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 Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 1:43 pm
The morning after his regrettably dreadful introduction to life as a Grunt at Team Rocket Star awoke relatively early. It was especially early, considering how late he'd been up but he was used to being out of bed at the crack of dawn; long nights at Team Galactic were no excuse for being tardy. Star had a lot of flaws, but he was always punctual. As such, his internal clock had him out of bed earlier than most of HQ. For now his schedule was open and he was eager to clear his mind after the previous day's events.
That's why, roughly 20 minutes later, the ex-Galactic abandoned his quarters via window and shot into the cool morning sky on Scream's back. The morning light was still dim and the desert sun had yet to heat the landscape to the inevitable oven it would be in the afternoon.
Star inhaled deeply, soaking in the fresh air whipping past his face and through his hair. After a long sigh, he pulled on the helmet tucked under his elbow. He was also wearing his long-heeled metal boots. He didn't have any particular plans for the morning exercise but he was in the mood to be prepared.
Scream slowed into a sluggish glide while Star released Sky. The little starly could hardly keep up with Star and Scream, but enjoyed being around for Star's morning flying sessions none the less. Star saw no reason not to include him.
With a satisfied nod, he tucked Sky's ball away, leaned forward to lie flat against Scream's back and with an unspoken command, the pair shot forward like a rocket. Moments passed before their sonic boom echoed over the desert. After the long straight shot they slowed back to a reasonable speed and wheeled back toward HQ in a sudden display of acrobatics, diving, spinning and looping over the desert sand as Sky rejoined them to excitedly whirl around in Scream's wake.
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:18 pm
While Claire didn't normally fly so early in the morning, the recent events had been far from normal, and had left an impact on the routines and schedule she'd had for the last few weeks. Aulus was back, all the captured Rockets were back... She should be happy, but she wasn't. Well, she was, she was also just... Confused. Uncertain. Hesitant.
The frustrating mix of emotions drove her to forego her morning swim in exchange for a flight over the desert. While swimming was healthier, it didn't chase her thoughts away or make her feel better like flying did. With that in mind, she had chosen a similar exit to Star - out her bedroom window on one of the agent floors before landing on Odette. The golden bird loved nothing more than to fly - and show off - with her trainer, something they hadn't done to relax in a long while. They had, of course, gone on flights while the Rockets were missing, but those were serious and there was no time to have fun or relax.
Now was a different story entirely. Their winding path took them over the ocean mostly, Odette gliding down until her talons nearly touched the waves before a simple tilt of her wings sent the pair soaring back towards the sky. Another simple tilt - different this time - and they turned back around towards the base. Both were sufficiently relaxed when the sudden sonic boom reached them. They both tensed immediately before Claire leaned forward on her Pidgeot's back, and the pair shot off towards the base. Odette flew over it in a graceful arc - but then again, in her opinion, everything she did was graceful and flawless - and was headed down towards the sands before she shot up again into the air. It was the first time either of them had noticed the other pair in the sky with them, one of which was wearing... Something, something that caused the morning sun to gleam obnoxiously over its (probably) metallic surface. Needless to say it wasn't anyone Claire had seen flying before, and she urged Odette closer to circle around toward the other rider and his - her? - bird to get closer.
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 2:57 pm
As Star and Scream cut across the calm morning to shoot past HQ the two parted occasionally. Now and then Scream would loop upwards, Star would dive off the bird, perform a flip, twirl or some other obnoxiously showy maneuver and land on Scream when the pidgeot shot back under him. He seemed to be favoring his left leg during the flamboyant stunts, keeping it carefully tucked in.
After a barrel roll the pair spotted Claire, indicated by them slowing slightly as Star glanced over his shoulder at the other pidgeot rider tailing them. A moment passed before he flattened against Scream's back and they launched into a large loop intended to bring them up, around and behind Claire to pull up beside her.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:21 am
Claire didn't want to say she was impressed by the flashy maneuvers, although she could understand the desire to perform them.. oh, where were they going?
