Waves broke against the shore, the ebb and flow seeming almost routine as it slowly pushed and pulled against the sand. One wave however would distort the rhythm, being much larger than the others that came before. As it crashed against the beach, it would leave something behind that was bigger than the usual small shells or seaweed. It was a full grown man, heaving as his exhausting journey finally came to an end. As he rose to his feet, the waves would return to their gentle groove.

Dwayne shakily walked forward, his entire body shivering as it tried to regulate its temperature. His fashionable black clothing was soaked and torn, and his mask now clung to his face like some sort of parasite. Despite his discomfort, the mask would remain. He would never risk letting someone see what hid underneath. Even so, he was ready to go home and cry himself to sleep or something. Today had been miserable, one failure after another. He was done failing, he just wanted to leave.

He chuckled harshly as he limped down the shoreline, unsure where to even go. His hope was just to find anyone from Rocket and get them to point him in the right direction. Hopefully he was not too far from somewhere safe. What he would come to find out is that he was a lot further from safe than ever before. Dwayne found someone sitting on a log, their back facing toward him. He sloshed his way up, happy to have quickly come upon another human.

Upon getting closer, Dwayne would clock the Xatu staring his way. Its eyes were intense, as if it had been expecting him. To Dwayne's shock, the figure would speak to him without even turning around. Dwayne froze, unsure what to do or say. He had no idea who this guy was from the back, but something felt--off. It was a vibe he could not quite place, but it made Dwayne shiver even more intensely. Regardless of his reservations, Dwayne would speak honestly.

"I uh--I'm just walking. Trying to get home. Wouldn't happen to know a way back to town would you?"

lam logan

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Dwayne's right eye twitched, his sanity hanging on by a thread due to the stress from today's various debacles. This guy was weird, and his Xatu was intense--it gave Dwayne a bad vibe overall. From the way the man spoke to him, Dwayne concluded that he could once again attempt to pass as a civilian--however he was not inclined to do so. He had made that gambit at least four times today and fell into trouble because of it. He may as well tell the truth, it would lead to the same outcome.

"I'm no civ." he admitted bluntly, his voice hoarse from hours of yelling. "I've suffered greatly today, nearly dying for a cause I don't give a shit about. I just want to go home and forget this ever happened. Please."

Dwayne shivered with desperation, his eyes shaking as he waited for the man's response.

Can't let him walk?

Dwayne barely had time to process those words before the man's Xatu disappeared, reappearing directly next to him. Dwayne froze, his eyes strained with fear as the Xatu examined him. Was he about to die? Was this Xatu about to tear him apart with its psychic abilities? No--apparently not, as the Xatu seemed satisfied to simply watch. Dwayne had no doubt though that it could destroy him at any moment, should it see a reason to.

Dwayne's face turned red, he felt building humiliation as tears welled up in his eyes. He squinted slightly, fighting as hard as he could to keep them from falling. As he began to feel absolute despair, one question kept cycling in his mind: "Then, what're you doing here?". He did not belong here, he was not a soldier nor was he a terrorist. He was here because he had no other option, he had to follow orders or die.

Dwayne abruptly fell to his knees, trembling as the urge to cry became stronger. "I'm just a guy in over his head." He said softly, clutching his head as reality crashed upon him. "I didn't ask for this! I just needed the money, I'm not a bad person!" After a moment of heavy breathing, Dwayne would abruptly push his hands forward with his palms pointed upward.

"Arrest me! Or capture me or--whatever! I don't care anymore, I'm done! Please! You have to! I'm sick can't you tell!? Sick in the head! Help me!"

lam logan

Was he done? Dwayne's welling tears faded, his body becoming weak. Not from exhaustion, but from relief. For the first time in a long time he felt as though he were at peace. He needed this, a forced detox from the adrenaline. The rush was dangerous--he was dangerous. Dwayne went lax as he accepted what he needed. It was for his own good.

"Yeah, I'm finished."

lam logan

Dwayne expected to be arrested, he had it in his head that all these League types carried around cuffs or something. You know, some way to restrain these Rocket bastards. When the stranger's hand came into view, Dwayne's brain struggled to realize what was happening. He looked up at the stranger, taking in his kind expression. He was not like the other League members he had met--or maybe he was. Three out of the six League rangers he had fought showed him mercy, they even offered him a chance to turn things around.

Maybe it was time to take them up on that offer. He reached up and grabbed the stranger's hand, using it to pull himself back onto his feet. He was asked where he lived, and Dwayne was not sure what to say. "I--lived in Sootopolis. But I'm not going back there ever again." Dwayne's eyes wandered, he knew that the choice he was about to make would mark him for death--but he was not going to let that scare him away from a better life. He looked the stranger in the eyes, fully resolved to change.

"I'll go wherever you think is best. Anywhere but here."

lam logan