Pokémon Legends: Court of Kings

[Klarp Glornharm]

Robby waved to Sal when she sat at her plate. "H'y. 'M Robby. N'ce T'm't y'."  

[Jump Einatz]

Behind her shades, Sal squinted at Robby, trying to pick out what he was saying. The drawling Unovan accent was new to her, and was either incomprehensible or muddled from her headache. Maybe both. "...hi, to you, uh, also." She picked up her burger in both hands and took stock of the table. Henrietta was here too. Salieri wasn't ready for this much energy, or this many people, much less the grease trap in her hands. But she had to put on a strong front to keep up the clout she was gaining. And besides, the burger did smell delicious.

"Dunno. If I have time, maybe." Salieri shrugged at Helena's question. Her battle with Ramos showed her that even with all her training, she couldn't afford to slouch off much. With four badges pocketed already, she still had plenty of time for the second half so long as she didn't waste it. The search for Moze was a necessary tangent from her training routine.

"We have bigger things to take care of today," she said, trying to catch Zack's eye while she nibbled on her burger. Oh, it IS good. "The Gyms can wait, I can line my badge case later." Zack was avoiding her gaze, and she was reminded about how he seemed off yesterday. Was there something important he wasn't saying, or was her real state of mind just that obvious to him?

Feeling self conscious suddenly, Sal also looked away and gave Henrietta a nod. "Sup."  

[Marsuru]

Zack transmutated oxygen into carbon dioxide while his heart pumped blood around his body.  

[Spinne Biss]

Henrietta, who had finished her own burger and was working on her soda, smiled at Salieri. That martial artist had become an overnight sensation. While Salieri had fans prior to last night she has exploded since then. Azucena spoke about her often and Henrietta felt the tiniest bit nervous being seated at the table with her. For the pink haired trainer the idea of being that famous was more than a little intimidating.

"H-hey," she'd say in response before looks my away, cheeks flushed red.

Helena finally found herself looking between Zack and Salieri. "Soooo, Salieri. Anything you want me to look out for while I'm at the Balibar residence? Secret dungeons? Notes about mass executing the poor?"

Henrietta choked on her drink and after a few seconds spent coughing with Helena gently patting her back she'd say "please be ca-careful. I'd rather you come out empty handed than put yourself in danger."  

[Jump Einatz]

Salieri's eyes darted between Henrietta and Robby, trying to gauge how much they know about the predicament in Kalos. She assumed Helena had informed her friend of the general corruption. She wasn't sure about Robby, but from what she (and by proxy, Zack) knew about the chef, he wasn't suspect.

...Mia hadn't been suspect either, and that turned out sour. Salieri didn't want to start trusting everyone she met with what she knew.

"I mean, we're all already in danger so don't sweat it," Sal assured Henrietta. She nibbled on her burger some more, already sure she wouldn't be able to finish it. "If anything, it's worse to come out empty handed."

Helena seemed peppier than usual. Not the mustered pep that Sal had seen her display to hide her true feelings, either. It was like knowledge about Ratio and Moze was a hot potato that Helena couldn't carry any longer, so she passed it on and suddenly the burden was lifted. Now Salieri had the hot potato, and she couldn't wait to pass it on or mash it up.

"Yeah, if anyone mentions anything about Kyren Balibar, lemme know," Sal told Helena while whipping out her Pokégear. "...just a past Kalos league champion. Person of interest. I'd like to meet him someday." While she explained that, she was busy typing up texts to Helena, trying to slip her some more discreet requests. "Other than that uhhh have fun? Or whatever you're supposed to have there."

~Find out about Starfall, that's what the darkhorse hunter org is called
~Don't let them know you know

"My bad, my phone's blowing up right now," she said apologetically to the table. A valid excuse since the notifications were still coming in. "...Arceus, I'm gonna block everyone on these damn apps. Too much noise." She readjusted her shades just enough to flash Zack a Can we go? look before her eyes were hidden again.  

[Marsuru]

Zack caught Salieri's glance and figured now was as good a time as any to get out of there. It hadn't been too bad after all, even if he had hoped it had just been Helena and him. Maybe she thought it'd be too awkward if it were just the two of them, which struck Zack with a pang of self pity.

'Fame's a b***h. This's why I don't d**k around getting badges,' Zack said, shrugging. 'Nobody believes me. Nobody believes me.'

He climbed out of his chair with a scrape across the floor. 'So this was cool but I'm gonna get going. Robby, nice seeing you again man. Uh, Henrietta? Good to meet you, I guess.' Zack shouldered his backpack, and made eye contact with Helena. 'We should do this again sometime, little sister. And think about training with me, for real.'

Assuming she made it out of Lord Balibar's dining room anyway.  

[Spinne Biss]

"Hey Zack," Helena said as she got up from her seat. "I changed my mind. Let's go training." She shot Henrietta an apologetic look and the young woman smiled in response. Then she'd side hug Robby and wave to Salieri before following Zack off to the...

[Kalos Badlands]

As morning turned to noon the sun rose higher and higher up through the sky, shortening their cast shadows until it hung directly above the two trainers.

Below in the valley was a series of explosions and cried and several pokemon matches broke out in quick trades, the teams of the two trainers switching partners every few seconds as they adapted and danced through the chaos. Lights of the multi element energy lit of the canyon walls, the glow disappearing into the bright light of the sun.

Between the beams Helena found herself atop a plateau learning first hand that Zack had a lot more experience fighting than she did. Fists up and covered in sweat she prepared for the next round.