Whatever.

She wondered too, if she really were happy. Perhaps she was fake happy, only playing a role that required her to be happy– perhaps she was only entertained with him. “I am proud of you. And pride translates into happiness, yes? I am proud that you are that way and not like the weak Julius who cried and cried about his mama.”

“Mmm... sure.” He never knew what to believe when it came to her. “Thanks.” When she’d drop him. Kill him.  In a way she was almost an embodiment of Team Rocket, volatile and unpredictable. There might be no way to give her happiness...  “Only idiots cry over tRaiTorS. I got cured.” Ma.... humans... What do they really deserve...? Julius hoped she’d kill him soon. If he was dead murdering Ma wouldn’t bother him. His head wouldn’t buzz. No mood swings, only silence.... But.... She still had use for him right? Boss too... Needed footmen to be tainted in Rocket’s image. “Pride has a use... Which means in a way you find use in me. That makes me happy.” 

“Acker, huh? Yeah man, you look damn fine,” he smirked at the arm slipping round his waist. “That sounds like fun; been a hectic day so I could use a drink.” He was completely unsuspecting of the possibility that he might actually be a Rocket grunt; from what few grunts he’d encountered, they didn’t strike him as young attractive types like this guy. And when an attractive guy makes a move on him like this one, logical thought processes and alarm bells went out the window…

“Name’s Spark,” he grinned, sliding his own arm around the grunt’s own waist and giving his ass a playful squeeze. “Keen to get to know ya a lil more, good-lookin’~”. He almost leaned in to kiss him again then and there - the grunt had said he wanted to get ‘reacquainted’ after all - but thought the better of it; plenty of time ahead of them, after all…

“ Spark, huh? S’cute. Yer cute. Just got paid, s’on me.” When the blonde quirked his lips it made Julius’ stomach throb in anticipation. “I’m pretty fun y’know, with the whole costume n’ drinkin’ not to mention pretty good in bed.” Acker throws out for good measure. “Theres a lot ta’ know. How bout’ you?” At the squeeze something else throbs all together.  “Y-You must be into training right? Who isn’t.”

Smooth. 

The air was always so still in his room. It made it easy to tell when the door opened, no matter how quiet they tried to be.

The creature was crouched in a disheveled mess in the center of his cage, but shuffled backwards as the stranger approached, talons grating against the metal floor. Keeping as much space between them as possible, but never turning his back. Sharp eyes never left his…guest, as he tired to determine his intentions.

No weapons or pokéballs in his hands, no syringes or equipment, but no food either…

A sharp hiss escaped open lips as the man spoke, feathers ruffling and raising to make himself look larger, but not so loud as to drown the other out. Any knowledge he could gleam from the way this man spoke or what he said-

‘Until you’re nothing but shit in a cage.’

Despite knowing better than to hint he understood, he let out a short piercing shriek at that one. Hopefully it might be dismissed as general aggression, now that he realized what he’d done. He didn’t hear the rest of what the man said, as concerned as he now was about his mistake. And of course, the hybrid still didn’t know why the man was here. Was he someone to fear?

If nothing else, it was worth testing the waters, seeing what this stranger was made of.

Wings flared out slightly-just enough to brush the sides of his cage-as he rose to a hunched standing. With another screech he make a fake lunge at the man, at the bars between them-but stopped before he reach him, doing his best to keep himself out of arms reach as well. Could he scare this one off?

Julius falls on his ass at the first lunge.  “Whoa-” After a moment of shock he realises he's splayed out on the linoleum eyes wide. Within a second the grunt is grinning ear to ear laughter bubbling from the pit of his stomach in rivulets that echo around the quiet room. Shifting forward he crosses his legs leaning towards the cage, chortle turning into lagging snickers. 

“Hey, hey, my bad, big scary man comes in spoutin’ crap, I’d get pissed too. Forgive me, kay? Look I have something tasty that I’ll share with you!” Acker assures, hand reaching under his waistband to sneak beneath his uniform shirt, package crinkling as he pulls it from the hidden pocket. 

