The door shuts behind him, and he pads over towards a chair, noting how protective Senon's pokemon were with him alone in the room. Alakazam is the first, sensing in him something before brandishing its spoons warily. Was it the same as the Kadabra from Sootopolis, he wondered...?

He's only been told so much about what's happened to the sorry bastard. Yet here he lies, seeming at peace, though he shows no sign of stirring. It's peculiar to behold; you feel less like you're watching them sleep, and more like you've witnessed the emptying of some husk.

It makes you contemplate meaning and the 'big picture'. But he chooses not to linger overly on such thoughts; the details of the incident are of greater interest, yet they can't tell him much more than is obvious: He took a blow to the head in some fashion. Most people would assume that's why he was out cold still. Adrian can't help wondering what Senon had gotten up to that caused this to happen.

The timing itself was a bit auspicious, considering.

"What the fuck happened—you crazy son of a bitch," he asks rhetorically while setting down his only parcel, a plastic bag with a few drinks inside. Cracking one open with a hiss and the crinkle of aluminum, he takes a few gulps and sets it down gently on a bedside table. Unresponsive. But all the whirring gadgets and beeping gizmos, all signs pointed to a sound mind and an able body. But more importantly the aura remained vibrant.

It was a welcome reassurance, but only begged more questions. Why couldn't he just... wake up?

Alakazam might have been able to glean something he alone couldn't, being a born telepath, but it didn't seem like he'd be afforded its trust or cooperation. "Is he in there?"

For now it simply guards Senon, leaving him to feeling hopeless, eyes scanning the room to find something of note. Something that got brought along with him, that mightn't have been his to begin with. But all he notices are the pokemon under his care: Fledglings mostly, all looking on concernedly towards their master—and two Unown.

Acting either on impulses or a higher order than they could know, Unown were a mysterious and esoteric creature of study that had recently become crucial to navigating the most recent natural disasters transpiring across Hoenn. Senon had been there when they discovered the Unown Report, and he'd tagged along during his hunt for Unown.

Strange though, he should think, for them to accompany him now if they did not cling overly to their alleged master.

Pulling out the mysterious device, he scans the pokemon and discovers that he has already encountered one of their variety, the one that is reminiscent of a question mark. Fitting, considering how much their presence causes him to question and wonder. The other, however, is one of a sort that he has yet to encounter personally.

In fact, according to the report... One of the only left he hadn't personally reported or captured. It roughly resembles the shape of an "L", or to Adrian, it takes the approximate shape of a martini. And as the hedonist pursues pleasure, so too does Adrian covet this particular Unown. Eyes turn to Senon, caught in deep slumber.

Had Senon been dealing in Unowns, for this to happen?

---

Sénon Game

He takes the Chimchar's hand in his own, and pushes it down to its side, mindful of its pleading stare. But Adrian is no doctor, and cannot wake him from this deep rest, or even glean whether it is preternatural in origin.

"Just... have faith. He'll get better in no time."

Hollow platitudes offer little solace, but for once they ring true. Adrian has every confidence the man will wake... but he cannot predict when. They must take care of him for now, to assure that he is given the time to awaken. He wishes they had kept in touch more, as he can only wonder... Were the Unown assassins responsible for this?

If they were, they would try again almost assuredly.

Alakazam's thoughts reach out to him, a sensation he is accustomed to, but the message is not what he'd hoped for. These pokemon needed him, some more than others. It wouldn't be long until hospital staff began discussing alternative accommodations either, if he was considered vegetative. Comatose. Whether the pokemon would be allowed to remain then was uncertain. But if they were removed, and if the Unown assailants were indeed tracking Senon, then... that would spell his doom.

Adrian wonders if at least Tsukuyomi knows aught of importance: 'Can you speak of what did this? Is it related to the Mossdeep incident? The Unown? Something happened, right? You have to let me know...'

His eyes flicked over the room again, taking note of all the pokemon watching, waiting, wishing for Senon's return. It could all be riding on this, or maybe not. As he's fumbling with his thoughts, uneasy about the implications, the Unown-L careens towards him, its unblinking eye observing him eerily. He shoves it aside, but as he does—


The word is abruptly recollected—and all of its associated meanings—at the point of contact between him and the Unown. Taken aback at first, Adrian tries to piece together its meaning... Perhaps the Unown could only understand and communicate with the world around it, using words that fell into its designation "L" such as it just had, ostensibly describing Senon's current affliction...

