"Even if you were, no harm taken." Kyrenai grins as she lifts her glass in a subtle thank you to the compliment. She could've joked around with the poor man and pulled his leg a little, but in the spirit of things she decided now was not the time. And she was technically still on the clock, so she couldn't go about embarrassing anyone just yet.

But after that, her attention was fully on the smaller redhead beside her as she spoke. The smile the woman wore was one she'd seen quite often, like the purr in her voice as it dipped, leaving the assassin to hide her amused grin behind the flute of champagne purposefully positioned against her lips. Mayhaps it was time to indulge in some pleasure, after months of solely business. "The pleasure's all mine, m'lady, and your spot duly reserved."

She then turns towards Genevieve Cromwell , not wanting to exclude her from anything. "Most pleasurable meeting you as well, miss. The dress suits you perfectly," Though further than her compliment she cannot get, as the first tunes of music start, quickly filling up the halls.

"I believe the music starting is our cue, no?" The assassin says, extending her free hand towards Aurelie Lefevre so she can whisk her away. "Unless you've changed your mind about that first dance?" she purrs back at the woman in a slightly hushed voice, leaning in closer.

"And my apologies to you, miss, for leaving you behind. But I've got a flirt to make due on, it seems." she smiles sympathetically at Genevieve Cromwell , and bows her head in apology before letting her gaze settle back at her prospective dance partner.


Aurelie Lefevre , Genevieve Cromwell , CIAN MAHER , PENELOPE LIVY
tldr;
- Outfit, Mask w/ shiny talonflame design, killer heels, and a bejeweled earpiece
- Let's dance, boys girls!
- Inviting Aurelie to join her for a dance
- Apologises for ditching Genevieve Cromwell

With the towering staircase of surreality and smoke looming in front of her, -and apparently several others, as she soon realises- her frown turns into something less amused. For those abhorring exercise, this would be the truest of haunted houses yet. For as far as one could call this a haunted 'house'. Might as well relabel the concept as 'world' instead. It made the assassin wonder how oscar clayton had done it, but she doubted the man would reveal his hand like that, even if she were to ask not-so-nicely.

"Well, guess we're climbing this bad boy-" she muttered to herself, ever so casually making her way towards the base of the stairs.

The scent of burning and fierce embers was increasing however, just like the heat subtly pushing at her back. She'd mostly just ignored it, but seeing John Sullivan bolting up the stairs from a pathway she hadn't noticed yet, and two others as well within her line of sight. The man seemed to be worried about his blonde lady-friend as flames are rapidly closing on on all of them, making the issue at hand rather apparent, if not completely obvious the moment she glances at Elisabeth Fiorelli . More out of politeness than urge, Kyrenai speeds up a little, but does not charge past them as they're going up the stairs.

She fears neither flame nor the destruction they bring.


zYUfgKVa


Tldr;
- Does not fear the looming silhouette of leg day
- Ah yes, toasty fire
- Is going up the stairs as well, but will kindly follow up behind Cillian Quinn and Elisabeth Fiorelli

If I don't fail my rolls ~ open interaction
- Will help Elisabeth Fiorelli if she appears to struggle by covering her with her jacket, so she can't see the flames

She'd thanked but kindly refused the water offered to her back when she was allowed to catch a break, yet now she entered the second stage of this house of madness, Kyrenai regretted having done so only slightly.

The scent of burning flesh is sharp and lingers in her nostrils like an unwanted guest, reminding her of times of war; of Kanto years prior. Perhaps the chaos and things she'd seen there would've made her anxious of what to expect here if the surroundings hadn't been so off. She could not remember such quiet back then, and that oddity kept her focused. No matter what past horrors the scent brought back to the edges of her mind.

The assassin would have none of it, and bravely marched on into the smokey, twisted horrorland.


dFAFIIPu


Tldr;
- Water? Thanks, but no thanks
- Walking on, slightly disturbed by the burning scent
- Resolve: 40 

"Holding up just fine, ma'am," The assassin smiles back, leaning on her knee as she pushes herself up the rocky slope. She even bothers with a rather comical thumbs up, while making a mental note to invest in more mountaineering gear rather than the tactical one she usually had on her. "If anything, I might've just found myself a new past-time." Let nobody tell her she couldn't do anything in heels.

High above them her Hydreigon circled the perimiter, acting as her eyes in the sky so she could focus down below. She wasn't really struggling, but sometimes pretending helped take the edge off of things. "What about you? And permit me asking, but... what is it you're looking for? I don't think this has been a hobby you've just randomly picked up on." Kyrenai asked curiously.

Sometimes she did wonder what went on in the councilwoman's head.


