the stroll was done in lonesome.

surprisingly, jayde did not have his present companions at his side. neither the violent hound or the frowning beast loitered grumpily upon the sidelines. 

evening had stretched far by now. and as much as he was adamant on getting things over with, he had taken his time in getting here. almost as if he'd been dreading the moment of encountering miss alfric once again. 

the younger woman wasn't entirely a nuisance. in—fact, within all those meetings, he had found a soft spot for her. if only the last hasn't been so upsetting. 

regardless of the darkness that surrounded him, in the distance he could make out a slight figure in the dwindling light of the city that stood behind him. only when closer to confirmation, did those lips part. 

"cait." he says, anticipating something else. the feeble dragon on her shoulder catching a momentary glance.

cait alfric

not the reaction they'd been expecting.

selby and jayde blink onward, astonished and confused all at once in the conversation. the spotlight had certainly settled upon them yet, the true desire settled elsewhere. as if they were no longer present. 

'what the hell is a wikipedia page? some sort of newspaper?' not familiar with the internet to some degree, he found himself ensnared by the ramble before quickly breaking out. 

startled that it had even occurred. 

"forget it." jayde says, the heaviness of a sigh following behind, "our work here is already done. i could care less about these people." one tanned hand ruffles strands, laced by the pigments of red. 

the beast growls, as if frustrated by the shift but not willing to end up on bitter terms with the man that had given him a home. what had once been the limbo of hell itself, turned into the tall grass. 

cait alfric arian coin

the stillness of a room without voices was hardly upsetting. there was no ounce of discomfort. close by motion from his company was rather— pleasant.

jayde found himself lost in the abyss of his thoughts till the tone finally broke through. reaching for the plate with sudden haste in the startle of having slipped elsewhere. he follows quietly.

one shrugging gesture inclines fira to follow as they step from the hidden interior and into the vast display of the gym. complex in everything that had been so eagerly grown. 

the air was crisp yet warm. there was a particular vigor that emanated from the greenery. even within the dim lighting, he could tell her companions had made this place just as home. 

a reassuring image. 

"oh," blinking towards the array, he reaches for the present capsules, releasing the rest of the team, "eat up." the man said, simply, while the large pokemon hesitantly took comfort in their surroundings. 

in comparison to the disaster they had grown so well acquainted with, the serenity of an apparent forest seemed far from the usual. fira releases a prominent grumble before beginning to eat.

inclining them to do the same.

jayde also takes a bite of his own meal. relishing in the savory taste with a smile. "it tastes good." he says with no fragment of rush, "thank you." 

never having civility in his work, he at least knew when 'thanks' was essential. or at least, it was something he felt was required in his own warped logic. in the mystery such as itself. 

cait alfric

the hesitation seethes like torrid waters, flooding outwards till there is no more. selby, not fazed the slightest by the retaliation of grumbling threats, poises himself tall and equally menacing. 

nasty plot is not regarded for the wicked reflection has always settled within his mind. when he considers the beginning of an advance, there is a voice which breaks clearly through.

piercing and familiar.

"relax." he says, his voice rough and figure unruffled with what stood before them. "don't you know it's bad to disturb a hunt." flaring gold catches mateo in those emotionless eyes. he forces himself to look at miss alfric, furrowing his brows upon the connection.

"humans make them like this and then, when they've had enough, they kill them." there is a hint of anger in his voice. selby perceives the feeling and expands the low rumble from within his throat.

"tear it apart? don't kill it?" for the sake of the familiar, he does not confront her, "you'd better watch your words." human life was fickle to the terrorist that stood before them, but the warning, just as genuine bared into them. 

cait alfric arian coin

'worthy', he thinks, not seeking such goals. 

the fact that articuno had chosen someone, meant they had chosen many people before their time. when he thought of the choices of lugia, he doubted the legend, hardly roused from the deepest blue.

would have never done so.

jayde smiles regardless, amused by that notion if only for a few moments. the harmless request is a reminder of the present. apprehension pools into his gut slowly and painfully. there are so many parts of him that he doesn't want her to see. 

truths. he'd always been so forthright in his demeanor but, now it felt like his words were trapped and unable to escape. silently strung up by overbearing doubts leave him furrowing his brows. 

