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 Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 1:54 pm
Keiran Keiran caught Riley’s gaze for a moment, sympathy shining in his eyes as he expressed his apologies. Keiran was older than the Espeon, but not by enough to dissuade Riley from reaching out to him the way he always did. Keiran allowed himself a tentative smile as he felt Riley’s tail brush against his side, his heart fluttering slightly. Even if they didn’t know each other so closely, the gesture was both unfamiliar and appreciated. ”Thank you,” was all he said. His voice was quiet, but had lost much of the somber tone he’d been speaking with.
Returning to the discussion of aura in general, he felt a little more comfortable. This was familiar ground for him, and he’d done his best to describe it at length for Ethfael several years prior. Even just before he’d left for the guilds, he’d still shared the occasional conversation, although that hadn’t been grounded in the same sort of suspicion.
The Riolu simply nodded as Riley spoke, although his expression shifted a few times as Riley would describe something not quite right. The Espeon was quick to correct himself or take nonverbal cues; however, and seemed to have the general concepts down correctly. An approving nod was made, despite the gravity of the situation. Ethfael wasn’t the only scholar in the family he’d joined, as far as he was concerned. The two teammates certainly learned in different ways, but Riley was often as quick to catch on as his Dragonair Vice Captain had been.
As Riley stretched, however, it was certainly not the Espeon’s intelligence that came to Keiran’s mind. His seafoam fur glimmered like the shimmering skin of his Vaporeon companion, and his lean muscles rippled with every movement. Keiran, of course, had the manners and presence of mind not to linger on the sight, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t appreciative. Riley was rarely without his hat and cloak, but he was certainly just as handsome without it. ’Probably not the time for this,’ Keiran scolded internally, ignoring the way Riley’s beautiful green aura swirled with every step. It felt vibrant and even with their somber mood still brought sparks of brightness against his heart. It was darker than normal, given the context of their conversation, but he found himself comforted all the same.
He watched Riley leave for the back door, glancing idly down at his teacup to examine the herbs close at the bottom. The Espeon’s awed voice trailed back to him and he glanced up, bemused. ”It’s just laundry,” he reminded him kindly, though sparks of laughter lit his teal eyes. ”She is fairly good at her job, though, I will give her that.”
The Marill popped in through the front door, lending her own bright aura to the mix in the room. Keiran simply watched as she chattered with Riley, setting out biscuits and honey for them to eat. Keiran looked back between the plate and the room’s other occupants, wondering whether it would be more polite to accept or decline the offer. Awkwardly, he reached out and took a broken half of one of the biscuits, finding himself content to eat it plain. Unlike Kiya, apparently, he didn’t have much of a sweet tooth. He found solace in simple things, and perhaps a little too much in herbal tea.
Still, the biscuits on their own were quite good. A bit salty, but he suspected that they were meant to be accompanied by honey. He likely did them no justice to eat them without it.
Riley admitted plans to put on a show here, and Keiran had to control his expression very tightly to keep from rudely balking at the entire idea. His face was completely passive, and he decided that he would take another biscuit if only to busy his mouth. Coming back to the swamp wasn’t something he was particularly keen on, but if they returned on the way back from finishing their mission, he supposed that it could be a quick detour. He’d go along with it, even if it did imply that their schedule would be much tighter than he’d have liked. It was only fair, to return the favor to the villagers, and he’d likely have gone with Riley’s decision regardless.
The biscuit felt a little more dry in his mouth as he chewed. Maybe honey really was necessary.
Kiya returned in short order with both of Riley’s garments, and Keiran watched her instead, tapping Riley’s shoulder with a polite paw. ”Kiya’s back. She has your cloak.” What she also had, mind, was his satin arm band.
Keiran rose to greet her himself, gratefully accepting the broad silken ribbon back from her. It was quickly secured back onto his upper arm, gleaming bright against his dark fur. A secretive, contented expression marked his face. He dipped his head to Kiya, offering a shallow bow of gratitude for her work. ”Thank you. The cloak is actually Riley’s, not mine.” He wished he had an excuse to wear it, still. It was fairly comfortable, not that he’d share such a thought. It was still precious to Riley above all but his hat. The same way he was with the ribbon tied tight to his arm.
- - - - -
Sephia nodded, pleased that they would be taking the bridge. ”Much concern from village. Not often see strangers, less so from swamp path. Bridge much safer.” Her voice was chipper, but it dropped off entirely when she heard that they’d fallen into the river directly. If she had fur, it would be standing on end. As it was, one could still see the shudder than ran through across her glittering hide. A soft gasp. ”Fall from boardwalk?” Her voice sounded horrified and muted, now, though perhaps even more accented with her quickening speech. ”Companion safe?” She waited for a nod from Kelby and her customers before continuing. ”Bridge new, stable. Boardwalk great age, not used many generations. Keep bridge, is long path but safe.”
The Seviper seemed unhappy with the tale, but it masked Clive’s own displeasure well. Her expression brightened as Ivilon politely returned the compliment. Shifting in a way that was almost reminiscent of preening, the serpent dipped her head to show acceptance of the Beldum’s words. ”Most kind,” she replied smoothly, finding herself accepting the Vaporeon’s unexpected compliment as well. She was under the impression he didn’t like her much, but he seemed appreciative.
The business of trading was equally interesting. The wares they had brought to trade were very unique in nature. She recognized the herbs well, having not lived in swamplands her whole life, but the white fluid was entirely new. She examined it closely with bright eyes, listening to the soft ring of claws on glass. ”Short term, good for healing. Kiya pleased with this trade,” she joked conversationally with Kelby. The Whimsicott would definitely appreciate having unique remedies to work with. Something to get her mind turning. ”How store? Bottle seem cold.” Condensation still clung to the bottle’s outside, probably not as warm as the afternoon air. There was less wind in the village, so it was still warmer than the swamp at large.
She would wait for their response, and then nod thoughtfully. ”Bottle for Orb, herb bundle two Seed each. How many in group? Never say.” She would wait again for Clive and Ivilon’s response, and quickly decide on a fair price. Since it could be considered buying in bulk, she discounted it for them. It would be comparable to the shops around the Guild, though the two groups did pause to barter a little. Eventually, they agreed to the first price with some additional Heal Seeds thrown in to the emergency supply she had originally offered them. It wasn’t quite the deal she’d hoped, but it was also more than a fair trade for both parties.
Kelby seemed happy with her, and that was the main thing. He seemed very eager that she please his guests, for whatever reason. She wasn’t terribly keen to disagree, particularly with the floating gemstone speaking such flattery.
”I wrap Orb in strong cloth for you, protect skin. Drop whole package in water, moisture seep through but not hurt. Still care, not total safe.” She lifted her body again, drawing out a long strip of fabric. She normally used it for making cloth bags, but this particular item required more than a cloth sack to be carried in. Then, being careful not to touch the Orb or allow it to fall from the counter top, she drew her scythe-like tail to the fabric and cut cleanly through the material. Though she’d used no poison in the action, it looked as though the fabric had practically melted under the cutting edge of her tail. It was much sharper than it looked, apparently. She took to carefully wrapping the cut cloth around the Drought Orb, and secured it tightly in place with a pair of wooden clasps. Aside from jostling it around too much or burning it, the Drought Orb would stay tightly wrapped.
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2016 3:35 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley shot a brief apologetic look at Keiran, who appeared to be trying very hard not to respond to the surprise announcement of the plan he and Clive had made, but there was no turning back on it now. At the very least, the whole thing had been Clive's idea, so Riley would be sure he stepped things up when they came back--the Vaporeon would have his work cut out for him, that was certain. Returning his gaze to Evelyn however, he found the Marill engrossed in his card, hardly noticing his momentary distraction. Much as he felt sorry for his partner, who he may have inadvertently volunteered for something entirely out of his comfort zone, he didn't regret anything that brought such a look of joy to another Pokemon's face. His tail flicked gently, eyes fondly looking on the Marill as his mind strayed to a different, warm and gentle mouse. Both Riley and Evelyn were so preoccupied, neither heard the back door open softly and the Whimsicott shuffle in with her soft steps--not until Keiran gave his partner a gentle prod before stepping off to meet her himself.
"O-Oh!" Kiya's cheeks grew pink at the sight of the Riolu coming to meet her, his Espeon friend and her mate lingering behind him. She hadn't been expecting so many faces greeting her arrival. She turned her gaze back to Keiran, who was apparently eager to have his things back, and held them up for him to take, averting her eyes sheepishly. Both articles of clothing were immaculately clean by this point, and dry enough to wear again; they smelled faintly of Pecha and something floral, probably the soap, and felt pleasantly warm to the touch. Kiya didn't look back at Keiran until he mentioned that the cloak wasn't actually his, the comment accompanied by a formal bow that made the Whimsicott's blush deepen. "Oh," she murmured again, glancing in Riley's direction. "I guess he'll be wanting it then."
Riley, pulled out of his thoughts by Keiran's prompting, glanced over at Kiya warmly, watching his friend don his ribbon beside her with a smile. "Kiya!" he greeted her, slipping over to join the pair, "Your work is marvelous~ You have my thanks too." A purr rumbled in his throat as his cloak began to glow with a shimmering Psychic that carefully positioned it where it belonged and closed the clasp about his throat. "That's better." Riley looked like himself once more, now that his ensemble was complete, and he flashed another smile at Kiya that caused her to stiffen with embarrassment. "You've done so much for us, I really can't thank you enough."
"I-It's nothing." The Whimsicott tapped her hands together nervously, glancing around Riley's shoulder as if looking for a way out. It arrived shortly, in the form of Evelyn.
"Kiya, what have I said about accepting thanks?" The Marill's voice had adopted its motherly tone again as she came over to stand beside her mate, raising a paw to pat the Whimsicott on the cheek. "You silly Zangoose. These boys are happy with you: you should be proud."
