[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows​:

“Just a-…” Ein went silent, his mouth twitched, his nails clawed into glass as his hands contorted around the lowball, wrestling the urge to repeat his actions from the Realgam elevator, if his body would even allow it this time. Ein’s whole body seemed to tremble, his thought process foggy, save for what just came out of that low life’s mouth– and it stuck out like a Lanturn in a pitch black aquarium.

Earned his position– the fucking nerve of this–

He threw his head back as he slammed down the rest of his drink before slamming the lowball on the table, catching everyone’s attention as it shattered in his hand, nearly slicing up his good hand. He came face-to-face with Miror– well, as close as he could anyways. His face curled into a snarl. He yanked down on Miror’s golden lapels with his more maneuverable arm.

“EARNED MY POSITION, MIROR?!“ Ein let out a bellow that on normal circumstances had his lackeys cowering under their desks. “YER GODDAMN RIGHT I DID.”

His glasses fogged as he seethed at his fellow former admin, teeth gritting as Mirors statement registered through his head again and again, struggling to find something- anything- to prove the bastard wrong. “Cipher wouldn’ have a fuckin’ leg to stand on if’ Evice didn’ seek me out. I am th’ only scientist tha’ knows my trade–” He struggled to articulate his words, whether it be from inebriation or fury. “I am. the ONLY REASON. THE SHADOW PROJECT HAS EVEN LASTED THIS LONG.” For a moment there was silence as Ein stood there motionless. Just another scientist. His eyes steered downward to his arms. Beneath his sleeves were countless mangled scars from the years of toil from his research. His body was covered in injuries that would steer most scientists away from such a science, sending those who persisted to either a hospital or an early grave. 

Releasing Miror from his grip, Ein pushed his own lapels away from his shoulder displaying his poorly tended scars tearing down to his chest, ignoring the pain that shot through his shoulder at the faintest movement. 

“I fuckin’ bled for this project, Miror!” Ein gritted his teeth in pain, “You gopping lil’ shits wouldn’ have stood a day in tha’ lab. Not Nascour, not Venus, not Dakim, an’–an’ sure as fuck not you.” 

The Shadow Project left behind many corpses throughout the years of its course, yet he still stood, successful at one time, even, before the intervention of his incompetent coworkers and a couple of children.

“You can give me all yer ‘earned yer position’ bullshid all you want.” Blue eyes pierced through Mirors shades as the fog died down. “I was born and bred for tha’ position–” His hand clutched his chest, shaking at the thought, “That… That. Was my life’s work! An’ you tore it all down fer what?? A fuckin’ temper tandrum about a rock-tree? Whinging ‘cos no one could take you seriously?! Fucking look at–” His ranting was cut short by the explosion of the crowd cheering not too far behind them, Eins attention brought to the Altaria that had just taken down the Machamp in the ring. 

It was only a matter of time because he’d see that Arceus-damned eeveelution duo in that colosseum. 

His gaze came back to Miror. “That… sonova bitch will be comin’ down here. I am going t’ have my retribution.” 

Nothing was going to get in the way this time. Not Miror. Not Cipher. Nothing.

“Y–… You stay th’ fuck out of my way, you understan’?”

For just a moment, Miror felt the euphoria from riling Ein up yet again. That same thrill he'd had back in Realgam Tower, just as Nascour had called to the scientist to reprimand him. Watching Ein slam down his drink in frustration made the moment all that much sweeter. The dancer's foot tapped a bit on the ground with glee over getting under his skin yet again.

Just for a short moment.

The shatter of the glass impacting the bar made Miror flinch, and Ein grabbing him paralyzed him with fear. Time seemed to freeze as the dancer's mind went back to the lift, and the shorter man nearly squeezing the life out of him from his neck. His entire body tensed and he didn't even dare to breathe, even as the man began screaming at him.

Oh, he absolutely got under his skin alright. Perhaps a bit too deep.

Out of all the times Miror B. had deliberately messed around with the man just to get a reaction out of him, out of every taunt he'd delivered just to throw him off, and out of every practical joke the younger Admin had performed out of boredom; never before had he ever seen or heard Doctor Ein Stein reach this level of pure rage!

Terrifying wasn't a sufficient word for him to even describe it.

Miror B. stayed perfectly still during Ein's screaming. Not daring to try pulling away from his grasp or even flinch at the powerful stench of the alcohol on his breath. All he could think was just to ride out the outrage until Ein would run out of steam. Don't give him a reason to move his grip from merely the collar of his glitzy outfit and towards his neck instead. Endure the uproar.

The dancer only slowly exhaled once the man finally did wind down into silence. Many others surrounding them had also gone quiet, peering at the two with baited breath. There was no doubt that the denizens of The Deep would absolutely love to witness two fallen Cipher Admins duke it out right there and then. The match was lit, after all. But how long was the fuse before the powder keg would actually explode?

A sensation of relief washed over Miror B. when he'd been released by Ein. His neck was safe. For now. As he straightened up in his seat, Ein's bellowing made him flinch once more.

“I fuckin' bled for this project, Miror!”

The line rang loudly in Miror B.'s ears as the man pulled at his jacket to reveal his injuries. Miror's brows raised, his jaw dropped, and every word out of Ein's mouth after devolved into white noise.

The mangled and poorly managed scars on Ein's shoulder reminded him of injuries he'd seen only once before a long time ago. Cuts so deep into the skin that there'd be no hope for the flesh to recover the same as it had once been. Not on himself, but one of his dear loyal lackeys. Although with Ein, his scars looked incredibly worse. As though the injury had gone to the bones. How the man's arm even functioned was nothing short of a miracle.

White noise eventually was accompanied by Miror's own heartbeat ringing in his ears. Still no words in Ein's rant reached him. Miror B. was too caught up in shock of the reveal to process anything else around him. Ein could have been declaring the most outrageous of insults to the dancer and he'd have not heard a single solitary word.

Scars that deep, scars that spaced out, scars revealed only now of all times, after Miror's tormenting... They could have only come from one thing. Even a short-sighted man like Miror B. could figure it out.

He only seemed to snap out of his trance when Ein had been distracted by the Colossem battle below. The white noise was immediately replaced by his own thoughts running a mile a second.

He knew Shadow Pokemon were violent, but he'd never seen anyone endure injuries of that magnitude. Ein had never shown signs in the past of this ever having been an issue. Had that been the only time he'd been attacked? And by a Legendary Beast of all things? And he survived?! Survived well enough to nearly strangle Miror B. to death in an elevator and still carry himself with pride as though nothing had ever happened!

When Ein turned towards Miror again, all the dancer heard was white noise once more. He'd made some sort of declaration, but the words did not reach him.

There were no thoughts, just an impulsive reaction from Miror B. And probably the dumbest he'd ever do in his entire career. A very high bar to say the least.

He reached out and grabbed Ein's jacket to see the scarring again. There was absolutely no doubt about it. Ein had actually endured a mauling from the Legendary. And somehow, Miror truly doubted that this had really been the first time something like this happened. It was merely the worst case of it.

Miror's other hand reached up and raised his shades from his face to have a clearer look at the scarred over injury. His own blue eyes fixated on it for what seemed like several long minutes before he looked into Ein's own eyes with a look of absolute horror, disgust and confusion. He knew Cipher as a whole had great ambitions. He knew a man like Ein took pride in his work.

But...

The rare, deeper octave returned to Miror's voice, without even a hint of taunting flamboyancy.

“....you're fucking insane, you know that? Was this project even worth bleeding for?!”

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows​:

His fist tightened around the lowball, audibly creaking as it threatened to crack. That bastard was still persistent in pinning all the blame on him, of course he was. None of these incompentnet shitstains wanted to take responsibility in this damn mess– just pin it on the scientist. He may had been forced to take the blame from Evice and Nascour, but no way– no way in hell would he take that spiel from someone significantly lower than him.

He eventually loosened his grip, not wanting to spend another night picking glass out of his palm.  “Feh…” A bitter smirk curled on Eins lips, “Always th’ same wid you,. Always– Always sayin’ the dumbes’ shit.” The inebriated scientist spat, “Th’ only reason I’m here wid th’ rest of this trash,”  his hand gesturing towards the crowd of the Deep Under before slamming the glass onto the rusty table. “‘S’cause you, and–… an’ those ‘udder useless bashtards couldn’ handle a single arsh–… Arkeus–nn– fug…” Ein cursed under his breath as he struggled with his words. His fingers roughly combed through the remaining hairs slicked back, some falling back into his face.

“Y’all couldn’ tage on a single goddamn kid. An’ fer some reason, I’m th’ one egspechted t’clean up after all yer messes!” Ein took a long swig, nearly choking on the bite of the cinnamon whisky as he coughed into his shoulder. “An’ fer whad’ever reason Nashkour an’ tha’ fat. fuck. wanna pin this all on me!” Ein was ready to take another swig before realizing the glass was empty. He grumbled as he slammed another wad of crumpled pokedollars in front of the concerning number of empty glasses before him.

“Oh no! Nod th’ goddamn’ barbie-doll who blew a hole in m’lab an’ gave tha’ kid access to my lab. Not tha’ brainless gian’ who despide all tha’ muscle, couldn’ get a goddamn flude from–uh— from… whoever. I dunno. Doesn’ madder now.” Ein shook his head in his stupor, trying to keep his thoughts in check, despite the increasing rage, “An’ you–” He spun towards Miror, wobbling in his barstool before forcefully (and rather sloppily) prodded his finger into the other ex-admins chest, “You had th’ simplest job. Dish– distribute Shadow Pogémon an’ keep erryone in’ cheg! So-so-so please, enlighd–… en- enli– fuck.” Ein pulled himself closer to Miror, his rage and contempt fogging up his shades, “So tell me, Miror B.– how th’ hell are your guyses downfall my fault?! I’m jes’ dyin’ t’know.”

“The simplest job? Ah, yes, because you don't know the precursor to my gaining responsibility for this so-called oh-so-simplest job,” Miror B. scoffed with a roll of his eyes before popping open his own drink again and taking another swig, a bit more than a swallow like before. He capped it and shuddered as it went down, feeling the heat of the alcohol spreading through him. “It's so easy for you to just dismiss everything that the rest of us had to do to get there, while you're sitting pretty in that stuffy old lab of yours, now, isn't it, Einy?”

He carefully turned himself around on the stool, leaning against the bar and fidgeting with his bottle of Cacturn Needle; tilting it around and watching the liquid inside swirl. He lightly tapped his heel to the floor in a steady rhythm, and seemed to be grinding his teeth a bit. For just a brief moment, Miror B. appeared to be in a state not seen often of him. He was actually thinking!

“Dakim was probably the absolute best intimidator and bodyguard Cipher could have dreamed to recruit. Whatever his goals were, he was invaluable to us, keeping busybodies out of our business for a long as possible. Especially the stronger trainers over on Mt. Battle.” He paused and his mind wandered. Whatever was Dakim going to do with himself now that Cipher was in shambles? Surely the police wouldn't even think about approaching him. He stopped tilting the bottle around and let the liquid swirl with its own momentum.

