[attr="class","eris99"]

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[attr="class","eris100"][break]

[attr="class","eris109"]"Yeah, uh... well. There's a really funny story to it. You see -"[break][break]

How does she spin this?[break][break]

"We got kidnapped by a bunch of megalopolans, who were being controlled by a pokemon."[break][break]

Imprisoned, cut up, tormented, beaten, led astray. Seven days of hell. And yet, by Celebi's intervention, only two days had passed them by on Hoenn.[break][break]

Her palms grow cold, sweaty even as she dries them off on the kitchen towels.[break][break]

"Somehow, we travelled all the way from Hoenn to Ultra Megalopolis!"

Not even avatars had been able to stand up against it.[break][break]

"Everything worked out in the end!"[break][break]

If Azelf hadn't been there. If Azelf hadn't had enough power.[break][break]

"Miss Illeana opened a portal with Palkia and we're all home."[break]


Her heart begins to pick up its pace.[break]

Her knees feel weak as her back quietly prickles.[break]

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[attr="class","eris109"]It works. But only for a second of two. Amidst the chaotic waves of petals, she can see that beast latch onto a lamp pole and her mind begins to whirr with countless possibilities.[break][break]

"JUMP!"[break][break]

Reiner leaps, and not a second too soon. Those cables slam right into the ground where they would've been, cracking concrete as chunks of street fly with the harsh impact. That man is nowhere to be found amongst the swirling pink storm, and that only means one thing: There is no one to give this monster any further commands.[break][break]

Right now, it is just them versus the true nature of this beast. Electricity probably won't have any effect on it. In fact, electricity must be what it's using to track them down -[break][break]

In a flash of red, a Salamence takes Reiner's place with fire upon his tongue, a Flamethrower spewed right at the Xurkitree as Eris scrambles right onto his back.[break][break]

"The rift!"[break][break]

Part of his body is already tensed to strike at the pile of cables.[break][break]

"Go!"[break][break]

He grunts, his wings beginning to flex. The force of a Dragon Claw is instead driven right into the ground, sweeping sizable pieces of debris at the ultra beast.

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Seals?" A joke crosses her mind. Her eyes briefly scour the environment. "Nah, doesn't seem like there's anything around..."[break][break]

Regardless, she takes the time to reach out and feel the structure, the roughness of what she assumes to be stone contrasted by the smooth grooves that line its body. Pulling her notebook from her bag, she flips to an empty page and presses it against pillar, then begins to shade the outlines where she can.[break][break]

"Violent? Did they think you were trespassing or something?" She purses her lips, allowing her mind to wander with the sheer mundanity of the task. "What is Landorus doing in a desert like this anyways? Wouldn't it enjoy a place with more life or..."[break][break]

Silence falls as little thoughts steal her words.[break][break]

"Hmm. Wonder what any of these mean."[break][break]

She'll have to ask howard slayte some time.[break][break]

In the meantime, Reiner seems to have found something, carefully pawing at the sand at his feet. Aided by Mesprit so the sand doesn't spray in his eyes, he digs fervently and even barks at Rocky to help.

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[attr="class","eris109"]She's seen this waiter before, helping to pack an ungodly amount of sandwiches that she'd ordered for her Woopers before. He recognises her too, giving her a smile after jotting down Fernando's order.[break][break]

How does her smile look? Having to suddenly pull it out with all the nerves of being seated at a table with someone more leaning towards the definition of stranger?[break][break]

A soup and a large plate of bacon for Reiner. Someway, somehow, she pulls it off. And when he leaves, they're left with yet another growing gap of conversation.[break][break]

"So uhm... two extra plates, huh?" Is he expecting company? She sure isn't. Oh god, was she supposed to be expecting visitors to their table? "Are you planning to eat from all 3 plates at once?"[break][break]

What a stupid question, but it's already been spoken into existence as her nerves win out.[break][break]

"I guess it's a nice change from mochi..." When she flounders, she drowns. "A- and they do make pretty great pancakes!"

