There is comfort in the arms of Bill Anderson . If anything, it is a testament to true brotherhood and camaraderie among the rocket gentlemen. But as a very illustrative storyteller, he has to get out of his warm embrace at everyone's request.

Especially when Raphael Pryde finally speaks to him, showing a tiny bit of interest that Valerio takes no time to waste to get to know the man a little more.

“Why, darling? What is it that you're willing to give to hear my story?”

He stands in-front of him, almost bare baked except for the towel that hugging below his waist. Crossed-arms, the redhead peeks into his face as he tries to read his character that is seemingly detached from the rest of them.

“There is no such thing as free lunch anymore, you know.”

With a playful wink and a smooching of lips, it seems like an already obvious suggestion. Except he knows not everyone is down to play his little game of bromance. But even if Raphael Pryde does not heed, there are still two more daddies he can bet his luck onto—considering shadow togepi did not kiss him today before leaving the house.

---

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SAUNA: DETOXING IN LAVARIDGE FUMES (778/1000)
Bill Anderson THEO BECKETT Raphael Pryde

“Not that! I said dragons, not dragon feed!”

The dragonites surround the trumbeak, tackling and wearing out the creature until it decides to back out of the area. Dee and Dum jeer as the avian rattles away, waiting for their next prey until their trainer decides it should be part of the team.

---

VALERIO skips.

SOLO WILD: THE MAKINGS OF A PLATOON

The makings of a platoon always start with one new addition to the family.

Valerio's stay in Kanto is an epiphany that he can push his objectives to a whole new level even further. Before, he only dreamt of reestablishing a dragon herd that has been lost during the Johto siege. He wonders, why can't he expand the herd even further?

“Scout for more dragon members: we're here to expand our family, kiddos.”

---

SOLO WILD: THE MAKINGS OF A PLATOON

“DILFs, yes! Of course. Are we having a group fun now or what?” Valerio exclaims, a beaming enthusiasm in a thirty-eight years old body.

He immediately recognizes the fact that everyone has been already acquainted and that he's the only one trying to play pretend that he knows who is who. The redhead straightens up, retrieves and crosses his arms, and gives a very Valerian introduction.

“I just assume not everyone knows me since I just got back from detention... or whatever. Daddy Walsh punishes hard.”

The last one, he delivers with a hushed tone, cupping his mouth as if telling an open secret.

“You daddies can call me Val, but I'd prefer it if you call me 'mine.'”

---

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SAUNA: DETOXING IN LAVARIDGE FUMES (816/1000)
Bill Anderson THEO BECKETT Raphael Pryde

“There is a bit more sweating. But I'm sure, mister, it's not because of the heat.”

The wink that follows is meant to be subtle, but nothing is tamed and mellowed with someone like Valerio. Fresh from his suspension, it seems like the OG Rocket Daddy is getting a treat from this convention of daddies in their undies.

He easily finds his spot next to the blond man, arms stretched over his shoulders, leaning on the wooden backrest as his figure relishes under the scalding steam.

“But no. That's better, thank you.”

---

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SAUNA: DETOXING IN LAVARIDGE FUMES (912/1000)
Bill Anderson THEO BECKETT Raphael Pryde

Valerio frowns as his eyes travel with the shadow baby mime's ball: perhaps he can find a friend in Serena Malcolm to have his Eggnog come play with it despite Declan's warning that they are not playthings.

The presence of the Darkrai, however, excites him. Having experienced sparring with Cillian Quinn's Lugia, he is now more fervid of having the opportunity to come head to head with the Rocket's own legendary. His beast ball weighs heavy, as if telling the redhead to come pick them. He smiles as he watches everyone else parry with the shadow creature.

Despite Lunala's type disadvantage, the pokemon will prove strong in the eyes of the many. Besides, this will be the first time he can showcase their strength to the entire organization.

“Come now, Voldemort!” Amidst the daylight, the legendary chiroptera's presence is akin to an eclipse. Its wings are round and regal as they shimmer against the sunlight, preparing for its attack. “Transform for me.”

Orbs of light begin to gather around Lunala. These energy, however, do not hit the Darkrai. Instead, they merge with the creature's body as it glows with a blinding light that competes with the sun itself: a transformation for the creature of the unknown. The sky dims for a little, preparing the stage for Voldemort's other attack.

“Do it!”

The light it gathers transforms into a massive ball of energy, glimmering before it bursts and attempts to hit Declan's pokemon.

TL;DR: Valerio summons Lunala and stores power from a premature MOONGEIST BEAM to utilize its ULTRA BURST.

EVENT: A TRANSFER OF POWER PT. 2

Teeth gnashing at skyler dross's successful departure, Chanel is at the precipice of choosing what is best not just for her team but for Team Rocket's entire operation. Without all of the league's strongest forces grouped to one place, the infiltration team might be in danger of being exposed and the battle between their forces being brought to the ship instead. kyle lopez's presence by the docks is a matter of grave consideration especially how the drag queens' forces struggle with the relentless attacks of their pokemons.

And before she can decide what to do, the discharge sends rippling through the port grounds into where Chanel is standing.

“Eggnog, shield us!”

LIGHT SCREEN begins to envelop the pair as they brace the incoming electric wave towards them. Amidst the chaos that erupts on the battlefield, she tries to call on Chu-e Choi to relay her plan.

“I'll be back, Tiffy!”

Taking of her heels and tucking them on her belt, the tallest lady among the group of drag queens offers her imposing height in exchange of agility, making her way into the ship's dock to follow where skyler dross might have been located.

