Are you ready?

send me a ✿ and i’ll generate a number.28. a kiss to the corner of the mouth

A few days out, and she was definitely more relaxed than she had ever been in her life, sleeping on the couch aside. (Something told her it was definitely better than a cot.) It only mad sense to thank him, right? After all, a trip to Alola without some assistance? Talk about expensive. 

With his height, she couldn’t exactly catch him off guard, though. All she could do is ask him to lean down, before standing on her toes and pressing a kiss to– the corner of his mouth. Looks like she chickened out just a little. 

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          “Consider it a favor, ain’t no thanks needed. I figure everyone ought t’a have one adventure in their life. Fuckin’ off from responsibility. Then again I ain’t never been one to let responsibility weight me down.  Built this whole thing from the ground up with me own two hands. The crew just came to follow over time through recruitin’.” Probably effort he could have put toward school if he ever really had any interest in it, but who would?

          His arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the window, grinning slightly at the all too familiar glint in the girl’s eyes as she peered out at the water. “Trust me, y’ain’t seen big until we’re out in the middle a’ the ocean with no land for miles. A nights sleep an’ you’ll wake up to nothin’ but waves under the big ol’ blue sky.”

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“That sounds so pretty-- and I guess with everyone else, it’s awful hard to get lonely at all. It sounds super nice, honestly, I mean--” A pause, as she shoves her hands into the pockets of her shorts, thoughtful. “It’s really no fun, having to be responsible and having to get your butt kicked in battle. And having to go up against creeps like Team Rocket, cutting off pokemon tails. I think this break is going to be a good thing.”

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          “Ain’t an exact science, we got as much speed as the wind is goin’ to give us. Some days we’ll be haulin’ ass and some others we ain’t gonna make hardly any headway. Accordin’ to weather charts though, we got some good sailin’ ahead. With luck on our side we should be gettin’ there in three weeks. A month if we got some slower tides.”

          Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the small white paw slide over the couch. Finding the edge of the treat with its claws before quickly snatching it beneath the cushion where he had apparently stationed himself for the time being. The only evidence of which happened to be the small sound of munching muffled beneath the fabric.

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“That makes sense,” It’s an easy statement, and she pushes herself lighlty to her feet -- if anything, she seems eager, at least to see how this sort of thing worked. “If I’m being honest, I’ve never been on a boat like this before, so this is really exciting. It’s so big--” Bouncing just slighlty on the toes of her sneakers again, she wanders back over to look out over the water.

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          “He ain’t too keen on strangers but y’can give it a try. If anythin’ he’ll stick his paw out there for ye to put the treat in. I call him Growler, or Cub, don’t take him with me ‘cause he’s a bit too skittish for roamin’ the streets. But hell, he might poke his head out,” From his large paned windows he was able to see the crew roaming around the docks. His admins assuring that the boxes being hoisted weren’t shattered on the docks below. “Make yerself at home, we’ll be takin’ off soon as the boxes are all sorted an’ organized.”

          It was at the crinkle of the treat bag, that a small white paw snaked from under the couch cushions. A pat here and there as it searched  around for any source of crumbs that were associated with the smell of the treats that the stranger had brought.

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“Ooh--” Taking one out of the bag, she sets it in front of the paw lightly, before leaning back and waiting. This definitely helped ease any small jitters she may have had, but there’s nothing like a small furry pokemon to help with that. “How long do you think it’ll be to get there? Not that I’m rushing or anything, I’m actually pretty curious.”

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          The change in demeanor was obvious but it didn’t seem to keep her occupied for too long. He was quick to push past it, after all, he hadn’t lied in telling her that he was a sailor. Just a sailor with slightly less sound morals, or, massively less sound morals. (Outright he had told her that he wasn’t such a good guy.) She hadn’t run for the hills yet though, and he would take that as a good sign.

          Doors swung open to the less than glamorous quarters that he called home for most of his life. The grand couch not yet made up, though comfortable all the same. “Ye can go ahead and put yer stuff anywhere yer feelin’ just keep yer eyes out for a little blue sucker runnin’ around. He likes to hide an’ pop up when yer least expectin’ it.”

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“Can do--” She drops the bag beside the couch for now, only to look around for the little creature in question. This whole situation only made her more curious about him, but at least it was enough to the point where she didn’t stare. “Who should I be looking out for? I bought some extra treats in my bag, for Moomoo and Clefairy, would he like one?”

It seemed like a nice gesture on her part anyway, and a good means to make a friend here.

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          “You expectin’ some puffy shirt an’ bloomers? Pirates ain’t all they make em’ out to be in the movies. One a’ the best ways to avoid water damage, grade a neoprene.” A pull at his collar, though he was able to see the way she flustered at the tightness of the uniform. Probably not what she was used to seeing, so he could simply laugh it off and turn on his heels, narrowly avoiding a grunt that was rolling a barrel across the main deck of the ship. A loud bang following as it fell down the stairs. “Oye! Watch the inventory!”

          A bright red face flushed beneath the grunt’s bandana, followed by a quick salute as he disappeared down below. “Follow me scamp,” The Aqua captain spoke a moment later. Motioning her toward the wide double doors of his quarters. “Got a couch that should be comfortable enough for ya’, if it ain’t I’m sure we can free up a cot down below. Crews not the most easy on the eyes but they grow after a while.”

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“I mean, um-- not particularly.” He hadn’t mentioned being a pirate, but for some reason the notion is almost exciting. Taking a moment to compose herself before following along after him. “If it’s all the same, I’m fine with the couch. It seems a little more comfortable. Not that I think everyone else is going to be bad.”

