[attr="class","alex"]despite the disasterous appearance — littered by the scarce fragments of the innermost forest — sam seemed mostly unfazed. the lacklustre of a reaction was either reassuring or one that roused discomfort. perhaps any obvious form of bafflement didn't compare to one lacking of such. at least like this — alex could safely assume nothing was wrong.

whack! the sudden throttle of raichu's tail against the back of his head was an immediate reminder. after electricity had nearly burst into the violent entrance of an adorable ball of fluff — their dangers seemed quite far away. certainly, though, they weren't willing to budge. "oh... no. i don't think so." he paused, "if something that adorable was trying to kill me, i think i'd be okay dying." smiling, he referenced the whimsicot that settled into the coat of the beast. so cute that even his own seemed to notice.

"i'm glad to see you too." the expression glows. one with a radiance of purity. there is no ounce of hesitation. no lingering notions. "though i wish it could've been under better circumstances." one hand plucked a few leaves out of his hair, "i'm pretty sure i'm getting hunted by a few angry pokémon... as much as i would love to eat. perhaps it would be best for me to head elsewhere." the constant concern disregarded the invitation when it involved ruining sam's afternoon.

samuel carter

[attr="class","alex"]kanto... he thought — the mention conjuring a nostalgia that couldn't quite be described. after—all how could memories torn asunder even begin to have any clarity in such a feeling. "i was there for a little while... i think." alex had heard plenty about the war and the travesty it had caused. how it may have affected the other — was a complete mystery to him. "i'm — glad you're doing alright too." a soft smile graced his lips and he leaned forth, observing the other.

"your tattoos," he starts, the momentary pause a wonder that it was a frequent mention, "they must have hurt." deep blue eyes trail over the markings till they are no longer visible. his posture straightens, "is there any meaning behind them?" alex walks alongside sam, opposite to the beast on the other side. the lycanroc mirrors the absol. her route settled on sidelines near her trainer. it wasn't as if there needed to be something of depth hidden behind the pattern that remained.

still his curiosity proceeded him.

samuel carter  mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]the most unpredictable thing that made up the quieter more untouched places of hoenn, was not their abundance of mysteries. it was — in—fact — the wild pokémon which dwelled there. alex was a rarity in most cases. able to peer past the walls that made up these often frightened or standoffish creatures. this time however — the immediate anger overruled his endeavour at companionship and instead...

— he was sent on a grand escape.

robust shuffling startled leaves off bushes and trees as alex came — emerging from the nearby foliage and stumbling over his own feet. nearly barreling into the pair that settled below. "w—woah!" he said, only managing to grasp his balance with jasp nearby. the radiance of a psychic doing the work as he was gradually lowered towards the ground. pieces twigs and leaves stuck out from an ashen sprawl of disorderly hair. the features below littered with small scratches and dirt.

eventually — a small laugh emerged. "hi again." alex said, recognizing sam and his absol. the other was yet to be seen. "sorry... you're having a picnic? ...i think i have some company." — or perhaps they'd managed to escape? the rustling bushes just behind signified this hope as one shoved beneath the rug. the hovering raichu lingered in—between the oncoming danger and the rest of the group.

samuel carter

[attr="class","alex"]"right, sam!" one index finger poised forth. as though the recognition came as further as the other. "oh, have we met before?" he'd ask, his features lessening of their jovial appeal. for a moment — he seemed scarcely concerned. alex wouldn't lie that there were some people misplaced in his memories. especially after his accident. "sorry. i have a bit of a memory problem. or — well i had one." pale digits ruffled the ashen hair sprawled across his crown.

the throat tightened with another more reticent startle as the ghost hovered over the absol. thankfully — he was quick to recognize, despite the translucent aura that wavered against the light of the fire — that it was a harmless duskull. "you have a lot of friends." alex added, managing a genuine smile towards the pokémon possibly more startled by his own inward dilemma than he was of the surrounding area. "we should get going. for some reason i'm thinking our person is hiding somewhere, scared out of their wits." he'd joke, waiting hopefully for sam to take the lead.

samuel carter mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]truthfully — the trailing pair of crimson radiance caused a shiver to creep up his spine and for a moment, he thought it was an omen lingering behind the unsuspecting approach. given how the canine didn't falter in her notion of usual calm — alex felt his shoulders drop with slight ease. "h-hello." he said shortly after, clearing his throat within the stammer that lingered in his words. the air dragged through his lungs with an evident sigh. "yeah, i'm alex!" a smile crossed over his lips, "it's nice to meet you — uh, i'm sorry, what should i call you?" concern encroached his features, considering he'd misplaced a name.

a groan abruptly came from the depth of the cavern, causing him to lurch upwards in fright. the lycanroc below seemed to be doing what was considered an amused laugh. "it doesn't help that it's night." alex muttered — partially embarrassed that the haunting beyond was making him seem so cowardly.

samuel carter mission link.

[attr="class","alex"]"footprints that just... disappear." he echoes to himself once more. the mirroring response a note that carried through the nearby cavern and the bizarre chamber of a mind that settled within his nearby companion. "anything remotely strange like this has to do with a pokemon." alex finally concludes — the posture straightening — the eyes shifting. they reach the bicycle sprawled across the ground. the hoisted wheel scarcely rotating in the gentle current. it was almost eerie.

a gloved hand ruffled the crown of fur. as though he were secretly trying to reassure himself with this... distraction. not that he'd ever considered iz to ever be such a thing. however — she was certainly a reassurance. "there's a few things i want to check out here. though if i'm being honest... i'm scared of ghosts." white flashes within stretched lips. the lacklustre smile that signifies he is genuine of his fear. though perhaps that statement resided on the side of being unexpectedly startled than the pokemon that wielded this type. he wasn't one to hate after—all.

"thankfully, though — someone is meant to join us today!" brief excitement raced through his blue eyes like a venture of light tearing into the night sky. "don't forget to be nice, yeah?" alex joked, earning an immediate grunt from the lycanroc.

@open! mission link.