Kiya relaxed visibly with Evelyn beside her, though her expression was still a little timid when she looked away from the Marill's gaze. "I-I... You're welcome. I'm happy to help." She looked at Riley and Keiran and flashed a shy smile, but she reached for Evelyn's hand as she did so, squeezing it tightly for strength.
Evelyn beamed, giving Kiya a peck on the cheek. "That's my girl."
Riley chuckled, looking at the pair with undisguised pleasure. "Well then ladies, I'm afraid Keiran and I should be going." He gave a bow, voice apologetic. "Our companions will be eager to see us again. Last they saw us we were a bit of a mess."
Evelyn nodded briskly, giving Kiya's hand another squeeze before releasing it and stepping forward. "Right you are. Kelby will have taken them to the tavern by now I'm sure. I can lead you boys there." She brushed past and headed toward the front door. "Kiya, I left you some biscuits and honey. Have some before you tidy up. I'll be back soon!" The Whimsicott nodded, expression brightening at the mention of the food, and she offered a wave as Riley and Keiran stepped out to follow her mate.
Riley paused as he reached the door's threshold, turning back to bound over to Kiya quick enough to cause the girl to freeze in alarm. "I've been meaning to tell you," the Espeon said, "flowers really look best when you wear them so others can see them." Reaching behind her horns, Riley's paw returned with a lovely cluster of honeysuckle flowers, a burnt orange in shade. Grinning at the shock on Kiya's face, he proceeded to tuck the blossoms in her cotton by her right horn, stepping back to admire the effect. "Beautiful, don't you agree Evelyn?" The blush that spread across Kiya's face was unparalleled as her mate stole a glance at her from across the room.
"Aw, you're cuter than a peach," the Marill said appreciatively. "Never seen those flowers before, but you should wear 'em all the time Kiya dear, they suit you."
"A little thank-you-gift." Riley said, smiling. "You can plant them too," he added in a conspiratorial whisper, "Honeysuckle is a sign of happiness--they make gardens bloom beautifully, because the bugs love their scent. Lots of Pokemon do too." He winked at the shy Whimsicott then turned and pranced out the door, shooting a grin at Keiran as he passed his partner by. Another parting wave later, Evelyn shut the door, heading to the front of the group and leading them onward, back toward the town.
~~~~~
"Don't worry, Miss Evelyn took 'em to see Kiya. Kelby was quick to reassure Sephia that the matter was being tended to. The Raichu had been on the receiving end of her lectures as a kid, about how the water was impure poison that affected the mind directly, so he was very familiar with the Seviper's concern. "The Riolu looked pretty drenched, but the Espeon just had a sore throat complaint, he didn't seem wet. They should be all patched up in no time." In a similar friendly manner, he shot a grin back at Sephia when she mentioned how Kiya would appreciate the MooMoo Milk. Their mutual friend was always pleased with unusual new remedies, no doubt she'd make good use of it.
"There are four of us total," Ivilon said in response to Sephia's question, her inquiry about the MooMoo milk put on hold for the moment for dramatic effect. "Myself and Clive, as well as Keiran and Riley, the Riolu and Espeon who Kelby mentioned." The Beldum's gaze was slightly concerned as he wondered about the condition of the pair. He was tempted to send out his energy to search for their Psychic presences, but it seemed like too dramatic of a precaution: the Marill, Evelyn, had seemed as well-meaning as Kelby and Sephia were, so he refrained from exerting the excess energy.
Clive did most of the haggling for the pair, his smooth tongue earning them a few extra seeds for the road. Ivilon watched the process curiously, intrigued by the process he'd never witnessed before, and Kelby looked on with interest as well, apparently delighted by the smooth back-and-forth between the Seviper and Vaporeon pair. The three watched Sephia bundle up the orb, awe on all their faces, though Clive's was mixed with his fair share of discomfort. Everything about it was wrong, from the Orb to the smoothness of the cut and the ease it was made with as it split the thick material, and Clive was once again glad that they'd be leaving this particular individual behind sooner rather than later. Ivilon was the one who took the Orb from her, his silvery Psychic shimmering around the precious package. "We'll take proper care, you need not be concerned," he assured her, a smile in his voice. The pack that had held their bartered items was opened and refilled with the sizeable orb--the Heal Seeds were ultimately slipped into the other pack because it took up so much space. "You've done us a great service today. Thank you for everything."
"Now, you mentioned storing the milk?" A laugh of delight bubbled in Clive's throat, his face spreading into a grin as he eased back into his showman's demeanor. "Do you have a container ma'am?" he asked, smile never fading, "Something large enough to hold the bottle, preferably with a lid if you've got it. If not, just a large bowl will do." He would wait for his request to be provided, and then eye each of the other three closely, making sure he had their attention. "Pop the bottle inside then." When it was accomplished he grinned again. "Perfect."
The Vaporeon stepped back and opened his mouth, shooting several spurts of water into the air in quick succession. The arced just short of the net above, not disturbing any of Sephia's wares as they flew, and when the last of the set had passed its zenith, Clive's eyes narrowed and a brilliant beam shot from his throat, up the line. Each of the dollops of water was frozen solid in midair like a small hailstone, falling into the container where the bottle rested in a shimmering rainstorm of ice: when it was done, all of the ice cubes nestled themselves about the bottle neatly, covering it completely. Clive raised a paw to press against the bowtie at his throat and took a bow. "There you are. So long as you keep it chilled, the milk will stay fresh. If you don't have somewhere naturally cold, just keeping it with fresh ice works perfectly well."
Ivilon was suitably impressed with Clive's trick, but Kelby's eyes shone with wonder, and the Raichu applauded when the Vaporeon took his bow. "Oh wow, you guys are the real deal!" It was too good to be true for the Raichu, and that was clear from the thrill in his voice.
"Told you so," Clive said with a wink. "That said though, we should be moving on now that we have everything. I wouldn't want to leave Riley and Keiran waiting for us."
"Healing is far from a short process," Ivilon said softly. Clive's eagerness was understood, but likely unwarranted--it would take far more time for the other pair to finish their task. "But you are right," the Beldum said shortly after, "I would like to be at our meeting place when they arrive."
"Oh, no problem." Kelby said with a smile. "It's not that far, and we'll get you guys a bite to eat while we're there." The Raichu looked back to Sephia with a nod and a smile. "Looks like we're headin' out Sephia. Thanks for the help."
Clive dipped his head. "Madame."
Ivilon rested his golden eye on her for a long moment, unblinking. He would remember this Seviper, in all her unique splendor. "My good lady, it's been a pleasure."
Shortly after, Kelby beckoned them forward and the trio left the Seviper behind. They headed down a few winding paths toward the heart of the village and ended up in a quaint tavern where a small number of Pokemon were enjoying an afternoon meal or drink. By the time Keiran and Riley arrived, Kelby, Clive, and Ivilon would have been there for some time. A few remnants of small meals rested on plates in front of them, and Clive had command of the entire room, who had gathered around to watch him perform some simple acts of mentalism. As the Vaporeon drank in the spotlight, Ivilon poured some tea down his throat and watched as well, impressed by the feats of this non-Psychic; it was fascinating to watch Clive's mannerisms, see the way his showmanship resembled Riley's, even down to small motions of the expression or tone of voice. The two truly were halves of a whole, the Beldum could see that now more than ever.
"...So, that number that you wrote down. I'm getting something. It's a small number. Single digits, right? Yeah, and it's a lucky one. Seven, right?"
The Electibuzz across from him stared at him in disbelief before a grin spread across his face. "He's right!" the Electric Type said in a booming voice, waving a scrap of paper in the air for all to see. "This guy's incredible! You sure you're not part-Espeon?"
Clive chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh no, the Espeon's my partner," he said with a winning smile, "And if you like what I can do, just wait until you see him!"
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2016 5:01 pm
Keiran Sephia’s gaze dipped down as she bowed her head to the gentle Beldum, her eyes shining with admiration for the strange Steel-type’s beauty. It was not a traditional beauty by the standards of most species, but Sephia was hardly traditional herself. ”Nonsense,” she returned warmly. ”Such business brings great joy. Thanks is mine.” There was relief with the path their conversation had taken, the graceful serpent delighting in the safety of her trade partners and their companions.
It was nothing compared to her curiosity as Clive stepped into his role as a showman. She was not fooled by his sudden cheer, knowing it as well as her own sales pitches, but she could appreciate the skill it revealed. She nodded to him, twisting around the counter and into the back room at his request. She quickly returned to them, her fangs gripped loosely to the edge of a smooth clay urn. She couldn’t afford to bite down, lest the tension break either urn or fang. She settled it onto the counter, flexing her jaw slightly as she released it and delicately lifting away the upturned lid to rest it beside the urn.
She allowed the curious Raichu beside her to take the bottle of milk, knowing that he would be careful with the fragile container in spite of his youth. Kelby looked enraptured, eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement at what Clive might show them. This charade was likely for his benefit, rather than her own, given the Vaporeon’s behavior. She watched Kelby with secret pride, seeing his eyes light up when Clive grinned back at him.
The water droplets shimmered, seeming to hang in the air at the height of their arc. It was, she knew, from the particular force and angle he’d used. A beam of ice and light spilled from his jaws, filling the room with shimmering mist that billowed up to the ceiling and settled around their feet. The beam struck high, freezing the ice and splintering it into shards as it fell. Ice and snow fell softly around the bottle, clinking softly against the glass and clay as it settled, and slowly filling up to the brim of the urn and falling off into a shallow pile that buried the bottle within.
Sephia exhaled in a hum of gratitude, watching Kelby bounce on his toes as he applauded the show of skill and beauty. She nodded again, this time at Clive as she accepted his advice, and waited for the group to finish their exchange.
She smoothly slid from around the counter, lifting her long torso from the floor and pressing her forehead delicately against Kelby’s in a gesture of protective endearment. ”Guide them well, Child,” she murmured. It had unspoken meaning, as well. She wanted him to be safe, happy. No one would dare to harm the youth of this village as long as she guarded them so closely. She need only stay vigilant and protective.
