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Lips were pursed into a thin line at her response. Honestly that was close to the expected result. A bad feeling had always filled his gut at the thought of the purpose behind those plates. As the sorceress cracked a smile, it was left a mystery as to rather it had truly been in jest or the kidding was tacked on to soften the terrible truth.
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Was the woman that merciful though?
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''Likewise,'' the 'fun' descriptor was answered through a slight frown. Enlightening would probably be closer to where the Galarian was himself, but even so not as enlightening as he would have liked. Silent observation of the jotted phone number brought reminiscence of old moves where a character signed a pact with an agent of evil.
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''Alright.'' And as simple as that, he agreed, momentarily remembering that a new phone needed to be acquired. His last had been shattered when he fell in the cave up in the Mauville hills. ''Thanks,'' he said to the retreating avatar and her well wishes. As the door closed and the footsteps died, a breath was released he didn't realize he was holding.
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''How the fuck am I going to come up with a plate...?''

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''Gʷeͪnͣgͭˢar geͩnͦʷgᶰar gͭeͪnͤgͬaͤr ganͭgͪaͤᶰr?'' The yamask hesitated. Never did he think he would get this far and that it would be so embarrassingly simple. Now his secrets were sure to get out. While the option to fight his nephew's gengar existed, he had never fought anything. And combat was sure draw attention.
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''Yʲaͧˢmͭaʲsͧˢkͭ yamaͫʸsk yͬaͤˢmͤaͣsͬkͨʰ'' Why would this simpleton pokemon care? Yet Epitaph did not look any less suspicious or curious. ''Gʷeͪnͣgͭar geᵏnͥᶰgͩar geͦᶠn gͬeͤˢnͤgͣaͬrͨʰ?'' Placing its little arms against its twig-like body, the yamask tried to be assertive.
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''Yᶰaͦmͭaͪsͥᶰkᵍ yaʸmͦaͧsk yʷaͦmͧˡaͩsk yᵍaͥmͮaͤsͣk yͭaͦˢmˢask yaͣᵇmͦaͧsͭk.'' Now the fiend appeared even more unconvinced. ''Gᵍeͧnͤˢgˢar gʷeͤˡnˡgar gˢeͤnͤgar geͭnͪgͤᶰar.'' The gengar floated forwards down the first few steps. ''Yʷaʷmͣaͥsͭk! Yͥaͭˢmasͩkͣᶰ ᵍyͤaͬmͦaͧˢsk yaͩmͦʷaᶰsk ͭmͪaͤsͬkͤ!'' A glare fired across the gengar's bulbous shoulder.
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''Gʸeͦnͧgar gͨeͣᶰnͦᶰgˡaʸr geͩnͥgͤar genͦᶰgͨaͤr.'' The ghost pokemon continued as the yamask flailed his thin appendages. Why could he never be intimidating to his bullies? Even all the way back to when he had been a human child in his previous life. To suffer the same indignities even now was cruel, unfair. All part of his curse.
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The yamask could only drift after the ally turned trespassor. The stairway grew dark to the point of an abyss, but such places were often home to ghost types. No light was required here. As the undead duo reached the bottom, the room that stretched before them was rather cramped.
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Tables, desks, bookcases, chests, cabinets were piled in any way that they would fit. The occasional statue drew Epitaph's attention, but the piece de resistance was the shroud covered object in the middle of it all. It dominated the room, easily the largest item within, nearly touching the ceiling.
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''Gʷeͪnͣgͭˢar geͭnͪgͥˢar gᵖeˡnͣgͨaͤr?'' There was a moment of considered silence before an answer came. ''Yͣaͬmͭaͤᶠsͣkͨ.ͭˢ Yͧaͪmͥaͭsͤkͫˢ yͭaͪmͣaͭskͥ yͨaͦˡmˡaͤsͨkͭ ͤyͩaͦᶰmͫʸasͤkͯᵖ ͤyͩaͥmͭaͥsͦᶰkˢ. Yᶰaͦmͭaͪsͥᶰkᵍ yͥaͫᵖmͦaͬsͭkͣᶰ ͭyʲaͧˢmͭᵖaͦsͭˢk yͣᶰaͩmaˢsͨkͧˡ ᵖyͭaͧmͬaͤˢsk yͬaͤmͣˡaˡsʸk .'' Another disbelieving look was fired at the yamask.
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Was he this bad of a liar in his previous life?
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''Gʷeͪnͣgͭˢar gͭeͪnͣgͭar?'' The mystery dome was pointed out with a three fingered hand. ''Yᶰaͦmͭaͪsͥᶰkᵍ.'' The gengar blinked. ''Gᶰeͦnͭgͪaͥᶰrᵍ...? Gͭeͪnͣgͭarͣ geͬnͤgͣˡar gᵇeˡnͦgͦaͩʸr geᵇnͥᵍgar gᶰeͦnͭgͪaͥᶰrᵍ.'' Hovering over, his hand grasped the first edge of a sheet that he could find.
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''Yamͩaͦᶰsͭk.'' But he did anyway, pulling the sheets back to reveal a tower of squared stone curved up and away, a repeat of what looked like two structurally similar ones from what he could see from the makeshift tent. The surface was baked, beaten stone, cracked and coarse. Designs and unfamiliar lettering were scrawled all upon what had been revealed.
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''Geͭnͪgͥˢar... geͥˢnᶰgͦaͭr ᶰgͦeͭnͪgͥᶰaᵍr.''

