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It seems so obviously dangerous to push his luck by being here, but then there is much he stands to lose by not laying claim to what was rightfully his once. As Adrian meanders through the woods in search of a once lively grotto, he finds it has come to be overrun by rampant growth of weeds.[break][break]

Luckily, his plants still bore fruit.[break][break]

The Vileplume that remains here lies dormant, surrounded by a dense growth of vines. Perhaps it has grown accustomed to being left alone for great spans of time—he hopes this is considered to be a great deal more liberating than cumbersome for the creature. Adrian reaches for a tool from his backpack, finding a sharp instrument to cut away the undesired brush.[break][break]

The rustling of the growth drowns out the sounds of night. It's only when he goes to wipe his brow after extensively clearing out patches of invasive growth, that he notices the rustling somewhere behind him. On edge, he manages to slowly turn around, finding a set of eyes in the dark. Hmmm, I wonder what you are...?[break][break]

"Vileplume, wake up," he calls out loudly. The LUXIO takes this poorly, nimbly exiting the hedges and approaching him and his berry garden. The Vileplume is slow to rouse, but eventually joins the standoff. "Vileplume, u—"[break][break]

Abruptly the Luxio ROARS, cowing his Vileplume. Its hairs stand on end before small arcs of electricity streak along its body, its feet digging into the earth before it tries to make a dash for Adrian.[break][break]

"You cheeky runt," Adrian mouths in contempt, reaching suddenly for a spare pokeball and pitching it in the creature's path. In the moments it's caught in the sphere's clutches, he readies a separate pokeball, realing his Arcanine onto the field. When it released, it was clear he had an advantage, though the creature seemed desperate for a berry—and lunged for the patch regardless.[break][break]

But Howitzer quickly caught it by the scruff, tossing it away. After a rough landing, it managed to stand itself up, though it seemed to struggle with what to do next. Perhaps it was wounded? At the very least, he could see its bones through its skins enough to mean it was probably hungry. Ah, hell...[break][break]

Adrian had too many pokemon under his care. In the past he might not have been troubled by this, but now, with his own movements feeling so restricted, it seemed cruel to try and bring anything else under his guardianship. And yet...[break][break]

Preparing another pokeball, Adrian tried to capture the creature again. He could always re-release it into the wilds, but part of him knew he would never bring himself to do it...

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"Brace for-?" No sooner does he say the words as they traipse through that seamless dark, than does he feel himself falling forward, his face pressing against the stone. His nose and cheekbone take the brunt of it, and where he touches the wall, he can see the Unown have begun to stir. Lifeless engravings become animate, physical vessels of... whatever it was the Unown represented. Some underlying fundament they were never meant to see or hear.[break][break]

Adrian listens to the message, though it is something strange, cryptic in meaning—though the part about refusal may have been more literal—as now he felt the urge to abandon the search and seek refuge from their time-lost chambers.[break][break]

Managing to unplaster his face from the wall, they're able to make their departure, the simulation around them changing as the sequence finishes its course.[break][break]

"I've never heard them speak so clearly."[break][break]

When gathered en masse, he and Mars had heard a similar cacophany arise, he believed... but the result then was entirely different. He could only wonder with discontent, unable to seek out anything definitive about these elusive creatures.

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Nothing new to discover, then. How boring. Adrian couldn't argue with someone who'd frequented the machine likely well before the rest of Rocket could access the RKS machine, though he would confess to being disappointed—though curious still. He wishes there were some way to produce varied outcomes, but perhaps these instances were purely meant to be observed as they had happened, and nothing more.[break][break]

Adrian withdraws his phone, swiping over to the Unown Report installed therein, though it yielded no change or sudden update. Ah well. It would seem they were on some straight rails after all. "Guess I'll want to hear it for myself then."[break][break]

It certainly beat the prospect of a simulated cave in.

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Adrian finds himself adjacent to Cillian Quinn, manifesting in what might've been any set of ruins dotting Hoenn's landscape. Or perhaps not. Though he is wholly unfamiliar with historical sites, these walls are decorated with engravings of strange symbols—though easily recognized as Unown. Any trainer with a curiosity about the Unown would've seen these images online, documented by previous spelunkers of the Ruins of Alph in Johto. At the very least, he and Mars had considered the benefits of visiting this place, although only the former had ever been given the chance. If only he could see this...[break][break]

Adrian decides to hold for a moment. Yet as he looks on into that vast, unknown expanse, he cannot help but feel a sense of foreboding and the allure of exploring it... But the discordant melody erupting from his pocket as his phone detects errant radio waves is unsettling. Like a song from a horror track.[break][break]

It draws on that sense of suspense, as they teeter on the edge of that corridor, making their careful considerations. "Is this your first dive here?"[break][break]

Adrian seemingly wanted to test the limits of the system's variability, wanting to know more of all possible outcomes—for curiosity's sake.

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His is an almost haughty, incredulous smile. "And what trouble haven't I already put myself in?" [break][break]

As always as ever, Rowan speaks to the truth of matters. Yet Adrian is remarkably moved by notions of family, and believes Gavin too will be dissuaded from taking direct action... Though he may have to maintain appearances. Ultimately, he chooses to believe in the modicum of good even someone like that must possess. So few people are capable of such unmitigated malice, though there are many who wish to be viewed and feared as much, he knows.[break][break]

A tender hand clasps against the back of theirs, and he quietly allows them the moment before lowering it, keeping their fingers intertwined all the while. "I can't imagine they'll have time to spare for us." With all the developing hussle-and-bussle, what value was there in seeking retribution against two misfit defectors? Adrian couldn't speak to Rowan's contributions, but his own were few and far between...
They mightn't even notice the difference.[break][break]

Still, he knew he made too light of the situation.

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"Was I supposed to bring anything?" After brushing off his shoes, Adrian rummages through the bag and tosses a popular Hoenn commodity in the form of a favored snack bag towards her, allowing himself to step inside her home. It smelled to have been cleaned routinely, and treated with air freshener. He should be taking notes down on this sort of thing, really.[break][break]

The contrast between them aside, it was good to feel welcome. He looks for somewhere to set aside his sneakers before he manages to track anything in. After taking a moment to appreciate the furnishings, Adrian gestures away from the foyer, hoping to get off his feet—and to hash some things out.[break][break]

He's not entirely sure what he and Serena will be discussing, but Rowan has been direct enough with him about certain reservations, and Adrian believes Serena may share some of her own. But only time—and an open dialogue—will give him hard answers.