With missions done for the day Razz looks over the seas of Lillycove prepared to go home. Normally he would just fly home with one of his flying pokemon but with the need to try and keep practicing with his new abilities he found this way to be useful. Creating his explosions over the sea to use them to propel himself, the cold sea being his punishment should he fall in. Or in a small way they were also a blessing with it being able to cool himself off with that, and the water definitely helped set the reminder that no. He couldn't be burned by them. [break][break]

Calling out Azulon to help him out with his training the Ranger is checking his tools to ensure they would be safe from the water. It isn't until Salem speaks up that Razz notices someone else still on the beach. "At this hour?" he questions him before giving a scan, it was no wonder it happened honestly with the girl more toward the right and making him incapable of seeing. Thought that little tidbit stands out to him. [break][break]

She's just a little girl. [break][break]

Curious he does go over noting how close she was to the water and he ponders if he was trying to go swimming. "Out a bit late aren't you?" while kids going out on their journeys as young as ten, even if more recently it has been frowned on, it wasn't completely uncommon to see a kid out. Though it was always best to be sure. "Are you alright?"

[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Yeah but but my jobs keeps me out late," he gives her a small smile. He's not going to point out that she was a child while he was an adult, because he wanted to be friendly to her. He's been told kids, and well people in general, respond better to a friendly face. Not that his scared face is one that normally gave other's comfort but that's why he kept it covered. [break][break]

It becomes clear that she has no interest in leaving, and Razz is not about to leave a child alone when he doesn't even need his Terrain of Truth to figure out that she is anything but fine. "You're kind of lying in the ocean water late at night," he comments as he decides to flop himself next to her not caring to much about the cold water as he's basically become a native to Sootopolis. The water barely bugged him anymore. From his shoulder Salem decides to come floating down to the other side of the girl with a much more friendlier smile on his face that Razz could muster. "You know, when I'm down I talk to my buddy Salem here, he's a great listener if you'd like to give it a try?"[break][break]

"As for why I'm out here I'm a ranger, I patrol the area I've been assigned be they pokemon," he tilts his head at her, "Or people..." there is a ting at the tip of his tongue there but he's going to ignore it.






[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"A bit, after awhile you tend to get used to it," he simply replies as he mindlessly puts his hand through the water. The ocean providing a cool relief of sorts as at times he forgot just how warm his hands have become since his meeting with the fire deity. Its simple conversation for now. He doesn't expect the little girl to open up easily, but Razz had no intention of leaving her side. Not like this. [break][break]

The ranger is silent when she admits that it isn't an easy topic. All he could offer is a nod of understanding as he waited, no pressure being given go share just yet. Razz wouldn't realize just how much he would find the silence comfortable especially when the young girl brought up Rocket. And like that guilt hits him like a dagger in the back and he can't help but pause because of course he's heard of Kanto. [break][break]

He was there in Kanto.[break][break]

Already he could see where this was going with a child her age just lying here in the water rather in a warm bed at home. There is a scary thought that he might have contributed to this but he does what he can to burry that thought quick especially as Salem gives him a look and points to the girl. Right this was about comforting her not dealing with his own demons but he doesn't even know where to begin. In the back of his head though he feels it something along the lines of 'the truth' being said. [break][break]

"I know..." the truth, "I was there," he admits, a detail that those he's grown close to don't know. "Admittedly I still suffer from night terrors because of what happened," why he's deciding to be this vulnerable to the child he can't say. Maybe there some subconscious realization that there is a relief to talk about these things. Sometimes more so with someone who has also go through it than who hasn't. But that would be on her in the end on what she wanted to share. "So while I don't know what you've gone through, it's okay to hurt" [break][break]

Salem twirls his hand, a sign, "My name is Razz Kingsman," a sting in his mouth, fuck you dragon, "You are?"








[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Razz listens and hearing it all hurts as he knows all of these emotions well. He's come to know the smell of blood at a young age, and as he got older he was expected to deal with it easily. Been trained that it was all okay because it was for the Glory of Team Rocket. But what did that glory mean for everyone else? Clearly for people like this girl it meant everything and never before had he'd been so grateful for the bandana he wore to hide his scar as it did great for hiding his expression. [break][break]

On his way home the ranger wasn't sure what to expect, but it definitely wasn't this. Especially as suddenly the girl started to cry and let the tears of her frustration. He didn't know what to do though because how do you comfort a child? Whenever he was sad or questioned the why of things he was expected to get over it, and if he didn't then it meant pain. So how does one comfort a child?[break][break]

Salem is the first to start as he would move to her side to give a hug and begin to purr. Often the cat would do this with his own trainer give him a presence to hold onto and ground himself. She might have felt even a psychic presence with her, let her know that she wasn't alone. Meanwhile with Salem mostly focusing on her he was left alone unsure of what to do. Razz feels that pity is the last thing she wanted, because if the shoe were on the other foot he sure as hell wouldn't want it. [break][break]

"Healing takes time..." he finally speaks not entirely sure on what to do. "And sadly sometimes it doesn't go away it can only fade, and I'm sorry for your parents, and sadly when it comes to the terrible shit Team Rocket has done there is no why for them on anything because they're power hungry and its as simple as that for them." There was nothing they wouldn't do for their goals. [break][break]

"But do if nothing else do understand that it's not your fault, there is nothing you've done to deserve it," you're just a kid is left out because he feels it would make it worse.




