After having entered the mists of the Interdream Zone once, El was not wholly keen on heading into them again - they were almost worse than what Ultra Deep Sea already had to offer, after all. When one's paranoia stirred up by Deep Sea mixed with the way the mists seemed to draw upon your thoughts, memories, feelings, and the like - things rarely ever went well.

And yet, there was yet another person in need. Bibidi could sense the presence of their mind, whoever they were - the grief and pain rolling off of them. It was almost an echo of the feelings that she had sensed from Isaac Merlo - when he had been caught up in the mists, himself.

And with how dangerous things could get, well... The last thing that El wanted was to leave someone to be preyed upon by whatever may lurk, in the mysterious haze beyond.

Thus, it was with a deep breath to steel themself that El would step forward - already pulling out Behemoth's pokeball, just in case some strange beast decided to burst out. All the while, they'd call out - hoping that the tunnel would carry their voice to whoever was out there. "Hello? Can you hear me?" They'd raise their voice - eyes scanning their surroundings, even if it was impossible to see far in here. "My Alakazam sensed you, and I'm coming to help - follow my voice, if you can!"

Hopefully, whoever it was would be able to hear them this time - unlike what had initially happened with Blackjack before...

might change this team lineup depending on how a thing goes but for now yolo

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No response - or to be more exact, El wasn't close enough to hear Cygne's mutter. Not that they knew that, of course.

All they knew is that silence was the only response as far as they could tell - and that didn't bode well, given how things went the last time that it happened. "Are they still conscious?" El asked Bibidi - glancing over to their companion. When the alakazam brushed against their mind with an affirmative, they weren't sure whether to take that as a good or bad sign.

So, they stepped deeper into the mists - following Bibidi's direction, in hopes of finding the lost individual that was out here. And yet, the deeper they went... The stronger that the smell that hung in the air - one of blood and decay - became. It made them hasten their footsteps, not sure what they'd find - and yet hoping that the person out there was okay. Or at least, would be okay with a little patching up. "Hello?" They call again, as if hoping to hear something now that they were getting closer

What they found was something that'd take more than a few bandages to fix, however.

It was a bit of a horrifying sight, to say the least - that of a dead hydreigon, its chest gored open and ribs splayed for all to see. The smell was stronger - so much stronger - now that they could see the source, and it took every bit of El's willpower (and a bit of Bibidi's own to boot,) to force down the bile that was fast rising. "I-I... Oh, Arceus..." They murmured - voice trailing off fast.

They were at a loss for words - unable to even consider stringing something together, when their brainpower was dedicated to trying to process the scene without losing their lunch. What had happened, to such a majestic beast, for it to end up this way? El's expression was split between horror, sorrow, empathy -- and yet, as their gaze finds Cygne amidst the gore, compassion is there as well.

"Hey - A-are... Are you able to move?" They call in question, having no clue how to even begin approaching this whole mess. They were basically a medic - and not even a professional one. Just some person, wanting to do a little good for others. The first step, would likely to be to assess the situation - and with how bloodied the woman looked, they had to make sure she wasn't hurt as badly as it looked. "I... I'm here to help."

But this sight, well... It was a bit of a haunting one, for someone as unhardened as they were.

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El frowned gently at the response given - and initially, they open their mouth as though to respond. But then came the phantasms that emerged from the mists - the first two were of a man and woman that they didn't wholy recognize, but the third... It took a moment for it to click; and yet, they could recognize the false Isaac Merlo - their own brother - with a horrific gash across his face, to boot.

And between the sights and smells, their stomach has clearly had enough. They are thankful that they hadn't eaten anything in a hot minute - but the feeling of acid reflux in their throat and on their tongue as they heave is still unpleasant, tears pinpricking at the corners of their eyes. They may have seen the occasional gruesome sight in their videogames - and yet, it didn't compare to reality (and unreality) like this.

Perhaps for the better.

