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Thread: [M] Pokemon: Avarice Versus Justice! (Ashen and Headwrapper)

  1. #71
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    Upon reaching the hotel, Clive quickly approached the desk and announced that he was checking in. Quickly, he leaned into the counter and asked if there were any additional rooms available.

    The woman behind the counter casually typed Clive's name into her computer as he spoke, hardly looking up from behind her round glasses as she mulled over his question. "Most likely not, we and everyone else have been pretty much booked because of the festival. But I can still double check one more time..."

    Clive stepped back impatiently, glancing around the front lobby of the hotel. He hardly noticed his surroundings as he hurried to check in. It was hardly special, but it was nice. The floors white tiles gleamed, their waxed surfaces reflecting the decorative lights from above. A simple, yet well kept, blue carpet lined the walkway on either side, housing various forms of seating such as couches and high tables with matching chairs. Televisions were positioned in various locations throughout the seating area, playing the news or recent Pokemon League matches.

    "I'm really sorry, but we still do not have any other rooms available."

    Clive turned to face the woman behind the counter rather contentiously. He immediately realized he must have looked angry, as the woman just about had a heart attack when she met his gaze, and he quickly corrected his expression to be more neutral. "That will be fine... We will be here a few days, so if anything opens up can you please let us know?"

    "Of course sir. I have all of your information right here." The woman proceeded to check both Clive's and Yulia's identification before handing Clive a pair of card keys and directing them to the elevator.

    Without a word, Clive handed Yulia one of the keys before approaching the elevator. After pressing the elvator button, the man shuffled his feet slightly as he and Yulia waited, clearly bothered by something. "I'm sorry for getting angrier than I needed to," he said briefly, without even turning to face Yulia. It might have been unclear, but he did mean his words. He was still angry, no doubt, but he did regret dashing the small amount of trust Yulia started to have for him. She may have done the same with him, but that hardly provided him any solace.

    The elevator announced its arrival with a loud ding before opening its door to welcome the detectives inside. Upon stepping in, Clive pressed the number for the floor written on the key card, then paused for a moment before pressing the button for the roof. Hotels in Kanto commonly had rooftop seating and vending machines that he thought his Pokemon would enjoy, especially once it grew dark. He also figured Yulia would want to settle in to the room by herself for a while.

  2. #72
    The Ashen One
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    While Clive was asking for another room, Yulia was silently plotting the next few days. Would she even be in this hotel room much? Maybe worrying about this wasn't worth it, after all. But Yulia thought of herself in bed, beside a similar bed, with a man in it, him snoring perhaps? He'd be there to catch her every movement, her every breath. Would he be exposed to the reality behind her blacking out? What would he make of that? Yulia shook her head, praying the thoughts away. Whatever weird behavior she'd exhibit throughout the night, Clive would probably be too mad now to even bring it up. Maybe that was for the best.

    The receptionist was busy typing away at her computer, so Yulia's attention went to one of the televisions in the lobby, the one broadcasting some Pokemon battle. A spunky-looking young trainer was commanding her Audino against a veteran's Charizard, and from the looks of things, the Audino was winning. Yulia wondered if perhaps she could have led such a life. As a kid, hadn't she wanted to become famous for battling? She turned away, swallowing the bitter nostalgia. It was hard to think back to a time before Avarice existed, a time before she knew what she needed to do.

    Finally, the receptionist finished her search. As predicted, Yulia would be sharing a room for several days with a man who loathed her. She tried her best to look professional as she accepted the key to her room and made her way to the elevator, trailing behind Clive. She figured the wait for the elevator would be another painful silence, but his words fell softly, warmly. She looked up at her partner, at his tired expression, and tried to read the lines of his face. The elevator arrived before she could reply, so she wordlessly stepped in, mulling over her words. She absently noticed the buttons he pressed. Say something, she scolded herself, hating the silence, hating her own hesitation. "I'm sorry for not telling you earlier," she replied. Her gaze fell to the panel in the elevator, the buttons, the number of floors. "You were right, it could endanger me greatly, and you have a right to know." Why was she shaking? Yulia paused, trying to focus, to stop her involuntary actions. As the elevator arrived at their floor, she hesitated. "And thank you," she mumbled, not daring to look his way. "Um. Mr. Clive." With the informalities now destroyed, Yulia started away, off to find their room.

