfortunately, with the scene they were making, the ticking clock hung over their heads like a guillotine. They'd be overrun with Leaguers as back-up for Navy if they failed to pull back. "We gave our licks," she argued, "but we cannot see this fight through. Not here. Not yet." Taking down the one and only Navy would have been an excellent feather in her cap, but letting him take the three of them down - or worse, in custody - would further the distance between her and her superiors, and she couldn't afford to look like a liability. [break][break]

She hoped the other two would pull out of the fight, but she couldn't force either of them. "Slow her," she ordered, and Cora offered a scary face at Zacian to slow the legendary hound before readying to take flight again.

TAGS – Navy priam conrad Raziel Beckett [break]

NOTES – (Tailwind active)[break]
Corviknight used SCARY FACE on Zacian to slow her down[break]
I hit my event MP cap anyways so FORGET about counting prior posts (420)[break]

A Flutter Mane? "My, you are full of surprises." She would have to be wary of making further assumptions about him. He clearly fought with a wider variety of pokemon than she had given him credit for. She stuck to psychics with a few physical fighters, but largely they all had some psychic prowess outside of Lucario. [break][break]

Unown couldn't duck out of the way in time. The fast shadow ball struck home, causing it to dip towards the ground before it recovered itself. Meanwhile, Ameena spared a glance to her buzzing phone. [break][break]

She had extended herself long enough, here. "Unown, cover." The creature created a domain around the battlefield. Further attacks would be deflected to the walls of the domain. She turned to Montgomery to offer her full attention. "This has been fun, Deputy, but I will have to let you leave with your life."

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]

NOTES – UNOWN: TRANSLATION ERROR | PSYCHIC-TYPE[break]
a small domain forms around the unown where all attacks, including z-moves, deflect. pokemon inside the domain gain a slight increase to evasiveness.[break]
10 MP have your own pokemon use a z-move in your thread.[break][1100][break]