Donald
Grim, after realizing that the tunnel he was going to led further into the base, turned to go to the other instead. It seemed to be quite the wide tunnel, but not nearly as smooth as the other main transportation ones. Barren with not but small lanterns hanging from the top. The walls were rugged, but the floor was fairly smooth. The pair might even be able to come out of their shadow and just walk the path. After walking for some twenty seconds, the three eventually found a sign designating this tunnel. "EMERGENCY EXIT." Seemed fair.

Far down the tunnel, some 5 or so minutes, they eventually reached the end. There was a large barrier of rocks that seemed to be very unstable, as if they could be moved out of the way easily, and bright light of the sun peeked out between them. Incidentally, there seemed to be a single Shiftry standing guard by the door, wearing a brightly decorated wool coat over his shoulders, small rubies lining the neck fluff. That being said, he seemed very bored, sitting on the ground and drawing in the earth beneath him.

Well, that was simple enough. *Satisfied and now just walking out in the open, Grim puffed his chest up and turned to Mallow.* "Should be simple enough. It seems as if this place is meant to be... Secretive." *He rubbed his chin in his mumbled voice.* Not too loud. But, revel in how clever you are, Grim. Yes. Very clever...

*He looked the Shiftry up and down before whispering to Mallow,* "What about those tailsmans, hm? Wouldn't it be nice if we had some of those?" *He pointed to the eepy.*
William
Mallow's tail swayed, and she eagerly examined the Shiftry up and down alongside Grim.

"Are they. Gorgeous." She whispered back- unsure as to why, and simply copying how the Dartrix spoke for the sake of it.
Donald
"A bit tacky, but yes." *He imagined himself in such jewelry. It was very... Eh.*

The Shiftry had drawn a small picture of the sand of it battling a Rayquaza atop a mountain, and as he was putting on the finishing touches, his ears managed to pick up the whisperings a bit away, and he quickly looked up. He jumped to his feet and quickly kicked the dirt on the ground to erase the traces of his artwork, looking upon the pair casually. He stayed silent for a moment, watching them with suspicious eyes for several long seconds...

Soon enough, he deduced what had occured. 

"Ah. Did you happen to catch one of the children escaping? Excellent work, friend." He spoke cordially to the Dartrix. "What brings you here with them?" He wasn't too concerned really.

*Grim, fast on his feet, gave the Shiftry a thumbs up.* "Indeed." *He paused, thinking of a story, but went with his gut instead.* "Oh, I was just bored. It is quite uncomfortably noisy out there right now- you understand, don't you?" *He nudged Mallow with his foot.*

"By the way," *He spoke, words pouring out faster than he was thinking them through.* 

"..."

*He turned around and walked away, pointing to the child- er, Mallow.* "Erm, follow me." Please, for the love of Giratina don't push me for questions.
William
Lying. What a fine art, it was. It had only recently entered the girl's skillset, and she was eager to contribute.

"...Yes. What he said." 

Freaking awesome.

The Skitty lingered a second longer, before chasing after the Dartrix.
Donald
The Shiftry gave no fuss, finding the bird a tad weird but... Nothing provoking action. He was a bit lazy. Nevertheless, by using shadow sneak once more, they were able to sneak right over the sleeping quarters and into the other hall, this time with more options for where to go...

As they walked, pokemon would occasionally pass by, some giving a small hello to Grim, and others giving the pair a raise of their eyebrow in suspicion. Er... Probably, couldn't really tell what that Ferroseed's eyes were trying to say. Despite all that, beyond such encounters, the pair couldn't help but feel like they **Were being followed**...Probably nothing.

Eventually they come to a fork in the road, four tunnels spanning out from it. Four signs were on display. The tunnels seemed to lead to, respectively, Sleeping Quarters D (the pair had just been in Sleeping Quarters C), the Cafeteria, a Worship Room, and the Main Entrance. So what would it be for these fine fellows?

*Well of course Grim was being followed. Mallow was following him!*

*Sleuthing around like this for him, it was...* Not unfamiliar. Of course I've done this before. *But, it felt awkward. His moved naturally lent him an edge in espionage, but it never felt quite* Right. A prince, acting so underhanded...

