Stormy Silph

a strange sense of comfort washes over greyson at her words. there's always a worming sense of doubt in whether or not he's doing the right thing; making the right decisions; or even acting out in the best interest of everyone. greyson finds himself pleased that he's not the only one with no real idea what they're doing. being an adult wasn't like they made it out to be when he was a kid.

"uh... i think?" was this Zac Ramsay the gym leader? wait, did she think he was going to challenge the gym already? he was no where near ready. he starts to listens to her reasoning for being here, already forming a reply in his mind to her bubbling excitement, when they're interrupted.

when greyson turns to see how stormy was fairing, it was unsurprising how easy she had made it seem. he blushes and turns his head awkwardly. if she was flirting, was greyson expected to reciprocate? was he looking too deep into it? she'd been nice to him this entire time, so why would it be different now? before he could mentally come undone, he replies to her next comment. "i agree," greyson starts, probably replying to her quicker than normal, as he turns to look at her again. "fighting can be fun- i think my grookey especially enjoys it- but i like to think that you can start off on a good foot with a pokemon that already is starting to trust you." did that sound manipulate-y? he hoped not.

when stormy gestures at him to continue falling, he hesitates. zac again, he thinks. should he correct her? it wasn't that big of a deal, right? besides, there's nothing to say he has to challenge the gym. it's not like stormy is going check-up on him or anything.

"r-right." he stutters. "coming."

Stormy Silph

greyson isn't quite sure how he was going to broach the subject - if, honestly, he intended to at all- of challenging the gym leader with stormy. it was worrisome for the immediate future of an awkwardless departure later, that she seemed to know this gym leader personally. she could of course have battled him herself and have gotten on a first name basis with this 'zac'. but somehow greyson doubted it was just that.

"i agree," he adds as stormy finishes, still feeling the excitement from the encounter with the fire-pokemon. having the trust of another creature, while not entirely, but enough to make them feel much more at ease with you, was truly satisfying. it made you feel.. important in a sense. if asked to explain, greyson knew he'd fumble. when it seemed she was sensing his tension, he took a breathe, really to confess everything. "w-well, see..." but fate had other plans.

the two pokemon regarded both stormy and greyson with a mixture of emotions. the nidorina seemed upset at the vulpix for some odd reason, but even more so disturbed by the presence of the two humans. the look on it's face spelled trouble and greyson wasn't quite sure how things would go. the vulpix on the other hand kept it's attention on stormy.

"what're you thinking," he asked, not taking his eyes off the poison-type. "easy way, or hard way?"

Stormy Silph

stormy was a complex case. she's shown that she could be brash, whimsical, and strangely wise. but the thing that was most surprising, and for reasons unknown to him, she was really... adorable? her excitement about challenging the gym. the giddiness that rolled out of her in waves when encountering random pokemon. the sincerity in her eyes when she spoke, passion lighting an unquenchable fire within' them. with each emotional climb she took, greyson was there with her.

and he didn't know why.

violet eyes linger on stormy for a second longer before turning to the quarry before him. they flick upwards at the slightest sign of movement, watching closely as a drop of liquid falls from it's horn and onto the cavern floor. greyson swallows and tenses his fingers around one of the capsules at his waist. he nearly jumps when one of the other orbs respond instead, and the light takes form is that of a pokemon he wouldn't have thought about.

"rae? what are you doing?" bewilderment, then concern wash over greyson as he moves to approach the shiny ponyta. instead, she bucks and shakes, forcing her trainer back. rae's attention shifts onto the cobalt skinned aggressor before her. greyson looks back to look at stormy, somehow deep inside nervous about her validation when it came to his rogue pokemon and instead saw...

"what the hel-" his words fall as swift as if they'd taken a leapt off a cliff face. flames danced up and along the walls and ceiling of the cavern for a moment before sputtering to non-existence. but, that didn't hold his attention. the petite fire-spirited woman who he'd come to appreciate over this last half hour or so had simply walked through a massive FIRE BLAST. his mouth was held agape large enough to catch magikarp. stunned, the noise of battle shattered the stupor. with reluctance he turned back to his own affairs.

what the fuck just happened? no matter. it can wait.

rae's DAZZLING GLEAM lit the cavern like an eighties themed sadie hawkings dance. each strike embedded itself against the thick hide of the poison-type, drawing trickles of blood. a black-eye was already forming inside the frame of a hoof-print he had missed being applied. with a last ditch effort her opponent opened it's mouth and shot out a flurry of TOXIC SPIKES. however, rae wasn't having it. following it with a FAIRY WIND, it collided with the nidorina's and propelled itself AND the enemies attack back onto it.

that sealed it.

tossing a lazy ball at the downed pokemon, he turned his attention back to stormy and her fight. entranced, he checks her over from behind. no damage. no flush to her unblemished skin. she looked... well, as beautiful as she did when they first met not too long ago. hadn't he noticed that before?

