this is what she gets for losing some of her pokemon back in kanto. she'd mourned their passing very much the same - with an unafflicted crimson stare, ashes scattered and baby's breath tossed into the wind. now, though, she's missing her pidgeot. tam could have flown her out of here and back at this point. 

she's closer to the place they've dubbed area zero now, which is entirely where she doesn't want to be. 

cassie mewls to warn her that they're coming up on someone and per usual, she hangs back, watching and assessing. she's careful; it's why she's alive. 

the rotomphone hasn't noticed them yet, but it's only a matter of time, so she steps into view and brushes back a lock from her face. she licks chapped lips and realizes she's been walking for some time, and her water bottle's bone dry. 

"did i hear you say there's a slither wing around here?" she says with an easy smile. "sorry, hi, i just got out of a scrape with one of those suicune lookalikes and - safety in numbers, y'know?"

kennedy quinn

☉

Holt lets out a noise akin to static as the stranger approached, big grin never faltering but still carefully trained on the pair. Her Bewear isn't quick to move, distracted by a strange flower growing out of the cracks of the ground. Kennedy got past her apprehension of a new persson very quickly at the mention of the Suicune doppelganger. "Where?" she blurted out, focused on the woman before straightening up and clearing her throat. "Sorry. Um...yes, we encountered a couple of Sliter Wings drinking at a small creek a few minutes ago." she said looking back the way they'd come. [break][break]

"We can show you, they are most likely still resting." she added, frowning as she looked at her Rotom for back up. The Rotom moved over to confer, showing her something on its screen a she muttered to herself. This gave the Bewear ample opportunity to notice the Espeon and Sylvie and rush over, crushed flowers in one paw. [break][break]

"Right, I'd estimate that as 200 ft- Theodore, no!" she called out stopping her partner before it tried to scoop up the Espeon for a hug. "Apologies, he- he's still rather young." she said gesturing for the bear pokemon to come back and stand by her and Holt. Her gaze stayed trained on the fairy type as it walked closer in shame before she looked back at Sylvie. "You mentioned an encounter with the Suicune dragon type? Do you require escort back to topside?"

[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

the slither wings do sound enticing, but not so enticing that she'd want to risk facing them with her back bared. the woman seems, if not allied directly with the league, like she's here for personal gain over that of sylvie's own organization. 

"no, no," she says with a wave of her hand, "don't want to kick the proverbial nest, especially after that."

and oh, what a delightful way to get to know her. she brushes her hair back, pretends cassie wouldn't have thrown the bear into the sun if it actually got its arms around her, and grits her teeth nervously. 

"i. yeah, actually, that'd be great. i think i bit off a bit more than i can chew. the suicune...the thing that looked like suicune. gods, it was awful. i saw - " she shudders. 

kennedy quinn

☉

Kenny tried not to look too disappointed at the stranger's answer, pursing her lips only slightly before turning her attention back to the Bewear as he made his way back to her side, head low in shame. The large bear rested an oversized paw on her shoulder which she pat as she spoke. [break][break]

"Let's get some distance then, before that thing comes looking for you." she assured her companion before awkwardly offering a smile. Theodore leads the way as she pats him twice on the big paw before asking him to take the lead. Happy to help, the bear takes point. She waits a few seconds before falling into step with Sylvie. "You're not hurt right...? I'm not a doctor- or well, not in that sense, however, I am educated in the application of first aid." she said, giving the Rocket another once over, staring closely at her gait to see if she limped.

[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"thanks," she says, visibly relieved. rocket remains aside, she'd rather not potentially run into her previous companion without a mutual understand of their appearances around civilians. 

while sylvie isn't limping, she has a few scrapes along her skin from scrambling her way into that crack in the wall. a bit of her jacket has been torn, which she grumbles about as she looks herself over. 

"nah, everything checks out. just a few scrapes and probably some bruises. could've been a lot worse." she tilts her head. "you mentioned an escort. is that what you're doing down here? helping folks get out?"

kennedy quinn

☉

She gave the Espeon a small nod of acknowledgement before looking back at their trainer. "Of course." Sylvie's right, as far as Kennedy can tell, she had nothing terribly serious. Even bone fractures would lead to heavy bruising. Maybe it was too soon to tell. But she moved normally and Kennedy is barely qualified to be an EMT. So she drops it. [break][break]

"No. I was offering you a favor." she said with a shake of her head. "I'm doing research, but I'm also capable of traveling alone down here. Other's who climb down into Area Zero aren't as capable, or fortunate in their excursions." She didn't feel fear often, not with her own team of rather capable pokemon covering her. And their small numbers made it easier to move stealthily. "Unfortunately, I've been in pursuit of some of the more...elusive beasts in this territory." [break][break]

Theodore stopped in his tracks, having put eyes on the family of Slither Wing that, for once, seemed peaceful enough near the small river below them. The Bewear's tail wagged as he sat down to wait for his trainer to catch up.


[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

if it's meant as a slight to her, sylvie allows it to slide right off her back. she'd rather put off an air of incompetence than give rise to any suspicion about how she has the skills to be down here by herself. she's good at skirting the truth.

"research?" she says, interest piquing. 

"either way, glad i ran into you, but you were right. we ought to head out in case it catches our - well, my - trail. appreciate the favor. not sure i've much to offer in return."

kennedy quinn

☉

Kennedy nodded. “I was doing field research of the Johto beasts that seem to have taken on different forms.” She explained with a half smile. “All we seem to know is that they may be dragon-like. Theodore was eager to test that notion.” she added, the Bewear still waiting patiently for what seemed to be a pat on the head by the woman. [break][break]

She gestured for the Bewear to get up, the fairy type over as she diligently scratched him behind the ear. She took a moment to get Theodore to lead them back outside before turning towards the stranger. “You can buy me lunch, and tell me in excruciating detail the beast you saw.” She answered simply. It's not flirty, as Kennedy doesn't really flirt. She doesnt register she could even be taken a different way other than a genuine desire to annotate first hand accounts on the beasts she was chasing. [break][break]

Kennedy is too one track minded for all that, golden eyes holding Sylvie's gaze and silently urging her to say yes.


[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

tonight may be busier for her than she thought. she typically enjoys curling up on the couch with cassie in her lap, thumb wedged in the spine of a book, a glass of red in her free hand. 

her siblings tell her she should get out more so she finds herself saying, "sure, yeah. you get me out of here in one piece and i'm all yours."

and maybe she can learn whatever the woman knows too.

kennedy quinn

☉