[attr="class","light"] conversation on the scope would have to continue later. though, he was definitely interested in adding a possible addition to the mechanism's inner working. for now, the topic at hand.

"that it poses a similarity to the desert ruin exploration the league partook in where some child died."

he wasn't fully verse on the ruin raid that occurred sometime long ago, but he read up on it. "the dangerous discovery of this ruin is no different from the first." it didn't take some brilliant detective to piece the puzzle together. "if i'm not mistaken we've only recently come to discover this location, yeah?"

upon feeling the wall and examining the mural before them. zenji could only deduce probably one or two conjectures, but before doing so he'd say this,"it's too dangerous to dive deep, and i'm not exactly willing to risk my life for the past at this time." continuing on with his spiel, he would add, "but there's a high probability we may be heading into a second quarter similar to the first." there was no reason that led to this, but this is the second ruin the league has come to discover.

"if this is a part two of the first, then we're not finding anything up here. at best we may get a story if we continue to explore the walls, but we're gonna need to take pictures so we can decipher them back at the lab..." zenji continued to skim the wall. staring at the picture indicating a sacrificial ritual. "for now this isn't much to go on. are there anymore murals?"

note: FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","light"] soft, gray orbs took in the approaching figure. her face glassy, fitting for someone with a gym designed like so. her scent was soft--cloying to be exact. it reminded him of a flower.

"lavender..." zenji uttered.

he'd take such a scent into memory. as lucario handed zenji the case, he'd casually hand it back to her. his arm would extend before the woman and awaited for the content to be taken. "your pokemon are in top condition. their checkup showed nothing abnormal from the war. they're suited to return to the battlefield beyond this gym." ah, she also thought the director was some sort of challenger.

shaking his head, "no, i merely came to return your property. most of my staff were out today, and i had business in the area anyway. so i thought to save everyone the trip." his expression remained steeled.

"my name zenji jabami, director of the evol research facility. i take it you're Katherine Fairburne, gym leader of mauville."

he'd slightly bow his head, "it's a pleasure to meet you." his baritone voice held a monotonous theme to it. once more the professor would examine the gym, "interesting facility design..." zenji would come to steadily study the scenery.

note: Katherine Fairburne

[attr="class","light"] inside of a car driven by zenji. they were on their way to a small yet reputable resort. it was a present for the kid he'd chosen to take in as an apprentice. as they were entering the new year, zenji needed to his own little vacation before getting back to his work. it's normal for some researchers to never know a day of rest, but not zenji.

if there's one thing that mattered to him most in life was a nice, long break. off days and vacation days were a godsend and must when working at his establishment. "if there's one thing i hate it's people who overwork themselves to death," zenji said, directing this comment to bryan delarosa. "you can't prosper in life if you never learn to enjoy it."

with the new year approaching this was probably the only time they'd ever get to relax. "it's best to take moments like these when you can." he'd take a brief drag from his cigarette, "know why i brought you out here?"

note: bryan delarosa

[attr="class","light"] entering the establishment of mauville's gym. together did zenji and his lucario come to deliver katherine's pokemon. they remained by the entrance in order to the meet gym leader personally. the pokemon she had given bryan delarosa to pass onto zenji's facility made sure they were healthy and promptly ready for their next fight. they couldn't have done it without their resident aide avery jones.

as the director of evol stood in wait. he would come to take out a cigarette and place it into his mouth. just as he was about to light the stick zenji would notice a sign. "mm..." a small groan escaped him and he would place the cancer stick behind his ear, "i'll save it for later." many would care about making a good impression during their first meet with someone as established as a gym leader, but not zenji.

he had other matters to tend to. he was hoping to not have to be here all day. the last thing he wanted to do was run into some snot-nosed brat right now.

note: Katherine Fairburne

[attr="class","light"] it was no coincidence that the institution of evol was partnered with the league's greatest. they were, in one way or another, a key piece to the facility zenji is fortunate to run. as they entered the ruin that was sealed off from the public, zenji would come to respond to the famous councilman.

