Like no one ever was

[mostlyajerk]

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[mostlyajerk]

"You should try to keep it warmer." At this time of the year, it wasn't unusual to come across fledgling trainers after dark, so Hartley wasn't surprised when he spotted the campfire. He did however take note of the egg and so some advice might not go amiss. "Do you know what egg it is? Doesn't look like a fire pokémon, so you don't need to put it in the embers, but a bit closer to the fire couldn't hurt."

That said he stopped, now standing right by the other boy. Hartley had a rattata perched on his shoulder, which made for good muscle, and there was a much shyer pokémon hiding behind his legs. No pokéballs that could be seen, but he still looked like a trainer. "You're all alone?"

[gotspeed]

"I don't want to risk accidentally cooking it or something." He wanted it warm but not too warm in case he accidentally boiled the egg and he really didn't want to do that, it was so lucky to find an egg like this and he'd spent so long caring for it, he didn't want to ruin it this early. "I think it's close to hatching, I have no idea what it is but I can't wait to find out."

Barry grinned up at the other... trainer? Maybe? It was hard to tell. Either way, Barry gave off a whole friendly vibe as he shifted the egg a little closer, looking back up at the other with a small frown. "Of course I'm not alone." Shuffling back on the grass, he grabbed the tent flap and pulled it back so Hartley could see the sleeping Cubone, curled up in his own sleeping bag, clearly wiped out. "We walked a lot today so he's napping but usually he's right here with me."

[mostlyajerk]

"He does look exhausted." But also healthy, as far as he could tell at first glance, so there was no problem here. Hartley decided to simply sit down, looking at the egg, even though he wasn't rude enough to actually touch it. "I don't think you're in any danger of cooking it unless you actually throw it into the flames. Where did you get it?"

They should really be stricter about who was allowed eggs, but at least he seemed to be trying, which was more than what he could say for some. Echo climbed off his shoulder and ended up sniffing the egg, then nuzzled it. What else was new? "Sorry. Very affectionate."

[gotspeed]

"We walked for most of the day so I don't blame him. I'm exhausted too but I need to eat first." Hence why he had modest scraps of food cooking away over his fire in a little pan. Nothing special, just a tin of hot dogs he got at the store and was slowly trying to cook. He looked up at the rattata fondly and reached out carefully as not to offend it, waiting to see how it reacted before petting it.

"Hey buddy." Barry laughed as Echo nuzzled him back affectionately. Clearly, this one loved to be loved. "That's a really cool pokemon. I totally want one of those some day." He wanted one of all of them but right now the egg was so much to worry about, he didn't really focus on catching them all.

[mostlyajerk]

"He's in the top percentage." Hartley smirked and watched Barry, amused. "They are not hard to come by. I just found one that wanted to come with me." As he tended to. He let his whismur climb on his lap, stroking her back as she hid against his stomach. Not really any less affectionate, his Mumble, but a lot shyer. "I stopped using pokéballs. These days I just travel with the ones that feel like going somewhere and I meet others whenever I check in."

to Cisco

[mostlyajerk]

When Barry Allen comes, make sure to check on his egg if it hasn't hatched yet. he might need some help.

In general, really.

[viber]

GASP!

Hartley Rathaway is alive! It's a miracle. And he picks me to speak to above all. Oh goodie. Cause, you know, I wouldn't know you were alice what with you ignoring us and only emerging periodically to try and slam us.

[mostlyajerk]

You're truly privileged. Feel free not to inform anyone else of this rare honour.

I'd prefer if there was no reason to slam you.

Fine. Sometimes it's fun.

[viber]

You look for any excuse to slam us and it's rude, man. I'm not a super villain who hates pokemon because I work in a lab and I have pokeballs. My guys love me.

And Barry Allen came in today, I already looked over his eggs. It's about to hatch actually.

[mostlyajerk]

"Here."

Hartley had appeared quite literally out of nowhere and now that he was walking in the lab, stepping up to Cisco, the pokémon that had teleported him in was nowhere to be seen either. What could he say? He had connections.

Right now he put down a lightly singed folder onto the table, labelled with some number. Research material from the facility he'd found hidden by the lake, a place that virtually didn't exist any more now that he was done with it. He had ways and he had friends and there were some very angry Gyarados that were excellent in destroying things completely.

"Tell me if that data was really worth what you did."

[viber]

"Woah! No! You can't be here!" Cisco leapt up from his chair and staggered back, looking around for a little assistance, some back up in case Hartley came here for less than peaceful reasons, which it kind of seemed like he did. "Guys! Help!" No humans responded because everyone was out so he was mostly talking to his pokemon. His suspiciously absent pokemon. Rawry had been napping and was now hiding under his desk whining, Sneezy had conveniently disappeared and Vertigo was wobbling over to him very slowly, crashing into the waste paper bin by accident.

Cisco raised his hand to his face. What a dream team. "You know what? Most peoples teams assemble. Thanks, guys! Seriously, great work."

Instead, Cisco formed a fighting stance of his own, ready to try his best and take down this asshole. "Was what worth it? What are you talking about? This is a restricted area, get the hell out!"

[mostlyajerk]

The moment Cisco took a fighting stance, Hartley's partner, his Zorua jumped out in front of him. Only of course he used an illusion, appearing instead as a much bigger and scarier Mightyena, growling at Cisco from a threatening stance. "Shh, calm down. Cisco's not going to do a thing to me."

