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filthy, lowly, underhanded and blighted. [break][break]

the land above isn't so kind as the sterile lab coated in stainless steel and desks of white. machines whirr softly underground, far enough removed from the world. when she asked for an underground lab, the best thing she could think of was something literal; marisol isn't wealthy enough to run her own practice by legal means. besides, this environment suits her much better (she's brought back to the maw of the beast; like a lamb to the slaughter - only this time she has no shepherd to blame). [break][break]

the doctor herself is engrossed in her own research, but not so far gone that phone notifications go without attention. when she hears the vibration in her pocket, she pulls away from the microscope and glances down with a subtle expression of indifference. he was here, but wasn't going to come down. the typhlosion lounging around the lab catches the slight furrow of her brow, but marisol doesn't do much else. [break][break]

> two minutes.[break][break]

grabbing a surgical mask from a hook, she turns off the microscope and moves to a control box in the next room. it drops the pressured strings and seals off the vents, making it safe for herself to traverse down the trapped hall. when she reaches the ladder to the hatch, she takes a breath, and climbs up until she can push the hatch aside from above.[break][break]

there's no light to greet her - instead is a freakishly tall man who looms above. [break][break]

like she promised, it only took two minutes her to fully climb out of her hole in the ground.[break][break]

"do we have to speak out here?" she narrows her eyes, a frown growing beneath the mask.

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she wants to research. [break][break]

it's such an endearing reason; so innocent. familiarity is when she can look at this girl and see a piece of her own, old curious self in her. there was a time where she just wanted to learn more about the world, then learn more about people like her mother and father, so she can help the people around her. save for the academic knowledge, there's always some goal - sometimes the goal can simply being able to say that you know. [break][break]

that's something she can sympathize with. [break][break]

"sounds like you've had your share of adventures." and with the state of the region, she'll have more. marisol just doesn't know how to feel about a child being on so many life-threatening ones. [break][break]

clearly, her uneasiness is picked up by eris. it's a little embarrassing, but maybe it's a good thing that she brought up a rule to follow. it's a little embarrassing, however, that it has to be eris reassuring her - really, it should be the other way around. nevertheless, she wears a smile and hums as they continue down their path. [break][break]

"we retreat, and you also let me treat any wounds you might get." she hums. if eris has been down here more than a few times, she shouldn't have much to worry about... but she still will. [break][break]

"also, you don't lick any rocks while we're down here." a repeat of what caused the poor girl to go to the doctors isn't ideal. "deal?"

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marisol can hold her ground. [break][break]

it was imposing, the air was heavy, but she was never someone weak of heart (although if you asked her, she could name very specific circumstances where the iron wall will crash down like a house of twigs). "even so," she hums, giving a wave and slight, reassuring smile to the pokemon he brought along with him "i feel more at ease with you and your pokemon here." [break][break]

there's no lie, of course. she's only a nurse; not an army, nor anyone too strong. she just happened to have two gym badges, but never proved anything grandiose. [break][break]

her attention turns to area zero, in light of the explanation. her lips curl slightly, in thought, followed by a hum. there's been so much discovered in such a short amount of time; infinity energy, space-time rifts and distortions, dreams, stories... it's gotten to a point where her head would spin had she not been trying to keep track of everything. much of this defies the laws of science - most of this has become the new topics of science. [break][break]

... ah, yes. that's what keeps her from crumbling under the pressure. [break][break]

she is fueled by curiosity, so she listens intently to the explanation. "perhaps deeper in the chasm." deeper in the caves, or residue caused by what created this chasm to begin with. if it's the latter, it has to be something powerful - far more than the beasts they find down here. she glances up towards the sky, their homeland further up above than what she can describe. "although i would love to see what could make something this large~."

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that.. didn't answer her question. [break][break]

perhaps it's true that she's been here more often than the nurse, but marisol has to ask again; why was eris here? she's a child - not someone who should be exposed to this dangerous environment. not someone who should be putting herself into this situation. she isn't someone who should be knowing about all of this, and someone who shouldn't be risking her life out here, on the field. [break][break]

that's something for adults.[break][break]

her gaze softens, although only for a moment, before she wears a defeated smile. "i see.." [break][break]

her words do nothing to soothe her, but she just has to accept that this is the situation they've found themselves in. the nurse perks up, and moves to continue on the path once again. "we should be careful tracking the beast down, in that case." she hoped that they wouldn't find the monster.[break][break]

"i assume you've encountered a paradox pokemon already?"

