Mauville City sprawled around them. People were bustling and stocking up frantically to get ahead of any restrictions or rations that might result from the war. It also meant that there was a lot of stimulation for her Unown who had wandered off early in the day. It'd been two hours, and the shiny runic pokemon was yet to be seen. Thankfully, she'd come across Theo and explained what she was looking for, though the two of them had been unlucky in finding it so far. [break][break]

"I have yet to experiment with the Unown besides subjecting it to Cillian Quinn 's shadow methods, so I feel guilty for losing track of it already. Perhaps, shadow pokemon need a shorter lead." Or leash, if she was going to be less Galarian about things, but she wasn't. This was her first Unown and her first shadow pokemon. She was positive no one else in the organization would poach it only because the shadow status might scare them off, but she didn't want a Leaguer to find it, either.

TAGS – THEO BECKETT [break]

NOTES – dw / completely randomized types[break][break]

Their hesitation is the same. Once they're out of the interdream zone, they're back in reality and equally obligated to end the other. She meets his gaze as the most unmasked as she's ever been. Her remorse is unmistakably visible. "What else can we do?" She offers with a shrug. "You cannot rejoin Rocket. I cannot leave it."[break][break]

It hangs between them like a guillotine's blade. He's done what she would forgive no one for - killing Magearna - but she knows he will not leave her mind any time soon. The mist had saved her from the pit of rage and despair she was spiraling into, but she will still have to process the loss of Duchess after licking her wounds. It showed her what she couldn't have, which was all the more painful than the battle she had really faced. [break][break]

"And we cannot stay." She spares the mist world another look. Anomalous figures and odd visions fill the horizon much like the paradox pokemon coming closer to them. The range of threats will continue to grow until the zone could consume their consciouses. She swallows hard. It twists like a dagger to the heart to say it, but: "No one can live in a dream." [break][break]

She steps to the very edge of the zone. "I have to neutralize you. I do not have an alternative. They will hang me at the Oldale tree before they allow me to show mercy."

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]
NOTES – Dreaming and facing the music.[break]
10 MP per IC post in your prelude thread.[break][break]

She smiled at him like a mad scientist as he asked after her Corviknight. Cora was so large and fast in that form that they could travel Hoenn on her back easily, east to west in less than a day. But there was no time to look at opportunities or alternative futures - there was trouble ahead. Thankfully, their pokemon were more than capable, and their typings were more than favorable. [break][break]

"Still more coming," she observed as a stampede seemed to come from the horizon. The interdream mist was hungry for victims. But she turned her head as Montgomery shot a hand out to protect her. It was... [break][break]

"That is not what Tornadus looks like." She stood there gaping at it as it flew like a blur. It seemed to disappear all of a sudden to their left. In its absence was a hole that seemed to be yawning open. "It opened the interdream mist's zone." They had an easy escape! "We need to take our opening before it closes." Who knew how long the dream mist would hold them captive otherwise? [break][break]

She dragged him along to come towards it with her, but her footsteps grew hesitant. On the other side, they were mortal enemies again, and their opposing agendas required the other to be unfit to contribute to the rest of the war effort today.

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]
NOTES – Dreaming and fleeing[break]
10 MP per IC post in your prelude thread.[break][break]

His Skarmory stays put, her Kirlia ignores them. [break][break]

Their dance this time takes them into the alley, out of the dark streets and into something darker. She does play coy this time. He laughs, that husky, smokey sound brushing against her like an actual touch. He gets her to a wall, talking about the law. The look on her face doesn't quite sell surprise. After all, she had measured her steps back to that wall, had darted her gaze around him as if she would make a break for it, just so he'll step even closer and trap her in. [break][break]

He says something about taking things the easy way. She says something about making things worth his while if he'll make it even easier for her and avoid the jail time altogether. The negotiation always ends with,[break][break]

"Atta girl. See, I can be damn reasonable, and if ya didn't throw a fuckin' net on me..."

d r e a m – J 4[break][break][break]

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She wants to keep him here forever, but the Brute Bonnet and Slither Wing have made it impossible to enjoy their moment. He gets to his feet - she really doesn't mind the view despite the disagreeable nature of him being any distance from her - and she follows. She chooses Cora for this fight, letting the Corviknight out above them all.[break][break]

Cora meets her eyes for a long moment, well aware Montgomery is the enemy. Still, it's clear to see that Ameena isn't fighting him. But she doesn't have opportunity to explain herself. Those paradox pokemon pose a serious threat. She touches the mega stone necklace to increase Cora's power. [break][break]

Corviknight grows to an impressive size, taking up much of the pink-toned sky. "Tear his eyes out," she orders, and Cora dives in with a drill peck on the Slither Wing. "We need to get free before the interdream zone consumes us." It's hard to think clearly, as the dream mist is a tantalizing enemy that makes you want to keep huffing it. But they most return to the world where they are sworn enemies. In the horizon, she can see more paradox pokemon coming their way, only proving her concerns to be true. The zone wants to kill them with these apparitions. [break][break]

TAGS – Montgomery James [break]
NOTES – Dreaming and fighting[break]
10 MP per IC post in your prelude thread.[break][break]

She walked through headquarters with her unown trailing behind her. It garnered a few looks, but she wasn't sure if it was because unown were rare, because of its unusual color palette, or if people thought Naomi Sato was watching her very closely and very obviously. It was no matter to her, but she was happy to make it to the laboratory she had agreed to meet Cillian at. [break][break]

"Good morning," she greeted pleasantly. She tried not to seem too excited. She hadn't seen him in his element before, and shadowification was a totally alien process to her. It was a lot like watching a master of their field hold a college lecture. Her unown drifted closer to Cillian curiously.

TAGS – Cillian Quinn [break]

NOTES – canon connections[break][break]

Unovan food was simple. Sometimes, it was a bastardization of other cuisines, but it had its own charm, admittedly. She didn't seek it out as she preferred the comfort of Galarian curries, but she could enjoy a solid Tauros steak and potatoes. She began heating the pan, first. Then, she chose her hunk of meat and chose a variety of spices to complement it. She grabbed garlic and butter to create the perfect substance for basting the meat. Finally, she picked the nicest strand of rosemary she could find. [break][break]

It was simple enough to select a potato for baking. The steak required more attention. She seared it carefully, counting in her head as it went to ensure she went about it evenly. She used a spoon to continue soaking the meat in the garlic butter. The rosemary went in to embed the meat with a gentle aroma and flavor. The baked potato was an easier fiend. It received garlic butter as well once she split it open; then, she gave it a generous helping of shredded cheese and chives. [break][break]

She plated the medium rare steak with the baked potato and took a step back to appreciate its heartiness and simplicity. She was no UNovan patriot, obviously, but she figured it was a dis hthat would make any Unovan feel patriotic.[break][break]

TAGS – [break]

NOTES – Unovan food: steak and baked potato![break]VWekWWAr[break]

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