"so did mine." he replies, unsure of what to say to the scene he just witnessed. "are you, uh-.. are you alright?"


notes + capture attempt!

Stormy Silph

he can’t help but feel impressed continuously by the ease at which stormy handles the threat before her. she was good. better than anyone greyson has seen up till now. when she walks out of the flames, body and clothes in-tact. his impression of her only soars to new heights.

“you… just got hit by a flame that can melt steel,” he says, his voice more calm than he realized it would be. still, the hesitation in his words are clear as day. as if he almost questions his own sanity as he speaks. each word as heretical as the last. her body languages screams ‘defense’ and not for the first time today, greyson wonders if he overstepped.

still, he walks out with her and feels the air rise up around them. it’s warm and in any other scenario, uncomfortable. but with skin slicked in sweat, it sends chilling tingles all the way across from him. the edges of his clothes lift and for the faintest of moments he wonders if his feet left the ground, would he soar?

“yeah.. it does.” he says, a bit breathless. he takes her in again and feels warmth in her giddiness. it brings him a small joy. "i can see why you like this place," he says. greyson takes a long, deep breathe, unaware of a nearby, lurking presence.

Stormy Silph

greyson doesn't answer her question. he lets it sit and stew as he himself get's lost in the freedom of their actions. has he ever met a god. he was positive that DANNY HALL would consider himself one, should he be asked. but his ego wasn't inflated so much as it was a deflection. but, he could say with confidence he hadn't. and was about too, before hell broke loose. again.

arceus. this cave was a gods damn death trap.

his peace is shattered in the explosion, and was further tossed in disarray at stormy's touch. her hands, true to her word, felt hot and greyson wondered how he didn't realize this when he grabbed her before. she was strong, empowered by his surprise, as she pulls greyson down with her. with a grunt of equal parts pain and surprise, he meets the cavern ground. air is forced out of his lungs in the size of a fist, an involuntary rasp escaping him as he sucks in desperate air.

then stormy is atop him. the heat of her body felt like an oven door freshly opened. he blinked away the initial stinging, though, he was confident the temperature in the cavern didn't help either. but for once, he didn't focus on the anxiety or the nerves of it all. instead, his eyes darted around the cavern above them, widening at the realization. he didn't wait for permission. greyson threw one arm around stormy's waist, holding her as if for leverage, and then reached down onto his side for the only person he knew was up for the task.

then he yelled one name.

"ELLIE!"

the comfey appeared in bright ivory flashes, her eyes darting upwards in concern. the light spirited fairy-type's expression shifted to resemble a mother zebstrika's when protecting her foal. she threw her arms out, each barely larger than a penny and called into existence one massive FLOWER SHIELD. large chunks of rock, superheated by the environment, rained down on the two. they collided with the comfey's defensive measures, thunderous booms echoing in the enclosed space. even with the defensive measure above him, he needed to be sure. lifting up his right leg, he pushed himself and stormy over, ensuring his body was between certain death and her. if there were any after effects, FLOWER VEIL would prove helpful.

it stopped moments later.

from inches away, violet eyes stared back down at her. studying her. no obvious injuries he could see.

"are you alright?"

Stormy Silph

greyson watches from inches away as her face goes through a myriad of different stages. fear. concern. sorrow. rage. it's a struggle to keep up, yet still he tries. he nearly flinches when she yells at him from this close, the heat in her voice burning more than the air in his lungs. "i wasn't really keeping track of who saved who," he says, a hint of irritation in his voice. her reaction had caught him off guard and was entirely unwarranted. what the hell?

greyson rolls over onto his side, letting stormy free. quickly though, he pushes himself to his feet and raises his hands to catch the comfey. building the shield had taken more out of her than was usually asked, and she seemed paler; more tired. "thank you love. get some rest." with a small squeak, she returned to the comfort of her capsule.

he was careful to avoid stormy, lest he feel more of her wrath. greyson understood her reaction. it was a very tense, and terrifying moment. people often reacted like that out of fear. still, his life had been in danger too. yet was he losing his mind? the cadet wiped off his shoulders, chest and pants free of debris. he notices a few small scrapes and feels a throbbing headache pulsate down to his neck.

he spared a cursory glance at the downed fire witch, tossing a small orb that encapsulated her into ivory light. with a sigh, he moves back to stormy, rubbing his forehead.

"how's your shoulder?"

notes + capture of the braxien!