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[attr="class","eris109"]"Don't worry if you don't get used to Hoenn's crazy. Or this whole pixie thing." Glancing over Cass' tense posture, Eris hums. "I assure you, it's not normal. None of it is. I was full-on quaking in my boots trying to pull Pecharunt. Sometimes, I even wonder how crazy it is that Mes chose me. It's been a year and a half and I still don't know why they refuse to leave me."[break][break]

Just like how it's been a good two minutes and Mesprit is still giving Uxie that smug grin instead of answers. Instead, they simply look at their wrist as if checking a non-existent watch. The lock is still there, the Schrodinger's pizza remains elusive.[break][break]

On the other hand, Hideo and Cass seem open to the idea. Each with different reactions to her suggestion.[break][break]

"Adoptive brother." She corrects, palm pressed against the edge of the table as she leans her weight into it. "You think the League would let me live alone?"[break][break]

Not since she'd last ran. Not since she'd last been attacked.[break][break]

"A lake sounds nice. Like Lake Valor, Verity and Acuity... but like, Lake Littleroot." There's probably better names for this. "I could always ask. Worst Isaac can tell me is no."[break][break]

And Isaac Merlo almost never told her no.

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[attr="class","eris109"]Even if she tells herself not to think in such ways, Eris can never help the low expectations that sit at the back of her mind. The things that people say to justify their actions, the way they paint the world and expect everyone to simply follow along with that logic. The words they speak if only to dismiss her questions.[break][break]

But this answer carries quite a bit more weight. There is nothing right or wrong about this. Everyone has a point where they draw the line and Freya is firm about hers.[break][break]

A soft click serves as a prelude to a crack in the divide, the door carefully pulled ajar for fear of Freya accidentally tumbling through. And from behind it, a pair of mismatched eyes peek at her, tinting with a hint of worry at how she's curled up too.

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[attr="class","eris109"]The silence draws long, grows even longer still with the door that sits between them. And in the end, an answer. One that feels very carefully patched together.[break][break]

"Miss Freya, do you... As a councilwoman, do you regret your decision?"[break][break]

War is messy. It takes more than a heart to decide what must be done. It takes so much more thinking for the future of so many. It is a heavy burden. One that many have reminded her time and time again, that she will never understand.[break][break]

And yet, Freya too is just as she says it. Someone who had been broken, who hadn't been able to think straight. A complicated being.[break][break]

A person.[break][break]

"As Freya... just Freya, do you regret it?"[break][break]

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[attr="class","eris109"]It's hard to immediately make heads or tails of the situation. A specter. A frost steed... that kidnaps people? And before she can ask anymore questions, a Glastrier comes crushing right through the fences, filling the air with screams of terror and slamming doors.[break][break]

Then comes the order. The order to kill.[break][break]

Her eyes widen, her heart sinking to unimaginable lows as she looks to Andrea.[break][break]

"Wait!"[break][break]

A shimmering pink barrier protects the Glastrier's head, the Ralts frowning as they try to fend off Ogerpon's attacks.[break][break]

"Killing it can't be the only way??"

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[attr="class","eris109"]"But Navy could. He forgave."[break][break]

Navy, who was always reminding her to try and be better, if even by just that little bit each day. The only one in the League who always stuck to his word. The only one she ever saw trying to be that change for the better.[break][break]

"And not just him, all those people that chose to protect Cyllora or at least, didn't hop at that opportunity to kill. Or well, I mean, maybe they didn't forgive them, who knows right?" A nervous laugh, one hand awkwardly tucks her hair behind her ears. "But at the very least, they all thought killing was a bad idea."[break][break]

A light thunk is the sound of her head resting upon the door, her gaze lifted to the ceiling as she wonders just how dumb she must sound.[break][break]

"I heard Miss Melody back then. She was yelling something along the lines of... No one has the right to decide if someone deserves death."

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Miss Freya... I kinda, well -" Deep breaths. She can put her words together. "Back when we escaped that prison, I saw... so many people going straight for the kill against Pecharunt. Against Cyllora."[break][break]

She can hears its cries. That ominous crack as its body was sent flying through the air.[break][break]

"Navy always tells me that the League has to be better. If they wanna talk about better tomorrows, they've got to be better."[break][break]

The blood that had been spilled, the frustrations that had boiled and clouded their minds.[break][break]

"In that moment, I saw both Rocket and... so many... many Leaguers go for that kill. If people didn't interfere, Cyllora would've died."[break][break]

Tap, tap, tap go her fingers against her ankles.[break][break]

"If people should be given chances to prove they're trustworthy... why didn't we attempt to give Cyllora that same chance?"