    Their room was spacious enough. The two beds were separated by two nightstands, with a lamp on one and a phone set on the other. Beyond the beds was the door to the tiny bathroom. The dresser in the room had a TV perched on it and an instruction manual on how to use the remote. The window on the far wall looked over the city, and Yulia made a beeline for that, taking in the view. She could see a few Rattata scurrying about outside and a few Spearow flying overhead. She spent several minutes admiring this new city before she reminded herself that Clive would return any moment. She set her bags beside the bed closer to the window and unpacked just the clothes she'd brought as pajamas. With those in her arms, she went into the small bathroom and started her shower.

    She didn't know how long she had been in there for, but by the time she stepped out, her mind was in a total haze. She felt mentally exhausted, and she knew there would be little she'd be doing before bed. She had wanted to do so much; she had files to look over, sightings and incidents with Team Avarice in Kanto, the history of the festival, any updates from home. But as she tugged her towel closer around her body, Yulia knew all of it would have to wait for tomorrow.

    Cerulean hair still dripping, pajamas still resting on the toilet, Yulia stumbled out of the bathroom and just about collapsed onto the bed she'd claimed. She was too tired to even notice whether Clive had returned or not. In the morning, she'd scold herself for not untangling her hair, for not properly drying herself, for not even having the sense to clothe herself, especially considering her circumstances, but as she lay there, she felt her body drift off, her desires vanish. As if physical desire trumped anything she may have wanted, she subconsciously pulled a blanket over herself, ignoring the subdued pleas to not lie like this, not for Clive to find her. "We should... at least... a shirt..." she mumbled to herself, but it wasn't long before she was still, silent, her chest rising and falling, her mind finally blank.
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  3. #73
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    When Yulia dismissed herself from the elevator, Clive remained silent. His face was still, even as the elevator closed and began to ascend. It slowed to a stop upon reaching the roof, releasing Clive in a small area sheltered by a glass roof and large windows. He pushed his away passed the doors that lead out to the seating on the roof, pleased to find that no one was occupying any of it.

    He wandered towards the edge of the roof, peering through the protective metal fencing that served as a safety barrier. He squeezed the painted iron bars as his gaze dropped down below.

    Once satisfied, he took a step back and made his way to one of the tables He nimbly set his bag onto it, before plopping down onto a chair and lifting his legs onto another chair adjacent to him. From there, he chose to just sit in silence for a while. There would be a lot legwork that could be done over the next few days before the festival started. It actually might benefit him to scope out the city during the night, when it was more likely he could find some sort of Avarice activity. He liked working at night more anyway.

    Maybe Yulia would need the space too.

    Clive felt bad when thought about how he exploded at her in the restaurant. She seemed so frightened. She very much resembled a frightened Pokemon, and when Clive thought about it that way, it made him feel a little sick. Clive was a little surprised how far Yulia had yielded then, as it seemed a little uncharacteristic of her. Then again, he had never blown up in her face either, and the timing might not have helped either.

    Clive let some time pass, allowing a few of his Pokemon to spread their legs while he scrolled through different emails and news clippings on his Pokegear. Nightfall quickly approached, and once the darkness had arrived, Clive made his way back to the floor he and Yulia's room as on. He guided himself to the room, unlocked the door with a swipe of his card key and a click, and stepped inside. He blinked idly as he took in the room, quickly noticing Yulia unconscious in one of the beds, one of the blankets barely pulled over her body.

