grown? no. changed? certainly, and not for the better. [break][break]

"i think you're giving me too much praise." frost coats her fangs as the words bite the air. there was nothing good about this change. nothing good about this development. nothing good about what she's done. [break][break]

"are you sure you aren't thinking of someone else?" there's nothing good about this, marisol knows. she's stained her hands with too much blood to be redeemed. "because i wouldn't exactly call the surrender to despaira good thing."[break][break]

a dramatic telling, and the rise in a tone laced with sarcasm pushes it.

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉

"possibly." her tone cuts through the air, her response is curt and short. as it always is. [break][break]

is he curious? perhaps he's as much a nerd as she is (only when she feels like it; she's akin to a glameow in that sense) and would like to know more about her findings. maybe he's finding amusement in her attempts. maybe he's genuinely curious and isn't trying to just find someone to talk to. the reason doesn't matter. it never does. [break][break]

eyes glance back at the pages, her lips pressing thin. "in practice, highly unlikely." the red pen held between her fingers taps upon the notebook "in theory? after a few adjustments, entirely realistic." the pen glides over the pages, however only to make a few red circles around the substitutions (or what he'd see as scribbles with an arrow following them) "specifically if there's the assistance of pokemon. the weapons would be possible with enough the proper energy, the tech would be possible with assistance of pokemon, and if we had technology that was capable of hypothesized processes.."[break][break]

the issue was today's technology.

Ryan Arcken

☉

he'd better pay her back, or she'll throw a riot. [break][break]

things are starting to clear up, and her mind is starting to gain clarity. though it's only clear enough for her to catch a glimpse of clones climbing out of their phones, and a grimace climbs onto her lips. really.. she doesn't understand the point of pulling out a phone in this place - especially not after witnessing the nature of it. were they inside of a machine? another digital universe entirely? really, it's all fascinating, to some degree. [break][break]

were it not for the circumstances, she'd love to research it more. [break][break]

but alas, she's stuck here as a victim to this overreaching voice's boom. she can't say she's thrilled to have a man watching over and controlling her, claiming her life to be in his hands. disgusting. [break][break]

her eyes catch a familiar noivern in the air, however, and with a narrowed gaze, "emmy" she glances to the tiny BLISSEY on her shoulder "helping hand on orion."[break][break]

the command is short, and cuts through the air quickly enough for the blissey to begin with a soft glow around her, EMPOWERING THE AIR SLASH. that should be enough help. [break][break]

three paths ahead, and none that she'd like to traverse. after witnessing those digital clones come out from the screen, what's stopping this place from pitting them against a counterpart of what lies at the end of these terminals? she shivers at the thought. [break][break]

.. but it's fascinating all the same. [break][break]

call it morbid curiosity when she takes a few leisurely steps towards the terminal, eyeing the porygon who appear to be pacified. if she's going to fight what's on these labels and signs, she'd rather fight a pokemon instead of a person. she's rather fight a pokemon instead of a beast. [break][break]

while walking, she spots the frame of a young boy starting to walk on ahead. maybe it's the nurse and caretaker in her.


[break]

HyE_i79n

---

𓆙 freed, and cautious.
[break]𓆙 tiny BLISSEY uses HELPING HAND on Leonidas Stone 's NOIVERN
[break]𓆙 mari goes to terminal 2
[break]𓆙 keeping an eye on baby (Hideo Kino )

cyberchase conundrum

☉

.. she doesn't understand. [break][break]

why not use the people around you as resources to get a job done? why not reach out and ask when dancing and pop culture is one of her main weaknesses? if we're going to talk about music, she can play the piano, but it's nothing that can help them here. her eyes widen and brows furrow. unbelieveable. [break][break]

astra's suggestion takes her aback even more. suggesting that marisol dance? "no way." she gives a quick answer, with no time for hesitation or consideration to seep through "i can't dance, and i'm not going to embarrass myself like this." a dulled gaze glances to the laminated floor.[break][break]

"... i can try to help with the music, but i'm not good at dancing, or pop culture." it's why she was okay with coming here with you.

Astra Faustino

☉

"yes, dad, i'm getting three hours of sleep and i constantly run on fumes and caffeine~"[break][break]

sarcasm oozes from her lips as they curl into a smile, and her eyes roll. unfortunately, it's a harsh reality for people who do take their time in this field of work. all work, no play, and when she isn't doing intern work then it's studying, lab work, and projects best left hiding from the sun's warm gaze. [break][break]

"don't worry so much about me" her eyes wander to do another scan over his skin, just to search for any other areas harmed by the mission. it looks like everything was okay "i eat enough, and sleep just enough to be fine, and functional." she doesn't.

Calix Nikolau

☉

he's too understanding, maybe she's too pessimistic. [break][break]

the result will remain the same, but the reaction will be different. it's only a matter of time for him to meet someone who will be beyond saving, or beyond faith, and beyond any hope of salvation (she's met many people who fall into that category; the shunned who fear nothing are the most dangerous ones to date). what will he do when he's faced with someone who genuine cares little for others? when he meets someone beyond saving, or helping, or understanding? [break][break]

ah, what a spectacle that would be. the pain and betrayal would be something to watch and gawk at, but the idea of it doesn't play as pleasantly in her head. why is that?[break][break]

it should. [break][break]

'don't think too hard, you'll get confused and start to soften' an icy exterior is needed to keep those at arms length. [break][break]

her response is to squint, slightly, and she wonders if this man has ever had a low in his life. ah, no, he's a stone. he has. she'd be a fool to think that he hasn't, and that his bravado comes from privilege alone. with a pensive hum, she soon rests her knuckles against her cheek. [break][break]

".. alright." the word leaves her lips, though it took a while for it to finally get there. but now she's left in her head, eyeing hues of hazel for a little longer before the words leave sooner than she can filter them:[break][break]

"does this.. mean that we're friends?"