“Dried tentacool, salty, chewy n’ delicious. I could do a commercial fer it if ya want?” He waves the package around as if it were swimming in the sea, eyebrows raising up and down. Sliding a wrinkled cut from the plastic he puts one end in his mouth ripping it in half while holding it with clenched teeth. Carefully he pushes the piece through the bars far enough that hopefully the bird man would feel safe enough to grab. Julius chews watching the other, giving it some time to settle.

“Ah, okay.” She nodded knowingly, although her expression suggested she was anything but knowing. Was that plant poisonous to humans? She couldn’t remember. Humans are weird. This one in particular seemed weird, too.

Bare feet drew lines in the dirt as she listened to his mission.

“Yeah, I know of ‘em. But are ya gonna eat the stone er the Guardian? I can’t let ya eat the stone.” The Guardian could take care of itself-like he said, it could swallow most people whole. The stone…well, it was a stone, so it could protect itself about as well as any other stone could. Maybe a little better, but not much.

“So are ya eatin’ Poison somethin’ so that the Guardian’ll die from the poison if it eats ya, so you can crawl out an’ eat it?”

“Ah! Thats a fuckin’ amazin’ idea! How’d I not think a’ that?” The grunt smacks a fist into his palm in realisation, irises glittering at the prospect. “Wait... but if the poison kills ‘em then wouldn’t I be dead too... might die ‘for I even make it there.” His hands lower, head tilting before he shrugs. 

“Whatever. Anyway, whats yer deal? Wearing a costume or somethin’? Feet are gonna’ get fucked up walkin’ on the rocks here.” Suddenly the original point connects in his mind and the agent stiffens with a grin.

Looks behind him. “I don’t see anyone…”

AHHHH big love! happy for u!!!

spectralclairvoyant replied:

Big love <3

shiirakeru replied:

welcome back bby~

sooooooo yeahhh I haven’t been on for a while and there's a reason for it. a reason other than the usual. I was kinda hesitant to come back because I’ve been in the community for a while now and I really like the people here especially the people I RP with. Since I like everyone so much I’m afraid of being told hurtful things as I have in the last couple months..... But I still like writing so here I am. 

I’ve come out as a Transgender guy, and I’m on my second shot of testosterone. I know everyone has known me as a female mun since I started so this might be an awkward change. Anyway I hope we can all still be friends, or at least chill. 

what nonsense was he spewing?

squinting against the white glare of light flaring against his paperwork, with a glance to the time, a sigh was promptly suppressed. five after midnight. he was exhausted. all had already vacated the building, aside from the few, scarce janitorial staff who had volunteered their services in return for the holiday pay. he had intended to go home long before, but the commute back to lavaridge would be far too long, and thus, he knew he’d be headed for his slateport penthouse a few blocks down.

gilded eyes lifted from the glowing, digital clock, to julius. would he be so stupid as to follow him out the door?

‘ your promise of silence is hardly worth its weight. ‘ idly, the end of his pen tapped against his desk.

a fourth tap, fifth, sixth – it came to a stop, and with a deep, long sigh, he caved, snapping his laptop shut.

‘ you’ll have to suffer your apartment. keep the bottle. i am going home. ‘ snapping out the charger, pulling out his bag from beneath the desk, nearby, cairo pushed himself out into a long stretch on his side, rolling onto his stomach with a yawn. ‘ work on piecing yourself together. the moment i have my things together, i am kicking you out. ‘

“Maybe, maybe if ya shove somethin’ down ma’ throat I’ll shut up.... Just kiddin’ ha...” Julius licks his lips savouring the sting. At the smack of plastic his head perks expression pursing.

 “Hey, hey, don’t leave without me, c’mon, I’ll be nice, I promise!” He whines stumbling to an upright position.  “Least feed me to yer cat. Why do ya wanna’ be solo so bad today? So many things ya can be pissy ‘bout but I don’t get why... Ya have a company, power, n’ money so what’s really got you fucked? s’not me, not entirely. One of the busiest nights of the year n’ yer alone... Why do ya choose ta’ be alone? Don’t get it...” Julius lolls to the side eyes searching for a blurred answer he’s doubtful either of them have. 

“Wonder why yer like this... No one s’born miserable that happens n’ the next few months.” He snickers, fingers splaying over the desk. Reminds him of when his pinky was cut. The stump twitches in agreement.

