[attr="class","icon"]

She continues to watch out the window, idly tracking the movements of anyone who passes by. Her expression just enough removed to look like she’s doing no more than daydreaming. She’s listening, though.[break][break]

Her own cup lifts to swig from. The sweetness mixed with bitterness isn’t wholly satisfactory. But acceptable.[break][break]

“What is the point of peace if you destroy peaceful things to obtain it?”

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
lockbox: scout[break]

Whoever this guy was, he seemed like he had little to lose, despite being obviously set back by fresh injuries. Blue, in all honesty, could relate.[break][break]

Fang only momentarily flinched at the brutalizing of his paw. It wasn’t the first time that a tough hide had torn at the skin under his paws. As the garchomp charged him, the lucario anticipated the continued close quarters, countering the incoming pressure with an AURA SPHERE intended to blow the dragon-type backward.[break][break]

Even if it didn’t work, Blue wasn’t worried about her pokemon. The both of them had long learned to hold their own.[break][break]

Her punch was deflected, she rolled with it—fists tucking back close to her body as she bounced and rocked back on her heels. Her eyes remained fixed on her opponent, though, and her low center of gravity helped her duck back and away from the bap bap of his fist directed square at her nose.[break][break]

Stooped low and forward, Blue swung under next. Hoping to land two quick jabs at his ribs instead.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] onyx straub | m: bare knuckle beat down[break]





[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-lucario"]

[attr="class","icon"]

She takes the offered mug of coffee with a quiet nod of thanks.[break][break]

Then proceeds to dump sugar and creamer packets into the dark liquid.[break][break]

Her stare returned to look out the window again, at the house with its apparent bunker.[break][break]

"It seems like a flawed process," she comments before sipping from her cup. She can't explain it. Her willingness to speak her mind around him without any bite. The flare up of her curiosity being allowed to flourish without her quashing it.[break][break]

Maybe it's because up to this point, at least, Theo has humored her questions. It hasn't stopped her from following orders as of yet. But isn't it a double standard to destroy simple peacefulness in the act of acquiring peace? Even mundane lives have their place, she thinks.[break][break]

When did bunkers become so prized that fishermen became expendable as a result?

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
lockbox: scout[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

A civilian.[break][break]

Her expression remains unchanged. Hard and neutral. But something uneasy twists and writes in her stomach like a pit of agitated ekans.[break][break]

“Yes…I am familiar with the process, sure.” Her nidoking is recalled and traded out for a houndour that lays on her feet once she slides into the booth opposite of him. Watchful.[break][break]

Slumping against the back of the tall booth, her head tilts to look at the clear view of the place from the window. “Coffee.”[break][break]

Rose eyes move back to Theo. “How does interfering with un-involved civilians assist your goal of peace?” It’s a curious question, though perhaps comes out judgemental per her typical tone.[break][break]

“The ends justify the means or some shit?”

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
lockbox: scout[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

“A fisherman..Interesting.” Her brow furrows and she pauses. “A civilian?”[break][break]

She doesn’t know if providing his general information is meant to make her feel better or worse about the whole thing. Either way, she swallows it down. Her expression remains steely, fixed in its typically disgruntled form.[break][break]

Maybe it’s better that he’s alone. No family.[break][break]

What about the athlete? Were they alone? Did they—[break][break]

No.[break][break]

Blue nods. “His habits, then.” Comings. Goings.

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
lockbox: scout[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

Madd’s quip in response to her lack of thanks is met with a quiet scoff as she turns to follow. In fact, if there’s any issue with her attitude, Blue likely won’t care. But no one raises the concern. However, it can only be karmic justice that she doesn’t twist away in time from the spit of LEECH SEEDS— ending up peppered by them at the same time as Remiel Calcifet.[break][break]

“Damn it,” she grumbles as she pulls her hands into her jacket sleeves to attempt brushing away the unsuccessful pods away. “It got me too.” The minimal seep of energy pales in comparison, though, to the sudden energy shift among the group. Noting the gabite’s intuition, her own guard raises back up.[break][break]

And speak of the devil—Remiel’s warning seems to manifest

Her stance falls into something practiced, combative. Ready to spring at a moments notice. Red eyes meet the matching set of her Pokémon companion’s. “Fang, plow through with meteor mash if it comes to it.”[break][break]

“You sure they haven’t already surrounded us?” she asks ALEXANDER STONE , shifting her weight from foot to foot. Sometimes the only way out is through, right? Her lip curls in a sneer—if it’s a fight that’s required of them, then that is the only reason date dumped her on this expedition in the first place.

[attr="class","bottom"]ALEXANDER STONE Remiel Calcifet Madeline McKenna [break]

prepared to brawl if she’s gotta[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

“Hm.” She doesn’t blame him for the vagueness.[break][break]

She’s a veritable nobody within the organization. Someone sent to fulfill whatever order comes down the pipeline from him. There’s no rank backing her to warrant much detail. This is accepted and shrugged off as soon as the clipped words are out.[break][break]

She can put it together, though, that there’s a degree of yes, though maybe not at the level required to be of use in this.[break][break]

Her eyes flit over the houses, carefully evaluating them, though there’s not much differentiation in their structures.[break][break]

“Is it inhabited currently?”

[attr="class","bottom"]THEO BECKETT [break]
lockbox: scout[break]

[attr="class","icon"]

She’s still peering around Alexander at the message written out when Madd calls out her name. Her metaphorical hackles raise as she feels an arm yank her back, accompanied by a harsh bark of startled sound. Her reaction is defensive, flinching. Like a fight or flight response kicking in. “Do you mind?” she grouses at the other woman and her obstagoon, expression stormy. The distrustful snappiness is instinctive reaction, always ready to pick a fight.[break][break]

Until a nudge from her lucario, who had initially tensed in defensiveness for his trainer, causes her to look down and see the the retreating, mischievous plant life. “Oh.” She doesn’t give much else by way of apology, though. Apart from a look to the side, slightly guilty for having lashed out.[break][break]

Her brow lifts at Remiel’s suggestion. “Stupid, that’s what it’d look like,” she deadpans before her attention drifts toward the explanation he offers about the valley they're about to cross. “Easier said than done,” she grumbles to Alex as she once again follows. Stepping lighter and more careful. Though her lucario seems much more nimble while she almost trips over an uprooted vine.[break][break]

Now that she’s almost been chomped on by a mischievous plant, she can’t afford to slip up here. It’s a matter of pride.

[attr="class","bottom"]ALEXANDER STONE Remiel Calcifet Madeline McKenna [break]

mean streak is being explored[break]