was this truly right? one league figure of importance having a meal with the enemy? 'no', jayde responds inwardly, still unable to make pace with the eager mind while the silence around them settled. 

even if he truly found no bliss in team rocket and even if he decided to go onward without them. the world would still shun him. murder and destruction wasn't exactly depicted as fine in the eyes of humans.

cait alfric

selby had been watching. 

the hellish beast foretold of in legends for its vile intent never obeyed. rather than friend or foe those fierce red eyes depicted an equal. there was never an ounce of restraint. 

his life had been bound by chains and the disgust which wavered in the looming humans. but jayde was different rather — he was the same. one innocent soul mistreated by the world around him. only to have found solace in what would've likely killed. 

instead it had not.

selby is familiar with bloodshed. the hunt is his instinct and as such, he regards no shame. long strands of the earth shudder in the faint breeze. it carries a murky scent in the nearby river. 

approaching humans and pokemon cannot see him. greenery has kept the watchful obscured while jayde flounders somewhere to the side. blocked by a pillar supporting the towering bridge above, shifting water overwhelms distant chatter. 

the beast continues. attention lingering upon the girl with an odd sense of familiarity. he can feel the answer nearly a hair away, but it disappears before it can be reached. 

changing position, selby, makes himself known. the silver of those jagged horns catches the faint light as he glares at the group. blood is evident against the tanned snout, the indication clearly made. 

when jayde turns over, hoping to catch sight of the dog, he sees something far more worse. it nearly impels him to step forth but instead he remains hidden on the sidelines. watching and waiting. 

cait alfric arian coin

relief comes in the response. broken through the lingering mysteries which swarmed within his mind. for just a moment — jay is surprised, quickly passing it off for mere coincidence in the care of the other. 

shifting towards the wooden structure, one tanned arm, opposite of the injured settles against the table. it is the general support in the poised hand which cushions the crown. at lax by all that resounded in the background. lush green and a simple home. 

jay glimpses towards cait, blinking through the curiosity with careful regard. he feels the heaviness of slumber weighing down on him. causing what was imagined to be strained in the process. dwindling and unable to pass through the ending. 

"there are many things," he says, one hand tracing the smooth material, two golden eyes watching tiredly, "i just can't decide." beautiful shades retreated in his sight. it left his world dull and cold. if lugia was truly the incentive that kept him going was there even a reason to live? 

hatred, fatigue and sorrow.

such adverse notions was all that he could manage to feel. some part of him wondered (laughably) if the distant memory would even suffice. true flesh and blood. true words and true remorse. 

he could only know till it occurred. 

"protect the world, probably," he passes the girl a slightly hesitant look, "ironic given my reputation i guess." it was the fantasy of a man (or a boy) that could never misplace such genuine intentions. 

no matter how violent he was. 

cait alfric

the beast is unrelenting.

straggling folk, forced from the safety of their homes are met by one which despises them. hatred does not comprehend innocence. neither does it comprehend mercy. some have been left injured, some have been left lifelessly dwelling beneath the arch. 

two unsuspecting gym leaders would find them.

beyond the few groveling folk, there is one shrouded by the shadows. nearby selby takes his pick at one who had originally sought comfort in their once peaceful surroundings. crunch finishes the job with an unsightly shower of blood pouring onto the tall grass. the hunger in his eyes desiring more.

"selby," the man calls out, staring off into the waters, "get ready. more will come." grisly scenes of death do not rattle him. it is the work none find enjoyment in and the work that he does best. 

especially for one with no human heart. 

the best withdraws from the corpse, staring at the other with the same intense malice. he might have even felt tempted to indulge but instead, faces the blue with cold red eyes. indifferent and bored. 

cait alfric arian coin

he examines the binding, bothered by the distant occurrence before her voice reaches him. there is something meaningful when he looks up, the recognition for the other passing through like a fleeting star; brilliant but so quickly gone. 

difficult given his line of work, he remains quiet, the heaviness of the breath oozing by his lips like liquid. sometimes the weight is just enough to make it feel like he truly could be drowning. 

"are you sure?" hunger passes. rising and falling in waves it is easily ignored till it can no longer shift further. "...if you don't mind then..." he says, recalling fira outside and the savage little mutt within the capsule. pokemon and humans alike are a lot more understandable when offered food. 

for the sake of cait however— he neglects that idea. 

cait alfric