Maybe she had bitten off a little more than she could chew with this one. Eve was no ranger. She wasn’t even a professional trainer or anything like that. She was a tourist with some decent Pokemon and a bit of adventuring experience. But she also had a strong sense of…well, calling it a sense of justice would probably be overstating things a tad bit. A sense of decency, that would probably fit better. If there was a problem and she at least thought that she could help with it, had the opportunity to do so and it looked like she could make a difference?
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Then she would at least try. That much was a given. She could always run away if it got too much, no shame in that to her. Yet, turning tail without even trying was just not her thing. Eve was going to give it her best shot. Even if that meant mostly carrying around a crate of Pokeballs for the time being. Someone had to, and she was to help a more experienced person, so that just made all kinds of sense.
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Plus, she did not have to carry all of that on her own. Instead, she just had her Noivern carry it as she caught up with the one that she was supposed to meet here. A name that seemed familiar at first glance, actually, but she could not quite remember right away. That was just kind of what happened to famous people, of course. Not that she or others looked down on people of course. But when one met a lot of people it became difficult to discern them, especially without a face to put next to the name.
[break][break]
Though, as got closer and actually did lay eyes on the other, there was an odd sense of familiarity. “Hello there,” she started, briefly thinking. “I am Evette, here with the Pokeballs. Have we met before?” No reason to not just ask, really.


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+ Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

That was one of those new-fangled Sygna Suits, wasn’t it? Eve briefly eyed it curiously, but then dismissed the thought. It was just some gadget. At least as long as she did not have one of her own. It would just be a tool others used until the time if and when she might get her own. No point bothering too much with it until then. Compartmentalization was important, for battle and for the stage.
[break][break]
Instead, she focused on the name given. “Shalin, Shalin, Shalin Nariya, famous Hoenn explorer….” She mused to herself, trying to recall where she had heard that name and seen this person before. The TV maybe? Either way, she dismissed the thought too. Compartmentalization, once again. Instead, she focused on her apparent reputation. “Uh, I help out here and there, really. Just when I come across a situation where I can apply myself without getting burnt.” Burnt? Odd choice of word. She clearly half-remembered something.
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She shook her head. “And no, I don’t plan on becoming a ranger. Kind of set on becoming a singer. Well, more of one. I kind of already am. This is just a kind of vacation, really. A very long one.”


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+ Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

So, wrangling had been her idea initially? That was quite unconventional. It was a difficult thing both to do and to actually sell. Singing? Anyone who could hear it could experience it almost the same way. The front row seats also got to watch it well, but that was more of a secondary thing for most singers. If it was being filmed, even more could see it at the same time. That was to say – the experience of a performance like hers was easy to replicate and therefore sell. Wrangling was something experienced more visually. And it was meant to be wild, which meant no truly controlled environment to film and watch well. Similar problem to racing, but that could usually be alleviated by placing the predictably most exciting part – the start and finish line – right where you sold the most seats.
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Still, it was an awkward thing to perform, to her. But she was also getting absolutely off-topic with her thoughts. She frowned briefly as she realized that, but swiftly got back on track. “That certainly is a rather unique point of entry to these matters, I reckon,” she replied, though knowing that those words were kind of vapid. Could not be helped. She did not have much more to say regarding that, so fishing for something would help no one.[break][break]
Best to focus on the task at hand. “Anyway. It is probably best to stay away from the poison itelf as much as possible. Directly engaging the Pokemon themselves at close proximity also increases the risk of needlessly causing damage to them. My Noivern could help with the dispersal and I think it might be worth a try to use sing and see how many will just fall asleep.”


[break][break]

+ Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The other had lost a Pokemon to this already? Well, not lost, it seemed. But she could hear from the other’s voice that this was not just a case of someone’s eight most favourite pokemon feeling a bit under the weather. No, this was probably a bona-fide set-back that the other would have to struggle with.
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Eve found it best to not prod in that regard and instead focus on the matter at hand. This ranger did have a plan, after all. “That sounds solid so far. But I am a bit worried that it might not survive contact with the enemy, so to speak. Once they do notice us, it will be a lot harder for the Sleep effect to take hold, so we probably should wait coming in with the fliers for as long possible, if that is fine with your Pokemon. This kind of place is exposed. Sound and changes in wind currents will probably carry far, especially if your targets are already kind of on edge.”
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Of course she was mostly just assuming some of that with respect to the Pokemon. She had not actually encountered a blighted one yet, so all she could do was make educated guesses. And hers tended to focus on what might go wrong, first.


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+ Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Who even rode a Skuntank? She briefly blinked, giving the other a quizzical look. Eve quickly decided that questioning this would lead nowhere, so she just shrugged and accepted that while the other rode off to do her thing. Not like it mattered much to her. Or should matter to her, at least. What others rode was entirely their thing. Though she made mental note to be wary of getting too close to this rider once they were done. As in, physical proximity related to smell.
[break][break]
But that was incidental for the moment! Best to actually focus. She briefly balled her hands to fists as if to psych herself up, then took a deep breath. Only then did she go into action. First, she directed her Noivern to approach the edge of the plateau slowly. It was important to come in from below and quietly, as to not be noticed by the agitated Pokemon ahead of time. That would only diminish the potency of their strategy. Once she got close enough, they climbed slowly until she could just barely spy over the edge. Spotting a rocky outcropping that would be suitable, she took her own two Pokeballs and aimed to the best of her ability. Then, she sent out Swablu and Primarina into their hiding spot behind the rocks, quietly telling them to sing.
[break][break]
They would do just that. Whether or not they would be able to remain undetected was not quite certain yet in that moment.


[break][break]

+ Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Wait. When did ‘just burn everything to the ground’ become part of a strategy that started with ‘put the agitated Pokemon to sleep’? Eve found herself blinking as she watched proceedings unfold. Her own Pokemon were singing, trying their best to lull the opposing side to sleep, while that Skuntank just went about as if there was a BBQ in dire need of some assistance.
[break][break]

It…really felt so weird, she was just dumbfounded for a bit. Fortunately, her Pokemon were not and they continued the act, putting a good few of the opposing mons to sleep in the process. Eve had to first shake her head, mumble something about crazy Hoennians, then she could compose herself again.
[break][break]

This was not how she had expected the whole plan to go down, but a proper performer knew when to go with the flow. And since heated action was already happening around them – fortunately, the fleeing ones were not directed right at her, so there was no stampede to dodge – Eve just started doing what she was supposed to do. Namely, she threw Pokeball after Pokeball from the big bag she had brought at the sleeping ones. That way, they could safely transport them away once this was settled and release them elsewhere. “I am still…catching. I did not expect you to light them all up so quickly over there!”


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+ Shalin Nariya

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