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Eris' prescence does lighten the load a little, but it has him hold it in when he knows he doesn't have to. Laguna can even tell, to such a point that the gooey being would ignore the growl, and attempt to give the most gooey-hug to his trainer. Turning his gaze towards the Luxray...[break][break]

Hearing she had time to spare, he nods. "Thanks uh... Eris."[break][break]

He's quiet for a long, long moment as she speaks again. He has to ponder which way to take it. Tell her to scram? No, not on his life. Eris was like a little sister he always wanted. Like the half-sister he would never want to know. So instead... he gives a smile at her offer.[break][break]

"That'd be nice. Laguna is attempting to rapidly harden the goo on his body, but throwing pebbles at him, he still gets hit. Dunno what's wrong." He ruffles the... gooey... goo on Laguna, who gives a tiny sigh, the little scrimbly deflating back on grass.[break][break]

Ash shrugs. "So. How we do?"

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The first thing that comes to his mind is simply Wow. She's pretty. A smile curves up his lips, as he holds a hand up in greeting, though she seemed preoccupied looking at his feet.[break][break]

Ah. That makes sense.[break][break]

"Coffee?" Wow, he was impressed. Woman was super sweet too. That's a gesture he could get behind.[break][break]

When she exposed her hoodie pocket for the milk and sugar, he would nod, and with a singular hand, scoop up two packets of sugar, and a packet of milk, before placing it on the tray. "You can put your umbrella away, we can share mine. It's big." It was merely meant as a friendly gesture, as he could tell that the struggle was real. Though her balance game was strong, he scoops the tray with a singular firm hand beneath it, lifting it up while keeping the coffees from spilling.[break][break]

"Kayode, right? Name's Sawyer, but you can call me Ash." Finally introductions, as he goes over his own name. "This here is-" He gestures towards the little white Zorua, who glares at him, throwing her gaze to the side. "-... no name yet, but just call her Grumpy for now." A little vein sprouts on the little female Zorua's head, as she growls. Ash tries to fight anger with friendliness, hoping to dilute it in geniality.[break][break]

"You got a briefing on the mission?" he inquires, making sure to shield her and the tray from the rain, keeping ample balance of his grip strength on the tray.

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Always hated Rustboro. City streets filled to the brim of manufacturing power, streetlights that buzz to life at night, and on nights like tonight, where the cool air are in, that rain does its best to illuminate it all, and blind the eyes. Makes it hard to adjust when its so dark, save for those lights.[break][break]

Peeking out from a small bus stop, Ashley Sawyer stands in a hoodie, pants, and some white shoes he just bought. His hair is in its signature side-sweep he's grown to love, and his hoodie is a little worn. Adorned above him an umbrella, doing little to stop the rain that just has a desire to smack him in the face.[break][break]

Today, he's teaching one of the newer recruits the same task he had back with Cillian Quinn way back when: what they do with deserters. A task like that once upon a time gave him chills, goosebumps. The idea of taking life... it wasn't something he ever wished upon his worst enemy. But he didn't. He took that punishment himself. He let it rip into him. To dull that sense thanks to teachings from Zev Harcourt. If anything, he took this mission not because he had to, but because he wanted to.[break][break]

So that way, he could do for this newbie what Cillian had done for him almost a year ago.[break][break]

Standing near his nameless Zorua, the little beast staring at him with a look of disdain, uncertain of her trust in him. Ashley can't help but agree to that, but it's not something he really can think about. Either she trusts him, and this job goes smoothly...[break][break]

Or she doesn't, and this job is a little more difficult.[break][break]

Checking his pocket watch, he opens it, hearing the small ticking. Recruit should be here any time now. Just had to wait.[break][break]

Mission was simple, at least. Outside Devon Corp, it was as simple as offing some sap who happened to be an informant for the League. Should be a simple affair, at least. Especially since they should be walking out themselves soon. Could execute them in the rain under cover of night. That'd be the ideal way to go.[break][break]

Where is she?

