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[beastofasister]

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[ 31st December Text/Action! ]

[11121_assumption]

Manaka. Come to the woods past the National Park.

- Walter

---

After sending the message, Walter waited with Darkness perched on his shoulder. He exhaled the breath he had been holding, letting Darkness fuss over his hair for once.

[beastofasister]

[The message is unexpected, but its timing works out well. Manaka hadn't purchased any gifts for Christmas... But for the people she likes, there is something she wants to give them for the upcoming new year.]

Got it! I'll be there soon o(^▽^)o

---

With the ride pager, it didn't take her long to arrive. Walter's message had been terse and not particularly informative, so she didn't know what to expect when she approached him. Nonetheless, she had dressed nicely, in the clothes she wore about town rather than in her sturdier traveling set, with a light bag slung over her shoulder.

"Is there something you called me here for?"

[11121_assumption]

Walter nodded to her, Darkness giving her a secretive smile. Walter held his hands together as he spoke, unintentionally adding tot he air of mystery about this encounter.

"You gave me Psyche, a while ago now. I...didn't know how to repay your kindness. But it seems people are giving each other gifts this time of year," Even if he didn't deserve their gifts and couldn't understand why they were giving them to him. "And a...situation has arised."

He turned to Darkness, who snickered behind a wing. At Walter's serious look and nod, Darkness gave a loud, deep cry. For a few minutes there was quiet as Walter turned his head to the sky. But soon, there was the flapping of wings and a flock of Murkrow descended upon them. The bird roosted in the trees or fluttered to land where they could on Walter, chirping happy greetings to him and to Darkness. The man lifted his hand, offering it as a perch for one of the flock.

"These are Darkness' children. Choose one. You may keep it."

[beastofasister]

Manaka listened in silence as he explained. Most of what he said was straightforward enough, but—a situation? The silence that followed Darkness's cry only made her less sure of what to expect, eyes wide and owlish as she ran the possibilities through her mind. Even after all this time, the novelty of surprise hadn't faded, Manaka nearly holding her breath in anticipation.

As the flock finally appeared, she squeaked out a little "oh!" and clapped her hands together. When Walter spoke again, she turned her eyes back toward him.

"Eh? Really? Um, thank you very much!" Clasping her hands in front of her skirt, she bent forward in a grateful bow. The moment she straightened up again, though, she dashed past him, gaze swinging this way and that as she took stock of the assembled Murkrow.

[ 1st Feb, (around Midday) Text ]

[11121_assumption]

Manaka,

I intended to give you a Pokemon when I came back to Goldenrod, but something's happened and I cannot return. I still want you to have it, as it's behaviour seemed more fitting of your team. It made me think of you.

Go check in your PC box. It should be in there. I named it after a type of pie that was popular where I came from.

Walter

[ And sure enough, if Manaka looked in her Pokemon PC Box there would be a Misdreavus named Whoopie sitting in there, waiting to come out! ]

[beastofasister]

[...What.

If Walter thinks he's getting away with having this conversation over text, he is delusional. As soon as Manaka sees his message, she rings him for a voice call.

And if he doesn't pick up, she'll keep ringing.]

[11121_assumption]

[ He finally picks up after trying to ignore her for fifteen minutes. It's really weird and difficult to ignore someone reaching out to you, when you've been ignored for most of your life. ]

...Hello.

[beastofasister]

Walter! What happened?

[There's an urgency to her question that she wasn't expecting herself. But she hasn't known Walter to be one for snap decisions or overreactions; if he's saying he can't come back to Goldenrod, it must be something serious, and that fact worries her in a way she isn't used to.]

[ 12th February Text ]

[11121_assumption]

Manaka,

I'm in Ecruteak City. It's north of Goldenrod, about a week of travelling if you haven't been there before. Tell me if you come here. I will show you to the place I have rented.

Walter

[beastofasister]

∑(゜∇゜〃) Oh, I've been there before!
If you tell me the address, I bet I can find it!

[11121_assumption]

It's nearby the Burnt Tower... ]

---

As Manaka approached the Burnt Tower, Darkness would be waiting. He cawed to get her attention, fluttering down to a nearby branch and bobbing in greeting, before taking wing and leading her to the house.

It was slightly tucked out the way, a small, rustic building that fitted with the town's historic look. Aside from being half hidden in the trees, it didn't really stand out. But Darkness landed and knocked on the door with the beak, waiting patiently - and lo, Walter answered. He wasn't wearing his coat or shoes, his turtleneck sweater was visible and he seemed more casual. He nodded to her, smiling.

"Manaka."

[beastofasister]

"It's a little out of the way, isn't it?" But she giggled, clearly teasing. "It suits you!"

