Paxton meets Genny's glare not with his own, but with pity. Her attitude struck cords in him of the past. The feeling of cold dog tags sticky with blood makes its way to the surface. He sees the path, a phantom pain he could never be rid of. For a moment she's not Genny, she's a dead man. A soldier just as old as him, maybe a little bit older with blank eyes.

"If it gets you past R̵̢̨̧̬̗̙̝̳̥̱̯̪̘̼̮̣̜̪̹͙̮̙̩̲̗̤̯̬̈̉͌͗̉̄͆͒͐͛̿̃̍̐̈̈́͐̌̎̕̕͘͘͝͠͠ͅĘ̸̨̢͇̯̥̖̙̺̙͙͋͆̌̎͘Ḑ̶̦͎̮̠̫͓̙̪̖̮̞̰̻̦̗̲̻̠͖̰̞̺̻͚̮̯̾̓̿́͛̐̍́̄͆̈́̿̄̇̚͝ͅA̴̡̡̩̬̤̙̹̤̟͌̌̓͜Ċ̶̩̰͓̤͚̺̝̝͕̺͖͖̣̮̬̪̟̪͇̣͑́̿̀̊̃̕͠T̴̢̨̧̘̩̪̙̮͚͓̟̼̟̩̲̻͙͈̠͖̣̲̰̏̈́́̈̋͘͜͜ͅȨ̵̡̤̯̣̫͍̪͔̊̾̃́̉́̋̓̂̾̌̓̓̒̃͆̋̅͐̃̀̔̌̚͘͝͠͠D̴̨̨̰͔͓̘̝̠̘̮̮̝̱̳͇̙͇̟͕͓͍̠̮͕̀͐̀̐͋̀͒̈́̎̈̂̓̑̉̐̃͗̋͊̚͘͜, it's worth it right?"

Time is a circle and Paxton, as long as he continued his work with the League, was trapped in the same cycle. He blinked, and it’s just Genny, desperate and trying to cope with understanding forces beyond her comprehension. He makes a mental note. Dilutes this moment into phrases and soon-to-be written observations. He'd have to trust ollie morales to deal with it. He had his own burdens to carry. This was the Head Ranger's.

"That's the thing- It won't. That's just in the movies." It's never really a lynchpin moment. Not like this. Not when their opponents were ancient sea whales and creatures that commanded the weather. "Look at yourself. You're not even confident enough to respect Tapu Bulu or Commissioner dahlia goode 's decision to entrust him with you. Over one perceived loss?" his expression hardened. "You survive. We gained a foothold. Kyogre stopped flooding Lillycove, Mossdeep, and Evergrande." It wasn't his ideal outcome, but the alternative? "You're a Ranger. Not a martyr. Believing that much diminishes the efforts of every single person in the League that moves to respond to a crisis." He lets her off there, disappointed in her short sightedness.

"Dying doesn't get to be how you cope with your shortcomings. It’s not the blaze of glory everyone will remember you fondly for. It's a coward's way out." The memory of his own eviscerated body pieces before him surfaced. Palkia’s destructive power, and how close he had been to going to the Border himself. Without fanfare, he’d died. And without fanfare, he’d lived.

Paxton closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, sighing through his nose. "But I shouldn't be the one telling you this." He's not equipped to handle the mental swings of a young woman pushed to the brink of eternity by powers beyond her comprehension. "PROJECT SAPPHIRE is a research program meant to help our current scientists study the effects of Avatarships on humans as well as study Legends as a whole. A majority of it is done through volunteer efforts. Those volunteers get access to mechanics training like dynamax, terastalization etc. They're also offered a chance for mentorship under our different leads." he goes through the typical spiel.

"Most importantly, we're having a huge push of the League's mental wellness resources. Support groups, art therapy, dog piles..." he trails off. "I think you should take advantage of it, and visit one of the therapists on staff. You already know one of our leads, Head Ranger ollie morales . Or, if you'd be more comfortable, Ranger Captain annalise henderson ." he said.