PENELOPE LIVY

Kyrenai had taken it upon herself to arrive in style; as seemed befitting of her first public appearance ever since arriving in Hoenn. A moment to address the power of the family name she carried, and flaunt the family's charity as well. Even though her brother GABRIEL BLACK , and her cousin URIAH BLACK had funded the event through the Akura Company, she'd opted to use her private funds under their collective name as well. The more the merrier, and she doubted anyone would object to it.

Yet being part of the event's sponsors was only half the reason she was attending; together with Gunner Graves , she'd double as bodyguards for PENELOPE LIVY throughout the evening.

She'd arrived early, before the councilwoman and her date, the white stretch limousine mayhaps a tad bit too bombastic, but it did exactly what she had hoped it would. Attract all the attention, even if it was for a short while. It'd give her a sense of what to keep in mind when the councilwoman would arrive. Assisted by an aide, Kyrenai exited the limo dressed in a tight-fitting, off-the-shoulder crimson gown, her mask almost as vibrant as her sleek, red hair. She smiles at the cameras turning her way, humouring a handful of reporters as they call for her attention. Yet all they get from her is kind words towards velda glaus and the House of Glaus, and a riddled reply at her identity before she slips away into the venue.

A flute of champagne has already been claimed by the time PENELOPE LIVY and CIAN MAHER arrive, and she watches closely as they make their way to the bar to order. With Gunner Graves having taken to another group, she figures a brief appearance might be reassuring after recent events. Though she does not seem to be the only one wishing to give the couple a brief greeting; another woman in an equally sparkly red dress approaches them from the other side. She only arrives by the time the other is making a toast.

"Make that two wishing you health and fortune," Kyrenai chimes in after Aurelie Lefevre , as smoothly as one possibly can, her flute of champagne raised in good spirits. "And mayhaps also to the young lady making the toast?" she regards her with a welcome smile, turning it towards Penny and Cian as well. "Hope all is according to wish?"


tldr;
- Outfit, Mask w/ shiny talonflame design, killer heels, and a bejeweled earpiece
- Joins the ladies in red & co for a brief greeting

It's over. Winter has vanished and Palkia's freed from the clutches of whomever dared ensare the Master of Space. In her ear she hear's PENELOPE LIVY's voice telling all present that they're done, and to aid anyone in leaving the area safely-- as she looks around she seems to be one of the few people who's been left unharmed, safe for perhaps a bruised ego. But that was redundant.

Her Lunatone chimes, and Kyrenai's just in time to see the councilwoman faint and drop, the brunette beside her catching her before she truly hits the ground. "Penelope!" The assassin's quick to move, appearing beside ollie morales without any further explanation than an urgent appeal to let her check the councilwoman's vitals.

"Allow me to have a look."

Only once she's made sure Penny's not in immediate danger does she move back; though she does not pry her from the man's arms just yet. Though she does not leave her boss's side at any point.




Tldr;
- Kyr gives fainted Penny first aid
- Is coming back with the boss

As Palkia's swirling madness of energy toils and condenses faster and faster, panic grips her chest. She's made it up the stairs before either coin nor attack have met their destinations, as she only had to traverse a single flight of them, but she knows she cannot make it across the distance as Palkia's Spacial Rend reaches its pinnacle, not by her own strength– unless...

The Lunatone behind her sees how the assassin turns to shout an order– an order that's blurred by the deafening sound of Spacial Rend tearing through everything and everyone. Some fall like flies, their blood like crimson snow staining the hallowed ground. Man and mon alike; those who remain standing only stain Mt. Pyre further, and for a moment the assassin's world slows.

Out of her reach Kyrenai sees her charge be among them; she stands, but unlike the assassin, all but unharmed. A silent voice whispers in her ear as the sky above her shatters, and time once again starts moving.


"𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚌𝚞𝚜."


It draws her gaze up, and among the many lights and flickering flames she hears it again, right in front of her, yet so far away. The deep voice of a mentor long gone. Yet when it speaks again, it has become another-- younger, one that makes her suck in a breath any other would mistake as her reaction to seeing all the lost souls escaping.


"ɖօռ'ȶ ʟɛȶ ʏօʊʀ ɦɛǟʀȶ ɖɨֆȶʀǟƈȶ ʏօʊ"


She bites her tongue, eyes squinting at the lights calling out to her. Not one, but many. All familiars. All people no longer there. She saw them 'leave' for the light years ago.

"Don't make me remember my past." she bites back. "You know it hurts." but she doesn't say.

The souls have become vague silhouettes in her mind. They stand before her like a conclave, ready to judge her at a moment's notice, and when they speak -as one- she nods slowly, as the reality of chaos seeps into the foreground once more.


