present day. he’s got to admit ─ in comparison to the lively and happening cities of kalos, olivine city is a refreshing experience. he wasn’t initially keen on the idea of visiting his home region but the need to take a break outweighed that aversion. but he still wasn’t quite ready to hang around goldenrod where there were sure to be familiar faces and instead settled on the city of olivine. the bar he currently occupies has just enough people for it to not feel too empty, but not so many that it’s obnoxious. the familiar smell of alcohol and cigarettes is welcomed as damian tips back his second drink, savoring the pungent taste as he gulps it down. he grins, feeling right at home.
… except for the feeling he can’t shake of being watched. he’s sure it’s not because of the alcohol, either. with a frown and empty drink, damian’s eyes scan the bar. most of its occupants are busy with their own drinks and banter and aren’t paying any attention to others. he’s nearly ready to dismiss the feeling and get back to his night until his eyes meet a pair that’s, unfortunately, a set he recognizes.
the memories come back all at once. he’s not one to care to remember faces, but occasionally, someone stands out. all at once, memories of their temporary alliance come flooding back and, as a result, he remembers his own betrayal. oh, arceus, he hopes she doesn’t remember him.
xx years ago. in comparison to the major cities in johto and kanto, castelia city was like a new region in itself. streets, stores, people and pokémon of all different types around each corner. businesses bloom and the port was popular for transporting goods ─ the economy here piqued long ago.
the perfect playground for someone like him.
he hadn’t originally planned on detouring in unova, but the prospect of a job had snagged his attention. not just any ordinary job, either ─ this one promised him a fair amount of goods and secure his way to kalos. unfortunately a job of that magnitude wasn’t something he could pull of alone, as much as he hated to admit it. he’d have to collaborate with a gang much more familiar with the city than him. not that big of a deal, and nothing he hasn’t done before.
he makes his way through the back alleyways, following the directions he’d received earlier. his houndoom stalks at his side and, overhead, honchkrow watches from the skies. he takes mental notes of the city around him. landmarks, street signs, smaller businesses, places to hideout, places to vanish… it’s second nature at this point for the delinquent to makes notes of the environment he’ll frequent ─ the difference between making a clean escape or fumbling.
four blocks later and damian reaches his destination; an out of the way alley behind some rundown warehouse. there’s a single figure hanging around and, since it’s late and this meeting spot is so out of the way, he assumes this is who he’s meeting up with to discuss further plans.
❝yo,❞ he fabricates a friendly smile as he approaches, freeing one hand from a pocket and waving. houndoom remains tense and cautious while honchkrow has landed on a lamp, observing from above. ❝kinda an odd spot to be hangin’ around this late. ❞ he settles for a neutral conversation starter - one he could easily transition into an innocent topic should his presumption be wrong, ❝ you lookin’ for someone?❞
Anzu sits at the counter, slouched over with a drink in hand and an unlit cigarette between her teeth. Her lighter had been left behind the counter at the cafe during her shift, and she was too tired to run back into that hellhole to grab it and chance a lengthy unnecessary lecture from her uncle about her attitude today. Instead, she enjoys the taste of menthol from the end of her cigarette, savoring it as she finishes the rest of her drink.
Today was a stupid day. An incredibly stupid day. For the meager amount of tips she made today, she really shouldn’t be here right now. One drink wasn’t going to kill her wallet, but the temptation to order another may lead to her going broke later that evening.
The bar is full of locals, people she had become well acquainted with throughout her years of living in Olivine City. She notices their presence outnumbers the amount of passing travelers and mariners inside. A few of them she recognized from the lunch shift earlier today. As such, she found it difficult to unwind in these circumstances, but again, she was too tired to make the call to go elsewhere tonight.
But one of the few unfamiliar faces actually stands out to her when she sees it. A man, not much older than her, sits on the opposite end of her at the bar. She finds it hard to believe that she would recognize him, but keeps her eyes glued onto him while he places an order with the bartender. When he finally notices her staring directly at him, the cigarette end is crushed by her gritted teeth when he realizes who he just crossed paths with.
The sun dips down towards the horizon when the young teen perches herself on a crate at the designated meeting place. A scrappy looking Purrloin is seen skulking the area for wild Rattata that hung around this area, scavenging for food along the empty streets. The girl doesn’t appear to be bothered by her surroundings, but her gaze shifts in different directions whenever she hears a noise.
It’s not until she hears a set of footsteps that she puts her guard up. The Purrloin takes a cue to stand close to its trainer once an older male makes his presence known to them.
“What’s it to ya?” She answers in her usual unfriendly fashion, observing his appearance. He seemed to match the description she was given in her initial message. One look at the Honchkrow above him tipped her off immediately, knowing that he would be accompanied by one.
The Houndoom at his side sparks an unfavorable response in the Purrloin who swished his tail back and forth and raised his fur, while the teen only briefly gazes in awe of the canine before she addresses its trainer again.
“That’s a nice looking Houndoom you got there.” Anzu nodded slowly to him, crossing her arms. “You the guy that Gina was talking about?”