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          With the gym leader off on her own tasks, Archie could set his sights on assuring that the ship was being prepared correctly for the long trip ahead of them. A month was a long time, and when survival depended on the stock of food and fresh water? There was no gambling to be had. His head admin in charge of keeping numbers in line, which he double checked just to be certain. Boxes of canned fruits, dried meats, preservatives. Nearly loaded, with some boxes still being shoved down below.

          More than enough time for him to return to his captain’s wear. More like a second skin now, wearing anything else felt odd in comparison. It seemed that the stop had not filled only his sails but also his crews, as they moved at double time to get everything nailed down and secured for the stormy night ahead.

          A map in his hands, when the pink hair popped up through the sea of blue and white it was almost instant recognition. A wave in her direction, beckoning her up the walk toward the main deck. Shouting out over the crowd that mulled around on the docks below, “Watch yer head. Don’t want t’be knockin’ yerself out before we even hit tide.”

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Perking up at the voice (the milling crowds were just a bit too close for her liking) she glances upwards, seeming relieved to pick him out of the crowd. Well above it in fact, that made it easy. Turning to the walk and shouldering lightly through the milling crowd, she’s quick to get onto the actual ship itself, seeming entirely unbothered by the gentle rocking under her sneakers.

“Part of me thought it was a joke--” The statement is a joke, but when she actually looks at him she flusters just a little.

          “If you win? Hardly possible ignorant child. Even if that miracle was           on your side, I would not leave. If you win, you’ll have blood on your           hands.”

It was clear for him. The only loss he would receive now would result in death. If his Pokemon fainted, he too then would join the fight with sword in hand. He wasn’t meant to be trifled with. He was a real threat. The Gym Leader would be smarted having the entire group of trainers fight together. 

          “Prepare yourself. I don’t wait for the signal to be given. Cofagrigus,           Will-O-Wisp!”

A normal type Pokemon wouldn’t be too big of an issue. He had methods to wear them down. Cofagrigus was not known for its power, but instead it was known for its methods of torture and brutal stalling. 

No response is given, her whole concentration on the battle in front of her. Why wouldn’t it be, though? If he’s out to kill her, then she has to do her best here.”Moomoo -- use rollout, and try to avoid that if you can.”

The pokemon, seeming visibly shaken, offers a nod and throws herself at her opponent. The burn wasn’t able to be avoided, but she could take her to a pokemon center for that later, if she somehow got out of this alive. (As much as it physically hurt her to see her companion in pain.)

He just looks down on her. The pokeball she had tightened was a sign of rebellion. She feared death after all so why wouldn’t she fight for her life. She was going to have to against him. He would stand for no prisoner or survivor–not like that freak N.

          “”Then you’ll have to fight for your right to live. You are an enemy to           my world, like all Gym Leaders. Haven’t you heard some of the recent           deaths on the news. You’re looking at the man responsible.”

Ghetsis reached for a pokeball and Cofagrigus appeared behind him. The mummy Pokemon merely chuckled as it knew what was going to happen. The Pokemon was going to be able to feast on another!

          “I am Ghetsis, your executioner and judge. The verdict is guilty.”

Quietly, she takes a look around her -- there’s obvious alarm in the faces around her, along with some anger. Inside her gym, one of her trainers looks on in alarm from around the door. She had been wrong to expect something predictable, she guessed. Rocket had never been this large of a threat, and she could feel tears pick at her eyes. This time, they wouldn’t come. She wouldn’t let them, not when everyone else was so afraid.

It had taken the course of a moment or so, and just as quietly, before her, she lets out her Miltank. She was strong, right? She’d taken down so many before.

“If I win, you leave.”

He’d been fleeing for a while now. Johto was one of the last places they’d search for him certainly. Swtiching regions after every kill was working wonders. They were never able to track him down. Ignoring the gnats around him who commented on his appearance had become second nature. However the sound of admitting one was a Gym Leader, that only excited him a bit and allowed him to look directly at them.

Gym Leaders: the group of individuals who protected a community from threat as well as test trainers in their success for strength. They were an enemy in his perfect world to come. All were on his list. 

          “A Gym Leader? Girl, do you fear death?”

Almost immediately her (already slightly) timid stance grew into something legitimately fearful, a couple steps taken back from the man and a hand immediately going to one of her pokeballs -- moomoo would be able to get her out of this. Right? Fingers that try their best not to shape wrap around the ball’s smooth surface, and it expands in her fingers. (It’s a gesture that comforts her, just a little. She feels stronger when she’s ready.)

“Who doesn’t? I’ll have you know, I’m good at this-- so back off, and find some other people to hurt.”

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          “Ain’t no inconvenience for me, we got all sorts aboard m’ship. Just got to clear some room aboard. Get ye a free cot to bunk on below deck. Hell, I’ll even let ye’ bunk up on m’ couch if yer jus’ along for the one trip.” The wide grin on his face something similar to a skitty who caught himself a magikarp, though he attempted to keep the smugness to a minimum. “You get yerself all sorted an’ we’ll be there. We got the crew dressed in blue an’ white. I got t’ get m’self back into uniform.”

          Only a partial wave cast her way as he wandered on ahead. Already seeing the crew in full swing attempting to load supplies into their storage down below.

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“I’ll be there--” and with that he was gone, but she moved relatively quickly. Into the gym and up to her apartment above, she figured she ought to grab basics; clothes for the trip, food for Miltank and Clefairy, and a few other essentials, but that didn’t take long all in all. On her way back down, she scribbles out a note; something about checking on other ranches, will be back as soon as possible. Good enough, she decided. 

On her way out officially, the note is pinned to the door of the gym, and off she goes. Pokeballs on her person, it’s pretty obvious she’s excited. (Who wouldn’t be? When was the last time she had left the region? She can barely recall.)