“I may have never liked Lady Venus, but there was no one more charismatic than she within our ranks,” Miror B. continued with a flamboyant flick of his free wrist. “She had the entirety of The Under wrapped around her dainty little finger. A shadow in this region where murder, human and Pokemon trafficking, drug abuse, every blighting activity imaginable happens every single day. But even the most disgusting of criminals would stop and look to the screen with stupid goo-goo eyes the moment she went live, indoctrinating everyone to not only repeatedly participate in the colosseums for Shadow Pokemon distribution, but ready to be at her beck and call should something go wrong. For that, I respect her.”

He glanced at Ein through the corner of his eye. The drunken man was probably wondering what his point even was in talking about his now former colleagues like this. Another pop of the bottle, another drink, and Miror resumed tilting it around upon recapping it. His entire face was feeling hot from the alcohol already. Perhaps he was downing it just a little too quick for his lanky body to handle.

“These people... they had unique builds, mindsets, skills, and personalities,” Miror B. continued. “Not just anyone could have been them. You don't find very many people like Lady Venus in this region. One who understands how to control even the most hardened of criminal mind. I'd pay you to see if you can find another human being who's trained as hard as Dakim to become the mountain he was. You can't find either of those here.”

He turned on the stool, but not to face the bar, but to face Ein. His face was already getting bright red and he could feel himself just on the border between tipsy and drunk. He gave a crooked smile at Ein.

“Why is our downfall your fault? You underestimated and disrespected your own co-workers,” he taunted. “You are so caught up in your ego as the “head scientist” of the Shadow Pokemon Project that you thought yourself above literally everybody. Even Master Nascour himself, most likely. You can't stand the thought of being on the same level as anyone else, can you? Of course you can't.” His head tilted just a bit. Yep, he certainly drank a little too fast. His balance was already failing him.

“It drove you mad, didn't it?” he giggled, still with the silly toothy grin he always sported when feeling especially full of himself. “The day I was brought in to Cipher not as another common peon, but as an Admin. Wearing clothes you'd sooner throw in the trash, tailored and patched to fit my unique body type, scruffy and filthy, but still holding an energetic aura. A rat from the streets with seemingly no talents to speak of, not that you see talent in anyone except your own reflection.”

He leaned in just a bit. He could smell the concoction of booze on Ein's breath, but managed to resist gagging at the powerful scent.

“I was sought out because of my reputation of having never once been caught by the police for my petty crimes. I was desired for my skills held in the Pyrite Colosseum; using Pokemon completely unsuited for this harsh, unforgiving land, yet reined supreme in battle. I was recruited for my knowledge of the ins and outs of Pyrite Town and how to wrap it around my own little finger; not with charisma like Lady Venus, but with underhanded tactics and intimidation. Pyrite Town ended up being an absolute gold mine for Cipher to begin their primary distribution. But they needed the perfect man for the job.”

“I spent my young life learning every nook and cranny in Pyrite Town, to hide in, to run through, to lose anyone who'd try to catch me,” he continued. “I learned who had power, and those who were nobody. I studied the actual threats versus the fools in uniforms. I gained the appeal of the underhanded in style with a hint of threat of harm to those who challenged me. I survived. I grew. I gained power. For the time, the very mention of my name was one that instilled fear, not laughter. People know what I'm capable of. Even that muscle-head mayor fears what I may do on my own, now that I know his delicate weaknesses.”

He chuckled a bit, glaring at Ein through his shades. “Do you see something in common with myself, Venus, and Dakim? We were brought in because we had certain capabilities you couldn't find in just anyone. We had specific qualities of mind or body that Cipher needed, that literally no other person could fill in the blanks for. The underhanded thief who survived a hellscape for years, the goddess in the shadows who puppeteered her following, and the mighty behemoth that no sane man would challenge. You though? You're just a scientist. There are many of you in this region. Far more of you in the whole world. Literally anyone could have done your job and done it far more effectively without having so much ego in the way. Anyone else could have done your job while still respecting his fellow colleagues.”

“I earned my position in Cipher, Ein. Did you?”

[manbehindtheshadows]

Sloppy Reunions--Ein/Miror B.

Eins fingers sloppily traced the lips of the empty shot glass in front of him. Eventually the uneven pressure of his finger knocked the glass down, watching it roll slowly into another empty shot glass. Half lidded eyes then drew their attention to a half-empty lowball in his other hand, swirling the clear golden beverage before taking a long swig. He hacked into his shoulder as the alcohol burned his throat. Blood rushed to his head, forming that pleasant buzz. The one thing that seemed to drown out that voice in his head. That’s all that mattered.

He noted a couple of bystanders take a double-take towards him as they were passing by. Probably former peons– who knew. 

Either that or he really reeked of Galarian Scotch.

Ein adjusted his labcoat, ill-fitting more than ever since… back then. Damn that little bastard. His teeth gritted, hand tightening around the lowball before taking another angry swig, slamming the glass down on the table. The brat cost him both his prized pokemon and his job, but Ein would be damned if he was going to let the little shit escape retribution. 

He confirmed the shadow Shuckles location, he confirmed the owner, it was still very much here, displayed proudly on screen whenever the Deep King made his entrance. He knew that brat was going to come after it eventually, it was only a matter of when. Until then, there would be no rest for either him or his Pokemon. Ein was hellbent on training day in and day out until the day the two trainers were face-to-face on the field.

“Another Galarian Blastburn, sir?” Ein groggily turned his head to the bartender before haphazardly slapping a wad of pokedollars on the table. “Mn– Cinnabar Fireblast this dime.” He managed to grumble somewhat coherently. Moments later, another glass was in front of him. Ein glanced back at the colosseum schedule– Arceus, he still had a solid hour and a half before his battle. Plenty of time to sober up between then and now at least.

Ein was mid swig when he noticed… Why was there a massive pokeball floating in the crowd? 

No, wait– Realization hit the inebriated scientist hard, inhaling his whisky and nearly choking on it, slamming the lowball onto the table. For fucks sake, why?! Out of all of the people he didn’t want to deal with right now– why him?!

Ein grumbled when that godawful glitter suit became more and more visible, slowly approaching him. Ein took another swig of the Kantonese beverage, hacking as the alcohol burned yet again. No way was he dealing with that man sober.

“I ffthough’ th-they only led professionals in ‘ere.” The intoxicated Ex-admin spat at his former co-worker passing by, “Did y’ manage t’ sneak pas’d segurity r’ somethin’? Th’ fugk you doin’ ‘ere?”

[mirorboroleplay]

The rowdy, vulgar language crowd, the thick clouds of smoke of all sources, and of course the stench of alcohol off every other patron. Something about this place was one part disgusting and one part nostalgic. Was it even nostalgic if it was only a few years ago Miror B. crawled through The Deep Colosseum once in a while? He didn't care, it was the best word to describe it as far as he was concerned!

Being in such a rowdy, crowdy place was exactly what the dancer needed. So much had collapsed in such a short span of time, and his time to be in denial over such affairs had finally run out. He'd lost everything. His thrown in Pyrite Town was dissolved to mere sand, his followers recruited into Cipher were scattered to the winds, his reputation was mud, and worst of all: his most loyal peons, Trudly and Folly, were still nowhere to be found. But there was still hope for the last part. The Deep was one of the last places he'd not bothered to look.

The paused amid the crowd of Trainers, now screaming and cheering at the Colosseum battle taking part that very moment below the stands. Looking for the boys wasn't his only reason for diving into The Deep, oh no! He grinned, watching one of the competing Pokemon force itself up to a stand after enduring what had been a particularly heavy blow from the other.

Miror B. was hungry for excitement in the Colosseum again. He certainly couldn't show his face in Pyrite, and he couldn't stand even the remains of Lady Venus's devoted fanboys taking over the stands in The Under.

The Deep Colosseum. Where anything goes. That's the dangerous stage Miror B. wished to dance upon. That was where he belonged now!

He continued through the thick of the crowd. Soon, they'd be cheering for him again. He'd bask in the glory as he'd slowly rebuild his reputation from the ashes! Miror B. would rise again, he--

Quickly turned his head opposite of the battle entirely, facing towards one of the 'luxury' bars for waiting contenders and fans alike. That voice... slurred and sloshed as the words were strung together, he knew that voice! He once again stopped dead in his tracks to stare at the disheveled evolution of the very man who'd set him up for failure.

And reeled back a bit in disgust of the alcohol  fumes permeating off his very being.

“Ein?!” he called out in complete disbelief. His hair wasn't as slicked back as it was used to, his coat looked as through it probably hadn't gotten a proper wash and ironing in quite some time, and his face was mid-transition to challenged half of Miror B.'s own afro for which could be the brightest shade of red.

Miror B. stared. Ein stared back, though sitting rather wobbly at the bar. It really was him. Miror B. could blink many times over and try to think the smoke or alcohol in the air was just messing with him. Not no. It was him.

“PFFFFFFF—FUhohohoHAHAHAHAH!! Oh my heavens! It is you!” Miror B. laughed, nearly smacking a poor soul behind him as he tilted his head back to give such a hearty laugh at the scientist's expense. “Professionals only? Oh how rich! You think ever so highly of yourself, and yet!”

He straightened up again, grinning ear to ear as he stepped to the bar. He adjusted the stool a bit so that he could sit down comfortably before waving down the bartender.

“The usual, if you could be a dear!” Miror B. instructed, pulling out a fair amount of cash from his afro. The man nodded as he took it and counted. He walked away only a moment before turning with an unopened fancy bottle labeled 'Cacturn Needle', labeled appropriately with an eerie silhouette of said Pokemon. “Now... I know I said I'd see you at the bottom,” Miror giggled, carefully opening his drink with a satisfying pop! “But I didn't think I'd find you all the way at the bottom, where only lowlife scum dare to tread!”

He took a deep whiff of his drink, before taking a short swig, roughly a little larger than a typical shot swallow. A small shiver went down his body with the taste and the burn before he closed the bottle again, seemingly wanting to preserve the smell and taste as much as possible. He glanced over, grinning ear to ear at Ein.

“Oh, look at you. A complete washed up disaster,” Miror B. giggled, not at all worried he might be playing with fire on a powder keg. “What do you hope to accomplish here, Doctor Stein?” Miror made sure to speak the title and name with as much mocking sarcasm as he could summon. “You're certainly not a thrill battler. You don't care for your reputation as a trainer. You're after something all the way down here. But whatever could it be?~”

Miror B. began playing around with one of the spent shot glasses near Ein's person, picking it up between his fingers and nimbly tumbling it around in his hand. “Or perhaps you really do seek nothing except to burn away the brain cells to remind you that the two of us being here right here, right now, is all your fault!”

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

“You’re all on the same level as me now—”

Those words, needles and pins to Ein, replayed through his mind like a broken record. Listening to Mirors maddening cackles were pure torment. His throat felt as it had closed up, his heart palpitated as the scientists’ thoughts began to race and jumble into incoherent nothingness, save for that line– that one goddamned line that he never wanted to hear again- the only line of thought that ran crystal clear through his mind. 

“You’re all on the same level as me now—”

Shut up…

His chest tightened, his whole bodied trembled as apathy was suddenly replaced with a blur of emotions. A rush of blood left him light headed, disoriented. His nails threatened to dig through his jacket and tear into his arms. That one line- over and over again.

“You’re all on the same level as me now—”

Shut up.

Shut up, shut up, shut up!