Lifting her head, she looked instead to their guests and bowed again to show her respect. ”May winds and spirits guide you safely,” she returned formally, her accent never as thick and exotic as it was in that moment. Her gesture of respect was particularly strong to Ivilon, whose parting words earned a second hum of gratitude.
She watched them leave with a gaze of longing and turned away, slipping back through to the back room of her store. At the back of the room, nestled carefully in the bright weave of fabric and bundles of reeds, lay smooth ovals that shimmered like the rainbow of fresh oil. Their shells were still soft, so precious and delicate. She brushed the underside of her throat against them, and the lone mother curled around her clutch of eggs as she allowed herself the luxury of hope.
- - - - -
Keiran strode into the tavern at Riley’s side, the Riolu standing tall and straight with his arms folded formally behind his back. He would hover nearby, but taverns weren’t generally a scene he took comfort in. It was much easier to remain within earshot of his team, watching the room for anything that the others might miss.
The firm guidance of Evelyn beside in front of them thoroughly disrupted that plan. She motioned for a waitress to serve them as she pushed a gap through to the center of the crowd, and Keiran reluctantly followed his guide and captain through to the table where Clive and Ivilon awaited. The Pokemon around them shimmered with auras of awe and dizzying excitement. The sensation wasn’t displeasing, but it was strong enough to throb in his temples. At least it was rhythmic enough not to form a constant buzzing. Evidently, everyone here was united in their enjoyment of the magic Clive displayed.
”Ivilon,” he murmured in greeting, standing aside with his teammate. He expected Riley to want to rejoin Clive, or at least help play up the showy antics of his friend as they worked. If there was anything that truly held Riley’s heart, it was magic. Ivilon was closer to a spectator here, much the same as Keiran himself. ”Glad to see you well,” he told the Beldum sincerely, leaning closer to avoid the need to yell. The crowd chattered and squealed as Clive completed another trick, their applause nearly drowning the smooth depths of Keiran’s voice.
Some playful nudges from behind Keiran drew his attention, and he twisted to see a pair of women stepping closer to eye the handsome Eeveelutions who had stolen the attention of the room. The Dewott and Frillish were giggling, their breathy voices and auras firmly drawing his own attention instead. He stared at the ceiling awkwardly, stepping aside. ”Some day the two of them will fail to attract every woman in a kilometer radius,” he mused to the Steel-type beside him. ”In the meantime, I have running bet with Riley’s former teammates on how long it will take for them to notice the attention they draw.” Amusement sparkled in his eyes, and a rumbling masculine chuckle escaped his lips as he explained the situation to Ivilon. The Beldum, of course, would not be used to the peculiar antics of Riley and Clive while they were together. Keiran certainly was, and was firmly aware that at least Riley was completely oblivious to the air of romance they portrayed. Conversely, Clive was fairly self-aware, but eagerly joined his old friend in feigned ignorance.
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 9:49 am
Riley & Ivilon As they tailed behind Evelyn, following the path to the tavern, Riley's lifted spirits continued to shine through. When he wasn't trading friendly comments with the Marill, he was at Keiran's side, drawing his partner's attention to small peculiarities scattered throughout the town. His mouth was filled with a warm smile and a hundred observations; perhaps it was to make up for the loss of face he'd had earlier, perhaps it was an effort to boost his own spirits, or perhaps he'd found himself back in a place of enchantment with the world and people around him--even Riley himself wouldn't have been able to explain it. The Espeon simply felt the overwhelming desire to speak and be spoken to, and he followed it through to their destination.
If Riley had seemed pleased before however, it was incomparable to the expression that came over his face when the scene at the tavern presented itself to them. A look of surprise flitted across his features before it was immediately replaced with a look of giddiness so profound it was rare even for the expressive Espeon. It was the look of a man remembering what it was like to breathe. Without a word to his companions, Riley was gone, though he would spare a wink for Keiran if the Riolu caught sight of him slipping off into the crowd. Despite his incredibly unusual appearance, Riley had a way of avoiding notice when he wanted to--particularly when a performance was involved.
Clive, I'm here. Which reveal are you thinking?
Oh, give me something exciting. These guys love just about anything.
How do you feel about a hat trick?
Sounds perfect.
Clive stood at the center of the crowd, surveying his audience with eager eyes as he shared his brief exchange with Riley. They were riled up and ready for a trick to round off his set and spread the excitement for their return, and, as usual, Riley's plan was perfect.
"Ladies and gentle 'mon, if you would, I'll need your help for my last trick." Immediately the crowd's chattering fell to eager whispers, all eyes on the Vaporeon who commanded the room with a cheerful twinkle in his eye. "Now, some of you may be wondering: where is the partner that this dashing stranger mentioned? Surely a showman with a partner wouldn't travel alone?" Clive nodded, a grave look on his face. "And you would be right. My partner is here--somewhere in this very room." A few gasps were heard from the crowd, and almost every pair of eyes scanned the room for signs of an Espeon, but to no avail. Clive allowed this to go on for a few beats before chuckling delightedly. "Oh, you won't find him that easily," he said, "You see, my partner won't come out without his hat." Looks of confusion trailed over to him and Clive grinned. "My partner's hat is one of his most prized possessions: he never goes anywhere without it. Only trouble is, just before we got here, the wind blew his hat away, and he's been out searching for it since." Clive frowned, his entire body slumping with the motion. "I was really hoping he'd be back with it by now, but... Hang on a second!" The Vaporeon straightened up, staring straight ahead in surprise. "Excuse me sir, but that hat on your head..."
A Drapion blinked in surprise, looking himself up and down for a moment before he thought to reach to his head; when he pulled down a strange, gold-banded top hat, his jaw dropped in astonishment. "What?"
Clive's expression was one of surprise as well, that quickly melted into a more knowing look. "Riley, don't tell me you've been here all along." A tittering of laughter could be heard, and much of the room stared about in vain, looking for the source. "Riley, the audience wants to meet you!" Clive addressed the air, like a parent scolding a child. "Come on up and say hello."
Nothing happened for a long moment, then suddenly the hat, hanging limply from the Drapion's claw, flew up into the air, as though caught by a sudden gust of wind. Exclamations of surprise were heard, especially from the Drapion himself, as the hat floated above the heads of the crowd--no telltale Psychic coloring around it; the hat drifted lazily, though it somehow evaded the reach of the many hands that grabbed for it, no matter how tall their owner, and it ended its flight by landing at Clive's feet. The Vaporeon shook his head, picking up the hat in one paw. "Come on, don't be shy." And, with an air of utmost carelessness, he tossed the hat into the air.
The crowd followed its path up, and when it fell back down it landed perfectly on an unfamiliar teal head, attached to an Espeon who had appeared from apparently nowhere. "Who's being shy?" The laughter from before was heard again, this time clearly originating from deep within the Espeon's belly as he grinned at his partner. "I just like to make a proper entrance." There was a moment of stunned silence, and then the whole room broke out into applause, expressions filled with wonder as Riley took a bow, and Clive followed suit.
Ivilon watched all of this quietly, acknowledging Keiran with a soft chime when he greeted him. It wasn't that he was ignoring the Riolu, but it was terribly difficult to pay attention to two things at once with only one eye. When the bows were being taken and the Eeveelution duo began their closing remarks, he turned to face Keiran. "I am pleased to see you have been tended to as well," he said softly, looking the Riolu up and down to reassure himself that all traces of the poison were gone from him. He glanced at the Marill nearby, who was exchanging animated chatter with Kelby as they both applauded Riley and Clive's work, and his gaze softened. "These Pokemon are most kind. They have done us a great service today, not the least of which being the restoration of you and Riley to your former selves it would seem."
The Beldum was equally amused by his vice captain's banter about the pair who lorded over the crowd up ahead, a look of good humor in his golden gaze. "Their charisma is indeed formidable," he murmured, good-naturedly. "I've truly never seen the likes of it in all my days. It is remarkable in the most intriguing of ways." Ivilon didn't miss the end of the remark either, filing it away with interest. The past held so strongly to this group, any tidbits he learned of it were important in their own right. "Likewise is their disregard for their own charm, yes," the Beldum murmured, doing his best to keep the knowing tone from his voice as he did so. The way that charm affected the Riolu beside him was, perhaps, also disregarded, though it was no mystery to the perceptive Psychic beside him. Not pursuing that topic, Ivilon instead played along with Keiran's gentle teasing. "You are right though. I imagine most of those bets are on well-distant times, since they've apparently not figured it out yet, despite so many years."
The non-showman pair's musings would be cut short however, by the rounding out of Riley and Clive's little show. "Thank you all so very much for being a wonderful audience, to my partner and to myself," Riley said, his voice carrying over the group. "We look forward to sharing even more magic with you on our return, but for now we have to draw things to a close." The Espeon bowed, removing his hat and pressing it to his chest. "My partner and I are traveling with some friends of ours, and we have to start our journey home to retrieve the materials to give you all a proper magic show."
Clive nodded. "And while you're at it, give a hand for Keiran and Ivilon!" He said, pointing a paw at the unsuspecting pair. "We wouldn't be able to do what we do without their support." The Vaporeon winked at the pair as the applause rose up and all eyes fell on them, and Ivilon did his best to acknowledge it gracefully, though the sudden surge of attention was more than a little overwhelming.
Riley nodded, smiling at his Vaporeon partner. "Alright everyone, we'll be seeing you soon!" The jaunty farewell was accompanied by a grin as he swept his hat back to his head and turned to lean over and whisper in Clive's ear. "We should probably head out now, before Keiran and Ivilon get too uncomfortable."
"Right you are, mon capitan."
The pair made their way over to the table where their friends sat, graciously deflecting the Pokemon who attempted to make conversation with them. "What do you see we get going, eh K?" Clive said, nudging the Riolu gently on the shoulder.
"Nonsense, these boys haven't had a proper lunch yet!" Evelyn spoke up from the side, hands on her hips. Keiran had had a bit of a chance to work at his food with the last bit of the performance, but a warm plate for Riley rested on the table yet untouched.
