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''Gengaaar!'' The ghost pokemon backed out of striking distance as Andy glowered in his direction. ''It's fine. I can take care of myself.'' While he didn't want to admit it, he would probably shriek like a girl having something as otherworldly as a dewpider crawling up his arm. Not to mention he wasn't sure what the strange saliva would do to it if ingested.
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Life occasionally surprised you with an odd experience here and there, but they seemed to be appearing more and more as time went on. Never had he met someone who had been a fan of his parent's work. Many praised grand parents, great grand parents, and even great great grandparents sometimes, but those were typically the most stodgy and elitist of intellectuals.
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''Glad you liked her shit,'' he finally responded to Doug's praise. ''She spent pretty much all of her time writing those books.'' A statement which implied plenty even without the bitterness that was woven into each syllable. ''Guess she was making somebody out there happy though.'' He said, still moping at his face with his shirt.
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''Anyway,'' he wanted to pivot away from all the events of his old Galarian life. Sometimes Hoenn reminded him that he missed his home country, and sometimes it reminded him why he left. ''I have a spare bed at my camp, if you're interested. It ain't the ritz, but it's more peaceful and private than some tent city.'' He fired another glare at Epitaph, ''he can sleep on the floor while we got guests.''

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For a moment he thought a joke was coming, but this Hideo seemed to play it straight thus far. He supposed he couldn't blame the other boy for not hearing any gripes about the League. Who discussed politics with a kid? He couldn't blame him for taking what he could get. After all the trouble he had incurred for trying to help at Mauville, he couldn't imagine what horrors would have befallen Hideo.
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''I was actually looking for a good place to stuff my face. Shit just happened.'' He shrugged in earnest. ''Like always.'' An addition with audible bitterness. It seemed as if it may go unnoticed though. The younger boy was off down the street after a ferroseed. Andy sauntered along after him, Epitaph giving a questioning glance as he followed suit.
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''Might as well make sure he doesn't get wrecked. Those ugly little fuckers are like mace heads,'' the gengar's concern was addressed. The two arrived just as Hideo had his prize. It looked like the situation was well handled. Perhaps this kid was more capable than he looked for a blind guy. His chocolate orbs blinked at their question. Few had ever bothered to learn his pokemon's name.
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''Aye, that he was. He was a gastly when I caught him though.'' The ghost frowned. He never liked his first defeat being recounted, especially for someone they just met. ''I was a lot younger than you at the time. How old are you anyway? At the crown of the building by which the two stood, another pokemon appeared. It glared down at the two.
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The ferroseed's cries had drawn the bronzong's attention. It couldn't believe it. It was too late to protect his little spiky friend. Who had done the deed? The bigger one, or the little one? It didn't take long to decide. If they had taken its little friend, it would take theirs. Levitating over the side of the building, the bell pokemon angled down on the smaller boy with a heavy slam.
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''GENGAR!'' Andy's pokemon slapped his shoulder, and after a glance up at the rocketing assailant, he jerked forwards hoping to tackle the smaller boy out of the way. Perhaps one or both of them would get scuffed up slamming into the concrete so recklessly, but it was better than being a pancake. As the bronzong fell, he slowed however.
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With the use of his ghostly poltergeist, he froze the bronzong in the air. Its eyes blinked in confusion before narrowing at the gengar. But Epitaph wasn't waiting to see the counterattack, slamming the bell into the street rather than the sidewalk with a metallic clonk. Scrambling to his feet, Andy quickly pressed another ball onto the disabled attacker. Best get it out of the way.

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''Ew,'' he said leaning away from Angelo as he leaned in. It was little too dark to tell exactly what he was doing. ''What, you want a kiss or something? Sorry, you're too plain for me.'' Of course he hoped he wasn't being propositioned, but hell you never knew. And they were in a dark cave. Where better to be a creep?
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''No sweat, just put as much effort into throwing as you do lifting weights.'' His hand rose to rub at his face again after addressing the sole female. ''Might want to get your ho ass man though. He's snugging up close over here. Better he likes your big head than my little one,'' he said with a sneering smile, although it would likely be obscured by the murk.
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The royal that he was, Remiel seemed to keep his head above such chatter and keep things on track, directing the remaining three to combat the darkness and stay on their toes. The axew and sealeo in tow, Andy fished around his person for yet another ball, hoping he had found the right one out of his collection. After a brief illumination from the pokeball, an Alolan marowak appeared.
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''Maro! Maro...?'' All it could see was the glowing starmie. ''Hey girl. Light up the the tunnel with a little fire. The pokemon nodded, the gesture being highlighted by her flaming bone. ''Wak! Wak!'' Skull clad lizard spun their bone briefly, channeling fire blast into each end to cause them glow brightly, as if it were a twin torch.

