Kennedy nodded. “I was doing field research of the Johto beasts that seem to have taken on different forms.” She explained with a half smile. “All we seem to know is that they may be dragon-like. Theodore was eager to test that notion.” she added, the Bewear still waiting patiently for what seemed to be a pat on the head by the woman. [break][break]

She gestured for the Bewear to get up, the fairy type over as she diligently scratched him behind the ear. She took a moment to get Theodore to lead them back outside before turning towards the stranger. “You can buy me lunch, and tell me in excruciating detail the beast you saw.” She answered simply. It's not flirty, as Kennedy doesn't really flirt. She doesnt register she could even be taken a different way other than a genuine desire to annotate first hand accounts on the beasts she was chasing. [break][break]

Kennedy is too one track minded for all that, golden eyes holding Sylvie's gaze and silently urging her to say yes.


[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She gave the Espeon a small nod of acknowledgement before looking back at their trainer. "Of course." Sylvie's right, as far as Kennedy can tell, she had nothing terribly serious. Even bone fractures would lead to heavy bruising. Maybe it was too soon to tell. But she moved normally and Kennedy is barely qualified to be an EMT. So she drops it. [break][break]

"No. I was offering you a favor." she said with a shake of her head. "I'm doing research, but I'm also capable of traveling alone down here. Other's who climb down into Area Zero aren't as capable, or fortunate in their excursions." She didn't feel fear often, not with her own team of rather capable pokemon covering her. And their small numbers made it easier to move stealthily. "Unfortunately, I've been in pursuit of some of the more...elusive beasts in this territory." [break][break]

Theodore stopped in his tracks, having put eyes on the family of Slither Wing that, for once, seemed peaceful enough near the small river below them. The Bewear's tail wagged as he sat down to wait for his trainer to catch up.


[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Kenny tried not to look too disappointed at the stranger's answer, pursing her lips only slightly before turning her attention back to the Bewear as he made his way back to her side, head low in shame. The large bear rested an oversized paw on her shoulder which she pat as she spoke. [break][break]

"Let's get some distance then, before that thing comes looking for you." she assured her companion before awkwardly offering a smile. Theodore leads the way as she pats him twice on the big paw before asking him to take the lead. Happy to help, the bear takes point. She waits a few seconds before falling into step with Sylvie. "You're not hurt right...? I'm not a doctor- or well, not in that sense, however, I am educated in the application of first aid." she said, giving the Rocket another once over, staring closely at her gait to see if she limped.

[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Holt lets out a noise akin to static as the stranger approached, big grin never faltering but still carefully trained on the pair. Her Bewear isn't quick to move, distracted by a strange flower growing out of the cracks of the ground. Kennedy got past her apprehension of a new persson very quickly at the mention of the Suicune doppelganger. "Where?" she blurted out, focused on the woman before straightening up and clearing her throat. "Sorry. Um...yes, we encountered a couple of Sliter Wings drinking at a small creek a few minutes ago." she said looking back the way they'd come. [break][break]

"We can show you, they are most likely still resting." she added, frowning as she looked at her Rotom for back up. The Rotom moved over to confer, showing her something on its screen a she muttered to herself. This gave the Bewear ample opportunity to notice the Espeon and Sylvie and rush over, crushed flowers in one paw. [break][break]

"Right, I'd estimate that as 200 ft- Theodore, no!" she called out stopping her partner before it tried to scoop up the Espeon for a hug. "Apologies, he- he's still rather young." she said gesturing for the bear pokemon to come back and stand by her and Holt. Her gaze stayed trained on the fairy type as it walked closer in shame before she looked back at Sylvie. "You mentioned an encounter with the Suicune dragon type? Do you require escort back to topside?"

