Various more people come to and gather, and as battle commences he hears a female voice on the comms. Paxton tenses at Katherine's assurance, hand flexing before he took a steadying breath. "Understood, Councilwoman Katherine Fairburne ." The fights rage on and as the SPOTLIGHT grows, Paxton readies another rounds ready to stop Rocket's approaching- [break][break]

But something else does it for him. A small, almost imp like deer creature with a balloon like head appeared on a pretty purple horse. He takes his finger out of the trigger well but looks through the scope at the statues and then at the pokemon. Another sudden jolt runs through him as he spots Eris Halla for a moment, only torn away form her sight when the trainers begin to float and speak in horrifying unison. [break][break]

Perhaps it is awe or disbelief that stops all the factional fighting. Either way, the little king speaks and they all listen.[break][break]

Calyrex?

[break][break]

He frowns trying to pull and recall if he'd ever heard of such a thing. But he memorizes it for later. The High King of Galar demands their favor. Storytelling. And while he's a little rusty, with so many others around he's sure it'll be easy for them. He gets to his feet, rifle pointed down, still tense with so many unfriendly around. Streenstrup is returned in favor of his shiny Magnezone, Joules. The dual type floats protectively near their trainer. [break][break]

"What universe is this? Are we in some kind of future?" he called out, eyes on the mounted king.

There's a pause before he adds in a shout. "HAMMERLOCKE!"

nhgll8Zo

[break][break]

+ @many taggus | SHRIEKINGGG and ready to get my shit rocked [break][break]

tl;dr

- shots fired hell yeah yeah [break]
- memorizes what calyrex looks like for later [break]
- sees eris [break]
- asks what kind of scenario they're in [break]
- picks HAMMERLOCKE [break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

Paxton hadn't been out in the field in a while. Not- not for the rangers anyway. Donning the part time gear, and uniform he sat at the entrance to Route 102 waiting for his protégé, as it were. Not really. To say protégé was to assume he even had time for one. [break][break]

But he'd gotten this far in the League by covering Ranger shifts. And now he was just back at his routes. They needed someone to care for a rookie who'd be shadowing him on assignment. Not too bad. Hopefully this one had some sense in what to wear out to the woods, unlike another careless rookie he could think over ( Elise Calcifet ). [break][break]

He sends up a report as he waited. "Officer Concordas to HQ, reporting in at the entrance to Route 102. Will be stepping off in 5 minutes. If Cadet Genevieve Cromwell has arrived by then, I'll leave without her." he warned as he stretched his legs for the time being. [break][break]

[break][break]

+ Genevieve Cromwell | mission prompt: commitment: act 1 [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He gives the blonde a once over, memorizing face to name. He planned to do a couple more lessons if these didn't turn out to be a terrible time. He gives them a firm shake before letting go. "Oh- No, not really." he said laughing as well. More so mirroring Zain. [break][break]

"We had some horse mounted officers in the LCPD but...I didn't have an interest back then." he explained with a small shrug. [break][break]

"My job is actually more boring, I work as an intelligence officer for the League." he explained before tilting his head. "What about you, Zain?" he asked, testing the name to make sure he said it right.

[break][break]

+ @zain | mission prompt: free reign [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

They all huddle by the tower, distantly he heard the sounds of more Volcanion guard stomping into the distance. But it sounded like they were going away, not coming forward. After a moment he unzips a pouch and hands the girl a small potion for her bird. "I'm Paxton, this is my friend Luciano." he said, looking at the girl for a name. [break][break]

He turned to Luci before adding, "Volcanion. It's this robotic, steam powered pokemon. Though, the ones here don't seem to be sentient." he explained.

As he's about to say something else, a soft singing and the sound of what seemed like a music box echoed eerily through the courtyard. Joules seemed to be fine, beeping to get the groups attention to a level next to the tower walls. Perhaps they could get inside? They began trying to use their magnets to hammer the level back for the group. Meanwhile Paxtons expression changes, frowning before relaxing as he seemed to zone during the song. Without warning, he stands, and begins to walk away, slow and mechanically like his limbs are struggling to move. [break][break]


04 experience your emotions being overridden by the song sung periodically throughout the kingdom; conversely, become cursed by the song and find yourself perpetually dancing before breaking the curse (e.g. dampening sound).