Bibidi was an ever-present comfort though - soothing feelings washing over their mind, as she retrieved a bottle of water from their bag for them. They don't immediately drink from it - but glancing up to Cyg once more, they'd speak - even if their voice was somewhat hoarse now. "B-Bibidi, my Alakazam... She's going to - to pick you up, okay?" They'd warn Cygne - twisting the cap off the bottle - adding "Once you're over here, my pokemon and I can... Can help patch you up."

It would be awkward to try and patch up someone who's in a dragon's ribcage, after all - not to mention unsanitary to all heck.

Thus, Bibidi would carefully wrap her psychic energy around Cyg with all the same care that she'd give El - (which was to say, a lot!) - slowly but surely lifting her up, and bringing her closer to the both of them. Bibidi would attempt to place Cyg down in a seated position to avoid putting weight on her legs - the swelling in the ankle didn't bode well, nor did the arrow sticking out of the thigh.

Meanwhile, El would take a couple gulps of water - hoping to wash the acrid taste out of their mouth, and also keep any more from coming up. Once Cyg was set down though, they'd waste no time in getting to work - pulling out a first aid kit, and calling out another pokemon. "Gimme a hand, Akero!"

Out came a togekiss, who let out a melodic trill as she hovered before the trio. She'd help El wash their hands with Life Dew - and would also use it to dampen a rag and some gauze for them, too.

The first wound that stood out to El though, was the arrow wound. Given how arrowheads were, the wound was still bleeding even with the intrusion - the arrowhead having left plenty of room in its wake for blood to drip down. Trying to pull it straight out would be a terrible idea - and yet, it couldn't be left in, either, if they wanted to staunch the wound. "Bibidi - you think you can get this out?"

The Alakazam would eyeball the arrow for a moment - reading El's thoughts as she considered her options. Reaching out, she'd carefully grasp it - before Teleporting it away, harmlessly removing it from Cyg's leg.

But with the arrow removed, the wound would bleed even more profusely than before - which meant that El wanted to act fast. Having Akero use another Life Dew to clean the puncture, they'd begin applying antibiotic ointment and the dampened gauze - pressing it firmly to the wound, and layering on additional dry gauze for any bleeding through.

"This... This won't replace proper medical attention," They'd speak - reaching for a roll of bandages, once they were confident the gauze wouldn't bleed through any further. Glancing to Cyg and attempting to offer her a gentle smile though - even if the smile was somewhat weary - they continued reassuringly "But I'm gonna do my best to make sure you'll be okay, until a doctor can look at these, ok?"

yay suppoooort + affected by the realm

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El gently frowned, as they looked Cyg up and down. She wasn't in good shape, to say the least; she had been through the wringer more than once, and it showed. Their empathy made their heart twist in seeing just how hurt she was all over, from head to toe... But, at the very least, they could take solace in the fact that they were helping her - that they were mending the wounds, that they were helping ease some of the pain.

Not that it'd help with any psychological injuries - at least, not immediately. As Cyg speaks up, they'd glance up towards her - and frowned gently. "Well... I'm bothering. And you'll make it out of here." They retorted softly - tying the bandage that would hold the gauze over the arrow puncture in place, as if to prove their point. For better or worse, they were dedicated to their task - and she wouldn't stop them from patching her back up and getting her someplace safe.

... Although, after a moment, they'd murmur with a half-pout "... 'm not a kid, either."

Taking the time to grab the life dew-dampened rag, they'd lift it up to wipe away some blood from a cut on Cyg's face - just over her brow. As they do so though, they look over her visible features - and it didn't take long for something to click together. "... You're Swan, right?" They questioned - half rhetorically, as they continued "Blackjack's looking for you. I - uhm - promised him that I'd keep an eye out for you. And make sure you'd be okay."

Pulling back one of Cyg's sleeves, they'd begin tending to a wound on her upper arm - near her shoulder. "... He's... He's really worried for you, y'know." They added after a moment of thought, their voice sympathetic. "I think he'd do a lot better, if he knew you were okay."