Crazed blue eyes stared down the laughing Cipher Admin. All he wanted to think about was wringing his hands around that bastards neck until he could hear the bones popping out of place– to squeeze the very dying, laughing breath out of that man. His breaths shortened as his chest felt like it threatened to crush itself. His mind fell to into complete chaos with jumbled thoughts and inconsistent rage, humiliation, dread, uncertainty.

It was the next set of words out of Mirors mouth that seemed to be the straw that broke the man:

“HOW DOES IT FEEL TO MAKE IT SO FAR, ONLY TO FAIL?!”

Ein heard those words loud and clear, yet heard them in someone else’s voice.

Goddamn him.

Goddamn him.

Emotions skyrocketed to a fever pitch, nothing made sense in his mind anymore- just a complete chaotic mess of thoughts and emotions. The only thing he could see was a straight path to the one thing he wanted dead in that room- Miror B.

The other Cipher Admins nearly jumped out of their skin when a loud voice boomed throughout the room– by the one who was considered the most quiet of the four.

“I’LL KILL YOU!!”

Ein, in his unadulterated frenzy, lunged towards Miror, only to crash into a wall of muscle. Ein thrashed violently between Dakims grip, nails clawing at the white leotard, unable to hear neither his or Venus’ coaxing to calm him down.

Everything came to a screeching halt when another voice exploded throughout the room. This time from Nascour himself.

“ALRIGHT, THAT’S ENOUGH– CUT THE SHIT!”

As if being yanked back into reality, Ein blinked, his whole body shuddered for a moment, lightheaded from the sudden adrenaline rush.

“You done?” Dakim glared at the head scientist, nails still digging into his arms. Venus brushed at Eins shoulder before he violently jerked away.

“Release me.” Eins voice reverted to its usual cold, unmoved tone. “I am only warning you once.”

Dakim, unnerved by the sudden shift in the professors behavior, obeyed, dropping the young man onto the ground. Ein shot a glare at the human behemoth, brushing off his sleeves.

“Unbelievable.” Nascour shook his head in disbelief, before demanding the attention of the other four, “Alright listen up! Under normal circumstances, I would have fired you all on the spot for your inadequacies. This whole fiasco has been quite an embarrassment to Cipher, especially coming from the likes of you four.” For such a statement, Ein seemed relatively unbothered compared to his other colleagues, who were sweating bullets. “However, you all know as well as I do that both the Snagem kid and his little shadow girl are on their way– no doubt in my mind.” Red eyes seared into those of his subordinates. “Consider this your last chance– You take down the kid, consider your job salvaged. However, if you fail this- you’re walking out of this tower back as the nobodies you once were when I first sought you out.” His hands slammed against the marble table, his voice lowered, each word more articulated than the last, “Have I made myself clear?”

Blue eyes seared into the red ones. Nascour only glared right back at him, a sly grin forming at his lips.

“Then we’re done here. The rest of you are dismissed.” 

The head scientist rolled his eyes, making his way back to the lift until Nascour’s voice snapped, 

“You stay right there. Evice and I would like to have a few extra words with you.”

Miror B.'s moment of mania mellowed a minute as Master Nascour reamed every single one of the Admins. He was still giddy inside over them all having been dethroned from being oh-so superior to him, but his demeanor on the outside couldn't help but to shift, being yelled at by the man who scouted him in the first place.

The whole situation was awful all around and he knew it. This blue hellbrat had appeared out of nowhere and put a wrench in their plans for total control over Orre and beyond with their Shadow Pokemon. They had been so close! And in just one month it all collapsed around them.

He shook his head a little, his afro wobbling with the movement.

No! There was still a chance. A faint change, but a chance nonetheless. His eyes practically lit up at Nascour offering for them all to be fully reinstated if they actually stopped the two upon reaching the tower. Maybe not total forgiveness, but he'd have an opportunity to take back what he'd lost. All that stood in his way of regaining his power over Pyrite Town, regaining the respect among his peons and fellow thieves, and possibly gaining a brand new Shadow Pokemon worthy of his skills...

...Were two pathetic little infants with a justice complex.

He couldn't go back to how things were. Not after he had a taste of what it was like to have a sense of stability! To be both loved by his peons and feared by the so-called “good” people of Pyrite! To never have to scavenge around for basic needs!

He didn't care what it took, he was going to regain his throne in Pyrite Town. He would stop the two this time. No more games. No more music. No more dancing around.

He had to focus as if his very life depended on it.

“...heh...”

Dakim glanced downward to Miror at the short chuckle as the more logical side of him interrupted his greedy ego. All of this desire was well and good... however...

“Yes, sir, Master Nascour,” Miror called in a sweet tone. He wasn't about to share the lift with Ein again, however, and prepared to wait until he'd gone ahead. When the Executive Officer called Ein back, however, Miror B. couldn't help but to have his psychotic grin return. 'Ohhhhhh! Einy is in trouble!' He thought to himself with glee. He wasn't to be called back, oh no. Only the scientist! Oh, to be a ghost Pokemon peering through the walls at that meeting!

Dakim and Venus stepped to the lift before him. Miror made it a point to walk passed Ein as slow as he could, trying to strut his usual fabulous strut, even with a limp. He chuckled just loud enough for Ein to hear, making sure the man would be completely focused on him as he joined the other two in the now fairly cramped lift. He carefully squatted to fetch his fabulous shades off the floor, free of any of the blood spatter from before. A quick turn on his good heel and he was facing the scientist once more with his shades back where they belonged, though awkwardly on his broken nose.

“Oh Einy!~” Miror B. called out, making sure that he had his full attention. He grinned ear to ear, holding up a hand a moment before gesturing his thumb downward. “See you at the bottom, dah'ling! Fuhohohoho!”

The rage on the man's face just as the doors closed would forever be a treasured memory in the dancer's mind. He couldn't help but to laugh a bit longer before Lady Venus awkwardly reached forward to press the button the lower the lift.

Miror B.'s face and leg hurt like hell, but he felt victorious in every way. The man who mocked him for everything he was and everything he could be was not only on the same level of failure as him, but was now being reamed in private with Master Nascour.

The feeling did not last long, however. Barely even halfway down the lift, he began to chuckle a bit in an unsettling manner.

“So... Are you two going to bother fighting?” he asked. Both Admins looked to him in a bit of confusion.

“Of course! You heard Master Nascour!” Lady Venus replied. “Our jobs are on the line! I won't let that annoying couple ruin everything for me! I'll defeat them this time!”

“Then I'm smarter than you!” Miror mocked, giggling as he heard the offended gasp escape her. “Come on now, we all know we can't win. The brat has three Legendary Shadow Pokemon at his disposal, plus whatever delightfully powerful dah'lings he's managed to collect on his way to all four of us! There's no telling what he'll throw at us when we next see him. Do you all really think we stand a chance against the little boy who managed to yank every single Shadow Pokemon outside of the tower right out from under our noses? Broken or otherwise? Hmm?~”

The silence in the lift was all Miror needed to hear, with the hum of the machinery being the only response.

“So. You won't fight,” Dakim concluded.

“Oh, I absolutely will!”

Once again, the two exchanged a confused look.

“I will not hold my breath in thinking I will win, but I absolutely plan to fight to my very last Pokemon!” he declared with a flick of his wrist. “Miror B. will not run away this time. Oh no! No no no! That little brat and his pretty party crasher have ruined my life! I've made my peace with whatever is to come! I do not care if my odds of winning are quite literally less than zero! I will go down fighting!”

“But first thing's first...”

The lift reached the ground floor and he limped out first, making footprints of his own blood all over the floor. He reached up to the bridge of his nose and winced at the pain.

“I'll need to make a quick stop to the infirmary... wherever that even is in this fabulously glitzy establishment. Then I need to switch to my emergency replacement suit! I can't be seen fighting that brat looking anything less than fabulous!”

The two Admins hesitated only a moment before leaving the lift after him, with Lady Venus doing everything she could to keep her dress or shoes from touching Miror's blood on the floor. Just like him, they too had a personal stake in what was to come. Even if all they could do was soften their pest up, they were ready to fight, even against their own Pokemon!

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

Eins pupils shrunk, drawing in a sharp inhale.

Ah yes. The Shadow Raikou. 

The tool that would have been absolutely perfect for this scenario hadn’t it been snatched by that thrice damned child.

A child that would not have been a problem for him hadn’t he been fighting against the very things he created.

Something that should have never been an issue, had Miror B. done his goddamned job and taken them out like he should have.

And this fucking lowlife had the absolute audacity to taunt him like this?

Eins leg flinched, fighting the screaming urge to slam those steel toed boots into those bloodied teeth. That face just begging to be kicked inwards. Except for the fact that logic kicked in.

Wait.

There could be no way Miror knew about the Raikou. 

Not yet anyways.

Ein flinched as the lift jolted, pulling the two upwards. The Cipher Admin let out a slow exhale, closing his eyes for a moment to let his emotions finally settle. His eyes slowly opened, apathetic, cold blue eyes glowering over the other admin.

“I will hurt you for this, Miror.” Ein stated matter-of-fact. His voice quiet, calm– almost too calm. “For everything you’ve done, I will hurt you. When you finally think you are safe from Ciphers grip, I will–” 

Ein was cut off short when the lifts doors open.

Nascour, directly in front of the door way, blinked once or twice. A small “What the hell?” faintly escaped his lips. He was quick to notice the disarray of his new lift, and the rather harrowing conditions that Miror B. was left in- and so was everyone else. 

Dakim peeked from behind Nascours shoulder, almost bewildered how two stick figures could amass that kind of damage. 

Venus on the other hand, outright squeaked when she spotted the obscene amounts of red on the elevator, “Oh my god, is that blood?? Th- oh my- Oh, that’s definitely blood. I um- Oh god, excuse me for a moment.” She turned herself around, fanning her face. “Oh, please just close that door before I get sick, oh my god.”

Nascour nodded, “Of course– Dakim, if you wouldn’t mind please assisting Miror to that seat over there,” The chief admin cocked his head towards the small lobby lounge.

The giant grunted, shuffling his hands under Miror to try and not make things hurt more than they already did, slowly picking him up and seating him in one of the lounge chairs. Nascour jumped before realizing what was about to occur, “Dakim for Arceus’ sake put a towel unde– oh my god...” He shook his head, watching as the brand new white leather seat got coated in Mirors personal biohazards. Another  1,300,000 pokedollars right out the window on goddamn opening day.

Nascour’s red eyes seared at the head scientist. “Right then. You… by any chance want to tell me just what the hell happened?” Ein shrugged, brushing some of the blood off his forehead as he stepped off the elevator. “Perhaps tell your clown to control his temper and mayhaps he wont get mauled by a Manectric. Simple as that.” 

“Ein for gods sake, that lift was almost 10,000,000 pokedollars you can’t just—”

Ignoring Nascours attempts to get him to stay put and take his lecture, Ein brushed past his superior. His eyes explored the Colosseum lobby– there was definitely money put into this facility. The marble floors almost sparkled, the walls decorated with intricate design. He blinked slowly as he glanced up, lips stretching slightly. So ironic seeing the statue of those three pokemon up there.

However, Eins calm composure came to a screeching halt with the next few words that came out of Nascours mouth, within earshot of everybody in that room: “You know, for someone who not only lost his Shadow Raikou, but completely wiped all the Shadow Pokemon data, it certainly takes a lot of balls to be calling your fellow admins clowns, Ein.”

