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Post by kreigsmaschine on Jan 5, 2015 16:33:25 GMT -7
Alcher watched with big eyes as the two trainers prepared for battle. The man in the suit almost looked surprised to see his opponent had a Pokemon, but that didn't seem right to Alcher. She must've just misread him. A voice next to her alarmed her, as she'd been too absorbed in the scene inside to notice that the previous boy had left the gym. He was standing next to her now, and she shrunk away a bit. Lowenmaul's ears lowered and a tiny growl escaped its throat, but Alcher waved her off for now. "I really don't expect much," she said, her voice small and quiet. Her nerves were prickling her skin, and she couldn't tell if it was because of the boy next to her, or the events unfolding inside.
Suddenly the Suit Man's Gengar was out, and it was changing shape. But...Gengar didn't evolve, did it? Her eyes widened as it emerged from the shadows, completely transformed. "Whoooooooaa!" she exhaled, pressing her face to the glass. "What jus' happened!? I've never seen som'thin' like that before!" she gaped. Pyroar stood on its back legs to look in as well, giving a weary glance to the boy next to her trainer.
Before she knew it, the battle was over, and the Suit Man was backing out, Houndoom in tow. Forgetting the kid next to her, Alcher quickly abandoned her post and scrambled over to the Suit Man as he exited the gym. "Wait! Wait up!" she called out, Pyroar close at her feet, even more weary of this man. "How'd you do that? With your Gengar?? I mean, you totally got wasted, but that was so cool! It changed!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide and naive.
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Post by X on Jan 5, 2015 18:06:31 GMT -7
X breathed a sigh of relief as the Gengar appeared floating on the pool's surface. Midas called forth his Houndoom and X knew he was finished. He wouldn't have known what to do if the battle had gone otherwise, but it had resolved itself in the best way he could have hoped. Who knows what Midas would have done to Olivia? X felt drained at the thought.
He had gotten away without having to show allegiance, which was good, but X now had to brace himself for what came next. Midas had used X's name back in the gym. X hoped Olivia wouldn't infer the relationship between them, but he knew she wasn't dumb. What would he say when he saw her again? She had once been Team Aqua, maybe she would understand. But what if she didn't? What if she held his feet to the fire and made him cut off his black market ties? That was a very dangerous path to walk. Perhaps, then, the best option was to avoid her altogether. Skip town right now and continue to the next gym. He might be able to explain to her better once he had proven himself in the League. At the very least he wouldn't stand to have his license taken away.
"Wait! Wait up!" the girl had taken off after Midas while X had been thinking.
"Hey! Stop! Don't talk to him!" X spoke with urgency just louder than speaking volume, but it was no use. She was already going.
X didn't know what Midas would do to someone he deemed to be in his way right now, but he didn't want the girl to be subject. Midas might also see her as help and try to recruit her. On the streets, running for the black market wasn't a bad idea. It made it so you didn't have to look over your back quite so much. But there were healthier places to start than under Midas. It was bound to go poorly if you didn't know what you were getting in to. "Shit" X muttered under his breath as he quickly swapped his jacket for the red hoodie in his bag. If Midas realized X was still around, he would probably expect help in making his escape. Especially because few people knew the streets and waterways of the sunken city like X. He had to be ready for that possibility. As he tied the bandanna over his face, X took off after the girl as fast as he could.
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Post by Olivia Torpid on Jan 5, 2015 21:56:14 GMT -7
Olivia followed the hunter out of the doors, Swampert in tow. She watched out of the doors of the gym as the failed assassin took off down the narrow boardwalks that surrounded the canals of Fiume. Olivia was getting old, and gym leading was supposed to get her out of the shit. The last time Olivia had had a gun pointed at her, she had been wearing Team Aqua's colors. She watched as a young woman and her Pyroar took off after the poacher. And then a young man in a red jacket. The figure was familiar, though she couldn't see his face. Olivia wondered if it was X. She had told him to leave when Alexander had invaded her gym. She had feigned caution; in truth, she feared he would be a problem. The hunter had called him by name. Olivia didn't appreciate unknown variables.
"Wake," Olivia summoned the Wartortle. "You ready to help me out again?"
The Pokemon nodded. Olivia hadn't sent Wake out on an errand like this in ages.
"Tail those trainers. I don't want you to lose them. Keep out of sight. If they split, trail the one in red. I have a hunch," she placed a bracelet on the Wartortle's wrist. "I'll come find you after I get our friends healed."