"Oh Evelyn, you beautiful creature, you're too kind." Riley placed himself between Clive and Evelyn gracefully, charming as ever. "But as much as I would love to, we really must be going or we'll never make it to another village before the sun sets." He smiled apologetically. "If it's any consolation, your biscuits were more than sufficient to tide me over."
It was Evelyn's turn to look incredibly flustered now, the first time she'd seemed that way since the group had met her. "I...but you boys just got here. Surely you could stay a little longer."
"You can stay with me!" Kelby piped up eagerly, long tail swishing back and forth with excitement. "My place isn't big, but I can take some of you, and I'm sure some other folk would be willing to put up the rest of you for the night."
Clive bit his lip, glancing at Riley who caught his gaze. This wasn't exactly what they'd planned for, and the time they were losing on completing their mission wasn't getting any lesser.
"You are both most generous," Ivilon spoke up, appreciation in his tone. "However it is important we continue our travels. It is rather a personal matter, but there is someone who we've promised to meet at the end of this journey, and we mustn't keep that person waiting." The Beldum looked to his Teammates for support, knowing the half-truth still sounded a bit insufficient. It wasn't easy for Ivilon to twist the truth, and the discomfort that filled him from the crowd around them increased tenfold when he knew his dishonesty could be heard by so many. He did his best not to let is uncertainty leak into his voice though--a word from any of the other members of his Team more experience with this should, hopefully, be enough to resolve the issue and get them back on track, but Ivilon couldn't do it alone.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:42 am
Keiran The near-constant, excited chatter of his Espeon captain was still ringing in his ears as he took in Ivilon’s words. Keiran could catch the knowing sparkle in his singular eye, but also the way his gaze would flicker back to the showy and well-spoken performers on their improvised stage. The tavern owners were more than a little enthused with them, given the rapid increase in customers present, and the customers themselves were likely as excited as they’d been in months. He couldn’t really blame them, given that this work was far and away their true passion, but it was still a little awkward to realize that they had the entirety of the room wrapped around their handsome paws. He realized with a twinge of embarrassment that he wasn’t excluded in that. He’d likely step off a cliff if either of them had genuinely asked it, partially because of the fact that they never would.
The Riolu instead just nodded in agreement with Ivilon, willing the warmth in his chest to fade so that he could speak without choking. ”I have yet to meet anyone here who’s intentions are less than kind,” he replied, accepting a plate of food from a nearby waitress and standing at Ivilon’s side with his plate extended just far enough to share it between them. ”Riley’s keen enough on them that he promised we’d come back and perform for them. I imagine Clive would agree, unless he’s the one to suggest it in the first place.” His tone was somewhat dry as he opted to ensure that Ivilon was in the loop on that particular plan. There wasn’t any harm in it, even if it was a bit of a lengthy trip to reach the village in the first place. They’d just have to plan their routes much more carefully now that they had a better understanding of the swamp.
Of course, Riley took care to announce it as quickly as he’d spoken. Keiran merely gestured to his captain with a subtle hand and looked politely bemused in spite of the anxiety in his eyes.
And suddenly they were the subject of ear-splitting applause, which would surely have made Keiran simultaneously choke and drop their plate if not for his Inner Focus ability. He took it in stride, appearing ever the gentleman as he modestly inclined his head and bowed. Nothing on the plate so much as shifted while he moved. His immense discomfort was obvious only to the psychic at his side, and he took care in greeting both of the approaching Eeveelutions with as much warmth and politeness as he could muster. All of this without a spoken word.
Riley was masterfully charming and rebuffing any who approached their table, eyes gleaming with their characteristic brightness. It was only when Evelyn and Kelby sauntered up to meet them that he welcomed someone else into the conversation. His apology to the Marill was perfectly-phrased, laden with compliments and niceties that Keiran was sure would sound silly from any other mouth. Perhaps Clive’s, if he was so inclined, but his charm was a much more relaxed and casual brand than Riley’s.
Still, the offers of hospitality were both tempting and genuine. It would be difficult now to decline them without rudeness. Ivilon’s attempt was solid, and it laid a clear opening for Keiran in turn. He too, preferred open honesty to the half-truths they were giving, but he was much more adept at lying than the Beldum. He set the plate gently onto the table before he spoke.
”We do have to leave, unfortunately. It’s a matter of great importance to us, and it would not be something easily excused if we were late.” He willed his tone into something more smooth and almost sultry, hoping that it could near even remotely to the charm of his teammates. With his stiff and formal posture, it certainly was not coming across as seductive. ”But if your offer remains, we’ll certainly have need of your hospitality at a later date. We intend to return another time, at least long enough to show how greatly we’ve appreciated what you’ve done for us.”
”I trust you understand, Evelyn.”
The Marill seemed pacified by this, even if she was a little disappointed. He could sense her aura shifting and darkening, but there was no threat in it. She and Kelby were equally sincere in their desire to help them. ”Of course,” she allowed, sounding a little resigned as she gave her goodbyes to the group. She was particularly taken with Riley, and Kelby with Clive, as the pair of showmen had so thoroughly ensnared the hearts of the villagers, but they were still especially (and embarrassingly) tender with Ivilon and Keiran as they were seen off from the village gate.
It was several minutes of walking before Keiran would confirm that they were not being followed, and that they could speak freely without being overheard. ”Did the two of you pick up anything at the village?” the Riolu questioned, eyeing the two members of their party that hadn’t followed to see a healer. ”We managed to discern a little from their healer, but she was rather… shy.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 9:04 pm
Riley & Ivilon It was with a great deal of conversation and commotion that the group managed to end their time in the village.
Ivilon and Keiran opted for a subtle lie to expedite their departure, and Riley and Clive shared a moment of amusement and pride at the way their less-social friends drew themselves up and attempted to take on the part of the debonair vagabond of their own accord. Their attempts were a little too vague to be convincing, but they were made with good will, which seemed to resonate with Evelyn enough to persuade her. As they made their way out of the tavern (after a polite argument over settling the bill, which the matronly Marill won handily), Riley pulled her aside and rounded out the story. "Forgive my friends if they seemed a bit dodgy before," he said softly, "You see, there's a certain lovely lady who my dear friend has had his eye on, and he's too embarrassed to speak of it outright. It's her we mustn't keep waiting--she promised to meet him at our next performance." The Espeon tilted his head knowingly towards Ivilon, and Evelyn's expression lit up with delight, assuring him that she understood and wouldn't breathe a word.
There was a small crowd that tried to trail them to the town outskirts, but Evelyn and Kelby shooed them off together, with remarks like "You wouldn't want to scare 'em from coming back, would you?" and "They've got places to be. And the sooner we let 'em go, the sooner they'll be back." By they time they reached the gate it was just the six of them, and Clive and Riley volleyed conversation back and forth with their respective friends up until the last possible moment. Several hugs and well-wishes later, the groups parted ways, the village pair lingering at the gate until Team Synchronicity was out of view, leaving parting waves and warm smiles in their wake.
"Who would have thought they'd be such lovely people?" Clive said, laughing and shaking his head.
"Surprises come from all over, don't they?" Riley said with a grin. "Legends, I needed that though." The Espeon certainly seemed more radiant for the experience, his eyes gleaming with a sense of purpose again. "You're a genius, Clive. How do I manage to live without you?"
The Vaporeon beamed, feeling a sense of pride as he glimpsed the gratitude in his captain's gaze. "You don't," he said offhandedly, flicking his tail in dismissal. "I'm fairly certain without me around you just stop functioning. But really I can't blame you, it's hard to expect anyone to live without exposure to my brilliance." Clive tried to keep a straight face throughout the speech, but failed at the last moment, a grin overtaking him as he barked out a laugh, which quickly shifted to a laughing fit when Riley poked him in the side.
"If you don't watch that talk of yours it'll rub off on your ego."
"I don't know what you mean," Clive replied, forcibly suppressing his laughter as he side-eyed his Espeon friend. "It's a widely accepted fact that the universe revolves around yours truly. Ask anyone--right, K?" The pair of Eeveelutions looked to the Riolu to resolve their mock dispute for them, accepting whatever answer he gave in good humor, whoever he sided with.
Ivilon shook his head, still adjusting to this odd brand of humor that the pair adopted around each other--half stageplay and half friendly banter. He wondered briefly if they did it to exercise their charm and wit, and if that was why it came so naturally to them. It was no wonder the duo could be so baffling if their normal interactions were as nonchalantly overblown as those they had with each other on stage: the way the lines blurred between the two was very confusing to the Psychic, and even moreso how the underlying air of authentic joy laced the artificially structured interaction. It was a puzzle, but one that lost precedence the moment Keiran brought their thoughts back to the task they'd been given.
"We did indeed." Ivilon chimed a soft affirmative. "The boy Kelby brought us to a general store owned by a remarkable woman. We were able to obtain some seeds that are grown in this area, useful for as remedy to many ailments so we were told, and also a very precious orb that can drain water from any area for a short time period, if we ever have the need for it."
Riley whistled, nodding approvingly. "Sounds like you guys found the jackpot," he said. "How'd you manage to get her to part with so much."
"Well you see--what was it again?" Clive raised a paw to his chin in thought. "Ah yes: 'I'm very persuasive.'" He leaned over to Riley and whispered the Espeon's words back to him in a sultry tone. Stepping back again, he chuckled, glancing over to shoot a wink at Ivilon. "Though in this case I think your new recruit was the more persuasive one. She took quite a shine to him, not that that's hard to do." Ivilon looked visibly shocked by the casual compliment and Clive laughed yet again. "Don't be so modest Iv, you were great. You'd be surprised, he's quite the ladies' man."
Riley looked at Ivilon with surprise. "Really? I never would've thought you had it in you, Ivilon."
"No--No you are most mistaken. The lady Sephia and I, we were merely sharing a mutual appreciation of each others' abilities."
