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Like a beaten dog, Inoue Hitoshi does not speak again. When the psychic hold fades, he lifts himself back up and follows the conversation in silence. Though he does not know mint frost forced his head against the table, his fellow beast’s barbed tongue makes him fall silent.[break]
He is, after all, last among equals.[break]
Certain points make the quiet dog’s blood boil. His sword finds his vein. When the red cloth slips beneath his sleeve and begins to drink, he doesn’t make a sound. Quiet amber eyes observe Chien-Pao. When jayden cross’s voice seems to channel the hateful thing, Hitoshi’s palms go white beneath the table.[break]
Only Father Winter pulls him from his reverie. The voice speaks of worlds. All worlds against theirs. Inoue Hitoshi does not like that man, whoever he is. Father Winter seems to patronize them all.[break]
Yet…[break]
Perhaps there’s an opportunity here.[break]
“Boss.” It is the first time he has ever addressed declan walsh directly. Today, he realizes, is the first time he has seen Declan Walsh.[break]
“That guy we just heard. If he pulls another stunt this December like he did last year, wouldja object if I tracked him down and killed him?” There’s a lie there – the first real lie Inoue Hitoshi has ever told. He wants, more than anything, to find that man and ask him a few certain questions. For Jayden’s life Rocket’s glory, of course.

[attr="class","hitoshi-notes"]❖ Hitoshi asks Walsh for permission to hunt Father Winter down if there's ever a FW3. You know, to kill him. Totally not to try and strike a deal or anything. :)

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Elisabeth silently reclines in her seat as egos battle openly in the theater of this darkened council, gaze flicking from one face to another.[break][break]

Victory has turned howard slayte arrogant, she notes as she watches him debate with the other underbosses; it pleases her, for the arrogant are the most careless among men. He has done her a great favor in underestimating her, and in due time, she will return it tenfold.[break][break]

Other changes manifest at the table. Power has enabled Shred to be impulsive and reckless, and she files that thought away for later, knowing the unpredictable are the true danger among them.[break][break]

Rank has made both Tempest Quinn and Hitoshi Inoue brazen and loud, while it has made Zev Harcourt a more reliable ally to her than she'd expected him to become.[break][break]

Prophecy has driven jayden cross to lunacy, and she seethes in quiet rage at how others interpret their shared Ruinous inheritance.[break][break]

Yet in Naomi Sato, a disappointing constancy rears its head once more as Father Winter appears to mock them with his prophetic warning.[break][break]

She has learned nothing, the underboss realizes with cold finality. She trusts the traitorous beings even now.[break][break]

"Sato," she says suddenly, her voice a quiet knife that cuts through the chatter. "The Unown -- tell me, were they divested from your control? Or did you feel capable of luring them away from the DRK Triad just now?"[break][break]

Though she speaks to the blue-haired Head Scientist, it is on Lulu Flint that the underboss's gaze rests, expecting agreeance. It is clear to her that if anyone at this table will understand the importance of her question, it is Darkrai's former Avatar.[break][break]

"If Admin Fox is capable of managing the logistics of Petalburg," she continues in a voice smooth as velvet, "Admin jayden cross and I should explore both the Border and Area Zero."[break][break]

A pause settles, before she turns to declan walsh and states the obvious aloud.[break][break]

"'The end.' 'The point of no return.' Father Winter is surely indicating Ruination, is he not?"[break][break]

No apprehension fills her at this realization. She knows it to be inevitable, just as death is inevitable.[break][break]

Yet for a woman who has already cheated one horrific certainty, it is difficult to fear another.[break][break]

---

TLDR:[break]
- quietly judges some folks at the table while she listens[break]
- annoyed Naomi Sato hasn't learned her lesson that the Unown are untrustworthy bastards when Father Winter shows up, makes a meaningful glance at Lulu Flint as she comments on this[break]
- comments that she and jayden cross can explore Area Zero/The Border[break]
- Suggests that Father Winter is indicating Ruination to declan walsh

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jayden cross Shred howard slayte Hitoshi Inoue Naomi Sato declan walsh Lulu Flint