"Hm." *Well, sleeping quarters looked like they wouldn't have anything worthwhile. Except for maybe prisoners.* But I have time. It's not like the prisoners are headed anywhere. *Cafeteria... He couldn't imagine what sort of slop these inbred degenerates would eat.*

*But people often made offerings to shrines.*

*Gorgeous talismans, even.*

"Gorgeous talismans," *He whispered to Mallow, leading her towards the worship room.* 

First, we raid the donations box. *Then,* We save the prisoners.
William
Well of course Mallow was being followed. Grim was following her!

...

Hold on.

Mallow started to squint, sniffing the air and swiveling her ears like a satellite in pursuit of something to pinpoint the feeling of unease to. 

However, a much more pressing matter took her attention. Talismans? Gorgeous ones?!

She ran past Grim into the worship room- pausing a short while ahead of him and willfully ignoring the lingering feeling of being watched.
Donald
And down the tunnel they went! Along these walls were various sigils, generally depictions of the sun. Perhaps these Synth worshipped it like the Luminaireans? Who could say really. Even so, as they walked, they **Still** Could feel like someone was following them, someone staying just out of sight.

The altar was a large circular chamber, with three tunnels leading outward to various other areas, and on the opposite end of the circle was what seemed like a polished staircase, leading toward some upper area. The room had about 15 pokemon in it, with few conversations going on, and many of them tending to shrines along the walls, various idols and rare plants potted in front of imagery reminiscent of the sun. The smell of Citrus incense permeated through the room, wafting out from the center of the room where a large golden statue depicting a bright sun with a Solgaleo behind it. Looking at it head on, you couldn't help but have an eerie feeling it was staring at you...

With warm colored banners hanging from the walls and a few pokemon praying in front of the centerpiece idol, you felt like you were in the right room.

After you had a bit of time to wander around the room, suddenly, a Pokémon previously unseen called out from behind you in an orderly voice, "Hey, you, uh- Dartrix fella." And there stood a toedscool, facepaint around his yellow head-spots to make them look like they were giving off solar waves.

"Chief said to let me take that prisoner, kay?"

Religious types... What nutcases. I'd never be so desperate as to please for a god's love. Giratina, mercy, maybe, but not love. Solgaleo. Pah. Probably some sort of photosynthesis-based beliefs. *He twirled his hand in self-absorbed superiority a'fore setting his heart on taking... If not the statue, a rare plant.*

*Of course, for Grim to have picked up on someone sneaking up on him, with his skill set, he'd have to be on good terms with Lady Luck and the three fates- and on good terms he was not.* "Oh." Oh. Oh Giratina. Someone- they're asking questions. Just... Be suave. Be lovable. Be calm.

*Calm was not something Grim could muster under pressure very often, but luckily, he didn't need to. He wasn't very effective at using the move to make him particularly attractive, but for making him come off as sincere, genuine, and level headed, `Attract` pulled the illusion pretty damn well.*

*With a suave and unconcerned facade that Mallow could easily see through- as his Attract only worked on a single target- he turned to the Toedscool and put a single wing-hand on his shoulder. Or, well, as much of one as it could have.*

"No."

*He scowled.* "She's my niece." *Thanks to his move, it would come off as sincerely stated; however, it did not force the Pokémon to believe him, of course.*

Suddenly, the Toedscool was thoroughly charmed. There was nothing it could do against the dual charming assault! He was dumbfounded, staring into space at the pair, unable to articulate...

"Cool..." Was all he could say. "Totes... Cool..."

"Can I like... Do anything for you guys? Haha. I could be your new dad if you want... Haha." He continued.

A shroomish seemed to be watching the three of you with intense confusion upon her face.

*Grim raised a brow judgementally.* "A little soon for me to call you daddy, thanks.

"But I will take a glass of water with lemon. No seeds. If there are seeds, I *Will* Kill you." *He glared daggers at the Toedscool before lightening up.* "That's a joke."

