Penelope would never outright tell Cian she was sick of him. Even during the worst of times. But, when it came to work --and for all intents and purposes, her expeditions were now considered a branch of her work -- situations shift. What would normally be considered endearing might unexpectedly irritate a piece of her.
[break][break]
But she wore this knowledge behind a well pinned mask. Not to be revealed unless absolutely necessary.
[break][break]

"Me too."
[break][break]

The lie came naturally. No different than any piece of honesty she had ever shared with him.
[break][break]

Pulling her hair back into a low bun, Penelope kept herself marching forward, eyes stuck onto the path in front of them with caution befitting a 4-time visitor of The Borders.
[break][break]

"Yeah," she agreed with a faint nod, "So don't stray too far. I don't want either of us to get lost in this smog."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

his mask is not as well crafted or as meticulous as hers is. he wears his heart on his sleeves, always has and always will, and his annoyance shows in the way he walks.[break][break]

why did it take her this long to agree to venture into a rift with him? does she not know what he feels every time she goes on her expeditions? how his heart sits in the depths of his stomach, anxiety-ridden until he eventually receives word from her.[break][break]

and just like that, a GRUDGE begins to spread its roots.[break][break]

"yeah."[break][break]

slowly, as they venture deeper into the border, the mist around them grows thicker. heavier, as though plagued by their worries.[break][break]

seeming to sense cian's annoyance, his scorbunny hops forward and slips its paw into his hand.[break][break]

08 experience immense grudgefulness, fear, envy, or hatred.

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

After a month of coexistence, Penelope could tell when Cian was annoyed. It was as easy as telling the time. Whether it be at her, his games, or work in general, there was always a tell. Something so obviously out of place that it rang alarm bells the instant it was noticed.
[break][break]
But this was her work, not a couple's counseling session. If he wanted to voice something, it was up to him to do so., and do so quickly.
[break][break]
Only a minute after voicing her concerns, a sheet of smog rolled in, coating their soundings with a thick slab of gray.
[break][break]
"And there's the fog."
[break][break]
She sighed, but pressed forward nonetheless. There was nothing to be found standing around.
[break][break]
"According to kyle lopez's map, we should be close to one of the seals we found. I just want to check it out real quick, then we can head back, okay?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

how could she not check in with him? like, he knows she knows, and it's only making him feel even more agitated that his partner doesn't care enough to ask him if everything's okay. yes, he should share on his own, but sometimes he wants to be asked.[break][break]

"sure."[break][break]

he agrees, too tired to question. besides, he's here to support her, so whatever she wants to do, they'll do.[break][break]

squeezing scorbunny's paw, he reaches down and picks it up, setting the fire-type on his shoulders.[break][break]

"which seal is it?"

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

"The one behind the waterfall."
[break][break]

Otherwise known as her early tomb.
[break][break]

Just mentioning it brought a soft tremor to her fingers. If her brush against death hadn't been enough already, memories of the vision she witnessed also pooled into her mind. Disjointed puzzle pieces detailing an end to the region she'd sacrificed everything to save.
[break][break]

But, with things how they were, Penelope knew mentions of the vision would've wrung Cian worry. It was why, after her second expedition out, she had thought to keep her briefings short and on a lighter note whenever he would ask about them.
[break][break]

Only, the omission of her life had only brought out a sense of loneliness she didn't think possible with him. Surely, he noticed too.
[break][break]

"It shouldn't be too far from here."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

ah, so the one where she had died at. cool, cool.[break][break]

"okie."[break][break]

after a few moments of walking in silence, he finds that he absolutely hates it. yes, he's here to watch out for her but part of him wanted to have fun exploring the same way he had in the desert with @borut and others.[break][break]

"i have a question."[break][break]

he strides up to walk beside her.[break][break]

"why'd it take you so long to agree to me coming with?"

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

There it was.
[break][break]
Inwardly, she cringed at its mention. At least, for the first time today, he was acting on what he wanted to say instead of playing the passive-aggressive game.
[break][break]
"I don't know," she sighed, "I just..."
[break][break]
Should she be honest with him and tell him how she truly felt about it? Or, continue to protect his feelings by burying her own. It was a hard decision to make; one that was raked with landmines.
[break][break]
"I wanted to, but our group already had four and it was just easier sticking to the same people, I guess."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

the first landmine is approached and stepped on when it could have easily been avoided by telling the truth. who does she think he is? he's rustoboro's gym leader. he does his fucking research.[break][break]

"but eva joined you guys eventually. did you guys have a vote or something and she won over me?"[break][break]

he'd understand that, to be honest. Eva Morales is the head professor so her expertise would be second to none. what does he bring to the table?[break][break]

ENVY sprouts.[break][break]

08 experience immense grudgefulness, fear, envy, or hatred.

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

Of course he did his research. If it were Penelope on the opposite end, she would've done the very same. It'd be easy too -- just one simple search in The League's database would tell you all you needed to know who went on what expedition and where. The only thing it doesn't tell you is why your girlfriend chose to invite Eva Morales instead of you. But not even Penelope felt qualified enough to answer that.
[break][break]
Face crumbling to the explosion of the first landmine, she instinctually turned away.
[break][break]
"No, we didn't vote on it," she breathed. "It just kind of happened."
[break][break]
It didn't just happened. MATIAS SILPH came to the group and pushed for her involvement, regardless of what anyone thought, and they graciously agreed. She could've done the same, too. She could've pushed for Cian to join them. But she didn't.
[break][break]
Desperate, she looked to forcibably redirect the conversation. [break][break]
"Look, there's the waterfall."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

it's a disappointing answer rivaled only by how her negligence makes him feel.[break][break]

"nothing ever kind of happens."[break][break]

she let it happen. she didn't fight for him. how can he trust someone who doesn't have his back?[break][break]

would she fight for them? their future together?[break][break]

the sight of the waterfall pulls him out of the depths of his thoughts. he clings onto it like a lifeline before walking towards it with hurried steps.[break][break]

"stay close, hopps."[break][break]

his scorbunny hops down and trails beside him.

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

nothing ever kind of happens.
[break][break]
The truth to those words seared her heart wide open. Face finally crumpled to a stricken mixture of hurt and guilt, Penelope was forced to look away. To focus on the looming symbol of death that laid itself wide open for their exploration.
[break][break]
"There it is."
[break][break]
Once they've climbed inside the mouth of the cave, the rest fell into place with ease. The seal was still where it has been, unbroken and emptied, and the normal spirits which haunted the grounds were nowhere to be found.
[break][break]
"God, I fucking hate this place."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

[attr="class","icon"]

inside the mouth of the cave, cian expects so much more than what they are met with. he narrows his eyes, looking around.[break][break]

"why are we here, penny? there's nothing here."[break][break]

practically jinxing himself, mist starts to flow into the cave they find themselves in, cold to the touch as it floats above their ankles.[break][break]

"shit. we should leave."[break][break]

his scorbunny readies itself for battle and gets into a fighting stance.

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]
mission![break]

"Wait!"
[break][break]

Her voice barely raised above the beating of her own heart. Creeping into the hollowed-out seal, Penelope took a kneel, letting the soft sand inside cushion her skin from the ground as her fingers grazed the ground. There was nothing inside. Nothing to retrieve, nothing to note, nothing to even make the expedition worth the effort.
[break][break]

Her tongue clicked against the back of her teeth.
[break][break]

But there had to be something. Anything.
[break][break]

Ignorance acted as blinders against her surroundings. All she could see was the possibility of green.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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