bzweeeeeeeep!

DEAN - Instagram

The round ends, Heracross Wins!, and Fire acknowledges it with a sigh, an ‘Oh well!’, falling out of tune with the performance he was in the middle of in its quiet cheeriness. But it was small, hardly noticeable against the arrogance he was playing up—and he had his partner (opponent, acquaintance? victim—) absolutely revolted by the performance that he himself had set up.

You make yourself sound like an insufferable individual. Yup. Hit the right mark. 

“Do you want to be beaten that much?”

But that, that he likes the sound of much better.

"Good grief!" A hand flies to massage his temple at the incessant ramblings, thinks to make a snarky remark, but sighs in defeat. "Then get yourself something if you so please. Take it as a... courtesy meal,” Then adds with a deadpan voice. “For annoying me to death."

What did it take this guy to leave!? Thorton thought calling security might have been the right choice after all. Of course, wHeRE’s tHe fUN iN tHaT?

He pauses at the question, a little taken back that Fire would even bother confirming his own order- didn't seem like the kind of guy to give a crap, especially when there was his own stomach to fill. What was that thing he said, about men and their food? That, and he wondered if he should even trust Fire to not mess with his drink.

"Strawberry." Thorton stands as well- no, his foot is asleep!- and awkwardly hobbles out the door, making sure not to make any sort of eye contact on the way. He does pause before he turns the corner, and calls over his shoulder.

“Well then. I expect my shake at the battlefield and don’t be long~”

Most of Thorton’s frantic explanation was lost on her as he spoke through tears and wild hand gestures. Lucy still didn’t fully understand the sentimental attachment to a device, but one thing was clear – it meant a lot to Thorton. She didn’t have to understand the reasoning to know that he had his own reasons for being so upset.

The wistful mention of his father didn’t go unnoticed as he shrunk down on the sidewalk, as if he was trying to disappear. A pang of sympathy tugged at Lucy’s insides as she slowly crouched in front of him, still holding the broken bits in her palms. His voice thick with tears, Thorton urged her to drop the pieces on the floor and leave him to mourn the loss of his precious device alone.

“I would, but – that would be littering. As a cop I’d be setting a pretty lousy example if I did something like that, especially in uniform.” Lucy’s voice was a hint gentler than before as she pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and set it on the concrete between them before gathering all the pieces in the center of the square of cloth. “Also, I’m pretty convinced at this point that you can’t walk two steps without hurting yourself even on a good day. In your current state I’d say you’re a danger to yourself and those around you, so, um… I have no choice but to stay with you until I’m sure it’s safe to leave you alone. That’s the least I can do – as an officer of this fine city.”

Lucy finished collecting all of the pieces she could and then neatly tied the corners of the handkerchief together. She reached out her hand and tentatively patted Thorton’s bony shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. “You can stay here and, um… mourn this soulless hunk of plastic for a little while more if you want to. I still don’t get it but I guess it was pretty important to you.” She paused before adding sheepishly. “But not too long because we’re kind of obstructing the sidewalk here.”

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The calming tone that came from the police officer was annoying, as it reminded himself of the blubbering state he looked when compared to her. But Lucy’s attempt seemed to work… somehow. Her no-nonsense words felt like tiny slaps to his ego, which did perfectly in reviving his normal temper. It was enough for him to stop his tears- out of spite- and stand up with some semblance of dignity.

As a respectful Frontier Brain, Thorton accepted the handkerchief and thanked her with poise and dignity.

“Eeeeeeeu uug hhhhh.” The feel of the broken bits had his skin littered with goosebumps and out came the strangling sound of something like an animal mourning death from deep within his throat. He would’ve continued, content at reverting back to crouching in the middle of the sidewalk if not for Lucy’s comment.

“Well, weren’t you kind… kind-of insufferable. Where do you suggest we go since I’m such an obstruction to the public?” The insult comes out defeated, lacking his usual crude bite, as if he wasn’t really thinking of what he was saying anymore. He looks away, eyes scanning the ground for patterns as he tried to distract himself from what just happened. He does comply, following the police officer in a hurried, anxious pace- perhaps she was right and there was some hope in salvaging… well, something.

“I am merely frustrated.” He finally lets on, though this was no surprise. But, there was something liberating with admitting how shitty the task placed on him was. “I shouldn’t be here, in Unova, that is.”

send a number for a drabble

44. Legend

“ Legends say that there isn’t always a stick up his ass. ” 

There is revulsion in the sideways glare Thorton jabs him with. But Gold could care less, winning a giggle that is smothered as quickly as it came from the head nurse of this Pokemon Center. 

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This was new. Though his attention was directed at the game,-- Fire was hardly making this game any fun, it was like playing against a blind toddler-- from his peripheral he could tell the other was looking at him, uncharacteristically quiet, and Thorton suddenly felt like he was on the defense in the conversation. This made him feel agitated so he glares at the screen and starts to really attack the Toxicroak. 

“And you make yourself sound like such an insufferable individual.” He quips right back. 

Yup, he really can’t stand guys like him. Then again, there were many things Thorton didn’t like. He certainly didn’t like Fire’s tone; as if he already knew the outcome of a battle that hasn’t even started and the cockiness of someone who truly believed he was above everyone. First of all, that was his job and there was only room for one.

His ingame reaction isn’t the best: while an opponent slamming into you first thing is no surprising feat in a fighting game, and though he has some sense to know that pressing down = ducking, a duck isn’t a block, and so he still takes some damage.

Damage that isn’t boiling his blood or anything, but he’s doing more than simple button bashing in testing out the buttons. It’s to find out what each one does, is that shoulder button a protect? yes, thank Arceus, and to find his best way to put up some of the fight in the game.

