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Connie perked at that knowledge, Dea so sure of herself with the statement that jirachi was, indeed, a psychic-type. While he hadn't any doubt that it was true, or that Dea would know exactly what type each and every pokémon was, it was still remarkable. "Is that so? Huh... I didn't know that!" he contemplated, mulling over the information and reevaluating previous inquiries. He still didn't think he had really thought about becoming human regardless of the fact, or to be of more help than he was already capable of being as a full pokémon, but it wouldn't hurt to think on it. With a decisive nod, he agreed, "Sure, I'll do that and let you know if I come up with any new information the next time I run into you. I would be more than happy to see you lot again. It's been fun, and a lot to think over!"

Grayson seemed baffled for a moment, staring in disbelief before tearing his eyes away and taking a futile glance around. He... hadn't even really noticed there had been someone else here that the kids had been talking to. While it was fortunate that Eilam was taking more care in keeping an eye on Lucy and Karma, it was still unsettling to discover he had been that thoroughly distracted. He fumbled for Serenity's hand to grab her attention, indicating with a flick of his head toward the arceus. His words were quiet, so as not to interrupt the final good-byes that were currently taking place, "I'll be right back, I'm going to go help Eilam locate Lucinda and Karma; it seems they've run off. I won't be long." Releasing his grip, his strides were faster paced than the speed he was trying to feign, worried that the poké-kids had gotten themselves in over their heads.

With a light snicker and a small wave, Connie saw the maractus off, "Well if I ever think I'm in need of some advice, I suppose I know where to go for it, huh?" No, he wasn't going to pester her with his problems, but knowing that she relished the idea of helping others with her reserves of knowledge born of experience was helpful to know in and of itself. He hoped there wouldn't be a time it was needed, but taking extra precautions often wasn't a bad idea!

Karma's steps were not as quick or as quiet as those that zhe was following, footfalls landing on the heel of the foot in an effort to keep up pace and not trip. A frown crossed the child's face at Lucy's words, beginning to think that maybe this had gone on long enough. Lucy may have had Karma's back, but Karma could have Lucy's back as well, even if it was just in knowing when to stop. "You okay?" Karma asked, no longer immersed in the part of the cop, "Maybe we can stop playing. You think he'd give it back if we asked?" Zhe didn't want zher friend to cause more harm than good to herself, only to get a silly little journal back! Even if it had all the ditto's notes on who was met, and what zhe was supposed to remember... maybe those could be recreated in time.

Arashi wasn't aware of the struggling, instinct almost perpetually stuck in survival mode. Regardless of the fact he was being chased, a smirk was very clearly scrawled across his face. Once he was almost fully down the alley, he turned his body around to check back on the two 'cops,' still taking quick hops backward. "Oh come on, you can do better than that!" he taunted, stopping his feet from moving for a few seconds before spinning back around again and taking a turn down a disheveled sidewalk.

As Fluffernutter relived his transitional period between living conditions, Connie could only offer a somber nod in return. Oh sure, he had lived through something somewhat similar, but different people deal with experience in different manners, and it was never, ever something easy. Not to deal with, and not to overcome. "It helps to have someone you can trust and someone you can talk to like that. Occurrences are difficult to overcome on your own when you feel like you've got nobody you can turn to. It can be a very lonely feeling," he agreed. And boy, did he know it... What was in the past, though, should stay in the past, so he didn't dwell on it. Instead he smiled and motioned as though he were nudging Fluff over to the rest of his family group, "I think they're getting ready to leave, so I shouldn't keep you. If you're ever in the area and want to talk, don't hesitate to visit. You're good company! Take care now!" He really was a sweet kid!

Connie watched the exchange curiously, the small group before him splitting up to look for the playing kids. He hadn't thought it might have been a problem, or he may have tried halting them running off as they had... whoops! Truth be told, though, he hadn't expected them to do so for such a length of time. Where was that eevee leading the two of them, in that case..? His eyes followed Grayson as he took off after the arceus, "Do they... know their way downtown?" Should he be concerned?

The scientist was not the quickest on his feet. Instead of running, he had to revert to more of a speed walk in order to stay on his toes and aware of his surroundings. Grayson flashed Eilam a worried frown at the direction of his words as he caught up, taking a deep breath to counteract the spent energy. Any number of things could have gone awry where Lucy might not have answered, such as getting too caught up in what they were doing... or being knocked out. "I don't suppose you could contact her first, can you?" he hazarded. He wasn't entirely sure how linked they were, but he knew that Eilam wasn't the psychic type, at least currently. However, could Lucy pick up on it if he tried 'calling'?

