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Fenelle only hesitates for a moment before signing none of the given options - Family. Both in reference of der (adoptive) parents, but even moreso now with Sailor de Laurierwylle 's genuine belief that dee has come to share, even a little bit. And it's not like dee could've passed the recruitment just by being a nepo baby either. And I wanna see what comes out the other side. When Rocket's successful - beyond the war, maybe like Kanto? Or maybe entirely different, as the Hoennian stage is more complicated indeed ...

Grimmsnarl has fully fallen, his demeanour utterly pitiful and broken. Waiting for the last, final hit to end it properly ... Fenelle regards der pokémon, joining in his acting as dee huffs, and turns away in disappointment.

(Dee still glances - waiting for the Dusknoir to either catch onto them or approach, closer, closer ... if he'd come close enough, dee'd clap again for Grimmsnarl to finish his False Surrender - his hair suddenly emerging into spikes, piercing his opponent.)

THEO BECKETT

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Fenelle nods at Josh's message - dee would leave the running and scouting to him, since he'd be faster at it than dem, as der rented Lapras is also rather prized for size and unfazedness rather than speed.

Got it! Good luck, I'll also keep an eye out should the egg be somewhere else. We will keep guard here and defend the eggs, and then also get to shore once the last eggs are over. Can one of yours also keep watch at the shore?

Despite being surrounded by a whole team, dee seems to not even consider splitting der gang up at all, like it's just a thought that never crossed der mind. (Which, true.) Dee then turns to Dimitri for a moment, too, waving in greeting, before signing "Dimitri"- but really, it's just the sign for Feraligatr with d-form instead of the usual form. We'll rely on you.

However, the wake isn't too kind on the Fuecoco, which seems to be enjoying the challenge way too much for Vanillite's sake. He seems to become slightly exasperated, and then just ice-beams Fuecoco himself, who's then become encased in an ice block - but hey, he floats now! Fenelle shakes der head at der pokémon, not being concerned because dee knows der croc-pokémon to be incredibly resilient. In fact, the inner part of the ice already starts melting, letting the pokémon inside wave his arms happily. Ralts, please bring him up here now, dee signs, and the pokémon readily obliges.

Fenelle's look lingers for a moment on the champ slash gym leader as he quickly makes his way over to the debris that dee has mentioned before. Dee wonders if that's a match with the behaviour of someone trying to drown in work, something else to do - get their mind off something. Or honestly, just a goody-two-shoes worker. Dee shrugs, turning back to the eggs just in time to see a shadow appearing.

Getting der pokémon's attention with a clap, dee quickly signs. Ice Beam under the eggs. Magnet Rise, to the eggs. Teleport to me. Sweet Scent there, Thunder Wave. Ember, Roar. Dee uses move-signs combined with the names of der pokémon, and they quickly get to work, saving the eggs from the sudden group of Sharpedo appearing, before quickly going to town with them, luring them slightly away before shocking them to paralyse, before a (now freed) ferocious roar from a tiny pokémon sends them farther away, too.

Josh Devlin

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The invitation came, for Fenelle, extremely surprising. Dee didn't really have the feeling to be close to Thea in any capacity, but it seems like that feeling's one-sided over the course of the times the baking circle has met up (which, frankly, is more often than dee would think). However, Escape Rooms are really fun, so dee doesn't see any reason to refuse.

And so, dee finds demself waiting for Thea at their agreed meet-up spot, wondering what kind of plotline they would bring to them ... There's always the classic mad scientist, or maybe an adventurer angle that is really pushing all the wrong buttons ... A simple puzzle room, a trial ...

Thea Naito

The afternoon is slowly transitioning into the evening - there's warmth lingering in the air, but it's rapidly cooling off. The sky is painting on a beautiful canvas, but Fenelle- no, Xuanyi doesn't quite have the eyes for it. After slipping away from an hour-long social gathering where they only had to stand around and be pretty, the (currently) pink-haired decided they've done their part and escaped.