[break][break]

+ luciano fisk Morrigan Anderson | LFGGG mecha nation 2 [break][break]

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He nodded, turning his attention to the shop and beginning forward. The vines are surprisingly weak, and his gloved hands are enough to snap coils off that crunch onto the ground. The smells of old flowers is pungent, once they crack open the shop door. [break][break]

Though it may be in vain, he calls out anyway. "Ms. Fiorelli?" he yells disturb the deafening silence, echoing once in the home before quieting. Nothing moves or creaks. He takes point for her. A hand on his hip over a pistol he'd brought instead of the rifle. Just in case. Joules is too large to fit comfortably inside here. He steps forward, glancing and the counter and then focusing through the glass walls. [break][break]

With everything this withered....had she been missing for days? "Do you remember how long it took for her to deliver her wares?" he asked idly. "The rate of decay isn't adding up to me. Especially in a florist's greenhouse, primed for tending and selling of specialty plants." Sure some of the more finnicky breeds would wilt and die, but the majority of others? They had time. [break][break]

He looks through the tinted glass to see if any poison type may have infiltrated but... "Maybe it's related to that BLIGHT perimeter." He decide to investigate only the front for now, unwilling to separate from Penelope. So he moves to the kitchen, looking over the abandoned teapot and CHECKING THE CABINETS ABOVE. "It gives the feeling of something rushing away in a hurry but...not quite." There's something off about it.

[break][break]

+ PENELOPE LIVY | investigating the CABINETS [break][break]

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He can't tell what she's thinking, only that she's raw, upset. Like an infected wound that refused to heal. Maybe they could pit it apart in therapy. Maybe talking to someone would make her feel better. It had worked for him. And its not like Rocket had done a good job in taking care of her.
[break][break]

She smacks into him and the movement is automatic. Her hands easily slide of his as she grabs at him. His arms wrap around her shoulders protectively, keeping her close to him. It's only the second time they've embraced-
[break][break]

It's only the second time he's seen her in months since he found her again.
[break][break]

It still hurts. The worry doesn't go away. The fear doesn't go away. The bitterness doesn't. fucking. go. away.
[break][break]

But she's here. Finally. In this quiet. She's here with Reiner. And isn't that a miracle? Isn't that what he had worked for for years?
[break][break]

His only purpose? He could die now- technically. He'd finished his bucket list. But where would that leave Eris, really? She's volatile, hurt. He wants to do a better job raising her before he leaves. He just wanted to pretend like time hasn't passed when it has. And it's something the universe would never let him forget.
[break][break]

"I won't...not for a long time, Eris."


[break][break]

+ Eris Halla [break][break]

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The suggestion of horse riding had been...strange initially. But he trusted his therapist and had set to do it. Awkwardly, in a class full of strangers. Last time he'd met @zain so...naturally he looked around for them, finding familiarity a little more tolerable than anything else. But when they don't find the blond their eyes set back to the horses. [break][break]

He kind of liked the Mudsdale, even if it was far larger than him. The one they had was goody, nodding along to a song they couldn't hear and trying to steal treats from the trainers. Silly. [break][break]

He stands around, watching the instructors place them around with different horses. As they get ready to go out on the trail, he ends up next to one of the other lads in the class. As he moves around them he manages to bump them, pulling back quickly. "Oh, sorry."

