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Her eyes widen in surprise at his cheeky response, and she sits still like a Deerling caught in headlights as the man slides around the other side of the table to sit next to her. In one fell swoop he manages to take her breath away, wrapping the both of them up in his arms and his dupatta. He is warm, though she reasons that that just might be her.[break][break]

There are no words she can find to respond to his hug other than to relax. His chin nestles against her neck and she finds it easy to press her cheek against his. It gives her a moment to accept his comfort and his kindness for a moment. The rumble of his voice against her back and murmured quietly next to her face quiets her. She sees no reason to argue. In his arms she has quite literally turned to pudding.[break][break]

In some way or another, the man manages to disperse that cold nugget of doubt she carried around. The cold stone in her belly warms gradually as a result of his encouragement and kind words. So much so that her fingers seek out his in a gesture of thanks. [break][break]

Stormy watches him as a blush creeps across his face. Her own soon warms up to match, and she is positive he could hear the rapid beat of her heart even if he'd pulled away from her. As kind as his words are, as truthfully he declares them, there is still that doubt, that clouded judgement, that ugliness behind her mask that insisted otherwise. [break][break]

"Miles-- you barely know me."[break][break]

But then he curses, finalizing his decision. Those words are swallowed up by his kiss and in return she chooses to give in. [break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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It is quiet for a heartbeat too long, enough that when Miles attempts to joke she's nearly lost in a downward spiral of thought. But she catches the upward lift of his voice, his earnest attempt to distract her apparently working even if she'd taken a moment to catch on.[break][break]

"I don't know.. you could probably take me. For all I know you're hiding an absolute powerhouse under all those nice clothes. You have the advantage of seeing me here at my full potential, thin arms and all."[break][break]

She even flexes for him, and although she's certainly fit and muscular she isn't by any means huge. The woman is lean, mean, a fighting machine, well-disguised beneath a fine-featured skeleton. [break][break]

"But charming? Maybe you should be suspicious, because I'm definitely not charming."[break][break]

Stormy smiles, retrieving her refilled glass to take another sip. Under the pressure of all of his compliments and praise, she finds herself unable to keep a lid on her embarrassment and rosy blush. [break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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"Cover Smeargle!"[break][break]

She barks an order to her Charizard. The beast bellows, a guttural noise that comes, deep-rooted, from her belly. While the tar shot had landed successfully, it didn't stop the Haxorus from retaliating. Fortunately, the dragon's movements are slowed enough that there is a window, albeit brief, to prepare. [break][break]

But there is no time to protect them all. [break][break]

Adrenaline and desperation enable Stormy to at least protect herself. Given how close she is to the Smeargle and the rolling thunder beneath her feet, she finds herself in a tricky situation. Sehkmet proves faster in the race to catch the painterly pup, pulling the Smeargle out of harms way before the earthquake can meet her.[break][break]

Stormy, however, soon realizes that she, too, is flying. Fiery wings have burned holes between her shoulderblades, burning away at her shirt. What remained beneath was a fire-proof sports bra designed to withstand the heat, but her coverup is immediately turned to ashes. Her feet dangle above the upturned earth, wings flapping to keep her airborne. [break][break]

Once the earthquake has all but settled, Sehkmet sets the Smeargle down. What attempt had been made against the Aegislash and Zarude is indistinct, given the sword and shield Pokemon could very well have been caught by the grass knot the Pokemon had used earlier. Regardless, it is evident that the Pokemon was not able to defend well given the onslaught of attackers on all sides.[break][break]

He is but one shield.[break][break]

However, the Aegislash is able to retaliate, snapping back and forth across the field. It is incorporeal, slashing out at the Luxio with a shadow sneak before attempting to return to the Zarude.[break][break]

Smeargle, on the other hand, sees the opening the sword and shield had made and begins to scribble. There is something peculiar in the way the Zarude moves its hands, flexing fingers as if trying to pry open the earth itself. And yet there is no rage in it, but desperation. Without orders, Smeargle acts, attempting to replicate her sketched jungle healing.[break][break]

And in the background, behind the fire and the flames, Stormy's pendant burns bright with unlocked potential. Both she and her Charizard begin to glow. More agile, more sleek, Sehkmet comes out the other side faster and stronger. The newly mega-evolved Charizard turns her attention to the tar-shotted Haxorus with the intent to douse the Pokemon in flames with a flamethrower.[break][break]

Jungle healing takes effect, albeit slowly. As if the move needed more practice or was not quite perfect. But Smeargle tries and tries and tries until it works, because it has to.[break][break]