“--for someone who not only lost his Shadow Raikou--”

Miror's eyes widened. Had he truly heard correctly? He was almost certain he saw what little color Ein even had completely drain from his face.

“--lost his Shadow Raikou--”

Everything seemed to have gone absolutely silent, and time slowed down so that Miror could process the words and everything they implied. His heart began to race and adrenaline once again began to shoot through his body. The absolute exhaustion he felt merely minutes ago had been replaced entirely. He hadn't felt like this since gaining total control over Pyrite Town!

Euphoria.

That was the only way even he could describe how he felt. The very man who set him up for failure and spoke with his head held high as if he himself could do no wrong...

He'd lost a Shadow Pokemon that far exceeded the silly Sudowoodo Miror B. had been given!

“...heh....heheh....” Miror started to tremble a bit as he attempted to at least hold back even giggling, hoping to hear a few more words from Nascour of putting Ein directly in his place. Dakim looked down at him just as Miror suddenly burst out into demented laughter, incredibly uncharacteristic to his usual flamboyant, taunting laugh. A full blown psychotic laugh with a few coughs here and there as he struggled to breathe.

“--for someone who not only lost his Shadow Raikou--”

Every time he ran Nascour's words through his head, the laughter just kept resetting. He felt tears running down his face. He knew he looked awful with the blood from his nose and his clothes being stained but after hearing such delicious news, he didn't care how awful he looked!

He felt fabulous!

Miror B. wasn't sure for how long he laughed, but it had been long enough for him to grow a bit light headed, and for Dakim to even inch a way a bit in discomfort. All eyes in the room where on the fallen dancer. He must have looked like an absolute loon just sitting there, still bleeding from his face and leg, and laughing like he belonged in an asylum.

Miror suddenly turned his head over to Venus's direction, grinning as big as he could. His cheeks hurt from it, but he didn't care.

“My dear Lady Venus... You wouldn't happen to have that beautiful Suicune with you now, would you?” he asked in a sickeningly sweet feminine tone, mocking her. She glanced his way only a moment, before her eyes darted in a different direction and her whole body turned with her gaze with some delay. There was no denying that look of guilt, rather than of horror over how he looked. He giggled again before looking towards Dakim and tilting his head to look straight up at him, his afro lightly pressing against the top of the chair.

“And what of you, Dakim-dah'ling? You with that big, strong, handsome Entei! Go on! Show me the ferocious beast!” he demanded with a giggle. Like with Venus, he glanced down at him only a moment before he too had to look away, crossing his arms slowly.

Roaring laughter filled the room again as Miror pressed his body to the back of the chair, keeping his head tilted back to project his voice louder.

Every single one of the Cipher Admins had lost their oh-so-precious Shadow Pokemon! Legendary tier Pokemon! Children of the almighty deity of reincarnation!

They all lost. To a rogue child and his strange eyed girlfriend. Every single one of them!

And no amount of pointing the blame at Miror B. could make him feel bad about it! He'd lost a Sudowoodo. His peons lost many other lesser Pokemon. They lost Legendaries! Pokemon that many of even the most seasoned of trainers could only ever dream of fighting and winning against, least of all catching and commanding themselves!

“I may have been the very beginning of the foundation crumbling underneath us, dah'lings!” he declared as he straightened up again, still giving that mad grin. “But looks like you're all coming down with me!! Whatever happened to you three being so much more superior to me?! What happened to all of you being smarter than me?! What happened to you being more competent at me in battles or gaining followers?! Whatever happened to you being far more worthy of your dah'ling Legendary Pokemon than I would ever even dream to be?!”

“Face the music my lovelies!” he barked with more laughter. He leaned forward a bit before slowly rising to a stand, trying to ignore the pain in his leg just long enough for him to balance much of his weight on his still good leg. He held his arms out triumphantly, feeling almost victorious! Nothing could ruin this rush now! Not even if Nascour himself ordered for Dakim to throw him through the tower's windows! “You're all on the same level as me now! And I'm loving every second of it!”

“HOW DOES IT FEEL TO MAKE IT SO FAR, ONLY TO FAIL?!”

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

Ein groaned, eyes adjusting to the light as his hands fumbled for his shades. He felt something bump his elbow from behind, lifting his arm upward. The palm of his hand met the warm moisture of his Manectrics nose. The Manetric then dropped what felt like metal and glass completely lathered in questionable fluids onto his lap– presumably his shades.

The Cipher Admin grumbled as he wiped the reside away from his shades in between swatting away the Manectric persistent in licking the gash on his forehead. He placed his shades back on before taking them immediately off after realizing they were still plenty smudged with dog slobber, blood, and toxins. After a more thorough cleaning with his labcoat, he was finally able to properly see and assess all the damage.

A soft “Well, damn…” escaped the scientists lips when he saw what he could easily compare to a bad day in the lab. 

In front of him was Miror- bloodied to a point where Ein could only imagine what damage his Manectric pulled off. He almost questioned if the lanky bastard would be even able to stand anytime soon, knowing what his Manectric was capable of. The brand spanking new marble tile floor was now lathered in blood, a small amount of vomit, and singed with electrical damage. 

Explaining this to either Nascour or Evice was going to be a serious problem.

His Manectric was in no better shape. His front legs torn to shreds by his own rash attempts to remove the leech seeds– those wounds were more than likely to scar at this rate. His breaths were heavy, rapid pants from exhaustion. He laid there on the ground whining, licking his teeth at Miror. He wasn’t completely out, but despite his efforts, he no longer had the energy to stand on all four, his front legs completely giving out on him.  Watching the Manectrics pitiful attempts to get up, Ein shook his head, recalling his loyal subject back into his pokeball.

Ein brushed his fingers firmly against the stinging gash on his head. His lips stretched- Plenty of blood coating his fingertips, but hopefully nothing serious enough to consider stitches. Those cold, callous eyes then zeroed in on Miror.

“Miror…” He calmly addressed his fellow admin, “Have I ever told what happened to the last man that put his hands on me?” The scientist got himself back on his feet, slowly approaching the sitting man. “I was told he was torn limb to limb. By his own Houndoom, I’m sure. Horrible way to go, I imagine- being more or less eaten alive by your own Shadow Pokemon.” He was directly in front of Miror, taking the heel of his shoe and slowly digging it into Miror’s surely mangled leg. 

“If you ever try that shit on me again…”  His voice dropped to a low snarl, twisting his heel for good measure, “This leg here will be the least of your concerns.”

Searing agony shot from the torn flesh of Miror B.'s leg all the way up his body. He screamed and instinctively tried to move his leg away from the man, but between how hard Ein pressed his heel and how weakened Miror B. was from the entire confrontation, he lacked the strength and could only writhe in pain. He awkwardly tried to at least push the man away from him, only to barely make any impact as the pain overcame him. Tears mixed with the blood on his face before he knew it. He reached again, trying to grip and claw at the man's coat and trying to quiet his cries of pain to a growl as he looked the man dead in the eye.

It felt very different this time compared to when he'd been strangled by Ein before. He had a very good look in his eyes this time. Amid all the agony shooting through is body from Ein's tormenting, he felt a bit of a cold chill run up his spine. Even through the shades, something was terrifying about how he was looking at him.

The only way his simple mind could describe it was 'nothingness'. He felt like he'd seen it before, but couldn't put his finger on just where. Something about the rage and fury reminded me of something... it was recent... but...

He cried out again in agony with another twist of Ein's heel into his leg, disrupting his thinking process. This time, he was finally able to summon the strength to pull his leg away from Ein's foot, and press himself up closer to the wall of the lift.

Suddenly, the lift jolted and started to move. Miror glanced up to see if he had bumped into the lift's buttons, only to find his head was very much far away from the panel—which now had all three buttons glowing. An override? The lift was rising. Someone up top was summoning them.

“You know...” Miror growled, keeping a hand close to his leg in case Ein tried to come up and kick him once more for good measure. “Once we're out of here. You might as well just sic your damned precious Shadow Raikou on me. Let history repeat itself for your own satisfaction.”

He grinned at Ein. A huge, toothy, bloody, psychotic grin.

“Either way, dah'ling... I'm dead!~”

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

Manectric stumbled backwards, almost tripping on the growing vines from seeds that were now latched onto his legs and torso. He attempted to pull at one of the seeds latched onto his forelegs, but pulling at them was about as fruitless as it was painful.  His chops rippled as he snarled at the opposing Ludicolo. He had to move fast, feeling as if his literal energy was being drained sucked out of him. The dog attempted to make another dodge and pull the clown by his hair, yet the damned duck was so persistent to protect his master, snapping his beak right at him.

Normally, the canine pokemon had the common sense to wait until it had started to see rain flood the area, but with judgement clouded with rage and a sense of loyalty, the Manetric braced itself. 

Sparks popped and crackled from the Manectrics fur, and with a mighty roar and a flash blinding the entire room, a bolt of Lightning shook the entire lift with a loud crashing boom that should have woken anyone.

Yet the Ludicolo was still standing.

A wave of nausea crashed over the Lightning Pokemon– Not only were the seeds pulling at his own health, the Ludicolo seemed to be doing the same, yet at an exceptionally stronger rate. Dry heaving from the dizzying amount of health loss, he wasn’t going to last much longer. For a moment, the dogs front legs gave in, black spots slowly intruding his vision as he toppled over. He began to pant heavily, struggling to get back on all four, retching in the process. 

Doing everything to shake himself back into consciousness, the Manectric braced himself for another Thunder attack. He wasn’t quite sure how the Ludicolo hadn’t snuck another attack in- perhaps distracted by its master? But that didn’t matter– he needed to protect Ein. 

However, fate was not his side today. The sparks from his body were weak, if barely emitting from his fur, and in his failing vision, the crack of lightning missed both pokemon and trainer. A chill ran down the Manectrics body as the leech seeds continued their job. His whole body shook, pupils dilating in and out as he fought his own body to stay upright. In a final ditch effort, the dog went into a frenzy, fangs snapping at its own limbs, using his remaining strength to tear the seeds from his body.

Lost in his focus and barely hearing the, “That’s enough…” growling from behind him, the Manectric made his final stand, ready to tear the duck to shreds- even if it meant dying in the process.

“I said…” Manectric stopped when he felt nails digging into his hind legs, “That’s enough!”

The dog turned his head behind him. The snarl came from his master, while not quite off the floor, but certainly conscious. And just like that, the hyper aggressive Manectric reverted to a sense of calm- well, significantly calmer anyways. He whined softly, his tail wagging at a quicker pace as he limped his way to his master, licking the injury on his forehead until Ein swatted him away groggily, “Just-just give a damn minute…”

Finally. Ein had awakened, and the Manectric's focus had shifted. Maestro gave a sigh of relief before plopping down to a sit. The poison was too much and his vision was spinning. He felt Miror B. shifting a bit behind him. The dancer heard Ein's voice and peeked from under his afro. Good, the dog was in check now! He coughed a bit as he started to get up, at least to his hands and knees, to assess the damage. The bleeding had slowed from his nose, but there was a sizable puddle of dark red blood where he'd been tucking and hiding his head over the last few agonizing minutes, and much of the front of his fabulous outfit was coated. He couldn't even breathe through his nose anymore, needing to gasp through his mouth, trying to ignore the taste of copper that had made its way down. He was afraid to touch so much as the bridge of his nose to feel just how badly he'd potentially broken it.

