Smog

With Yuina Higashi

A wave of psychic force surged the caverns like a flowing river, tinting the world a vibrant magenta as a weighty presence invaded its walls.

A shadow was cast from the entrance unto the cavern, framed by the flapping of a cape.

The sound of human footsteps echoed amongst the stalactites, the click of heeled boots preceding an unyielding command.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/867820230394904606/Megalo_Box_OST_Soundtrack_1_47_-_MEGALOBOX_320_kbps.mp3[/player]
"Wipe them out."

From the shadows of the caverns, the guardian of Akala seemed to materialize, otherworldly giggles bouncing about the enclosed space as she held out an arm towards the masses of paradox and malformed fusions—

And upturned the earth itself, the cavern's walls around them all unhinging and coming apart as the deity compressed a section of space unto itself, utilizing the hard bedrock itself in order crush all inside.

The figure at the entrance finally deigned it safe to enter the cavern himself, looking around wearily, eyes shifting through the nooks and cranies of the place with relative calm.

So long as Tapu Lele was handling things, John Douglas Sullivan felt safe enough to take his time.

"I can feel you over there." He called out sudddenly, a single hand sliding down to grip at his hip. "Come on out."

Now... Rocket or League?

Smog

With Yuina Higashi

"Sounds good to me." Came the simple reply— followed by the sound of approaching steps, the steel heels of boots clicking against the granite flooring.

"Gotta make sure ya ain't a rocket first, though. Them's the breaks, lady." He said as he marched towards a cluster of stalagmites, eyes narrowing as he saw something like a shadowy figure move amongst them.

Still caught in the range of his terrain, he had vaguely felt her presence when he exerted pressure earlier— akin to the resistance from a boulder one felt when attempting to crush it in their palm.

He stopped a few steps away. He could feel Tapu Lele still nearby... and whoever was hiding behind the rocks, if a rocket at all, clearly wasn't confident in fighting him— otherwise they would've attacked when he and Lele had been busy with the Paradox Pokemon...

There was a possibility that the other was a leaguer, afraid that he, too, was a rocket. It would be problematic if they weren't, though...

Ah well. Lele was there. He could afford to extend the Olive branch first.

"Well? I'm Lt. Colonel John Douglas Sullivan of the Medic Corps." If they were a rocket, this was probably the time for them to dip. "Did that help any?"

Smog

With Yuina Higashi

For a brief moment, he was very confused.

"Yuina?" He said, cocking his head to the side in obvious bemusement. Behind him, the island deity mirrored her avatar, staring at Yuina with naked curiosity.

A moment later, he finally seemed to process what her being here might imply, gasping.

Suddenly he was very close, his hands falling over Yuina's shoulders as he squinted at her face, his head moving from side to side to examine her carefully.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he worked, his hands sliding off her shoulders in order to fish through the boxy briefcase hanging off his side. "Are you a volunteer? Thank you for the service, but you really shouldn't have!"

Civilians new to Hoenn never seemed to quite grasp what it meant to be in an 'active warzone' until they actually experienced it.

MP
+50 MP for Participation;
+30 MP Posts;
+25 MP Use a legendary Pokemon;
+10 MP Spawning Paradox Pokemon;
+10 MP assist another character;

Smog

With Yuina Higashi

Now he was even more confused!

"Wha— I thought ya were a museum curator!" He said, grabbing her cheeks and tugging them apart with a squint. They let a young, amnesiac woman into the force?! "You're even an elite?! Dang, way to go— No, no, wait... Ranger work is super dangerous, ya know?!"

He didn't look happy at all— Well, his face had lit up when he saw how well she had been doing, though he managed to catch and re-center himself— but his creased brow softened before long, a sigh leaving his lips as he release the young woman's face and threw a hand over his face instead, dragging it over his hair.

Recon and Perimeter work... that was still very dangerous, but he supposed it wasn't the worst thing they could've had her doing.

"Haaah... Guess I should just be glad you're... whole." He said, looking her over once again before giving his pink companion a meaningful glance.

Casually, the deity gave the girl her own once over, at which point Doug gave another sigh of relief.

"Okay, good, you ARE—" He said, stopping short. He stared silently for a moment. "Yuina."

His hands fell atop her shoulders once again.

"Take a deep breath." He said— no, warned. "I'mma boutta hug ya."

MP
+50 MP for Participation;
+40 MP Posts;
+25 MP Use a legendary Pokemon;
+10 MP Spawning Paradox Pokemon;
+10 MP assist another character;

Smog

With Yuina Higashi

An arm wrapped around her firmly, the other cradling her head.

Needing to work towards a cause... he couldn't blame her for wanting to make the world better— The Hoenn region specially.

"Thank goodness I was the one who found you." He said softly, worry welling up in his chest. Just as he had begun to worry less for Hideo Kino and Eris Halla, he had found Yuina deep in a battlefield.

He had no idea what he was to do with her. Escort her off the battlefield...? Guide her to the nearest medic camp, and hope she could make it home...?

"Yuina..." He said, gently untangling himself from her arms, yet still keeping his own on her shoulders. "What'cha planning to do? I think ya have done yer service. Combat and warzones ain't the only way to help the region."

MP
+50 MP for Participation;
+50 MP Posts;
+25 MP Use a legendary Pokemon;
+10 MP Spawning Paradox Pokemon;
+10 MP assist another character;

Smog

With Yuina Higashi

Oh brother. That did not sound like someone who was leaving the island any time soon.

Unfortunately, Doug wasn't the kind to force friends into doing anything, even if he believed their choices were... poor.

Sighing, he simple let go of Yuina, rubbing his temple briefly before nodding.

"Gotcha. Then..." He said, before offering his hand. "Let me escort you there, at least."

He needed to make it back to camp, in any case. They had dealt with the dream spawns, at least. Still...

His gaze wandered to the haze around them, lip curled. The smog seemed impenetrable, and he didn't have the means to deal with it. They would just have to leave it there and send someone else to actually solve the root cause of the problem...

[end thread]

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MP
+50 MP for Participation;
+60 MP Posts;
+25 MP Use a legendary Pokemon;
+10 MP Spawning Paradox Pokemon;
+10 MP assist another character;
+100 MP Mission Complete
+300MP loss
= 555MP