Vines unfurl beneath the earth, knocked loose from the earthquake. It moves like something alive. The fur on Smeargles back stands up on end. Whatever power this move holds, it is exhausting. But it manages to reach the Zarude, coating the two of them in mossy green.[break][break]

Elaine Highland's explanation does not go ignored, but the elite's attention is otherwise preoccupied with driving off the criminals cornering the Zarude. [break][break]

"What are you doing? Is this what living 'free of fear and worry' is? Is this what 'peace' looks like?"[break][break]

Stormy, still airborne, looks down upon Killian Decker and giona ferrara. Her expression is one of conflict and rage as she gestures to the burning forest. What commotion has occurred with the illusioned Zarude, the missing Chryssa, the broken rope bridge and the two people above, still fighting in the trees is temporarily ignored because the woman's attention is on the forest floor.[break][break]

"I didn't believe the lies Rocket spewed about Kanto living peacefully. This isn't success, this is your deception, your disregard for human life, your dishonesty. Look at what you have done!"[break][break]

---

[break]

tldr: stormy uses her fiery wings to evade the earthquake[break]
charizard flies, grabbing smeargle to protect them both from the earthquake[break]
aegislash is hurt by backlash from grass knot into earthquake and wasn't able to wide guard in time. uses shadow sneak on luxio before returning to zarude.[break]
smeargle sees the zarude + child trying to use jungle healing. uses sketch followed by jungle healing to heal the zarude + child.[break]
charizard mega-evolves into charizard-y. uses flamethrower on haxorus[break]
stormy brings up several points that declan walsh stated during his rocket announcement in accusations of accountability

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Stormy Silph, Elaine Highland

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[break][break]

Time slows until she can count each nauseating heartbeat drum against her ribcage. Sweat lingers on her brow and it turns to ice when she sees the Megalopolan's arm come clean off. The blood sprays, reaching. She is close enough not only to be sprayed by it and the smell is sickening. It leaves a smattering of blue up the side of her face and all over her clothing. She blinks, stunned, but the damage has already been done.[break][break]

Both human and Megalopolan are shouting, a Blacephalon is released, the prisoner is freed, and the world comes crashing back into focus. Their voices become crystal clear as she shifts her weight, her damaged hand awkwardly brushing blood from her cheek.[break][break]

[break][break]

"Kazimir, run!"[break][break]

She doesn't shout for Zac because she assumes the man already has the intuition to do so, that and her brain is only running on half capacity after likely injesting some blue megoloplan juice. The avatar reaches for her pokeballs, swapping Blissey out in a blink of light for her Aegislash. Desperation and fear give her the adrenaline boost to throw the ghost-type Pokemon. It might wrench her shoulder but the pain is irrelevant in the face of certain death.[break][break]

"Iron defense and ignite!"[break][break]

[break][break]

The room explodes in a smattering of blinding light as her Pokemon shifts rapidly into its shield-forme. With its defenses raised, it erects a massive, room-consuming shield between them and the exploding Blacephalon. The explosion is deafening, or maybe they don't even hear it at all. It blasts against her Pokemon's shield but it does not fall.[break][break]

And then she runs, taking only a second to make sure that her companions were with her. There wasn't any time to think, any time to plan. This was fight or flight, and the time for fighting was over.[break][break]

[break][break]

Outside, Moltres screams. The shriek resonates in Stormy's chest, pushing her further and faster. If they managed to escape, Moltres would be there to whisk her away, or at the very least meet her in some way- hopefully. [break][break]

[break][break]

She prays that Aegislash survives the aftermath. She prays for them all.[break][break]

Presumably upon escape/the end of the Blacephalon's MIND BLOWN, the AEGIS IGNITION's 'bide-like' ability will activate. It has absorbed the full brunt of the blast and will be redirecting it back to Blacephalon. Usually, the redirect does not harm the user of this z-move, however given close-quarters and this ability being used by an Ultra Beast... do as u must.[break][break]

[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: using my ooc sabotage on katherine fairburne[break][break]

> blissey is returned! sent out aegislash[break]
> stormy orders aegislash to cover them with iron defense + z-move(aegis ignition)[break]
> moltres has remained outside of the cave/route they went down and is agitated waiting for them to resurface so that it can collect stormy - beep beep ur uber is outside

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Kazimir Wynter & Zac Ramsay

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Little did he know, Stormy was no healer, no strategist, no behind the scenes operator. She had a warrior's spirit, and her skin was riddled with the scars of war. Though covered, now, by the choices of clothing she wore, they existed just beneath the surface, ivory reminders of survival.[break][break]

