Absinthe stands uneasily, beckons. She expects him to follow her to her lab. Like... this? Suddenly, he wants an excuse out of it -- surely, she's too inebriated for any lab work? [break][break]

What will she do with those needles if she has double-vision?[break][break]

But he's in it now. He needs to trust in his ability to bail if he needs it; as it is, he can't look like a coward when he needs her help. "Right, let's get started." He opens the door for them both and follows dutifully. [break][break]

They're not sure they have much to offer to the conceptualizing of the experiment, given their lack of expertise besides withdrawing poison from a Toxapex under Absinthe's supervision, but they offer one thought. "I don't know much about the process, but I've been thinking that fairies might be a part of the solution given their impact on dragons. Our blood, as Draconids, I swear it can resonate with dragons..."

[break][break]notes[break]

Belatedly, Clover realizes he's been far too invested in his own personal wellbeing and pursuit of revenge. He didn't think of how anyone was doing after the events he faced in the dragon sanctuary. "I - how is he?" Maybe it's the physical exhaustion, or maybe he's never been able to filter his emotions, but his panic is clear to see. [break][break]

Stupid. He should've checked up on both of them. He should've checked up on Makoto after he got better. He did nothing but fume and hate himself for his weakness, and now he doesn't know how Temp's holding up. Clearly, the man's not too worse for wear given his patron's nature, but the thought offered no comfort. [break][break]

"I don't see you guys in a month and all this happens," they lament, too breathless to sell as humor.

[break][break]notes[break]

Solas' head is in the right place. She rewards them with uproarious laughter, fighting the urge to slap them on the back. "Dessert, indeed. The fancy steakhouse down by the water has cinnamon-sugar fried plantains." She drools at the thought. "Don't need any of the other overpriced stuff - that Tropius treat is insanely good."[break][break]

She nods as everything comes together as neatly as it can over dumplings. "Yes, we purple marker our way to victory." She pulls her wallet out to contribute the cost of the meal. It's hefty between all of them, but Clover considers it a working investment in her heist team. "HQ tomorrow morning?" It was getting late. "Maybe tomorrow noon?"

[break][break]notes[break]

Solas is quiet where Clover is loud. "Things'll turn out great!" He shoves another potsticker in his mouth as everyone else weighs in. With Yujin as a distraction, they'll be able to split attention from any guards. Some rambunctious pokemon could cinch the distraction and leave the rest of them enough time to act. After all, Hoenn's odd enough that even a distraction might not flag as a symptom of criminality. [break][break]

They wave their chopsticks in the air. "Sure," they manage after a swallow, "we can do more prep and planning, but I think we've got most of it tied away just now." How concrete does a plan need to be, anyways? They'll have to work things out in the moment no matter what - improv was key in a heist. It wouldn't be possible to have every single element planned to the atom. Clover's good at many things, and making shit it up sits at the top of the list. [break][break]

"HQ it is. There are some nice whiteboards there, and I know where they hide the pretty purple marker."

[break][break]notes[break]

Calcifet. He too would pay. The status of Regidrago demanded penance from the League. Like with Freya, per Tangaroa Emzar 's advice, she would need to consider hurting the people around him. His cousin would be a natural target. But Clover couldn't juggle initiating such a plan and initiating the one against Freya. She could only offer herself to any works in progress. [break][break]

"I didn't see it," they said with reluctance. "That might've been when I was..." shot. [break][break]

"When I went down, Makoto Kurumi came to my side and helped. They and that Deoxys protected me when I needed it. But I kept my attention to the lower domes because of it. I didn't even see Mr. howard slayte , really. Only a blink of it when Freya charged up there with Rayquaza."

[break][break]notes[break]

He evaluates his hand catheter as he sits in the boring observation room. He's been exploring toxins and dosing himself on more and more potent poisons to find what his Draconid blood responds to. Anything that can help him craft a poison with Absinthe Blackwood to take down Freya is worth the pain. [break][break]

It's been his single focus. Hours upon hours in the training rooms, punching bags and even throwing down with Cillian Quinn as a means of preparing for what was coming. His anger forged a new identity, a new purpose. [break][break]

They're more than happy to review progress with Tangaroa Emzar.