"ƬЯY ΛGΛIП. BЯΣΛK ƬΉΣIЯ ᄃΉΛIПƧ"


Kyrenai does not see how a single of the flames remains as the rest disappears, nor how it flees with all the others; tailing Moltres' soul towards Mt. Chimney. Her focus is elsewhere, and as she manoevers between the many others present at the top, weaving her path like a spider among the leaves, calmth chases away the panic. She cannot let her heart take over. Her tread is calm but steadfast, haste banished from her mind-- she cannot change what has already been done.

A soft click and her cloak comes undone as she approaches PENELOPE LIVY from behind, dropping it on the councilwoman's shoulders, her hand lingering for a moment as she apologises, solemnly.

"Sorry for being late," she says, "And forgive me for not staying."

And she moves on, her eyes fixated on the restrained Palkia. She hears Katherine Fairburne call for the League-affiliated to target this father Winter, but she disregards the order entirely-- she will take orders from only one. For now, at least. Instead she draws her sword, and flicks the blade in a wordless order; her Lunatone humms quietly as it stays at PENELOPE LIVY 's side, reinforcing Kyrenai's blade with Psychic, ready to pull its weight at the right moment.

"Don't let the chains that bind you 𝒹𝑒𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑒 you, Palkia."

Like Gwyar Wledig , she too aims for Palkia's red chain's links, the Psychic-enforced blade trying to wedge itself between the Master of Space and the chains that bind it. She would not allow it to be a slave to the man's whims any longer. Even if it meant getting up close and in its line of fire. After all, one never knew what a cornered beast could do. Be that Palkia or Winter.






nMxsXXVh


Tldr;
- Kyrenai tries to reach PENELOPE LIVY but fails
- Is speaking with her after-life demons
- Apologizes to Penny for being late
- Lunatone uses Psychic on Kyrenai's blade to strengthen it
- Reinforcements for Gwyar Wledig , trying to cut through the red chain

Rather than the need for walks and so-forth, that was something Kyrenai Black could very well do herself, she had entrusted her small Growlithe to the pokémon handler with the intent to learn the pooch to socialize with pokémon other than the ones she owned. The fact that Mythras was a shy, emotionally fragile puppy helped during the walk, as he just carefully trotted behind the poor handler without needing much direction while they tried their best to get the other pokémon back in line.

Well, at least they tried. Despite his otherwise heroic name, Mythras also listened to the nickname "Mimi", and "Mimi" only cowered whenever a set of strangers' eyes looked at him-- so basically every person they came across. There was solace in the fact there was another Growlithe among the group, which it would soon start tailing as if his life depended upon it; until something startled Mimi, prompting a sound retreat to the nearest pillow to hide on.

Strange though, this 'pillow' was feeling awfully warm...

Izumi Yamamura Callan Young ana fell vincenzo de luca Josh Devlin Elinor Anderson CIAN MAHER

In the aftermath she remains with Tyranitar as her steadfast guardian, both trying to catch a breather from their -surprisingly disappointing- fights. Disappointed in her own prowess, for having been bested that easily; still, if that was all the damage done, she could bear it. Kyrenai's given some respite, which she gratefully uses to bring her Tyrantrum back to the fray; she could've healed Vox back to full health, but believes in her partner's tenacity instead. That, and strength in numbers; for now, at least.

Her rest is cut short when her comms flicker back to life; primal points fired in five minutes. Right. There's no time to linger here, she should probably rejoin the others and get back up there for a better vantage point, if anything. The assassin allows her Tyranitar some rest and recalls him, opting to call forth her Lunatone instead; yet moments after Jaci is out and about, it stops abruptly and looks up at the top of Mt Pyre as if something has drawn its interest--- something else than the meteor. She sees it in its crimson eyes and turns to look up as well, only to see a strange fissure rising up in the sky.

An unsettling feeling stirs in Kyrenai's stomach as she looks at it, slowly moving forth. Her hand taps the Lunatone's side, and when the spacial fissure gives way, a crescendo of glass breaking hails the entrance for a wholely new entity-- one that makes it impossible to think of it any other way than a threat. "Jaci, Future Sight, now." she orders the meteor pokémon, already prepared to shift into a madman's sprint up the hill. If that Palkia-abomination's allowed to do as it pleases, they're done for; and from this distance there's little she can do. Even when Winter's voice demands a coin flip, a choice of luck to decide their fate, she keeps on running, like a crimson blur.

If she's to let a spell of luck decide her fate, then she'll have it be decided by luck entirely. Kyrenai flicks the coin she digs out of her pocket up in the air, but does not stay to watch it fall; instead scaling more and more stairs, beyond faces she should've recognised had she taken the time to look at them.

Behind her, the coin hits the ground, and fate has decided; TAILS.