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What the hell.[break][break]

Getting the hit on Zacian, that's exactly what Ashley needed, until a Wooper finds its' way to strike Reinhardt, blasting the beast in the back, and Ashley spins on a heel, only to watch Eris Halla coming for him... and he finds his heart sink. "Wai-" kepler brueshaber is already retaliating with his Gyarados "-a seco-" and Raziel Beckett has a strong gust from a Springtide Storm "-nd!" Ashley immediately goes to catch his partner, before getting thrown back and sliding on the ground, Reinhardt having taken quite the beating.[break][break]

"You okay?" He pushes a hand through Kep's cheek, and smiles, turning his head back towards Eris.[break][break]

He was just doing his job...[break][break]

Reinhardt moves to shield both boys best he can, doing what he can on such shaky legs, he's not in time. Ashley isn't hurt, which leaves the Nidoking feeling like they did their job, but he can't do his job fully, and falls prey to the earth. Thankfully, the Nidoking just knocks out. But as Ashley returns him, he eyes Kep, and then to Zacian.[break][break]

When the Zacian attempts to fight back, Ash's silver eyes look up, too late unfortunately. Her blade shatters, and he feels guilt like none before as the fear barrels down on him.[break][break]

... and then the panic attack came. His heartbeat is in his ears.[break][break]

And then nothing.[break][break]

---[break][break]

...[break][break]

WHAM.[break][break]

"OW!" Ashley grabs at his head, feeling a wet feeling as he grips at it. Looking at the stadium bleachers he woke up in, covered in ash, he looks around him. At this dilapidated horror field. They were... somewhere. It looked like hell, and the stench of death covers the area, oppressing any life it had before.[break][break]

... a stadium?[break][break]

"Sure ain't Hoenn."[break][break]

The Captain Obvious in him aside, he pulls off his hood, as he grabs at his head. Dammit... blood. How hard did he hit the bleacher? Tossing off his jacket and revealing his white undershirt, he ties the sleeves around his waist, and looks around. ... Kep? ... Eris? ... Theo? He rubs at his head. He was still shaky, and he was having trouble deciphering where he was.[break][break]

Throwing out Haku the Dragonite, he pats on the new Dragonite before ordering. "Get some air, I'll go on foot." The Dragonite nods, before taking off, doing a arena scan, as Ash hops over the edge into the dead grassy field.[break][break]

... the hell was that statue?[break][break]

What the hell is going on here?

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Hearing a voice, Ashley immediately sits up, wiping at his face. Showing weakness was a problem. He can't be seen like this, by anyone. No one deserved to see this side.[break][break]

... when did he start thinking that way?[break][break]

Maybe he had been dealt more emotional damage than he thought... Laguna's eyes are sad, as the little goo boy rolls off of Ashley, deflating and becoming a small pile on the grass, as Ash realizes who it is.[break][break]

"Oh... Eris." He wipes at his face again. "I was... just relaxing." That wasn't true, and no matter how convincing he wanted it to be, it wasn't a quarter-honest. So with a sigh, he corrects himself. "I'm... teaching Laguna how to use Protect."[break][break]

He doesn't think he needs to go into a reason, but with a solemn smile, he asks the same.[break][break]

"You?"

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It doesn't occur to Ashley... how quite possibly toxic his words might be seen as. As he holds Kep there, with a smile, warned not to put himself in danger, it doesn't even fully quantify. Maybe he does understand a little bit, but as the couple continue their confections, Ashley leans over and kisses Kep's cheek once as he turns around.[break][break]

"Well, the cold water for the syrup help to solidify it, so I'd say... couple minutes, actually. So-" as he hands Kep one of the strawberry skewers, and grabs one himself. Beginning the last step, Ash takes a ladle to glaze the concoction onto the strawberries in a way that won't touch his other hand... doing so carefully to coat it all.[break][break]

Once he finishes, a plate to the side is set, now holding his own skewer, as he begins to help with the one Kep has himself.[break][break]

They were almost done. As Ana the Pikachu came over, moving to swipe one of the cut up strawberries, she places it to her lips, and gives off the cutest cry one could imagine, chewing it and moving closer towards the couple. These were her people! As she hops onto Kep's shoulder, and rubs her cheek against his, Ashley finally finishes up his end.[break][break]

"Now... we just wait a couple minutes for it to harden and cool!" And once they were done... BAM. Candied strawberries.