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''Not really,'' he answered the kid's question while pocketing the freshly filled pokeball. ''Have you seen who runs this place?'' Then he realized the phrasing. Of course they hadn't. Perhaps it would come off as a stab at them. Though whatever faux pas he committed was distracted by a minun approaching the other trainer, apparently distraught.
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Gengar came to stand by him as they observed the situation. Andy tensed as the little rabbit pokemon sprung his ambush. Something had felt off about it, but it wasn't like he was a pokemon mind reader. Their lycanroc had the situation in tow however. Soon, the crafty bunny belonged to the younger boy as well, after a deserved thrashing.
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''Blackadder,'' he answered, crossing his arms over his chest. ''Andy Blackadder.'' Gengar glanced at him with a lopsided grin, almost rolling his eyes. Look at his master trying to make himself sound cool. ''What are you doing out here?'' 'Alone' was almost added as well, but since he got annoyed with people always asking why he was wandering alone, it was decided to drop it.
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''Gengar.'' The ghost tugged at the sleeve on his shirt, pointing with his free hand at a klang that was peering around a corner. Or at least it looked like it was peering. Did it even have eyes? Spotted, the klang got defensive, and came around the corner to seem threatening and scare the two trainers off. It said nothing, but magnetically made metallic sounds.
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''Deal with it, Epitaph.'' Now his grin came back to full luster. His hands came up as dark energy cracked in between them to form a shadow ball. He flung it at the steel gear and who seemed to freeze at the display of power. After the crackle of the impact, Andy drew another pokeball, tossing it into the air and catching it a couple of times before flinging it at the disabled pokemon.

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While he found the summery of Hoenn rather apt, part of him also found it a little too lenient for his tastes. Perhaps he had been spoiled by growing up, or growing some of the way up, in a country that had a strong history and a storied people. It wasn't as if this region had been recently settled, although it was far less stable.
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Hadn't he heard that Team Rocket ran the very city in which they stood with an iron fist not so long ago? The boy took Remi's explanation to mean that the League hungered for a more firm peace so much so that the ends justified the means. And it was always trouble when the ends justified the means. Even he wasn't that recklessly self centered.
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''Still, she didn't have to trouble... you, of all people.'' It seemed entirely possible to him that no one back home would even believe him if he told them about this. 'The Galarian prince got you out of detainment!? No way!' After a short walk, and an even shorter command his possessions were back in his hands. ''Thanks again, mat- er, your highness.'' Then Mauville was mentioned.
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''Aye. I barely recognized you until after. Too much shit going on until it all kind of stopped suddenly.'' Especially for the previous champion. ''That's why I am here. League's chewing my ass off for being on a war front. Seems like those megalopolan fucks hit a few places at once. The fuck was I supposed to do? Hide in the woods?'' Of course he had attempted it.
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''Shit, I even tried that! Some hulking fuck set them on fire!'' So much about recent events got his blood boiling. The boy griped as he walked, stuffing belongings into pockets as he went. ''They're pissy just because they woulda looked bad if I died. As if it's only their rep that makes a fuck. I squared off against that Coliretard or whoever and his bitch and this is the thanks I get.'' A scoff escaped him.
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''Then they go and let that wanker slip off into the night until the next time he deigns to slide of a magic portal like a wet shit.'' But then Remiel had been there in the sky too. The kill even went to him, his zekrom's flames washing over the assailants. ''I bet they didn't give you any gratitude either, eh? No appreciation for Galarian talent in this fucking chamber pot of a region.''

