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"oh, yeah, sure. kick him again. that'll show him." miyako can't help but snicker at the sight of althus laying into one of the gangsters, because fuck, if there's anything she enjoys more than coffee, it's irony. "maybe it'll even wake him up, and then you can both share a cell together! that'd be fun, right?"[break][break]

the fact that this guy seems like a good person underneath it all doesn't escape miyako's notice. it's just really hard to focus on the nice things when you're confronted with the shittier ones. so when she finally takes the package from him and weighs it in her hands, all she can do is sigh in resignation.[break][break]

the cigarette in her mouth droops pitifully. she doesn't know why she still smokes the damned things—a sick ritual by now.[break][break]

the feeling of a little nudge at her foot momentarily startles her from her melancholic train of thought, causing her to look down and meet the inquisitive eyes of a togepi.[break][break]

she stares.[break][break]

"...the fuck?" she mutters under her breath, blinking twice before the corners of her lips tug upwards into a miniscule grin. "...yours, i'm assuming?"[break][break]

miyako's thoughts stray to the pokemon that supposedly helped him take down a small gang of fully grown, fit adults. the imagery brings another miniscule smile to her face—one of genuine amusement, this time.[break][break]

she distractedly begins opening the package, trying to find a way to stall for time. "you should get a license for that thing. too cute and deadly."[break][break]

her eyes widen at the sight of the rare candies, because holy shit, there are a lot of them. but then they widen even more at the sight of the smaller box, at which point she opens it and-[break][break]

"yep. fuck. this was a low point. great."[break][break]

fucking crack. because her life can't ever be easy. she lifts the smaller box to show the contents to rex. "you know this was in here?"

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"yeah, man, i don't know. rare candy's pretty valuable, but i don't think it's worth starting a gang war over." miyako takes another drag from her cigarette, allowing the smoke to escape her lips in wisps as she regards althus with a look halfway between suspicion and amusement.[break][break]

"then again, people are stupid." she shrugs, adjusting the camera around her neck, then leans back against the wall behind her, peering closer, as if in search of any signs of dishonesty.[break][break]

"aw, fuck. you're actually not lying, are you?" she asks, her nose crinkling. "no offense, but your story sounds really stupid. like something you'd pull out of your ass during a timed exam. so, you know. props for creativity, but points off for believability."[break][break]

miyako steps forward, peering at the destruction in the alley with a critical eye, the scene looking like a chaotic meme of everything wrong with slateport, only without the humor. yeah, it definitely seems like a team rocket job - miyako can recognize their handiwork anywhere. funny how she still can't find her stupid sister, though. she thought it would have been easier, being a cop and everything, but the girl's nowhere to be found.[break][break]

"the package, then. let's see it." she extends a hand expectantly, her eyes hardening with professional suspicion. she can't just let him walk away without seeing proof, as much as she wants to. "i won't even search you, because the last guy i searched had the audacity to grope me during a fucking patdown. that was definitely a new low in my life."[break][break]

miyako sighs, massaging her temples with the one hand that she hasn't extended. "dude. please don't let this be another new low in my life. just show me the damn rare candy."

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miyako's driving her motorcycle, cigarette between her lips, when she hears an explosion. she inhales sharply, and the cigarette nearly falls out of her mouth. then, in true miyako noguchi fashion, she shrugs to herself and keeps driving. probably just some stupid fuck accidentally igniting themselves with their charizard. or a car backfiring. or a microwave going kablooey. who cares, man, it's slateport city. that's just a normal monday.[break][break]

but then she pulls up on the scene and her stupid conscience kicks in, because miyako actually gives a shit about her job despite all evidence to the contrary. she begrudgingly parks her motorcycle and hops off, swaggering towards the mouth of the alleyway, where an unfortunate number of people are strewn about on the ground, either unconscious or dead. the alley is a cramped, narrow space, littered with debris and bodies—typical of slateport, where chaos seems to thrive in every available inch.[break][break]

her sharp eyes fall onto althus rex, who looks completely unscathed. more specifically, her eyes fall onto the fact that althus is standing there like the getaway driver for a shitty crime movie, holding his phone and spouting about his innocence with the urgent wail of her own sirens in the distance.[break][break]

miyako's lips quirk upwards, despite her best intentions. "hmm. innocent, huh?" she says, taking another drag on her cigarette and enjoying the way it burns on its way down. "those guys look pretty fucking innocent too, but i guess that could just be their faces."[break][break]

miyako fixes althus with a pressing stare. "wanna tell me what happened here, man? and don't lie. that's a crime."