[break][break]

+ Ashley Shepard | mission prompt: free reign [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Its not uncommon for him to not know what he's doing on his weekends. It depended on what he could find that week. Especially right before or right after his therapist appointments. She'd asked him to try new things, so he was. [break][break]

Horse back riding. [break][break]

He frowned, looking at the ranch of horses as well as the assortment of people. He'd picked an early-ish slot, but most of the people here were....he supposed- young moms? Minus the kids? He felt a bit out of place. Then again, Paxton was always a little bit standoffish. Of course he stood out. He moved past little groups of women, trying to find somewhere to settle by himself. He's busy perusing under the shade of his baseball cap before someone speaks up. [break][break]

Not another mom, no. A glance over and its a blond he doesn't quite recognize, but he's friendly regardless. There's a pause as he processed the words before nodding. "Something like that." he said back. He doesn't follow up with anything, letting the silence hang between them and looking away towards some of the horses that were walking accompanied by other riders. Then he realizes he should've been talking more, ended the conversation with more finality than simply not responding. "So- um-..." he began, eyebrows furrowing as he grew a little more frustrated. He defaults to what's easiest. "Paxton. Paxton Concordas." his hand is out towards them before he can stop it. "You are?"

[break][break]

+ @zain | mission prompt: free reign [break][break]

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He's not had a drink in...ages. He hadn't drunk anything hard in even longer. Unable to sleep, feeling the itch in his skin, under his organ, and through his bones, he moves out. The mood takes him to Slateport, best bars in all of Hoenn. [break][break]

Dark, a little sleazy, a lot rowdy. He can pick and fight or get the shit beat out of him and no one would notice. No one would tell. Made sense considering the fighting ring was around here somewhere. Not that he wanted to go now. He felt weird in this form, and didn't think it appropriate to break it just yet. [break][break]

But he steps through HOWLING and he looks aorund the dark furniture and low light. He makes his way to the bar, humming to himself as he glanced around. "Hey, you on shift?" he asked a particular blonde with their back to him.

[break][break]

+ Isaac Merlo | 1-2 weeks after meteor | mission prompt: post paaa[break][break]

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The attacks seem to be going well at first. Despite how every toll of the bowl squeezed his heart in a primal fear, he didn't bow to it. And though he would never admit it to her, the presence of PENELOPE LIVY , as well as people like ollie morales and Gunner Graves was appreciated. [break][break]

More capable trainers join the fray, and he's just about to unsling his rifle when something changes. That barely held back fear increased tremendously, and despite himself he and his Octillery drop to the ground under a crushing pressure that forces him down and wheezing. There's little relief, especially when Gunner's WIDE GUARD breaks. Then the final toll rings and despite his defiance he loses consciousness.
[break][break]

He comes to with a snap as he moves to his knees arm up defensively as he tried to get his bearings. The grass crunches underneath and he felt…heavy. The air is unnatural. This is vivid, more so than in Ultra Deep Sea. Pings hit the comms and he gets up, relaying his location. Eyes on the sky and the bleachers despite how abandoned they are. "Lancer, Cassidy here, no major injuries. Move with caution, should this be the work of Interdream Mist we'll have Paradoxes swarming us soon." He said. Though trainers are already up and moving.
[break][break]

The statue is the obvious move right now, so he stays put, preferring to stay at a distance in the edge of the bleachers and what looks to be a locker room entrance. "DEREK HOFFMAN , Navy, and any other League personnel at the statue, prepare for fire. Rocket will most likely take interest as well." He added as more and more people came. It's good enough cover for now. He begins to load a round and takes aim as Rocket begins their own investigation. "Lancer, engaging suppressive fire." Even muffled, there's still a distinct crack as the shot fires and kicks up a spray of dirt directly in front of Ashley Shepard . In the scope, he feels the recognition as one of the Rocket's that'd tracked him down in Ultra Deep Sea. Hopefully that other one ( jayden cross ) would be here to save him again. His Octillery prepares as well laucnhing a far flung GUNK SHOT towards approaching Rockets to keep them away from the middle.

IBBUvPBf

[break][break]

+ PENELOPE LIVY | SHRIEKINGGG and ready to get my shit rocked [break][break]

tl;dr

- thankful for his comapnions but blacks out anyway [break]
- wakes up towards one of the locker room exits, sets up in it to snipe [break]
- advises caution in case of rocket and paradoxes [break]
- begins taking pot shots at ashley [break]
- atreenstrup the octillery uses GUNK SHOT [break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky