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Well. That was the end of it.[break][break]

Bailey withdrew her pokemon, huffing with frustration as the culprit willingly handed herself over to the authorities. The cadet felt cheated–she had come here for a fight. “Nothing that can be done about it,” she murmured under her breath, watching as people dispersed from their hiding spots. [break][break]

She followed their example. [break][break]

/exit

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR EVERYONE

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ha ha im out FERNANDO SILPH

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She was awful at this.[break][break]

Bailey Cooper refrained from showing her disinterest; the information was important, but it failed to hold her focus. It took every ounce of willpower for her to stay on task–something that she was awful at. Her head started to weigh down on her shoulders just from the introductions. Falling asleep would be a bad idea. Her nails sunk into her arm, hoping that pain would abate her sudden exhaustion.[break][break]

It was when Dallas Rhodes made his observation that she had a chance to speak. “Dunno if you could find... remains.” The Regirock had used explosion. She had not seen the scale at which the blast had caused, but she presumed it was massive. “Did anyone talk with him? Has anyone asked about him after the raid?” He had a mask. That was all that she could recall. "He had to have a family, right?" A next of kin?[break][break]

Unless he was apart of Rocket. Her mind fizzled at the thought, remembering the warnings that had been given to League members prior to the mission. They never did find the “members” of the raid that had infiltrated their group. If those people had an objective, it was ruined the moment the Regirock appeared–right?[break][break]

notes: is bad at paying attention. thinks @joey is nothing more than dust in the wind after the blast. asks if anyone socialized with him or if there was anyone asking where he went. wonders about rocket.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR DEBRIEF

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FERNANDO SILPH

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“You're the one with the bright ideas,” and Bailey mounted her motorcycle; one twist of the key was all it took to bring the engine back to life. [break][break]

It rumbled, still warm from the previous ride. It cut the chill in the air and steam rose from the exhaust, dispersing like vapor. She liked the smell of the rising fumes–it reminded her of past memories and past freedoms. Joining the League had ended that part of her life, but Bailey does not mourn it. She had her fun. Now, the thought of working did not seem so bad–as long as she could still have nights like this.[break][break]

She smiled at Daniel, feeling warm to his suggestions. A date, huh? "Think you're up to it, Walker?" She joked, revving the engine with a twist of the throttle.[break][break]

They were young. There wasn't anything to lose. She'd be a liar if she said she hadn't thought about it. “Yeah, I remember the place.” It sounded good to her. Was the shack still open? Probably. “I brought a helmet, just for you,” and Bailey handed it to Daniel, knowing that his reflexes were still slow with the arm weighing him down. Could he hold on to her while she was driving? She hoped so.[break][break]

“I'll take it slow.” She said to relieve any concerns her partner could have had. “I don't want to add to your prison sentence.”

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR DANIEL WALKER

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An analysis? With the League?[break][break]

“Neat,” Bailey replied, not wanting to linger on a subject that she knew nothing about. The fuzzy feeling was starting to emerge. As her mind slowly drifted into the clouds and a warmth erupted from the pit of her stomach, she wondered if it would be wise to ask for another. One more drink wouldn't hurt...tonight. It would hurt tomorrow.[break][break]

He tried to match her speed, which was unfair to him. The dude was trying to chug down scotch. At least she had something to chase down her poison of choice. “Don't mind me.” It was a warning. She was not an example to be followed. “Anyway, what about–”[break][break]

And he deluged some of the plans. At that point, she could only assume he was League. Why else would he speak so brazen about “striking back” against Rocket? She raised her head like a Patrat scouring the lands, making sure nobody was listening in on the conversation–everyone was minding their own business. “Well, that warms my cockles, but hey–” she slouched back into her seat, “gimmie a call when it happens.”[break][break]

And the third drink was slid her way, before she could even ask for it. Well, shit. Guess that decided where this night was going. Her body could hate her tomorrow.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR FERNANDO SILPH

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- - -

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Bailey snorted.[break][break]

“Man, I dunno,” and the cadet slapped down some of her newly earned green onto the table, letting Gene get the most expensive drink on the menu. What did he receive? A tall, blue concoction in a bowl-shaped glass; it was adorned with the umbrellas and the frills that could be expected from something so gaudy. [break][break]

“I guess I've met some good people. Got a partner. Stuff like that,” but did she feel like she made a revolutionary change? No.[break][break]

“It's been going alright. People are getting recruited left and right. How else was I able to get in?” The news was always on. Doors were always locked. Team Rocket had yet to cause trouble, but people were already bracing for the worst.[break][break]

She sipped her beer, tasting the hops. “Nothing exciting. I gotta work for the good stuff. It'll be awhile before I get the media appearances.” Her elbow nudged against him, encouraging him to sip from the fountain of juice and booze that had been placed in front of him.[break][break]

“Want me to ask for sparklers?” She cackled.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR valentine besoras

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When the lights came on, she winced–not because of the brightness, but because of what it exposed.[break][break]

“It's cozy,” Bailey lied. The base was not atrocious by any means. It was just... lacking. She stepped into the barren space, taking a long sip from the soda she had bought before they departed from the mall–it was too early for burgers. The cool air that whisked in from the exposed entrance was welcomed. It cleared the stale air.[break][break]

There wasn't much to look at. She leaned against the old couch; if she sat, she wondered if it could support her weight.[break][break]

She sipped, tasting the last of her soda as the straw released its death rattle. “How long have you been here for?” Oh, the woes of being a young trainer: broke and overwhelmed with mouths to feed. Pokemon food wasn't cheap. There had been times in her life where her own secret base was left in similar disarray. Sleeping in a cave or a hollowed out tree was better than the alternative. [break][break]

She glanced at the duo; The dusty musharna and the stoutland. Maybe she should have brought the bags along, after all? "Old friends?" They were cute.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR @joey

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“Probably looks better than mine.” Her ass was still recovering from the road rash.[break][break]

The air was chilly. Even with her own jacket, Bailey shuddered as she stepped back onto the balcony. The discomfort passed as Daniel hit her with one of the lamest jokes she had ever heard–so bad, she had to laugh. “You were waiting to use that, weren't you?” Tink huffed at their antics, trying to act as if she was the responsible one.