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The blond's presumption would have been proven correct. Andy had seen a cell for not backing down in the face of superior authority, and had picked fights with a councilman, the commissioner's body guard, an even briefly tussled with a member of the Elite Four. Not to mention Team Rocket and two top megalopolans. Rare was it for him to retreat, and impossible when he held this much advantage.
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''I value your opinion, Kino.'' That was all that was said on the matter, since the newer youth seemed determined to stay, for whatever reason. Unless he had shown up to steal something, Andy mostly wouldn't have cared to slum it in someone's camp without invitation. Perhaps if they had had an arcade or a move theater. And few camps were as well equipped as even his simple set up.
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''A good spot?'' An eyebrow arched at the blind boy and his primate companion. ''Must have been - '' The word 'fate' seemed attractive with how things had been falling into place as of late, but he didn't want to publicly commit to that much superstition. ''Lucky.'' Now that sounded like he still held the reigns of his own destiny.
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And perhaps that was his biggest superstition of all.
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''I'm sure this thing has a superior since of smell,'' the solution was offered for the other boy's confusion given Hideo's unfortunate impediment. Of course his delivery oozed with smarm. Given his foul mood at the situation, comments on his friend's overbearing family were kept to himself. Besides, he and the blind boy had thoroughly traversed that predicament.
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''Oh! Oh! Oh!'' A voice familiar to one of the two visitors came. A shiny rotomdex flitted through the gathered pokemon to ogle the zarude. ''A strange new pokemon!'' It hovered around uncomfortably close. ''Fascinating! Fascinating!'' The Galarian grumbled. While it was just fulfilling his purpose, Andy wasn't in the mood.
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''Buzz off, Buzzer. Hideo can bring around his new chimp anytime for you to irritate.'' The tone lightened slightly as he looked back to youngest present. ''As I was going to saw before I was interrupted, you can plant your seeds wherever you like.'' A glance was sent skyward as he tried to shake his own gloom. ''That sounded rather suggestive...''
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''Awwww. Blackadder, Andy pllllllleeeeeaaaassssee let me study it now!'' The hints of a smile disappeared at the whining.