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In their bundle of a singular sheet of cloth, and the tangle ouroboros of love, where parts of the body sit just outside the confines of that cloth, Ashley smiles.[break][break]

"Can't think of a better guy though to have as a best friend." He makes such a bright smile.[break][break]

After Kep does go over everything, happy Ash didn't walk away, he felt similarly. Happy to know his friend skipped lunch for that. With a hand over his chest, and he holds it there tightly a spell. Kep's words leave his lips.[break][break]

One good heart.[break][break]

"I'm glad you let me share it with you." He agrees, and pulls Kep closer to him, placing a small kiss on his forehead.[break][break]

"Even if yours is bad, it's good enough for me." [break][break]

He can feel himself drifting... Kep and the bed together was so warm. One big yawn letting them know how tired he had gotten. Turns out bedtime activities like they did after gym exercise exhausted him.[break][break]

"Show me that outfit in the morning. Okay baby?" He lazily pushes another kiss to his partner's lips, tired, lethargic, and short. Ashley's silver eyes began to droop.

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With a rather intrigued grin now, the newer grunt has him raise a brow, as he watches the demonstration. The Ceruledge (an invariably awesome Pokemon that Ashley is immediately more intrigued by) demonstrates for him and illustrates the point.[break][break]

"Made your point. Counterargument. Assurance on what is known is better." He's smirking now, sure as hell that he already can win.[break][break]

"See that firebird there." He points to Moltres. "Probably breathes fire you'd think. If provided that information is correct, resources can be implemented to shoot it down in the most efficient, and least cost-effective way possible. There are means to play around its capabilities, as you just demonstrated. Probably has a heart, and you could fill the lungs, maybe electrocute it. All valid points, but-" But that's where something else reared its ugly head. Almost an antagonization? Or maybe it was pity? Hard to say.[break][break]

He felt somewhat combative, almost asking for the argument to continue.[break][break]

"-but. If you quickly eliminate it from the board, you have more assets to focus on what you don't know. Reconissance. You're not wrong in principle, because it is important. But it shouldn't be the main focus, just a lesser one." He'll at least give the guy that much. He was right. There isn't really a wrong answer.[break][break]

Thank Arceus he had been reading science mags since dating Kep. Science-fiction was fuckin' dope.[break][break]

"How do you plan for the unknown? Generalization. You can't waste resources on a potential what-if. Until the box opens, we can't know what's inside. Information is key."[break][break]

Because in this case, the cat is alive and dead at the same time. Therefore, it is in an unobservable condition that is both binary choices at once.[break][break]

"If we put our eggs in the wrong basket, it could be devastating on our forces. It's a gamble. If we know where to put our eggs, as you just demonstrated, we can end them quickly and move on. Like shooting down a Moltres through the heart." The asshole in him was really coming out, a snarky tone lacing his response. "Thank you for commending my choice with your presentation, though. Helpful to those who've yet to make their point."

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So many people being social, it did almost seem oppressive. Almost. Thankfully, it did help to calm him down knowing he at least had his brother behind him, the shoulder bump giving him a calm air. He didn't feel serenity a lot lately, but right now, he could take a breath. What was essentially his sister too.[break][break]

Comforting.[break][break]

Things started happening though. The screens abound goes on a list. Legend birds, like Moltres, Articuno, Groudon, Ho-Oh. Some, Ash thought, were merely just legends and just that, but a familiar site from the app is in front of him. ... Groudon, huh...? Who was the MATIAS SILPH guy, anyways? He could have sworn he played a phone game of that guy before.[break][break]

More appear, with a particular focus on Yvetal. Ashley felt a cold sweat with that thing. What gave him such dread over that being? He tries to relax, to keep his composure, but the sweat trickles down his neck.[break][break]

