her cellmate knew her name – the rocket one. it was enough to assure her the voice she’d heard a moment before had been Cillian Quinn ’s. friends were there, more or less – but this definitely wasn’t the league’s doing.[break][break]

she glowered as theirs was named the weakling ward, briefly thinking Shred could have at them all if he really wanted. what did she care?[break][break]

“sshhhh,” she shushed instead, still trying to focus on the platform as he crumbled. it lowered three new pokemon that did not bear any resemblance to existing species, like the other new pokemon they’d seen lately. they were, however, each sporting a toxic chain.[break][break]

”i’ve never seen them before…”[break][break]

she stole a quick glance deeper into her cell, only to locate a startled heap of shadow hiding under a desk.[break][break]

”weren’t you just making death threats?”[break][break]

but before he could possibly respond, a crescendo of defiance pulled all attention away again. she saw, heard the terrible crunch of bone forced through unyielding bars.[break][break]

every emotion on her face washed away, sobered as reality set in. her eyes lowered to the sad tray of mochi on the floor. she crouched down and took one, watching her cellmate pick another apart into practically nothing.[break][break]

who was this guy? [break][break]

unfortunately, before she could ask the question, the chain was doing something weird. it grew and reached with a mind of its own. they were soon tethered, but at least their cells were open, relieving some of that old claustrophobic feeling.[break][break]

”what do you mean ‘what you started?’” she hissed – but he was already off into his work. it was not long before he’d left her periphery entirely, which she didn’t notice.[break][break]

her attention had caught on a familiar face: a guard from route 119, wearing a toxic chain that they had not been wearing last time.[break][break]

violence proved a distraction, however. she turned and her jaw dropped as she saw her cellmate’s mysterious plan backfire terrifically. each hit was worse than the last, and when he finally went rolling across the ground to stop at her feet, she thought for sure that was it.[break][break]

leaning down over him, she peered for any sign of life. tentatively picked up his burnt wrist before setting it back down again.[break][break]

arceus…[break][break]

she whispered to him, “i haven’t figured anything out yet.” considering it had been a minute tops since they’d last spoke. “but if it’s my two cents you want, maybe you should just stay down.”[break][break]

after staring at him for another second, she went away for a few seconds. then, she returned to deliver a few rocks at his side, even placing a couple of smaller ones in his hands.[break][break]

”here.” at least he could look like he was trying.[break][break]

”i’m getting back to work.”[break][break]

z67qEC5R

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tldr:[break][break]

∙ eats the mochi, gets to work[break]
∙ notices a familiar guard from route 119 and notes that they didn't have toxic chains on them last time[break]
∙ watches cellmate Shred try to shank okidogi and fail[break]
∙ checks his pulse, suggests he stay down but brings him rocks to stay productive[break]
∙ returns to work[break]

Shred [break]
[break]