    "Hmm." Clive placed his bag at the foot of his bed, before settling himself next to it. "Long day, I guess," he muttered idly to himself, although he did not place a lot of faith behind those words. He reached into his bag and dug around with one arm until he found himself a fresh pair of socks, changed into them, and relaced his shoes. He paused by the door for a moment to turn off the light, before leaving the room.

    His late night stroll spanned a few hours, but it was still rather uneventful. With the help of Zorua's illusions, Clive was able to move through many parts of the city unnoticed. He confirmed one of his suspicions: Saffron had an "Underground" that was similar to the one he was used to in Goldenrod. It was where people met to make dealings unappreciated by the law or hire folks for unsavory deeds. Clive turned a blind eye to most of what he saw- he was there for the bigger picture. He identified the people who knew who of their peers were a part of Avarice.

    Zorua began to grow tired of the late-night stroll, especially while keeping up his illusions on not only himself but also Clive. That was when the time to retire came, and Clive made his way back to the hotel. He figured his morning was going to be ruined anyway, so after quickly changing into some shorts and a t-shirt that would serve as his nightwear, he spent another hour, maybe two, scrolling through files on his laptop. He started to familiarize himself to particular criminals that had caught his eye in Saffron's database, but didn't get far before falling asleep with his head just by the keyboard.

  4. #74
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    Yulia had a fitful dream that night. She was trapped in a room of mirrors and her face kept changing, kept distorting. Around her she could hear the screams of her Pokemon, her Beartic and her Braviary, her Skorupi and her Glameow. She woke with a start, thankful to be back in a world that made sense, and she tried to go back to sleep when she rolled over and noticed Clive.

    The room was dark, but the city lights outside cast a soft glow over their furniture. Clive was so different now, so much less intimidating in shorts and a T-shirt. Yulia didn't know why she was surprised; of course the man didn't sleep in a trench coat and hat, after all. Yulia turned over again, back facing Clive, when she suddenly realized how cold she was, how bare. The fabric of the towel brushed against her waist. Yulia paused. Her pajamas, the soft, mint satin...

    Jolting upright, Yulia was horrified to find her body uncovered. She quickly gathered up her towel and scurried into the bathroom, muttering an angry, "I'm going to kill her," as she left. Her pajamas were just where she'd left them. What had happened...? As she slipped into the loose pants and tank top, she struggled to remember what had happened. She'd gotten back to the hotel room and showered, and... then what? Had she just passed out? She shook her head, hanging her now dried towel in the bathroom. Her hair was dry, its knots tangling at the nape of her neck. She hadn't even had the sense to untangle her hair? Frustrated, Yulia walked back to her bed and sat on it, hoping she wasn't waking Clive. She cast another glance towards him, noticing his computer. Had he been working all night? And she'd fallen asleep even before nightfall. Not only was she a ticking time bomb, now she was slacking, too. She struggled to think of any reason why Clive would want her as a partner.

    It didn't take her long until she could run her comb through her hair again. She set her brushes and combs aside and plopped back down on her pillow. The sun hadn't risen yet. She wondered if it was worth welcoming the nightmares again, or if now she could catch up to her partner, bury herself in all the files she'd meant to last night. Checking the time on her cell phone, Yulia shrugged. She certainly didn't need any more sleep, and there were things to do.

    She didn't notice the sun rise, but the next time she looked up from her own computer screen, the room was bright, and bird Pokemon were singing outside. She thought of her pet back home, her Glameow, and wondered if he would be eating well. She'd left enough food to last him her whole trip, and she had faith he wouldn't eat too much, but she suddenly missed her grumpy cat. Glancing at Clive again, Yulia shoved her feet into a pair of slippers, grabbed her key card, and left the room. She ventured to the rooftop and threw three balls into the air. She wouldn't see Fritz for a few days yet, but at least she had the rest of her team.