"Genevieve Cromwell , I highly recommend you seek help, and take time off." he said, voice firm as if he were discussing business with someone in his department. “I can’t mentor the dead. And I don’t think this is a conflict we win by putting bodies through a meat grinder.”

---

Genevieve Cromwell | mission prompt: remote recovery

Paxton grins, even if Mew has no answers. It's cute, it's allowed to just stare at him. He releases his little treat with ease, attention sliding back to Annalise as she really let it all out. "Your ex...? They'll get over it, haha." he said. Even if him and PENELOPE LIVY weren't exactly like that, they'd gotten over their strange circumstances with time. It helped that Paxton had very strictly ignored their past night together and she had been willing to do the same for a calm, and productive working relationship.

"An' if he doesn't...want me to fuck 'em up? The..the non-sexy way." he said with another sharp laugh that seems to split open the dark silence aorund them in the park. It echoed out slightly before vanishing. She laughs too. "Your current boyfriend's whaat? Jealous?"
he asked, almost trying to tease the answer out of her. The revelation that they were coworkers makes him laugh again. Typical League fucking. "Mean....s'long as he's not your boss?" he said. Paxton couldn't talk, having fucked ex Rockets and coworkers alike without really knowing. But that's what happened when you designated hours for one night stands so often.

There's luciano fisk of course, but he knows that's not permanent. As much as he loved their time together, he knew there was only so long before his artist lost his muse, and he was abandoned in turn. The thought makes him visibly sad and he's quick to turn back to Annalise's problems before his eyes start itching.

She mentions ex-Rockets and he gets angry, glaring at nothing in particular. "Tch, just close th' door and pretend yer not in." Entitled bastards.

---

annalise henderson

The drive is ice cold. Luci is dead silent, stoic. He resembled one of the sculptures he carved and in the faint moonlight and passing street lights, he looked like the marble he so often shaped. The Holiday party, a work requirement, had been a disaster. Gunner Graves had gotten into it with him, he'd had the displeasure of having to converse with Remiel Calcifet , Isaac Merlo had butted his nose into everyone's business unnecessarily, and DEREK HOFFMAN had-...

Paxton held back a sigh through his nose. Derek was the reason he was in this mess. His unwanted deflection to the mistletoe while Paxton's temper was flaring. He'd only meant to silence the ranger, and send him on his way. After all, that sort of affection with a man he didn't know well, didn't mean anything.

But it had to Luci. Clearly. Sharp blue eyes let him know without needing to say anything. Paxton had tried to explain, only to be shut down. And Paxton had obliged to his wishes, going along with him as the perfect couple. If they even still were one. The car comes to a stop and Luci doesn't move. Paxton gets up first, opening the car door and going to open the other side for Luciano.

But the sculptor was already on the move, cutting the distance past him and straight into the building. Paxton follows him, keeping close. He doesn't say a word until Luci throws open the apartment door and Paxton trails after him, eyebrows pressed together in frustration. He's kicking himself of course. How could he let his temper get the best of him?!

When it's finally just the two of them, he finally breathes in, nerves making his hands tremble. He tightened them into fists. "I'll excuse myself. I just need to grab my bag and my shirt from the wash."

---

ooc: luciano fisk | post holiday party back in january 2024 lmao

last updated: 9/17/2024

REDEEMING

welcome to the poké mart!

1X 1x iron crown (quark drive| smart strike, psycho cut, tachyon cutter, sacred sword, future sight, volt switch) (its from tsdt i cant find my redemption post in processed ;; pleasedon'thurtme....)

TOTAL

do come again!

0 PD

"Thanks for coming." Paxton looked up from his laptop, already seated in a rolling chair in the vast lab. Scientists buzzed around him running their own tests, writing their own reports. Everyone tasked out and working diligently. "How're you feeling after Sootopolis?" he added. A loaded question.