[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

As much as disaster plagued Hoenn, citizens were equally fascinated by it. Everyone loved the macabre it seemed, but it was children who were the worst at hiding it. Paradoxes had been a popular toy demand lately but some reports from the recent Kyurem disaster had revealed the existence of more, newer paradoxes. [break][break]

That's why Kennedy was here, trekking diligently from the Silent Icelands into the Giant Cham chasing something new. After all, when their bet couldn't track anything down online about their appearances- not enough to make a convincing toy look a like, Kennedy had suggested going into the chasm. Nobody volunteered and so she immediately stated going into it herself, much to the surprise of her team who had tried to talk her out of it. [break][break]

After all, a corporate engineer had no business in an area so dangerous. But it's nothing worse than when she stepped out of her labs in Kanto for weapon tests. The environment far greater as leadership put her into combat she very much preferred staying away from. Security guards or not. Now, without guard, it's maybe higher stakes. [break][break]

But then again, her Bewear could take care of it all. After all, he'd already been leading her through flora and fauna "Nothing new yet. However, I think we can do an adjustment on how the Slither Wings appear moving forward." she said to a Rotomphone who nodded in attention, annotating her.

[break][break]

+ sylvie faust | monster hunter [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She nodded before replying with, "Ah, you seemed like a natural to me." For her part she felt a little stiff, and a lot awkward but that was also sort of the norm with her, unfortunately. Maybe she was still just really tired. Exhausted? Mmm. Then again, Rocket didn't really give you a chance to polish your social skills. At least not in her department.
[break][break]

Kennedy was distracted watching a sort of eel move through darker waters. She hesitated to answer, though it was to be expected. Why go through the effort of disguising herself? Well, it wasn't like it was anything different form how she lived now. Just another layer of anonymity to protect herself from any Rockets that might want to come for her. Or well...maybe that wasn't even a worry any more since the last boss had died. But the anxiety of just one person, just one test subject that still held a grudge coming for her held it's grip on her mind. She didn't want to risk it.
[break][break]

Plus, if he was alive and he knew where she'd gone, he'd follow. There was an 85% chance he would. And she wasn't sure what the results of encountering them again would be like. Much less, she didn't want to find out.

"Partially." she said, pushing aside the uncomfortable thought buzzing in her brain. "More so, I-...I am attracted to my avatar and watching a handsome avatar go through the game makes it more enjoyable for me." It's a little embarrassing, but she hadn't spent 4 hours modling his face to goddamn perfection to look at an end product she didn't like. "As I understood, it's not that uncommon of a practice." she added with a snort. "I also would prefer to avoid any sort of online connections with my job. Some of my associates play...and they'd figure out pretty quickly I'm overworking myself again." After all, one obsession would only replace another. And this was hers.

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Holt is more than happy to speed away, excited to make silly faces at whatever exotic water pokemon were put on display. Kennedy, for her part, fell in step with her friend. Normally critical eyes, wander lazily about the different signs and panes of glass as the lights changed.[break][break]

"Yes." she stated curtly, before turning her attention back to Greyson as her brain urged her to say something else. You know, help the conversation along?? "I'm rather private, all things considered, and I only started voice chatting and streaming out of necessity." The game they played required faster communication than just simple, fast acronyms. The harder the raids became, the more pressured she'd become to use her mic. Which she had, only once before investing in a voice changer. "You are my first friend that's been that close. What about you?" she asked, offering a smile as she did. Being the one to preposition her, she figured he was far more experienced with that sort of thing.


[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"If it makes you feel better, you're not what I expected either." she said. "Couldn't picture anything else but bulk and armor." she admitted. You were your avatar in her brain. It was easier to remember. The Rotom is quick to invade Greyson's personal space flashing around the gym leader to study him before eventually orbiting around his head and finally coming in to nuzzle as close as he could the hair.
[break][break]

Always the hair.
[break][break]

Holt's aim? Statifying the FUCK out of any and all humans in the vicinity. "Holt." Kennedy warned, voice low to indicate the thread of putting him back in his pokeball. The rotom shook with a laugh, innocently going back to their trainer. She huffed through her nose before nodding over at her teammate. "So, we are actually going in right?" she asked wondering if this had just been a security measure. "I've never been, frankly." she added, eyes wandering the entrance at the high ceilings and colorful signs posted.