The Beldum felt a surge of embarrassment as he saw both Riley and Clive grinning back at him, but the former moved in quickly thereafter, patting him gently on the back. "I'm sure you were fine," the magician assured his teammate, "I was only teasing. Making friends is a good thing, we could always use more of them, and you struck us a good deal besides. As far as I'm concerned that means you did a wonderful job." Ivilon blinked again, feeling a tentative gratitude towards the Espeon as he smiled, before glancing back at the Vaporeon beside him impishly. "Besides, I know how Clive likes to embellish his stories now and again."
The Water Type jaw dropped in mock offense. "I would never."
"There was something else," Ivilon said, cutting in before the boys could fall back into their teasing again. "Sephia spoke of the swamp water's toxins, saying they were unusual and particularly potent in nature. Apparently it can affect the mind, causing pains and hallucinations. The seeds we received can apparently counteract this and prevent damage from exposure over time."
Clive wrinkled his nose, frowning. "You're right, she did mention that." The Vaporeon felt the unpleasant feeling of the water seeping through the grass to touch his paws, even though they were walking securely atop the village bridge as they spoke, and he shuddered, sobering up once more. "I could've told you this water's bad stuff, but when a Poison Type says it..." He shook his head. "I don't even want to think about it."
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 5:58 pm
Keiran Keiran took their mock-argument with good humour, his face masked with nonchalance in spite of the mischief that gleamed in his eyes. Riley and Clive bickered back and forth, prodding at each other between fits of laughter as they allowed the hearty mood of the village to follow them along the path. He had fully intended to leave them to their games, at least until Clive demanded his agreement on the subject.
A subtle smirk curved into his muzzle, the sly expression somewhat dashing on the little Fighting-type. ”But of course, Clive-” he replied in the same sultry voice he’d attempted for Evelyn. It was much smoother now that he was separate from the village women. Now it sounded natural, his natural aloofness driving home the picture of a detached gentleman. ”-provided that your universe begins and ends in the gap between your ears, that is.”
’You know as well as I do that I can’t give a real answer to that,’ he considered in silence, unwilling to voice the true opinions that burned in his mind.
And still, the laughter of both Eeveelutions together would ring in his ears for several minutes after. The subtle flutter of his heartbeat ached against his ribs. The two of them together were truly unfair, he considered silently. It was all he could do to restrain the aura of delight and attraction that felt sure to burst from his chest, if only he spared it a moment’s freedom. Riley wouldn’t notice, certainly, but Ivilon would if he wasn’t careful.
He took that moment instead to distract them with the reality of their mission, asking for their tale and perspective of the village. Ivilon’s affirmative chime was just reverent enough for him to catch the gleam of admiration in his aura, just a hint of genuine excitement at the fortune of their business dealings. He might have thought it related more to the apparently ‘remarkable’ shopkeep had he not immediately followed with an impressive list of replacement supplies. Riley’s approving whistle was not misplaced, in his opinion.
Clive broke in with a joke, his sultry tones a much friendlier version than the detached voice of his own, only to quickly shift credit back to the sheepish Beldum at their shoulders. Evidently such excitement really was at least partially related to the ‘remarkable’ shopkeep, if Ivilon’s embarrassment was genuine (it was; he could feel the heat of his aura as it wafted in the humid air).
Their next topic of discussion, the Vaporeon’s mockery aside, was much less palatable to the experienced assassin. Both recruits weighed in on the matter, unease ringing in the metallic tones of Ivilon as much as they did in the silken voice of Clive. He’d been right when he recognized Rory in Aric, if the symptoms were accurate. Mania, delusions, paranoia- even visions of things that didn’t exist. He could remember Rory screaming at voices that no one else could hear. Aric mumbled to himself much the same way.
The shiver of creeping fear up his spine went undisguised as he wondered how much exposure it would have taken to succumb to such poisons as they did. He’d nearly been drowned in the river just short hours ago.
Just as quickly, the thought was emptied from his mind and replaced with a steely calm. ”It’s for the best, then, that Riley and I were seen to as quickly as we were,” he interrupted quietly. There was an authority in his tone that brooked no room for argument, however unwilling he was to voice it.
”We keep to dry land from now on; any samples from marshy ground or riverbanks, we take by psychic or aura. No exceptions,” Keiran continued, his tone sharpening slightly as the orders were given. There was an abrupt change in his expression and his posture had shifted to something a little less familiar. Riley would recognize the protectiveness for what it was, but this would be the first time that either Clive or Ivilon would witness their vice-captain as the lethal assassin he’d once been. Short of witnessing an actual kill, as he prayed they never would, this was as close as they were getting. ”If anyone is further exposed to poisons here, everything is stopped in favor of treatment. If anyone hallucinates, we stop entirely. Mission over.”
He hesitated, his heart aching a little as he took in the solemn auras of his teammates. ”I can only presume that Kiya was thorough in my treatment, given that I am not writhing in the mud, but I am not keen to repeat the experience. Once done, the damage might be permanent.”
”I will not risk you if I do not have to. Am I clear?” His sharp-eyed expression passed over all three of them. Even Riley, much as he generally preferred the Espeon’s leadership to his own, was not exempt from this particular demand.
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Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 6:46 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley's face broke out in a grin and Clive's a look of feigned horror at Keiran's quip. "Too cruel!" the Vaporeon said, raising a melodramatic paw to his head. "It's fine. Apparently not everyone can appreciate my majesty."
"How could we?" Riley purred, "If we're just helplessly revolving around you, and don't even know it; just trying to comprehend it is bound to make our heads spin." Little did the Espeon know, he was having the same effect on both of his partners, each time he engaged their playfulness.
Keiran took charge of returning them to their task soon enough, and the other three fell silent, listening attentively as the Riolu outlined the rules. Riley nodded in agreement as his partner finished. "You're absolutely right. Everyone be very clear if you see anything strange--we need to be vigilant, so nobody gets hurt." The Espeon tilted his hat back with a bit of Psychic, glancing up at the sun. "Remind me to mention this to the Guildmasters when we get back too. There's probably something that should be done about this whole thing, it's kind of a big deal if it's really this bad." What exactly could be done, he didn't know--unless Serrin happened to know a Suicune or something--but a biohazard was a biohazard, even if those living near it had adapted to it.
Ivilon gave a soft chime of consent. "I will continue to monitor your vitals, if that is something you would find acceptable," The Beldum's golden gaze was clear and steady. "I have little risk of coming in contact with the poison myself, so I will check for irregularities in your energies that may be caused by toxins, and observe our path for any hazardous areas."
Riley nodded. "Sounds good, Ivilon. Thanks."
The Beldum dipped his head and hovered several feet above the heads of his teammates for a better vantage point. They would leave the bridge soon, so he prepared himself to be on the alert.
Clive sighed, staring down at the wooden slats beneath his paws and the purple murk visible through the cracks, far below where they walked. "Not really looking forward to getting back out on the hunt," he said, with a somewhat half-hearted chuckle. "How much is left on that list, huh?"
"The second half." Riley was back in a business mindset, it was obvious from the change in his tone, and the hastening of his stride. Clive bit his lip--it was good that Riley was doing his job, but...there was something about it he didn't like. He didn't like the way his friend suddenly had no mind for casual banter, or the way his voice grew stricter, less playful, or the way... Clive felt a prickle of shame in his paws. Or the way he was walking so close to Keiran now.
Riley had moved forward to match stride with his partner, peering at the list the Riolu had no doubt proffered by this point. "The end of this bridge should be 'the far side' that our client was talking about," Riley said. "So everything we need should be around this area somewhere." The Espeon looked up, watching Keiran's gaze curiously. "How do you think we should do this? I'm not sure how long it'll take, or whether we should split up again or go together..." He glanced up at the sun again, noting its high point in the sky. "It's about noon now, when A--the client was originally planning to meet us for the first set. I'd honestly like to get this all over with as soon as possible, but safely too." Whatever that would entail.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 9:43 am
Keiran Keiran was tense, like a viper coiled to strike, but on the surface his muscles were visibly relaxed. It was a strange, internal dichotomy that he’d long since learned to use in disguising his next actions. One couldn’t be too predictable, after all. His partner added to the instructions he’d given, but Keiran simply offered a fluid nod of approval. The same nod was offered to Ivilon, who’s suggestion was both remarkable in its usefulness and slightly disconcerting in that he would be much more aware of Keiran’s vital signs than he would prefer. Still, the Beldum’s awareness of a quickening pulse or a catch in his breathing were no less embarrassing than an unnoticed poisoning was lethal- he would have to cope with the consequences of protecting his team.
Keiran’s teal eyes were darkened. It felt as if the burden of their mission lay much heavier on their shoulders than it had before. Riley was anxious but determined; Keiran could sense that the layer of professionalism and confidence only ran so deep before it returned to the softer side of Riley he’d grown accustomed to. Clive evidently couldn’t feel the same, unable to take heart in the complexity of their captain’s aura. His emotions were as tangled as Keiran’s. The stab of Clive’s jealousy was like a cutting edge against his own aura, but Keiran wasn’t sure if he had any comfort to offer the Vaporeon now. It was too close to home; he didn’t know how to deal with that. He decided against closing himself off entirely, leaving his own aura to merge and blend with the mire of emotions that poured off of his team, and he hoped blindly that it would not come back to bite him in the hours to follow.
”Fortunately for us, we’ve already dealt with the worst of our list. Anything close to the water’s edge, we gathered this morning to avoid exposure to evaporating toxins,” The Riolu replied firmly, his eyes scanning the list that he’d lowered to a comfortable viewing height for Riley. Not that he had to lower it much- he was unfairly small for his species. ”It’ll be less dangerous for us, now.”
He could see the delicate curve of Riley’s jaw as the Espeon glanced skyward. Keiran swallowed, the influence of Clive’s emotions already making the situation much less comfortable than it should have been. He looked away from both of them, pretending to be looking afar to the shoreline ahead. He couldn’t look at either one of them right now, for fear that the blend of their aura would set his heartrate soaring. That was not something he was keen to share with Ivilon today.