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The bar for Beast was dropping lower by the second. First someone who slept his way to the position then an addict with a god complex and nothing else to show for it. He rolls his eyes, ignoring the demands at command when they'd already shown their own failures before this meeting, and instead turned his attention back to the people that actually mattered in influencing his job priorities. [break][break]

declan walsh puts an end to the affair by reaffirming what the strategic power Zev Harcourt had as the head tactician in the organization. It seems like the meeting is wrapping up. There's still talking but none of it is any data of actual consequence or matter. He looks at Elisabeth Fiorelli , curious about her cocoon power again and wondering if she always had that ability and just never got to use it before. Or...if it developed. Cillian Quinn had changed as well a few months back. Were avatars evolving? He mulled it over, making some notes to himself to look over this again. Cillian's had seemed like a fluke but now with Elisabeth... Or was it all because Hoenn was in more turmoil than ever, and their patrons were responding in turn? It seemed possible. Certainly the surge he felt during his own pact creation was far different than during the fight with Greyson Connors and PENELOPE LIVY . [break][break]

But he doesn't mull it over too long, perking up again when Monroe speaks up again. "If possible, could I be allowed to train with some of the Kantonian forces? I have experience with those on our staff from Kanto, but I don't want to take up more of their already sparse time." he said. "I want to see if anything could be added to the SPECTRA protocols as well." he added, tossing in a nugget of an excuse. [break][break]

The room grows heavy. Heavier than Cillian Quinn's PRESSURE. Something wraps them up, wholly and inescapably. Behind the helmet, Neon began swapping through modes. From night vision to thermal. But all that appears from the falls is little, familiar eyes. But they're different from what he's used to. These aren’t Naomi Sato 's. [break][break]

Tempest Quinn does something smart for once. Zabaglione moves to his feet, ready to defend. He shifted in surprise, dropping his tablet and standing up as he spotted the creatures in the meeting table. It's then that he hears a persistent beeping, and scrambles to grab his hand held. The reconfigured primal energy detector, Lulu Flint had cobbled together and the science corps had built on top of for years now. As he adjusts for the different reading types, he stiffened, shoulders tense and body still. [break][break]

He doesn't seem them, but they are very much here. A flash of heat pulses through him and the LED expressions on his helmet shift uncontrollably until the interface is put on lock down while he tries to ground himself with the act of data gathering. He breathes in sharply as the DRK triad member moved in close and he wondered if, like the Unown, Dionysus was really there. In parallel. Not tangible in the slightest but somewhere in between like his Unown. He felt Naomi Sato 's eyes on his and he shifted to look at her as his little wings fluttered excitedly. He had an idea. A thought. But he'd save it for later. [break][break]

She's upset and the order is followed swiftly with a small...shrug. He hadn't brought- [break][break]

[break][break]

But Diomedes shows anyways, popping out of the ether sensing a spike in its brethren. Or perhaps, it's old master. Who could say. But the little creature moved quickly, zipping around to fading eyeballs, to Neon, to Nomi- and nothing. It deflates a little before blinking out of existence to sulk elsewhere. [break][break]

Dionysus had left and if it hadn't been for the fact that he was surrounded by Rocket's hierarchy, he would've tried to keep him talking. The whirring in the back of his helmet settles again and the voice fades. He wanted to indulge a little more in the quiet Winter left only to hold back a groan as Hitoshi Inoue spoke up. But he doesn't snap at him, nor does he try to get him to hit himself either. Instead he reports what he can, “I’ll see if we can finally detect a unique signature on the DRK Triad members.” [break][break]

His expression locked in a thoughtful frown. It's uncomfortable to think about, which is why he hadn't ever really considered it. But he supposed if the DRK Triad continued antagonizing the universe...they would have to kill Winter. The pressure is mounting, but there's no guarantee they could sway him even through a winning bet. Walsh was convinced more than ever to kill him. Elisabeth pushes this point further, going for the Unown. He doesn't comment, instead focusing on the Ruination. "Based on Kyurem's prophecy, the Ruination, and now Father Winter's taunting, we can safely assume something is converging. If all these entities are recognizing something is coming, we can't really deny it. But how do we prepare for rising from the ashes and ensuring Rocket survives past The End?" Was that the Origin Point? Was he remembering it right? The moment all the universes die right? “Where would we go? We saw how well the Megalopolans did trying to escape their own world. I wouldn't be surprised if the Triad tried to sabotage our way out either.”