    Valkyrie seemed confused at his surroundings, and he fixated on the glass roof above him. Soon, he was cawing happily at Yulia, his wings beating wildly. "I missed you too," she murmured. Zita was patient as she watched the Braviary bond with her master, and once it was her turn she leaned in for some head pats. The Skorupi skittered around the roof, not approaching Yulia but not hiding, either. Yulia bought Pokemon snacks from the vending machine on the roof, and she gave them to her Pokemon, promising she would feed them properly later. She took a seat on the couches there and sighed. Despite all the sleep she'd gotten, she was exhausted, like she hadn't rested at all. Shaking the thought, Yulia pulled a cigarette out from her bra and juggled it between her fingers. Right in front of a no smoking sign, she lit the stick and stuck it between her lips. "You won't tell on me?" she murmured to her Beartic. The large Pokemon made a soft noise of displeasure and turned away, off to play with the Skorupi.

    After her cigarette break, Yulia recalled her Pokemon and made her way back to the hotel room. There was still more work to be done; there always would be. She wanted to explore more of the city, talk more with local authorities, but she didn't want to leave without telling Clive. As she stood outside the room she shared with him, she hesitated. She didn't much want to talk to him, either. His expression from the previous night returned to her, his knuckles... Yulia shook her head. She was not going to let some disagreement get in the way of doing her work. Clive was her partner first and foremost; they would figure out their differences and work together again. They had to. But a nagging voice in her head taunted her, interrogated her. Little Yulia, so scared of a man, it sang. She shook her head, hard. Clearing her throat, Yulia returned to their room.
    Last edited by Ashen; 12-13-2019 at 04:23 PM.
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  5. #75
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    Clive awoke to a room well lit by the morning sun, his nose just inches away from the laptop that had sat next to him. He carefully rose, sitting back against the pillows behind him as he gained his bearings. Slowly, he peaked over to the other bed, sighing in relief upon realizing he was no longer in the presence of his naked partner. Things would have been awkward if he had to deal with her waking up without any clothes on.

    He sat up even straighter then, crossing his legs and pulling them close with one hand. For a long while, he simply sat silently, his brain slowly revving up as he grew more awake. His hand reached for his PokeGear, and for a few moments longer he scrolled through it, searching for any interesting news. After not finding anything noteworthy, he set the device aside and began getting himself ready for the day.

    He groggily made his way to the shower, taking his time as he let the water flow down his neck and back, loosening up his stiff muscles. Once he was done and dressed, he cracked open one of the windows to help bring some fresh air into the room, and sat back at the foot of his bed to work on his laptop again. With the police scanner on his Pokegear serving as background noise, Clive began planning key places within the city he wanted to investigate based on his evening stroll, as well as other findings. He shot off a few emails to some of the local colleagues he and Yulia just met the day before at Sabrina's gym.

    The sudden click of the door unlocking was enough to break his concentration, and he glanced over in time to see Yulia step back into the room. Clive's dark eyes watched her for a moment, before quickly returning to his laptop's screen. "Huh. Didn't realize you could wear the bathroom decorations."

  6. #76
    The Ashen One
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    Luckily, Clive was awake when she returned, but for several long moments she just stared at him. Sitting legs-crossed like that on a foreign bed, bathed in sunlight, eyes lit by the glow of his work... Yulia had to admit, he looked almost domestic. She averted her gaze as soon as he teased her, red painting her cheeks. "Ah, sorry," she mumbled awkwardly. "I was so--" But Yulia stopped herself, knowing her partner hadn't asked for her explanation. What could she say that wouldn't raise suspicion anyway? She had no reason to be as tired as she had been last night. Shaking the thought, Yulia made her way to her bed and set aside her clothes for the day. As she gathered her brushes and toiletries, she glanced over at Clive. "Did you... sleep well?" she asked, wondering if he wanted to talk at all.

