stubborn as they both were perhaps, in the end, neither of them took the cot. she slept sitting up against the wall, joined by Shred who did the same once she’d drifted off.[break][break]

but as they both fell into that strange, collective dream, they did not wind up in the same place. shred was nowhere around, and though she soon realized the dreamlike qualities of her surroundings through obscuring details, she also realized that she was not alone there.[break][break]

most of that too-short time was spent exploring and theorizing with Naomi Sato , before they’d been separated by a crowd of megalopolans moving through their bustling city. she’d managed to warn her about Greyson Connors .[break][break]

after their separation, lulu continued on through what they presumed to be ultra megalopolis, believing they were in a dream not of their own, but that of the prison guards.[break][break]

and then, she came upon a sight she could have never prepared herself for.[break][break]

”djall!”[break][break]

she ran towards the daycare display, her hands going to the bizarre container as though she could reach through it to simply pull him out – but she was helpless there, banging on it uselessly a few times.[break][break]

For a moment, she forgot it was a dream. and when she remembered, she began to question everything.[break][break]

”please be alright…”[break][break]

her fist curled against the glass, tears beginning to form in her eyes amidst her rage. this was certainly no dream of hers.[break][break]

a sound from behind then startled her enough that she could no longer hold back those tears. they streamed down her cheeks when she turned to see who was there.[break][break]

”shred?” not in the crispy, weakened body she shared a cell with, but as well and lively as she'd seen him at the swamp – even blessed with beauty.[break][break]

striking as it was, it could not distract her from the absolute tragedy she'd stumbled upon. she wiped her face and sniffed, explaining pitifully, ”they have my dog...”[break][break]

and remembering the tubes from the hallway, and the sight of pokemon being smashed, including shred’s meltan, her panic was rising. it all felt too real.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

tldr:[break]

∙ related threads: markov chain with shred, horn and ivory with nomi (in progress)[break]
∙ lulu runs into nomi first in the dream world but gets separated from her[break]
∙ believes they are in a dream shared by the megalopolan prison guards[break]
∙ is very upset upon seeing her houndoom unconscious[break]
∙ shred and lulu reunite in the dream world at pokemon daycare[break]

The pain in her chest is sharp. Breathing, just like their assigned tasks, does not come easy, and the straining of her lungs against her broken bones reminds her of it every time she tries to take a breath. It actually takes a moment for the assassin to rise to her feet once more, but now she no longer has to stand against an attacking opponent, she manages.

Hidden behind the most unfair excuse of a perfect pokerface, Kyrenai smiles at PENELOPE LIVY , showing no signs of her internal pains.

And when the cold water falls, she looks up from where it came and momentarily closes her eyes. A shower is a shower nonetheless; and although it doesn't burn away her aches with heat, the crisp chill gives her a clarity. A moment of relaxation before the reminder that puts her nerves on edge, her muscles flinching and cramping against a partially-broken body. She's at a disadvantage now. She knows. But it makes her all the more dangerous.

If only she can allow the beast its freedom once cornered.

At least the beast that attacked them earned its own reprise, she thinks as she looks back, a flash of orange bidding her adieu. They're being led elsewhere. Long endless corridors that gave way to the platform that brought them there in the first place. Separated from the other group she finds herself in her cell once more, aside Violet Fairbanks . Newly clothed and apparently fed, dreams come louder than the silence they fill.

Neon lights and soundlessly bustling. Kyrenai does not know the city, but from previous reports she takes its name and placement; Ultra Megalopolis. In nothing is it her style or willingness, but the lack of pain and binding chain urges her to roam. Studying the people that wander past, many are Megalopolan, but a few faces are similar to the ones she saw earlier on the platform.

Another familiar face is that of Mori; the blue hues of the shiny Tyrantrum just as hard to ignore as the neon lights of the city nightlife above her. A large glass container displays it to the world, and her fingertips touch the solid glass with purpose. Mori seems fine within its homeostasis, unaware of the world around it. Unawakened, too. But it looks fine, unharmed, and that's what matters more.

When a poor passerby tries to pass her to enter the building she grabs them by the scruff with enough strength to thwart any escape. That her mind is scrambled shows when she blurts out a question she not wholey tried to pose. ”What are you doing with our pokémon?”

Our pokémon. Not here, where she was alone. But would they know she meant it like that? Did their pokémon's fate within this world reflect similarly upon their prison counterparts?

Whatever the answer is, she lets the Megalopolan go and stares at Mori yet again. Within the reflection of glass blue has started shifting, mixing with streaks of crimson. Within this reality her flaming hair flares again, and the assassin smiles meekly before leaning her forehead into the glass, whispering to her reflection. ”How I hate you.”

Kyrenai pushes herself off the glass, leaving Mori in its stasis until she figures out a way to free it. And then she wanders again, until a friendly face enters her periphery. So she calls out to them and joins Elaine Highland . ”Things are growing stranger and stranger by the minute.”



Tldr;
-There's nothing hot and relaxing about this shower
-Pokerface on; “what is pain?”
-Eats mochi and naps
-Roams Ultra Megalopolis studying faces
-Finds Mori (s!Tyrantrum) and asks nearby person ”What are you doing with our pokémon?”
-Hates her reflection
-Catches up with Elaine Highland

Violet Fairbanks , Elaine Highland , ever blackwell

☉

Hideo Kino had at least tried to keep her safe, as the masked Pokemon would come back and lash at the two. Lucia had received some marks of pain. A scratch here and there and maybe a small cut, but otherwise was in overall good health minus the mental torture that she was weathering. Just as fast as it had come, the Pokemon rampaged off onto something more interesting, leaving the two to themselves.

Before everyone could breathe, a torrent of cold, wet water splashed down upon them. The sheer difference in temperature was enough to have the child shiver a bit, though thankful for the shower to get the sweat off of them.

"Y-Yeah, thanks." Lucia said again, smiling up at Hideo behind her mask. He was able to introduce himself as an audible gasp escaped her lips. "Wait, Hideo?! Like, THE Hideo!?" That little bit of childlike wonder had sprung forward again as the younger trainer gushed over Hideo. To think that she'd be able to meet one of the gym challengers here of all places! "Thank you so much for protecting me. It's such an honor to meet one of the gym leaders. I just...wish it wasn't here."

One quick conversation later, everybody had gone and gotten new clothing from the prison guards here. There was a small little comfort in new clothing, and the mochi was still peach flavored. A small comfort in these trying times. But Lucia returned to her cell alongside Atreyu Hargrave and slowly falling asleep, whatever position that the two would come to terms with.

TL;DR:
- Thanks Hideo for protecting her then fangirls over him being a gym leader
- Finishes her shower and new clothes! Yay!
- Mochi is good, nom nom nom
- She heads back to her cell and falls asleep quickly

☉