*After shooing the mushroom-jellyfish away, he shot a sideways glance to Mallow.* "... You are my favorite kid. Just so you know." *Merc please don't listen Grim is exaggerating I swear.*

*He shot the Shroomish a rude glare, like the 'fuck off' kind of glare that Karen™️ might employ.*

Well, there's probably no subtle way to take anything without everyone noticing, so might as well just grab and walk away and hope everyone is to awkward to question me. *With the pomp of the entitled, Grim just took the nearest idol that wasn't directly being looked at and walked off with it and Mallow. Absolutely begging to be stopped and questioned and to spark trouble.*

*He looked down to the cat.* "They sure like Solgaleo. Say, Mallow, think you'll ever be like Him?"
William
"I have to ask my dad first." Mallow brushed the Toedscool off, much like she had Grim. Why was being her father figure in such high demand? She had noticed the Shroomish, but didnt understand the difference between a |:< of joy and a |:< of confusion. Mallow had no business with a mushroom regardless. She figured that Grim was worthy of a Smile- a show of pleasure- since she Enjoyed the Dartrix taking an Idol. However, with no understanding of how to make one, Mallow bared her teeth at the owl like a monkey would as a warning sign.

"No." The Skitty squinted at the varied Solgaleo Memorabilia. "No, I evolve into. A Delcatty. With a Moon Stone." What kind of question was that?

...

"Will you. Ever be like Him." She responded, as they walked through the chapel.
Donald
"Alright... Haha." Said the Toedscool, before he suddenly turned on a heel and ran away down one of the tunnels with gusto, one that went to a cafeteria.

**SAVOIRE FAIRE** [Medium: Success] 5️⃣ 4️⃣ + 3 - Grim quickly slides the golden idol under his wing, tucking it tight into his plumage without interruption from any onlookers. It's slightly uncomfortable to hold, but not difficult to conceal.

After a few moments, the Shroomish wanders back to Grim and Mallow, seeming to have grown distracted for some moments before. She awkwardly walks up behind Grim with surprising stealth, bumping right into him. "Oh. Sorry." She casually apologizes before stepping back twice. "Hey, uh, dude, did you think there was something up with that Toedscool guy? I don't think I've seen him around here before... Suspicious don't you think?"
Betty
Grim's Savoire Faire: There's no need to panic. A slip of the wrist, and the idol is easily in your grasp.
Donald
*Grim, now feeling confident in himself and with the idol in hand, he turned his head down to Mallow.* "You mean a righteous, bold, and powerful authority figure? Mayhaps. That is up to the whims of the world.

"If you mean a god, though, then no. I am above merely posturing as an invisible force to rule others through deceit, as much as I could easily do that." *He dusted off his chest in a sort of cocky manner.* 

*And then. There was. That weirdo Shroomish.*

"Um." *He turned around, jolting frozen as his mind ran through the possibilities that someone caught him and that he'd be executed on the spot- only to play it through with,* "You scared me! Inconsiderate.

"Oh.

"Hm.

"I don't know." *He shrugged.* "Why don't you go ask the quartermaster instead, hm? That's not *My* Job." *If he actually made an accusation, he'd probably have to back it up, and it's about high time he actually get back on this main plot here buddy' o' pal.*

The Shroomish frowned, almost seeming sad, downtrodden, rejected. "U-Uh... Yeah... Right- Sorry-" She turned and walked away, broken hearted.

Well, with Mallow and Grim having thoroughly avoided every sideplot hook they could be offered in this instance, perhaps they would take some tunnels to find the holding cells? Or was there something else they had in mind?

*The duality of man.*

*Sideplot?* *Or potential way to blunder and be exposed?*

*Truly I am awful at these judgements. Gloop would tell you.*

*But either way, Grim decided that now was, in fact, a good time to find their way back to the holding cells- did they pass them before? It's been a good week or so and I forget, but he'd very much do so with Mallow at his side if he could find them. Please.*
William
"Do you do this lots. A lot." Mallow asked- watching the Shroomish drag her feet as she left. With a twitch of her tail, she touched it's tip to Grim's leg to let him lead her wherever he pleased.
Donald
"Do I go around tricking others like this, no. But, well, I do trick the feral Pokemon here or there. They are much more gullible, you see," *He stated with an erudite raise of a finger.*
William
Mallow lifted up a paw to copy the Dartrix- but seeing as she was far from bipedal, it caused her to stumble and scramble to regain her balance.

"I know. Thats why we eat them. 'Cause you can't. Trick them as good. If they aren't ferals."

