Their fate remains dreary. Although she remains weary of her surroundings, the assassin's focus shifts from her companions to the platform that moves to their floor. It seems there were others here as well, a large group of prisoners from a different floor they're quickly joining as their guards corral them unto the platform like cattle. There's several she recognises among the group, but it's the familiar head of red hair that calls her to attention.

PENELOPE LIVY is among them. A spark of light in the darkness of her inner doubt; the assassin does not need to wonder what she has to do when it comes to this person. Protect. Contracted, but it may be one of the only things she can hold on to right now-- her duty compels her. Her loyalty demands of her. The first thing Kyrenai wants to do is waltz her way through the crowd, but her instincts halt her from doing so. Not yet. She tries to make eye-contact with PENELOPE LIVY , but something seems off about her employer... enough that she fights her instincts long enough to get closer to the councilwoman. Close enough to react if something were to happen, but not close enough to make it look out of place.

Attracting unwanted attention is the last thing she wishes to do right now. So as the platform descends further down, she keeps an eye on several people; Johanna Joy , ever blackwell , Violet Fairbanks , Elaine Highland , and PENELOPE LIVY . As they reach their destination she lets herself be pushed around forcefully, allowing the shove to move her right beside PENELOPE LIVY. The mask hides the shift in her eyes. Recognition washes over her as they're moved closer to the hole leading to a lower floor.

Something stirs beneath, growling, and as it moves in the darkness the fumes waft towards her. They're hidden by a the sweeter scent of mochi, but it's undeniable how the stench of death lingers beneath it. Whatever is below them doesn't bode well. She waits as one by one the other prisoners are forced down the hole.

It is only once PENELOPE LIVY is tossed down that Kyrenai rights herself; without a semblance of doubt the assassin moves with her, jumping down the hole before the Okidogi can grasp for her. What she expected to be a hardened floor proves surprisingly soft; sticky even, but she knows as she moves that it's not only rotting mochi that broke her fall. Remnants of less fortunate prisoners lay beneath her feet. Walking across their corpses almost feels like a déjà vû to the assassin; maybe that's why she isn't losing her footing as she moves.

They have a job to do, but the sudden movements and growls echoing from the darkness are what keep her from doing them. Instead she makes her way towards her boss, trying to have her eyes adjust to the darkness as quickly as possible. "Ms Livy, are you okay?" Kyrenai asks, trying to help the woman in any way she can. Unlike Penny's, the toxic chain dangles freely around her neck, but she knows better than to tamper with it in the hopes of freeing her. She hasn't yet forgotten what it did to those who tried.

When something rushes past them, Kyrenai immediately takes up defensive positions, intent on shielding PENELOPE LIVY. A first vine lashes out from the darkness, cracking down upon her back. A hiss is all the culprit gets from her, every time it lashes out again. Every time it tries to reach for the councilwoman Kyrenai intercepts, leaving a multitude of welts across her arms, legs and torso. One even manages to hit her face, leaving a gash on her cheek, yet the assassin doesn't flinch.

She does not move to attack. Does not let her guard down one bit, and tries to single out the attacker in the dark. The dark that has steadily become more visible as time passes and her eyes get used to the limited lighting; whatever light filters through the hole above has become enough. When she sees the Ogerpon's state of being, a hint of pity filters through.

A mistake.

In that single moment the Ogerpon does what it does best and attacks again, this time coming in with a kick. Kyrenai steadies herself and stands-- something underneath her feet gives way. Her entire body shifts; she can dodge and mitigate the damage, but that would leave Penny open for the full burnt.

A grimace forms as she throws the thought away. Never. When the Ogerpon's foot sinks into her abdomen something breaks, a sickening crack followed by sharp pain. Breathing becomes torture as the Ogerpon's foot remains lodged against its target; Kyrenai grabs its leg and with whatever power that remains tries to toss it away from her. Her body screams and she screams with it; a forceful, angered growl before she sinks down, clutching her chest. She doesn't need to examine herself to know her ribs are broken, but how many remains to be seen.