"It's not all bad, and I choose to believe that the good outweighs the bad. If I've helped at least one person, I consider it a win."[break][break]

And yet there was a nugget of guilt in that statement. While it was what she wanted to believe, it wasn't necessarily her truth. On numerous occasions she had chosen to do the absolute thing rather than the path that protected the weak. Try as she might, there had been times she had had no choice.[break][break]

'Don't push yourself too hard.' [break][break]

Make sure that you don't burn out.[break][break]

Two statements that sad heavily on her shoulders. Two statements that she knew she couldn't truly agree to. She had told someone, once, that she felt as though she had to bear the weight of the world because if she didn't, who would? Stormy dealt in absolutes, constantly finding herself pressed or worries for the people who, in some eyes, didn't matter as much as the big picture mattered.[break][break]

"You might be right about that."[break][break]

Unconsciously, Stormy rolls her shoulders to try and relieve some of the invisible pressure that had compounded over the course of their conversation. Her smile is strained, her thoughts far away.[break][break]

But her attention snaps back to him and she is blazing in her attention to detail. He's pouring himself another glass but she is searching his expression with fervor, searching for the meaning behind 'Lavaridge'. He offers her a refill and she breaks her attention to nudge her glass closer.[break][break]

"Sure."[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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A researcher. That made a lot of sense, now that she considered it. He had an abundance of fossil Pokemon and an analytical way of speaking - when he wasn't awkward or shy. [break][break]

The wine glass that had been lifted to her lips is lowered slowly, fingers pinning the stem to the table. She listens, partially in awe and partially in appreciation as his tone changes. He quite literally sheds his nervous energy in favor of severity and determination, and she can't help but feel some degree of anticipation or excitement as a result of it. He was passionate, and she found comfort and solidarity in that.[break][break]

"That is a very noble and very difficult task, and I have a feeling you'll do just what you've set out to do."[break][break]

Stormy's warm gaze doesn't wander even when he looks away and into the sky. Instead, she studies the angle of his nose and the tilt of his chin, the tightness of his smile and the way he relaxes into something that isn't quite the same as when they'd first begun their night. But she blinks and it clears her head, as he's already moved on to talking about her, instead.[break][break]

"I lend a hand here and there where I'm able. I'm no researcher, though. I'm the brawn, I guess."[break][break]

Something at the back of her mind pieces together a realization: Miles had no idea who she was. This was the first time their conversations had come around to talk of work, and now that they were here she wasn't being bombarded by questions about her life as an elite four. Instead, his question was genuine even while probing.[break][break]

"I work really closely with the region's rangers. Blood, sweat, tears, you know. Its not as direct a way as you've found to help the little people, but I'd like to say that that's my goal, too. To protect those who can't protect themselves."[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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Two breathless chuckles are the response she gives his nonchalant answer. The rise she'd hoped to get out of him was kept under a tight lid as he poured out their glasses. Consider her amused. Something brushes against her leg and she glances down at the affectionate creature. Though she doesn't choose to lean down to touch it, her smile is warm.[break][break]

They end up in a stand-off, it seems, on who would risk the first bite. Ultimately it is her, as his eyes on her and his anticipation is invitation enough that she doesn't care to argue with. Once again, Miles response is funny and honest, prompting her to laugh openly.[break][break]

"Ah yes, the internet, the ultimate being of all knowledge and information. Alas, it was you who put it all together for real, so it is you that I would prefer to appreciate."[break][break]

Even still, the woman's smile is easy and relaxed. His stolen glances are not missed, and she finds herself humbled and almost embarassed whenever their eyes met for more than a second at a time. For the time being, though, the pair eat in silence, fully enjoying each others company and the good food on their plate. [break][break]

"Oh? What have you been up to?"[break][break]

Though his last sentence throws her off of her game entirely. She'd overlooked his warm compliment with a sip of her wine to disguise the flutter in her chest. The longer she sat and the more time she spent with him- however brief they had been acquainted- was time spent ignoring the warning bells. This was comfortable, and comfortable was dangerous.[break][break]

"I--"[break][break]

What was she supposed to say to that? You're welcome? That felt dry.[break][break]

"You're welcome, Miles."[break][break]

Damnit.[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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The transferal to the great outdoors was easy and she welcomes the warmth. Though her attention drifts immediately from the food on her plate to the Pokemon exploring- and sleeping- in his backyard. In particular, her attention settles on the one-eye-open Tyrantrum. For a moment the woman's expression is almost worrying in its intensity, as if she is looking the Pokemon over with a fine-tooth comb.[break][break]

