jayden cross and BARNABY FINCH deserved to die.

Not only had they dragged the admin's body from his hospital room following his ill-gotten battle in Dewford and a abhorrent battle with Registeel, but they had placed him in a training exercise alongside Ameena. He enjoyed Ameena's company, but if she was secretly Regirock in a skin suit, he was going to kill himself.

Even admins needed training, and while Admin Fox held the role of 'Overseer' when it came to these trials, he knew for a fact that Jayden wanted to sharpen his edge for the battles to come. Among the four admins, Howard was the worst on the field.

"I took an automotive class in high school and passed with a C minus." Howard's tone was so dry that it made the desert seem like Eden. "At least with weapons, I can tell you the difference between a spear carved four thousand years ago in Almia and one carved in Kanto."

His tone made it clear that he wasn't having a fun time. Barnaby or Jayden was going to have a very fun time when he locked one of them in the freezer. That probably wasn't ideal, though. Jayden had ice powers and Barnaby could probably sweet talk Regice into letting him out.

"Let's study the art of war."

---

ameena abadi
WEAPONS

There was no need to put on much of a front, here. He was not along close friends who needed Howard to be bright and energetic, nor was he among the upper brass that demanded his callousness. Why display any other emotion than apathy?

It was an easy mask to wear. No need to try. No need to hide. Just keep marching forward, and hope that tomorrow would lessen the burdens of today. It likely wouldn't, but that was a quandary for the him of tomorrow to deal with. Now, all he had to do was cope with the pain.

Nonetheless, he tried to hold himself a little straighter. Best to keep up appearances, even slightly.

"Galar has some of the best smiths in the world, and some of the best knights during its pinnacle. There's nothing wrong with adapting only what you need." Galar had needed heroes, and thus they had been forged from dreams and rusted metal, and brought back to life with Tera Crystals. He tried to not think of Zacian. "Their bladework? Impressive. Firearms... less so. I always admired Webster and Scot. Their pieces are collectible."

A spark of the historian came out. The collector in him smoldered. That was quickly tamped out. Too tiring to get invested. He took a moment to catch his breath.

"I have a room like that, too." If working for Ameena required a 'Rage Room', then the admin pitied those poor secretaries. "My office. Let's go down to the range."

He plucked a sniper rifle from the rack. He already had one eye, so aiming the scope would be remarkably easy.

---

ameena abadi

Everyone collected something. Ameena collected dreams, bright and glorious, to reach her goal of better understanding the world. Howard collected 'things'. Objects of historical relevance that were useful in understanding this world's true nature. Guns. Paintings. Statues. Fossils. Gems.

If there was an object that held 'value' at any point in humanity's history, then Howard wanted it. They needed to be preserved and kept in stasis, unchanging, a snapshot into a past that future generations would not get to witness.

Every human dreamed. Ameena's work echoed into infinity. The things Howard collected were from one 'moment' in an ever-expanding time.

"A lot of different things. Rocks. Fossils. Cool odds and ends." Howard echoed. "I'll show you, sometime."

When a grunt harassed them, the admin let Ameena talk. He was here an an observer in name, and a nameless grunt knew better than to harass someone while a superior was walking by. Especially when that superior signed their checks.

Still, he felt a flicker of appreciation for her help. Few would've spoken up.

"Go on, Ameena." He offered as he leaned against a wall, watching. His vision swam slightly, tinged with red. It took all that he had to not vomit. "Do your best."

---

ameena abadi
CHILL

He waved a hand and patted his rifle. It was lighter. Less likely to make his knees buckle.

"Nah, this'll do. You've got too much gun." His eye twitched as Ameena's shell exploded on target. Flashes of Dewford's destruction twitched in his eyes, even though the town was still standing. Distant screaming echoed in his ears. He tried not to let it show on his face. "Good shot."

Good shot.

Good Shot.

GOOD SHOT.

There had been a twinge of satisfaction in both of their souls when the explosion hit. It had been fun to destroy something. It was fun to tear something down, even if it was harder to destroy than it was to create.

I'm sure we'll find a few between the couch cushions when the war is done. I'll arrange something at the next masquerade." How freehanded he was with things that weren't his. Even if he paid for them, they weren't his. He did not invest in engines of war. He stared down the scope. "A few hot stones, as well."

BANG! It wasn't a good shot, but his rifle still hit the target near the edge. He lacked the experience that Ameena had. He lacked her cool head. He lacked her aim.

"Huh." Howard frowned as he looked up from the rifle. Guess I need practice."

---

ameena abadi

A keeper was not a bad assessment. Rocket certainly did all they could to keep him here.

Restraint was necessary in both of their professions. A gentle hand to coax dreams from the still water of thought, to cup them gently and pull them apart at the seams to know what made them tick. The systemic dissection of the fantastic as the dreams leaked through Ameena's fingers like water, no matter how tightly she grasped at them.

Was it the grip of a destroyer or a preserver, or simply a scientist?

The thought was alluring to entertain, even as Howard himself pulled remnants of the past from ancient shelves of stone to ensure that they were remembered forever. To forget the past was a grave sin. To forget a dream was... what?

Human?

Perhaps they were both broken in similar ways. He wondered what made Ameena tick.

"Thanks. You humble me." He suspected that Ameena could hit a headshot with her eyes closed, but the admin did not lament her compliment. "It's harder than it looks. Thought it'd be more like the movies."

It seemed like a childish admission to make. He looked away to hide the embarrassment that threatened to compromise his apathy. It felt like a mistake to unveil something as simple as enjoying film.

"I'll find you some stones. I promise." He nodded once, then twice, silently reviewing his private collection. "Go on without me, I have to oversee a few more exercises for Cross and Bee."

He waved her off with a slight smile, before leaning against the railing of the range.

"What an interesting woman." His brow furrowed. "I wonder what she wants."

When the next group passed through, Howard Slayte was on the ground, barely breathing.

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ameena abadi