    Waiting for his response, Yulia held her things in her hands. She would say nothing about her nightmares, nothing about the exhaustion clear on her face. With the small talk done, she went to the bathroom and dressed herself, then spent several minutes brushing her teeth and brushing the bags from under her eyes. She tied her hair back into a low ponytail, fixed the glasses on her nose, and patted down her dress. Deciding she looked presentable enough, she returned to her bed and set her things away again. Absently, she wondered if Clive saw through her, saw through the makeup, the cheery cheri berry-print dress she wore, the cowboy boots. She looked peppy enough, younger than she was, not at all like a detective investigating a criminal organization. Underneath the facade was an exhausted and wary woman, one who could feel the panic bubbling, the anticipation of this festival, the anxiety of screwing up again.

    Now was not the time for such thoughts. Yulia grabbed her messenger bag with her laptop and some papers, various newspaper clippings and printed files and maps of the attractions of Saffron. "I'm going to explore a bit," she announced. "I've been researching this city and the surrounding areas, and I've got a list of places and people I'd like to check out. I can forward the list so we don't end up repeating anything. Or..." She turned away. "We could go together?" Her suggestion seemed almost fearful, but she cleared her throat and looked back to him. "I can go alone if you're busy working on something. It might be quicker that way anyway; we could cover more ground apart. It was just a suggestion." She tried to read his expression, wondering if last night had stuck with him as it had with her. "I also thought I'd get lunch while I was out, so if you wanted me to start paying you back, now might be a good opportunity."
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  7. #77
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    "I slept alright. I stayed up longer than I think I should have." Clive's eyes darted to different points on his screen for a few seconds longer, before carefully turning to place the laptop on the bed behind him. He picked up his PokeGear, scrolled through a few different screens, and turned off its police scanner component, remaining silent all the while. As Yulia gathered her things and disappeared into the bathroom, Clive wondered if she perceived his silence as leftover anger from the previous day.

    Truthfully, Clive had been mostly over it after spending time alone on the roof of the hotel. After letting out his anger in the alley beside the restaurant, and taking some time alone with Zorua to perform some less-than-honest sleuthing, he did not really care any more if Yulia continued to hide things from him. The way she acted had always been suspicious, and he was fairly sure that as more was revealed about Avarice the more it would be necessary for him to discover what Yulia's secrets were, but that time would come on its own terms. For now, he could work the same way he always had. He would use his own instincts and carve a way forward alone.

    Clive suddenly stood, looking at his darkened reflection in the blackened screen of the television sitting on top of the room's lone dresser. He realized something: he did not want to go at it alone, again. Even he could not deny that the more recent days of working with Yulia were actually enjoyable. She had talent, that was for sure, and secrets or no secrets, she did bring plenty to the table when it came to making progress towards bringing down Avarice. Hell, she was the reason they were in this city to begin with.

    He ground his teeth together in irritation. Was this what someone was supposed to feel about having a partner? Like Nat and Jean? Dad and Uncle Richie? Would they have gotten as angry as he did if they realized they were being lied to by the other, while still in a state of concern? On one hand, Clive knew himself. To be more successful, it was better that he brought himself back to one singular focus. Anything Yulia discovers can be treated as information Clive can use to fuel the flames that would scorch Avarice off of the map. With the help of his Pokemon, and with his own keen intuition, he knew that he could crack any case.

    The problem was the other hand, the one that had remained hidden in the shadows. It had not been apparent that it was there until Clive chose to step away, and it stopped him with an iron grip. He liked the time he spent with Yulia. He was almost repulsed by the thought. It nearly made him nauseous when he thought about how silly his nickname for her, "Yules", was. In the end, however, he could not deny it at all. Around her, working the case just felt new again. Sometimes it was almost like he was back to working his first case, all those years ago.

    He exhaled loudly from his nostrils, turning towards the direction of the bathroom again. Why was he being so stupid? It was not like Yulia felt the same way. She was eager, excited to be a detective and learn from him, but it all was for her own personal gain. Clive could not fault her for that, it was natural. Anyone who had a passion for the job and wanted to have a successful career would behave similarly.