Miles' encouragement to not wait up startles her out of her thoughts and she absently reaches for her fork. The food doesn't make it to her mouth, however, as she finds herself easily mesmerized by the scene at hand. One after another she picks out fossil Pokemon after fossil Pokemon. Each one unique and extraordinary in their complexity and calm exterior.[break][break]

Of course, all train of thought is dashed when Miles re-enters the scene with a bottle of wine. Her suspended bite is lowered back down into her plate as she smiles up at the man, refocusing on his face as he presents his gift alongside his good humor. She chuckles, shaking her head.[break][break]

"Red is just fine, really. A second bottle just means I'll have to stop by a second time."[break][break]

She winks, though his attention spans to the Anorith that she only now notices had been watching her. The woman blinks, offering the curious Pokemon a slight tilt of her head. [break][break]

"Aw.. I'm sure that's not true at all, is it Cime?"[break][break]

In other words, it was obviously somehow Miles' fault about the ankle, and the little Pokemon was definitely not bothering her in the slightest. Miles sits down and Stormy turns back to face him, waiting while he takes the first bite despite him asking a question of her first.[break][break]

"I wanted to wait for you."[break][break]

It hadn't felt polite to eat without him present or having the courtesy of the first bite. Now that he had, however, she had no qualms about digging in. Her response to the warm, saucy pasta dish, however, was nothing short of impressed. She moans after the first bite.[break][break]

"Home-made, I'm telling you, is by far the best way to go. This is delicious, seriously, outstanding."[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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Time comes to a dramatic crawl, neither of the two able or willing to break apart. Their intimacy, however surface-level it might be, proved fruitful in bringing warmth to her cheeks. Anticipation makes her skin tingle and she is suddenly aware of how hot it is in here - or maybe that's all her. [break][break]

She finds herself holding her breath as his attention hyper-focuses. He leans in and she stays right where she is, neither willing to make the distance any easier to manage, nor pull away. But before she could feel his breath against her lips, the thunder of her heartbeat is jolted into a surprise lurch at the tap at the window.[break][break]

The noise is jarring or startling enough that she glances past him and shifts her weight, ultimately pulling the two of them out of their trance. Her blush is still clear as day even as he kisses her forehead. In the same breath that he exhales against her skin he pulls away in hot pursuit of the kitchen. [break][break]

His gesture has successfully managed to turn her to jelly, however, as the warmth behind his kiss lingers on her forehead. It takes her a moment to catch her breath and reorient herself enough to respond. Stormy's eyes dart from Miles to the oven at his request and she hesitates only because of his blatant, sarcastic comment on his Kabuto. It sparks laughter from her, charming her out of their awkward tension.[break][break]

"Sure, do you have oven mitts ou-- oh yes, there we are."[break][break]

Only halfway through slipping them on and pulling the oven door open does she consider the fact she really didn't need the mittens at all. But it was far more realistic and sane for her to use it, and the request to protect her hands had come naturally. Probably because it was natural, and her ability to reach into piping hot ovens without a care in the world was not sane.[break][break]

It warms her face the moment the oven door opens and she lifts it out and onto the already-placed pad on the counter. She inhales deeply, a satisfied sigh of excitement indicative of just how absolutely delicious it looked and smelled.[break][break]

"Outside? I'd love nothing more."[break][break]

She carefully tugs the mittens off of her hands to set them beside the dish, turning back to face Miles as he re-enters the room.[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp

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In an instant, Stormy is swept up into the awkward, clumsy art of dancing in the center of a living room. On more than one occasion each other's toes were stepped on, but there was nothing but laughter and stolen glances. She is so absorbed in their closeness and mutual enjoyment that, when the dinger tolls signalling dinner is served and the music slows, she isn't fully prepared to move on.[break][break]

She is caught up in his eyes, in the gentle placement of his hands, in the breathless way he speaks his mind. It catches her off guard how easy it had been, how carefree and simple it had been to put her hand in his and let him lead.[break][break]

And so when he admits he'd rather not let her go, the curious expression she bears softens into a smile.[break][break]

"Then don't."[break][break]

However, the oven dings again, and it almost seems louder. Like a noisy protest to bring attention to the fact if they didn't pull it out soon the room may end up cloudy with smoke. Even still, Stormy finds herself unwilling to separate from him, encouraged by his arms still being around her.[break][break]

---

[break]

notes: ...

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Miles Sharp