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There was a silence following the answer that was only punctuated by a frown. It was a gamble, well known before the first syllable had been uttered. Still, no one liked to crap out. While normally stealing wasn't some high moral bar that just could not be crossed, obtaining an item like this was at the least going to bring him into conflict with one or more trainers, and gain him the League's notice.
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It was the intention that there would be a time where such things were trifling matters. The desire to sink the League and as well as the other disparate factions of Hoenn. Now as he was, even as he would be when he left this bed, was not yet opportune. None the less, Giratina was a piece of the puzzle and little was more important than seeing the lay of the land before making any moves.
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A number of responses tumble through his head and he waffled back and forth. Greed could really derail his machinations before the train even left the station. As always, an appropriate amount of caution was needed to build the future he wanted, for himself and for Hoenn. Rather she could see the uncertainty or just as reassurance Fairburne saw it fit to provide a demonstration.
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Lips parting slightly, he peered into the rip in dimensions.
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This must be where she took Big Red... The theft from the doomed Church of Arceus was recalled. Then an epiphany. Is this where he lives? A realm between worlds of sorts? It seemed similar to phantom force, but just never coming out the other side. And there were things within the window as well, structures in the distance.
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''A whole world inside...'' Came a quiet utterance. It was no wonder she had been so brazen. One could hide forever within. One had. ''I'll get you your rock.'' Even though the answer came, his gaze wasn't removed from her sorcery. ''Just as soon as I get my feet back under me.'' Finally, chocolate hues met her fiery ones.
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''What happens when you put all of them together?''

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Almost on cue with Hideo's mention of her, Ruby seemed to arrive to join the rest of his doomed expedition party. Retina's still scorched, he could have sworn she was wearing scrubs. Did the girl work as a nurse? Part of him wouldn't be surprised. It seemed like a good career for her, all things considered. Andy was more concerned with the need for disposable dishware.
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''Oi, so it's a cake then?'' It was uncertain if the 'maybe' uttered by the captain was in answer to his query or not, but interest in the mystery box were allayed by the proclamation of their intended upward direction. ''What!?'' Going to sit up quickly earned the patient a wince of agony before he eased back and spoke through clinched teeth.
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''Are you fucking bonkers?! As soon as all this equipment disappears the nurses are going to think I am dead! The ward will be in a bloody panic!'' A pleading look at shot at Ruby for some manner of reinforcements here. ''And there's no damned AC on the roof! Did you bring everyone here just to watch me get tortured!? Arceus fuck!''

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What a mess. But this is Hoenn. Messy is the standard modus operandi. The violence leaves some kid (Roman Maher) quivering on the floor and another stranger (boruta maher) whisking him away. His own concern was for the retreating Eris Halla. Providing a smarmy glare of disdain at all the trouble makers, save for perhaps Chu-e Choi, the boy turned on his good heel to limp after the girl.
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Navigating the crowd was done carefully as his balance wasn't the best hobbled as he was. For a moment it was considered to pay a visit to the lavatory to retrieve Hideo Kino, but honestly his friend was likely safer there. Following the long gone girl through a thrown open door, he halted in his tracks at the sight of the minior. A memory struck him.
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''The same shits from Sootopolis.'' With a shimmer and a puff, his white gengar slid from his shadow to reform his existence. Eyes poured over the glistening night sky worried they would detect another massive threatening presence. Would the long, green mystery pokemon return? When the horizon seemed to be without any world ending threats his gaze was peeled away.
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''Hey!'' Epitaph had caught one of the wayward miniors within his gullet, having either seen their previous foe consume them, or merely been allured by the bright candy colors. Hobbling down a short flight of steps the tip of his cane was prodded at the ghost pokemon. ''Come on. You don't eat that shit. Spit it out. Now!'' Grumbling and annoyed, Taph complied.
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The poor slob covered indigo creature flopped from the maw, spinning around on the ground in a daze. Perhaps he had coached his gengar wrong the last time they had encountered these. Pressing his cane-free hand into his pocket again, he produced a pokeball, letting the orb absorb the colorful little thing. Epitaph just glared.
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''That was just for the one time. You don't eat these,'' he scolded. ''Now come on. Let's find Eris, grab Hideo, and blow this popsicle stand. The idiocy is getting too thick in there.'' Walking off, the gengar remained planted for a few moments before finally joining him. ''Eris?'' He called. ''Eris are you out here?''

