dominic blinks at priam slowly, processing this new information. he's not sure how he knew about lane's position - maybe a briefing document back from before navel rock tower? he knew the man was present there, and frankly, he's surprised lane didn't recognise him during the tower challenge based on his voice alone.

"i'm sure he does," dominic says eventually, remembering lucas's demeanour.

"what was he doing in a cave?" dominic frowns down at priam, masking his concern with annoyance. "do you often befriend random men in caves? what about forests?"

priam conrad

beyond them in the grass, dominic's zoroark flickers between the shadows, TAUNTING the wild pokemon with its mere presence; something not quite tangible, something just out of reach.

"fallarbor," dominic says after a moment.

"that tourist trap with the... kitschy glass souvenirs owes us protection money," he continues with a shrug.

marcel maeda
skipping

a pile of splayed limbs, dominic takes a moment to raise himself into a sitting position. he glares to hide the fact that he's surprised and the fall hurts. the cake's cream oozes between his fingers.

dominic opens his mouth to say something acerbic but nothing comes immediately.

"look where you're going?" he says after a moment, deciding to go on the offensive instead.

Lucas Lane

it only takes one pebble striking the togepi directly between the eyes to render it unconscious. as it is, the last attack was a result of the togepi summoning the absolute last dregs of her strength - it’s a miracle she was hanging on at all. dominic’s lips part in awe at his pokemon’s resilience.

the togepi drops to the ground, falling backwards as though in slow motion. it strikes the earth, rolling side to side weakly as a result of its momentum, but is otherwise totally still. everything is momentarily quiet and dominic’s silent rage finally boils over.

"what the fuck?!" he bellows at the retreating trainer, springing forward to finally return his unconscious pokemon to its capsule.

"what is wrong with you?"

dominic sets his sights on that little spoink and vows to ensure that little beast never draw breath again.

Bailey Cooper

"she... eva does?" dominic lets that knowledge rest for a moment. no one ever made him ice cream - not when he was a teenage rocket recruit, not even when he was underboss. he makes a mental not to make sure priam doesn't get spoiled and then shakes his head quickly.

"no, i mean lane."

priam conrad

taking a moment to read the screen, dominic has to narrow his eyes against the light as the sun is distracting despite the sunglasses. something training, something combat. he tries to not groan as he eyes his kubfu punching a pile of seaweed.

"you're saying you and ol' lucas lane wouldn't help?" dominic asks, flashing his teeth in a brief smile. he stretches and begins to make his way across the sand, turning to look back at marcel.

"oh and wake that thing up, it says we have to make them fight."

marcel maeda

dominic had to think about how to reply to the question posed to him. his time with lane had been limited, but it did put them through some trials. and if he couldn't pull his weight they wouldn't have made it to the top.

dominic raises a single shoulder in a shrug.

"he seemed alright. a bit lonely?"

he freezes, momentarily horrified. is that why priam had corralled them all together? his collection of sad, older men?

dominic glares at the car to try to not think about it. under the beating enacted on it by the metagross and kubfu, it's not like the twisted bits of metal resemble a 'car' any more.

Eva Dumont

tEkKNBfJ

"yeah, the three of us and..." dominic swivels around to face eva, his features drawn sharp and questioning. he wasn't very emotive, and this was the best he could do.

"did you know the kid is friends with the league head scientist?"

in the background, the kubfu begins to scream as it pummels the car in CLOSE COMBAT.

Eva Dumont

zk9MOCOD

dominic scoffs, a something between a muffled chuckle and a cough. it's doubtless the result of many years of abusing cigarettes.

"that man looked like he could take one of us in either arm and throw us off the tower," he mutters.

dominic wrinkles his nose and doesn't comment on the fact that sleeping isn't going to make marcel's kubfu any stronger. he looks away before he has to admit that it's kind of cute.

marcel maeda

dominic's interest had gravitated toward the metagross when it began throttling the husk of a car with an uncanny speed.

"huh?" he said, blinking at eva for a moment, as if trying to understand her interest in the little ursine pokemon.

"got it from a dude at the top of that tower. its dad beat the shit out of maeda and conrad's pokemon." it's not helpful and he doesn't know how to clarify for her.

Eva Dumont

0x9MxfOD

bailey + dominic

so since we're rivals now and i need to make a martial arts pun for the endeavour, we might have to kick it up a notch in future threads. hahahahahaahahhaasfjhdsgs.

i want to beat up piggie smalls.

dominic raises his fist, uncertain, his gaze swiveling between priam and his clenched fingers. the angle is off - he feels older than his years. this is awkward and embarrassing. he feels like Lucas Lane.

"this is a pretty cool moment, priam," he agrees, and FIST BUMPS his younger colleague. he only feels a little humiliated.

dominic catches sight of a few pokemon in the distance but looks away with disinterest.

priam conrad
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