the only indication of his arrival is the static buzzing of his vikavolt. it hovers in the air before him, positioning itself between him and the intruder.[break][break]

"you're, uh..."[break][break]

the moment of hesitation should be expected from someone like danny. but he's quick to clear his throat and steel his resolve.[break][break]

"you're not supposed to be here."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]does she summon something? call for help? run with her tail tucked between her legs?

her mind races with possibilities, with endings not yet etched into being. each one ends the same, bitter way: her defeat.

fuck.

"i," she starts and any other words promptly die in her throat. god, that's weak. pathetic. ridiculous. her own worst critic is, unfortunately, herself. an inner battle doesn't fit here with a threat looming in front of her. and yet, it's difficult to snuff out.

"are you going to stop me..?" it's more curious than challenging but... the probability that it won't go well is high.

DANNY HALL

"yes."[break][break]

his vikavolt continues to buzz between them.[break][break]

"i have to."[break][break]

but recognition hits him. how could it not?[break][break]

"the league has no business being here. nor you, professor."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]he hasn't moved yet.

the vikavolt flutters between them with an incessant buzzing but... any strike she would have expected doesn't come.

peculiar.

her fingers twitch for the urge to call on faithful automatons, on unwavering pillars of animated clay.

and yet, she chooses to speak instead.

"you know," she murmurs, turning her head to stare at winding branches and a sturdy trunk. "i witnessed the first one. it wasn't as big or as full of life as this one but it was still a curious thing."

testing boundaries and achieving breakthroughs means stepping forward in the face of failure. and her feet almost move on their own, tentative little steps toward the tree itself.

"when curious things happen, scientists are always there to unearth something incredible." she stops but doesn't look at him. the tree has her full attention. a mistake, perhaps.

"this is no different."

DANNY HALL

"it is different."[break][break]

what point is there in debating this? the scales aren't tilted in her favor. she isn't the one in control.[break][break]

is he in control, then?[break][break]

"we have our own scientists. should there be a breakthrough, i'm sure the public will know about it."[break][break]

he steps forward.[break][break]

"until then, you need to leave."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]is he in control?

she stays silent in the face of rebuttal and for a moment, she's certain he has the power in this.

in a way, he does. and yet, she skitters around that understanding to seek leverage of her own.

"are you certain the public will know?" her eyes finally find his, serious even with the tiredness clinging beneath. "or will they only find out through cracks in the system?"

she doesn't know of their scientists, of their systems but... she has an inkling that breeds wariness.

even still, this is almost turning into an experiment: how long can illeana reyes last in a threatening situation? the hypothesis is, well, bleak but variables can change.

"you haven't used force yet." the observation comes in a quiet comment. and with it, a question. "why?"

DANNY HALL

"they'll know what they need to know."[break][break]

and who deems what the public needs to know? rocket. but even danny finds that difficult to accept.[break][break]

her question is almost expected at this point. he simply shrugs a shoulder in response, doing his best to appear indifferent.[break][break]

"because i'm not a fan of using force unless needed. i'm hoping i could reason with you."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]what they need to know...

lips press into a displeased line.

"and if the decision is to say nothing?" her mind churns in possibilities, what ifs. different paths to various futures. it's exhausting, anxious thinking.

he halts her process with a few simple sentences. no force unless necessary. reason with you... surprise settles with an inaudible thump.

"how would you reason with me?" their ideals don't match up. there's no way they could... unless?

she summons a being to her side against her own morals. an automaton forms from light into solid clay, looming over her shoulder. it's more comfort than force, than intimidation.

and maybe he'll see it as something different but... she can finally breathe a little easier with the familiar presence of the ghost.

DANNY HALL

the presence of the golurk, as unwelcome as it should be, bothers him little. he simply takes a step back to stare up at it, though he does no more than that.[break][break]

vikavolt, on the other hand, shows its displeasure by vibrating more violently.[break][break][break]

"by finding a compromise."[break][break]

as taught to him in one of the university courses he took. gods, that feels forever ago.[break][break]

"what did you come here for? what do you need?"

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]the friendliest of her golurks is... muted. it doesn't offer a wave or a coo. there's merely nothing more than the menacing presence it gives off. a first, perhaps, for the automaton.

"and what would that be?"

what compromise is there to be had?

she looks to the tree for answers as if winding branches and pretty leaves will help her here. they don't and she comes up empty handed once more.

"the sap," she murmurs softly. the automaton behind her rumbles a low warning to the vikavolt and she pretends she doesn't hear it.

"i want to see if it's changed from before."

DANNY HALL

the golurk's low rumbling is met with much more violent buzzing. it drones on in the foreground, almost overpowering their conversation but not enough to drown out her response.[break][break]

"the sap..."[break][break]

as discreetly as he can, he glances around him, searching for any other rocket members. when he finds none, he looks back at her.[break][break]

"okay. i'll give you a sample later but for now, you have to leave."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]surprise etches into her face. he's... so willing to help?

and somewhere in the back of her mind, she expects a catch. letting her escape without injury and providing the sample she came for? what rocket would actually do that?

"i-- what?" her brain struggles with the concept as if it's foreign territory. and in hindsight, it is.

everything comes with a price, with an invisible string attached. nothing is free... FERNANDO SILPH has taught her that much.

"why would you do that?" for me...

DANNY HALL

her confusion is seen, clear as day, but he does nothing to placate that. he simply offers her a smile before echoing her own words back to her.[break][break]

"so you can potentially unearth something incredible."[break][break]

behind him, voices call out, signaling the arrival of backup.[break][break]

"now attack me and leave before they get here."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-vikavolt"]