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it's a highway, highway to the dark [break]
and a neon medusa's got your heart .

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"sorry, lulu. we rarely get so lucky in war." [break][break]

she looked bitterly at howard slayte ’s news of Greyson Connors ’s survival. however, the unown peeling off the walls were an alarming distraction.[break][break]

her genesect was out in a flash. eyes snapped toward mint frost at father winter’s pet name for him. what a coincidence, that he was the other one who always had an unown with him.[break][break]

”search the building,” she commanded, and her cyborg folded into a drone and shot off at top speed. she wondered if her old patron lurked in the shadows, and dared to reach out in her mind, can you see him? is he here?[break][break]

surprisingly, then, she agreed with Naomi Sato about something – until, of course, came the annoying topic of the league’s avatars. she sneered, ”’hero dog mist’. connors again, really? kill the avatar, take the dog. it’s simple.” though, the mention of dream mist was intriguing.[break][break]

Elisabeth Fiorelli ’s emerald gaze was met. nearly all at the table knew her stance on the unown, though few had heard her suspicions voiced since her old protégé’s ascent to avatarship. they were suspicions that remained, especially as faith in the woman next to her slipped further. for that moment, they remained quiet, but surfaced in her eyes for the perceptive.[break][break]

only when mint asked about where they’d go did she speak up again. ”research has led me to believe the tera crystal may be a catalyst for traveling to other universes and timelines. i agree with head scientist sato that area zero should be prioritized. we really can’t afford to lose access.”[break][break]

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DISSEMINATE III

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the presence of father winter is familiar to the both of you.[break][break]

for you, the man is an irritating mystery you have no interest in solving. a bastard who appears in all the most overcomplicated places, and provides a single solution for every hundred problems. and yet, despite all the doomsaying from the likes of Naomi Sato and mint frost, you can't say you find him particularly worth worrying about. hell, why should you waste precious brainpower on any of the DRK triad? after all, they pose no threat to you.[break][break]

but the winged king recognises the stench of his allegiance for what it is. trespass fills its nostrils, and rage fills its heart. with a roar, the apex lurches forth, draconic claws tearing through the sclera dancing upon the walls. but, like trying to hold water, they simply trickle through its fingers, and ripple into nothing.[break][break]

and just like that, father winter is gone. the winged king sulks, trudging back to your side as it contends with the disappoint of a hunt unfinished. you, on the other hand, remain unbothered.[break][break]

at least, until the topic of other worlds rears its head.[break][break]

"travelling to other universes? what a novel idea."[break][break]

you mull over Lulu Flint's suggestion for a moment. idly, unconsciously, a hand reaches up to brush across your hair, and reveals a stray few strands of white amidst the cascading red. the answer seems rather obvious, doesn't it? though, you can't fault your peers for their ignorance. the full extent of your power lies beyond their understanding, at least for now. that makes this next part a pain in the ass, doesn't it? because they won't get it. they haven't seen what you've seen. and so, they'll surely call you foolish, incompetent, and unworthy for even suggesting it. yet, you know full well the truth of the matter: of all the people in this world, there are only two people who could make that feat into reality: june sleigh, and you.[break][break]

"yes, yes, as soon as i have area zero, i'll figure that out soon enough. can't be that hard, can it? if reyes and her dragon can figure it out, then it'll be a trifle for me and mine to do it, too."[break][break]

a million worlds to conquer, a million kyrurem to make whole, a million, billion, trillion meltan to see... yes, the infinite roads ahead of you are as crystal clear as they could ever hope to be.

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he's shred

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“a trifle?” she echoed Shred , disbelieving but intrigued nonetheless. “i’d like to meet with you after this, then.”[break][break]

Naomi Sato ’s call for trust earned a cold look. the suspicions Elisabeth Fiorelli had looked for in her gaze before came into the light, unable to be held back anymore.[break][break]

“when the unown joined you – if that’s truly what they did – they betrayed those who seek to save the rest of all existence – according to them, at least.” a sentence broken into reminders that there was terribly little they knew for sure.[break][break]

“regardless of their abilities, i won’t trust our lives to silent, traitorous beings from unknown universes, whose worlds may stand to fall in the case of our survival.” she paused, eyes lingering on her colleague, as though considering her next words. ”i’ve kept my suspicions quiet for your sake, since warnings you did not heed. explore the possibilities, sato, but do not get in the way of my search for an alternative to your naïve leap of faith.”[break][break]

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DISSEMINATE III

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'I won. We won. Thus, I get to speak my mind.'