They only planned to stroll through the vast garden of the hosting manor, but have quickly been distracted enough to leave the premises without intention.

(Fenelle, lowkey feeling like dee's pulling der own strings, of course directed the narrative to lead away from that stuffy property.)

There's been some interesting plants, and then a slip in the hedge wall, and suddenly, they found themself out in the wild. Quickly, their excitement is captured by a field of wildflowers, and they make their way over there- before hastily being stopped. Normally, they'd also take a moment to enjoy the sky's gradual change from orange to dark blue, but the prim and proper lady is frozen with fear.

The pictoresque scene is disrupted by a rather ferocious looking Cacturne, who seems to be out for trouble. It has spotted Xuanyi, who's quickly taking steps back, not knowing what to do. Their eyes dart around, trying to figure out something - they're not dumb, after all, but pokémon ... Anymon that isn't their sibling's Obstagoon is rather terrifying.

Mireille Wynter

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Don't stray too far, Fenelle warns der pokémon, knowing that this might as well be in vain, before they fully enter the Night Market. It's a bustling affair, and one they rarely induldge in - but hey, it's paycheck time, and even if dee doesn't really need it, it does seem like an occasion that is fit for a little bit of celebration.

Dee knows the gang would welcome it with open arms, magnets or whatever they might have. Let's get some food first, I'm starving, dee signs as they follow the smell of delicious food almost automatically.

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Fenelle looks up at the sudden storm coming up. Dee's been looking at some data in a base when the violent winds outside caught der attention. Dee claps, but this proves to be unncessary - all three pokémon here right now already are focused on the outside, and (more or less) readily follow as Fenelle steps outside.

From what dee can match to other descriptions ... a space-time distortion. An interesting phenomenon that dee couldn't resist to investigate further as they head into this dome of crackling energy. Immediately, everything feels wrong. And they're not alone either. Dee nods, and der pokémon start to defend while dee takes another look.

It doesn't take long for the distortion to affect der pokémon - der attention is caught by a brillant blue light, a clear sign of Bronzor evolving to Bronzong, as well as ... interesting. Der Goodra undergoes a change, too, which seems to startle him - he immediately flinches and runs towards Fenelle, who allows him for the time being. Fascinated, dee looks at this strange new form.

Interesting. Unfortunately, it seems that whatever attachment issues the pokémon had before have only doubled or tripled now, too.

rewards
- 1x green shard
- goodra to hisuian goodra
- bronzor to bronzong

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Fenelle looks confused for a moment, not following the thought pattern - but dee signs back, I'm a cracker, and stochastician occasionally. Is this what Theo's been asking? Since they've talked about strategies before. There's also the other approach that comes to mind now, making dem frown slightly. Did he ask for a reason-reason?

As Leech Life takes effect, it seems like more hair's growing. Grimmsnarl hisses as he recovers- only to be dragged to the ground by the Gravity shifting, promptly followed by a Fire Punch that lifts him into the air. Again, the stench of burning hair seems to be everywhere as he's sent flying, crashing on the floor.

For a moment, he meets Fenelle's gaze, who blinks.

He winces, stands up. He forces his head high, he raises his fists again. Flicking strands of hair, curled into burned ends. Then he drops onto his knees.

THEO BECKETT ooc. setup for False Surrender!

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Fenelle starts wondering what Josh was typing, as the text message comes in again. Surprise is visible on der face, as dee hasn't kept up with the news completely - so a new champion, huh? (Dee should probably pick up watching the daily evening news again.) Immediately, der fingers would start typing a response,

Oh, congratulations, Josh!
And that's both ... reassuring and worrying. I really hope it won't be anywhere nearby here ... yeah, it's really.
Let's do our best so this all hasn't been in vain 😤😤

Dee glances at der pokémon while sending the messages - while actually cared for dearly, and stronger than they look like, there's no chance one braincell could survive against a Kyogre on a rampage.

However, the sea is calm for the moment, and Fenelle seems to relax, then worry again as Josh seems to notice something, commanding his other Feraligatr to search, if dee had to guess. The explanation comes in quickly.