Then comes the question.[break][break]

It's an honest question, but with it, Ash's hand rubs to his chin. One guy, one of the louder ones, decides on C.[break][break]

"I disagree. The threats we know make the most sense to prepare for. A." He even goes to select.[break][break]

Ash crosses his arms. He's steadfast in his choice. It's impossible to plan perfectly for what one cannot know without observation playing a part. "Schrodinger's Cat situation. Until it is a known, it can only play in conjecture at best."[break][break]

As for B, does that mean the ones they know in Rocket? If so, until they themselves turncoat, it's not something that needs immediate consideration, unless of betrayals. But someone playing traitor with such power is devastating. Even so, the number far outweighs the League's own. Crushing the opposition was the only option to incentivize the lack of traitors.[break][break]

He would know. Ashley used to be a traitor, after all.

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand it's going downhill.[break][break]

His brow furrows, and he slams his hands on the desk, silver eyes looking with grave irritation. Jayden may be an Admin, but that was vicious. A bitter pill to swallow. He knows Isaac is better than him. Cygne has more experience.[break][break]

"You've worked with me back then." Ashley's voice was bitter. He could feel every pint of visceral rage pushing up through his throat. "Isaac is a good pick. Cygne too. I agree on both. I think both could lead this. But-"[break][break]

Then it came out.[break][break]

"-I want to do it myself. I'm aiming for an Admin spot, and I think doing this would make that more possible. I figured you would understand that. Clearly, you don't."[break][break]

He wants to be rude. Mean to Jayden. But he keeps his disdain back. Just a little. His fury is stifled. It comes out quiet. Pain in his voice. A similar pain he felt a long time ago.[break][break]

"Why can't you just believe in me? Are you even in there?" Then it just slips a little too far.[break][break]

"Was Sushi not enough for you?"

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Eh. It was flimsy. Being the fall guy, that wasn't in the books. No, Ashley ponders this a moment, thinks it over in his head, and nods. He gets why Jayden wouldn't want that. Rubbing the back of his neck, he nods.[break][break]

"Right. Then I just won't fail. Like I said, if we can get a van just in case, or some vehicles to ride out in, that'd help. Hell, I'll even find more people to ensure we have more eyes on security, everything." Ash shoots Jayden a smirk, having thought of a quick alternative already. If he didn't fail, he didn't have to worry about the return.[break][break]

"Sides, that's a last resort. Plan Z. I got A through Y. I'm not lookin' to get jailtime, Jay, come on."[break][break]

The nickname still kind of stings at him, and he doesn't understand why it still bothers him. But there's a little bit of anger still. Irritation? No, just exasperation.[break][break]

Scratching his nose, he thinks it through again.[break][break]

"If things go south, we cut our losses, and escape. With enough force, the individuals I have hand-selected should be able to cut a path through."[break][break]

He waits for Jayden to speak now. To retort. To really piss him off.

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Great.[break][break]

The mission was to subdue the dogs and use them to subdue the incoming calamity. Ashley had grown more and more bitter about Walsh. He wasn't defecting to those goodie-two-shoes, no no. If anything, he agreed the League was a fustercluck. He resented Walsh though.[break][break]

Can't help being afraid. He could feel the sweat trickle down the nape of his neck.[break][break]

Maybe he knew that Walsh was sending him on a suicide mission. But as Ashley arrives, he throws a ball forward. Towards the dog. If his mission was to subdue, he wouldn't fail. Quite the opposite.[break][break]

Even with all these Leaguers around, he would cast the first stone for Rocket. Masked, and ready to fight, Reinhardt the Nidoking blasts out the ball, right behind Zacian.[break][break]

"Earth Power."[break][break]

Reinhardt slams its foot into the ground, intent to take the dog's flank and make it fight in a pincer.[break][break]

Though he was afraid. He could feel his heartbeat in his ear. He would ready his pistol for the first Leaguer he could, intent to fire if they tried to attack him. No petty revenge. He learned better from Landon (paxton concordas) than he ever thought he would.[break][break]

No half measures. Not anymore.

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