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At first he didn't realize the direction of the question about the risk the wilds of the region carried. Doug must have noticed the pokemon's healed wounds. His commentary wasn't wrong. Ravana still had plenty of fight in her, though the Blackadder boy worried about further risks to one of the few pokemon he possessed that held such sentimental value.
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''It's bad with aliens. She got snapped up by a guzzlord at Mauville. A vikavolt had to sever the limb clean to save her.'' Of course, his peer seemed to be working out a problem in his head. He had that thoughtful look in his eye, as if the wheels were turning. As the question slowly rolled out, it seemed the fellow youth had worked out his lineage.
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Probably one of the few who had since he had come here.
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''Aye. One in the same. She wrote a couple of others too, I think.'' So much time had she spent pinning those tomes that it left quite the deficit for quality time with her offspring, or at least that's how it felt to him. He had never taken the time to really learn the titles. Each read as an admonishment to his existence. ''Not really ever read any of them,'' he admitted with a shrug.
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''Bugs ain't really as much of a thing for me. I dig ghosts.'' At this, Epitaph inhaled both the ice cream and cone, and after slurping them down, gave his trainer a big lick. It was the most annoying show of affection he could think of in the heat of the moment. ''Gengaaaar!'' Andy mopped at the ectoplasmic slob with his sleeve. ''Fucking hell! I'm about to have one less!''

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''And whose fault is that, slugger?'' He jibbed at Skyler's answer about her seemingly dim pokemon. The other man could barely contain his laughter. It wasn't supposed to be him serving as the butt of all the jokes! ''Yeah, yeah, very funny dick breath,'' he mumbled at Angelo's quip about clearing a path. None the less, the deed was done and the group carried on to the next obstacle.
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The rubble revealed even more 'treasures.' The boy obviously wasn't sure how much they were worth, but he hoped it was a pretty penny. Nothing felt more satisfyingly independent than making his own money, especially with such ease. Remiel identified them with what looked like only a glance to Andy. He had no clue what an omanyte was.
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As another wall loomed out of the darkness, the prince led the way by example again, having his pokemon launch an attack on the earthen barrier. Andy considered what to use here. He wasn't entirely sure of the sealeo's arsenal, since it wasn't his. However his little axew he was fairly familiar with. Still amazed him how such an adorable creature packed such a punch.
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''Alright boy,'' he called the little dragon's attention. ''Hit it with a duel chop.'' The axew's eyes glimmered at being called upon to help once again.

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She seemed to be laughing at the unofficial title he had assigned to her, but part of him couldn't help but wonder if she was amused at the idea that he had things to do. Really it was just that he didn't want to end up going on some tirade that would get him detained again, though the commissioner seemed to not suffer from the same affliction as the councilman.
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''No.'' He spat. ''That doesn't mean I want to be sitting here all day either. Adults really must think I can't do anything but waste time, right?'' It was no wonder they were upset about his involvement at Mauville. All he was good for was sitting around playing video games and jerking off, complaining about the dishes and the laundry. Heavens forbid he was motivated to do anything of import.
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''Tch.'' Reprimanding anyone cursing him out? Andy was the one doing the cursing. Fernando had called him a 'little shit' as he recalled, but it was nothing compared to the verbal brutalizing the CEO had received in return. Part of him felt as if the woman was just empty talking until she asked if he was okay. Could a politician be so sincere?
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The boy sighed. Moving to a chair one over from Dahlia, he pulled it out and had a seat. Could he be sincere? Well, often he was sincerely an asshole, but could such a thing be applied so liberally to honesty? Life had felt much more serious after the megalopolan invasion. Perhaps the experience had caused a change in perspective.
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''What's the point of all this shit,'' he asked, hands coming up to gesture at the room. ''That girl died. And the League just stepped over her pancaked corpse like it wasn't even there and kept going. I was so close to the shit that ended her I could have reached out and touched it. I risked my fucking life to help take those two alien assholes down and all I've gotten is shit for it.'' He grumbled.
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''Meanwhile, some asshole nearly sat me on fire earlier in the fight because I had the audacity to exist in the same fucking space as the forest and I don't see him sat in here to get his asscheeks chewed off. Don't see him detained until further notice. That Silph shithead said I didn't recognize 'efficiency.' Bloody hell. The devastation at Mauville was unimaginable, people died.'' The chair creaked as he leaned back harshly, crossing his arms.
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''And it wasn't even the only place that was ruined. I heard Lilycove is like half underwater. If that's efficient this region is doomed. HNN is all about 'oh but we're fixing it.' The League doesn't give a damn about anything but its reputation. Why am I here getting bitched at and tossed in a cell for defending myself? Because if I had ended up like your champion, it would have looked bad.'' A harsh exhale escaped his nose.
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''This place feels hollow as fuck.''