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following the events that transpired at meteor falls, miyako is both hesitant and eager to see what shalin has planned for their next meeting. in fact, she's still a tad bit sore from her broken rib—though it has healed well, it still gives her some pause. when she arrives at the romping grounds, though, she is immediately taken aback by the sheer beauty and vastness of the landscape before her.[break][break]

the rolling hills, lush with emerald green grass, and the towering deciduous trees create a picturesque view that seems to stretch on for miles. in the center of it all, a small lake glimmers in the sunlight, its crystal-clear waters inviting miyako to take a dip.[break][break]

as she takes in her surroundings, miyako can't help but notice the unusual sight of nearly every pokémon roaming the grounds wearing saddles. from the fiery salazzle to the hefty seismitoad, each creature seems to have been outfitted with gear for riding. even the raticate, a pokémon miyako would never have considered suitable for such a task, is sporting a saddle.[break][break]

the whole scene is bizarre, to say the least, and miyako can hardly believe her eyes. she turns to shalin, a look of disbelief etched on her face. "what the hell is all this?" she asks, gesturing to the saddled pokémon. "do you... do you ride all of these?"[break][break]

the thought of shalin hopping onto the back of a salazzle or a raticate is both absurd and impressive, and miyako can't help but let out a small chuckle. "you're something else, you know that?" she says, shaking her head in amazement.

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miyako accepts the help up with a grateful smile. as much as she acts tough, she can admit that was a little too close for comfort.[break][break]

she dusts herself off, mind reeling from all she just witnessed. she knows it isn't the time to nerd out, so she settles for being close at josh's side. "i didn't know dragonite could do that," she admits, trying to sound casual. she tucks her hair behind her ears, trying not to look like she's about to pester him with a hundred questions.[break][break]

josh's question pulls her out of her reverie, and she grins at him, looking a little manic from the adrenaline and excitement. "you're offering me the chance to fly? let's do it! yeah, i'd love to. you choose the ride." she is interested in seeing the other dragons he mentioned. "this might be my only chance to see things from the sky. hell, it's now or never."

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everything happens so quickly, and before she knows it, josh is shouting at her to get down and the dragonite is a blur of movement, an almost invisible threat. miyako does as he says, practically diving off of the walking wake in her haste to avoid what she can't even see coming.[break][break]

she doesn't need to, though, as josh's command seems to reverberate through the air like a living thing, the dragon pulse the type of attack that makes her blood sing with adrenaline and fear. she doesn't quite know what to do with herself; she's out of her depth here, she's just along for the ride.[break][break]

she's a crime scene photographer, not a goddamn dragon-slayer.[break][break]

it seems like the wild dragonite was indeed hit by the dragon pulse, and she has just enough time to see josh throw an ultra ball at the dragon pokemon before it hits the ground.[break][break]

there's nothing she can do now but watch and wait. her heart pounds in her chest, adrenaline thrumming through her veins as she waits to see if the ultra ball will hold or if the dragonite will break free.[break][break]

maybe being a dragon-slayer isn't all that bad. it's a lot more exciting than taking pictures of dead bodies, at any rate.[break][break]

then, the ball stills, and she is left in the near silent aftermath. after a moment, joy surges into her chest. She bounds over to Josh, hand raised for a high five, her heart still racing as they prepare to celebrate the catch. "damn! nice catch!"