"Asthma?" Karma asked, unsure of the terms but not unaware of the implications; zhe could tell it was something debilitating. The ditto came to a full stop and put a hand on Lucy's shoulder, "It's okay, we can stop. We should find a place to sit down so you can catch your breath." Lucy's well-being was considerably more important than some words and scribbles on a book of paper! There was one last glance down the alley where Arashi had already turned the corner, peeking from a disappointed frown, before eyes were fully trained on the hybrid girl.

Arashi was already down the broken and battered sidewalk, about to turn down another alleyway, before he finally turned around again to gauge what to do next. However, when he did, he was surprised to catch an empty sight. Skidding to a halt, he kicked at a loose piece of the concrete with a calloused foot, impatiently waiting for someone to show... to no avail. An ear twitched to the air, but still nothing was caught. Either they gave up, or they were trying for a sneak attack. His eyes narrowed, but after a quick few seconds of contemplation, he doubted it was the latter option, at least when this was merely a game. Spinning the journal around in hand, he strolled back down the street he had but moments before dashed down to escape those he was now seeking. Ears perked, he peeked around the corner again curiously, "...Everything alright? Someone step on some broken glass or something?"

While Connie was glad to know that Lucinda knew her way around this more dangerous part of town -- which made two of them out of three, since he knew for sure that Arashi also did -- his expression sank a little further into concern. "Well, hopefully they know to stick together, in that case," he interjected, his tone more mild. Turning his attention back down the side street that Eilam and Grayson disappeared into, he added after a momentary pause, "If you guys need any extra help, just let me know, okay?" Sure, he was talking to Dea and was unsure how she would know if the others even needed the additional aid... but he felt better about offering nonetheless.

As Eilam slowed his steps a bit to give Grayson more time to catch up to the arceus, the scientist smiled at a catch in his breath. "That would certainly explain it," he mused with a snicker, "though I wasn't entirely sure who started the conversation, in those instances. I'm not positive how they work, after all. It's speculation to me!" After a span of silence, the man still trying to hurry along, he attempted a grab at more idle conversation to keep the anxiety at bay, "Maybe that's something else I should try getting more research on. It would give another excuse to visit while on the job, after all." True, he would have visited anyway, but giving a reason filed under a subsection of protocol never hurt.

Arashi flinched as Lucy waved, but didn't quite understand what had happened. He moved more fully into the alleyway's entrance instead of partially obscuring himself from view, attentive to the actions proceeding, but stayed his ground for the time being. Karma's expression scrunched slightly in distaste before attention was back from being distracted. With a single nod, Karma looped an arm around one of Lucy's and eased her over to the side of the walkway, toward a wall she could steady herself on. Glancing down at the asphalt, that grimace one again appeared, and the ditto-child immediately thrust zher hands into the contents of the shoulder bag at zher hip. Pulling out a pad of construction paper, Karma slapped it down on the floor and latched onto Lucy's wrist, "Here, sit down on that. It's okay if it gets dirty, but you shouldn't have to. It'll help!" At least, zhe was pretty sure it would help...

It was about that time that Arashi really did start thinking someone got hurt. With a slight frown, he strolled back down the alleyway, stopping before he got more than a yard too close to the duo. With his ears as large as they were, he hadn't missed the last sentence that popped out of the hybrid-girl's mouth, but he still couldn't help but find it strange. "So this happens all the time, then?" he asked. Karma refused to acknowledge that he was standing behind the ditto at all.

Despite the tense atmosphere, perpetuated by the worrisome disappearance of a few pokémon trapped in the bodies of children, Connie's expression as it turned back to face Dea cracked into a mildly amused grin, "You should call them whatever you feel most comfortable in calling them, silly." He was definitely interested in how the others were capable of getting into contact with the woman at such a distance, and relaxed some as he settled into the refreshed conversation topic, "Do they have cell phones or something?" Eyes flicking down the road once more, as though it could silently answer the posed question, he added, "If they do contact you, let me know. I'll help out where I can." Standing here worrying wasn't going to solve anything anyway, so it seemed the best course of action in the event they needed the extra pair of hands.

"That's very fascinating!" Grayson huffed as he caught up, grinning but keeping heightened pace. The telepathic conversations that had taken place in the past, while frequently displayed, usually seemed to take place primarily at an inconvenient time to ask about the finer details of the ability. Of course, he had a general inkling of how it worked -- Dea was no stranger to the capabilities, but it was difficult to get a proper explanation from an excitable little girl! "Is there any way for Fluff to let you guys know when he wants to be heard, or do you have to guess?" he asked after a moment, curious if there was some manner to go about the lack of telepathic abilities without having to result to trial-and-error. A lot could go wrong if they were mistaken and heard the sentret-boy's thoughts where he didn't want them to! A concerned frown grew on the scientist's face as Eilam suggested asthma, "Then it's best she goes to a doctor as soon as possible. If it's flaring up so badly after so little time of play, it's become life-threatening." He had no idea it was such a severe case! Rest could only do so much for the internal defects that caused an illness to such degree.

