not to her surprise, few had answered the call. even with clearly stated assurance that the study would not focus on nightmares, and that there would be no evil deity looming over subjects while they slept, all anyone could think of when they saw her name was darkrai. in fact, it was the general understanding across the submarine by now that the crazy head scientist was merely looking for poor souls to drag into perpetuating terror and misery—perhaps even for the fun of it.[break][break]

lulu could no longer always be found at hq, so it was with some amount of luck that jayden caught her.[break][break]

”hm?”[break][break]

her lab coat swished as she turned, heels clicking beneath long black slacks. she regarded him momentarily; he was vaguely familiar. a beast? former beast? someone in the upper brass, at some point in time. usually, these types brought her pokemon. maybe he had something from the distortions?[break][break]

the actual reason he was there was not a possibility that crossed her over-occupied mind at that moment, and so, she was almost dismissive in her tone.[break][break]

”i’m very busy. what’s it about?”

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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

he didn't expect her to know him, considering that it had been a while since he'd ever been around the lab in any type of lengthy capacity. sure, he had met Raphael Pryde a few weeks ago discussing personal matters and he'd grown familiar with test tubes and vials as such was the nature of his birthright, but for the most part, his only interaction with Lulu Flint had been through official meetings.

[break][break] of course, there had been the time that he had wandered past the lab to see her with THEO BECKETT. but she didn't know about that.

[break][break] "your nightmare study," he said — straight to the point as always. plus, he figured that - considering she was busy, as she'd already said - she might appreciate the brevity. "i am happy to partake, if you are still looking for volunteers."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Lulu Flint

well, this was unexpected. this guy, if he had been upper brass at some point in time, was valuable to rocket. perhaps it would not be the greatest idea to experiment on him; however, she was very limited on volunteers, and, as previously stated, very busy. too busy—at least for now—to reach out further to the submarine’s population.[break][break]
”i am, yes,” she confirmed, and took a moment of quiet to regard him with questions on her mind. most of all, why was he doing this?[break][break]
”well, i’m assuming since you’ve come here in person, you are… ready?”[break][break]
she could clear her schedule for this.[break][break]
”of course, i’d have some things to go over with you ahead of time.”

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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

as Lulu Flint regarded him, jayden remained silent. the rocket head scientist would find little in his amethyst gaze, unreadable as it normally was. his expression was perfectly impassive, as expected as a man who had been raised to be a tool of rocket.

[break][break] "yes, professor, i'm ready."

[break][break] though nikolai cross had been a scientist who had been known to commit similar sins among others, he had never quite breached the line in cutting open his own sons. (even though it had been tempting.) however, jayden had seen enough of his father's experiments to know that he had to be prepared — physically and mentally.

[break][break] he nods in understanding. "what would you like me to know?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Lulu Flint

jayden had the face of someone who had seen too many real-life horrors to be afraid of a bad dream. it wasn’t unsettling. the lack of emotion felt familiar. Lulu’s family usually wore the same expression. her lover, even. it was an exterior of apathy that bled deeper to varying degrees.[break][break]
he had made it in this life. ready, however, he most certainly wasn’t.[break][break]
”the study will utilize both the ‘good dream’ mist of musharna and the ‘bad dream’ mist of darkrai. darkrai, as i’m sure you’re aware, is the legendary pokemon associated with darkness and nightmares. its mist is not like musharna’s. it’s stronger, more potent. I’m currently experimenting with varying levels of either kind of mist to determine how long a subject can stay in a ‘good dream’, before it inevitably turns ‘bad’.”[break][break]
she marked the most crucial detail in her explanation with a pause.[break][break]
”once you’re pulled into your nightmare, it would be the worst one you’ve ever experienced. this is the guaranteed outcome, just so you’re aware.”

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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

darkrai. a mythical beast that jayden had only heard about. he recalled the old scroll that he had found in the woods alongside siobhan burke all those years ago, even if it had only been a fanatical artpiece from a local artist.

[break][break] though she did her best to warn him, the rocket wasn't phased by her warning. even as cruel as the dreams could be — or would be according to her — he was fairly sure he'd been through worse. after all, dmitri was his father.

[break][break] "understood," he said. "i'm willing to do whatever it is to assist." a pause, before he adds, "i did grow up in kanto so i'm at least more well-equipped than some others." alongside THEO BECKETT and Cillian Quinn , who battled their own demons. "whatever is necessary, i am willing."

[break][break] a pause, and a wry smile, "well, as long as i don't die."

[break][break] not that he cared — but it would be rather inconvenient.

[attr="class","ooc"] Lulu Flint

she listened. he thought himself well-equipped to handle the workings of the deity of nightmares? because of a kanto? there was no amusement, nor sympathy in the way she looked at him.[break][break]

”i see.”[break][break]

what if he did die from a violent nightmare? not here, in this worldly existence, but elsewhere?[break][break]

it was a risk she was willing to take.[break][break]

”good. well, you sound perfect for the experiment, then. i appreciate your participation in advance.” a thank you, in case he didn’t make it back somehow, mentally, swallowed by too much terror.[break][break]

”follow me, please.”[break][break]

she’d lead him through the lab if he complied, to a room lined with a few small beds, made up in white reminiscent of the infirmary. she gestured towards them.[break][break]

”so you’re comfortable.”[break][break]

something like that.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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

the words of appreciation are acknowledged with a head nod, but otherwise not necessary. jayden didn't need a thank you. to him, this was just yet another tick on a long list of reasons as to why he had devoted loyalty to rocket.

[break][break] if he was not willing to risk his life, then what was the point?

[break][break] jayden follows her into the small room and where there are a few cots set up. he sits himself down on the bed, which creaks under his weight.

[break][break] she looked awfully morose. it almost made him wonder if he should have contacted Cillian Quinn first to draft his will.

[break][break] "should i lay down?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Lulu Flint

morose was one way to describe her, maybe. more than anything, she looked at him with utter transparency. ultimately, despite her bewilderment with why he was here in the first place, jayden was nothing more to her but a test subject.[break][break]

”it’d probably be for the best,” she confirmed to him. ”if not, you’re likely to fall, because… you’ll be asleep.” a blink, and she was reaching for cords with sticky discs on the end. electrodes, to record some of his brain activity. it would help her to know at what point in the test his dream took a turn for the worst.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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

he nods.

[break][break] that made sense.

[break][break] slowly, the bed creaks under the pressure of his weight as he settles himself into it. jayden didn't typically enjoy sleeping in places outside of his home, but he understood the necessity of it. either it being on a mission, in his office, or - in this case - under the watchful eye of one Lulu Flint.

[break][break] eyes fluttering shut, he awaits her next direction.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Lulu Flint

there were few who might feel at all comforted by the presence of darkrai’s avatar while they slept. however, jayden cross was dedicated. it was dedication that would later be rewarded, come the conception of the uriel program.[break][break]

as he settled onto the bed, she readied a conconction of dream mist in a mask, similar to the one used on Elisabeth Fiorelli .[break][break]

"this mask contains both kinds of dream mist. it will start off pleasant and get gradually worse, but you probably won't remember this while you're under."[break][break]

she reached out to place the mask over jayden's head, assuring him, "i'll be here the whole time, and i'll pull you out if necessary."[break][break]

shortly, then, if he did not protest, the mist would consume his waking thoughts. he'd be pulled under into a deep slumber.[break][break]

the dream would begin as something wholesome and pleasant. a desire, or a fond memory. whatever it was, it was not yet corrupted.

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross [break][break]

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