Sootopolis had been nearly a true clash of the Weather Trio. Surely this had an effect on him and freya morningstar . Though, unlike her, Matias didn't suffer form dragon horns and abnormal scale grounds. "You, annalise henderson , and illeana reyes were getting pretty battered for a moment. I think." he added, remembering the shot he took to aid them. It'd revealed countless Rockets closing in on their position, likely drawn in by the chance to fell gods.

---

ooc: MATIAS SILPH | mission prompt: community engagement

Paxton laughed, uncontrolled and loud. It echoed through the darkened park. He missed Mews disappointment. But there'd be plenty of time to greet them again. Though, perhaps more stiffly and stoically in the future. He watched the ranger captain pluck Mew from the air like a newborn Litleo. It doesn't seem too perturbed. For now.

He tenses a bit when her feet fumble before relaxing as she caught herself. "Huuuh?" he asked as Annalise finished speaking. "What d'ya mean your life's shitty?" He blinked, slow to understand before looking at the poor pink cat in her arms. "What say you, Mew? That true?" he asked tilting his head at it before pausing and perking up. "Oh! Oh I have something- here- I think-" he said patting himself down, checking little pockets before triumphantly pulling out a poketreat. "Want one?"

---

annalise henderson

He nodded. "we need to do more research on draconids but that's a work in progress for now. I'm in talks with dahlia goode to curve SAPPHIRE into some leads." he said before smiling. "I'll be sure to bring you in when I have more." He took notes when she spoke up again, diligent as always.

In and out of some sort of mega evolution process. He hadn't seen it, but he imagined it was as horrifying as mega evolution was for his other pokemon. "I guess that depends on you. Have they been growing while you recovered?" he asked. There's a pause. Oh. He looks to her cheek frowning. It's a little horrifying overall, but she's making the most of it. Even if she was changed.

"I would like readings on this...that mega evolution process where you received your horns. If you don't mind being recorded. I'd want video as to avoid putting you through it more than necessary for our study." he explained.

"How's the sky emissary? Your bond with them, I mean."



freya morningstar | mission prompt: community engagement

Paxton follows, taking a moment to not trip over his own two feet before keeping pace with Annalise. Sufficiently liquored up, he's hot against the cool night air. His breath comes out in just barely visible puffs of smoke. "That's fair...it's pretty elusive even in texts about it." he said as they moved closer to the Head Quarters. But their feet stumbled onto cobblestone and the trees get a little thicker. Without realizing, it's the park nearby. Not quite HQ proper. But close enough.

It's a good park. He'd brought Genevieve Cromwell here for a talk recently. "Tha's the bench I like-" he began pointing out where he enjoyed to watercolor to Annalise. She doesn't care. She's busy summoning the legend in her custody. He waited, looking around as he did. And then, when nothing happens, when he's finally about to open his mouth to say something smart, it appears.

He swallowed, surprised at the appearance. No fanfare or calls, just. Now its here. "Oh- uh- when did it get here?" had Annalise secretly kept it in her pokeball and then released it just now without him noticing? Hmm. "Hi Mew. This is Paxton." he said, holding out his hand. The muscle memory of professionalism took over before his hand dropped once more. "Haha, only if they want to." he said. "I don't think I'm qualified to be besties with it." He had a track record of shooting floating legendary pokemon after all.

---

annalise henderson

For this particular study, they'd managed to set up an underground track to do their studies on. Since speed was probably a key focus on this pokemon's power set, Paxton had acted accordingly to acquire the facilities Josh Devlin found himself most comfortable in.

The swish of electric metal doors alert him of the gym leader's entry. "Morning, Josh." he greeted as a team of scientists seemed to be finishing calibration on some such or other device on the track start line. "Thanks for taking the time to meet with me. I'm very interested in this, ah, it's a feather right?"

---

ooc: Josh Devlin | mission prompt: community engagement