it is clear that the rocket boss is displeased. though his expression changes little, one can detect the disdain in the corners of his lips, the tight tension of his brow.[break][break]

"a pity." walsh sets the letter down, refusing to spare another glance. [break][break]

he's rather pay attention to gavin. a finger on his pulse. a test of his temperature.[break][break]

without warning, he raises his voice:[break][break]

"lulu, would you come in?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn Lulu Flint[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]

closeness was such a difficult thing. now, yet again, she had run out of time.[break][break]

saoirse quinn lied curled in the middle of the floor of a home she still had yet to furnish, arms wrapped around her dog and whimpering into his fur. her phone was not far off, well aware that she would be summoned soon enough.[break][break]

when it happened, her infamous fury finally awoke, evaporating tears and burning with defiance. her battlecry was silenced, however, by the great looming shadow that finally appeared, like an escort to doom.[break][break]

she quieted, bowed her head in resignation.[break][break]

the final decision she made, prior to leaving, was to burn Rowan Wrynn ’s letter.[break][break]

soon, she was walking the hall to the submarine in plain sight. she was meant to be visible in this moment, she assumed. if she wasn’t, she’d only be more suspicious.[break][break]

when called, she walked in, blood running cold when she saw her older brother already there.[break][break]

she knew how these things went.[break][break]

she was silent as she sat down next to him, making eye contact only with walsh, if he granted it. her heart pounded in a way that she was almost sure they could hear. at least, she assumed the boss could, like a predator with senses they could scarcely fathom.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]Cillian Quinn declan walsh [break][break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-darkrai"][break]

the door closes, metal frame squealing as it seals everyone inside. walsh's expression does not shift dramatically from the hue of its stoic sculpt. it just intensifies; the dull canvas of his expression allows minds to paint their insecurities onto it. an art of intimidation is one where the intimidator need not act at all.[break][break]

"if it is true that you did not know of rowan's plans..."[break][break]

the shadows darken in the room. a darker shade, a deeper murk.[break][break]

"then i have to ask... how? are you not family?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]

the boss is quick to evaluate cillian's swift answer. the solemnity of familial severance is the heaviest burial mound; however, walsh wonders what should spring from it. flowers or weeds?[break][break]

"so ruthless." walsh says. "so quick to discard your blood brother."[break][break]

he does not grin. does not frown. years of practice have trained his face to be a canvas waiting to be painted.[break][break]

"any clue as to why he chose defection? has he confided in you as a family member would?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]

walsh does not answer. rather, he lets the silence answer the question; allows the quiet to spread like a canvas of water for thoughts make murky.[break][break]

"then he was rotten from the beginning." the boss says. "discarding him would have been an inevitability then."[break][break]

the shadows darken: another layer of ink pooling upon the corners.[break][break]

"we will hunt him down, and we will give him no quarter." he centers his stare on cillian. "if ever captured alive, i can give you the honor."[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]