Gotcha. I don't think I've seen anything like it while being out here- oh!
But there's this other mass of flotsam a bit farther away, maybe it got caught in there?

Now that dee thinks about it, there's been quite some amoutn of flotsam around here. But then, der attention is caught by Fuecoco getting dangerously close to falling into the water in the wake of the Feraligatr, alarming Vanillite. Careful! dee signs quickly, as the Vanillite does another Ice Beam, now freezing bigger parts. However, this wouldn't be sustainable and Fenelle leans down from der seat on the Lapras. Come up here, enough swimming. Fuecoco refuses, however, hoping from one stirred ice float to another, seeming to regard this all as a game.

Josh Devlin

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Grimmsnarl's Stomping Tantrum proves more effective, and he's seeking to reverse now - while he's been pulled in before for a trick, he doesn't back away, being hit square in the hair by Brick Break, wincing as he feels some strands cut loose. But as quickly as he can, he replaces those strands manifold, wrapping his opponent's arms in hair tightly to Leech Life off him. He snarls, grits teeth - maybe he'd need to break, or he feels like he'd suffocate with this pressure.

Fenelle's attention is split between the battle and Theo's signs, but dee manages to catch both - and focus on Theo as he signs a reply. Slow, and very appreciated. Ohhhh, I understand. That's really impressive, they must be very precise, dee signs back with a nodding head and a comprehending expression, before being motionless for a moment. Eventually, dee signs back.

I mostly ... don't, I prefer if he acts independently, and instruct on general pathways before and after. But I can't calculate for all, so I'm working on a light-based system ... since signs don't work in the usual setting, unless I have mirrors set up which is inconvenient. I'm also thinking about maybe using Psychic capabilities of some pokémon, as Mr Amor Rose suggested to me.

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Grimmsnarl notices something amiss, but still goes in for the attack fully - and almost is the one that flinches away, seeing that the Dusknoir is entirely unfazed. He keeps his composure, however, until the Fire Punch hits. The air fills with the smell of burning hair as Grimmsnarl retreats with a hiss. He does Stomping Tantrum immediately, his irritation made tangible.

Fenelle's pausing in observing Grimmsnarl for a moment, then does a big wave movement. Did you give a non-verbal command? How? dee signs, curious to see someone else working with non-verbal attacks. It does appear to be sound-based, as dee would've picked up on anything visual, but dee couldn't figure out what Theo's just done with his mouth.

THEO BECKETT

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Fenelle reads while Thea's writing (since there's nothing else to do, anyway), and gives an immediate thumbs-up as the three flavours come up. Basic, but also not basic enough like having picked strawberry as third, and blueberry is honestly just such a good flavour.

No, I think those should be really good. We could see about cutting chocolate possibly, but I think it's too popular generally. It'll sell well.

And after all, weren't sales what they were going for the most?

Do you want to prepare the batter while I fetch the ingredients to flavour them? And also for the butter cream. What kind of cream do we want to do? I know Kalosian, Sinnohian and Paldean.

Dee also looks at their Milcery, but decides that no - even if she has more options in this state, her cream's also a bit of a wildcard. It's hard to tell if it's going to be really good or not until you've already worked it into the finished product, and by then it would be too late to do a new batch. (Dee loves it when it succeeds, however, but that's more for personal bakings that aren't so time-limited.)

Thea Naito

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It's always nice to work uninterrupted, so Thea earns points for that as Fenelle finishes up the chocolate cookie dough. It's taking a bit time, but it would be well worth it - even better if it could rest overnight, but they don't have the time for that right now, so they would need to makedo.

At Thea's reply to der writing, dee pauses for a moment, pensively.

Do you want me to start working on the cupcake batter now or do another kind of cookies? I'm not sure how much we need. But two kinds of cookies might work alright so we can shift to cupcakes ... since they need to cool down, too, before we can decorate them.

Otherwise, the cream would just melt instead of holding its various shapes.

Thea Naito