As if to emphasize this point, Bibidi would gently brush against Cyg's mind - sharing the memories of them running into Blackjack in the mists, as well as the concern that he had shown for her wellbeing.

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The question made El blink - as if they hadn't expected Cyg to hear them. But, glancing at her out of the corner of their eye as they reach to tear off some additional gauze for another wound, they'd mention "I'm eighteen, turning nineteen in, uhm, about a week - on the twelvth." Sure, maybe eighteen was still in that weird transition period from being a teen to being an adult... But it wasn't like they were a minor anymore.

Hearing of Blackjack seemed to strike some form of chord in Cyg though - as first, she was laughing...

... And then she's crying.

As she begins to gasp and seemingly hyperventilate, El would place a hand on her shoulder - trying to ease the older woman into laying back. "Easy - easy," They speak softly, soothingly. "Let it out - cry as much as you want or need - but you gotta breathe." Bibidi nudged against El's mind - and the two shared a gaze, before they glanced back to Cyg. "Bibidi's gonna help - so follow her lead for us, ok?"

And indeed, Bibidi would reach out to Cyg's mind - offering feelings of reassurance, of soothing, to try and comfort her. And with it, came gentle prompts in the form of concepts and imagery - in, and out... in, and out... The same sort of breathing she did, when she'd use Calm Mind - in hopes it'd help Cyg steady her own.

El would carefully take Cyg's hand - giving it a gentle squeeze, in a show of comfort of their own. "Whatever happened... You're going to be okay. Blackjack's okay, too." They responded, promising "And if you want to talk about it, I'm here to listen."

support of the emotional variety, rather than mending-

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El is caught off guard by being called a baby - their cheeks flushing as they blink owlishly, before sheepishly glancing to the side. On one hand, it certainly is a bit infantilizing, and yet... They recognize that it's more general teasing, than someone actually implying they're less than capable of looking after themself.

(That doesn't make it any less embarassing, though.)

Seeing Cyg's breathing steady and even out has El giving her a gentle, warm, smile - "There you are - you're doing great." They encourage, giving her hand another gentle squeeze before they resume tending to her wounds - their gaze casting towards her fractured ankle. Even with Life Dew to help ease some of the swelling, it still doesn't look pretty - and they mull over their options for helping with that...

... At least, until Cyg suddenly asks their name. Blinking, El turns their gaze to Cyg proper - before smiling. "My name's El; it's nice to meet you, even if it's - uhm - not in the best situation, Swan." They respond, their tone warm and genuine. "How are you feeling? Let me know if any of these bandages are too tight, or if you're still hurting anywhere specific, okay?"

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Cygne? El blinks a bit - surprised that she'd reveal what they guess to be her real name - before smiling gently. "It's nice to meet you, Cygne." They correct themself.

When she laughs and winces though, they lock in on that almost immediately. "It's not fine if laughing - uhm - hurts, y'know..." They speak in a half-murmur, already looking at her torso area, as if they were hoping to have some sort of x-ray vision spontaneously manifest to diagnose the source. "Where did it hurt?"

The question of Blackjack soon comes up though - and they'd take a second to consider how to summarize their explanation. "I met him, uhm, earlier today." Or would that be yesterday? When you started being awake past midnight, one's sense of time tended to get a bit fucky...

"He saved me from a few Nihilego that ambushed me, made sure I'd be safe sticking around here... Later on, he had ended up in some strange mist like this stuff," They gestured to the mist that surrounded the both of them right now. "Bibidi sensed that something had him spooked, so I went in to help him. We ended up working together to fight off a couple of strange pokemon, that had shown up and attacked us."

They're thoughtful now - and they gaze to where one of the apparitions of Isaac Merlo had appeared before, before glancing back to Cyg. "You... know Isaac?" They'd ask their own question now - which might've seemed silly in hindsight, but... They were unsure of whether the phantasms they saw had been from them, or from Cyg, given how much it seemed to be focusing on her right now.

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