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[attr="class","eris109"]In all those harrowing situations she's been through, who is the one hiding behind their anger? Who is the one justifying their actions? Has she been justifying her own actions? Is she the predator? Or the one being preyed upon? What do people consider right? Where is the line drawn?[break][break]

"Trust is hard."[break][break]

Trust is a double-standard.[break][break]

"It's... like..." She stops, finds a question sitting upon her tongue.[break][break]

Would Freya yell at her if she said it? Most people would probably tell her if that thought crossed her mind, the answer was more than likely to be yes.[break][break]

"Yeah, it's really hard."

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[attr="class","eris109"]There is silence. One that stems from relief of not being lectured. Another that blooms from hesitation.[break][break]

"I... don't know." There is no right way to answer this question. At least, none that makes her feel confident in a positive response. "I've been told... I should've died in Kanto with my parents. A- and that it was my fault for running and being hurt by that gym leader. And that I'm dangerous. And can't be trusted."[break][break]

Freya would never be able to see her. How she gently grasps her ankles, pulling them close as she curls into a ball.[break][break]

"If you stay outside, I can't hurt you."

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Zac Ramsay. He was a really cool guy! Went all out from the get-go!" Never even made an excuse for when she beat him fair and square. Now that was true sportsmanship.[break][break]

She blinks. The past leaves no traces, just like the sands churned by the waves.[break][break]

"Reiner helps! Just... more on the communication side than the actual building."[break][break]

A scrunched nose and a squint is all she gets in response. Heaven knows the Luxray would dunk her head in the sand if he had to deal with itty bitty grains stuck between his toes.[break][break]

"He'd much rather have me build a treehouse where he can nap."

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[attr="class","eris109"]Who knew? This place could've had a grand oasis before civilisation died out. From what she knew of the legend, it could travel quite the distance looking for locations to settle, staying in regions it deemed fit. If it was sent here to die though... If the DRK Triad could mess with their dimension, who's to say they weren't involved?[break][break]

Right now, all that is certain is the fact that the sun begins to shift with the movement of the gnomon, the temperature swaying from sweltering heat to chilly to sweltering heat then chilly once more. While part of her does appreciate the cooling breeze, it makes her skin prickle after being cooked for far too long. And boy, does Reiner have things to say as he shivers and fidgets about.[break][break]

Those words are suppressed in favour of focusing on the threat at hand, the rapid recovery of a Pheromosa as a Buzzwole comes crashing right in. And he tugs at her arm, cocking his head as he takes a step in the opposite direction. They should leave while they can, while the Ultra Beasts are busy duking it out amongst themselves.[break][break]

But before they can make a move, the ground begins to rumble, an Earthquake seizing control of the area as the Buzzwole slams its fists into the sand.

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[attr="class","eris109"]No matter how many times she comes here, Meteor Falls remains as beautiful as ever. The musty smell of overgrown moss, the bubbling foam that prickles at her palms, the echoing drip drip drop of water off stalactites, the gentle shift of shadows as a quiet gold pierces through. All of it roots her to this place and time, her chest heavy with anticipation as she counts the seconds passing by.[break][break]

"Think she's here yet?"[break][break]

A grunt is her response, an additional weight rested upon her shoulders as his breath tickles her cheeks. Then a prod against her side, his tail poking as he ruffles through her pocket.[break][break]

"Oh, right. I should have texted, huh?"[break][break]

Then a beep, muffled by cloth but chipper as ever. When she pulls her phone out to check, she sees nothing but a location sent to Genny's phone with several pictures of her Woopers.[break][break]

"Uhh... Nice job, Koios."

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[attr="class","eris109"]The pats provide momentary comfort, the unease subsiding as the topic of trust is touched upon. And yet, a part of them still remains antsy - For they have spent more than enough time with Eris to understand the basic gist of what goes on inside her head.[break][break]

Speed against caution. Surely Razz would be the kind to prioritise safety over speed, but Eris truly doesn't think in such situations. Instead, she simply feels her way about the presented problem, follows her gut instincts and stumbles her way into solutions. Most times, it falls to the Luxray to truly tear through the problem successfully.[break][break]

There will be no exceptions here. With Eris calling out paths and Reiner fixing the plans with his own gut instincts, they zig and zag way through the field, tumbling past the finish line without any further mishaps.

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[attr="class","eris109"]The topic is like a cage, her honesty a shackle that keeps her tied to this conversation. She can hear movement outside the door, and from Reiner's shake of his head, it's nothing suspicious such as attempting to find another entrance.[break][break]

In Freya choosing to simply accept the walls between them, Eris stills, slides down against the door until she lands with a quiet 'thump'. There is a moment of silence, a moment for her to chew on her thoughts and think of the right words to say.[break][break]

"Have I done something bad this time?"

[break]