”We stick together, where Ivilon can monitor us safely. If someone has to venture further out for something, we go as a group. Two to deal with the samples, one to keep watch, and Ivilon above us to ensure we’re healthy.” His words were sharper than he’d intended, but the look of vague apology that crossed his face seem to ease whatever confusion it had wrought for the other three. ”If we’re lucky, we’ll be done in a couple of hours.”
- - - - -
”Alright. Clive, can you lay out the samples from the embankment just here? And Riley, if you could help me wrap up these seed pods? We need them tight enough that they won’t come unbound, but we also don’t want them to burst. The fluid inside them is quite corrosive to bare skin.” He hadn’t recognized the seed pods by the name of the plant, but the description very clearly matched the appearance of something he’d known from a career long-past. Their client had scribbled in his horrid writing that he needed them intact. Keiran had an uncomfortable feeling that the warning was for the sake of his samples, and not their personal safety. It didn’t seem like something that the Quagsire would consider, or perhaps even care about.
As Riley worked at his side, cautiously mimicking the expert movements of Keiran’s own paws, the Riolu felt particularly unsettled by the thoughts that had started to churn in his mind. He knew Riley wouldn’t approve of them, given his concerns from before, but the mistrust that had entrenched itself around Aric could not be shaken. There was something wrong here, and he had to understand what it was.
The seed pods were wrapped with care, Riley taking extra time to finish with his as his paws had begun to shake from the intensity with which he focused. Keiran steadied him with a gentle pulse of aura, and guided the rest of the wrappings into place.
Clive came to stand at their side, and Keiran could only feel relieved that the frustration and jealousy seemed absent from the Vaporeon’s heart as he leaned casually against the Espeon’s shoulder. It was a casual gesture between friends, though the spark of affection that lit their auras brought a tiny burst of envy in his own.
As the last of their samples were laid out and organized across the dry sand (and Keiran could only bless the stars that they’d found somewhere dry to do so), he stood back to review the list they’d been assigned. The Riolu’s frown deepened with concentration as he looked it over, and his gaze flickering back up to identify which samples were which. They’d done this once prior already, but they’d found themselves with extras of some samples and the absence of others. That had drawn groans of frustration from more than one person.
Keiran’s eyes fell on the last item and froze there, locked to the delicate blossoms of the lily it belonged to. It was a showy flower, with long petals that rippled along the edges and stripes of white and burgundy that were like a starburst from its center. That vibrancy seemed not to flow down into the stem, which seemed deadened like the late days of autumn. He didn’t know its name, and evidently neither did Aric- but he knew what it was used for.
He stilled abruptly. His pulse bounded in his throat, choking him as his gaze flickered between the flora they’d displayed so beautifully across the sand.
Suddenly he was sprinting for their bags, digging roughly through them to find the first half of their list, the letter that Aric had sent them- anything. His paws were trembling as he read them over and over again, panic in his eyes. The letter never said why he needed them. The plants he had them gather- he knew them now. He hadn’t had them strewn out to make the connection this morning. Maybe the stress of their fight at the bridge had drawn too much of his attention. Maybe he just hadn’t been vigilant enough. Either way, things were beginning to make far too much sense, and Keiran was quickly realizing how much trouble he’d gotten them into.
He swore; the sound was a choked, ragged noise of fear and anger. He did not know how to explain this, but worse still was that he also didn’t know how to get them out of this.
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Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2017 3:38 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley nodded at Keiran's initial. "That was a good idea you had," the Espeon said, absently trailing his tail down his partner's back in a gesture of appreciation. "It's going to start getting pretty hot now, so the more we keep away from the waterside, the better for us."
Clive made a soft sound of acknowledgment from behind them, the Vaporeon's skin crawling at the thought of breathing in poisonous water droplets from the air. "You don't have to tell me twice," he murmured, acutely aware he was talking to himself at this point.
"Sounds like a plan," Riley said, smiling at Keiran in approval. "We'll have this handled in no time, gents! And be back home in time for warm baths and good food and a well-deserved rest." The Espeon grinned back at Clive. "I've already got all your paperwork ready and waiting at home, too. You'll be official by tomorrow at the latest."
Clive smirked. "Oh, I don't know," he replied, voice regaining its spritely tone, though perhaps a little less than it had held before. "There's something quite romantic about being unofficial, don't you think? I'm not authorized to do anything under the Guild, so for now I'm a roguish vigilante. A lone purveyor of justice who roams the land untethered by organizations and the corruption of politics."
Riley chuckled, shaking his head, and Clive felt a gentle push from his friend's Psychic. "Oh please," the Espeon retorted, "You're about as untethered to anything as a child is untethered to his parents."
The Vaporeon's grin widened. "Ah, you've found me out!" he said, mock anguish tugging at his words. "You're right. I'm tethered to those many hearts that yearn after me. Were it not for them, I would have nothing in this world."
Riley snorted, unable to keep his composure. "Alright Mr. Heartbreak. How about you use the power of those hearts to help us find some plants?"
"My codename! How did you learn it? These are secrets known only to the Vigilantes of the Crimson Heart!"
Riley's ear twitched, a bemused expression on his face. "I thought you weren't tethered to any organizations?"
"Well you weren't supposed to find out about them, but if you know my codename--!"
Pardon the interruption but there is a rather large patch of berries on our list beyond the bushes to your left. Ivilon's voice cut through, silken in the trio's minds.
Riley blinked, looking up at the silver figure far above them. Ivilon's body gleamed in the light but he was looking patiently down at them, unmoving. "Really? That's great Ivilon!" He called up to the Psychic in the air. "That'll be our first stop then." Glancing back at Keiran beside him, then Clive behind him, Riley nodded to the nearby bushes. "Alright, let's get moving. Like I said, we'll have this done in no time." His gaze slid over to Clive. "...if we keep our focus."
The Vaporeon shrugged, nodding in agreement only after Riley's expression narrowed to one of warning. "Okay, okay." Clive shook himself, as though to clear his head. "I'll be good."
~~~~~
By the time the sun had begun to dip in the sky the group's work was done. They'd collected enough samples to fill all their bottles and leave their paws aching from careful plucking and digging and trodding the same paths over and over to avoid poisonous hazards. Now, Keiran had insisted on going over their inventory once more to be absolutely sure they had everything left on the list. It was a little excessive, in Clive's opinion, he'd have been happy to just hand over what they'd had the last time Keiran had double-checked everything, being thorough in helping their creep of a client wasn't really that important to the Vaporeon, but most of that was because he was exhausted and shaken from one too many warnings from Ivilon that he'd almost wandered into poison death traps. This place was not good for his nerves. At least the client would be happy--weird as the guy was he would appreciate the orderliness of all of it, and if it was all ordered then they could just hand everything over and be done with this whole mess.
Riley had devoted the whole of his focus to helping Keiran wrap the seed pods. The Espeon, too, was feeling the drag of the heat and the unforgiving work, and it showed in the way his paws shook despite his best efforts while he tried to mimic his partner's work. It was hard, sometimes, having Keiran as a partner, because the man was so impossibly skilled at everything he did, it was hard to compare. Of course, that was also why it was the greatest gift to have him as a partner, which Riley appreciated for the umpteenth time that day as Keiran finished the wrappings on the last of the seed pods Riley had been struggling with. "Thanks." The word was warm and grateful--he didn't know where he'd be without Keiran there beside him.
"Wow, nice job you guys!" Clive wandered up to join the pair, whistling in admiration of their work. Everything was packaged so crisply, it was almost unreal. Even if had all been done for a less-than-worthy cause, beautiful work was still something he could appreciate. Leaning against Riley to take a bit of the weight off his own paws, the Vaporeon stared down at their collection. "No way our guy won't be happy with this."
"Yep." Riley leaned into Clive as well, so each was holding the other up. "We'll do one last check, but I think we've got everything now. Then we just have to call him up and it's mission complete."
"It is as perfect as we can make it, of this I am certain," Ivilon hovered to the side, eye running over the colorful array of samples they'd collected. He was proud of his teammates for their work, and pleased he'd been able to help. None of them had been hurt, all had proceeded with only minor issues, and now--wait. The Beldum swiveled, eye locking on Keiran, whose pulse suddenly skyrocketed without warning. The Beldum's mind sparked with alarm and he was beside the Riolu in an instant, staring at him with concern. "Keiran, what has happened?"
There was a moment of no response--the Riolu appeared almost frozen in place--and then he bolted, running to their bags and digging for something, not stopping until he had the list from the morning in his hand. "Keiran!" Ivilon's voice was the harshest Riley and Clive had ever heard it. The Riolu cursed, looking pale as a ghost, and Ivilon was by Keiran's side again, forcing the Fighting Type's head to turn towards him with the aid of his Psychic. "Keiran, there is no indication you are ill, yet your actions are most worrisome. What is going on?"
"K-Keiran?" Riley wandered a few steps closer, Clive just behind, both Eeveelutions' eyes dark with worry.
"Easy does it, K. You doing alright?"
"Keiran, talk to me. Do we need to get help?"
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2017 12:47 pm
Keiran Keiran felt the pulse of Ivilon’s psychic and he resisted the urge to flinch away from the Beldum at the sudden invasion of aura against his own. His pupils were narrowed almost to nothing as he stared back, feeling his own frustration and anger flare against the feeling of his teammate’s concern. ”We- I messed up. I knew something wasn’t right and I let it slide,” he hissed. ”I was so caught up in doing this mission right that I didn’t even notice. That freak is going to get people killed and we just helped him do it.” He spat at no one in particular, feeling distinctly ashamed that he hadn’t caught it sooner.
”We’ve been traipsing around this stars-forsaken swamp all day, picking up lethal poisons- sedatives, acids, hemolytic agents-“ his voice still hadn’t lifted even to speaking volume, as though deathly afraid of being overheard. He was angry, but it was at Aric, at himself. Screaming at his teammates for his own mistake was not something he’d condone.