Neither bird nor rider liked it when completely unfamiliar people - and pokemon - came up behind them, especially at such speeds. Claire leaned forward again and Odette shot up and around in her own loop after the human and his bird - birds? - although hers was tighter and less flamboyant. The end result they hoped for was to finish the loop and come up beside the pair - trio - and not behind them.
There certainly were copious amounts of gray on both, and a flamboyant flair that seemed familiar, and it crept up obnoxiously in the back of her mind. Now who did she...?
Oh.
Him.
Well, she shouldn't be too surprised, she supposed, although she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet him one-on-one like this. His entitled and aggravating attitude preceded him, if the rumors floating around the base were any indication. Still, she supposed she should give him the benefit of the doubt... It was thanks to him, after all, that she had Aulus back. ...and the other Rockets, of course. "Morning," she called, not really sure how well he'd hear her with that helmet that looked... Sort of like a robot or something. Arceus, this guy was weird... "You always get up this early?"
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:39 am
Star and Scream seemed to settle for meeting Claire half way when Odette looped after them. They evened out alongside the other pair as Scream fanned his wings into a glide. Star offered a nod in response to Claire's greeting, then released the strap around Scream's neck to remove his helmet. The device made a sort of hiss as it came off. He secured it to a clip at his hip and smoothed his hair, "Usually." He answered.
Sky caught up a moment later and fluttered above the Rockets. "Star star!"
Star paid the Starly a brief glance, then looked back at Claire, "I was the only pidgeot-rider at Galactic. Can't say I was expecting company out here. Are there many other flying-type riders in Team Rocket?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:47 am
Claire raised a brow, both at his statement and his helmet. Well, at least if she kept up her morning swims instead of morning flights, that would be one less place to run into him. "Really?" She could distinctly remember riding her Pidgeot while in Galactic, but she wasn't about to voice that fact right now. It wasn't really something she liked to advertise, especially when the team she used to be a part of was such a huge thorn in her current team's side.
Her purple eyes studied his Pidgeot for a few moments before they shifted to the much smaller bird fluttering around. Both of them seemed to match his color scheme.. Which matched his hair. She quickly derailed that train of thought when she nodded towards Sky, "cute Starly." If she'd said 'bird' she would have had an extremely displeased Odette on her hands, and that wasn't something she wanted so early in the morning. "I know of a few, though I don't normally see any out so early.." Her gaze shifted to his Pidgeot again for a few moments before focusing on him again. That one spike of red hair looked so ridiculous and out of place, it made him look almost comical. "Did you get many chances to ride at Galactic?"
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:58 am
While Claire studied Scream, the large bird returned her gaze with a stare, red eye locked on the unfamiliar Rocket.
"He was..." Star considered his response, "A gift." He didn't look like he really agreed with that summary, but left it. At Claire's question he shrugged, "...for missions? Not often. It's always been more of a personal activity." He leaned back, looking comfortable. "Of course that isn't to say I'm not capable. I'm the fastest flier I've ever encountered. Outside of a jet, of course." He smirked, "Though I can give those competition."
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 6:41 pm
While Scream stared at Claire, Odette stared at him, one gray eye focused intently on the other bird. Well, the only other bird that she considered a possible threat. She completely dismissed the smaller one.
"A gift?" She repeated, one eyebrow raising. She couldn't help but wonder from who, but didn't ask. That was his business, after all. She opened her mouth to reply, but then slowly shut it when it became clear he was content to go on a bit and.. ...was he bragging? He was bragging. Yes, the rumors of his pretentious attitude seemed true at this point. Oh well. "...I see," she said, one eyebrow still raised in a rather critical expression. It was obvious she didn't really believe him. "I can sympathize though, we don't have much of a chance to fly for missions either, so you should be used to that. I hope it won't be too much of a change for you to adapt to." Actually it probably was, but she really was more concerned about the people who would have to deal with him if he did have a hard time adapting.