    The conflicted detective quickly stepped back towards his bed, and collected some of his things to place in his bag. As he did so, he heard Yulia's silent footsteps emerge from the bathroom. Upon her announcement that she was going to explore the city, Clive turned to face her, peering through the glasses Yulia had hastily repaired the night before. "I, uh..." He paused, what the hell was wrong with him? He felt unsure, and his skin felt hot under his clothes. The room felt like it was shrinking. It seemed like there was ocean before, between him and where Yulia had lain naked, but only mere millimeters between him and those glasses that had a subtle slant to them, serving as a single barrier that kept Clive from being pulled into Yulia's eyes as they watched him.

    He firmly made a decision, grounding himself once again and regaining his composure. "It's an unfamiliar city. We should stay together, at least for the first few days. I did some exploring last night. Maybe I can help prioritize where we need to go first."
    Last edited by Headwrapper; 12-17-2019 at 01:18 AM.

  8. #78
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    She couldn't help but note something off about her partner. Even dismissing the events at the restaurant, Clive never acted with such... hesitation? As she watched him consider her suggestion, Yulia turned away awkwardly. Had she said something wrong? She replayed her words in her head, looking for any hint of irregularity, of offense. Finding none, she subconsciously cocked her head at the older man. His hesitation, she realized, was not because of her, but because of a war he was having within himself.

    Yulia wasn't going to ask. Clive had his secrets, and after last night, now more than ever she wouldn't dare ask about them. She only waited patiently, pretending to look for something in her messenger bag while he debated his answer. When he finally did speak, Yulia felt relief wash through her, surprising herself. Had she been so desperate for that confirmation, that companionship? She smiled warmly. "You're right. I've been studying maps, but that's nothing like actually exploring. I can make an agenda for us while you get ready, if you'd like."

    But she was already getting to work. Yulia pulled some papers from her bag and looked over them again. She busied herself picking places to check, people to talk to. All the while, her thoughts were wandering. These last several hours, ever since the restaurant, had been so uncomfortable, but now, it was like Clive had absolved her from such feelings. She hadn't realized how important his approval was, how much she wanted him to still like her. What did it matter? Yulia had become a detective for herself, to prove to herself that she could. She knew she had to be the one to stop Avarice. She had to stop those villains from hurting Pokemon like her poor, anxious Skorupi. Clive was just an instrument, a partner she'd been assigned, someone to shed new light on her goals... wasn't he? She glanced towards him, at his cold eyes, the curve of his jaw, the blossom of his lips. Their relationship wasn't strictly business-like, and last night, his reactions, had proven that.

    Realizing she was getting distracted, Yulia cleared her throat and looked back to her papers, now with far more pen marks and red circles than only a few moments ago. Seeing that Clive was set, she slipped her papers neatly back into her bag and got up to go. "Where did you explore?" she prompted. "I was thinking we'd not venture too far at first, so I picked out some places close by, but if you've already covered them we can go further than I thought." She pulled a map from her bag and handed it to him. "These were just some ideas I had, but I'll follow your lead."
    Last edited by Ashen; 01-07-2020 at 10:28 PM.
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  9. #79
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    Clive watched Yulia silently for a brief moment after the blue haired detective got to work identifying places to scope out. Had it really only been a month or so that she had approached his desk, bright eyed and bushy tailed? He looked back towards his own laptop, pausing for a moment before deciding to sit down and go through some things one more time. There was one last thing he was trying to confirm before he had fallen asleep the night before.

    A quick search query confirmed one of suspicions: many of the arrests that were tied to the type of profile that matched a closeted Avarice grunt happened in a handful of locations. Oftentimes, the tells were obvious. Someone who worked two or three jobs and then suddenly cutting it down to only one that paid less or even none at all, without any lifestyle changes like a move or marriage. The type of decision making that lead one to join an criminal organization as a grunt typically lent itself to getting arrested for other things as well, but without evidence it was merely speculation to say that these people were all Avarice members. Clive was confident that enough of them were, though.