As long as the menace doesn't return.




172C1xNK

Tldr;
- Weakling Ward
- Notices PENELOPE LIVY on the platform and immediately resigns herself to meatshield duty
- Tries to make eye-contact with her
- Jumps down after Penny instead of being thrown
- The corpses give her déjà vû
- Will stand her ground and protect against Ogerpon so PENELOPE LIVY stays unharmed
- Gets lashed by vines + kicked -> results in broken ribs
- Grabs Ogerpon's leg and tries to throw it

@ lime, Elaine Highland, PENELOPE LIVY

☉

Some fools decided to fight the orders bestowed; some literally, a giant man throwing himself at their canine warden but being beaten to a pulp without it even breaking a sweat. It even seemed to be enjoying itself in the process. Others had been more tactile with their disobedience. Yet one by one they are snuffed out by the guards... these Megalopolans seem keen on making them suffer, as does the chain that forces each and every one of the rulebreaking culprits to cough up their stolen goods or selfmade weapons.

They're lucky the punishments are for each person to carry themselves. It would not be the first time an entire prison ward is punished for the transgressions of a single rule-breaker just to prove a point. To prove resistance is futile. The assassin thus wonders whether that's what's next in store for them when they're asked to vote for the other ward's fate. To Trust. To Forsake. Kyrenai does not know what to choose; because she does not know who is held in said other ward. Is it someone she knows? Someone she cares about, or someone she hates? What does she wish upon them?

Like the pokéballs within the bowl, it crushes her. But unlike the ability to remain watching as the carnage was shown upon the tera crystal ceiling, Kyrenai does not know where to look this time, when it comes to letting her mind or her instincts decide. So she just looks at the images als long as they're there, the mixture of blood and broken flesh and bone, shards of pokéball all mangled into a single thing...

A bowl. An offering. Fear. It reminds her of the beast she had tried looking for but had eluded her in the depths of Area Zero. The thing she only ever truly saw before the alternate Galar happened.

She closes her eyes and allows the realisation to wash over her. It's a mere guess, but it feels too coincidental for it not to be true, or at least have an inkling of truth in it. Inhaling deeply, she feels the tension building deep within her. A heartbeat she allows to grow, like a small wardrum beating in her head. When she exhales, it fades, together with the battle the thoughts in her mind have been waging. Clarity settles over her like a drop in still water.

"Trust." she replies, hoping Violet Fairbanks will not become the next victim of defiance if her vote turns against her. She does not judge it however. Kyrenai's reply reflects her resolve; too soon to decide, she is willing to trust the process. Only afterwards will she risk to forsake herself -and it all-. That time however, is not now. Not yet.




Tldr;
- Does not avert her eyes from the pokéball massacre
- Thinks Ting Lu is somehow connected to the events, and clears her thoughts
- Nods at ever blackwell if he joins, and decides to stick with the makeshift group if allowed
- Votes TRUST

Violet Fairbanks , Elaine Highland , ever blackwell

☉

She nods in agreement to her cellmate's statement. ”True enough. It might look tacky, but I've seen more innocent tokens become true tools of torture before.” Not much conversation is had afterwards it seems; no names are exchanged, and while Violet seemingly continues to monitor her own body's condition, Kyrenai does the same for her surroundings instead. A circular room, crescent at worst. The many voices allude to the amount of cells present, which seem to contradict those allowed to roam freely. Guards, mayhaps, but their chains say otherwise.

When the lift cranks down, her focus shifts to the three beasts upon it. Though the pheasant and monkey counterparts do not seem to linger and continue downwards with the platform, the bipedal canine has remained on their floor, along with several crates. Their workload has arrived, it so seems. And dinner too. When the Okidogi shows what becomes of those that refuse the mochi and its orders, she is certain. The way the bones crack violently before blood splurges onto the floor sounds like a forbidden melody, and the hint of a smile dances on its tunes, tugging at the corner of her mouth. But only for a second. She hides it well.