”Ivilon, some of this stuff I haven’t even seen used. My job was killing other assassins. I’m so used to dealing with poison that I didn’t clue into what that damned Quagsire wanted to do with it-“ Keiran hurriedly pushed past his teammates, ignoring their expressions and aura entirely as he roughly snatched the sickly-looking flowers from amidst their collection. The flowers floated in mid-air, his silvered aura almost black as it swirled around them. ”-and then I realize we’ve been sent to grab this. There literally isn’t another use for it other than torture or murder. Do you think maybe there’s a reason he didn’t want us talking to the villagers? Or why a farming village has posted guards at all hours of the day?”
Keiran dropped the blossoms carelessly into the sand, his paws shaking. ”Their little island is practically a paradise compared to the rest of this place- those narrow little bridges and the toxic rivers would keep off anything particularly threatening. But they looked pretty relieved to show up and see us standing there- a bunch of total strangers looking half-dead and soaked from head to toe. They’re scared out of their minds!”
“Even if he isn’t trying to kill them, he might damn well do it by accident. He’s completely mad and we’ve handed him enough poison to fell a Wailord.”
The Riolu’s shoulders dropped, and he finally let the glare fade from his expression. He turned his attention to Riley. The Espeon was his captain, his friend, and aside from Era he was the only one in the world to trust him entirely. He could only offer a morose stare of apology. ”I have to find him, Riley. Whatever he’s doing- If he kills those people-“ He was very not okay with killing of that variety. He didn’t particularly like killing other assassins, let alone a village of innocent people. ”I’m sorry. I know you wanted us to leave it alone, but I can’t let anything happen to those villagers. Please, Riley.” His voice cracked as he begged for permission to act.
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 8:53 am
Riley & Ivilon Killed. That word hung in the air between them from the moment Keiran spat it. It caused Clive to flinch back, Riley to stiffen, Ivilon's eye to glimmer with anxiety. The satisfaction from moments before was gone, and now there was fear, palpable in the air.
Keiran spelled it all out for them, putting together the pieces the rest of his team could not. Ivilon's mind was churning, processing each of their samples against his data banks, marking them all with icons of danger and warnings of poison. He couldn't have known--the things that hurt his fleshy companions were many, and he had no sense like theirs to distinguish what would harm their fragile bodies--but still he felt responsible. He would remember each of these plants, so no one would fall victim to them under his watch. For perhaps the first time, the Beldum felt a glimmer of respect and understanding for both Keiran's past and Riley's choice to keep him around. Without the knowledge of the former assassin, they could have brought about the demise of a whole village. Ivilon's circuits felt cold: that a Team intended to save and rescue others could have been the cause for something so sinister--it was wrong.
Riley's ears pinned back against his head as he listened to Keiran's explanation, the color slowly draining from his face. His partner would know better than anyone about the claims he was making, which meant that earlier, when he'd broken down about Aric, he'd been defending a monster. The breath left Riley's lungs as though he'd been punched, and he looked sickened, unable to look at the flowers Keiran displayed for them. He felt a sharp pang in the pit of his stomach as it twisted in revulsion--what kind of leader was he, that he couldn't spot a villain. It was true, wasn't it? He had to face it. He was so blinded by his own problems he was failing his team. By the time Keiran finished, Riley looked very tired. His face was drawn and quiet, but his expression steady. His mind was made up.
"I understand." Riley's voice was calm, and his formerly quivering aura was now still, and shining true. "There's only one thing to do." The teal Espeon turned to glance up at the sun, then down at their specimens, then back to Keiran's pleading eyes. "You did good Keiran," he said softly, a small smile on his face. The expression in his eyes was tired, but it glowed with gentle pride and gratitude. "I'm afraid I'm going to need to ask more of you, so we can finish what we started," he added, quietly, after several long seconds had passed.
"I don't know how these things have to be prepared, but you do. Which means you can see to it that what we have here is unusable for its intended purpose." He glanced behind them, toward where they'd left the village. "I do know how to pass on a warning, though. And I think I'm best suited to that task. If you can deal with what's left here, and do what you can to prevent our client from enacting his plans, I can go back to the others and warn them, keep them safe from whatever he might be planning." Riley looked to Keiran again. "You'll need to tell me what to warn them of, but I will do it. I won't let them die on our behalf, you can trust me with that."
Ivilon spoke up at last, his analysis of the information complete. "I am yet inexperienced in these matters," he said, his voice wavering slightly. "However, I wish to assist where I am best suited, and I believe that to be alongside you, Keiran, if you will have me." The Beldum's eye betrayed his anxiety, but his voice grew stronger as he continued. "If you are to find the one who did this, you should have someone by your side. I am not Riley, but I am a capable ally in this environ. I believe, together, if we summon him in an opportune place, we would be able to keep him from returning to finish what he started. Or, if you wish to hunt down his territory, I believe we could locate it without raising undue suspicion. Whatever you feel is best, I will follow."
Throughout this whole conversation, Clive looked utterly stricken. The Vaporeon's ruff bristled, and he looked ready to crawl out of his skin at any moment. There was so much wrong with everything Keiran had said,
it was almost unthinkable. Clive was no stranger to evils, he'd been with MistMelody long enough to know the worst of them, but this was so mundane and so utterly cruel it made him sick. He stared across to the water,
its purple depths raising bile in his throat. The poison must have caused it,
surely. Normal Pokemon didn't develop such twisted plans of their own accord, right? No one could be so genuinely cruel of their own accord--no one. He didn't want to believe it possible, yet it nagged at the edge of his mind, nonetheless. "Legends..." he muttered, shaking his head dully, "Legends, why?"
Riley's ear twitched at the sound of Clive's voice, and he glanced back. "Clive?" The Espeon's voice called the Vaporeon back from his thoughts, and he raised his head. Riley gave him a small, sympathetic smile. "You'll come with me, won't you?" The Espeon glanced up at the sky again, this time staring at something no one else could see. "I could use the company."
Clive stared hard at Riley, sensing something stirring in the Psychic's mind. "Of course," he replied. "It makes sense right? We split into pairs, like before?" His voice was light but his thoughts were spinning. He had to keep Riley grounded; that was something he could do, and something that would help--even when nothing else felt real.
Riley nodded, looking back to the others. "My thoughts exactly," he said. The Espeon looked at his teammates proudly. "We're going to get through this, guys. I know, with your help, we can do this." Ivilon was struck by the sincerity of his leader's words, and the determination in his poise. When Riley finally looked to him, Ivilon felt awash in a glow of supportive thoughts and calm, and the feeling shook him to his core. This was it, wasn't it? This was what everyone saw in the Psychic, why he was so beloved by so many--he made you feel like you could do anything, without even trying. Ivilon sent supportive waves of Psychic in the Espeon's direction, and Riley shot him a smile of acknowledgement. "I think we're ready."
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon May 08, 2017 11:11 am
Keiran He could feel their terror, the way that guilt churned and settled in their stomachs like a living creature, how their grief choked at their throats and stole their breath. He remembered why assassins like him were never meant to be close with people. He also knew that this was the exact reason he could no longer take that path. ”Riley,” he croaked back. Any other words of gratitude, guilt, or apology seeming to die on his tongue. He could see the pride in the Espeon’s eyes and it burned him as much as it sent warmth bursting from his stomach.
Keiran felt like air could finally fill his lungs and he shivered as he tried to calm his shaking breaths. Riley was shaken, too, but there was hope in those eyes. He was exhausted, guilt-ridden and scared, but he was holding onto that glimmer of hope that Era had always inspired.
There was equal exhaustion in the Riolu’s expression as he straightened to meet Riley’s orders. His plan was simple and efficient. Were he in Riley’s place, he might have gone after Aric alone and left the others to divide between disposing of the poison and warning the villagers. Of course, were he in Riley’s place, his team might not have borne the weight of their actions with as much grace as they did. Keiran’s skills and knowledge on the subject were peerless among their team members, but he was near heartless in comparison to Riley. His determination and strength of character didn’t shine in an aura of vibrant colours and streaks of white and gold. The others would never see this, how the shadows that creeped at the edges of Riley’s aura could never suppress its own brilliance. Why even between Riley and Era, his loyalty would not falter.
-That might be more bias than he was willing to admit he possessed. Still, he had to find calm in this somehow. Riley had done so, and he would need his vice captain to help shoulder that burden.
The white and cloudy blue of Ivilon’s aura touched him, like a tentative caress of both support and reliance. He sought comfort as much as he offered to give it, but he seemed to gather in strength and will as he continued to speak. His sole eye bored into Keiran’s teal ones, and riding on the high of his captain’s determination he found that he could answer that gaze. ”If we can find a place that works to our advantage, we might be able to restrain him,” he considered, not even hesitating to bring Ivilon with him. He was the only one on their team who could locate and track the Quagsire without risk to himself, and his psychic abilities would be an invaluable asset. He’d certainly have argued against bringing Clive- the thought of the gold-hearted Vaporeon standing against a mass murderer was enough to make his skin crawl.
Hearing the subtle reassurances between Clive and Riley, he knew that their hearts were pained by all of this. They’d strode forward from battle to battle, at times up to their necks in despair, but anything could tip the delicate balance of emotions that would carry a soldier through their trials. Riley’s love and dependability, the warmth of innocent people toward Clive- these things were as much their weaknesses as they were their strengths.
He could give them instructions, offer his faith and know that they could uphold it, but there was little he could do. Once they parted ways they’d have to fend for themselves (as if that thought would bring him any comfort). ”Riley, you must tell the villagers the truth- they may have information of their own that will be useful to you. He-“ Keiran’s tone seemed to slip into something colder as he bit back the Quagsire’s name- ”-will most likely go after their water supply. Possibly food, medicine. Anything left unattended that the villagers might ingest is a vulnerability. Tie something around your mouth and nose- a scarf, bandana, bandages- anything that you can breathe through to keep poison out of your lungs. There’s nowhere safe to evacuate to, but get to higher ground if you can find it. Most airborne poisons would be denser than air, so lower ground is risky.” It bothered him to know this, but at least it was useful.