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Kennedy is content with keeping quiet as Greyson's gears seem to turn slowly. Holt mirrored her amusement, his grin turning wider and wider with each passing second. The Rotom let out a cackle at the poor man, while Kenny slyly covered her mouth to hide her own smirk. "I told you, I'm not as muscular as my avatar." [break][break]

She extended her hand for a shake. "It's nice to meet you, formally. I'm sorry for the trouble just now." There's a beat of silence before she tried to make things less awkward. "I...mmm. I quite like my privacy." she added. Despite the catfishing there are similarities there. Her typing style at least matched her speaking style. Stilted and awkward.

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She waited patiently, Holt sparking with electricity every few seconds to pretend like he was a lighthouse bulb. The voice on the other seemed unsure and she wondered if maybe there was a different entrance to the aquarium she should've gone. Like a side door or something? She'd honestly just gone for something that looked lie ka landmark.
[break][break]

When Greyson approached she hesitated before waving at him with her empty hand. "I've been here by myself. That's Holt, my Rotom." she said, looking up at the ghost type that leered curiously at the newcomer. She noted a soft echo in the call, glanced at her phone and his before putting 2 and 2 together. "You're good." she said to her partner as the Rotom immediately dropped into her phone to wreak havoc on the person at the other end of the receiver. A garbled, staticy voice pierced through barely getting out, "Y̵̆͜o̸̟̐ͅỰ̶̧̼̀ ̷̖̎̾̓p̷̼̪̰̔͝o̵̟̲̳͗̌̚O̷̲̺̻̓̃͝p̸͙͚͕̎̚i̶͉̦͇̐N̸̥̰͋g̸̦̖̩̈́?̸̦̃͌ ̵̨͙͛" before Kennedy hung up. The screen of her phone turned into the Rotom's as they pouted up at Kenny before coming back to her side, sulking. "Sorry. Holt...is funny. I'm Kennedy, but- ah-...my friends call me Griffin." she said as she perched her sunglasses on her head and extended her hand for a shake.

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The place is busy enough that Kennedy found it easy to people watch. She watched with vague interest an elementary school field tri[p walk by. A few couples here and there. There was even an art student, if she could say anything about the large paper pad in their arms. No one familiar. Not that there could be. The no photos rule had sort of...well it'd made it a little harder to identify each other. But nevertheless, they were grown adults. They'd manage whiteout. She would anyway. [break][break]

At the text, Holt halts his bouncing on the surface of the fountain and instead floated over to be nosy. Hazel eyes read quickly before glancing aorund once, standing up and pressing dial. She held up the phone to her ear while turning to her partner. "Be the quest indicator." The rotom, giggling at the thought floated above her head and spun slowly, all grins as Kennedy waited for her team leader to pick up. The minute he would she'd address them politely, but with short phrases similar to her writing style in game. "I have instructed my Rotom to act as a pseudo beacon to make this easier. Do you see Holt?" If shed been nervous before, she didn't sound like it at all now.

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She was punctual, perhaps a little over prepared. But she was nervous. She'd agreed to the meet up so casually but as the days progressed she got a little more worried. There was a reason she stayed at home. Even under a new identity, the safest place to be was home. The safest way to be was unknown. The most public thing she'd done had been that speed dating thing and well...that'd mostly been because forced conversation seemed like something that would benefit her. [break][break]

Not she's here, sitting under the shade of a couple of palm trees, staring at the entrance of Lilycove's aquarium, a smidge remorseful of the decision. What if they were Rocket? What if they leaked her face? [break][break]

Holt buzzed around her giggling as Kennedy's brain gears worked on overdrive. A whole 20 minutes early just to sit outside and debate not showing up? She hissed as he bounced into her, administering a slight shock and prodding her forward. "Gods, ok, ok!" [break][break]

The Rotom led the her inside as she quickly sent a text to her raid leader. Acrylic nails clacked softly on the screen as she typed. [break][break]

'i got here early. i'm waiting by the entrance fountain with my rotom.'

[break][break]

+ Greyson Connors [break][break]


[break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]