If he can survive longer than a minute, then that’d be a victory.

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“That is disgusting.” And he wasn't talking about the Toxicroak fact.

He makes a face, nose scrunched up and lip pulled to a thin frown at the horrid sound which distracts him enough that Fire’s character got a few punches in. But not too much. Before Heracross receives too much damage, Thorton parries the damage back with a satisfying combo and a soft ‘heh heh!’. As much as Fire’s technique seemed erratic at first glance, Thorton could easily tell it was only a trick and switches up from attack to defense when it was appropriate. 

What a bore this is turning out to be, he thinks. That is, until Fire reveals that he did claim the title as champion but it was said so flippantly he wasn’t sure if he was joking.

Lucy felt her heart drop to the floor as she watched Thorton struggle to open a nearby window. What a shameless coward – of course he would want to leave after getting what he was after. Lucy was a mess of emotions, both anger and disappointment; she couldn’t believe Thorton would abandon her so easily, and in fact shew wasn’t about to let that happen.

Just as the beam of the flashlight approached the door of the classroom Lucy grabbed Thorton by his shirt sleeve and dragged him to the floor with her. Hiding behind the teacher’s desk, she held her hand to the traitor’s mouth to keep him quiet as she pinned him against the wall, watching the yellow light beam scan the room before finally leaving, the softening sounds of footsteps signaling the night guard’s retreat. Once she was sure they were safe (for the moment) she turned her wrath fully onto her friend.

“Listen you little twerp, I would rather die than let Yoichi read that dumb, stupid note. You promised to help me and if you go back on your promise I’ll make every day of the rest of your life an absolute, living hell.” Lucy’s face was dangerously close to Thorton’s as she hissed her threat through her teeth.

She glared at her watch before finally removing her hand from Thorton’s face and backing away. “We have a little under five minutes before the cameras reboot. Are you going to help me or not?”

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Okay maybe he didn’t expect Lucy to react quite like this. Wasn’t she a little selfish to think a single stupid letter was worth all this effort? worth the potential wrath of their parents? their friendship? Thorton wasn’t sure anymore as Lucy pointed out what was wrong with what he said, or more what was implied. Oof. Perhaps his delivery wasn’t the best. 

He wasn’t shocked, more muted was his demeanor as all his answer to Lucy’s question was a single nod. Shame started to creep in. Something he had not felt in a long time and it made him want to... again, run away. Instead, he grabs Lucy’s hand and, after making sure the hallway was clear, quickly made his way to the locker section. The trip was uneventful, maybe an odd sound here, or a shadow there but Yoichi’s locker was soon in view.

Well aware of the remaining time left, Thorton gets right to work. Sweat starting to break out, his hand clammy- he forgot his gloves, dammit!- but he only needed to try out 8 different combos before he could narrow it down, so he whips his hands clean and tries the second combination.

The silence was deafening except for the lock’s clinks and frustrated huff when the next combo doesn't yield access to the hall monitor’s stinking locker. But it wasn’t too long before he was down to the last few numbers, perfectly narrowed down to the only possible combinations did Thorton speak.

“..’m s-rry.” Okay, this time maybe he should elaborate instead of leaving his vague words up to interpretation. A quick glance at Lucy, he tries again. It was as if admitting was too painful, but he pushes. “Sorry. For trying to leave when the mission was clearly not complete. Though, I only had another idea in mind, but...” He pulls the lock. Nope. Then it had to be 8...22...

“Perhaps another part of me wasn’t opposed to simply leaving. I had no qualms about your object of puppy love finding out about your letter because- er, w-well whatever! Either way, I couldn’t let your academic reputation be tarnished because of something so stupid.” He goes with the easiest explanation instead of the more... gushy and complicated one.

The second he entered the mansion, something was off. He couldn’t hear his parents and the bear he was holding was just that – a stuffed bear. How weird. But that didn’t stop him from having a good time.

Jayden explored the lounge. Not much happening, to be honest. Just one of the several hosts –Ferro, he believe– was relaxing. Jay found it quite creepy. Why weren’t they with the other hosts hosting? That didn’t matter. What came next was surprising.

Everyone was asked to gather to the mansion’s ballroom for some announcement, except the announcement was never spoken once everyone had gathered. Instead, a scream and the announcement of the death of one of the hosts, Casper.

Jayden looked around. If this was a haunted mansion, it sure wasn’t haunted enough. Where were the ghosts? Why couldn’t he see them? Or even hear them? If his abilities weren’t working, were his brothers? He wanted to investigate.

Lips set in a thin frown, Thorton stared at those who rushed to the scene of the crime along with the maid who so tearfully announced it. She was already a suspect in his eyes; but, crossed her out immediately as that would be too obvious. Instead he thinks to follow the rest to examine the body himself and see what data he could gleam from it. A voice stops him- well, he thought to ignore the person speaking as usual but it’s what they said that stopped him.

vernacular: french, kalos region. a medium? there seems to be a trend, among the language most of the guests.

“Easy, you say.” He pivots on his heels to face the one who spoke. A hand propped under his chin as he stared with unimpressed eyes. “In theory, that would solve the crime immediately, the killer would be captured, and the rest of the population would be safe. Sounds straight-forward.”

“If spirits were real, that is.” And his frown twitched to a smirk, but he forced it down to humor Jayden. “Let’s go see if Casper wishes to ‘speak’ with you where he is most likely to linger. I want to witness this.” 

He started a brisk walk to the crime scene and his pumpkaboo cape flaps as he goes. Being semi-late to the viewing meant there would be less people crowding around the body, but it also meant the evidence could be tampered with. Regardless, he throws some words over his shoulder.