[break][break] Frosted blue eyes regard the other man — not with contempt or distaste, but curiosity. Is this what those on Hoenn soil think of the tragedies of war? He is - once again - brought back the the graveyard in which he had once spoke to THEO BECKETT, when they had shared their thoughts on the differences between their homeland and Hoenn's own.

[break][break] How simple-minded they were. How foolish.

[break][break] Before he can say more, however, their God General speaks. Jayden's attention shifts to Zev Harcourt, as naturally as bones align with the movement of the hand — such is the way of Rocket's hierarchy. Authority that is interwoven as seamlessly as muscles is to bone, as inherent as the blood that bleeds through their veins.

[break][break] "All our dogs are of the same pack," he says instead, glancing swiftly at Tempest Quinn as he speaks. He had the same to his step-brother when he'd asked him how to ascend to his current position — simply do your tasks, and success should follow. The same could be said of speaking out of turn. "Are they not?"

[break][break] "Our wins, our losses. All successes and failures belong to Rocket."

[break][break] The wound from declan walsh's DARKRAI pulses threateningly beneath his grip, where the reminder of his own failure, of Ashley Shepard pulses dangerously close.

[break][break] Made worse by the burnt fabric of Isaac Merlo that is tossed before Zev Harcourt.

[break][break] Of the pain, of the suffering, of the hate they must all feel for Suicune's chosen.

[break][break] Sensing the powerful emotion that thrums beneath it's puppeteer's pale skin, the Ruinous Beast rises. It parts it's maw, as predators savor the scent of fresh kill.

[break][break] Perhaps it is the defiance of Tempest Quinn that riles it to movement, perhaps it is the heartbeats that thud around the discomfort of the room, perhaps it is the bloodthirsty nature of Kanto's own eager wolf.

[break][break] It's eyes gleam with lust, and so does the ice pierce through Jayden's own skin, blood dripping onto the floor from the palm that brushes against fern delaney's hand.

[break][break] Jayden stands, only to be stalled by the peerless lake of their Underboss' eyes, stilling him into place, snapping the puppet back into the invisible chains that bind him.

[break][break] "Boss," his voice is cold and eyes hollow as he raises an arm. "As you say — we share the same failures. Might I share the lesson with Admin Fox that you shared with me?"

[break][break] HATEFUL black ice unfurls from his left forearm, stripping away the weight of his uniform as frostbite devours flesh, revealing the blackened mark of DARKRAI etched against his pale, tortured skin.

[break][break] Before he can say anything more, however, there is a sudden shift in atmosphere. Thousands of sclera appear in his mind's eyes and for a sudden, blazing moment all he can see is the vivid crimson of Dmitri's own staring back at him. Rather than feel FEAR, however, he only feels ANGER —

[break][break] Suddenly, he spins viciously onto mint frost.

[break][break] "Neon," he demands, hand suddenly reaching for fern delaney's, like it is a lifeline. "Explain yourself. What is your connection with Father Winter? Why did he call you songbird?""

[break][break] Chatter of others quickly fill the room, but it's all white noise to Jayden. Exploring Area Zero with Elisabeth Fiorelli and Shred, Lulu Flint questioning Naomi Sato...

[break][break] It's only the latter that breaks his steadfast gaze on mint frost.

[break][break] "... What is the alternative, might I ask, Head Scientist Flint?"

[break][break] Curiosity drags him away once again, as he realizes that he and Lulu Flint may have the same prerogative.

[break][break] To hunt both Greyson Connors and Father Winter down. And kill them.

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her stare flitted to mint frost at jayden cross’s questioning, curious, suspicious. the question he posed to her was then met with a simple answer.[break][break]

”the tera crystals,” as she’d mentioned before, ”and the interdream zone, where time is distorting. i will have a report ready this afternoon, detailing my findings and plans for further research.” [break][break]

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DISSEMINATE III

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