There it was.

The reason their ‘freedom’ seemed so forthcoming; the body of the poor unfortunate soul also remained. A not-so-subtle warning to those present that they should obey. Part of her is impressed, curious. Part of her feels a resounding fear clinging violently within her chest. It has something to lose now. Something she's reminded of when she bows down to the obedient role and eats the mochi, her body fighting the toxins she willingly injected by doing so. It's not right but she does it anyway… self-preservation. The reminder that she must get out of here alive for Yuki's sake. Strong enough to toss away the pride and stubbornness she normally took such pride in. To become weak for the sake of someone else. To become strong enough to bear it?

Kyrenai leaves those thoughts be when the rocks and their subsequent labour are presented to them. She does not wish to find the answer now, for the answer will be as equally unpleasant as her current predicament. So instead, like a meek lamb, she follows. She does not irk the chain, nor her warden and its guards, and uses the sharpness of the rock to cut part of her clothes into rough strips, revealing scarred abdomen underneath. The strips of cloth are then wrapped around her palms, and between her digits to make sure the most brittle parts remain somewhat protected during their forced labour. Not that she remains without when she starts smacking the rocks together; the most basic of tools, that have yet to become blunt from repeated use. There's no chance to make them blunt before use, as she sees their Warden Okidogi rough-housing a few people left and right. The assassin does not risk it.

There used to be more fight in her. A year ago she would have fought tooth and nail, butted far more heads, but with the masking of her red hair too came the masking of her fiery temperament. Her pride was bludgeoned, and her will to fight a void as dark as her hair currently was. It had been ever since her time in Galar, she thought as she snapped another chunk of dynite ore from its rocky prison. Once mighty and death-defying, she'd truly become a poor excuse of a warrior; moreso in mind than in body. Keeping up appearances was far easier than to accept the struggle. Or face it.

When she ducked to gather the chunks of dynite ore, a familiar voice sounds from closeby. Kyrenai perks up when she hears her name, recognising the younger redhead making her way towards them. Two things she learnt that moment; her cell mate's name, and that she's acquainted with Elaine also. A reason to add a bit more friendliness to her future behavior towards Violet Fairbanks. She smiles at Elaine, and after Violet's hug quickly ruffles her hair, not wanting to attract too much attention to their reunion. ”I'm glad to see you doing alright, consider the situation, Elaine,” Kyrenai's expression is one of genuine affection for her dear old friend as she pushes her chunks of dynite ore into Elaine Highland's arms. ”Just in case,” she mutters, bending over to continue working. Violet was right. If anything, even this little display of happiness could turn on them if the Warden or its guards decided to pay head to it. ”Drop these in the crate, then scuttle back over.” It's all she can do to keep Elaine out of trouble at this point.



LGeeqtQm

Tldr;
-likes the Okidogi's savagery, tries to hide it
-eats the mochi and acts obediently to the given orders
-uses sharp rocks to cut her clothes into strips, bandaging her hands against wounds
-mulling over issues while freeing dynite ore
-is happy to see Elaine Highland, ruffles her hair gently -gives Elaine Highland her dynite ore so Elaine appears to be working instead of her

Violet Fairbanks, Elaine Highland, ever blackwell

☉

Consciousness hit Kyrenai with a vengeance.

Darkness, not complete but less that inclined her to believe no natural light penetrated this building's walls, cold stone against her back and legs, immediately notifying her that a lot of gear was missing from her person. The remnants of a pounding headache lurking in the back of her consciousness. Her sight, deluded by a mask, and chain wrapped around her neck and face.

She took her time checking every limb still worked as it should. Deliberately slow, without abrupt movements in case someone beyond her field of view was watching her; she wasn't the only one who stirred however. When her cellmate awakened to their shared peril she became silent again, unmoving.

