Angelan State Capitol, Portokali City

Senator Armitage looks at his daily schedule and the clutter at his office. His daughter, working as an intern, has taken the liberty of arranging a few of his pressing to-dos in a chart. Among the chores of his daily routine of legislative reviews include a few pending requests for battles, a duty he's taken as part of the region's Elite Six. One was scheduled several days away, giving him plenty of time to free up.

Another pending task is yet another meeting with the Senate Subcommittee on Corporate Noninterference, which is expected to convene for the first time in five years. Beside it was a note his daughter left behind, "Call Tagg." Noticeably, it doesn't have the familiar heart encircling the name.

"Kaylie finally moved on." He told himself.

A little over ten years ago, he and a few other like-minded senators formed the committee on a hunch that Angela's largest company at the time had violated and gotten away with breaking several laws. The break they needed to indict the company—made possible by what the media dubbed as a "high school science club"—was a shocking swerve for the entire region taken aback by the gravity of the Pokefutures' crimes and the extent of its reach. Within days, they gave the remains of the once-expansive company to a group of teens, leaving him, those kids, and a few whistleblower scientists from the company as handlers during the period of transition that would last up to a decade.

The ten years have passed. The time for once again open negotiations with PEFE will soon arrive. And at the worst possible moment.

Edited by MasterJayAM on Sep 13th 2018 at 4:01:44 PM

Lumiose Pokemon Center

-After having spent the last few days on cloud nine, Shun is now back in business mode, pouring over the floorplan of the National History Museum of Kalos once more.-

Shun: Hmmm...

-He thinks for a moment, then pulls out his phone. A few moments pass before a deep, electronically-disguised voice answers.-

Avenger v2: Yes?

Shun: This is Detective Shun Hontou. Several months ago you told me that if I ever needed assistance, I could contact you and your colleagues at this number.

-He smiles.-

Shun: I'm calling in that favour.

PEFE HQ, Training Module

-Lissa has retreated to the simulation arena, but despite having been moping around for more than an hour, has yet to actually use it. She's simply staring at the Great Ball in her hands while her Sneasel swats at the florescent ceiling lights.-

Lissa: ...Cait.

-The Sneasel looks over at her trainer in confusion.-

Sneasel: <Huh?>

Lissa: I think I'm gonna call you Cait. Least for now.

Sneasel Cait: <Fine. Call me whatever you like, as long as it's not late for dinner.>

-She returns to swatting at the lights while Lissa returns to moping.-

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

-A certain purple person is lounging at one of the tables, seemingly rather underdressed compared to all the other patrons and occasionally kicking at a duffel bag by her feet.-

-Kai checks their phone.-

Kai: ...Fuck. Okay. Guys, I've gotta... go meet someone. Holly, can you get me there?

Holly: <...Here we go, I guess.>

-And thus they're ported...-

-To just outside here. Kai heads in, finds Kahlia's table, and sits down, doing their best to not look anxious.-

Kai: Hey. I'm not too late getting here, am I? You know how teleport traffic can be.

(Aaaaaaaaaa.)

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

-Kahlia looks up at Kai as they walk in and grins widely.-

Kahlia: Oh no, not at all~ I was just about to order drinks, actually. Dinner's on me, of course. It's the least I can do after you agreed to help on such short notice~

-She pushes the duffel bag forward until it rests at Kai's feet.-

Kahlia: Speaking of which, this is for you.

Elsewhere in Lumiose

-Whoever is currently in possession of Ever's phone may feel it rumble with a notification.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Sep 13th 2018 at 9:04:09 AM

Kai: That's very generous of you, thank you.

-Kai smiles, and tilts their head at the duffel bag-

Kai: What might this be, if I may be so daring as to ask? I do know how you like your surprises.

PEFE HQ

A backpack with tinier zippers than expected rested on a hook somewhere, said zipper remaining slightly open, allowing anyone to listen in on the activity.

Within the backpack’s interior, a Blaziken and a Weavile were speaking between themselves, the Weavile slightly panicked.

<Roy, tell me,> she started. <have I gone soft?>

<Are you worried that it’s a bad thing?> he asked.

<Kinda?> the Weavile responded. <I’m just worried about what my old friends would think of me. That new girl’s Sneasel, she seemed really paranoid about going soft. I don’t think I anticipated to go soft accompanying Colton and his team on his adventures.

<Au contraire, I anticipated the activity to escalate!> she said before she cauggt herself. <Did I just say that?!>

<Hey, hey,> Roy said, trying to calm her down. <take a step back for me. Who are these old friends?>

<Well, there was a Vulpix who could keep pace with me, some other Sneasel who I sparred and competed with, and there was this Absol ->

<Gonna stop you there,> Roy said bluntly. <Rei, tell me. Did this Absol ever advise against engaging a certain trainer?>

<No, she wasn’t skilled enough to detect the little things,> Rei responded, a little more serene. <Now that I think of it she did look rather startled when I went home,> she recalled, rolling the Razor Claw over her talons. <But I’m not certain if that was because she didn’t see it coming or because I wasn’t evolved,> she paused.

<I think if it were to stunt your growth she’d have noticed it,> Roy considered. <You haven’t missed anything.>

<Thanks, Roy.> Rei said. <I’m feeling, at least a little better about it,> she said, approaching Roy for a hug.

<Lilina and Sunny!> He quickly and nervously exclaimed before returning.

Rei looked dejected, but understood and returned herself.

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

-Kahlia rolls her eyes, but continues to grin at Kai.-

Kahlia: I suppose I can't keep this particular secret for ever, especially not now that you're here. If you must know, I suppose you could say it's a uniform of sorts. Though more stylish than most, if I do say so myself~

Kai: A uniform? This job just gets more and more interesting.