While still visibly within the clutches of distress, Karma managed a smile at Lucy's struggled gratitude. Zher fingers immediately went back to toying with the shoulder bag's strap out of nervous habit, wringing it as if it were a damp towel, "Is there anything else I can do for you? Are you sure you just need rest? Maybe... maybe eating or something would help?" Karma knew zhe was grasping at straws, but it was difficult to stand by and do nothing while a friend wasn't feeling well!

Arashi listened patiently to the explanation as it was given, despite being paced, his perpetual scowl only deepening in intensity as she concluded. "Why didn't you say anything from the start?" the boy growled. Now he felt like he had pushed her into doing something that was hazardous to her own life, all because he didn't want to be put under a scrutinizing eye. "Jeez, that was stupid," he huffed, primarily for the sake of venting frustration though it earned him a cold glare from Karma, "Hey, I'll help you guys back once you catch your breath, okay? No need to kill yourself. I'm sure the adults would know what to do."

"Suppose it would sometimes be a little strange to call them your kid if you grew up together, though," Connie considered, having found it a bit inconvenient that changed pokémon started out in a child's body regardless of how old they truly were before. He flinched slightly at the mention that Dea was psychic, thinking it was a bit strange. Was that a common human trait? How in control of the ability did people tend to be that had these skills? He wasn't exactly sure how to feel about it, other than mildly uncomfortable. All he found that he could safely say with the timid smile was, "Oh? Is that so?" Sure he was curious to discover the answers to the questions running through his head, but he wasn't positive they would come out sounding as mild-mannered as he wanted. The tauros didn't want to interrogate!

Grayson chuckled at Eilam's explanation of how Fluffernutter could get a hold of those that were psychic in his family, though the sound was drained from the exertion, "Don't worry, it makes sense. It sounds very convenient, when you don't want others to hear. I'm sure you kids have all sorts of secrets between you!" No he wasn't going to pry, for everyone had their secrets, but it was quite a different spin on the whole idea of a "clubhouse!" His expression turned more grim at the mention of the doctors, a subject that was always a sore spot with the man. There was no denying the inevitable visit, however, and he conceded, "Yes, asthma to the sort of extent that Lucy seems to exhibit is life-threatening. People literally cannot get oxygen through their systems. How could it be so severe that nobody had realized it until now?" His exasperation only shone through due to great concern, wearing the fabrics of his held demeanor tissue-thin, "Does she not get exercise?" Usually symptoms of less severity would surface that much sooner, before they became so dangerous.

Arashi snorted in agitation at the explanation given, but it was apparent that he had not been one to taste such heightened reactions before, from himself or anyone he had been close to. The inexperienced youth was irritated, more so because this was not on any of the branches of projected outcome, "Learn your own limits, yeesh." He turned and offhandedly gave the notebook back to Karma, ignoring the scorn the child-ditto threw back at his words, "I didn't want to keep it anyway." The book itself was nearly tossed before it was fully in Karma's hands, as Arashi had flinched at the appearance of Eilam and Grayson, fur bristling. Uncomfortable with the speed at which they were approaching, the eevee was quick to retreat back down the street in reflexive action. Adults were much akin to the authorities in these cities, and there was currently not a single one that didn't rub him the wrong way...

"Lucy!" Grayson called, even before he heard the girl wheeze out his name. "Try to take it easy. We'll, um..." he frowned slightly in thought, took a brief glance to the arceus at his side, and then turned back to the hybrid with an expression not unlike before, "I suppose we'll carry you back." He was more than a little amused by such turn of events, even if the feeling was dampened by Lucy's condition.

Karma was at a loss. Zhe felt utterly powerless, even more so when the backup forces arrived. There was really nothing the ditto could do, was there? It seemed the suggestions were in vain, and Karma found zhimself attempting to hide beneath the worn hat and closely-held notebook, backing up into the wall on the far side to make the room. The clutches of despair were familiar, but were never welcome.