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''Cram your critiques. You being impressed is far from the fucking intention. You being surprised isn't my fucking concern. I know I have good taste in location, I picked it. I don't give shit one way or another about knowing your simpleton ass either.'' The de-escalation wasn't nearly enough for his liking, especially since he's told the blond to quiet down or leave.
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Since he had done neither at this rate he was choosing violence.
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''Go somewhere else for your decent entrainment.'' It had only been due to Hideo's presence he hadn't explelled the interloper with gusto as it stood. Hideo, bless him, tried to make nice, nonchalantly explaining the acquisition of his new pokemon as it approached his singular crop and deposited on the ground.
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''I can see that,'' he said at his friend's mention that there was plenty of development the monkey needed. Both runerigus and cofagrigus glared tentatively, at the creature's approach. Their trainer noted the primate's curiosity. At Aaron's potential step both ghost types swiveled their attention to him, the runerigus hissed, it's rocky form unfolding to reveal the haunted tendrils between.
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A silver shimmering mist began to emit from the Galarian boy, shades of lavender dancing through the little cloud as he glowered. Andy found some serious flaws in the other youth's hearing, in his perception of the situation. It was if he hadn't just come into his camp, called him a cripple and then wanted to argue as if he had any importance to him at all.
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''Not yet.'' A command that wasn't for the trespassor, even if he was looking right at him. The duo coffin and rune relaxed, the mist disappeared into the darkness around him, evaporating out of sight. ''If you can learn to pipe down. Or I'm going to impress you in a number of ways you'll neither enjoy or forget. Savvy? After casting ocular daggers a moment longer his gaze dropped to Hideo.
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''What does it want with my plant?''

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''Shart hound, you don't know shit about the Rockets or me.'' As for the whistle, there were a ton of woos and coos and haws on Mt. Pyre. He had long since gotten acclimated. ''If you got your pokemon you can close your dick sucker and get out of my fucking camp. There's only room for one shithead around here, and that's me.''
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He wasn't going to suffer a thorn in his side in his own sanctuary.
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''You can cry about that proper pokemon battle shit in a stadium. This ain't one. Keep pushing it. You'll be ejected.'' While his glare did not lighten as it shifted to Hideo, it wouldn't make much difference since it would go unnoticed. ''Someone just gave you one of those things? Rocket burned down a chunk of Fortree just trying to get one, and some jerk off was just handing them out?''
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If it had come from anyone but Hideo...
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''Yeah. They had their own ideas back in Fortree too...'' Came the comment on the pokemon's independence. Andy wasn't sure if it was Hideo's style or just bad luck, but the boy seemed to have issues with getting his brood to be obedient. If he was coming into more powerful creatures, that might eventually be a real cause for concern, but not one the blind boy seemed content to dwell on.
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''We've met,'' he answered sharply as the conversation moved on.

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''The unown was an outsi- Whatever. Just bugger off then.'' Peeling his eyes from a retreating Hideo Kino, chocolate hues combed over the chaos. The megaed orbeetle was hard to miss, and even without seeing him around, it was certain John Sullivan was in close proximity. Some unknown dark haired boy (Roman Maher) had picked a fight with Eris Halla.
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Typically something he might have taken issue with, but everyone and their mom was on top of it already. The kid produced a knife, to which an amused exhale escaped him from his distant observation. Even he hadn't been so unruly to attempt to stab someone, and he was from Wyndon. It looked like Ji-hoon Ki (Chu-e Choi) was going to get it too, until some stranger ended up in his place.
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''Bloody hell. Look at this chavery.'' A hand was prodded at Epitaph, who's grin curled at the callback to their homeland. ''Attend me, Taph. Let's attempt demonstrate some Galarian diplomacy.'' The white gengar mystified, flowing into the dark folds of his trainer's clothes until he disappeared. The cane tapped once again as he maneuvered to the best of his abilites.
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''Miss Eris,'' gingerly did he lay his fingers upon the girl's shoulder. He could see she was coiled like a snake. It was familiar place. ''Nevermind this shit. Might I have this dance?'' Tone of voice was controlled for charm just as had been hammered into him in the one year of finishing school he had endured. It was best to become unplugged from the situation.
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If he could get her to come along he could grab Hideo and head outside, where hopefully there would be less foolishness.