His entire left leg was throbbing in pain. The stain on the fabric had expanded massively, making it hard for him to tell just how horribly the Manectric had torn at him. Just moving it was pure hot agony! He whimpered at the very idea that he would not be able to dance a fair while thanks to this injury—if even at all! How badly would his leg need to be damaged for it to be permanent?!

He growled a bit as he tried to re-position his sitting behind Maestro. Pulling his legs under him to get into a proper sit was painful, and his blood was only being further dragged across the once shiny floor. He leaned against his Pokemon, his afro sitting perfectly on top of the large lilypad-like dish. He remained there a bit, panting heavily, his head spinning, and as much as he wanted to be angry, he just didn't have the energy anymore.

Miror B., as Pyrite Town knew him, was done for. He knew it. He lost everything. His reputation was mud, his followers scattered, he had no idea where even his own most trusted peons Trudly and Folly were, no more Shadow Pokemon, and now there was a chance he'd never dance the same again! Not to mention if Nascour would just fire him or kill him at this point.

His Pokemon had long since fainted during his recuperating, yet still he sat there as the only wall between Miror and Ein. Miror B. could at least take solace in knowing that despite everything, his darling Ludicolo still loved him. He gently stroked the kappa's fur and whispered a 'thank you'. He hesitated a moment before eventually digging for his Pokeball from his afro. He opted to safely return Maestro rather than just letting him sit there, letting the poison fester further within his fainted form.

He was exposed now. But with the brutal kick he'd laid upon Ein, he'd not try to start up again...

...right? He looked to Ein's direction, fatigued from rage, fear, and pain; and unable to read what the man may opt to do in his own recovery. If things got too out of hand, he still had three more Ludicolo to defend him.

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

Instead of a properly executed tackle, the Manectric’s body slammed into a wall of yellow and brown fur. The electric Pokemon staggered backwards, no longer seeing the the scrawny yellow clown, but a Ludicolo– standing in the way, making access more difficult as his target curled up into a tight ball behind his apparent body guard.

The Manectric barked at his new obstacle, licking his chops and bearing his bloodied fangs. His tail wagged cautiously, growling all sorts of threats at the Ludicolo. Sparks emitted from his fur as he bolted to the side, but the large Kappa was just as quick to block him off from his prey. He snapped his jaws at the opposing Pokemon, yet it refused to budge.

…If it was not going to let him get to his prey, then it was also going to become prey.

The canine pokemon looked back at his master, still motionless, but breathing. It turned back to the Ludicolo, red eyes staring back at eachother. The Manectric snarled, slamming his paw into the ground as a final warning, electricity staining the new marble floors with burn marks and soot– still nothing.

The Ludicolo did not appear aggressive, but in the end, it was between him and his prey. Whether it wanted to fight or not, it was going to get a fight.

Lurching backwards and displaying his fangs, now secreting a purple fluid into his jaws, the Manectric sprung upwards, twisting his body towards the Ludicolo. With a loud crunch, the Manectric sunk his teeth into the kappa’s body, toxins and blood staining the carefree pokemons fur. Not satisfied with just poisoning the opposing pokemon, the electric dog yanked his head backwards, as if trying to rip the Ludicolo apart.

If it meant keeping his master safe, the dog would let himself get torn to shreds before letting anyone or anything touch Ein. 

It wouldn’t be too much longer before he would be bleeding that lanky human dry.

The clock was ticking and it was ticking quick! Maestro searched his own options while Miror B. remained incapacitated on the floor, still trembling and whimpering behind his fluffy body.

He couldn't just start up a Rain Dance. Not in here. Normally it was the duty of another Ludicolo to provide the water for rain; and even then, making a mini storm in such a tight area against an electric Pokemon was just asking for death on both of them.

The kappa snapped its beak and shook his entire body. Tiny pods flew from his fur and stuck quickly to the offending Manectric. Now it too was on a ticking clock. It was a matter of who would succumb first.

Maestro to the rapidly increasing poison in his body, or the Manectric drained away not only by Leech Seed, but by Maestro using his own Mega Drain against it every time it got too close? In such close quarters, it was anyone's game—especially without the aids of either trainers to command them more effectively, or even aid them with any potions to prolong the battle!

The old duck stood his ground firm, keeping his hands outstretched and snapping his beak again every time the dog tried to get around him. Every attempt was met with a loud snap and anotehr Mega Drain while the seeds continued their own work. For a time, Maestro felt revitalized with these attacks. But it did not take long before the strength of the poison was becoming too much.

He chirped in a bit of frustration, feeling weak in the knees. The Manectric was looking a bit wobbly as well, but still growling and snapping in either direction, while giving regular discharges of Thunder, aiming well and true even without the aid of any rain. What else could he do?! If he fell first, his Master would be exposed for all of a few seconds—plenty of time for more damage to be done! But if he fell second, there was no telling if Ein would awaken from his knockout and opt to finish the job with a second Pokemon.

His boy was in trouble no matter the outcome, and it filled him with more dread than the toxins!

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

“Could have literally done anything else…" 

Ein trembled in his fury. Could he have done anything else? When he was fully aware of what happened to those unfortunate enough to be on his grandfather’s bad side? After seeing the warnings not to cross the man through writhing corpses he himself had to dispose of? Yes, he could have ran away, but only to be horribly mangled, if not outright killed by those two rabid Houndoom Francis had at his side at all times. He could have stood up for himself, but only to get caught in between one of Francis’ little ‘accidents’ in due time. There was no winning in those situations. 

No. 

No, you either stayed in line or you died. 

This cretin knew nothing. 

Ein clutched his stomach, teeth bared in his pain. 

There was no rebuilding. He was most likely going to lose the lab– the only place he could even consider home. The jewels in the crown, all three of them, now in the hands of that damned child- his work on them completely undone by now. All of his work– All twenty-four years of it– gone. 

"Shut up…” Ein managed to spit out, before whipping his head upward to look Miror in the eyes. “SHUT–" 

Immediately met with a blur of yellow and gold, a swift, blunt force to his forehead sent the Cipher Admin reeling backwards into the wall behind him, the back of his head crashing into the marble decor. A couple pokeballs fell from his belt. Black spots began to consume his vision, his rapid thoughts blended into a blur, barely keeping focus on either Miror or the warm wet sensation at the side of his forehead. Unable to keep consciousness, Ein crumpled to the floor. 

The red and white capsule next to him cracked open, a Manectric emerged onto the lift. 

The canine first saw the gold and yellow clown that always put his master in an irate mood. Next to him was his master, on the floor, a huge gash cut into his temple. The Manetric barked once, no response. The dog whined pitifully, pawing and nudging at his master to get up, his body was warm but he would not wake. 

The beast eyes zeroed in on the other human, smart enough to put two and two together. 

The Manectric lurched itself to the side, placing his body over his injured trainer, ready to tear the threat from limb to limb. The electric dog snarled at the opposing trainer, tail cautiously wagging side to side, his lips pulled back, tongue brushing over an impressive set of fangs. 

Next thing Miror knew, he was about to have a very powerful and very angry Manectric launched at his person.

There was no telling for just how long the garish dancer had wanted so badly to see Ein fall in such a spectacular way! Miror grinned ear to ear, watching the man's body hit the floor before he himself put his foot back down to steady himself. A rush of adrenaline revitalized him from the earlier assault, and a burning desire to keep up the attack while Ein was so helpless began to overwhelm him.

The moment he began to raise another heel, however, was the moment the Manectric popped out of its ball. Battle scarred unlike anything Miror had ever seen, even in The Under Colosseums, and yet...

Why?

Why was it concerned? He watched, frozen for seconds that felt so much longer, as the canine investigated its fallen trainer. His blood that had been so heated by his rage and adrenaline suddenly felt rather cold, as the Pokemon looked at him and presented its fangs. It didn't make any sense to Miror. He'd always considered Ein as the least caring trainer of the Admins in regards for his Pokemon, remembering well just how hostile he'd been in every command in their prior battle. And yet this one was angered by the display of its Master on the floor, instead of thrilled?!

He didn't get it.

But he did get that he was now in trouble. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. He glanced over to the lift panel. If he could just press either button—up or down, maybe he'd have a chance to escape once the doors opened.

Time was not on his side, however. Before he could even begin to reach for the buttons, the Pokemon had come for him! He screeched loudly and dodged the first lunge. Manectricturned and clamped his jaw on Miror's calf as the man tried to get some distance between them, and he quickly fell to the floor, face-first. The crunch that came from his face was far quieter than the growl of the Pokemon, as it not only kept his teeth firmly sunk into Miror's leg, but even began to aggressively pull at the flesh!

Miror gasped and cried out in pain, impulsively placing a hand to his face—which quickly pooled with blood, and looking back in horror as the dog was hellbent on destroying his leg. He was in a vulnerable position now, should the Pokemon decide to let go bite something else on him!

“LET ME GO YOU FOUL BEAST!” Miror screamed, trying to kick at the Pokemon with his other leg. It only seemed to make it clamp down even harder on his leg, making Miror scream more in agony! “EIN!! WAKE UP!! CALL OFF YOUR DOG!” he begged and pleaded, but Ein remained unresponsive. Tears flowed down Miror's face along with the blood from his nose, his gold fabric quickly staining red, and fear paralyzed him.

Being strangled to death by the scientist was looking like a far better way to go.

Miror's crying filled the lift once more as Manectric gave another powerful tug at his leg. Miror impulsively began kicking again, hoping it would let go so he could at least ball up and protect himself better. The canine was adamant about keeping a firm grip on it just a bit longer. Just until it was certain the man wasn't going to stand any time soon.

With more red than yellow on the fabric of his leg, the Pokemon finally let go, but not to show mercy. Just as Miror feared, it switched targets, aiming for the same arm that was covering his face.

A pop and blinding light filled the room, and instead of meeting the twiggy arm of Miror B., Manectric instead crashed into the bulky body of a Ludicolo.

Maestro, Miror's eldest Ludicolo, had broken out of his ball in response to the distressed crying, and stood as a thick barrier between his trainer and the canine. He held his arms out and looked down at the canine with a stern look in his eyes. Miror continued to sob and scooted a bit closer to the wall, curling up in fear and trying to keep perfectly safe behind his Pokemon.

The Ludicolo said nothing to Manectric. Just stared. Both trainers now were bloodied and beaten. If anything else was to be done, it would have to be settled between the trainer's most loyal and powerful Pokemon.

And Maestro was willing to fight to his death for his boy.

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

The impact to his jaw forcing his teeth shut, crunching into his tongue and tearing part of his lip.

The sudden vision impairment and the sound of his glasses scattering onto the elevator floor.

The sudden taste of copper in his mouth and the slow, burning sensation where Mirors first crashed into his jaw.

A sensation he hadn’t felt since…

…since…

Years of training himself how to hide his emotions would normally dictate to keep the blank composure. To not give him the reaction he wanted to see.

But something in him snapped.

Ein gently brushed his hand against the bruised, stinging skin of his face. His shoulders began to twinge as his exhales shuddered what at first sounded like a small whimper, but the fiendish grin taking over his face suggested it was anything but that. The cackling grew louder, nails scraping onto his cheek, ignoring the pain as his thoughts went from nothing to absolutely everything at once.

