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Adrian manages to nearly choke on a sip of coffee when Cillian's voice punctuates the air. Where he might've been content to sit here and while away the next few hours, it seemed that would be cut short. Abruptly. Adrian immediately throws out a defensive quip, though it's clear he's on the back foot.[break][break]

"Actually, I'm waiting on something dorian westcliff cooked up..." For all that certainly entailed, Cillian would be able to tell Adrian was markedly not so weary for it, which may have come as a surprise. He would learn in time. For now, he managed to find his peace, even if it had been jostled lightly just now for their arrival.[break][break]

"I haven't seen you around for some time." Adrian wonders how far they have come with the RKS, though ultimately such dives seemed to him pointless. Or they chaffed him too much to be bothered... Perhaps not so obvious to others, he obsessed over his own misgivings.[break][break]

"Everything alright?" He asks less so out of curiosity, and moreso to poke the metaphorical bear, if only to see where it gets him.

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"I should think so." Adrian is usually not one to lie. But Cillian does not seem to press the issue, instead ridiculing Adrian in his own way. But not before plucking a mug for himself from a cabinet, making for the simmering brew that they might share a fresh cup of joe together. It was almost domestic.[break][break]

He finds himself surprised then that Cillian shares the news with him so lightly. He is so far removed as to find almost any news novel, and in this case he is mostly blindsided—though he is not in the least bit surprised the League wants to take back what Rocket had rightfully stolen from them. Still, there is a bitter taste in his mouth that coffee couldn't account for...[break][break]

"Defenses? What do you expect them to try?" Probing questions like this were... Well, they would unsurprisingly raise questions as to which side Adrian found himself on. Though in truth, he wondered how much more entrenched they could be on a remote island crater.[break][break]

He imagined blockading sea routes was the most obvious attempt at defense Rocket would take, but anything beyond that, he failed to consider. They surely had more in store...[break][break]

"Might as well," he responded, rising from his seat to dump and rinse his mug, allowing it to fall into the sink with a faint clatter.

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Adrian manages to nod his head in quiet approval. That sounds as good a contingency as any. Waging war throughout a flooded city wasn't ideal. Literal tides would be turned.[break][break]

It was a solid countermeasure—and something he himself would be thankful for, sporting mostly landlocked pokemon. Following along after them at a brisk pace, he would stop only to sort through a special Rocket terminal, accessing several pokeballs.[break][break]

Yeah, this should work wonders...[break][break]

"...I'm something of a collector."[break][break]

As with all things, Adrian poorly managed an addictive personality—and this extended to capturing many pokemon, arguably too many. Though such a vast collection had supported him through many trials and tribulations, to say that he was able to care for and appreciate each of these pokemon equally and fairly would have of course been a blatant lie.[break][break]

But among these pokemon, some were special. Once upon a time, they had guarded something invaluable atop Mt. Pyre—something he no longer thought necessary to guard, however precious it remained.[break][break]

He would follow Gavin through the submarine, emerging from the exit hatch after them.

[attr="class","bottom"]Cillian Quinn[break]

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Adrian eyes their pokemon jealously—he is no stranger to the shadow phenomenon—though he himself boasts far fewer of their number or caliber. Perhaps he should train them; bittersweet memories of Iconoclast at his side make the idea tempting. For the moment he took to be awestruck, Adrian falls behind in their work. Get a move on.[break][break]

Releasing all of his pokemon, Adrian seems keen on instructing COPPERAJAH and COALOSSAL—using their myriad powers to concoct a robust wall of earth, stone and tar. They DIG up the earth and harness ANCIENT POWER to raise the seabed. STEALTH ROCKS are nestled into the sediment, meshed togethered with globs of TAR SHOT.[break][break]

As they begin to form something of a perimeter line, Adrian unleashes STONJOURNER in triplicate. With HEAVY SLAMS they nestled into their appointed positions, lending their very bodies to the fortifications, creating an extensive POWER SPOT to rally around. If only I had more of them to spare.[break][break]

ROCK SLIDES into place and is SMACKED DOWN to keep the modifications compact. As he watches over his pokemon, he considers other modifications—but his efforts here should be enough. Or so he hoped.[break][break]

"...Do you really think they'll try to retake Sootopolis?" Adrian seems to sound worried, though it's for his own reasons. It had been some time since fate had brought him and Rowan back into the others' lives. If it would happen again, he did not wish for it to be under such dire circumstances.

[attr="class","bottom"]Cillian Quinn[break]

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He can't disagree—but he doesn't want to believe it. He's enjoyed the fascimile of peace Rocket has maintained here, even if only afforded for the League's inaction. Coalossal continues to pack down the earth with smack down, while Copperajah digs up loose soil and replaces it with rock and stone. While they work, Adrian observes many pokemon showing their strengths, though Cilian's remain striking. Perhaps that is why they're keen to his staring. "Well, not entirely..."[break][break]

Adrian averts his eyes to his wrist as he holds it in the opposing hand, gently massaging the joint.[break][break]

Klefki had nearly taken his hand at the wrist when it defected. They were unruly and unwieldy, and yet—[break][break]

Returning his gaze to match Cilian's, he answers:[break][break]

"They've a great power to be desired."[break][break]

While Adrian may not align himself with Rocket's ambitions, they were not ignorant to one of the golden rules of history: Might makes right.[break][break]

"...Yveltal loathed them, however."[break][break]

And so he relied on them sparingly, if at all.[break][break]

Adrian recalls how he could see them differently—for what they were—but he is blind to that now. And although their characteristics and demeanor made them distinguishable, he still felt that twinge in his eyes everytime he tried to envisualize an aura.[break][break]

Maybe it always would—a parting gift for him.[break][break]

[attr="class","bottom"]Cillian Quinn[break]

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Packing down and molding the soft earth like clay, Adrian's pokemon moved on to different sections of the project, while he and Gavin were able to continue commiserating.[break][break]

"Perhaps not." He wasn't going to force it.[break][break]

While they labored away at the project, Adrian found himself staring out towards the direction of Ever Grande. How will you go about it, I wonder...?[break][break]

He did not want to entertain the thought of conflict—but it would be upon them in short order. And while they made their preparations, Adrian would not be prepared the moment fighting broke out. He could say the words, perform the necessary rituals...[break][break]

...But his heart wasn't in the work.[break][break]

How long can you keep this going, Adrian?[break][break]

He might've been daydreaming, but eventually something snapped him out of it. The sun loomed overhead oppressively, and Adrian felt the faint veneer of sweat building up on his forehead. The seabreeze could only afford small waves of relief, and he knew he'd end up cooking out here if he wasn't careful not to find shade sooner or later.[break][break]

"...I know you're going to hate hearing this, but..." Adrian chewed on the words tactfully.[break][break]

"...What if we have to surrender the city?"[break][break]

Was there a contingency for a hasty retreat?

[attr="class","bottom"]Cillian Quinn[break]