For everything they’ve been through this past year, it feels like 10. Hoenn has tested them time and time again and would continue to do so, but there’s no one else she’d rather be beside through it all.

Beneath these pillars is where she first found him again. Eva couldn’t believe it when she first saw him and never imagined something would actually come from it.

The memorial reminds her of what’s been on her mind a lot recently: war. Even now they’re at war with forces they couldn’t see coming. They know they are there, but they can’t stop them. The League doesn’t have control over Hoenn’s dimensional borders, and that’s a terrifying thought. One she hopes to reconcile before it’s too late, before another pillar needs to be erected to continue the list of names.

The doctor sighs as her gaze traces over the lines of names, “Yes, too many,” Eva steps forward to lay down the bouquet of flowers she had been holding, “Do you think they made one of these in Kanto?” she doubts it, but an amusing thought comes to mind, “Do you think our names are on it?”

---

MATIAS SILPH

"i heard there's one in cinnabar."[break][break]

but he's not sure anymore. what monuments they might have once had could easily have been taken down. as sad and upsetting as it is, it would not surprise him. how else would rocket continue with their propaganda?[break][break]

"fuck, i hope not. we might've lost then but we're still here, alive and fighting."[break][break]

which brings him to his next point.[break][break]

his next question is asked softer, almost cautious.[break][break]

"will you be at the primal points?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

It would benefit Rocket for people to believe they’re dead. Less resistance, less hope. Eva’s family thought she was, so someone had to have told them. It would feel damn good to storm back in there and cross their names off if there was.

“I’m . . . not sure,” and it’s something she’s considered heavily since the meeting. She’s silent for a moment before she decides to share her hesitations. There’s no one better to share them with than the person she trusts the most in this world.

“I could probably do it if it came down to it but . . . I don’t know if I could live with the guilt afterwards,” save thousands of lives, take thousands of lives. If only morality could be so simply founded on mathematics.

“I’ll go where ever I’m needed most, but I’m not sure where that is.”

---

MATIAS SILPH

"it's at the primal points."[break][break]

where she is hesitant and unsure, he is assured and decided, knowing that if anyone would be able to convince her to fight, it would be him, the person who spent years fighting alongside her in a war many considered unwinnable.[break][break]

turns out, they were right.[break][break]

"i imagine there will be outside interference so should something happen to the nodes, we'll need you there to make sure it activates."[break][break]

he adds:[break][break]

"plus, you have experience dealing with rocket. far more than others."

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

“Hmph, I don’t know if it will be just Rocket,” she says with some hesitation. There’s too many enemies that Hoenn has made recently, and they could all easily take advantage of their vulnerable state. Sure, the ground could probably use as many operatives as it could to defend the nodes.

“Hoenn has plenty of strong trainers to defend it, they don't need me there. What if there is something wrong with the calculations? The timing? The Primal Energy? I might be of better service in the operations room, with eyes on everything,” but then she couldn’t actually do anything if shit hit the fan, and if Rocket was involved . . . she’d want to fight. She’d definitely want to fight.

---

MATIAS SILPH

actually, she may be right about that. with her skillset and expertise, it would make more sense for her to be in the operations room where she can oversee everything.[break][break]

"you're right. as usual."[break][break]

he chuckles, gaze finally shifting away from the monument to find hers.[break][break]

"i'll miss having you there."

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

Eva smirks, lacing her fingers behind her back as she nods in agreement. Right as usual but locking herself up in the operations room felt like a cop out, like she was running from something. She couldn’t find a situation in which things felt right. Perhaps she wouldn’t. None of this was straight forward.

She meets his gaze, concern creeping into hers, “I’ll miss you too.”

And worry about you

She’ll be too far to do anything to save him if he gets reckless, which she predicts he will be. Her decision isn’t set in stone. Dahlia may want her somewhere else. She hopes it’s with him, but she understands if it’s not.

---

MATIAS SILPH

yes, he most definitely will be, but perhaps the one trait he learned from his time in the cloud will prove useful. or, it may prove detrimental as it goes against all that he knows and has done. only time will tell.[break][break]

for now, his hand finds hers, and he's stepping away to lead them toward the shrine.[break][break]

"come on. let's go pay our respects."

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

She unlaces her fingers to happily take Matias’s hand as he leads them towards the shrine. Here they are, paying their respects to people who they didn’t know. Their names could easily be carved on the next one Hoenn builds if there’s still a Hoenn after the meteor.

“Do you have a bucket list?” she asks out of the blue, “Like something you absolutely want to do?” Before they potential meet their doom.

---

MATIAS SILPH

it only takes him a moment to come up with a response to her question. he thinks back to his conversation with annalise henderson.[break][break]

"i'd like to get married."[break][break]

it's not something that had been in his plans but she's changed things.[break][break]

"but i wouldn't want to until it's all over."

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

His response is rather quick, indicating it’s something he’s thought about before. Her hand squeezes his, more so in surprise than anything else. That’s not what she was expecting to hear from Matias Silph.

Honestly, she shouldn’t be surprised, though. They lived together, bought a home together, loved each other, it was a logical next step. It’s something Eva’s always wanted, deep down, but thought she’d never attain.

Until him.

“Oh yeah?” he could likely hear the smile in her voice, “And who’s the lucky lady?”

---

MATIAS SILPH

"oh, just someone i know from kanto."[break][break]

he definitely hears the smile in her voice and it warms him. his hand squeezes hers as they come up to one of the spirit houses.[break][break]

"she's great. smart. funny. beautiful."[break][break]

his head tilts to find her gaze.[break][break]

"i'm not sure what i did to deserve her."

[attr="class","ooc"]Eva Morales[break]
mission![break]

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

He squeezes her hand and the warmth shoots up her arm and into her chest. The thought of it excites her, but also scares the shit out of her.

“Hmmm, sounds like quite the catch,” that can't possibly be her. As they approach the spirit house she leans against his arm, their gaze meeting when she glances up at him. The smirk curled at the edge of her lips is playful, “Well, it’s been nice knowin ya,” she sighs, briefly glancing at her empty left hand, “Thanks for stickin’ around, it’s been fun.”

Eva stands up a bit straighter as they enter the more solemn area of the spirit house, "What now?"

---

MATIAS SILPH