She couldn't help but let her gaze drift to the helmet strapped to his waist, and those boots. It looked like he was wearing heels... One thing at a time, she supposed, so she nodded towards the helmet first. "What's that for?"
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:39 pm
Star was still smirking. When Claire's eyes sank to the helmet he nodded and dragged a finger along its surface, "It's for supersonic flight, of course. It supplies oxygen and protection from the considerable air pressure. I also very recently added a heads up display with airspeed, altitude and horizon line. Naturally I don't require all that data, but it's fun." He chuckled, "I built it myself." Still bragging.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 8:57 pm
...okay, so he was blatantly bragging and showing off, but damn if that wasn't cool. Claire couldn't help it, but she was impressed. Her expression mirrored her thoughts as her eyebrows raised, and she looked at the helmet more closely. "That's.. actually really cool. What about the heels? I'm assuming they're for more than just a fashion statement."
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 9:11 pm
When Claire's expression gave away that she was openly impressed, Star's smirk graduated into a toothy grin. He knew he was impressive, but he really loved other people validating the fact. He didn't know who this girl was, but he liked her already.
When she inquired about the boots he eyed Scream. The bird pulled his eye off Claire to look at his master. After the exchanged glance, Star nodded and, as they fell into a rolling dive, said "watch".
Scream spiraled downward, then evened out about 30 feet above ground level a moment before Star dove off the bird. He spread his arms in a graceful swan dive, coat billowing after him. He tuckled his legs in and curled his head down, tightening his body into a ball, turned end over end twice as he fell, then threw his legs out in time to land in a crouch on the desert sand. The boots hissed loudly with the impact. As with his earlier stunts, the landing heavily favored his left leg. None the less, a fall that should have broken both his legs seemed of little consequence to the spindly man. He rose to his feet and placed a hand on one hip.
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:51 pm
One eyebrow rose as Claire watched him... Dive? Never one to be left behind, the agent guided her bird into a similar dive, although she had no intention of jumping off like Star did. When the spindly man made his (flamboyant) landing, Odette had leveled off and circled around before landing nearby. Claire remained on her back for the time being.
Yes, if it wasn't obvious before, it was now.
With those legs and that jut of the hip, he'd make a brilliant model.
That and those boots were cool. She still liked the helmet though. "Impressive," she admitted, trying to choose her words carefully lest he fish for more compliments or something. "How did you make them and the helmet? They seem perfect for flights."
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:03 pm
Scream landed beside his master as Claire and Odette landed nearby.
Star was grinning confidently, hand still on his hip, "Yes, they are." He agreed, "It just so happens that in addition to my devotion to flight, I'm a professional roboticist and engineer." He chuckled and started to walk. Unfortunately his smugness and grace was interrupted when his leg buckled and he toppled forward. Scream moved with surprising speed to catch Star with his neck, preventing the flailing roboticist from faceplanting the desert. He clearly had no business being out performing ridiculous stunts a day after being shot. Common sense, really.
"..pidge." Scream looked concerned.
"I'm fine." He muttered, attempting to compose himself.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:56 am
Claire was about to speak when he suddenly pitched forward. She tensed involuntarily but luckily his bird moved faster than he could fall and prevented what would have been an unfortunate (and hilarious) meeting with the ground. The agent relaxed before she slipped off Odette and stood beside her. "So I've heard. Your reputation precedes you, you know," she said carefully. The tone of her voice suggested it wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Now that she had a chance to think about it, he'd been on the mission to bring their teammates back, hadn't he? He had to have been injured in it, almost everyone had been. It hadn't occurred to her before because he'd looked and acted perfectly fine, but obviously that wasn't the case. "You were injured, weren't you? In the mission? Do you think it's a good idea to be doing such stunts as that right now..?" Well, nobody ever said geniuses had common sense. Just look at Deimos.
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BlackFireKitsune Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 10:17 am
"I'm fine." He repeated, still relying on Scream for support.
"Pidge.."
Huffing a sigh, he grunted and lowered himself to sit in the sand, deciding to relent and rest a moment.
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