Without the shades hiding his eyes, Miror could finally see the cold, lifeless eyes of the scientist slowly unravel into those of an absolute madman, running his hand up his face, clutching his scalp, laughing uncontrollably. “Oh Miror–… Miror– you-… Y-you naive, witless little creature, you.” 

Jet black fringes fell onto his face, his attempts to slick them back into place were in vain, “You–Y–… Y’know…” His sentences broke into little chuckles, his fingers clutching in little spazzes. “It’s–… It’s funny you say that be– I mean–because… Yesterday I had everything at my finger tips…  All those years of Mind-numbing, back breaking study… All those years working on the Shadow Pokemon formula despite getting the shaft at every single thrice-damned corner… All that work into proving myself to someone who could care less if I lived or died… all those years putting up with you worthless scum… It all paid off.” Eins eyes radiated with uncontrolled emotion, his breathing uneven, taking each step closer to Miror.

“And then in a blink of an eye. Its gone. Ciphers on the verge of crumbling, no one can deny that at this point.” His display of teeth had turned into a crazed grin, “All of my work means nothing now, my life means nothing now.” His focus turned less to Mirors eyes and aimed more towards his blurry throat–presumably, “And to think it all happened because Nascour couldn’t differentiate between talent and a pretty face. But for once in your miserable little life, Miror, you’re correct— you are absolutely correct!” His hands slammed into Mirors throat, wringing his fingers around his neck, blue eyes radiating with frenzied rage. “There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who’s got absolutely nothing to lose!”

A wave of panic washed over Miror the moment pressure was applied to his neck. The shorter man practically flew at him, the shock staggering the dancer a bit and making it far easier for Ein to keep his hands on his target. Where the man summoned such strength to make him actually struggle was a mystery in itself, making Miror panic even more.

On one hand he could fake out, even as he started to feel genuinely dizzy from the hold. But on the other...

That rage, that fury... Ein would not let go just because he thinks Miror has passed out.

He was going to hold him until he was stone cold dead! He needed to move and he needed to move quick. Trying to pry his arms off him didn't work, only making Ein squeeze even harder on Miror's airways. His head felt like it was spinning and his vision began to blur. The crazed look on Ein's face didn't fade, but intensified as Miror was weakening.

If prying the nerd's arms off his neck wasn't going to work, he had to do the next best thing. A knee immediately launched forward, and in his staggered state, Miror managed to land it center of Ein's gut. The man was forced to let go and stumbled back, almost as out of breath as he was! Miror took in several deep breaths to recover before swinging a leg out in full force, narrowly missing Ein and slamming his heel into the wall beside him instead.

“Oh....poor... baby!” Miror coughed in a mocking tone, still trying to get the air he needed to focus again. Even in a staggered state, the piercing blue eyes were still locked on him. Miror backed up from his failed kick attempt, balancing to a proper stand. “You think... you think you lost everything?! You're a damn scientist! You can rebuild! I can't!” He attempted to take another swing at Ein with his leg, only to lose his balance and slam against the wall behind him, nearly sliding down to a sit. He managed to prop himself back up to keep Ein from having an opening to go for his throat yet again.

Somewhere in the attack and recovery, Miror's gaudy glasses had joined Ein's shades on the floor. Blue eyes stared daggers at each other from the separate sides of the lift. While Ein was likely looking for his next opening to attack, Miror was still trying to keep his head on straight, gasping frequently and rubbing his neck. There was no doubt there'd be bruising there soon enough.

“I don't know who the hell you're talking about in regards to proving yourself,” Miror growled. “But take it from me: If you spent your life trying to appease someone who'd care less—then you have only yourself to blame! I never gave a damn to prove myself to you or any of the other Admins because Nascour knows my worth! I know my worth! I'm not going to kiss someone's ass if they'd not be pleased no matter what I do!”

He paused to catch his breath. His entire throat hurt and talking was becoming painful. Miror wanted to resume beating the daylights out of him. Even pulling on that stupid frontal hair lock of his was so tempting. But not right now. Not yet. It still felt like the lift was spinning. “I learned that quickly! As far back as my battle with you in your stupid nerd cave! I lost, but I did well despite my disadvantages! And you still had nothing to say about my skills! Just venom!”

“You.... You'd never approve of me. No matter what I'd do,” he spat. “If I managed to kill that brat where he stood in my own home, you'd just scoff and reply 'Well, that's what you were supposed to do', and glue your face back to that stupid computer! If I managed a long winning streak with my Pokemon, the Shadow Sudowoodo included, you'd roll your eyes and insist that my winning streak means absolutely nothing about my abilities, and that the trainers were all just bad. There's not a thing in this damned world that I could have done to make you approve of me!”

“So why bother?! I'll prove myself to myself and only myself!” he screamed, standing tall without the aid of the wall this time, and ready to be on the attack. “You want to blame me because you kissed someone's ass for so long for nothing?! Your fault! Not mine! That was your decision! You could have done literally anything else! Don't blame me for you being a sniveling loser!”

The adrenaline rushing through him and the spinning having ceased gave Miror the strength he needed to resume his assault. He came at the man yet again, but this time aiming a powerful heel-kick right to Ein's head.

[mirorboroleplay]

whoah, didn't expect to see someone I followed so long ago pop back up :o

Life hits like a Sturdy Sudowoodo with Counter. I didn’t expect to be gone for so long either.

I’ll be returning to the main blog too!

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

Oh no.

Oh, no no no no no. Ein flinched, almost shrinking away when the other Cipher Admin stepped on to the lift. Damn it all, he should have just swallowed his pride and dealt with the ire of Dakim and Venus. He absolutely refused to take the judgement from that cretin of all things.

He released a shuddered exhale, not willing to waste his energy on that man again when the real threat he needed to focus on was Evice and Nascour.

Arceus, all those years of power struggling with Nascour was about to bite him in the ass– But Evice? No, Evice was the true threat here. No one could revive the ire of his grandfather like that pudgy little bastard. Something about the mans words were needles and pins on his nerves, all the while- Eins train of thought was immediately derailed when the sudden clutch at his lapels slammed him against the walls of the small room, followed by Mirors sudden bellowing. The lab chief recoiled into a catatonic state, staring blankly into the fogging shades of his frothing fellow admin. His breathing suddenly went steady, his body completely relaxed, looking as if Mirors words went out one ear and out the other. Yet he caught every word out of the dancers mouth, all the blame and shame he dared to pin on him

No. 

No, he was not going to amuse him and waste his energy bickering with the manchild. He’d wear himself out eventually- he’d leave him alone if he didn’t give them the reaction they were hoping for.

“You had all the tools you needed.” Eins voice barely rose above a whisper, unmoved, lethargic, “You failed to use them. You’ve no one to blame but yourself. I have nothing more to say to you.”

He paused for a moment.

“Release me. I will only warn you once.”

“Failed to--” Miror didn't even finish repeating the man's lines, though his grip remained strong enough to keep the fabric creaking a bit. A silent stare-down commenced as Miror's thoughts raced.

He had all the tools he needed, he'd said. Miror certainly had a large following in Pyrite Town, and had distributed as many Shadow Pokemon as he could as Colosseum prizes once he had the entire town under his heel. But he never anticipated those same Shadow Pokemon being used against him! What tools did he possibly have against that?! He distinctively recalled the Shadow Makuhita he'd given Trudly being used against him in the cave—a devastating blow against Sudowoodo! Noctowl and Swablu being used against his precious Ludicolo didn't help either.

He'd anticipated an average trainer yielding only a handful of Pokemon like everyone else who graced the battlefield in Pyrite Town. Not Cipher's own Pokemon being put up against him!

Furthermore, tried as he may have, nothing could get Sudowoodo to learn far more competent moves than the ones he'd been presented with! The dancer had the bruises to prove it; having been punched, kicked and straight up tackled any time he tried to use a TM on the would-be tree! Just having Protect would have prolonged the battle long enough for Leech Seed to be the snagging brat's doom!

He went through it all again and again over the course of a few short minutes. He did everything right. He distributed Shadow Pokemon, reported to Nascour repeatedly, investigated the sighting of that strange girl who could actually spot Shadow Pokemon in a crowd...

He breathed sharply and suddenly. Was that it? Was that the moment it all came crashing down? Seeing the two there as no threat at all? No, that couldn't be his fault either! It was by Ein's orders she be captured when Miror reported what Trudly and Folly had witnessed and heard of her! And why all the way out to Phenac? She could have been easily transported through The Under to the Shadow Lab to dispose of her however was most fitting! It wasn't Miror's fault! He refused to accept it!

It all came back down to Ein! It all felt like the scientist had deliberately set Miror up to be a weak link! And by now, the snagging brat likely had an army of Shadow Pokemon at his belt.

At last, Miror let Ein go and he straightened up. His inhuman height nearly made his afro rub against the ceiling of the lift, and blocked some of the lights. His mind was still racing, and his heart was beating so furiously, he could hear it in his ears like war drums.

All the racing around in his head came to a screeching halt as he decided on the only 'correct' way to respond to the man. Still standing there, stone faced, with only a glare to show emotion.

Miror B. slowly turned around to the lift's panel, pressing the simple “up” button. The mechanisms working remained the only sound for a short while, as Miror watched them go higher and higher up. A buzzer sounded and the lift suddenly stopped, making both men nearly lost balance for a second. Miror B. himself had pressed the 'emergency stop' button at the bottom of the panel.

“Ein, do you know what the most dangerous thing is here in Orre?” Miror asked. His voice lacked the usual feminine tenor range as he settled on his true, lower, natural voice. “People think it's the extreme weather changes. From the frigid cold nights to the devastating heat waves as early as 9 AM. Others fear the sandstorms that can start up faster than one can prepare for it. The desert is full of many unplanned graves, after all.”

He slowly turned to face the man again. There was something different about him. His smile was off. Crooked a bit? The fogging of his shades was fading away, and there was an unnatural excitement in his eyes.

“Perhaps you could think that the few Pokemon able to live out here are the most dangerous thing. After all, there are times where they haven't had a meal in weeks, and even a wandering human will do just fine to satisfy them.” He turned his entire body towards Ein, but did not yet approach. “All of these answers would be wrong.”

“The most dangerous thing you can encounter in the Orre region--”

He interrupted his own words with a swift and sharp sucker punch to Ein's jaw.

“--is a man who's got nothing to lose!”

[manbehindtheshadows]

Making the Hard men Humble

[mirorboroleplay]

manbehindtheshadows‌:

“Professor Stein, I do not understand. I’ve followed your every step since the day I was able to make my first steps. I’ve followed your every order and every–” “Silence, Ein.” The young scientist, despite his face barren of any emotions, flinched as the older mans words cracked like a whip. “I would let myself be consumed by the rabid specimen in this facility before insulting my own legacy by letting a novice such as yourself be heir to my research.”

“Why?” Eins lips slightly stretched, his hands clutched in his frustration “Grandfather at least-” The boys cheek was met with the cold bony strike of his grandfathers hand. Next thing he knew, his scar ridden arms were clamped at the wrist before being violently jerked towards the lead scientist. “Boy…”  He exhaled slowly through clenched teeth. “My daughter may have cursed me by leaving me with an insufficient heir before passing, but not even the will of Arceus itself would ever force my hand to surrender what I have labored over for the last 40 years to some low life’s bastard child…”

It was always a challenge deciphering what was going on in the Cipher Admins head, but there was no hiding the clammy fists clutching his sleeves, the forced blank expression, the even stiffer than usual posture– There was no hiding damaged pride of Ein Stein this time. 