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[attr="class","eris109"]Time is ticking. She needs to pick up the pace, she can't let herself get run down by -[break][break]

Another Voltorb comes barreling in from the left, forcing her to tuck and roll before it touches. And Razz might even feel a sudden spike of unease in his chest, the Ralts having climbed upon his shoulder as they watch their ward's attempt rather intently.[break][break]

"Reiner!"[break][break]

Her call draws him right in, the Luxray sweeping by her side and scooping her right up onto his back. She has to admit it. On her own, she wouldn't be able to catch the dangers coming from her blind spot. But when they're together, she could very well help guide Reiner when he doesn't have to worry as much about her.[break][break]

Just like a volcano full of Precipice Blades.[break][break]

Two Voltorb up ahead on a collision course. Reiner readies to leap over them, but Eris presses a hand against his shoulder.[break][break]

"Straight through." She murmurs, her palm heavy as doubt encroaches on her judgement. But he will believe where she begins to falter, keeping his pace as he barrels on through. Sure enough, the Voltorb crash into one another and in a sudden spark of electricity, open a path as they blast themselves apart.

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Reiner can do it!" She retorts, looking to the large feline as he quietly picks a few stray leaves from his mane. "And those shortcuts are necessary if I'm ever gonna to keep up with you in the future."[break][break]

Despite her taunts, she knows deep down that she'd never be able to match to his speed if he truly decided to go all out. If he tapped upon Suicune's wellspring of power. Sure, he wouldn't when it came to day to day happenings. They didn't need gods to make their lives, and they had built a home with their own two hands.[break][break]

But it's coming -[break][break]

She closes her eyes for a moment, letting out a quiet sigh.[break][break]

Just, let me have this.[break][break]

Her eyes flutter open. "Think winter will stop getting so cold?" And she laughs at how he flops down, taking a few steps over before flopping down right beside him. "Less cold days to drink hot cocoa..."

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Oh... My bad, Pon." Of all the legends, she's rather glad that Pon seems to wear her heart upon her sleeve. The easier it is to read her, the easier to understand and the less likely it is to overstep boundaries.[break][break]

As if joining Pon in her anger, the Ralts too begins to chitter at Eris, earning themselves a side eye to remember. Reiner, on the other hand, merely tenses, keeps an eye on the ogress as she continues to move about.[break][break]

"Or the mountain could be the gym itself!" It is with child-like imagination that she latches to the idea that Andrea translates. "You know, kinda like how there are ruins in the mountains? You could probably turn a cave into a pretty cool starting area..."[break][break]

A gasp draws her out of the thought, her attention dragged over to the Donphan in the room: A power spot where the tera crystal had once been. A threat? Or a warning? There's no time to thoroughly consider it as the scenario begins to warp and shift.

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Mmm... I think I'm healthy? Or well, I'm not too sure." With the staff member drawing closer, she holds her tongue and instead chooses to focus on her left arm.[break][break]

"Iunno if asking Miss Illeana would help."

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[attr="class","eris109"]"He's a lot less busier these days without the extra duties. Sometimes, he lets me tag along on smaller missions. Learn what rangers do." She rambles. It help soothes her nerves in front of a relative stranger. "I'm thinking maybe the soup."[break][break]

Both hands cup the glass, raising it up as she takes a sip.[break][break]

"Testimony for what though?"

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[attr="class","eris109"]Well, she can't argue with that logic. Doesn't change how weird this situation is to her but she'll roll with the punches.[break][break]

"Kin- Razz?" The translation in her brain doesn't come easy, but she eventually nods. "Before we were imprisoned yeah. Made me test out an obstacle course for the rangers. Said if I could do it, then the others should be able too."[break][break]

At some point, she hadn't even realised that Reiner had disappeared. It's only with the gentle clink of water glasses against the table that she'd pieced it all together.[break][break]

"What about him?"

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Me?" She wishes she had a cup of water right about now so she could just awkwardly sip the topic away. "Couldn't you have just sent someone else? No need to come all this way when... I'm assuming you're busy."[break][break]

There's no way that he's attempting to slack like kyle lopez once did in her home. She pauses for a moment, looks to Reiner for help. He really has none to offer.[break][break]

"So uhm... the coffee's here is real good or so I've been told."

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A MILLION MILES AWAY

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[attr="class","eris109"]"Weird, isn't it?" For her to have been in that prison with so many, many other people. "Imagine being able to just heist a whole bunch of people away. And some of the strongest in Hoenn to boot."[break][break]

With the menu finally put down on the table, she realises just how much she actually appreciated having that barrier between them. Her index finger begins to trace the tabletop, doodling strange little shapes that would probably only hold meaning in her eyes. And well, Reiner's too, as he snickers at her lopsided squiggle that looks vaguely like a sleeping Wooper.[break][break]

"Usually everyone's like, changing the region, fighting cosmic entities or stuff like that. But seeing all of them just... helpless to do anything. It was pretty weird to be honest."

[break]