-They grin-

Kai: Of course, as long as it's as stylish as you say it is, I can't back out now in good conscience.

(As much as I'd love to be able to take back my agreement.)

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 13th 2018 at 4:47:29 AM

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

Kahlia: Oh, of course. I just hope I got your measurements right, because I can't wait to see you all dressed up~

-She leans closer.-

Kahlia: As for why you need it... well, the National History Museum here in Lumiose is having an exhibition, and we've arranged to put on some light entertainment in exchange for taking a few of those exhibits off of their hands. A fair trade, dontcha think~?

-Kai takes a moment to quietly process what she's hinting at.-

-Which. Is evident on their face.-

Kai: ...O-oh. That's what this is.

-They're silent for a moment.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 13th 2018 at 5:00:14 AM

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

-Kahlia leans back in her chair.-

Kahlia: Yup. And like you said, it's a little late to back out now.

-She's still smiling, but there's a sharper, more predatory edge to it now.-

Kahlia: Take all the time you need. I'm not going anywhere~

Tagg's Office

-Sitting in my chair-

Okay, today I'll finally get that debriefing done-

-Notices a ping from my e-mail client-

Senator Armitage, what does he want?

-And reads the e-mail-

...Well, fuck.

-Kai doesn't even notice the change in Kahlia's expression, because they're busy thinking to themself.-

Kai: ...I'm in. But, I want to keep my direct involvement as minimal as possible. And as well, this will be the only, ahem, job I accept from you. As long as that is acceptable, I will assist with this, without revealing your identity to the authorities.

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 13th 2018 at 5:14:06 AM

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

Kahlia: Works for me. I don't usually like mixing business and pleasure anyway~ Provided that you keep quiet afterwards, we can just stick to dinner dates and scenic walks along the beach in future. Deal?

-She extends her hand.-

Kai: Respectfully, in the vein of separation of business and pleasure, let's keep dates and scenic walks out of the terms of the deal. I don't want the people I love to be hurt by this agreement, after all.

-They smile, and accept Kahlia's handshake with the last word on their lips.-

Edited by BittersweetNSour on Sep 13th 2018 at 5:30:39 AM

Guillaume's Apartment

-Ever and Guillaume are chatting about something fairly inconsequential, when Ever's phone goes off-

Ever: It's bad form not to leave it on silent, you know.

Guillaume: Bad form. Really.

Ever: I thought about making the moral argument, but I decided it wouldn't make much of an impact.

Guillaume: Hmm.

-he checks the phone-

Guillaume: Interesting.

Ever: (sharply) What?

Guillaume: Your friend Lucius wants to know about some rules. He's fae-touched as well, isn't he?

Ever: Don't.

Guillaume: You can't stop me.

Ever: I'm asking you. Don't. ...Please.

-...-

Guillaume: Do I owe you something? Do you have any leverage to make such a request?

Ever: ...If any of it was real. If you think I'm anything more than an amusement; if you weren't just waiting for this the whole time. I'll do anything; I'll place myself wholly in your debt, but please leave my friends out of it.

-...-

-...-

-...-

Guillaume: You'll do anything anyway, bird-in-the-hand. Balance your ledgers better in the next life.

-Ever sighs-

Lumiose City, Restaurant Le Nah

Kahlia: Excellent~

-She pulls Kai's hand in for a quick kiss after the shake.-

Kahlia: Now I know who to thank if it all goes swimmingly... or terribly, but it won't come to that, will it?

Guilliame's Apartment

Edited by Herbert40k on Sep 13th 2018 at 10:38:54 AM

PEFE HQ

Isbrand: "On the contrary, I believe you are the ideal amount of gay."

Isle of [Sicily], Angela

Luca: "Oh. That's nice."

-A waiter comes up, and Luca gives their orders.-

Luca: "Right. Um, your drink, Ken?"

Guillaume's Apartment

Guillame's Apartment

Edited by Herbert40k on Sep 13th 2018 at 11:39:53 AM

Guillaume's Apartment

Guilliame's Apartment

-A few minutes later, there is a knock on the apartment door.-

Edited by Herbert40k on Sep 13th 2018 at 12:12:11 PM

Putting his fists on his hips, Birdie's face grew a markedly smug expression. "<Aww, 'ey, wouldya look at that... shootin' star goin' up...>" he slurred, still not having quite recovered from that nasty bite he had just gotten.

The sudden arrival of the Rotom did take him a little off-guard, as he staggered back in confusion, but he soon hit the side of his head and spat on the floor to get himself psyched up, making sure not to talk after what happened before.

...And then the Joltik suddenly landed right on his face, though since it was so small and light it couldn't knock him down, merely send him off-balance for a brief moment.

Jetta practically darted forward, into the line of battle. "SMASH! SMASH, BIRDIE, WITH THE BUG SQUASHING AND THE EXTERMINATION, GO, GO!" she yelled, at the same time Tommy was giving his thunderbolt order.

Thus, Birdie lowered his head and went "<AAAAAHHHHHHKAAAAAY!>" as he attempted to run right into the nearby back wall of the Cafe Lysandre, attempting to Head Smash the Joltik against the wall, before it could build up enough charge for a Thunderbolt. Everyone present knew it was a Death or Glory Attack, especially M-7, who looked on with a bemused grin.

Guillaume's Apartment

-Guillaume opens the door-

Guillaume: Hey! Welcome, come in. Ever's a little out of it, but they'll be along in a moment.

-indeed, they're currently poking their head around the corner-

Ever: ...Heya.

Ken: "I'm probably gonna go with Croagunk Cola."