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miyako's heart is in her throat as they kick it up a notch, as tailwind is a lot more than she bargained for and yet, it's fucking incredible. she had been thinking about how to frame her shots for that upcoming photography competition, but the thought flies from her mind as they speed across the water, the wind tearing at her hair and clothes and threatening to take her precious camera.[break][break]

the sky pillar looms ahead, and for once, she's thankful for josh's sense of preservation. breaking feels insane at these speeds, but she can feel the safety radiating off of him as he ensures they slow down. she looks over her shoulder as they do, catching the telltale bob of a pokeball that confirms her catch was successful.[break][break]

it is terrifying in its own right when they approach the sky pillar, even with the serpentine walking wake clawing its way up the cliff. she eyes the towering edifice with apprehension and, let's admit it, excitement as they climb. "fuck," she breathes, her voice blown away by the wind. she's pretty sure she knows what's coming.[break][break]

a shadow passes over them, and miyako's eyes are drawn upwards. eyes widening, she jabs a finger at the sky, hand silhouetted in sapphire. "oh, look! a dragonite!"

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"oh, cool. the press," miyako says with a wry grin, absentmindedly twirling a bit of hair around her fingers. "exhilarating work—too much talking and writing for me, though. all those dreadful meetings. editorial stuff, getting handed assignments... i prefer being behind the lens instead."[break][break]

she shifts her weight to one foot, sliding her free hand into the back pocket of her well-worn jeans, presenting a curious indifference to the situation. she eyes penelope for a moment, studying her face with an almost too-intense gaze before a faint smirk danced across her lips. "journalism, huh? honestly doesn't really seem your style. you bring your own camera?"[break][break]

a sudden gust of wind sends the leaves around them shuddering, and miyako glances back at the treeline, checking for more potential subjects. the forest around them buzzes with life, a constant change in motion that mirrors miyako's own restless energy, never content to stay still for too long. for all her disinterest, she never misses an opportunity to capture the perfect moment. the forest is full of activity, but it makes her restless to stand still for too long. photography is her job, but it is more than just about pointing and shooting. it is about patience and being opportunistic—something miyako excels in. she turns her eyes back to penelope.[break][break]

"c'mon. let's get in there."[break][break]

with that, she fords into the wilderness.

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miyako's body throbs as she submits to jiwari's gentle but firm grasp, her being effortlessly lifted in his paws as though she weighs nothing at all. the transition from the tyranitar's grip to michiko's chilly back is nearly seamless, and miyako nestles into her powder-white wings, momentarily spellbound by the glassy fractals that shimmer on her velvety coat. she can't help but run her fingers along her slick, cool shell, all thoughts of pain dulled by a fascination for such an odd looking creature. she feels like an icicle nestled into a snowdrift when she presses her flushed face into michiko's silky, snowflake wings.[break][break]

alright, alright. time to go.[break][break]

the cool sensation that emanates from michiko washes over miyako as the frosmoth takes flight alongside sol. miyako's pain, for the most part, dissipates due to the freezing relief; but there's a dull ache that hangs over her when the bone cracks against the pressure of the moth's gentle ascent.[break][break]

it takes effort, immense concentration to ensure she breathes and uses her muscles as little as possible as she looks over to the green-haired trainer. "do me a favor and don't tell anyone about this, yeah?" miyako asks shalin as they begin to descend, though there is a rough sort of mirth in her tone, an effort to protect her pride. "i don't need the whole department knowing that i broke a rib trying to ride a tyranitar like a mechanical bull."

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miyako's grin only widens as the walking wake slows to a stop near the little rocky islet. she hops off with practiced ease, quickly reaching for an empty pokeball in her bag.[break][break]

"that's rad as hell, man," she says to josh over her shoulder as she eyes the little axew cautiously. she knows she's gotta be careful; even cute little dragons can pack a wallop. "it's a pretty dope pokemon you got."[break][break]

she takes a step towards the axew, careful not to startle it, pokeball at the ready. "c'mere, little guy," she coos at the axew. "you wanna come with me, don't you? we'll go on adventures together and you can bite people for me. whaddya say?"[break][break]

the little dragon pokemon tilts its head at her, as if considering the offer. she knows it's a stretch, but who knows, maybe it'll be a pushover, in that respect. she just needs to get a bit closer...[break][break]

yeah. it's not interested. in fact, the axew turns away from her. miyako sighs and straightens, all friendliness gone. if a pokeball isn't broke, don't fix it! with a toss, she throws the pokeball at the axew. regardless of the outcome, she heads back to josh.[break][break]

"alright, back to it!"

