The young girl below almost looked half his age. To see her in such a combat-heavy and dangerous environment inspired a sense of pity. But the Pokémon at her command made her dangerous, and that didn't really leave him with much of a choice: he would neutralize the threat if he had to.

Riding on the back of his Dragapult, the half-masked man warns her. "Turn back, señorita," He says, gripping the reins of his steed as he stares her down with a steely gaze. "The battlefield is no place for you."

Would she heed the Paldean's warning and go? Not likely. But at least he could say that he had tried.

---

📝 TL;DR

💎 Cade Atreides is wearing his hair in a bun with a heat-resistant HALF MASK covering the right side of his face[break]
💎 Cade Atreides warns Julia Davis to retreat[break]

PAAA: LITTLEROOT

☉

They emerge from the shadowy portal unscathed. Just as Cade steers his Dragapult in for a strike, however, a ROAR fills the air before TIME itself comes to a sharp freeze. Unable to move, or even blink his eyes, for that matter, the Paldean mercenary is forced to steel himself against the terror that threatens to seize his mind.

What was this? The power of another one of their gods? Truth be told, he was still very much a foreigner in this strange land. There was a lot to learn, and he was beginning to think he should have done more research before taking on this job. But alas... he'd been through worse so far, hadn't he?

The time freeze suddenly snaps and the momentum from earlier continues, sending him and his spectral dragon straight for the back of GROUDON's head. When the DOME surrounding them flashes, however, Cade sharply steers his Dragapult away. Just as he reassesses the scene to ensure they aren't in any immediate danger, a young lass (Julia Davis) down below challenges him to a battle.

He supposes he can't continue his attack on the giant fire lizard until this was taken care of.

---

📝 TL;DR

💎 Cade Atreides is wearing his hair in a bun with a heat-resistant HALF MASK covering the right side of his face[break]
💎 Cade Atreides challenges Julia Davis !

PAAA: LITTLEROOT

☉

Her reaction to his touch made the extent of her wants clear. Hesitations steadily begin to melt away, clearing the path for wishes that needed to be fulfilled. His one eye notes the bite of her lip, reading her gaze with great interest. He had an idea of exactly what she was thinking.

And, surprisingly, she's forward with it.

How refreshing, he thinks, to cut past the courting and seize what they really wanted. He's beginning to think he's never met a woman quite like her. What did he have to thank for this? Was it his charming good looks? His words? The smooth amber and white wood undertones from his cologne?

Her question garners a handsome smile from the Paldean. He knows he'll deliver. She just couldn't imagine how well. Knowing the opportunity to enlighten her was approaching, however, Cade doesn't dwell on the question for too long.

Summer pulls in close, placing a hand on his jaw as she reassures him. He pulls in closer, the tip of his nose grazing against the sweet fragrance of her skin as he peppers featherlight kisses against her neck. "You're saying I don't have to hold back then, is that it?" He whispers with a grin.

His firm hand grows exploratory down below. It caresses her thigh with soft, affectionate strokes before losing itself in its depths. The other reaches up to shift aside the bangs of blue hair from her face. "You might want to give me that safe word now, then..." He continues with a low, lion-like rumble in his throat.

His face aligns itself with her own then, though he keeps himself from kissing her with such haste. Instead, his thumb grazes her succulent lip as his sharp blue eye explores every lovely detail of her expression.

He waits for her answer.

♥ + Summer Atreides

☉

"Only a little," The man in the HALF MASK says in response to elijah gardner 's question. "But the pay is good if we get this done well. So I'm as ready as I'll ever be." The mercenary adds, summoning a croaking DRAGAPULT mount with a toss of his moon ball. He reaches up to pat its neck.

Noting an air of experience from the man, Cade initially chooses to follow him and the sound of spectral hooves leading towards the PRIMAL POINT. He swiftly mounts his own phantom before doing so, but only goes so far before a loud ROAR fills the air. It is certainly enough to draw the Paldean's attention and, thankfully, catch sight of the PRECIPICE BLADES heading towards them.

Their target, GROUDON, stands in the stark white heat of an ARTIFICAL SUN above. They take note of the direction it is facing. There is no time for any communication or question. Instead, Cade prompts his phantom dragon to sink them into a shadowy portal (PHANTOM FORCE) in a bid to avoid the giant lizard's attack altogether.

Not too long from now, however, they'll reappear behind it and attempt to strike it behind the head. Only afterward will the half-masked mercenary take a swift moment to reassess their surroundings. He didn't recognize this Pokémon, and he certainly wasn't as intimidated by it as others might be.

Nevertheless, it was quite big. And, sometimes, taking down 'big' required some backup.