...Or perhaps it knew something more. Could this have been validation into the nature of Senon's affliction, or mere happenstance? Only one thing he knew for certain...

...The intrigue was too much to pass up on. A hand reaches out for the pokemon, freezing stiff as he keeps his inclinations in check. But the thought of it remains.


His intentions would be clear to Alakazam's insights, though at first he hesitates. Adrian is many things, but he does not portend himself to be a thief, and would not otherwise burglarize a friend, let alone while they were out cold. But if this thing could offer any sort of aid...

Even if it didn't help this situation, it may yet prove useful to his pursuits into the Unown phenomenon. While he was only barely dabbling in the Unown, the assailants were actively hunting him down, and so he armed himself when he could. Right now, that meant confiscating Unown-L.

'...I want to take this Unown with me when I leave.'

---

Sénon Game

It cannot be known what passes through Alakazam's mind—whether it thrusts upon Adrian harsh levels of judgement, however warranted—or simply meditates upon his request with great trepidation. In a way it speaks for Senon, although surely Cait Alfric or another withholds power of attorney for Senon's medical care. But his pokemon are sound of mind enough to rationalize this on their own.

They decide to entrust the Unown-L to Adrian after all.

Perhaps because they dislike the strange being, they surrender it to his care, the Riolu retrieving a premier ball and gently shoving it into his hand. With a single click, he is able to withdraw the Unown-L and spare them its obnoxious stare. But for all of their cooperation...

...They could tell him nothing of what transpired.

'I appreciate the thought... But you should know, if the Unown were involved in whatever happened, it is possible Senon was hunted by an order of... travelers exploiting Unowns' extradimensional powers. He may not be safe.'

Even now his gaze lingers over the remaining Unown-? which seems to fawn over Senon more closely, wondering if it has truly bonded with its trainer, or is simply observing him, keeping tabs on him... It hardly seems outside the realm of possibility. Knitted brows wrinkle together in apparent frustration, Adrian stowing the pokeball on his belt before continuing to question the pokemon further.

Another pokeball fills his hand, which he rolls over in contemplation while elaborating further, entrusting the pokeball to the Riolu. Within it is a pokemon he'd taken along with him into the Tree of Life. It boasted Darkrai's power of sleep, and he felt, hoped it may prove some use to them. If only Darkrai were here now, but he could not expect Lulu to help a stranger—and a Head Ranger at that.

'Since I am taking away one of Senon's watchdogs... I will leave another in its place. Please take care of Smeargle, and it will do the same for you in kind. I hope it's enough.'



Smeargle is expelled from its pokeball shortly after Riolu stashes the latter away for safekeeping, and it fancifully flourishes its sopping wet tail as it surveys the room. "No painting on anything that isn't paper," he warns it carefully.

"You're to stay here and protect this man, alright?"

A quizzical look, a tilt of the head, and then a solemn nod.

Adrian manages a slight sigh of relief. With this assurance, he feels a bit more at ease, although he cannot help but feel reluctant to leave Senon's bedside. It is highly likely that, if he were being watched and his interference monitored, they would expedite their plans to match his own. But he was needed elsewhere, and elsewhen...

'Is there anything that you would ask of me before I go?'

Indebted is the short of it, but Adrian feels a strong compulsion to do what is within his means to offer comfort to these pokemon and aid to Senon.

---

Sénon Game

The image of Tsukuyomi, with its distinctively shorter whiskers, urging him towards caution and safety for the sake of its trainer is something he will not easily forget: Nor the memories of their shared ventures, which were proof of its sincerity. He feels a pang of guilt for betraying their trust at Sootopolis, and not being there for him.


It would not be a mistake he repeated in the future.

---

Sénon Game

"Be well, all of you..." There isn't much else to say as he collects his things and trudges out of the room, taking away from his time there that Senon was in good hands. Assuming the League kept a close eye on him, and he hadn't gone more than toe-deep in researching the Unown Report on his own, perhaps they would leave him be. He wasn't an avatar, or some meddling trainer, he hoped.

He was just Senon. A friend, a rival, but most importantly a public servant and a friend to pokemon everywhere.

---

Sénon Game