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miyako doesn't even have time to react before a fierce battle breaks out, the roars of two formidable ground types clashing together filling the air, one protecting the peace of the interaction, the other advocating against it. jiwari, the reckless tyranitar who had just bucked her off his back, is now engaged in a head-to-head with a massive rhyperior, their powerful bodies slamming into one another with brute force that shakes the very ground beneath miyako's body.[break][break]

she watches as jiwari smashes his opponent into the rock face, only for the rhyperior to retaliate with a vicious megahorn to the midsection. jiwari's pained cry echoes through the cave, and miyako can't help but wince in sympathy.[break][break]

with a throw of an ultra ball, though, the battle is no more. miyako nods, returning to shalin's initial point. "yeah, i dunno how i stayed on either," the cop admits as she braces her arms beneath her. "a miracle, maybe?"[break][break]

as she prepares to rise to her feet, she adds, "i hope i didn't break a rib or something," almost as an afterthought.[break][break]

then, when she's finally up and dares to shift her body in any meaningful way, a lash of sharp pain whips through her abdomen, and miyako winces and grabs at her side. "ooh, yeah, okay, that's broken. fucking ow."

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oh. hmm. june being romantically involved with the stupid hot dork makes everything quite a bit more complicated.[break][break]

were they... were they both trying to seduce miyako to make the other one jealous? or was this a non-consenting polygamy situation? is it all even weirder and stranger than that?[break][break]

oh no. miyako's head is starting to hurt.[break][break]

before she can ponder her dismissal, miyako watches the window roll up, howard's brunette head filling the space one last time before it's completely closed, his lips only mouthing an apology before the glass blocks miyako's view.[break][break]

the car rumbles to life, and miyako, alarmed, stumbles back as the behemoth rolls past her, trying and failing to get a last glimpse at the two. "...uhh, okay." she says aloud, pulling a cigarette from her back pocket with her now free hand. she has never been so thoroughly cucked. anger curls inside her, though she's laughing too, because—oh man, what a fucking disaster.[break][break]

miyako hops back onto her bike, watches howard's car go away like a maiden waving goodbye to her beloved at sea, then goes. she can't think about this anymore, not right now. there's too much to unpack. coffee is needed. brain is fried. wow.[break][break]

at the very least, she's learned three very interesting things about herself from this whole dumpster fire.[break][break]

1. miyako loves both women and men.[break][break]

2. miyako prefers these women and men as stupid, dorky, or pathetic as possible.[break][break]

3. miyako hates her fucking life.

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is she okay? oh, definitely not, miyako thinks to herself as she slowly picks herself up off the ground, her muscles protesting every movement. but she doesn't show it—she straightens up to her full height, offering shalin a quick salute before running her hands through her tousled black and white hair. "aah, yeah, i'm chill, it was fun," she says with a nonchalant wave of her hand. "just gotta learn to hang on better next time, right?"[break][break]

miyako flashes shalin a grin, a mischievous glint in her slate blue eyes. "you wild, girl," she admits, her adrenaline still surging through her veins. "a little crazy, too. but i think it's dope."[break][break]

shalin wonders what miyako is doing out here, and miyako wonders the same thing. yeah, what is she doing out here? miyako gets the creeping feeling that might've lost the plot in the process of getting bucked off of the strongest rodeo she's ever experienced. after a moment of deliberation, she just shrugs.[break][break]

"mmm, yeah, i dunno," she admits, then fixes shalin with a pressing look. she girl seems like a wildcard, and miyako wants in on the action. "what, you doin' something cool? take me with you!"

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