The assassin merely listened, and watched.

Silver hair and a mask just like hers, the assassin concludes. Unless their captors felt the urge to get creative and grant each of them a unique one. Doubtful. Albeit cautious, panic wasn't truly in her cards at that moment. It wasn't her first time being detained, but that had never lasted long. In fact, miserable cots like these reminded her of her training days, when disobedience was still beaten out of her; the quickest way to find comfort in cobblestone floors. Even the screams echoeing from the other cells made her feel nostalgic.

The steady, warm voice following the girl's earlier assessements made her smirk. How kind. It was a good thing the mask hid the smirk on her lips, or she might've looked insincere when she replied. "As good as you are, I suppose." Kyrenai's voice is eerily calm, like the matter at had is a mere inconvenience rather than an actual problem.

"Though I guess that they've been kind considering our 'freedom'," she stretches and gets up, shaking her legs to get her blood circulation running properly again. "Safe for whatever the fuck this is." she taps the strange purple chain.




Tldr;
- WEAKLING WARD
- Wakes up with a headache (got KO'd and captured)
- Unamused by the chains, but not really bothered by the surprise imprisonment
- Is assessing Violet & the situation

Violet Fairbanks

☉

The blue building looks inconspicuous, easy to pass by if it did not spot the "gym” tag on the wall near its entrance. Even the waiting room inside was quaint, opting for size to have one's team out and about rather than comfort for trainers alone.

The assassin preferred it this way. She'd heard about Dewford’s gym; in the way that it was mentioned no audience was allowed to watch. And that was precisely why she'd picked this gym to start her challenge; no audience meant less distractions. And less distractions meant Cin's focus wouldn't suffer as much.

Cin, the veritable monkey in question, was still young. Battle-tested in the sense that it had done battle maybe twice, and the rest training sessions that were among friendly mons, ones that would not dare truly harm it. It needed proper battle; but not properly so that it would lose its life or retain permanent injuries from it.

Right now he was just hanging around on her shoulders, moving back and forth between the two while looking at the room -and the wall paintings in particular- with big eyes. Jaci on the other hand was just leisurely floating about, not particularly interested in anything except floating around.

Kyrenai looked at her watch and straightened her jacket a bit; her appointment wasn't for another 15 minutes, so she could take it easy.

Michael Navidson

☉

"You're Yuki." Kyrenai felt her voice break, her throat strangled by the onset of tears she tried to blink away. She could wipe them away with her hands, but that meant moving them from a face she didn't want to stop holding. Not now. Not ever.

Through blurred eyes she could see herself mirrored, Yuki's eyes reddened, tears staining her cheeks and gathering against the assassin's hands. A surprised chuckle left her lips as Yuki spoke again, her voice so soft and gentle... so tired. As if she were just waking up after sleeping far too long. In a way, she had been that; asleep.

"You heard me... and you found your way back. To me, of all people..."

There was worry for the part where she mentioned not remembering, but it paled momentarily when she said she was glad. The confliction of the first sentence contrasted the second; mayhaps Kyrenai was too hopeful at that point. Hoping the confusion would fade for memoried past soon enough. For now she'd have to build on that little spark of recognition she had.

Her thumb gently rubbed away her tears, then gently moved up towards her brow to smooth the frown over. "You still frown like that, after all these years," she smiled softly, kissing her forehead. Then, finally noticing the bare skin underneath as her hands lowered, Kyrenai unclipped her cloak and tossed it over the pale woman's shoulders, pulling it closed. The thing was oversized, but right now it was the perfect size to cover the other woman up.

"That might be better against the cold," she nodded, giving Yuki a once-over. An ounce of self-restraint returned, and with it the basic 101 she had to do. She could gawk and wonder about the who's, whats and why's of Yuki's return after they'd gone somewhere safer than here. "How are you feeling, Yuki? Do you think you can walk?"

yuki hanakata

☉