another incense, his second retrieval of such of a tool. while they were useful in their own way, there was still a bigger prize to be won...

good arceus almighty...

it could be considered a miracle that silverio had not succumbed to airi'a witty antics in the long days that they've been comrades and friends. or at least...not yet? in fact, it was clear to that she could potentially render any man pleading on their knees for attention if she would so desire. somehow, she was able to see straight through silverio's bluff like a poker player making the right read on an opponent and forcing them to a decision to fold before the last card played on the 'river' is to be revealed. but the paldean will not fold under the mercy of her charm, not yet...or would he!?

she dared to accentuate her teasing even more with a tug at his collar, prompting him to hold a breath he didn't know he had. the clothes can absolutely stay on and not risk indecent exposure, especially between fellow rangers, and even more so while both were still on the clock. or at least, they could stay worn on for now. he return-fires with a snarky remark of his own through his mind battling an array of impulses. "me without clothes, oh...sure! i'll bet you would like the sight of that, huh..." or maybe not - everyone has their own tastes. suppose it'd be wrong to 'yuck other people's yum'.

jokes aside, there was still a job to do here.

the flames on the infernape's head intensified, inciting fumes from the bottom of the hive he sought to interrupt. and within seconds, as quickly as the insects buzzed into the hive, they zoom out of there in disarray. distraught by their home potentially overheating. meanwhile, silverio turns to airi once more, whom apparently sought refuge behind a tree. was she, by chance, not a fan of these innocent-looking creatures? but at the mention of...

"the queen bee...!?"

where was she through all of this? admittedly, silv had pondered much the same. but! as if she were waiting for a cue, here comes the royal bug slowly steadily buzzes forward, behind airi, soliciting a mouth agape from the paldean, stricken with surpise. visibly triggered by humans and their animals disturbing the peace within her queendom. "airi...whatever you do...do not turn around..." he warns his friend, the blazing monkey moving to another nearby hive all the while.

here he does again, persistent in landing this trick...

more progress, and yet, it feels like none was made. or rather, very little if that...still, ever persistent

arceus have mercy on this man...determined to land this particular trick...working that mantine to the bone...does a mantine even have bones!?

more progress, but it was starting to feel silverio has been driving in reverse...

a world in ruin...

or at least, that's what these lands and seas may potentially become if it was to continue on the road it appeared to be traveling on. in retrospect, there could be several possible detours deterring from the road to securing hoenn's future. suffice to say that the relief efforts conducted by those who have been dispatched to sea mauville was one of those detours, all in the hopes of seeking a path back towards the main line.

and speaking of which, silverio spots an array of pipe lines scattered across the shores, as well as a slew of broken sheetrock. obviously, this mess was not going to eliminate itself from the planetary equation, such as the task that has been designated to the paldean today, teaming with others to collectively tidy this all up, and also to ensure that the pokémon inhabiting the area were all safe from an environmental catastrophe.

silv's oddly-colored, bipedal insectoid is deployed to maneuver massive chunks of debris away. while doing so, his web-footed, amphibious companion swiftly dashed about to collect smaller particles that may prove harmful to the ailing pokémon in the vicinity. one potential hazard in particular is being presented to his trainer. inspecting it with a keen sapphire eye and gloved hands, silverio deduces that it may indeed be a threat to the pokémon's or a person's health.

the metallic object held in the greninja's hands contained..."black mold, built up from water lingering in this mess for too long apparently; it may be a problem if it's inhaled or consumed. let's get rid of it." he orders the frog, and it quickly disposes of the tainted metals in a nearby receptacle.

he then turns his attention to his designated partner in this objective. "thanks for coming to help out by the way, uhh. eddie, right? who knows how much more of this we've gotta deal with..."