As Manaka spoke, she had already begun to step forward, intending to brush past Walter and into his home without waiting for a proper invitation. He had called her here, after all, so why wouldn't he plan on asking her inside?

[Delivery, morning of 2/14]

[styxiedust]

[Special delivery! One (1) Honchkrow with a bundle of packages--one is clearly addressed to Manaka. Inside she'll find several different types of chocolates in the shape of Ghost Pokemon. The card accompanying it simply says "From Jack."]

[brokencode]

[A rapping of an Oricorio’s beak at a nearby door, window, tree or rock might alert Manaka to the fact that she had a visitor. Clutched in the beak of the creature is a pink, heart-shaped piece of paper. Opening it up would reveal a handwritten note and adorned with a Sylveon sticker.]

You're a charm, Valentine -- Angel ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* .

16th April, afternoon/evening

[11121_assumption]

The Prom had happened. Performance reviews had been taken. The dust was settling. They were waiting to hear the results and then it would simply be ash around their feet.

Walter sat at home, a cup of coffee in hand, lost in thought. Wisdom perched on his shoulder seemingly asleep as he tapped a finger against his mug and his newly born Absol, Sentinel, sat at his side as still as a statue. For all her talk about being a 'fellow cult kid', Heather didn't understand what it was to be under the eye of Valtiel. Every time he spoke to her so far, she had brushed aside his fears as if being here removed the connection he had to the angel. It didn't. It couldn't.

He cupped his hands around the mug, letting the warmth seep into his skin. It was a little too hot but the slight burn was welcome. He needed to talk to someone else. Someone who might understand but was removed enough from the Order to not try and make it about their understanding of the faith. He closed his eyes as Wisdom opened hers.

"Manaka." He called softly. If she didn't answer, he'd go and knock on her door. "I'd like to talk to you about something."

[beastofasister]

One of the many little ironies Manaka had discovered in this world was the paradox of noise. Before, her head was never quiet, but she had been able to block out the sounds of the world around her as if they weren't there. Now that her mind was empty of everything but her own thoughts, however, the littlest noise could disturb her. She'd needed to relearn what it was to focus, and even now, she was easily roused.

She had been curled up in the bed she had claimed for her random and often unannounced visits, a book open in her lap. When he called for her, she answered only a few short seconds later. "Walter?" She peered around the doorframe as she spoke, standing up on her toes as if that little bit of height would make her louder somehow. "Did you call for me?"

[11121_assumption]

"Yes, I did. I wanted to talk to you, if that is okay?" He put down the cup, getting up and retrieving his bag. He sat, legs curled up beside him on the sofa. Once she sat with him, he paused, trying to think of how to begin.

"You asked me once, about the Seal of Metaton. I...I'd like to talk about it."

[beastofasister]

"Mm-hm!" Manaka nodded, humming back her reply, but her eyebrows lifted in a way that didn't match her cheerful voice. Even now, Manaka was usually the one that did most of the talking between them, and to hear him ask her to talk that way... She sat down on the couch beside him, smoothing out her skirt, and turned her face up toward him with her usual opaquely sunny expression.

When he finally broached the topic, though, it made her pause — not because of the topic itself, but because she had to struggle with how to respond. It was true that she wanted to know more about it, and more about him, but she remembered the way he had shrunk away from the subject before. Her happiness at him opening up to her and her uncertainty were so ill-matched that for a moment, she just sat there like a stiff and unmoving doll.

"Oh!" she squeaked, finally. "I still want to hear about it — if you really want to talk about it with someone, I mean. Um..." Trailing off, her eyes drifted aside of his face, Manaka unconsciously lifting one finger and tracing it over the central stroke of the Master Degree beneath her clothes. "And, what I said to you last time... If there's something you want to know about the things I've told you, you can ask me about them, too."

Text/Action

[11121_assumption]

Manaka, please come and see me. Walter

Normally Manaka stayed at Jacks. It was always difficult to tell when she would appear, but following his encounter with Vanitas, Walter wanted to forewarn her about him. Given the strength and unwavering loyalty of his Pokemon, Walter wasn't too frightened of him - but he was worried about himself.

He was trying to be better. To not hurt others. But when Vanitas vowed to take his Pokemon and lunged for Joseph, the world had narrowed down to those facts. Vanitas would take what he loved from him. He couldn't lose his Pokemon. They were everything. He would rather be killed again than lose his Pokemon. Or, he'd much rather kill what threatened them.

He waited downstairs, keeping his lower level Pokemon close. Sentinel, Bob and Bea were gathered around him with Claudia, the weakest of his Pokemon, in his lap.

FINALLY..............