Riley’s eyes still held that defiant hope within them; however, and that required an answer all its own. He looked to his captain, drawing on as much of the Espeon’s courage as he could. ”I believe in you. I always have.” His voice was earnest as he echoed back to Riley his words of faith and support. ”We’ll do what we can here.”
The words seemed to hold too much finality to them, for any of the four standing there. Heart hurting as much as theirs, he abruptly reached out to both of the Eeveelutions and dragged their shoulders together against his face. He held them there for but a moment, memorizing their scent and the colours that burst in his mind’s eye as their auras washed over him in a tide of familiarity. As if he’d never see them again, or more accurately- as if they’d never see him. He’d never had anything to lose before. ”For star’s sake,” he murmured as he withdrew, ”be careful.”
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 3:51 pm
Riley & Ivilon "I understand." It was a simple and clear acknowledgement, accompanied by a gentle dip of the head. A small smile crept onto the Espeon's face in response to Keiran's encouragement--it seemed bashful, somehow, as though aware that it had no place on Riley's face during such a grave situation. "Thank you."
Clive bit his lip, forcing his tail to keep still instead of thrashing nervously. He took a breath and steadied himself, ignoring his erratic pulse. "You guys will do great," he said to Keiran, before turning to shoot a glance at Ivilon. Of all of them, the Beldum had the least experience with situations like this--at least, Clive expected as much. The thought stirred something in the Vaporeon's heart, and he recalled his first reunion with Riley--his introduction to MistMelody--and the feeling that came with knowing that lives hung in the balance with your every action. It was scary, and Ivilon would have been fully unprepared for it. Poor guy.
Before he could act on the thought, Clive found himself grabbed around the neck, pulled into a hug by a rough, careworn paw. The Vaporeon's eyes widened with surprise, but quickly softened at Keiran's words. Though he was surely trying to hide it, Clive felt the tremor in the Riolu's paw on his shoulder; the Water Type smiled and pressed his head into Keiran's dark fur, breathing in his scent. "Don't you worry your pretty little head," he murmured in his friend's ear. "Riles and I have gotten through worse than this. And so have you. We'll see you on the other side, yeah?"
To Keiran's other side, Riley wore a similar expression--first of surprise, then of tenderness. It wasn't often Keiran showed his more vulnerable side, not often at all. The air seemed to shimmer with the Riolu's anxiety, but Riley returned it with waves of unshakable faith and a veteran's calm. "Shhh..." He whispered, closing his eyes and leaning into Keiran supportively. He wrapped a paw around his partner's back to return the hug, and nuzzled him gently, first to the neck, then again beneath his chin. "Look at me, Keiran." When the Riolu withdrew, Riley raised a paw to his friend's head, lifting it so their eyes met again. "Whatever happens, I know you can handle it. Never forget to have faith." He smiled and lowered his paw, coming forward to give Keiran one more hug. "Take care. We'll do the same."
Clive turned his head, allowing Riley and Keiran their moment--any thought of jealousy absent from his mind. He spotted Ivilon, hovering to the side with his eye downcast, and trotted over to him. "Hey." The Vaporeon sat down beside his teammate. "I know it's...a lot to take in. Hell, none of us expected this either," he laughed softly. "Nothing really prepares you for the first time, or any time after, but it does get easier. Well... It doesn't get easier, but you have a better idea of how to handle yourself when it happens."
Clive looked up and found Ivilon's eye on him, and he was struck by how vulnerable the Steel Type looked. "I...do not know...how to make the right decisions in this scenario." The Beldum sounded worried, his voice low enough that the others wouldn't overhear. "How is it...that Riley is so calm? That you are able to be calm when you both face death? When it is possible we are too late?"
Clive exhaled. "Heavy questions, big guy," he said, his voice dropping as well. "I guess because... There are some things you just have to do." The Vaporeon glanced over to spot Riley and Keiran parting, and he rose to his paws. "I just wanted you to know it's going to be alright," he said, glancing up at the Beldum with a smile. "No matter what, got it? You're going to do great."
Riley came over to meet them, locking eyes with Clive for a moment before turning to Ivilon. "I'm sorry to put you under such stress your very first mission," the Espeon said, an apologetic smile on his face. "I know it's"--he exhaled, and his gaze was far away--"it's a lot." His eyes were soft when he looked back, and he stepped closer, staring up at his newest teammate. "Sorry I can't go with you, too. A leader should probably guide his new recruits through this sort of thing, and I can't even do that." He smiled sadly. "But, Ivilon, I want you to know that I don't need to." For a moment, the Beldum could have sworn his leader's eyes saw only him. "You've done so much already, I hardly deserve you. And I know you'll keep Keiran safe, and he'll look after you, too. I'm--I'm very honored to know you."
Ivilon felt something inside him shift, some stirring of pride and respect and awe that he'd never known before. "I will not let you down, Riley," he said, chiming softly and sending a pulse of calm out from the depths of his mind. "And, you should know, it is my honor." The Beldum dipped his head to the Espeon, who responded in kind, and then the spell was broken, as Riley turned to Clive and Ivilon to Keiran, who had since come up to join them. "Safe travels, my friends," Ivilon said, turning to face the Eeveelutions as he hovered to Keiran's side. "May the Light guide your paws." Riley and Clive were already off, but they waved their tails in response to the last farewells. Ivilon and Keiran watched them until they'd disappeared into the grasses beyond their view.
Ivilon turned to Keiran, determination shining in his gaze. There was no faltering now, they had to do their part. "There is time, yet, before he expects the rest of these ingredients." The Beldum turned his gaze to the parcels strewn across the ground. "What are your thoughts?"
~~~~~
"Riley?" They'd been walking silently, side by side, until the others were no longer there when they looked back, and longer still. They knew their path, following their own pawprints back the way they'd come. To the bridge, then to the village.
"Clive." Riley's voice caught and Clive felt his friend stop, his own paws already stilling instinctively. He looked over to Riley and saw the Espeon's too-bright eyes staring back at him. But Riley didn't look broken and defeated, not like earlier that day. Riley looked--
Clive thoughts were shattered as the Espeon stepped forward, brushing past him and circling back around until his head popped back up, nuzzling the ruff beneath his chin. The Water Type's cheeks burned red and he stared up at the sky, trying to remember how to breathe. It wasn't anything Riley hadn't done to Keiran, after all. It wasn't anything. A purr rumbled in Riley's throat,
and Clive felt his head spin. "Clive, thank you. I couldn't do this without you here with me." Clive didn't dare respond, but he dipped his head, trying to keep himself upright. Why now? Why did he have to be thinking of that sort of thing now? Riley stepped back, his expression clear and shining. "I just...needed that." Legends, the man was cruel. "No matter what we find, I'll have you with me; I know I'll be alright because of that."
Clive couldn't fight the words that bubbled to his throat. "Are you sure you're alright, Riley?" he forced them out, concern overtaking his less appropriate emotions. "You seem off. I mean, you seem like you--you seem like...wonderful--" Couldn't help that one, could you? he chastised himself. "But, uh... I don't know. I'm just worried. You need someone to look after you too, you know?" Real smooth. He hated how tongue-tied he got when it was like this.
Riley smiled, nodding. "I know." The Espeon seemed to be larger-than-life, though his words were those of a man who felt very small. "That's why I need you." Riley tilted his hat back, staring at Clive as though he were contemplating something. For a moment, the Vaporeon thought time had stopped, then Riley shook his head and broke their gaze to look forward again. "But we need to hurry. We can figure out what we need to do once we get to the bridge. When we see the village it'll help us know... Come on." The Espeon took off at a bound and Clive was on his tail in another moment. Lives were on the line, and there was no time to think about that look Riley had given him; that look Clive didn't dare to think was real.
Clive
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2017 7:09 am
Keiran ’Never forget to have faith.’ Clive and Riley both were overwhelming to him at times, their hushed words of support still ringing in his ears as the pair started back toward the bridge. This was going to need a good seven hours straight of meditation and self-reflection just to make sense of. They were bright, full of emotions and sun-lit laughter. He was reserved and guarded. And yet, they had a much better grasp on their emotions now than he did.
Ivilon’s voice chimed beside him, seeking guidance. Not emotional guidance, thankfully- the Beldum had long since realized that Keiran wasn’t much good for that- but a plan of action he could handle. Internally, he was an absolute mess, but at least he was an expert at masking the extent of the damage done. ”Believe it or not, our client likely had the right idea about that. The river water appears very damaging to plant life once the roots or external components have been exposed. We can’t risk burning it, and there’s no safe way to neutralize it all,” he replied, his voice stronger than he expected.
Cautious not to touch it with bare skin, he lifted a single lily stalk and tossed it lightly into the river water. It wilted, twisting in on itself as the fluid was immediately drained from within the flower. ”I rather doubt it can get any more polluted than it already is. Better here than in someone’s drinking water.” The corners of his mouth twisted down into a grimace, tearing his eyes off the flower to look at Ivilon. ”Let’s be rid of the rest of it and move on.”
“We’ll need to find a dry area to lure him to, if there’s any nearby. Giving him access to water won’t do us any favors in a fight,” he continued, speaking matter-of-factly as he quickly separated their samples from the glass containers. This kind of talk was calming for him. Tactics and planning were things he'd always done, things that he'd been trained for since he was a child. He wasn't worried about the fight so much as he was the consequences of getting it wrong. Was it strange to feel so? Riley certainly wouldn't beat him or forbid him to eat, or stars forbid- strangle him if he failed. Celeste would have. Why was failing his team so frightening now?
He shook the thoughts away and piled the plant matter on the edge of the river bank. It was likely easier to sort it by hand and push it into the river all at once. ”It just has to be close enough to the river than he’ll hear us calling,” -he paused for a moment, suppressing a grunt as he used aura to snap the stems of more intact samples- "but far enough that he'll have trouble using the river water as a weapon."
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