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At the trainer's flinch, the gengar's trademark grin appeared in the darkness and widened until he chuckled in a ghostly flange. Though the laughter died when he saw that they were armed with a gat. Perhaps he truly had stumbled onto a criminal up to no good. His eyes narrowed. Having never even seen a gun in the flesh, he wondered if it could even hurt him.
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''Gengar...?'' His spooking victim's pokemon bristled at him as well. His red gaze shifted. Now this threat he was a little more familiar with, and his near two dimensional shadowy form along with wall began to pulse and emit a purple mist that flickered various ghostly glows that shone in the dying sun. ''Gengar!''
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''Oi! What's all this then?'' Andy called from the alley's mouth at their greeting. His chocolate eyes drank in what could be seen in the darkness. His form stiffened. An older boy was stood, fearsome kabutops at his side, and a pistol in hand. Were they some mugger? He had known that Epitaph would get him into trouble by wandering off trough dark alleys in the night.
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''Ts! Let him be Epitaph.'' The youth tried to play it cool. Half shadow, half mist, the ghost pokemon's eyes closed and he flowed incorporeally down the length of the bricks to where his master stood, phasing out of the wall to take shape in front of him. Though he still pulsed with dark energy to try and look intimidating in defense of his trainer.
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''Look mate, I ain't sure what shady business you up to, but Taph was just having a laugh.'' He shoved his hands into his pockets and tried not to look like he was worried he would get shot. ''No harm done, eh?'' Despite trying to keep his own tone light, gengar no longer looked amused, his grin pressed straight in serious observation.

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At first the boy was aghast that it was such royalty that had come to refurnish his freedom. It came as another surprise altogether when he heard the man state that he was the head of the Galarian Embassy. He supposed status came with many positions. It was unfathomable to him how his rescuer had time to even sleep with all the titles, job titles and otherwise.
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She must have called the embassy rather than waste time driving over here to Slateport,'' he theorized his aunt's actions before frowning. I'm a waste of time. Sure her home was nearly on the other side of Hoenn, but in the time it had taken for her to call someone else and have them get their asses in gear, she could have come herself twice over.
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Priorities.
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Rising from his uncomfortable seat as the guard was served his papers, he slid past the guard with a smirk and with a slight jog was apace with the Galarian prince. The cool sensation at his feet told him that it wouldn't just be the two of them walking out either. Andy for once in his life could thank his lucky stars, rather than feeling the world was out to get him.
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''He's already with us,'' he answered enthusiastically. The prince was already preparing to suck on a cigarette. Smoking indoors. How cool. A sliver of his mind wondered just how expensive the brand of cigs were. ''Did my aunt call the embassy? The bint could have just come herself.'' Of course he couldn't help just being a little bitter.
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''Was this whole shitty deal even legal? I mean, I came here on my own as requested. Seems corrupt to just toss me in the slammer for talking shit.'' Scoffing, he shoved his hands in his pockets. ''Sometimes its like the League goes out of the bloody way to look corrupt.'' Bitching to royalty as he weaved through the League HQ. Not a situation he ever imagined for himself.
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''Oh, uh.'' Now gratitude wasn't forte, but it really seemed like some was merited here. ''Thanks for bailing me out. Probably would have rotted in there ad infinitum if my relatives were left to their devices.'' Granted gengar had done well, but he had still gotten caught in the end. Who knew how badly the things would have escalated if Remiel hadn't arrived when he did.
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''How can I get my confiscated shit back, uh, your grace?'' He wasn't quite sure of proper protocol here. Normally he wouldn't have bothered, but the man did just bail him out. Not to mention, the royal family was some of the oldest blood in Galar. Perhaps it was just in his DNA as a fellow Galarian to have some reverence for that.

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