She demonstrated by crouching down- crawling a few paces before pouncing on an imaginary rattata. Potentially an imaginary Dragonite, if you really believed in her capabilities.
Donald
*Probably an imaginary Arceus, even.*

"Very true. We must eat all the Pokemon."

*He then pulled a feather dart from under one of his wings- god knows where that idol he stole went- and started to waggle it in front of Mallow. Cat toy time.* "But can you catch this?"

The pair would wind through a few tunnels for some minutes, still catching an occasional stare from passerby's, but no hassling fortunately. That is, until they were a good ways down the tunnel labeled to lead to the holding cells. There was a Bellsprout standing idly against opposite walls, chatting away boredly. Guards, presumably, and observant ones too, seeing as the Bellsprout clearly noticed the pair approaching pretty far back, before they had to chance to shadow sneak around them. On the walls behind them were an array of thorny green vines poking out from the walls, little tendrils.

When the pair were a few meters in front of the guards, they turned to face them, giving the pair a suspicious eyeing. "...What're you doin' here, with... That?" The Bellsprout asked Grim with a cocked brow, the 'that' meaning Mallow. The Eldegoss stepped away a tad from the wall more toward the middle of the tunnel.
William
Mallow's eyes narrowed- and she silently crouched down. "Yes." She assured, crawling forward and waggling her tail.

Unfortunately, *Someone* Interrupted, and the Skitty perked her ears to stare behind her.

"Looking." Mallow didn't need to elaborate any further, right? Right.
Donald
*Grim, clearly, already had an alibi. Mallow was her visiting niece, right? But, for some reason, he got the feeling that this gentleman wouldn't fall for the same trick that the last few lads did.*

*It was in fact a scientific impossibility that Mallow's eyes could narrow any more than they already did but Grim damn well noticed anyways.*

"Oh. Yes. I see." *He pretended to give what the Bellsprout said any serious thought.* "Hold that thought. I need you to hold this." *He shoved the feather dart cat toy into one of the Bellsprout's leaf hands.* "In fact, take another." *He withdrew another dart and put it in the Bellsprout's other hand, assuming he let him.* "And one more, for good measure." *One final feather atop the Bellsprout's head.* "Mhm." *Despite this, he remained deadpan.*

```Bellsprout is confused!```

The Bellsprout was rather taken aback by this interaction. If not for Grim's sheer power of feigned authenticity, the sprout might have just called for guards to come lock the bird up. "I really don't think-" He was cut off with the final feather upon his head, eyes glancing up at it in confusion, trying to figure out what it all meant.

"Is this a makeover?" He asked with a tinge of hope. 
"No. You look stupid." The Eldegoss replied, causing the Bellsprout's expression to fall, staring at the floor while still holding onto the feathers. "Aw..."

It was the Eldegoss's turn, giving a glare at Mallow and then to Grim, "What's your problem? You should know Fred has body dysmorphia."

"Body dismorphia? Sounds absurd," *Asserted Grim, with all the spiteful blindness of a boomer thrice his age.* "... And I have no idea what that is.

"But I assure you, it's no makeover." *He picked Mallow up, holding her by the belly in front of one of the feather darts on the Bellsprout.* "It's a kiddie toy. Just look at her go."
William
"...Meow."

Mallow waggled her front paws up and down, as if more movement would make her *More* Convincing as a toy.
Donald
"Ummmmm..." Said the Bellsprout, Fred, dropping the feathers on the ground. "In that case I'll just..." Fred began to walk toward and past Grim and Mallow, down the tunnel, looking back at them as if he were afraid they would follow him. The Eldegoss glanced at him awkwardly, before trying to capture the pair's attention, "Right... How about you guys follow me?" He nudged them on down the other end of the tunnel, toward the actual cell blocks.

Well, I didn't *Intend* To say *Mallow* Was the toy- but, well, this works better than I could've hoped for. *Simply 'going with it', Grim tucked Mallow under his other wing and trotted behind the Eldegoss.* "Very well. After you, then." *He winked to Mallow.*
William
Mallow was just going with the flow here, and didn't have much to say. Wherever Grim went, Mallow followed. Also because she was being carried there.

She stared back at Grim, blinking in response because she couldn't wink.