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"Should be somewhat of a regular customer by now, eh?" the researcher muses as he enters the Safari Zone for what he believes to be the fourth time. He somehow hadn't quite catch on all there is yet, so here he is again, going through it all once more - this time, however, he keeps the Metagross by his side after the shiny Rotom decided that this would be far too boring for it to do again, henceforth basically looking itself up in its Pokéball.[break]
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"Stubborn little brats ... but at least I can count on the variable of all variables," Xuying hums - humoured, a little, though it is rather bothersome that his one Ghost type decided to nope out of here when there are a couple of Ghost types that appeared in the Safari Zone the last time and suchthing ... Well. Maybe it'll come around. Probably not. "Guess it's you and me and you and me."

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Music starts pouring in from the one earbud he plugged in, a comfortable rhythm of bass and drums accompanying the first minutes as he quietly types away, full in the belief that this Damien person will do just the same. To the lyrics of not sure what's going on today, but it's all starting to hurt my brain, he sighs out loud in tandem, looking over to the Metagross and nodding as the Rotom zaps around, too, while the Porygon-Z ... Xuying definitely gave up on ever deciphering its actions. Instead, he waves for the Rotom to take a note on why the system keeps stalling, looking up to check, but the servers all look quite ordinary. There shouldn't be much of an interference until-[break]
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-a notification pops up, warning of significant downloads - a mass download that he recognises as something only he and the actual admins should be having the key for. He turns around just in time to see a Mega-Grimmsnarl hurling at the Metagross, instinctively throwing himself into the way as his partner is still working on the data, only able to use Iron Defense and bodycheck the opposing Pokémon off his trainer after the Mega-Grimmsnarl's teeth made contact with Xuying's body, injuring his left arm. "Crap ... what the heck is going on?" He can barely even have a humoured scoff at the server room's lights turning a bright red - at least the alarm system is working, but he doesn't even know if anyone will ever come. Hah ... this is why I don't fight, he thinks to himself. He slips the tablet back into one of his jacket pockets, holding his head, sighing, before holding his injured arm that starts to sting, pain sinking in seconds after. "Ugh, whatever. Meteor Mash, if you would be so kind."[break]
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"Yeah ... I'm stuck here for now, so who's to say? Might as well, I guess," Xuying can only reply lacklusterly, not ... well. Hoenn isn't his region and it's kinda crazy he stranded here in such odd times, but it's not like he'll make his way back to Unova any time soon. He truly has no stakes in this whole spiel, and yet here he is, playing a part he doesn't even know if it'll suit him. Probably not. But he's already here, so he might as well do the best he can, eh? "Same - guess communication sucks everywhere," he simply shrugs off the other's reply, not thinking too much of it as he continues on his path then, not having to try and guide someone else towards wherever they need to go.[break]
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And once he opens the door, he plugs in an earpiece into one ear, waving for the Metagross to follow him. "I'll work from the end upwards, so if you wanna take it from the start, be my guest. You know what you gotta do, right? Don't hinder me," he remarks in shorter sentences than before, his face morphing from strangely jolly to what is probably more like 'himself' in that sense - a curious, calculating glance as he observes the many computers and servers standing around, making out the tiny inscriptions, comparing it to the information he has on his phone, on the documents he has with him, printed out and marked all across. Though he doesn't know that much, he certainly isn't that much of a newbie anymore, either. And with the Metagross and even the Porygon-Z by his side, he's able to make out quickly where he has to work - and at least X is working the part, too, zeroing completely in on Xuying's thoughts and manoeuvrers.

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It seems that they both end up being somewhat lucky - though in the case of the researcher, he truly does not know why Fire starters have it out for him. How many more are lacking, in that sense, really ...? And how many more will be like the ones he caught so far, a mischievous bunch of menaces that are hell-bent on making his life unnecessarily difficult. Hopefully in his absence, the Torchic didn't just start a fight with another Pokémon ...[break]
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His thoughts are interrupted when they reach a fork - one where Josh seems to know where the ways are headed, so that makes things quite simple. "Deeper in all the way," Xuying is quick to reply with a hum, pressing forth a little before waiting for Josh to take the lead, should he want to. But there is a curious Magnemite that floats around, and he is able to catch it unaware, freeing both most of the way ahead of them and also gaining one more specimen to study for his collection. In his leisure time. Whenever that may be.

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There is only a vague smile that the researcher returns to her words, justified and quite sensible in the grand scheme of things. Though his team may look impressive with being fully evolved and such, their battle expertises certainly would not come from Xuying himself for he liked things to be functional, not proficient in fights he rarely gets into. Until ... well. "Hmmm ... hmm," he returns, "you're probably right. I don't think I'm gonna last much longer, should I keep up with such." There are braver souls out there, for sure, and those that can actually brave the tides. He, however?[break]
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He scratches the hand as he gestures for the Metagross to take care of the approaching Klinklang, catching it with a Pokéball after a blow of Psychic turns it immobile just enough for him to throw a Pokéball. "Still, there are a few things I'd like to check personally, so might as well. Have you ever been there?"

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He has one more safari ball left as he wanders the premises alongside of the curious Rotom - and before he can think too much about it, the last catch seems to present itself in front of him in the form of a sleeping Cubone. Gesturing for the Rotom to tone it down a little, Xuying prays that this will go well ... he doesn't quite feel like battling another for some time, but who knows, really? Thus, he throws the ball onto the sleeping figure - she'll definitely be in for a surprise once she does wake up, but that's a thing to clear up once he left the Safari Zone.[break]
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Speaking of such ... He calls back Y as he yawns, stretching himself and going towards the exit. "Time to get home ..."