[beastofasister]

∑(ﾟﾛﾟ〃) Oh no!
Am I in trouble?

...Just kidding! ♡
I'll be there soon. (ゝڡ◕๑)و☆

---

Manaka's reply had certainly been meant as a joke, but nonetheless, she couldn't help but be curious about Walter's request. With the way Walter was, his terse message could signify something serious — or he could just want to give her another gift, like when he had given her Snickerdoodle. And while she certainly preferred curiosity to the ennui of perfect certainty, the possibility that something could be wrong nagged at her the entire way to his door.

When she let herself in, she was quick to notice the way he had several of his Pokémon gathered close to him. It didn't seem like they were simply spending time together... She let her gaze move from one to the next, until finally he looked up from the little fox in his lap to meet Walter's eyes. "Walter, is something the matter?"

[11121_assumption]

There was no point in delaying his news. "I was attacked in Rocket Headquarters by a boy. He had been wearing a black suit and helmet. He vowed to take my Pokemon; specifically Joseph. Robbie attacked him. But he still laughed and said he 'couldn't wait' to have them. Do not walk around the Headquarters without a strong Pokemon that will attack humans with you." It had been his policy since day one.

Walter held Claudia close as he spoke, eyes dropping and focused on his Pokemon. He let the news sink in before continuing quietly.

"I thought I wouldn't have to hurt people here. But when he said that and lunged for Joseph...I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to order Robbie to beat him until his blood was smeared on the floors, or get a knife and do it myself. He laughed and I know that he will come back. And I can't lose them." He wasn't free of wrath back home. He had loathed the priests and the guards and the people who stopped him from getting to Ashfield Heights, and had thought about stabbing and attacking them before.

But he hadn't had those thoughts since arriving in Johto. There were people he didn't like, especially within Team Rocket, but he tried to avoid them at all costs and allowed his Pokemon to attack them as a means of getting them away from him. But Vanitas? He wanted him dead. He wanted him gone, completely and totally gone so they would never meet or cross paths in any way.

[beastofasister]

"Oh! Mr. Black Knight, right?" Walter was clearly shaken, but still, Manaka's demeanor brightened. She had been worried, but the problem was something so simple! "Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him. In fact, I don't think there's any reason to worry at a~ll~" Her words punctuated with a giggle, she clasped her hands behind her back, swaying like a mischievous fairy as she assured him, "You said it yourself: you could hurt him, if it came to that. If that's the case, there's nothing to fear."

[Backdate: June 4th] Goldenrod City Action aka Operation Misery

[usedstockpile]

[Gil doesn't remember evolving the River King (it wasn't wise to call a giant monster with laserbeams His Uselessness anymore), nor how he managed to get flush with a huge pile of cash again, but he figures he may as well live it up a little while in he's in the biggest city in the area. He needs a lot of snacks and treats to keep the kaiju happy, and he wants to spoil the rest of his crew. Bel accompanies him in the open, being the most portable and friendly of his team since he didn't spit fire, electricity, lasers, or anything else that could inflict property damage. The Umbreon tries on some clothes and snacks and helps Gil appeal to some people for directions before his ears perk up.

Who's that down the street? Bel heard a very distinct ~Vee, in a specific shade of pink.]

Eh? What's up, Bel?
[Before Gil can stop him, Bel bolts down the street, chirping and yipping at his bae Chiffon almost a block down. Gil bolts after him, struggling to catch up.]
Hey! Bel, wait, where are you going!?

[beastofasister]

[Wow, what a coincidence. Guess who else is out buying poképuffs for her collection of hooligans super cute and awesome well-behaved team?

Spoilers: It's Manaka. She has Chiffon snuggled up in the bag slung over her shoulder, like the perfect accessory to her outfit—or had her there, at least, because as soon as Chiffon hears Bel's yapping, she climbs out and hops down onto the ground below.

By the time Gil has caught up, he'll undoubtedly be greeted by a lot of chirping and Chiffon all but jumping on Bel, rubbing their adorable faces together.]

Oh, Gil! You didn't tell me you were in town!

[Is Manaka trying to piss him off with that bubbly smile, or does she just not care how he feels? Either/or, really.]

[usedstockpile]

Bel, aah, slow dow- [Oh son of a bitch] Aah. Hi, Manaka. I didn't know you were in Goldenrod either. [He didn't tell her cus he didn't want her to know. It's not that he hates her, it's....she gives him the heebie jeebies. He can never figure out why but she feels one step removed from sincere and normal.]

[The Eeveeloutions are being adorable, bumping faces and bouncing next to each other and wagging tails like the weird cat-dogs they are, and Gil almost thinks it's precious. Too bad he knows Chiffon is a weird vain horrible monster.] Bel, seriously?