Ah. A foul-mouthed cell-mate. That was not exactly great, but she could manage. Just because she liked to play the part of an upper-class lady of sorts did not mean she could not manage hearing a fuck now and then. It only meant she did not have to use that, really. Because that never befit her appearance anyway. “It is what keeps us constrained enough without inhabiting us, I reckon,” she mulled briefly, but just accepted that fact. Whoever had brought them there had done so while they were unconscious and completely defenseless. Evidently, in that state, anything could have happened. But they had decided that only putting on these accessories were necessary. That meant they were filled with confidence that they would suffice.
[break][break]
At the very least, those probably could not be broken with just menial strength, so she never even bothered to try to begin with. “Best not to tamper with them until we know more. We will soon enough get exposition anyway.” Violet shrugged, before continuing to test her body for any impairments. If this was a prison, then someone would elucidate them to the particulars eventually. It just would not make sense anyway. They were still alive, after all, through the mercy of captors. That implied purpose to imprisonment, which in turn beckoned more information.
[break][break]
At least Vio told herself that in order to keep her calm as they waited. It would not be too long before they were brought out for what she expected, so she took deep, steady breaths in order to keep herself in check. This was an important moment. Everything needed to be observed. Just as the training had taught her.[break][break]
First off, there were the captors in two distinct groups. Humans, or at least humanoid beings that spoke to them and Pokemon that were evidently in charge but did not actually speak themselves. A scripted speech that felt stilted in an unnatural way, as if the person doing so was being used as a mouthpiece for the Pokemon. And utter, relentless brutality that squashed a rebellion in the making.
[break][break]
Violet winced inwardly at the violence, but fortunately the mask hid most of that. She was no stranger to death. From a young age she had witnessed Pokemon being put down at first. Later, in adulthood, she had witnessed human death itself. It was always a difficult feeling. While she could act like it did not bother her too much, that did not mean it was easy. Detaching herself from those crunching sounds only worked because she focused on the crates briefly, learning that she was in what was called a weakling ward. Which did make sense. However she had wronged these people and Pokemon, it had not been through a display of strength. That much was for sure. Unlike others, that categorization did not bother her.[break][break]
She was not the strongest person, after all. While she would not call herself a true weakling, she never minded others thinking that of her.
[break][break]
Though, admittedly, physicality certainly was not her strong suit, so the tasks given were not exactly for her. But at the very least she was not as dainty and frail as she wanted others to believe, either, especially after that surprisingly good mochi from before. And she had enough wilderness survival training to at least start getting some chipping done with the rock-on-rock method, though she found it needlessly useless. Clearly, if they wanted results for the sake of results, they would be given proper equipment. They were not, which meant that them having to do it in this tedious and inefficient way was the point. Hence, once examples had been made, she simply and obediently went to work for the time being, as that seemed the best course of action. That performance bonus the stranger spoke of did not truly motivate her much. If it was a group performance, then she might as well think of the results as random, after all. But she did not want to stand out one way or another for the time being and simply concentrated mostly on that task, now and then trying to gather as much information as possible.
[break][break]
That was the Spectra way, after all.
[break][break]
And it was how she noticed someone being picked on. From her limited perspective, she had not seen any provocation leading to this. Meaning the cruelty was the point. Violet tried to observe that all in a detached fashion, trying to reason out what had brought the violent episode on, knowing that she could do nothing to stop it. At least that was her excuse for being somewhat detached from proceedings.
[break][break]
Though, as always, Hoenn found a way to make things more difficult. When that masked redhead came up to them, she found it easy to recognize her in turn. And she found herself conflicted in a similar, but distinct way from Elaine herself. Yes, she too was glad to see someone she knew she could rely on and who always cheered her up in some fashion. Vio was also saddened to see her. But not just because that meant someone she cared about being endangered and suffering. But also because that complicated matters even more. Especially when the other came close to them like this, right after having been engaged by the enemy.
[break][break]
She would sigh, but not resist any attempts at hugging. It was already too late to pretend they were strangers to keep a low profile, after all. So, best to play along. “Hey Ela. Sorry but also glad to see you,” she would reply softly, imagining that the other would understand where she was coming from there. “We really ought to just meet on an occasion without lives on the line,” she further added, trying to bring some levity to the situation. Though, even as she continued their encounter, she would resume working. After squeezing the other back a bit more tightly if there was, indeed, a hug, of course.[break][break]
Vio was not a robot, after all. This was needed for her, too. Hence, she allowed the warmth of a genuine smile to infuse her words, even though she kept them rational.
[break][break]
“That being said, we should focus on work. They probably don’t want to police everything, but we should not take any chances.” There weren’t that many guards, after all. Plus, they had not exactly worn their prisoners down so much that no one would talk. In fact, others did, too. But they should do so while obeying, at least for now. Least they would all go flying again.
[break][break]

+ Mochi eaten, Kyrenai Black replied to, taken in the information and gone to work quietly to not get noticed, though would reciprocate the hug and speak to Elaine Highland . Still mostly focusing on work to try and appease those above them. zxvcz4k|

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"...I hope not." Petra returns towards her cellmate and his remarks about Oldale, battle royales and such else. Physical labor was hard enough, she didn't need anything else ruining her chances of surviving this place.
[break]
[break]

She stares toward the megalopolan(s) with wonder, choosing to remain in the backseat of this ride where it's safe. Petra doesn't do or say anything to draw unwanted attention from their alleged wardens. They've made it all too apparent what happens should they misbehave. Still, she can't blame the others if they wanted to try. To fail.
[break]
[break]

Finishing her mochi rations before filing in alongside Pax, Petra gathers the minerals for smashing. The clammoring from all this 'work', and the shifting toxic chains made it easier to converse without fear for eavesdropping.
[break]
[break]

"Do you really think they'll just go home like they say? No shot, right?" While obedience wasn't exactly ideal, if it were possible for things to end peacefully - Petra would like to entertain that route.
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BZG_VX8A

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---

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SPOILER: Click to show

tl;dr
[break]
- breaking eggs for an omelette rocks for STOCKS
[break][break]
- continues listening to pax, etc

[attr="class","bottom"]PP: WEAKLING WARD[break]
paxton concordas[break]

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