“Ah... Wasn’t expectin’ anyone else out here.” Acker for once isn’t in uniform, clutching at a bleeding side with cigarette dangling from the corner of his mouth. He huffs slowly, ass firmly planted on the asphalt at the back entrance to head quarters. Was hard to see the figure between dim back alley and the blood loss, edges seemed to mesh together. Tall was the first thing that came to mind.  “Yer so.... Fuckin’ tall... Want a smoke? They’re in my chest pocket.” 

His wound wasn’t too deep, it needed pressure, a couple stitches and some patience but Julius was out of all three. He doubted if he had the energy to call on his pokegear a medic would show up at this hour, not with his track record. End of the line... Maybe... Probably... 

“What’s that ya got there?” A voice from among the trees, where there definitely hadn’t been anyone a moment before. Her form became clear only as she began to move towards him. Perhaps it was the mottled patches of green, brown, yellow, and pink across her arms, legs, and face that kept her so camouflaged before.

But those eyes sparkled with a curiosity that didn’t seem quite right, and when she passed through sunbeams the light behind her distorted somewhat.

Still, she didn’t necessarily seem…angry. She stopped a short distance from him, head tilting to the side as she repeated her question.

“What’s that ya got?”

“Uh... Poison... somethin’...” Julius grunts out between chewing a mass of green fern. It burns in his mouth but the leaves glitter in the underbrush, spores sticking to his cheeks and nose.  “s’gross...” He swallows rubbing at his features with a huff. It might be the light or the forest itself playing tricks on him but that girl seemed to come out of nowhere... And in camo too... Playing at secret agent? 

How strange it was for Julius to be the one to move away; the Gym Leader wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it regret, or had something changed in that absence? To see him so hesitant…it was almost unsettling.

“…Ah, I…see. That would explain it.” Falkner wasn’t exactly the type of person Julius could go explaining his orders too, so of course he wouldn’t have made contact. “Yes, yes. It is entirely okay. I…I said before that the aviary is always open to you, did I not?” Even if this whole reunion felt vaguely unsettling. But seeing the way Julius seemed to perk up at the thought of Altaria felt so familiar, and even comforting.

“Oh, ah…I worried about you, if that is what you mean, and of course I wondered what had happened. Even though you once told me not to hold out hope if I do not see you some time, I like to be…I like to believe that people return if they truly wish to.”

It was about as close to ‘I missed you’ as the grunt was going to get from him, but the words were honestly. After all, he was still waiting for his father, too…

“I will be fine, do not worry. This time of year always tends to be a little more demanding of me, so I do wear myself thin, but…I try not to be too reckless with my health, for everyone’s sake.

Speaking of…would you like to come in for some tea while we wait? Not much has changed in my house, but it would be better than standing out here in the cold.”

Always open.... A place to return, not belong... The thought of having Falkner in a far off corner tending to his birds, smiling without Julius... Made his heart ache. Was the Gym Leader happy? Did he wait for the grunt... Wondering if he’d show his face again. If Acker would turn out just like someone else he was waiting for... As if the leaguer would think of him. Like a leaf torn in the wind, he was only thought of when presented at the mans feet. Here Julius was. Lost in a gust of smothering frost and forlorn affection.

 It was pretty pathetic. 

“You did... Didn’t know if you were serious.” It was hard to believe. Especially that the other worried for him... enjoyed the absence maybe. “Yeah, lots of things happened... The international lines were bugged so...” He trails off. “.... But.... I did want to see you... I... even if you didn’t... missed you... So I came back..” He clears his throat brushing a stray leaf from his shoulder.  “Anyway. I’ll find some sweet potatoes to fatten ya up. Can’t have a leader starvin’ on the job.”  Finally Ackermen takes a step forward ruffling his fingers through blue hair softly. Dropping his hand to his side he lets out a hum, walking in the direction of Falk’s residence. 

“Hope not, it’d bother me if you put a vase in front of the window I always break into. Seems like too much mess. But if ya stocked more booze in the cupboard I wouldn’t be bothered.... an’ yeah, I’ll take anything you give me. Sounds good.”