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TL;DR:

• Valerio arrives as ANGELINA DALLES FROM KUROSHITSUJI, wearing her trademark red outfit with the UEP badge similar to Chu-e Choi 's.
• SH!TOGEPI uses LIGHT SCREEN to shield from kyle lopez's MANECTRIC's DISCHARGE
• VALERIO (AS CHANEL) runs into the ship to chase for skyler dross

RAID: CALL OF THE SIREN
Chu-e Choi oscar clayton jayden cross bryan delarosa
skyler dross

It's weird having an enemy cheer up for him because he made an ingenious move. Valerio doesn't get it. Maybe that's just how some gym leaders act.

The strength he utilized to perform the last move has taken a toll on Zeus, leaving him no space to escape or retaliate the steelix's wrath.

“Fly away!”

Fortunately for Zeus, hovering above makes him see the cascading rocks before he dashes out of its way. Unfortunately, he fails to notice the ones from below him being hurled by the steel serpentine's tail.

“Zeus!”

Valerio calls, Hoon plunging to where he falls. The altaria is weakened, battered by all the attacks that he receives. But there is still a fight in him that he will exhaust just to win.

This match is far from over.

---

ALTARIA dodges ROCK SLIDE.
ALTARIA is hit by SMACK DOWN. (2/3)

GYM CHALLENGE: NON-TRADITIONAL
Zac Ramsay

Vanessa wipes the droplets of sweat building over make up, her sigh a testament of her contentment with it being waterproof.

“You're a life-saver!” She gleams with delight when the people are starting to go to the another direction. “I honestly can't believe this they easily recognized me! I thought I'd have at least a day or two of being incognito.”

She checks her purse and goes for the pocket mirror, checking to see if everything about her face is still on point. “Anyway, how can I ever repay you?”

MISSION: NEW YEAR, NEW ME (BB)
@sayso

“What are you talking about, sweetie? Everyone here is my people!” His banter is interrupted with the presence of another who the redhead is not familiar with.

“Charming friend, if you may add.” He extends his hand to Killian Decker, smile plastered on his face. “You can call me Valerio.”

Eventually, all of them are bewitched by the presence of the organization's legendary. Declan operates the strange machine that he has seen in the laboratory for the past few months, upon which a familiar floette is trapped by the contraption only to cause it shrieking in pain. He winces, observing how the act give the impression of siphoning the life out of the small creature, before all the energy hits the Lugia.

And it has never been like before.

Gavin's Shadow Lugia is a miasma of corrupted power. It is a gale that brings forward a resolute change. There is no doubt that Cillian Quinn, the revered underboss of Team Rocket, would be the harbinger of such cataclysm.

But the last time he meets the creature, he recalls how it becomes overpowered by the unknown tricks up the Lunala's sleeves. They both had to halt their battle, if not to destroy Mt. Pyre itself. He wonders if this would finally bring a conclusion on which creature is the most powerful.

Many applauds Gavin as he ascends to avatarship—Valerio is one of them. Although his words are not audible from his distance, he gives him a warm smile as if saying the same message.

Everyone's attention shifts to the group of shadow mons being brought up the dais.

He follows Alexandra Briarwood's lead, if only to choose one of them as well.

“Uh, can I still pick one? I'd like a playmate for shadow togepi here.”

There is no other explanation besides having a shadow Mime Jr. playing with Eggnog. He can only smile at the thought of such disaster.

EVENT: A TRANSFER OF POWER PT. 2
Alexandra Briarwood Killian Decker

“I'm trying to save you!”

The almost victim proves capable: not only does she manage to get out safe from chapel but she manages to catch up on him. Fortunately, such is the quirk of his darmanitan: although it appears with weird crystals jutting out from his body, no one can ever doubt a fire-type using freeze-dry. How will it be possible in the first place?

“I'm trying to melt this before the culprit escaped my watch!” He wears another person's voice with his words, trying to conceal his motives from his actions.

MISSION: SACRED FIRE (BB)
Melody Miro

“What do you mean you 'don't know what it means?' Of course when you go dragon hunting, you hunt dragons!”

Loonie doesn't leave the spot just yet, for when Valerio downs the glass full to quench his throat and prepare for a long story, he knows he has to make the next fill. His gaze, however, shots him as if obliging him already to make a tab. Valerio decides to ignore for the moment.

“My ancestors were heroes of Galar! We used to hunt dragons that razed the human realms until they there were no aggressive dragons to hunt anymore.”

Hearing himself verbalize the tale, it seems like he is telling a girl a bedtime story where there are warriors and dragons. It would be more incredible if he himself experienced a fraction of it. His only experience at dragon hunting is learning how to tame them.

And yet he wears the badge of the Dachev Sem'ya, the Dragon Hunters, because no one will be able now to do so.

“Yeah, I figure.” Drinking his third glass half-empty, he chooses to poke fun of what she indulges him. “So why are you battling now? Any motivation?”

SOCIAL
Alexandra Briarwood

Valerio is eager to listen, and with the gaze she gives him the man replies with a taunting grin.

“And to catch pokemons.” He shots a wink, a playful demeanor he carries before his attention is shifted to the the palossand.

The terrain is not sandy, but the creature finds itself comfortable above the rocky, misty landform. He releases the first one from his team—a dragonite—who starts flapping its wings and forming a HURRICANE, trapping its corporeal form as he reaches a pokeball from his pocket.

“Since you do it also, I guess it's okay, right?”

DUO WILD: CATCH PALOSSAND - 1
@eiwa