Leonidas Stone

☉

"if i didn't, i wouldn't be like this." [break][break]

a simple problem pleads for a simple answer, with no tricks or twists or play on words. wendy has been long dead, and marisol has no intention to bring her back, nor restore her to her former (childish, naive, stupidly optimistic) glory disappointment. [break][break]

contempt can't even begin to describe it. [break][break]

"why?" another piece is pierced, a smile on her lips as she lets out a soft hum "is the change too jarring?" of course it was "have i changed too much?"

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉

she'll sit there with popcorn in hand, a ticket to a front row premiere, and an award ready to give at the grammy for his wonderful act. "everyone feels guilt and remorse at some point in their lives" her eyes narrow to watch the two pokemon harmlessly passing by, although she doesn't bother to give them a second glance. there's no hostility. [break][break]

not much can be said about her attitude to a man who was so coy just a little bit ago, however "whether they be in the middle of it, or on their deathbeds." everyone is the same, in that regard. it all starts the same, it all ends the same. ah, the beautiful betrayal of life. he shan't be spared.[break][break]

"i pity the poor man or woman you'll grow attached to" there's a bite to her smile "but i'll be on the edge of my seat" her closed hand raises just below her chin, and she gives a scornful chuckle. [break][break]

"awaiting some misery."

Dal-yong Nam [break]
skipping

☉

it's easy to get lost in the music. [break][break]

marisol knows this better than anyone, which is why she's so firmly telling herself that she'll only play one song. and yet as she plays, the flow and rhythm of music makes itself so smooth to her ears. it's soft, and warm, and comforting (like a mother's warm embrace,) and yet-- [break][break]

there's a sudden shift, and break in the song, that leads into a transition of another song. it's heavier and stronger, and memories of her mother flood back for a moment (at least, enough for her to wear a glare and grimace at the piano keys when her fingers slam on them in a sudden crescendo). [break][break]

there's power in her keys, anger and resentment built up that's so buried deep in her heart; it's nothing that she's not accustomed to, but it culminates as she runs her fingers along the keys, finally into a soft, smooth transition back into the previous song she decided to initially play. [break][break]

and as the chord lowers and softens, her chest rises and falls with a sigh. ".. are you happy enough with this?" her voice blends in with the highs of the melody, and her fingertips slow to a soft, gentle stop.

Dante Telos

☉

suddenly, her joy fell closer to one percent. [break][break]

the tone is insufferable and obnoxious, but she knows better than to entertain it - especially when it's coming from someone who thrives off the discomfort and dismay of his peers. though he's good at lying, and even better at manipulation, at least she knows there's no lie nor deeper meaning to his words. he's not one to be hung up on the details, nor a person. [break][break]

instead she hums, narrowing her eyes out until she catches a sight of.. a ratticate, attacking a bird pokemon. it has its talons between large teeth, and any harder and she'll probably see a footless bird. and, no, she can't say she's fond of that idea. so she pulls out a pokeball, casually summoning a riolu out. "force palm the ratticate, ven." she commands, and the riolu has already set off to attack the rat. [break][break]

though when he returns, it's already quite late, and the braviary is injured. good thing her companion here has finished his thought, otherwise she'd have to tell him to hold it. still, she moves over to the bird with its wings drooped on the ground. the poor thing is in pain, and she narrows her eyes as she pulls out a potion from her bag to begin spraying the small wounds. [break][break]

it does a little bit to offset the pain, but the poor thing still couldn't move. [break][break]

so she narrows her eyes, pulling out a pokeball instead, and gently tapping it upon the head of the bird. once the ball clicks, she gets up, and recalls the riolu. "mhm.." she hums, with the intention to return to the conversation, like the scuffle hadn't happened. "i can't imagine you being hung up on someone~."

Dal-yong Nam [break]
catching braviary

☉

.. how does she speak to people like this? [break][break]

it's dangerous for them to be this kind, and this open, and this welcoming. there's admittedly a bit of judgement in her gaze, watching him laugh and casually smile so warmly; it's so foreign to her. it's sudden, especially when she knows that there are no ulterior motives behind it. she tries to reason with herself, tries to think logically - but conjuring up an excuse is far from it. it's exhausting. it's tiresome. she's so tired. [break][break]

the silence that follows her gaze is deafening, with only his words to fill the silence as she stares. a dulled violet eye maintains a slightly widened stare, until the expression fades when they meet eyes, and her old habit of breaking it when she feels the pressure (or threatened) resurfaces. the sharp turn of her head towards the ground is his response, and her brows lower, slightly. [break][break]

"you.." her brows furrow, that time, creating a crease above the bridge of her nose "... have too much faith in people."[break][break]

and unlike him, she has an air of anxiety as she glances back to meet the hazel eyes with the sheen of her muted, grey-violet. "i'll take the offer, only if it's mutual." she grunts, turning her attention back to the ground. there's a tinge of pink to her cheeks (from the embarrassment of asking, and speaking up, and she was never used to verbally expressing consideration) "i don't want to feel like i owe anything, or indebted" she hums, then takes a quick sip of her drink ".. and consoling is part of a nurse's job."

Leonidas Stone

☉