"War," the Water-type acknowledged the trainer, running through the doors of the gym. The last Olivia saw of Wake, he dove into the canals, in quick pursuit.
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Post by Alexander Midas on Jan 7, 2015 16:53:58 GMT -7
Alexander turned his head, without breaking pace, to look at the street rat that had just addressed him. Rage coursed through his body for a moment as he was reminded of his humiliation in the gym. But a moment later the rational part of his mind took over, and he eyed up the street rat for recruitment potential.
"You look hungry," Alexander responded. "Why don't I tell you all about it over some food?"
Alexander heard rapid footsteps from behind him and instinctively grabbed for his gun, only to remember it had been stolen. X approached in full disguise, and Alexander felt another twinge of anger. As soon as X was in speaking range Alexander addressed him.
"Good, X, you're here. Accompany me and this young one to the safe house. We have much to discuss."
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Post by kreigsmaschine on Jan 11, 2015 13:37:47 GMT -7
As Alcher approached the Suited Man, they felt a sense of anxiety fill them up. Still, as they watched him address them, and then consequently, the boy behind them, they couldn't help but override their instinct with that of pure optimism. Their eyes perked up and a large smile spread on their face. "That sounds awesome!" they said, eyes wide and excited. Lowenmaul's ears lowered as her trainer agreed to a lunch with a mysterious man who had a strange weapon, but she trusted Alcher with all her being, so she stopped by her side, keeping low and next to Alcher's legs. Al reached down and patted her on the head and the Pokemon relented with a small, happy pur.
As X came up behind Alcher, looking different than when he'd left the gym, they quirked a brow. "Uuuh, you know him?" they asked, turning to face the hooded trainer. He looked a bit ridiculous with that bandanna around his face, especially since he wasn't fooling anyone. Even if he did look different, he still smelled the same to Alcher, who's other senses had sharpened from the many years of living in the wild. "Whatever. Food sounds great! I haven't eaten since yesterday, Mister...?"
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Post by X on Jan 13, 2015 20:16:03 GMT -7
"Alexander." Midas allowed.
X had begun to reply to the street girl when she dismissed him for the promise of food. He was a little taken aback. Not because she hadn't allowed him to reply, he understood very well how much food meant on the streets, but because she had recognized him so immediately. Did she recognize him? X's first assumption was that she gathered his identity from Midas addressing him. But I didn't tell her my name.
"I'll take point." X addressed them as he moved past. His entire face was concealed with the exception of his eyes, but maybe that was all she needed to recognized him. They had just seen each other only moments ago, but even so X himself wasn't sure he would have been able to recognize someone so quickly with so little to work off of. For whatever reason, she seemed to be able to see through him. He turned his mind back to the more pressing matter. Warily, X began to lead the other two to the nearest black market safe house along a route he specifically intended to throw off any potential pursuers.
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Post by Olivia Torpid on Jan 13, 2015 21:04:51 GMT -7
"Where are they?" Olivia stood in front of Wake, who had just surfaced in the canal in front of her. The Wartortle pointed. Up ahead, the poacher was leaving with the other two trainers. Olivia silently dove in the canal, grabbing hold of Wake. The Wartortle swam forward, keeping pace behind the trainers.
They followed the one in the red sweatshirt. Olivia cursed plenty. The bastard had his face hidden well. She couldn't be sure it was X. Still, she kept hot on their trail, as the one in red jumped around Fiume.
This one would have ditched a less clever tracker, Olivia thought to herself, thanking her years of training in tracking and observation she had acquired in Team Aqua.
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Post by Alexander Midas on Jan 14, 2015 11:28:56 GMT -7
X opened the door to the safe house and Alexander ushered him and the street rat inside, Remus following them in. Alexander examined the canals behind them, scanning for any pursuit. Olivia certainly would've had them followed, but Alexander couldn't see anything. Regardless, they shouldn't stay here long.
He followed them inside, closing the door behind him. Looking at the street rat, he gestured toward the kitchen. "Help yourself, but make it quick. We won't be here long."
Alexander placed Gengar's Pokeball on the Pokemon healing station built into the wall. The only time he ever used Gengar's pokeball was when the Pokemon was injured, and the reminder of his lost battle with Olivia burned inside him.
"X." Alexander said slowly, "I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not happy. I understand your desire to be neutral, and had I won my fight with Olivia, I wouldn't have mentioned it. But I didn't win, and so now we have to have this talk. I can't have you straddling the line, X, not when it interferes with me completing my jobs. This is your only warning."