NFXESo|4

Tldr;
- Revives Tyrantrum
- Calls out Lunatone, Lunatone reacts to the pulse of energy at the top
- Lunatone uses Future Sight
- Flips her own coin; fate dictates Tails
- We're running up that hill

@

☉

She'd let him go. She could've stopped him if she'd really wanted to, but their fight had been an indicator that she would've needed to sacrifice way more than she was willing to do; especially because it had nothing to do with her initial job. Or perhaps it was just a spur of the moment decision? At least it had been an entertaining encounter, all things considered...

But that did not mean she would allow the same lenience for others to come. Had they come before him, mayhaps, but Amor Rose had twisted a few screws and unleashed something that did not leisurely grant such clemency to those left untested. "Vox," she addresses her Tyranitar, gesturing for it to move closer to the stairs they're guarding. The area around them has been transformed; what once was a place of eternal rest and mourning had become a broken battlefield, graves desecrated by the need and greed of factions. Although her emotions were a void at this point, her common sense still reigned.

She would make sure to restore Mt. Pyre to its former glory, if not through funding then by her own hand. Those laid to rest here had nothing to do with the atrocities committed upon their hallowed ground.

Before that however, she would have to deal with the next contender.

Kyrenai called out into the open, towards the one yet to show themselves; "This is as far as you go. Turn back, or prepare yourself!"

For a second time that day, the red-haired assassin would block the way once more.



Tempest Quinn

Tldr:
- Kyrenai has her Tyranitar out
- The battlefield is torn with fissures and pieces of debris scattered about
- Kyrenai instinctively feels something approaching
- Blocks the way up

DONATING

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS!

DONATING: 540 WEP TO THE LEAGUE

Ascension
10 MP per IC post in a spin-off thread x7 (70 MP)
10 MP for knocking out another character and/or their Pokemon x2 (20 MP)
50 MP for getting your Pokemon knocked out x2 (100 MP)
100 MP for completing a battle x1 (100 MP)
50 MP for participation in a battle x1 (50 MP)
200 MP for tying a battle x1 (200 MP)

For a total of 540 MP

And once again the ancient golem rose to combat her, though this time her disadvantage had been wiped clean, and a clash of titans was about to go down.

The earth comes alive with fury, vicious quakes trying to throw any who tread ground off their feet, both man and 'mon alike. The epicenter however was not meant for their trainers, but the pokémon between them. Vox goes along with the rumbling, slamming its feet further into the earth as it breaks around him, fissures trying to swallow him whole; and then he roars, commanding the earth to turn against the ghostly golem like it had been used against him. An Earthquake only to counter long enough for the mountain to calm once more, and to lessen the lethal damage it would've otherwise received; the harm already done it could withstand.

But earth makes way for ice, and the rock-type Kaiju has to fight yet another barrage while recovering from its stagger. Eyes of black follow as the ice erupts in a path of spikes towards it, but this time it reacts with an intensity not unlike the Golurk it's facing. A white pressuring light encompasses the Tyranitar as it initiates Giga Impact, and slams its head onto the ground below and barrels forth, breaking apart the ground and oncoming ice at its base. Although effective at halting the move's advance, it is not uneffective against the Tyranitar, who's panting as it finally comes to a standstill. Winded, but not enough to forfeit the fight.

In the moments that follow after, both pokémon stare each other down; like rivals would in the midst of battle. They know what follows next is not a battle of their wits, but one of words from their trainers.

Amor's warning, and final request repeats itself. Stand down, let him pass. Kyrenai doesn't answer at first, just regarding him in silence.

And then she sighs. She extends her arm, flicking her cloak aside with it, and twists her body away, gesturing towards the path she had been blocking all this time.

"Do not think that's the reason I'm allowing this, to adhere to this final 'chance' you grant me. See it as a gesture of earned respect, Masked One." The Tyranitar pensively gazes at its trainer, but moves aside as well, leaving the path up ahead open for Amor and his Golurk to ascend.

"Go. Leave the councilmembers be and I won't stop you. Until we meet again." she says as he passes her by. And that is all she has left to say; the assassin turns and moves further down, preparing to block the path once more.



Amor Rose

Tldr;
- Tyranitar takes and fights the Earthquake with Earthquake
- Counters Ice Punch with Giga Impact
- Stalemate, battle ends in a TIE
- Kyrdalf lets Amor pass

MP Calculations:
10 MP per IC post in a spin-off thread x7 (70MP)
10 MP for knocking out another character and/or their Pokemon x2 (20MP)
50 MP for getting your Pokemon knocked out x2 (100MP)
100 MP for completing a battle x1 (100MP)
50 MP for participation in a battle x1 (50MP)
200 MP for tying a battle x1 (200MP)

For a total of 540MP