---

XDy|u45o

📝 TL;DR

💎 Cade Atreides is wearing his hair in a bun with a heat-resistant HALF MASK covering the right side of his face
💎 Cade Atreides mounts his DRAGAPULT
💎 Cade Atreides follows up behind Alexandra Briarwood and her SPECTRIER'S BULLDOZE with elijah gardner
◓ DRAGAPULT disappears with PHANTOM FORCE to try and avoid PRECIPICE BLADES; attempts to reappear and attack GROUDON from behind (MATIAS SILPH )
° COORDINATES: might depend on where groudon is facing; maybe J-7?

PAAA: LITTLEROOT

☉

He'd never been to Alola before. His homeland offered enough sunny beaches and great cuisine as it was, so he'd never really felt a need. Though, at one point in time, he'd been invited to participate in an elite trial of some sort there.

This had been shortly before... the incident.

Shaking off the memories of that time, however, Cade puts on a smile again as he responds. "Only a little wrong," He says, releasing his Honedge from his hand before it chooses to rest in a hover against his back. "I'm from the Paldea region, actually."

Would she recognize him after admitting as much? Not likely. He'd been famous (infamous, even), though he'd learned over the years that his notoriety had mostly kept itself contained within Paldea and Paldean minds. Alolans surely didn't concern themselves with such nasty, foreign business.

Just then, the pair reach the end of the tunnel they'd been walking through and find themselves within a large chamber with various different levels. There are cave paintings on the wall, too. Though, in the dim light, Cade cannot tell what they are just yet.

"Looks like we're here..." Cade remarks, squinting at what appears to be the remains of a campsite on a nearby ledge. Turning to Cathrine, he continues. "Got a light?"

DUO WILD + Cathrine Fisher

☉

She does well to hide those scars lingering in the depths of her mind like crooked-toothed jackals. All Cade sees is a charming smile beneath beautiful lips and sparkling bright eyes. Though, given time, he knows all too well that the curtain will be pulled back before long.

Regardless, he can't help himself from being drawn to Summer. There's something utterly magnetic about the way she carries herself; the way she speaks. It's rare, he thinks, to find a woman as headstrong as he is.

Turning to meet her smirk with a smile, Cade parts from the painting and steps towards her instead. From behind the couch, he reaches out with his free hand. Then fingers gently cup her chin before tilting her face upwards to meet his gaze. "Wouldn't want to have our fun spoiled, now, would we?" He responds, caressing her chin with his thumb in slow circles before letting go.

As he rounds the corner of the couch to sit with her, the blonde finishes the last of his wine before setting the empty glass down on the coffee table. "I won't ask why you messaged me with such urgency," He wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth; nor make a mess of a good thing. "But I'm glad I made an impression on you." He adds, seating himself at the end where she kept her legs tucked before setting a firm hand on one.

"Anything you'd like to know me?"

♥ + Summer Atreides

☉

With the power of a Pokémon at their hands, the pair made quick work of the virtual Guzzlord. It was Summer, ultimately, that dealt the killing blow. Which, of course, drew no lack of shock and awe from Cade. Those feelings settled into respect, pooling into the mixture of interest and lust already there until ultimately becoming one thing: want.

Even still, Cade wasn't entirely sure this 'avatar' was actually an accurate representation of her real world self. At least, not until the two emerged from the coffin-like pods that had whisked them away to that S.P.E.C.T.R.A. test. She emerged from it in the skin-tight suit they'd been given to experience near real sensations.

And, undoubtedly, she was just as much woman here as she had been in there.

Swinging his legs over the edge of his pod, he looks at her for a while longer over his shoulder. Though, admittedly, his gaze immediately flits away when he thinks she's caught sight of him staring.

MISSION + Summer Atreides

☉

If he was obvious when they'd first met, then he could only imagine how audacious he seemed to her now. Frankly, he was disappointed in himself for delaying things further with a bottle of wine— particularly considering the intensity and purpose of her invite. But, he supposed, it was only polite to bring a gift before he indulged in his own.

She flatters him with her statement as he reaches over for his own glass, pausing to lightly clink his and hers together before lightly stirring and taking a sip. "The eyepatch tends to bring me more attention," He amusedly remarks. "And my scars tend to deflate that. You, on the other hand... you're quite easy to look at." He smoothly smiles.

Backing away from the counter, he looks at her for a little while longer before sauntering into the lounge nearby. "Quite the place you have here... any neighbors of the 'noise complaint' making variety?" The Paldean casually inquires, stopping in front a framed painting to gaze at its artwork for a moment.

♥ + Summer Atreides

☉