"a pen will inevitably run dry," the rocket boss speaks as if sharpening his teeth, "and you've been writing too freely."[break][break]

he perceives the breath she had taken. recognizes its quiet shape. its brevity. its defiance of fate. it is one he has taken several times before.[break][break]

"accordingly, we are limiting your access to our resources." the rocket boss says. "until we can substantiate your credibility, we are keeping you under close watch. does this make sense anya fowl?"

[attr="class","ooc"] anya fowl[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

"i've done my time and dirtied my hands and yet i see that you've forced me back into menial work."[break][break]

walsh stares at ashley. behind the boss, darkrai emerges from the floor like a spout of ichor. it phases through walsh like smoke before raising a sharpened claw at the younger rocket, each cloaked finger an acuate dagger.[break][break]

but the darkrai does not strike ashley.[break][break]

instead, it delivers a flurry of shadows toward jayden. they strike his body and sear into his flesh a reminder of his failure. his weakness. his heart. when the deed is done, the umbral wave disperses into the room's corners.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross Ashley Shepard ; set before postdormitum[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon darkrai"]

"speaking of dreams," walsh says, "i am sure you are aware of lulu's absence."[break][break]

like a phantom, darkrai emerges from posterior shadows. its blue eyes are set within its pitch like cracked moons and its limbs drape downward into blackthorn claws.[break][break]

"know that i am no silas. no cadis." he says, framed by darkrai's shape, "and if all you care for is discovery in service of the self, i'm afraid your very station is in peril."[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] anya fowl[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

"good. you're here."[break][break]

the boss' gaze carves into ashley swiftly before lashing out onto jayden's countenance. behind ashley, the door closes by itself. the click of a lock resonates against the cold metal of the submarine.[break][break]

"i understand that our admin was merciful to you once." walsh says without looking at ashley. "when you had defected."[break][break]

he ensures that jayden does not leave his sight.[break][break]

"why did you not cull him?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross Ashley Shepard ; set before postdormitum[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon darkrai"]

walsh does not answer. rather, he lets the silence answer the question; allows the quiet to spread like a canvas of water for thoughts make murky.[break][break]

"then he was rotten from the beginning." the boss says. "discarding him would have been an inevitability then."[break][break]

the shadows darken: another layer of ink pooling upon the corners.[break][break]

"we will hunt him down, and we will give him no quarter." he centers his stare on cillian. "if ever captured alive, i can give you the honor."[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]

it was never easy to trust. not then. not now. in kanto, walsh spearheaded deception. like a creature, he slid through the slits left between layers of trust and resided in shadows hidden. only when the timing was right did he emerge from the crevasse.[break][break]

"and so you ran back to us?"[break][break]

it is more of a statement rather than a question, but walsh's arched brow primes the line with the color of amused inquiry.[break][break]

"you needed us then. for what purpose, hm?"[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] anya fowl[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

the boss is quick to evaluate cillian's swift answer. the solemnity of familial severance is the heaviest burial mound; however, walsh wonders what should spring from it. flowers or weeds?[break][break]

"so ruthless." walsh says. "so quick to discard your blood brother."[break][break]

he does not grin. does not frown. years of practice have trained his face to be a canvas waiting to be painted.[break][break]

"any clue as to why he chose defection? has he confided in you as a family member would?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]

"as you may have already sensed, tensions between the league and our organization are beginning to intensify."[break][break]

walsh takes inventory of jayden's stoic plaque. in ways, the boss is reminded of himself. naturally, his own expression settles into that same muted layer.[break][break]

"as an admin, you play a pivotal role in ensuring our operations are smoothly executed." [break][break]

walsh stands still, steadied by an slim yet ornate cane.[break][break]

"first, before we dive deeper into the matter, i must ask... what are your thoughts, as admin, on defectors?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross Ashley Shepard ; set before postdormitum ; #myadmin[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon darkrai"]

"i did." [break][break]

the door closes behind him by no human hand. darkrai's form emerges briefly from the frame like a black web of ichor pulling from an infernal gate. quickly, it shifts away. the dark office, lit so dim by one fading lamp light, grows darker at its edges.[break][break]

"i only wish to verify something by you." the boss says. "it won't take too much of your time."[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] jayden cross[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon darkrai"]

"that they did. i had utmost trust in them."[break][break]

the boss says. in the dark, his words fall like dustox wings. there is no light they flutter to, only dust to texture the murk.[break][break]

"just like i had trusted lulu before she left and before she retrieved you." [break][break]

his gliscor chirps; it is more of a clicking sound, like a cable being pulled through a manual winch.[break][break]

"where were you before she invited you back?"[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] anya fowl[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

"i do not prefer it."[break][break]

the cave is as still as his cape. like a fish, the scene is smothered in seran wrap. like plastic is wrapped taut across damp styrofoam: a preservation of this crime's transaction.[break][break]

"a kill means lost potential." walsh says. "however, if someone is already designated for death, then the potential has already been lost. killing is a necessity, you see."[break][break]

the boss begins to turn toward the mouth of the cave. his cane taps against the stone with a cold echo.[break][break]

"i'll send for the cleaners." walsh says. "you should wipe the blood off your face."

[attr="class","ooc"] Tempest Quinn[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

walsh's office has become darker. ever since his retainment of darkrai's full blessing, the glow of lamp and screen have begun to disturb him. no worry. he will adapt.[break][break]

he is a man of disguises after all. THEO BECKETT knows this well. knows that he wears too many faces.[break][break]

"head scientist anya fowl." walsh greets her at the door.[break][break]

in the gap provided between the open door and the frame, she would be able to see the ominous glow of a gliscor's yellow eyes. like horrible beacons that warn vessels of rocky crags before the shore.[break][break]

"come in."[break][break]

a beat.[break][break]

"you look nice."

[attr="class","ooc"] anya fowl[break]
[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon gliscor"]

the door closes, metal frame squealing as it seals everyone inside. walsh's expression does not shift dramatically from the hue of its stoic sculpt. it just intensifies; the dull canvas of his expression allows minds to paint their insecurities onto it. an art of intimidation is one where the intimidator need not act at all.[break][break]

"if it is true that you did not know of rowan's plans..."[break][break]

the shadows darken in the room. a darker shade, a deeper murk.[break][break]

"then i have to ask... how? are you not family?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon nidoking"]