A ding coincided with the end of Alexander's speech, and he grabbed to duskball to let Gengar out.
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Post by kreigsmaschine on Jan 14, 2015 14:06:42 GMT -7
As Alcher followed the two, they noticed Lowenmaul sniffing the air and glancing behind her shoulder often. Tilting their head, Alcher followed the Pokemon's line of sight and noticed something in the canal beside them, but thought nothing of it, ducking in behind the bandanna kid and the suited man. He told her to gather anything she wanted, and with wide eyes, Al traipsed over to the "kitchen". They paused, raising a brow. "Uuuuhh..." but the other two were already in deep conversation. Apparently the bandanna kid was in trouble and being warned. Alcher's stomach did a little flip.
Turning back to the food, Alcher scrambled around for what looked good, and for something they recognized. They grabbed two pieces of bread and stuffed them in their mouth, then went over to the fridge and found a drawer full of meat. Sausage and pepperoni and ham and it was all fresh! Al grabbed everything they could and closed the fridge with their foot, turning back to the two. "So is he in trouble or somethin'?" they asked, their mouth full. Lowenmaul rolled her eyes.
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Post by X on Jan 14, 2015 18:12:36 GMT -7
"Interfere? I-" X's voice caught in his throat and he halted his protest. He didn't feel this accusation of disloyalty was entirely fair. He hadn't interfered with anything. It was Midas who had lost. But it wasn't something X was in a position to argue and trying to would only serve to make Midas angrier. In truth all X had wanted to do was escape the situation. He had a strong feeling that whatever business Midas had fighting a gym leader was a sort of nastiness he didn't want to get wrapped up in. Damnit, he thought. What was I thinking chasing after that girl? I should have just run when I had the chance.
"Y- yeah. Ok." X managed. He needed to backpedal. He wanted to be gone. He didn't care much how and the quickest way was probably to accept his chewing. As Midas removed his pokeball from the unit on the wall, X inserted the exhausted half of his team to receive treatment. What did he even expected me to do? X had never done much more than courier and smuggling work for the market. For some reason he had shied away from volunteering as an enforcer. He didn't like to go looking for a fight. The ones who did always seemed to have a few too many scars, and at least as many stories.
"So is he in trouble or sumthin'?" X turned towards the mouth of the kitchen and couldn't help letting a grin split his face. The image of such a slight girl holding enough food for at least 4 people was nearly comical. It served to take some of the edge off of the situation for him.
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Post by Olivia Torpid on Jan 15, 2015 10:15:44 GMT -7
Olivia glared from under the canal water, staring at the Fire-mongrel sniffing around the canal.
Our scent isn't as powerful when we're underwater, Olivia thought to herself. The stinging in her eyes told her the water was murky enough to keep them hidden. She waited a few moments, before slowly breaking the surface and inhaling. She looked around, searching for the trainers. A door shut. Olivia pulled herself from the water. She pulled close to the building. She heard the would-be assassin, and he sounded upset. Olivia pressed her ear to the window, as Wake huddled close to her.
"-have you straddling the line, X, not when it interferes with me completing my jobs," the hunter sounded serious, and had confirmed her suspicions. "This is your only warning."
Olivia was silent. The Fire mongrels would pick up their scent again soon. She hoped the trainer would respond quickly.
The trainer stammered an answer Olivia couldn't hear. At least obstinate yelling wasn't his response.
Olivia needed to know who wanted her dead, and soon. If it was anyone from Team Magma, she could easily take them out and keep her happy life the same. She hoped it was an old rival.
"Wake, we're gonna have to do the Crash and Bubble again," Olivia whispered to her partner. The Wartotle blew out some ice, quickly shaping it into the shape of a pistol. She hadn't used this trick in ages, but it was the only way she was going to get what she needed.
"Alright, ready?" Olivia was tense. She hoped the hunter didn't have another gun on hand, and that the trainers wouldn't interfere. Wake nodded, withdrawing most of himself into his shell.
Wake crashed through the door of the house with his shell, snapping it from its hinges. Bubbles sprayed from the holes in the turtle's shell, filling the room with chaos. Olivia followed in, quickly tackling the man who had tried to kill her before, and held the fake gun to his head, so that he could only feel it pressed against him. "Tell me who hired you! I know how this game works. Now tell me your employer!"