"I can imagine..." Connie thought aloud, a grin even on the words, "So it runs in the family, does it? And so strong, too, that's really interesting! How far back into your family tree do you think you can trace those abilities back?" To be honest, the teenaged tauros hadn't even been aware that humans could have such abilities in the first place, but then again, maybe that was just society rubbing off on him -- it seemed most people saw humans and pokémon in blacks and whites. It was unfortunate, really. "Never asks?" he parroted, confused momentarily before he thought a little harder on it, "Maybe... he got his information on it from your mom, when they had met?" Seemed like a pretty big thing that one would want to get out into the open, before any lasting relationships were solidified, just in case the news was taken awkwardly. Sheepishly, Connie shook his head at the offered invitation for questions, "Oh no, I wouldn't want to put you out, especially so late. It sounded like you guys were heading off just as soon as the others came back, so I wouldn't want to keep you. Maybe next time, hmm?" It was a very kind offer, and he would be sure to take her up on it if they ever did end up crossing paths again!

Grayson followed suit closely behind, a bit worried that Eilam might pull something by lifting the fatigued girl up like that. "You sure you can handle her okay? I could carry her if you need me to," he questioned, though it was obvious who the more fit individual was between the two of them. "Ahh, I see," the man considered -- after all, one could easily exercise without needing to exert a lot of energy, so it made perfect sense.

Karma continued to hide under chalky blue bangs, pressed down by the hem of zher hat. Quickly, the ditto shook zher head, nearly biting at the cover of the notebook that was finally retrieved. After a moment of silence, the child's voice rose from its stead, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't know!" There was a quiet whimper, and Karma rubbed vigorously at zher face, "I-If I did, I would have been slower. We could have walked! We could have just ignored it!" Frustrated with this bubbling emotion, Karma tried to detract attention from the tears by moving to retrieve the booklet of construction paper on the ground, storing it back into the folds of the shoulder bag at the child's hip. Emphasis was moved from the vocal chords after that, and Karma answered Lucy's question by pointing down the alley way, where Arashi still waited, watching cautiously.

The ditto's action made the boy flinch again, his eyes narrowing if only to make sure Karma hadn't been directing the two adults to go after him. To be honest, that's what the move looked like... but no further movement was done to back up such worry. With a grimace, Arashi waved once and called down the tunnel-like passageway, "Don't be such a wimp!" High-stress situations and an overabundance of caution, it seemed, brought out the worst in his 'charming' boyish demeanor, but the flash of an impish grin was the only thing that hinted that his teasing was superficial. A ploy. With a flick of the tail, he tore down the street and out of sight, just in case someone tried punishing him for that comment.

Grayson blinked, befuddled for a moment. "Boys..." he sighed, shaking his head with a bit of a laugh, "Almost forgot what they acted like as kids." And when surrounded by daughters throughout his prime, it was really no wonder: being a child himself seemed so long ago. He walked slowly towards the lightly shuddering form of Karma and crouched down, placing a hand on zher shoulder, "Come now, it's okay, there's no way you could have known. I didn't even know, this time. Everything will be okay. Let's just get Lucy somewhere safe, okay?"

Karma wiped at zher eyes again, but only offered a nod as way of response, shakily rising to zher feet with the scientist.

Connie nodded at Dea's consideration as to how far back the psychic tendencies were dated that she knew of, "It makes sense that it would be at least that, considering it's apparently genetic. Though I do wonder what caused the first one to show those skills..." He mused on the idea a moment, eyes wandering in thought before returning to look at the woman with a teasing smile, "You wouldn't happen to have a pokémon ancestor, would you?" Preposterous idea, but it was nice to be able to lighten the mood a little!

Grayson kept his hand on Karma's shoulder as he led the two of them back over to stand before Eilam. The scientist studied the arceus' hold on his sister for a second, hand at his chin in thought before nodding, "Well at least you know how to lift with your knees. That's something I tend to forget to do." At Eilam's idea, Grayson motioned that they should get moving and directed himself and the ditto to start walking. "We might want to stop by on the way home, if it hurts. We don't want Lucy passing out," he instructed, his frown deepening. If she wasn't getting enough air, she could easily have similar reactions to one with a concussion that slipped into sleep... As the adult arceus continued trying to comfort Karma, Grayson winced slightly -- this was definitely asthma, if she couldn't breathe when jogging less than a quarter of a mile... but he held back from saying anything that may prove counterproductive.

However, Karma was still distraught. It wasn't the fact that Lucy had asthma that bothered the pink-hued pokémon, it was because Karma never wanted the hybrid-girl to have to push herself to near fainting, all on account of an object of the ditto's that could be easily replaced. Even though it would be a loss of that step towards retaining memory of acquaintances, it just didn't seem worth retrieving if Lucy was going to be struggling so hard just to breathe! To Karma, it was almost as though zhe had almost lost a friend, and not due to any mere argument...

Snickering, Grayson shushed the girl, "Come now, save your breath. I'm sure you'll run into him again sometime." He couldn't help but be amused by the comment -- even when facing some major obstacles of her own, Lucy was more worried about others.