    Night clubs. That seemed to be the typical place these people were tracked down and arrested. Seemed obvious enough to Clive. There was a chance the clubs themselves could have been used as some sort of front or a way to clean any dirty money, but they also may have just been popular places to be. Aside from money laundering, Clive usually associated crimes at night clubs or by people who frequented them with either drug related activities or human trafficking. There was no evidence to suggest Avarice was dealing drugs, but human trafficking was definitely a possibility. They had kidnapped Sierra, not too long ago. She was not the first disappearance either.

    He would need to keep a more watchful eye next time he neared the Underground, both in Saffron as well as in Goldenrod.

    When Yulia was done, Clive took her map and looked it over. "I didn't get too far from here, but I was curious about this warehouse." He pointed to one of Yulia's red circles. "It seemed like there were more people headed there than there needed to be for a night shift. I didn't see any delivery trucks parked there, so I don't think there would be a night crew to load up trucks or anything like that." He stopped, deciding to share his earlier thoughts with Yulia as well. "Do you recall anything about any Avarice involvement in night clubs or that sort of thing? I noticed that a lot of arrests for people who could be low ranking Avarice members happen in a couple of the night clubs here. Maybe that's typical for this city, but it's bugging me now that I'm thinking about it."

  10. #80
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    And just like that, the two of them were back to work mode. Yulia thought back to the notes and records she had read through. "Night clubs?" she murmured in response, trying to recall any correlation. "There are always lots of arrests at places like those, so nothing especially stood out to me, but I could look over the files again. None of the names stood out to me." She peered at the map and made a mental note of the warehouse he'd been referring to. Suspicious nighttime activity in a city as big as Saffron likely wasn't uncommon, but it was still worth checking out.

    As they started out of the hotel, Yulia was already cross-referencing public files with what Clive had come up with. "It's an abandoned warehouse," she told him after a quick internet search. "Used to belong to some Poke Ball design company a couple decades ago. It's restricted now, so there shouldn't be anyone entering." She looked up at Clive. "So that could be a good place to search. An abandoned warehouse would make the perfect place for an organization like Avarice, after all." Not breaking pace, she pulled papers from her messenger bag, newspaper clippings filled with strangers' faces, court testimonies typed in that unbearable font. She scanned them all, looking for anything that would resemble a clue.

    It took her a few minutes, but she shoved a paper towards Clive and packed all the others back in her bag. "What about this?" she asked. "Someone was arrested for trespassing here a couple weeks ago. The kid was just sixteen though. You don't think Avarice would be using children?" Before them, the warehouse was coming into view. No one was around, and the place itself looked like it could be home to several ghost-type Pokemon. "I guess we can't put it past them. Now's as good a time as any to start searching." She started jogging towards the warehouse, already fueled by an adrenaline that came with making progress.

    Yulia drew a ball from her bag and threw it in the air. Out came her Braviary, who looked warily towards the warehouse. "We're looking for clues that this place might be an Avarice base," she murmured, in case anyone besides Clive and her Pokemon was within earshot. Turning back to Clive, she motioned towards the warehouse. "What should we be looking for?" she asked. "I can check the outside, if you want to cover the interior. It's a pretty big place, so it might take a while. Want to come back tonight too and do a stakeout?" The questions seemed never-ending, but Yulia couldn't help it. After all the tension, she was excited to get back to something she knew, something more logical than the emotional fanfare. The idea of a stakeout, of being squished against Clive as they waited for a grunt or two to stroll into their trap... The very idea erased the unease about her partner.
    Last edited by Ashen; 02-18-2020 at 06:08 PM.
    Thanks to Craze for the beautiful Bravely set!

    ~Recruitment Thread~
    Spoiler: Ashen's Personal Hall of Fame 

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