For years, he had suffered at the idiocy of his fellow admins, and to finally have his point proven was exhilarating- Only to be immediately be shot down by a mere child. 

To have his absolute pride- his legendary Raikou- snatched from his possession in the blink of an eye was an absolute disgrace. But nothing- absolutely nothing- even compared to being dragged down to the levels of them. 

Arceus… He was going to have to be in the same room with these people wasn’t he? Evice and Nascour had requested an immediate summons at the new Realgam Tower- regarding the incident no doubt. His whole body felt heavy with dread as he moved forward towards the elevator taking him to the next hallway. Not even the new facilities breathtaking scenery could budge his focus on his impending doom.

His whole adult life he had fought tooth and nail to succeed over his grandfather- Cipher’s legendary Francis Stein- The name and face behind shadow pokemon- and now the lectures, the beatdowns, the reminders of how unworthy he was to even earn his place on the research team began flooding his mind. A wave of nausea and a sudden chill hit the pit of his stomach and the only thing he could hear was the struggle of his heavy, shuddered breathing. While others could only see a cold and deadpan administrator, behind the blank mask was a man begging for death over the humiliation he was about to experience. The rush of memories were cut short when the elevator doors opened, ushering him into the next room.

… Sweet Arceus, Venus and Dakim were already in the twice forsaken room.

He could already feel their eyes on him. 

He knew he was going to be torn down by Nascour and Evice, but he absolutely refused to be degraded by these two.

“Are you coming out of there or-”

Ein let the elevator doors close, unwilling to suffer the company of the other two. The elevator felt stationary for what felt like an eternity before he felt the mechanical components twitch, sending the elevator back to the previous room, hoping to Arceus it was either Nascour or Evice… unless… Arcues above, please no.

Impatient heel tapping, teeth grinding, and heavy, nervous breathing were the only sounds to escape Miror B. Not so much as an off key tune being hummed. Even said tapping seemed to have no rhythm to it. Being in the glitzy and beautiful new tower—Cipher's pride and joy for their final plans—somehow brought the performer more anxiety than joy.

It was over. It was all over. The moment he'd received Nascour's message demanding he stop his running and hiding, he knew he was done. He stopped grinding his teeth only to take up another fit of fidgeting by biting his lip instead. For only a moment he actually looked at his warped reflection on the decorative lift doors, waiting seemingly an eternity for them to open so he could face his employers one last time.

He was a mess. His afro was showing signs of lack of care with the occasional curl poking out from the rest of his pridefully groomed mass. Beads of sweat were running down his long face. His lipstick looked smeared from the lip biting, prompting him to stop and return to teeth grinding instead. Even his precious suit was a bit dusty from his ducking and covering through the caves systems and the desert to avoid authorities. And his fellow co-workers.

“Well, if I die today,” he finally squeaked out to his reflection, “at least I look somewhat fabulous in the end! Right?”

His stomach did more flips than he'd ever performed himself in his life. How was he going to go? Would they just shove him off the top of the tower? No, too messy. And would they really want to hear his scream for so long? Perhaps his fellow admins would sic their Legendaries upon him. One final reminder of his inadequacy to them. Not as messy but... would they even eat him? He glanced over his long and skinny body, questioning if even a Shadow Pokemon would want to chew on him.

Whatever was to happen to him, all he could hope was that it was quick.

Quicker than the lift, anyway.

'Maybe I can still flee,' He thought, nervously glancing around the area. His eyes wondered upward. There didn't seem to be cameras installed. Yet. So no one knew he was there. Well, except the few Peons who saw him nervously enter the building. 'Cipher may think they have eyes and ears everywhere in the region, but this is my home! I'll take up a life deeper into the Pyrite Mines if I have to. Somewhere no one can find me! I've done it before and I can do it again!'

Confident as his thoughts were, the admin stayed firmly planted. The only movement of him remained his nervously tapping heel.

The lift was finally arriving. He could hear the mechanisms as it slowed down.

'It's not too late. I can run. Right now. No one would know! No one important! I can permanently silence those witnesses if I really have to!'

“EEP!”

Miror practically jumped out of his skin as the doors opened, and instead of the lift being open and empty, he met with the stone cold face of one of the last people he wanted to see today.

“Ein...”

Silence filled the hall now. Not even tapping or teeth grinding. Miror seemed to even be holding his breath as the two silently stared each other down. He couldn't see Ein's eyes through his glasses, but Miror was almost certain the head scientist was glaring at him—having likely heard of his slip up in Pyrite. Who hadn't at that point?

His heart began to race and his mind was a mess. He couldn't run now. Ein had seen him! And there was no way Ein would just be quiet about him! He'd sooner hunt him down himself! Now he had no choice but to join him in the lift and face Nascour. Ein himself likely went to meet him just so he could lecture him about his failure! How Cipher was suffering with snagged Pokemon after snagged Pokemon and how it was all his fault!

Everything suddenly came to a stop in Miror’s mind at that final thought.

The fear started to dissolve away and change.

His fault? No... how was this his fault?

He wasn’t the one who made Pokemon with power visible only to a specific person. He wasn’t the one set himself up to have a weak and incompatible Shadow Pokemon as his ‘secret weapon’ against troublemakers.

Miror’s anxiety and fear washed away entirely, immediately replaced by the boiling fire of rage. He lunged forward, grabbing Ein by the collar of his coat and pushed him to the back of the lift. He kept him pinned as he loomed over him, grinding his teeth once more before roaring at him.

“THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!” he screamed just as the doors behind him closed. “I’ve lost everything! And it’s because of you! I’ve lost my reputation! The power I had over Pyrite Town! My dah’ling followers! I can’t even find Trudly or Folly! I climbed up from nothing and accomplished so much, only for it to all be taken out from under me!”

He tightened his grip on Ein’s coat and even pulled a bit, trying with what little upper body strength he could to lift him just a bit. He brought his face closer to Ein’s, snarling at him and his own fury fogging up his glasses.

“I’ve lost everything--all because you refused to treat me like an Admin and give me a proper Shadow Pokemon! I had that brat practically at the end of his rope until I had to throw the one thing that doesn’t synergise with my precious Ludicolo! A ROCK! A STUPID ROCK! HAD YOU JUST GIVEN ME SUICUNE OR RAIKOU, I’D STILL BE ON TOP! Even a Dragonite would have been perfect!!”

The normally jovial and carefree man was trembling all over with rage as he held Ein by the collar. The creaking of the fabric just barely audible over Miror’s angry breathing. He wasn’t letting go any time soon.

“Well?!” Miror barked. “For a man who prides himself in talking me to death about how much he hates me, you’re certainly quiet all of the sudden?! Nothing to say for yourself?!”

[manbehindtheshadows]

mirorbo started following you

[manbehindtheshadows]

… THAT MISERABLE INGRATE COULDN’T EVEN FINISH THE BATTLE.

Whether it was the denial of giving the final Ludicolo the finishing blow or that this fellow administer had forfeited, Ein was not at all satisfied with the victory. In fact, he was very much pissed off.

“TAKE THIS DEFEAT LIKE A PROPER ADMIN, YOU PATHETIC LOW LIFE.” Ein bellowed, the Altaria cowered under the lab chiefs desk. It would be no surprise if the researchers on the other floor were shaken by the harsh noise that suddenly came from Master Eins quarters. And it only got worse once Miror asked for the conditions of his loss.

“You come into this lab uninvited on a regular basis, you waste my time unnecessarily with this… childsplay of a battle,” Eins voice was warped with a sickening snarl, toned with absolute disgust. “And you have the GALL to make all this noise and then forfeit the moment it does not run in your favor, and even MORE GALL to complain about wanting a stronger shadow Pokemon when you have clearly proven to me you cannot handle the one you currently have!”  The infuriated scientist approached the dancer slowly, only to swiftly grab him by the collar, pulling the taller admin face to face, “Believe me when I say if I had the powers I would have you shoveling shit all day with the rest of the peons.” His fists trembled under the Mirors golden frabric. “Master Nascour may have appointed you a Cipher administer, but I will NOT. BE. INSULTED BY HAVING TO RECOGNIZE YOU AS MY EQUAL.”

Ein then gave a curt jerk of his head towards the Laboratorys exit and then back to the dancing clown, articulating with meticulous attention to his T’s, 

“Get. Out.”

[mirorboroleplay]

It had been bad enough to have such a horrible defeat, but now Ein just had the audacity to be pulling at the delicate threads of his suit? Miror had been just about ready to outright smack his hands away when a realization dawned on the dancer.

Gently, he pulled away to make Ein finally release his grip. With a small pat and tug at his collar, Miror took a half turn to the exit while still looking at the scientist.

“Yes, yes, of course,” he commented with a light hand wave, though still lacking a bit of his flamboyant charm in his words. “So sorry to have troubled you, seeing as you’re absolutely flooded with work right now. Boys! Let’s go!”

He completed his turn and made his departure from the lab, being very careful with his steps and movement and hoping the scientist was still glaring daggers into him. If his rage could last just a bit longer, it was all the batter.

Trudly and Folly flinched slight as Miror passed them at the door, and quickly followed once there was a 5 step spacing between them and their boss. A horrible loss like that always assured that he’d be in a bad mood for hours, if not days.

Once departed fully from Ein’s sector of the lab, Miror couldn’t hold it in any longer and started chuckling quite audibly. Trudly and Folly exchanged glances and both wondered the same thing: did the loss just make him go mad?

“What? Not going to ask, boys?” Miror shot back without even looking at them. His flamboyant quirk was back! He picked up the pace just a little bit throughout the higher level of the lab, looking for a shortcut even. The boys practically had to jog to keep up after a short while.

“Okay. We’ll bite, Boss,” Trudly called. “What’s so funny and why are we just about running out of here?”

“Fuhohoho--oh? You mean you two didn’t catch it?” he chuckled. A huge grin formed along his lips and it became an outright struggle to hold in the laughter he wanted to unleash. “With as often as you two irritate me with your absolutely horrendous word play and puns, I’m ashamed.”

“What are you talking about, Boss?” Folly asked, glancing to Trudly again only to receive a shrug from the other.

Another floor up and Miror B. was practically skipping. Any faster and they really would be trying to run out of the lab!

“I’ll admit--I’m not the happiest person in the world in such an unfabulously embarrassing loss,” Miror sighed woefully and dramatically with the back of a hand for his forehead and a quivering pout of his lips, only for his smile to return a second after. “But, a simple man like me will take whatever victory I can!~”

“Boss, please. We don’t like that riddle talk and you know it,” Trudly groaned. All at once, Miror stopped, and the two crashed right into him and fell to the floor in a sit. He was waiting. Listening. And ready to bolt for the final floor and out the door.

“Ein was so focused on how I threw in the towel that he forgot to hand me one,” Miror giggled. “Sure. I lost. But by being so quick to make me leave, he left one little thing out of the conclusion.”

“I don’t have to clean up that dreadful mess I made!~ Fuhohohoho!~ Get ready to run, boys!~”

[manbehindtheshadows]

mirorbo started following you

[manbehindtheshadows]

Ein inhaled sharply. Behind those sealed lips were gritting teeth as he recalled the two water types.

