[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]her golurk rumbles and stills.

even after the dust settles, both pokemon become stone.

and she steps forward after theo does, a look of determination settling into her features.

there's no reason to speak. instead... the first swing talks louder than any words she could say.

she swings her right hand toward his upper body. and she knows, deep down somewhere, that he'll block it with relative ease. she'll have to try harder if she wants to best him.

THEO BECKETT

the first punch comes and its swing is as wide as it is telegraphed. even with plenty of time to move, he tilts his body and takes the punch on his shoulder, wanting to get a feel for her strength.[break][break]

what little of it, anyways.[break][break]

"again."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]she scowls as the punch lands... weaker than she wants.

and when he commands for another, she obliges.

with more force than before, she swings again. and then again, just for good measure.

she considers, for a moment, sweeping at his leg with hers. the limb twitches toward his but stills, not quite ready to keep going.

THEO BECKETT

both punches land, each hurting but not quite enough to do damage.[break][break]

the twitch in her limb is seen. is it hesitation or something else? either way, his own limb reaches out to sweep her legs, taking her to the ground.[break][break]

"why did you hesitate?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]her expression slips into one of embarrassment as he sweeps her off her feet. her back collides with the ground and she winces.

the callout highlights a flaw she's coming to notice.

a lack of faith in herself breeds hesitation and, ultimately, weakness.

"i wasn't sure if it'd work."

THEO BECKETT

it doesn't take much to understand the head professor and her flaws. he's spent enough time with her now to identify them, and the one that stands out the most is what they're discussing.[break][break]

"you often hesitate. it's one of your weaknesses."[break][break]

he doesn't bother offering her a hand.[break][break]

"does it stem from a lack of faith in yourself? or something else?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]she stares up at him.

"how many weaknesses do i have?"

how many does she need to erase from existence?

he doesn't extend a hand and she pries herself up off the ground. dirt and leaves cling to white hair, nothing more than ugly stains.

"i'm not sure."

despite the constant prison of her mind, she doesn't notice her own flaws. they're glaring to others but to her, they barely exist.

"perhaps it's lack of faith in what i'm capable of."

THEO BECKETT

"too many."[break][break]

but he's not about to point out all of them because then there'd be no use. she needs to realize them on her own; the most he can do is guide her there.[break][break]

he shakes his head at her words.[break][break]

"i don't believe that's the case. you had no problems believing yourself capable of sneaking into our territories, stealing, nor do you doubt yourself in your quest to find the sinnoh legends."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]her mouth opens and...

nothing comes out.

her mind has been given too much information. some is insignificant and fades like white noise in the background. one part, however?

it begins to shift into something red and waving, almost like a flag.

"how do you know about that?"

her eyes narrow slightly, scrutinizing. did she let it slip?

did she tell the wrong person of her endeavors?

"i -- that's different. it has a purpose."

and she doesn't?

THEO BECKETT

"and you don't?"[break][break]

well, she does now. he had made sure of it during the time she spent as captive. she may not realize it yet, but things will click into place eventually.[break][break]

all it will take is a simple word.[break][break]

"are you close to finding them?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]"i -- i don't know."

if she's not being used... what is her purpose?

she lets out a soft sigh and her eyes slowly drift up toward the sky.

"i think i might be."

but how does she know for sure?

"but it's hard to say how."

THEO BECKETT

"when you do find them,"[break][break]

he starts, letting his gaze follow hers up to the clear blue skies of hoenn. he focuses on a particular cloud; fluffy and shaped like a bagel.[break][break]

"do let me know."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lurantis color-shiny"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

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

[attr="class","illeana i"]do theo's toes curl when he sees the bagel cloud?

probably...

her eyes dart to him, narrowing in on the features of his face.

she studies, analyzes.

"why?"

will he use her, too?

THEO BECKETT