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The wayward attacks drew his attention and that of his pokemon. The drifblim swiveled towards them. The two Alolan marowaks standing sentry by the doors of the cabin cast an intense glares. A cofagrigus and a runerigus glided over the grass to stand nearby their trainer. A decidueye lit on the crest of the roof. In the distance, countless eyes lined the trees.
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While pokemon emerging from the foliage were a cause for concern, the alert level lowered when a somewhat familiar blond followed soon after. His greeting was only met with a glower. The Galarian wondered if this was one of those people whose very nature would always just rub him the wrong way. Time would tell.
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''You got some balls rolling up into my camp talking that shit, taint biscuit. I'd find my way to a more respectful tone real quick or I can provide you with almost eighty reasons to contemplate the meaning of the phrase 'overwhelming force.''' He hadn't mouthed off to Katherine Fairburne with only one limb because it would have been stupid.
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So too would picking a fight in the middle of a trainer's largely ghost pokemom sanctuary...
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The rustling of bushes drew the focus of the tension to another familiar face, or two. While Hideo was a surprise, it startled him more to see the boy's ... protective (?) pokemon. It was the creature from Fortree. His annoyance for the jibes at his physical ails faded, replaced by a disturbed curiosity.
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''Bloody hell, Hideo. You show up in the damnedest places. Where the fuck did you get that thing?''

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The low profile was apparent. Unware was Andy that the older Galarian was even in the region up until a couple of minutes ago. There was a small part of the boy that wished he could maintain a low profile, but it wasn't enough to make any difference. Rowan thought him lucky. Perhaps he was, but he wanted more than to just survive.
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''Yeah, and you couldn't even handle the truth.'' Despite his being bedridden, Blackadder wasn't about to take anything lying down. Nevertheless, his fellow countryman made a poignant observation. Andy of course had his own take. ''Things were simple in Galar. All there was to endure was school bullshit and acting like we were worthy of our DNA.''
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A word spoken with clear disdain.
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''Here there are real fucking problems. Petty shit is unimportant.'' Memories were searched in vain. ''Who was it that wrote that adversity breeds strong people, strong people bring peace, peace breeds bitch asses, and bitch asses bring adversity?'' He scoffed. ''Just think, if we stayed in Galar we could have ended up some real bitch asses.''

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Only a crooked smile came at her first question. She hadn't denied it, but had deflected again. There wasn't any reason to lie for lying's sake. Were the woman as faithful to her deity as she claimed, why would any death not for the express purpose of His goal be of any importance?
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But then that begged the question of the purpose of the visit.
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It seemed as if the Galarian had wormed his way into her good graces insofar as to get the knowledge he had nearly died to learn. Then of course she had remembered the carrot she had to dangle. Almost only counted in horse shoes and hand grenades. Then again, he had almost died too.
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A near miss wasn't always a bad thing.
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Of course, the slab. The smile disappeared, at least on his own face. While she said she hadn't come for it, the lust to collect them was apparent. He had to admit though, trading a scrap of information for such a request to someone who he, and presumably she, thought was gullible would be just like something he would do himself.
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''A tall order.'' His head canted to the side at the magnitude of the ask. ''And one that requires quite a bit of legwork.'' A hand was touched to one of his casts, ''going to be short on legs for a while.'' Was this too bold? Boundaries had never been his specialty. Here went nothing.
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''Is information for information not a fair trade? I can tell you where to find a whole ass slab, not some mere piece or something. I know exactly where it's being kept.'' To know the motivation of god was worth stepping around a principle or two. ''It would probably be treason or some shit to tell you, but hell, a price I'm willing to pay.''

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