[break][break]notes[break] assessment ii

Clover blinks. [break][break]

He's not interested in getting off on the wrong foot with the admin, but he's come too far to walk away. In a metaphorical sense. The dorms aren't too far from these offices. [break][break]

Her vitriol at the mention of Freya spurs him on. "I think I can do it." No, be confident. "I know I can do it. I just need the right opportunity. And the right tools. And you can help me with that." He brandishes the underside of his forearm, tapping at the exposed wrist. "The same blood that flows through Freya flows through me."[break][break]

Ancient blood. "We're both Draconid. I want to offer you my blood, so we can work on a poison that'll knock her down."

[break][break]notes[break]

Clover likes gross things. They grew up prodding odd things in nature with a stick and helping Arch when he ate something that disagreed with his ancient stomach. It takes a lot to unsettle them, though PDA does it every time (she loves the Quinns but the two of them still have boy cooties when they kiss). [break][break]

The sight of the scar tugs a visceral sense of disgust from their belly, but it's not the minuscule body horror that does. Someone did this to him. [break][break]

She swallows and finds her voice. "It's, uh, a pretty cool scar. Maybe cooler than my tattoo." Her laugh is a shallow sound. The Torterra Hoyeon tattoo on her upper back feels like a brand some days, given the bloodline there is not her own. But she can't stop herself from asking, not when he's pushing himself as much as he can despite the injury. "Zapdos did this?"

[break][break]notes[break]

Clover's tongue-tied once they see Cillian's back. It's irrevocably proof that the Underboss does everything asked of him by the brass, unmistakable proof that he is willing to sacrifice anything to complete the mission. The wounds make Clover wince. They only bore one scar from the latest scuffle with the league. [break][break]

Finally, he finds his voice. "So, uh, you follow that advice of yours about pushing yourself?" The tone is light, but the words have weight. [break][break]

She rubs at her sore shoulder and thinks of pain relievers as he mentions them. "Yeah, I'll be careful. Don't want to fracture something because I didn't know it was at its limit." Serious injuries would only delay her revenge, after all. She sighs, letting tension drain from her. "You've gotta be real scary in a fight where you wield your shadow..."

[break][break]notes[break]

Arch settles uneasily. Clover feels more determination than ever; he is no defeatist. He owes Arch a victory, to earn his place as the fossil's trainer. [break][break]

He does his best to weave, block, and strike. He ends up more reactive than proactive against the underboss. His movements are more sluggish, less refined. But he listens to Cillian's feedback with each movement, and towards the end, despite his exhaustion, his strikes are more focused and purposeful than before. Clover finds the breath to laugh, though it sounds more like a exerted exhale than anything. [break][break]

"You could at least pretend to be sweating this fight." Of course, it would be a piece of unconvincing theatre if Cillian did. They really take it as a sign of respect that Cillian takes this more seriously than to play, but it also means they need to prove they've earned that. And if they thought their fists hurt before this... they're going to be taking it easy the next few days. The thought of curling their hands around even a mug of tea is worth a wince.

[break][break]notes[break]

Too slow. [break][break]

Cillian punches like a Machoke. He gets Clover in the face, smarting. She feels blood fall from her nose, but it's not the gushing she felt at the hands of Freya. Her head knocks back as she instinctively takes a staggering step backwards, but the disorientation only lasts a moment. She knows from sparring with Tempest Quinn that she has to keep moving. She leans into the momentum of her correction in footing to surge towards him with a punch of her own, one that's not as neat as it could be but is a solid reaction. [break][break]

Arch caws in distress in the corner, unsure if this a fight that should include him. The idea of fighting Cillian is no easier a pill to swallow for the fossil.

[break][break]notes[break]