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Post by Alexander Midas on Jan 16, 2015 12:01:01 GMT -7
Alexander had to think quickly. He was on the ground, a gun to his head and Olivia yelling in his ear. An idea slammed its way into his head and he stopped a smile from forming.
"Olivia," He said slowly, avoiding any kind of sudden movement. "We have a common enemy here, as we both have our own reasons to be rather upset at this particular individual. This isn't the first time either of us have been in this particular situation, and I can't imagine it will be the last, so I'll keep this quick and professional."
Alexander took a deep breath. Here's where things would get tricky. "Hire me. If I tell who you my employer is under such duress, you can't be sure that I'm telling the truth. If you kill me now, you'll have to figure out what to do with these witnesses and death with my associates as they try and track me down. Hire me to help you, and you can count on my full support in taking down the person who wants you dead, and won't have to deal with any messy consequences."
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Post by kreigsmaschine on Jan 19, 2015 14:27:12 GMT -7
Alcher felt that tingling on the back of their neck before the door even burst open. The food was on the floor by the time the bubbles started spraying around the room, and Alcher and Lowenmaul were halfway to the door when a voice shouted through the fog. Alcher's senses were going off like crazy-- they needed to get out of there, and fast. But the voice was coming from the direction of the door, and X's scent had drifted away, and the man in the suit-- Alexander-- was sending off wafts of stress. By the sound of his voice, Alcher could tell something was off, either with him, or what he was saying. What was going on? They never should have trusted these strangers on the street, their intuition was never wrong.
Lowenmaul's ears were back, and she was growling, low and rumbling, ready to protect her partner at all costs. Alcher bent low next to Lowenmaul and stroked her mane. "Shhhhhh, girl," they cooed. "Calm down." It looked like no matter what Al did now, they were going to be caught up in this mess. Best to stay low and unnoticed until this cleared itself up, and then hopefully split for it the second they got a chance.
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Post by X on Jan 19, 2015 22:57:48 GMT -7
The snap of a door sharpened the situation once again. X turned to address the splintering, but only briefly glimpsed a shell before he was assaulted by a wall of bubbles. This was a pokemon, for sure. As he staggered back he felt a body rush past him and heard some kind of heavy clutter. Damn it. We've been made. X thought. I need to be gone. His back hit the wall with a thud and he groped along it for the healing unit containing his pokemon. He couldn't see it clearly enough and was starting to panic at the thought that he would be caught while fumbling like an idiot.
The assailant was shouting about Midas' employer. It was a question X had been curious about, but didn't dare ask. Is that Olivia? Even so, it didn't change anything. She may have gathered reinforcements and X was not going to risk being caught to find out if the odds were even. -Ding- The end of the healing process signaled the unit's location to him. X's fingers blindly traced its face and finally settled on his pokemon. His team now secured safely on his belt, X sprinted towards the back of the room where a staircase led to the second floor. The front door probably wasn't a good escape route. If Olivia had managed to rally reinforcements, possibly even the police, he could be running right into their waiting arms.
As he rounded the corner and began to ascend, a thought occurred to him. Though it was typical practice to scatter in the face of a bust, Midas was already upset with X for leaving him with Olivia not half an hour ago. If he fled now, Midas might have it out for him. Still X couldn't risk being apprehended, so he would have to compromise. He released his Klefki Jingles. "Feeling better? I need you to be ready." X then lowered himself in a ready position on the balls of his feet with his back to the wall of the stairwell and waited for what happened next.
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Post by Olivia Torpid on Jan 19, 2015 23:14:33 GMT -7
Olivia's nostrils flared as she fought against the adrenaline surging through her. She calmed her breathing.
"Wake, calm down," she ordered, as the initial surge of bubbles began to dissipate.
She stepped away from the hunter with a smile, spinning the fake gun on her finger before dropping it to the floor.
"I was never going to kill you," Olivia laughed. She couldn't believe this guy. He had balls. "But I like your idea."
Olivia turned. "Come out X, I know you're here. I'd like to think you would be useful in our upcoming business venture."
"And where is the other one?" Olivia asked loudly.
Olivia turned back to Alexander. "I won't hire you, but I can promise you the money you were supposed to get for killing me. No one knows about your attack besides the four of us. Surely your employer can't be that hard to fool, if they're stupid enough to have me attacked.
"Now, who is your employer, and where can we find him?"
Olivia grinned wickedly as she awaited the trainers replies. She hadn't had this much fun in years.
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