He looked at Vertigo and waved, then sent an apologetic look to Rawry. But he was here to intimidate, so he might as well focus on that. Hartley brought his hand down on the folder he had put down, focusing on Cisco and raising his eyebrows. "This is all that is left of all you've worked on at the lake. No lives were lost, but the research certainly was. Are you going to continue to play ignorant when I'm offering it to you? You could keep it, if you admit."

[viber]

Holy shit. That thing was massive and terrifying and he wanted to cry. And apparently Sneezy was crying because he could heard sniffling but not the normal kind, this one was worse. Great, wherever he was hiding was going to be so covered in mucus now. Cisco pushed himself against the wall an started to shuffle left towards Verigo. Rawry had cover but Verigo didn't and if that pokemon attacked, he didn't want the little guy getting hurt.

"Dude, I don't know anything about it!" Which was actually pretty true. He knew it existed, he knew Wells was trying to do something there with energy but whenever Cisco asked, he made it very clear that he wasn't allowed to know and hell, Cisco didn't like rocking the boat. He was glad enough that Wells wanted him here. "It's Wells project, it's not mine." Cisco eyed the folder, suddenly curious but the loyal part of him knew that Wells didn't want him to know about his business so he shouldn't look. "Don't come in here and threat me with your pokemon, do you have any idea how out of line this is? I could have you arrested!"

[catchacold]

"Focus, Barry. Do you want to catch her? Your Cubone is a fighter and that Ponyta wants a fight. She wants to see what you're made of. So show her. What attacks does your Cubone know?"

Leonard stayed behind Barry, hands in his pockets to keep from helping even more. Obviously training a junior like this was beneath him, but whatever. Somehow he'd called to him. Or accidentally hit him with a pokéball, same difference.

So he had promised to help him catch a pokémon. Besides, he'd feel better about someone this green travelling with a good and strong Ponyta that could probably even carry him if necessary.

[gotspeed]

"Erm, bone club annnnd growl?" As far as Barry could remember, he didn't often fight with Scully, he was special and he was always afraid of him getting hurt. "Use growl." It would hopefully lower any attacks coming his way before they launched into a proper attack. Barry resisted the urge to worry too much over his Cubone, decided to just have faith. He could do this, he was a big boy, not unlike Barry.

Cubone growled and stooped low, ready to attack, ready to make move. It was clearly Barry who was being hesitant, not the pokemon.

[catchacold]

"He wants to fight, Barry. You just have to let him. He trusts you completely, so he'll do as you say. That's a great sign of your bond, but that also means that if you hesitate, he'll get hurt. Do you understand?"

Len's eyes narrowed. "You see how he holds the bone? He's ready to use it. Fair warning, Ponyta's are very quick, so you'll both have to think on your feet. You can do this, Barry, but you'll have to trust in yourself like he trusts you."

[gotspeed]

"Okay, I can do that." Barry took a deep breath and pushed aside all his concerned and protectiveness to try and do this right. If he ever wanted to be taken seriously as a trainer, he had to actually be willing to fight with his pokemon. He waited until the timing was right before he commanded Cubone to attack. Scully launched at the Ponyta and just missed it, hitting the ground instead. "Keep trying!"

Fortunately, Scully did and managed to get her leg the second time around, knocking her off balance. Scully stayed his ground and growled again, ready to go. Barry grinned. "Oh man, he's doing it! Did you see that? He landed a hit."

text to Cisco

[catchacold]

No.

[viber]

No to what exactly?

Be specific.

[catchacold]

What did I tell you to do and what did you do?

[viber]

Make it look professional and add lighting.

I made it look cool and added a disco ball.

[midastouches]

"Hello. It's been a while, Cisco."

Lisa Snart entered the lab as if security was for other people, which, to be fair, in her esteem it was. She looked around the room, but mostly focused on Cisco himself, walking toward him with her heels clicking with every step. She knew how to make an entrance. Black leather pants, a golden top and her pokéballs minimised on her belt.

"Did you miss me?"

[viber]

"I swear to God, I upped the security."

Why was everyone just walking on in here? Wells was going to kill him one of these days. Cisco huffed a little and stood up, not even bothering to gather his tiny pokemon army for defence. He didn't have any pokeballs for them, they all got upset if he tried to put them in them so, much like a dad trying to juggle three kids and get them to school, Cisco was stuck herding his stupid carebears team around.

And he had no idea where they were right now, except Rawry. He was currently chewing on Cisco's desk. "What do you want?"

[midastouches]

"Why are you so defensive? I'm just here to say hello. Something you haven't done yet." It was sad, but Lisa decided to shrug it off. She bent down to pick Rawry up in her arms and cuddle him close. "Hello, sweetie. I have missed you too. You're looking really fierce today, aren't you? Practising those teeth." She set him back down on the table and petted his head again.

"I saw what you did for my brother, Cisco. It's very impressive."

[viber]

"Yeah, well, he didn't give me much of a choice." At least he paid Cisco but when he came to him for gym design, it was less a 'you want to help?' and more a 'you will help' so Cisco didn't get much choice. He reached out and idly petted Rawry's head, giving the little guy some reassurance. Then again, his pokemon liked Lisa so even if she did attack him, they'd probably just nag her for attention instead of helping. What a crack team.

"What do you want? ... Not that I don't already know but come on."