She wasn't fooling anyone.[break][break]

Knowing that Daniel was still struggling to adapt to his new arm, the Togekiss opted to perch on both of his shoulders. “It feels like zip-lining,” was Bailey's only warning as the fairy lifted him up from the ledge. It was a good thing that pokemon were stronger than they looked. Despite her short wingspan, she easily glided towards the parking lot. His period spent in the air would be brief and comfortable. It was flying up with someone that gave the Togekiss a hard time.[break][break]

And she flew up to retrieve her trainer–one hard yank tore Bailey over the railing. Tink was not as gentle.[break][break]

The landing wasn't much better, either. “Bully.” Bailey was rudely dropped and barely managed to land on her feet, sparing her ass. “I created a monster.” The rudest Togekiss the world had ever seen–but she said it with a smile.[break][break]

Her motorcycle was nearby. She jingled the keys, grinning mischievously. “Any suggestions?” He could pick what they could do with the evening.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR DANIEL WALKER

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<3

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What was he wearing?[break][break]

Bailey kept her wisecracks to herself as Daniel opened the window. “I had to bide my time.” She glanced at the adjacent balconies, making sure there were no witnesses as she slipped into his hospital room. “The staff knows I'm shifty after I lied about being your cousin,” but how else was she supposed to visit him between his surgeries? It had been a harmless lie.[break][break]

“Ready to get out of here?” It almost sounded like a date. Maybe it was? Bailey was used to boys trying to get her to sneak out in the middle of the night, not the other way around... "I'll have you back before they'll even notice you were gone."[break][break]

Her eyes drifted to the metallic limb. She was still trying to get used to it–and so was he. “Where are you keeping your clothes? You'll need a jacket, unless you want to run a few laps to warm yourself up.” She couldn't help herself. At least he wasn't in his hospital gown.[break][break]

Tink remained perched on the balcony, gradually becoming more irate with every second that was wasted. “Oh, right.” Bailey tried to avoid the fairy's glare. “She's bad at this stuff. Always thinks I'll get caught. Hasn't happened... yet,” and tonight would not be the night.[break][break]

“We'll have to go down one at a time. Hope you don't mind. I would have had Steelix lift me up to the window, but someone would have noticed.”

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR DANIEL WALKER

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Bailey took another gulp, disappointed when her glass ran dry–it went down too fast. Some people could sit back and nurse a drink for hours on end. Bailey was too impatient to bother with that nonsense. She flipped a hand to the bartender. “Could I get another?” It would take time for the liquor to ease its way into her system. Until then, she was content with leaning against the counter, wondering what to do with herself.[break][break]

Maybe she should have gone home.[break][break]

Bailey opted to suck on an ice cube, returning the empty glass to the counter. The ice was cold; it cracked when her jaw applied pressure. She did not have the time to let it sit and melt. As her teeth crunched through the ice, her eyes lingered on the television, taking in the broadcast with a tinge of interest. If the robbers had any sense, they would have hopped onto the first ship heading to Dewford... and, maybe, the next ship to Slateport.[break][break]

Wouldn't that be a funny coincidence?[break][break]

Bailey does not read into Fernando's words. She presumed he was speaking in broader terms, referring to the League; but, the mention of “new week,” sizzled in the back of her mind. It had been... specific?

[break][break]“Got anything in mind?” She humored the use of the word “us,” knowing damn well that he was not referencing her.[break][break]

Her second drink arrived. It perished just as quickly as its predecessor.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR FERNANDO SILPH

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A week had passed since the rescue mission–a week since their battle with the Regirock.[break][break]

Bailey Cooper adapted to life after the Ruins. Her success had garnered her a new title and new responsibilities. A badge now rested against her chest, pressed to the inside of her jacket, where she could feel its weight at all times. The cadet that had joined the League on a whim now found herself straddled with new responsibilities. The words “Officer Cooper,” continued to rattle in her skull as one of the security officials greets her.[break][break]

Her partner was still recovering from his injuries. She arrived knowing that she would be alone. Bailey may have survived the mission with these people, but she hardly knew them. “Here,” she scanned her Trainer ID, watching as her information was recorded. It did not weigh on her mind; this was the League. They knew who she was.[break][break]

The silence of the elevator was deafening. She tucked her hands into the warmth of her jacket. There would be people here that had experienced trauma–either from their pokemon or from their own injuries. Bailey had experienced neither. She was fine. Her pokemon were fine. It had only been Daniel Walker that had suffered.[break][break]

She was the lucky one.[break][break]

The newly instated Officer took a seat, arms folded over her chest, as she waited for the meeting to begin.[break][break]

notes: bailey shows up and takes her seat. sits knowing that she was one of the luckiest sonsabitches in the room.

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[attr="class","euterpetag"]FOR THE MEETING

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FERNANDO SILPH @anyone relevant