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that's certainly a way to make an entrance. [break][break]

he's quite.. grandiose, wasn't he? perhaps he was excited, although neither was a bad thing. her krookodile appears less intimidated by the party that approaches them, instead puffing up his chest in seeming pride whilst greeting the official's team. the trainer herself gives the pokemon a passing glance of acknowledgement, before turning to the trainer himself. [break][break]

a smile stretches across her lips. she's quite calm, all things considered, though she'll admit that the pressure of these imposing and rare pokemon put her on the verge of cracking and losing her footing. when the air starts to get heavier, she has to wonder: was it the infinity energy, or was it that they were so deep in the earth? [break][break]

both was possible. [break][break]

"something else, you say.." [break][break]

she pauses, glancing back up to the quartet that follows him "it's reassuring if you say they're only something else, and nothing too dangerous." the offended gaze of a krookodile pierces from behind, but she chooses to ignore it. [break][break]

"there've been increasing reports of stampedes. does anyone know why they're being so violent?"

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both she and her pokemon were expecting the battle to go on for longer. [break][break]

thankfully it doesn't, although both pokemon seem to be slightly pouty when their opponents are recalled into their pokeball. marisol on the other hand gives a small smile, recalling her own pokemon back into their balls before they can start a fuss. she'll hide the twang of disappointment she felt, and bury it in the depths of her heart. [break][break]

"you flatter me." [break][break]

she doesn't say much past that, picking the badge from his hand to add to an open case then snapped shut. her ears perk however, at the mention of galar, and an interest is sparked as soon as it dies. he knew about what happened? in galar? does he have a memory about that distant dream? [break][break]

what a shame their time is cut short. [break][break]

"... yes~." marisol chimes, tucking that little splinter into the back of her mind. [break][break]

"tell me more if you ever get hurt."

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a child? [break][break]

and not just any child; a child she looked after not too long ago. they're peas in a pod when the nurse stares at the child in the frontlines, with her. [break][break]

"i should be asking you the same.." surprise, shock and concern blend together in tone, and all attempts to hide it are fruitless. "what are you doing here, eris?" marisol instinctively makes quick strides to the girl, all whilst keeping an ears out on their surroundings. [break][break]

she trusts the luxray to make sure nothing jumps them, but her hands hover over one of her pokeballs just in case. "isn't it dangerous down here?"

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when all else failed, the offer of comfort can entice anyone into a foreign situation. a visit to the doctor's office was no different. [break][break]

relief falls on her shoulders, and the tension from earlier vanishes just that easily. marisol stands straight while turning her back to the two, and when she opens the door she tilts her head into the room, beckoning them in. this was one of the better rooms, with sunlight and a larger window. how considerate of the other nurses to set this up. [break][break]

"the doctor won't be here for a little while, so i'd like to ask a few questions." a warm gaze shifts to the young girl, whose hand is still ensnared by the luxray's grasp. [break][break]

"is that okay, miss?"

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blessed be that she's accustomed to working with pokemon. [break][break]

despite the luxray's large build, the nurse does nothing to pull back or flinch. rather, she welcomes the paw with a warm smile and a shake of her head. her other hand raises, waving off the apology. rather, with another glance at the duo, there's a pause as she mulls over her options.[break][break]

marisol rests the palm of her other hand atop of the paw, head tilting whilst directing her attention to the seemingly acting guardian. [break][break]

"would it help to have you by her side throughout the check up?"

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marisol is a support. [break][break]

... oh, who is she kidding? [break][break]

no matter how many times she'll insist, she finds herself right in the middle once again, thrust into the center of action when she genuinely doesn't expect herself to do any more than that. the doctor finds herself slightly anxious, feeling the ground quake at in anticipation of the coming onset of monsters from within the caverns. there should be more people to help with the subjugation - sadly, it looks like it's only her and one other person at this site; one other person she's actually quite familiar with. [break][break]

there's a gym leader here, now. yes, she feels much safer now that she knows someone far more seasoned than she is, is on the field. [break][break]

so here she is, krookodile at her side as she awaits the impending stampede. her eyes narrow to today's partner, with all attempts to make small talk before the chaos.[break][break]

"it's good to see you, devlin." she wears a smile, though it grows wry in light of the trembling ground. "though i wish it could have been under different circumstances.."

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