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Not suspecting a thing as they enter the building and the door closes behind them, clicking back into being locked, Xuying only shrugs his words over der words. "Huh? Yeah ... No biggie. I was just wondering, this whole zone is kinda crazy these days. I mean, Hoenn is kinda crazy these days, but there is some fun in it, I guess? Not much, but ... well, who knows," the researcher is only remarking, a ramble of sorts as his eyes wander over the unfamiliar place. But according to the information he got ... Like encountering those strange, luminous beasts or this whole simulation spiel has been truly on a whole other level than what he was used to. But such is the present now, [break]
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"What'cha working on, anyway? I don't know where you have to get to," he then turns to the other after der question. Right ... well, he knows roughly where he should be heading to, but that doesn't mean he has any clue about them. Yet, he doesn't sound like he is suspecting much anything - only an inquiry, not that dee wouldn't end up where dee was intending to go. "I'm gonna check the data servers and stuff, or that's what I would guess?"

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Still distracted by a couple more - legit, actual - messages in his inbox before he pockets it away once the data centre comes to view. He sighs as he places his entrance permit against the lock, hears the familiar-somewhat-unfamiliar sound and is about to enter when ... oh? There comes a person who is pretty expressive, so to speak. It almost feels like he has met a deaf person before that feels a little familiar, too, but ... eh ... no. Probably not, it's not like deaf people with technical aids for translation and such are rare. It's not like he would fully, really ever take much notice of his surroundings, either, more interested in what interests himself, or plainly, himself.[break]
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So, he doesn't think much ill will when he hears der words, only nodding as he enters first, briefly keeping the door open for dem to enter. "Huh? Yeah - I guess, I don't even know how many people are supposed to come, so ... yeah," Xuying offers, a little distracted by another notif that pings up, but then he offers the other a friendly smile also. "Nothing to be nervous about, though, if it doesn't work, it ain't working. Much a surprise that anything seems to be working in this kinda environment." He thought to have heard the sound of battle close-by, but ... uh. He doesn't really want to think about it. Hopefully, it won't concern him.

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He is still frantically looking for his phone when the Rotom is already singling in on a different Pokémon that runs into their path - attacking it with a Confuse Ray before following with a Hex, Xuying has barely time to catch up on the whole endeavour, eyes furrowed and utterly immersed in the task of finding his damn phone. Just where did he put it?[break]
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In the act of finding one, he does not notice the act of losing another, a safari ball being taken by one sneaky Rotom who catches the Pumpkaboo with a chuckle and a cackle. It returns to his side soon after, and it only dawns upon the researcher now that ... "Don't tell me ..." he looks for the safari ball he caught the shiny Fennekin with and releases it - to find that indeed, he has his phone. Dang it. "Give me that," he says dryly.

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He doesn't know how the heck he got into this situation. He could have been far, far off the whole spiel and just enjoy life, but ... no, Katharina Strophe, good-hearted as they come, had to advertise his questionable skills in technology and information technology to boot, so ... here he is now. Not in the heart of war, he presumes, but it comes pretty close to it in his books. All to help with data transfer since they don't have enough people who'd be able to handle a machinery as complex and mystified and utterly nonsensical as whatever exists in the data centre. Xuying would have to survey things himself there for sure, so for now ... well.[break]
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"X, Z - on your own commands, do what you do best," he advises the Metagross and Porygon-Z, considering them to be one of his harder hitters when ... uh. "Y, what are you doing out here again? My guy ... fine." He shakes the head over the shiny Rotom, looking at the Pokéball in his hand that he hasn't even touched or thought about opening, but as things were, it seems like the mechanic is truly loose. Not too much of a hindrance for a mischievous guy like the Rotom, he figures. Maybe he can get it replaced? But then again, the Rotom would just work to get past it ... and it's not like it is (too) much of a bother. "Fine, stay out - guys, we head out. The faster we done, the faster we get to go home."[break]
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He yawns, unaware of what might be happening around him when his phone pings - squinting at the text, he scoffs, "hallo mama ... yeah, nice try, sucker. Why didn't this stupid thing recognise it as spam? Delete."

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Feeling rather optimistic about this visit to the Safari Zone, he wonders whether or not this will keep up ... After all, there always seems to be something up with some of those Pokémon, and he still hasn't fully figured out whether those wondrous creatures take a liking to him or not. That's probably why he prefers to keep to his set of three for most part, as eventful as the shiny Rotom can be ... at least it's safe enough.[break]
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As the air seems to warm, Xuying's senses appear sharpened, having had way too many run-ins with ... special individuals that were Fire types, Fire starters to say the least. They really let kids run around with such? Ah, what the world has come to ... But as he runs into a differently coloured Fennekin, he looks at it with curiosity. It doesn't seem ... as hostile as the Torchic, even composed and perfectly calm as he approaches. And before long, she starts with lights and fire, combining eerie effects to do a small show all by herself before finishing and bowing. The researchers gives a small clap, relieved that nothing happened before he throws a safari ball at the performing Pokémon.[break]
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"That went ... well. Hey, why are you laughing so hard?" he elbows the Rotom (or tries the equivalent to it) as he decides to pull out his phone to tell Katharina Strophe and his family about finally a Fire starter that doesn't have it out for me when ... wait. Why can't he find his phone?

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