[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

While the symptoms of the panic attack he recognizes, having gone through many himself he doesn't know what to do. For him he usually has Salem to ground him, emotionally get him through but right now he knows he's just a stranger to her. Salem would still hang on her through with her. Once again there is guilt there because he feels something he may have said set her off and he doesn't know what to do. For now all he can do is rub her back, his hands unusually warm despite them being in the cold ocean thanks to Reshiram's blessing. He's silent as he just allows her to push through for now. [break][break]

"It's fine, you don't have to apologize," he offers as he uses his free hand to call out on of his pokemon. Razz removes his hand from her to catch the Litwick before they fell in the water. "This here is Alabaster," the ranger would move in front of her making sure to keep low to be at eye level. "He is a special litwick as you see his flame here? I've been told he caries the flame of a legendary," he would point to the magenta colored flame rather than the usual blue flame most had. "With it he can do a special trick." Razz would snap his fingers as Alabaster uses his hands to pretend to use Will-O-Wisp while Razz casted his Terrain of Truth.[break][break]

The flames would be closer to them than what he usually had for comfort but the flames would provide a warm that the water was clearly draining from them. "I hear their fire brings comfort, makes it easier to bare your truths to and make yourself lighter," he would offer her to carry the Litwick should she choose. He knows often he likes to hold Salem close after things like this so maybe this might be helpful to her in a way. [break][break]

"And if you need some place to go you're free to stay at my place tonight, its big enough that you'll have a room all your own, and if it'll make you feel safer I will even stay outside," because he knows a grown man asking a child to come to his place might sound odd. "But please answer me this first," he would look her in the eye with his one good one, "Have you been staying with anyone dangerous?" he has a feeling seeing how it wasn't uncommon for Rocket to take in the children of those they've killed to raise soldiers, but he rather hear it from her.


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Unfortunately for Eris Reshiram's flames look past personal truths and opinions. Something Razz learned the hard way when the giant dragon refused to accept his new name as the ranger considered his old identity dead and the dragon tried to punish him for it. So too would the flames around them go from their warm pinkish hue to that of a blue colored flame. The one on top of Alabaster's head would change as well with her lie, and honestly it hurts Razz to see it. [break][break]

"You won't be causing me any trouble I can promise you that much," the ranger assures her as he offers a small smile, "Honestly it might be safer if you come with me, especially if you're telling me that the people who you're with wouldn't even notice you gone..." he pauses for a moment thinking if he should just ask her out right or would it hurt her more. [break][break]

"Team Rocket is no place for a child to grow," he decides to say see what her reaction might be. It's a bold step to take and he knows it, but with her talking about her parents dying in Kanto, and the old days of Rocket taking in children to create disposable soldiers wasn't uncommon. It seemed logical and if this were the case he would do what he can to ensure she wouldn't go back. [break][break]

"If I'm wrong feel free to tell me I am, either way you're free to come over, have a roof over your head and get yourself warm as I'm sure the water is chilly"





[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

A lot. [break][break]

Is the simple answer to that question, but he is quiet as he allows her to speak. He wonders how far the brainwashing has gone already. Making them think that they're okay people even though she already described one of them as a killer. "They made their choice to continue to follow them, but what about people who don't get to choose?" [break][break]

He's outing himself, he knows this but he needs her to understand. Razz removes the bandana that kept the scare his father left him hidden. "You see this? This was done by family, and I'm not just talking about the pretend family Rocket claims to be when you play by their rules. I'm speaking of real family, my father and mother were members and raised me to be one of them. There will always be members who seem kind," he thinks back to Cillian Quinn who helped him teach him to sign to help Salem not become an experiment, "pretend that they'll look out for you as long as you obey." Razz thinks of his father and the way the man raised him to become so desperate for his approval that he blindly obeyed, "Do good and they would treat you good, because that's the start of how they begin to manipulate you.[break][break]

"Everyone is human kid, and at times they'll even sympathize with you about what happened. How 'It was terrible that your parents got killed but you know what? We'll be there for you because as long as you do good we can be your new family,'" he pauses for a moment as he thinks back to darker days and he hates it, "Does that sound familiar at all? Because I can tell you now I've heard it told to dozens of kids who survived the raids and were picked to be soldiers for them before Team Rocket sent them to their deaths as fodder. [break][break]

"You tell me that Old Rocket made them make a lot of bad decisions, that they were just in bad positions in life but they’re still choosing to be Rocket, and they’re choosing to do bad now…" admittedly he doesn't know the difference between 'old Rocket' and 'new Rocket' because it was all the same to him. [break][break]

“Were you allowed the choice?”





[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break]
+ Social

[attr="class","pokeclass"]