Useless. Both of them.

He exhaled slowly, realizing he still had two more of the damned birds to go through. The main threat had finally been eliminated thanks to the Golbats toxins, but either of those birds could have another Icebeam waiting for the Pokemon about to be released. Mirors taunts did not help settle the lab chiefs failing composure ”This isn’t over yet!” Ein snarled behind his now struggling-to-keep-blank face.

There was no way he was going to lose.

Not to Miror.

Not to this pathetic low-life.

“Altaria!” Ein summoned his final pokemon, the fluffy blue bird barely had any time to stretch itself from being cooped up in the small capsule before its master snapped his voice: “Up in the air! Now!”

The Altaria, possibly sensing the tension building up in its master, immediately flapped it’s wings, gathering enough momentum to send itself as high as the ceiling would allow. A droplet of rain splattered on the tile floEor as a second wave of rain began to crash down.The flying type move was definitely super effective, but unless it inst-killed the Ludicolo, the Rain Dish ability was going to give him problems.

“Take it down!” Ein barked, the unconcerned look on his face did not match the rage that echoed through the room. “DO NOT FAIL ME.”

The shaken Altaria delivered, charging into the other bird pokemon like a meteorite. Ein wasn’t sure if it was his Pokemons power, or a streak of dumb luck that had earned him the one-shot victory over the Ludicolo.

The battle had officially become one-on-one.

He had every intention of making Miror B. choke on those taunts.

[mirorboroleplay]

Maestro didn’t just topple over from the impact--he practically flew right passed Miror B. and slammed into the wall behind them. While the songbird fluttered back to prepare for the next assault, Miror glanced back with absolute terror in his eyes. Maestro, his well trained tank of the team, defeated in just one blow? Flying type or no, he should have been able to hold his ground!

“Sissonne! Unleash your fury!” Miror quickly commanded once he snapped back in to reality. The wife didn’t need to be told twice. She wasn’t nearly as fast as Click or Polka in the rain, but she was still able to keep up with Altaria to leap up with amazing ability and swipe at the pheasant repeatedly. One strike, two, three--a full powered five-strike Fury Swipes before Sissonne had to land again and step back. Barely any damage was done!

“No...”

The music was practically slowing down as he watched Altaria rise far out of Sissonne’s further reach. The Ludicolo in question braced herself for impact. If the attack was even partial in power to what Maestro had to deal with, she wouldn’t last. He glanced back at Maestro’s unconscious body another moment before making his decision.

The Altaria dived down to deliver another brutal impact, only to end up flying through nothing and nearly crashing into the wall themselves! They barely caught themselves midflight and looked back. Miror B. had returned Sissonne to her Pokeball, returning Maestro to his soon after. He’d forfeit!

The music silenced and the effects of Rain Dance finally ceased, leaving Miror standing without a single sway in his hips or a tap to his foot, though there was a bit of trembling in his arms.

“How...?” he questioned quietly, grinding his teeth a bit. “Even with the type advantage... how?” He glared at Altaria as they waddled back over to Ein’s side. He wanted so badly to throw a fit about the whole thing. Every fiber of his being was screaming ‘HE MUST HAVE CHEATED SOMEHOW’ over and over to his head. He tried running it through repeatedly how it should have gone. Maestro at the very least should have been able to resist such an attack!

The trembling stopped as he came across a variable that had not been in play the entire battle, and by his own demanded terms...

Sudowoodo. A rock type. It would have been the perfect trump card against the damned bird--and HE chose to leave it out! Even if it didn’t move, it would have been a perfect distraction!

He frustration reached the point where all he could do was stamp one of his feet to the floor, hard enough to make a fairly loud sound and leave a small dent in the tiling.

“...name your conditions of my loss,” he finally sighed. His own blind pride was his downfall. Ein played him, beginning to end.

[manbehindtheshadows]

mirorbo started following you

[manbehindtheshadows]

Ein didn’t even bother to look when the Golbat flew right past him from the Ice Beam’s impact. No longer hearing the fluttering after striking the wall, he knew the Pokemon was out of the match. At least the Huntail managed to execute an attack.

…Damn bat…

Ein reached for a Pokeball but hesitated for a moment.

No. Not while that one is still out in the field.

Ein resumed, taking his hand the the Pokeball next to it. “You’re up next Lanturn!” The angler fish Pokemon emerged from its Pokeball, glancing nervously at its trainer and back at the super effective pokemon.

Speak of the devil, one of the damned birds executed a Razor Leaf. Ein watched unconcerned as a massive blow was dealt to both of the water types on the field. The healthier of the two Ludicolos absorbed some of Huntails  health,  “Huntail!” Ein retaliated harshly with another bite order. “Keep your focus on the poisoned one!” Rain Dish or not, that Pokemon was going to fall to the toxins in its body soon…

In the meantime it was about high time he put Miror’s Rain Dance to his benefit.

“Lanturn!” Ein snapped orders at the fish, “Take the other down with Thunder!”

Whether it was determination or fear of its master (most likely the latter) the Lanturn delivered. With a clash that would have shattered the sky itself, a strike of lightning  struck the healthier of the two Ludicolos. Ein had to do his damndest to resist the urge to give Miror a shit-eating grin as his precious duck fell to the ground. A well executed move from the Lanturn, he’d give it that much.

One down, three more to go.

[mirorboroleplay]

Miror flinched back and shielded his eyes from the blinding flash of electricity, cringing a bit at the sound of Click’s cry of pain. While his Ludicolos were plenty resistant to electrical attacks, a full powered Thunder attack was nothing to dance off--even for them!

Click flopped to the ground and Polka stepped forward, wobbling a bit.

“Just one more...” Miror muttered under his breath. The Ludicolo nodded in understanding and used as much energy as they could to filled the room with razor edged leaves composed of pure energy. “Make sushi out of them, dah’ling!”

Without holding back, the attack was launched at the two fish barely sliding about in the shallow puddle of the floor, overpowering the water types and pelting at them until the absolutely refused to move any further, each flopping to their sides on the floor and bodies numbed from the attack. An all out Razor Leaf assault like that would ensure most Water Pokemon not battle ready again without a full recovery care! The victory, however, was about as shallow as the puddles at Miror’s feet.

Polka lurched forward first on one knee, then flopped to the floor alongside Click. The toxins had become too much for the kappa to handle any longer.

“Good job, you fast footed fiends!~” Miror cooed as he recalled the two into their Pokeballs, stuffing them safe and secure into his afro. A click from each of his fingers signaled for his two remaining Ludicolo to leap forward to take center stage. Miror’s famous “married couple” Ludicolos: Maestro and Sissonne.

“It makes me rather sad it’s going to end like this, Einy!~” Miror called out over his music. “What’ll it be next, dear? Either way, this won’t last even a full ‘nother verse!~ Might as well quit now!”

Maestro readied his hands in a defensive stance, while Sissonne held hers out as though they were meant to be clawed. Miror B.’s side of the corner was practically glowing with confidence for the next, and presumably final round!

[manbehindtheshadows]

mirorbo started following you

[manbehindtheshadows]

The two pokemon were unsure if they were relieved or terrified that Eins chaotic expression reverted to his game-face: Stoic. Static. Content as he may look now, it was usually the calm before an unforgiving storm should results not be in his favor.

Small droplets of rain began to splatter onto the reflective tile. If he allowed himself any expression during a Pokemon battle, he would be cackling like a madman. His original intent was for Huntail to use the aforementioned move, but Miror was so damned foolish that he actually saved his opponent an extra move.

“Confuse Ray! The both of you!” Their masters voice snapped like a whip over the obnoxious tango from the other side. The odds were in their favor when the the colorful balls of energy struck the two duck pokemon. Ein watched in his hidden amusement as Miror attempted to snap the now struggling birds back into sense.

Unfortunately, Eins luck just about ran out. An Icebeam, (How the hell did that buffoon manage to get that move?!) while merely clipping his Golbat, took significant damage. Ein’s features barely flinched as the Icebeam nearly clipped him as well, striking the wall with a loud clash. He wasn’t entirely sure if that was meant for the Golbat…

The Huntail also took a nice pinch of damage from the absorb. That move was so damned simple, and while it was super effective, it still should not have taken that much damage. Change of plans then.

The Golbat was probably not going to last another round if the main threat had enough sense in it to charge up another Ice Beam, focusing on continuous damage overtime was most likely “Golbat!” The scientist barked, “Toxic on the one with the Icebeam! ”  While putting his focus on the pokemon that might actually pose as a threat. he still hadn’t forgotten the other one, ”Huntail! Tear that other one to shreds!” 

The Eel Pokemon lunged at the Ludicolo on the left, crushing it’s jaws through it’s fluffy fur and into its flesh. In the meantime, the Golbat had successfully flung a ball of sludge to the Ludicolo on the right, poisoning it. At this point, it was all a waiting game until the problematic one fell to the ground.

[mirorboroleplay]

“My babies!” Miror instinctively cried out at the assault. He cringed as he watched the toxic sludge soak right in to Polka’s fur, and practically jumped as Click slide back from the toothy impact of Huntail, only to quickly fling the eel right off him and along the slippery floor. He attack didn’t seem too damaging to either of them, but it didn’t keep the dancer from worrying.

Immediately he focused his attention on the only one on he field that could truly give them long term trouble.

“Polka! Sweetie! Focus and destroy that rat!” Miror called out. A quick shake of the head from the Ludicolo and immediately she was moving in time to his music in perfect pace once more! The effects of Confuse Ray had passed and it was time to finish the job. She locked her eyes on the Golbat flying around the room, surely attempting to dodge what was to come. Sure, it was fast, but so was she.

A freezing blast shot out from her beak, pinning the now frozen right to the wall behind Ein. Even if it thawed out nice and slowly, it certainly wouldn’t be very battle ready after two Ice Beams in a row!

“Fabulous work, Polk--Aaah!” Miror flinched visibly as Click attempted to go forth for another attack on Huntail, only to trip over its own feet in confusion and land unpleasantly on the floor, leaving him open for an attack, which came very shortly after in form of another powerful Bite from Huntail now that it was able to practically glide along the floor with Rain Dance’s assistance.

“Click! Quickly! Move!” Miror cried out as the eel lunged towards him from the side. The Kappa was barely able to roll out of reach of the massive jaw, only for Polka to take the hit instead! “Ah! Hang in there a little longer, honey!” Miror pleaded. Only one Pokemon of Ein’s was down, and already his younger Ludicolos were struggling without the aid of a Rain Dish ability. He could see the intents in Polka’s fur as the kappa shook Huntail off, with a mix of blood and poisonous toxins. Fast footwork would be needed for the two the duration of the battle!

Whether it was poor choice on Ein’s part, of a tactic he felt would be quite brilliant in the long-run, Miror B. did not know; but his attention was drawn again to Ein’s side of the room as a Lanturn was summoned out alongside Huntail to replace the now useless Golbat.

“Oh, you make this too easy,” Miror B. chuckled as he pointed forward.

“Razor Leaf and Absorb, my dah’lings!” he commanded. Both Pokemon poses dramatically, fur fluttering, and grass powers aglow as his end of the ‘stage’ was soon filled with magically created leaves and small absorption orbs to outright assault to two fish!