"zenji's fine, formalities are the last thing i care about."

dusting the sand off of his person. he would come to examine what they were able to see upon revealing a flashlight. behind them stood his lucario carrying key research equipment for their little excursion. "it's an honor to be partnering with one of hoenn's sharp councilman." a small gesture would signal for lucario to hand him his computer.

as lucario gathered zenji's tool. he would come to notice the silph scope currently being displayed, "the infamous neurotech developed by your company." to see it in person was something. "rumor has it it's like a miniature pokedex and more..." he was fascinated by the tech.


note: FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","light"] "that's not something a human can determine."

a small chuckle escaped him. he was bemused by the applicant's theory. for how science came into play? that was an interesting one. "that's something you would have to ask the 'first'." the thought of what occurred after death is a lifelong question that the lifespan of a human would never have the chance to figure it out.

not until the end of said lifespan.

"many people are still trying to figure out what came first: matter or consciousness?" she had potential, but to spend her time here in figuring that out didn't seem to make her a good fit exactly. "i think by answering that question first can we figure out the question of what will occur 'after'." reaching into his coat pocket did the professor call forth his lucario.

"do you believe the soul continues to exist after your passing?"

note: @sophiaharford , i, too, am enjoying the thread!

[attr="class","light"] his sight became slightly agape.

he was taken aback by the woman's chosen path. now he understood why she was sent directly to him. his interest had been poked. "the survival of consciousness?" zenji would come to lean forward. his body language signifying that his interest had now been peaked.

"can you go a little further into detail?" why was this her goal? what exactly made her decide to tackle such a task? when it came to eschatology there was plethora of information on the topic. in fact, with avatars being about, you could say that they fit the category of 'progressive revelations,' prophets who speak and are under the influence of their creatures grace.

there was more to sophia than he thought.

note: @sophiaharford , i, too, am enjoying the thread!

[attr="class","light"] a smile formed.

"i take it back."

he was impressed by what had been spewed. the view of a theologian strongly emanated from the words she had spoken. "i was mistaken, you have the words of a theologian so far." his smile then faded.

once more he would take a sip of his tea. after setting it down he would continue, "is that your goal?" he would ask with little explanation. zenji, once again, would speak before she could. giving her more to his question, "to explain the unexplainable?"

note: @sophiaharford , i, too, am enjoying the thread!

[attr="class","light"]lucario entered combat.

the sound of a concussive force was heard deep within the grassy plains. drowning out the young male's question. the source of the sound was none other than probopass and lucario. the pair emerged from the forest as they were engaged. probopass continued to release tri attack relentlessly, aiming for lucario.

the dual-type continually dodged, only to respond with an aura sphere once the chance had been given. with extreme-speed he'd add onto the attack with force palm. "good job," zenji commended. the probopass shakily continued to move, but before it could be given another chance zenji took it upon himself. with one pokeball he'd throw it at the probopass, attempting to capture it.

while the ball shook, zenji would turn to see a newcomer and their pokemon. "woah, didn't see you there. you lost or somethin'?" the professor would ask.

note: fighting/steel, @johnitou

- catching probopass

[attr="class","light"]it was cold. snow fell from the sky as frosted breath escaped his maw. "it's cold..." he murmured. a cigarette was lit and placed into his mouth, but before closing it he would decide to stomp it out. he didn't need the cancer stick making him any colder. "now i'm gonna be irritated." he needed to get back to work.

outside of fallarbor town. most of zenji's belongings were in a inn he would be staying at tonight. he was currently here in search of pokemon.

note: fighting/steel, open

[attr="class","light"]it was that time of the month to add to his collection. he needed to gather pokemon for future trainers of hoenn. it was important to prepare their starters for the oncoming adventures they would take.

note: fighting/fire, open

[attr="class","light"] which led him to his next question.

"why theology then?" she didn't seem like the type who wanted to explore it. he wasn't even sure as to what the type who did look like. "you don't strike me as the type to have that be their first chosen study." had she no interest in anything else? "was there nothing else in your life that caught your interest or..." he'd ponder on the thought for a moment.

"...could it be something forced you to take this up?"

note: @sophiaharford , i, too, am enjoying the thread!