CONNIVING CONUNDRUM

social

“THAT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE AVOIDING IT,” he accuses. “you’re on the right track but you won’t give it up.”

he draws two circles, overlapping, creating a venn diagram. in each circle, he draws the number one. in the middle, where they cross, he labels it with the number two.

“there is much you’re still missing. about avatars. about trainers. about what you need to be.”

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Josh Devlin

PRESSURE

POST POSTDORMITUM

“I CONCUR,” is his way of ferrying the conversation over to his side. “and if they couldn’t, we have Katherine Fairburne and Callan Young and so on. there will always be another trainer to rise up to the challenge.”

her wandering eye does not go amiss. whatever attention she refuses to give him is instead stolen by his choice of flattery: mimicry. they parallel, looking out the window. one sees perfect weather. the other sees whats at risk.

“how about this? who can break down the chemical process of mega evolution in pokemon? who can describe the ecological impact primal rifts have on our environment?”

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PENELOPE LIVY

HEARING

SOCIAL

HE TILTS HIS HEAD TOWARD HER, for a moment, before tilting it away. a small shimmy that debates where he stands. “good enough,” he finally relents, taking the shot between them and killing it in the same manner.

“but only half right, morales.”

one for one.

“do you remember what i told you when the dome went up?”

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Eva Morales

FRIENDS WITH THE ENEMY

SOCIAL

“GOOD MORNING SALEM,” he answers monotone. despite this, he kneels to pet the pokemon, soft strokes with the back of his hand.

the rotomdex’s welcome is enough to allow him in. he enters without reservation but doesn’t bother to look around. most of the place still resembles what he remembers. rather, fernando’s gaze is on the bedroom. a place he used to know.

and one that razz too, knows quite well.

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Eris Halla Razz Kingsman

HEARING

SOCIAL

“DRINK,” he declares with nudge of his glass. “you shoulder know better, morales.”

he waves his hand for another. but when he gets the bartenders attention, he raises four fingers. enough for them to go a few rounds.

“tell me, what did GABRIEL BLACK do for you exactly?”

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Eva Morales

INTREPID SWORD

MISSION

“GO AHEAD.”

there is no fluff or small talk needed. just a singular focus on their primary objective: the discussion and conditions for liberating Elinor Anderson.

“the limitations and conditions will reflect on your plan,” he mentions in passing. after all, putting his personal resources on the line means expecting a payoff. anything short of success is simply a waste.

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Callan Young

HEARING

SOCIAL

HER ANSWER DOESN’T DISSUADE HIM. but fernando knows better than to wear his mind on his sleeve. not when her answer seems to insinuate that they stand in solidarity. whether that is just at face value though, remains to be seen.

“well, professor, care to wager?”

he sits his glass between them. a shot on the line.

“guess.”

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Eva Morales

HEARING

SOCIAL

“INDEED.”

her choice in liquor doesn’t bring a real expression to his face. it’s still trained on her, more than patient enough to taste it before putting any real judgement.

“it’s a part of the job. whether it be them, or having to explain to your colleague why they shouldn’t destroy a primal node prior to meteno.”

barely a pause settles.

“how’s that going by the way, head professor?”

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Eva Morales

REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

using ABILITY CAPSULE on CUTIEFLY for SWEET VEIL
using EGG MOVE on CUTIEFLY to learn STICKY WEB
using EGG MOVE on CUTIEFLY to learn MOONBLAST
using TM on CUTIEFLY to learn INFESTATION
using TM on ALOLAN SANDSLASH to learn BRICK BREAK
using TM on ALOLAN SANDSLASH to learn GYRO BALL

total

x1 ABILITY CAPSULE
x2 EGG MOVE
x3 TM

SOURCE

PC

HEARING

SOCIAL

HER HUMOR IS MET WITH A DEADPAN ADMISSION, “you were shaking.”

his glass settles next to hers. out of reach. out of mind.

“you get used to it,” is another one, this time more natural as she pries words from him with pliers of questions. “most of them won’t last, either.”

he eye settles on her instead of what’s in front of him.

“a routine cycle.”

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Eva Morales

ANNA L

MISSION

CALLAN HADN’T BEEN ENTIRELY CORRECT. as far as he can see, elinor is no where to be found. granted, his venture into sootopolis is far from all inclusive, even with the clemency of rocket’s exodus, but sleuthing among the populace isn’t all too hard. for what rocket utilizes to infiltrate the league can always be repurposed.

“…”

the submarine is only vaguely familiar. his time in rocket captivity was mostly unconscious. what he does remember is the searing pain. the countless steps of footsteps against hollow metal.

this time, he will know it well.

“tch,” he whistles to his zygarde.

where other dogs and canine trainers failed, he will succeed.

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annalise henderson

HEARING

SOCIAL

“ABOUT THE SAME.”

two amber shots are placed, not slid, in front of them. a standard opener that requires no request. fernando raises his glass of tequila half way over, waiting for a clink.

“you took that well, all things considered.”

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Eva Morales

Eva Morales #2