it was a common misconception. darkrai was usually responsible for the sleeping.[break][break]

lost in the whispers of glimpsed dreams, she didn’t quite hear his command until it had become an echo in her electric mind.[break][break]

beads of sweat on the man’s face grew larger, joined by an unpleasant expression and miserable writhing. nightmares hit.[break][break]

lulu struggled, doing her best to keep pulling at the same dreams while dividing her attention. frustration and determination were cut by a euphoria building in her that theo would be familiar with.[break][break]

feeling the frenzy, she finally turned away sharply, leaving the grunt sputtering like he’d almost drowned as he woke. the other remained still peacefully asleep.[break][break]

”it didn’t work.” perhaps obvious.[break][break]

so, how was he going to help her? he’d trained other psychic-types, hadn’t he?[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

the expected outcome does little to dissuade him from trying to find ways to improve her powers. avatar training has not been something he has done before so this is all new territory for him.[break][break]

with no possible way to fully experience what she feels for himself, the best he can do is ask.[break][break]

"why not?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

why not? the big question, to which there were many possible answers. two, she predicted were the most likely.[break][break]

”i can’t focus.”[break][break]

for that, there were several reasons.[break][break]

she stared at the grunt still sleeping, as though unable to look away before her eyes finally found theo’s again.[break][break]

”and i don’t normally use my powers on people.”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

"you will have to eventually."[break][break]

a fact they both are aware of, hence why she's here training.[break][break]

"it should get better with time and practice."[break][break]

he breathes out a sigh as he turns to look at the still-sleeping grunt.[break][break]

"why can't you focus?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

have to. they were words which didn’t sit quite right, but she was too occupied to dwell on it.[break][break]

what would you even know about it? the question lingered on her tongue, but something kept it there, undelivered. she reminded herself that she had come to him, requested this. ultimately, she placed her belief in him, time and time again.[break][break]

she was unhelpful in her response, despite many reasons she knew well enough.[break][break]

”i don’t know. i just can’t.” the syllables snapped with frustration.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

snapped syllables don't hit him as hard as maybe they should've. all he does in response is nod to make sure she knows that he heard her.[break][break]

his expression lifts, curious.[break][break]

"strange. you usually have no problems focusing."[break][break]

and then, a question.[break][break]

"where is the block?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

”that’s the same question you just asked me.”[break][break]
frustration prickled even more in her tone, but the edge was cut by a hurt look in her eye despite herself, which wavered and waned beneath the rage that typically won out in the end.[break][break]
nevertheless, she made more of an effort to answer this time.[break][break]
”when i’m eating dreams, it’s like i experience them, in glimpses. i’m not really there, but i don't feel all here either. and it's like... when i start, it's really hard to stop.”[break][break]
a couple of breaths, and she could still feel the high of it. the energy, like caffeine she no longer felt the full benefit of. it rattled anxiety in her chest, too suddenly awake and alive to be stable, cracking her resolve again.[break][break]
”rinc also tried to kill me earlier.”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

truthfully, he has no idea how to help her hone her powers. all he knows is it takes time, practice, and dedication to improve skills regardless of what they are. he assumes that much should hold true for her powers.[break][break]

her frustrations are noticed but not commented on. the topic shifts soon enough.[break][break]

"oh."[break][break]

a nod and gesture at the grunt sends them away, dragging the other one with them. they are given their privacy.[break][break]

"what happened?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

”i was in one of the rifts.” trauma lingered in her amber gaze, sensations thrashing in her chest. ”the one at mt. pyre.”[break][break]

ghosts were escaping. would she see more enemies? who would follow back into the world?[break][break]

”darkrai took care of it.”[break][break]

a sharp look around the room caused her to tighten any softening in her features. truthfully, she hated the training facility. it reminded her of prison, exacerbating the uncomfortable feeling of being watched.[break][break]

her eyes returned to him, ”i have to get stronger. things are only getting more dangerous.” soon, it would be war of the worlds. that much should have been obvious enough to anyone thinking.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

the border. a haunted place he has yet to venture into. he says it's because he's been occupied with the deep sea but it's not the whole truth.[break][break]

there are spirits he would rather not encounter.[break][break]

"i see."[break][break]

the softness in his expression shows for a moment even if they aren't alone. it fades quickly, replaced by the underboss.[break][break]

"there are no shortcuts. strength, at least in terms of combat, only comes with practice and time."[break][break]

he sighs.[break][break]

"unfortunately, we don't have much of the latter."

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

there was a look in his eye that she caught, and didn’t expect, but she let it go without comment. it was more convenient to pretend she hadn’t seen it at all, though it stung in ways, both the way it appeared and how it faded.[break][break]
”so… you don’t think there’s time for me to get better? before what, exactly?” the end of the world? multiverse war? takeover plans she wasn’t privy to yet? any number of other vaguely but surely closely looming dates?[break][break]
what did he think was going to happen?[break][break]
she crossed her arms, finding herself insecure and resentful. if someone like theo, who had trained so many people, seemed unsure that she could improve, surely it boiled down to a lack of faith in her.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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

[attr="class","icon"]

"before you find yourself in a situation having to fight to survive again. as you said, you've already encountered that in the border."[break][break]

and she likely will encounter it again and again with every trip into the rifts. they'd encountered it during their first trip to the deep sea as well, though Elisabeth Fiorelli took the brunt of the damage then.[break][break]

"you'll get better as you have since we first started training. your avatar powers, however, i'm not too sure of."

[attr="class","bottom"]Lulu Flint[break]

a good point, which only caused the look in her eyes to grow heavier with resentment at the facts. she did want greater strength, and she did want it now. to be able to rip rinc off his ghostly feet with her own claws of otherworldly darkness, and settle things.[break][break]
so why hadn’t she tried? why had she just let it happen, with no attempt to fight back?[break][break]
”i’m sure of them.” her powers. just as she’d been sure of theo and his abilities as a trainer, that he could help her in some way.[break][break]
”i’ll figure it out myself.”[break][break]
there was a sting of self-inflicted loneliness, and the tendency to push away and withdraw. where she might’ve taken her typical leave, however, she remained there, with a purpose that wasn’t immediately presented, as though something was on the tip of her tongue.[break][break]
some people might’ve just asked for a hug.[break][break]
”and i’ll make time to train more, with what i know you can help me with,” she said finally. a pause, before she added with a flat expression and a deep gaze she couldn't empty quick enough, ”please.”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break]

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