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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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 Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:11 am
Team Synchronicity's room, identified by a simple silver plaque on the door, is simple and comfortable in appearance. The main area of the room contains a low wooden table, with several floor cushions spaced around it for the seating of the team and their guests. Several lit candles adorn this table, for both lighting and their fresh scent. Just behind the table, large windows frame a set of cupboards, containing food and other items that are shared between teammates. A simple stone fireplace and surrounding mantle, used for heating the room on cold days, can be found on the right wall closest to the door, allowing the warmth to wash over visitors when they enter. In the far corner, a medium-sized pool can be found, ringed in with large flat stones perfectly sized for a small Pokemon to lounge upon: the pool's water is fresh and filtered constantly, allowing it to be useful for drinking, bathing, and the recreation of visiting Water Types. Between these two features is a reasonably large chest where Riley apparently keeps various supplies for his tricks; oddly enough however, if anyone other than the Espeon opens it, they'll find that there's nothing inside.
The left side of the room is divided by hanging curtains, providing privacy for the sleeping quarters. During the day, this curtain is often drawn open to accentuate the size of the room, as well as to let the warmth in. Each team member has their own bed, accompanied by a side table for their personal belongings.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:06 pm
Riley Riley made his way through the winding halls of the Guild, headed back to the room he'd been shown to earlier. After turning in his partner voucher, the Espeon was told that his partner had been instructed to meet him in their room, so he'd turned tail and headed back toward the hall where the Team Rooms were located. His trepidation from earlier was replaced with an anxious sort of eagerness that left a skip in his step as he wondered who would be waiting to greet him in their new home. The Psychic sensations from before made his fur prickle with anticipation as he recalled the aching familiarity of the voucher he'd turned in, and he was tempted to race through the halls so he could find their source as soon as possible. It was an entirely new experience for him to encounter that sort of mental feeling, and the curiosity was overwhelming: what sort of Pokemon would his partner be? They'd been elusive at the assignment desk, claiming that they weren't authorized to reveal any specifics about the Pokemon they'd interacted with. "Guildmaster's orders, sorry!" the Skiploom had told him, blushing as she cradled the daisy he'd produced for her. "I, um, bet you'll get along well though," she'd added surreptitiously, as though she might get caught, "Your partner seemed really nice." That was all the more he could coax out of her though, the rest she insisted he find out for himself.
Now, as he approached the door the Espeon felt a burst of excitement swell up in his chest. It was new and surprising, this feeling of meeting the person who would become his partner, and the sheer giddiness of it made any sort of fear melt away. A grin upon his face, Riley turned the handle and made his way through the door, sweeping into the room with all the presence of a practiced showman. "Hello?" He spoke out into the room, eyes shining as they looked around, seeking any sign of his partner. A shadow caught his eye and he turned, beaming, to face it. "There you are! My name's Ri...ley..." As his eyes focused on the other Pokemon he faltered, staring in surprise at the figure before him. "No way..." he breathed, expression torn between delighted surprise and utter disbelief. For once, the magician was at a loss for words.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:29 pm
 KeiranKeiran blinked, the charcoal-furred Riolu standing by the table with a lit candle in his paws. He simply stared at his new team captain, unsure of how to process this moment. He wasn't sure if the Espeon in the doorway was happy to see him or not, but he was very confused. He'd gotten hints that his captain was supposed to be a female, but this was much better.
The Riolu tossed the candle lightly onto the table, his aura settling it perfectly into place with the others, and he grinned at his old friend.
"You're my new captain?" He hoped it was true- he'd heard from Era that Riley had gone to the guilds, but he hadn't expected to be placed on the same team. "I hadn't expected to find you that easily, Riley- I didn't even start looking, yet."
The Riolu's tail was wagging, a rare sight on the normally calm and withdrawn Pokemon. He just felt so happy. Not only was he freed of awkward or troublesome team relations with a new captain, he also had his new family around him. Though, he supposed that Era and Ethfael might hear about where he had gone a little sooner than planned. Ignoring the twinge of guilt, he gestured to the rest of their room.
"Is all this ours?" That was another thing. There were so many things in this room. He knew they didn't technically belong to him, but this was far better than the floor mat he'd had in the guilds before.
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:08 pm
Riley Riley's eyes followed the candle as it righted itself on the table, glowing with the Riolu's familiar aura. It was Keiran, by the Legends, it was really him! The Espeon's expression broke into a brilliant smile as he heard the sound of his new partner's voice and his tail swished from side to side like his companion's eyes watering with nostalgia: now he knew he'd chosen his voucher correctly. "Keiran!" The Psychic spoke his friend's name with utter delight, heart bursting with emotion, "It's really you!" He wouldn't be going into this alone after all, somewhere along the way his overdue luck must have finally caught up with him. He stared at the Riolu for a long moment, soaking in the moment until his companion broke the silence. The sound of the familiar voice overwhelmed the Espeon to the point that couldn't contain his joy any longer. In an instant he had bounded over to Keiran and pressed himself against his friend affectionately, in the quadrupedal version of a hug. "I can't believe you're here!"
Taking a seat in front of his partner, Riley watched him with child-like excitement. "Yes, the whole place is ours," the Espeon said, chuckling at Keiran's amazement, "It might be a little on the small side, but we work with what we get, right?" The Guild had been quick to respond to his furnishing requests--they'd appeared overnight--but he hadn't quite put the finishing touches on everything yet. Still, it wasn't a bad place by any means, and with Keiran here it almost felt like home. "I guess we're official teammates now," the Espeon said cheerfully, "How great is that? It's almost like--" Riley paused, unable to complete his sentence, but brushed past it quickly; there was no need to trouble Keiran with things that he shouldn't be worrying about. "But how have you been?" he continued, changing the subject without missing a beat. "I never expected to find you here--and as my co-captain nonetheless!" It was really incredible. This sort of coincidence was nothing short of magic.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:32 pm
KeiranKeiran brightened, accepting the quadrupedal hug with delight. The warm reception was something he never got used to, especially with how welcomed it made him feel. It was like stepping into the sun after years of rain and darkness.
"I could say the same for you!" he replied, pressing his forehead against Riley's shoulder as he hugged him in return.
The Riolu settled next to his friend on the pillows by the table, his tail still wagging as he listened. Nodding, he struggled to comprehend how much his life had changed since the last time that he'd been a guild member. He had a dear friend for a partner, and a safe, comfortable place to live. It was nothing new, after years with Era and Ethfael, but it felt like such freedom to be starting over with an equal. Riley wasn't just his captain- he was one of the MistMelody team members who had truly treated him as a person.
"It's wonderful," he agreed breathlessly, his eyes shining with a silent happiness. "I knew I wanted to come back, to make something of myself, but I didn't imagine that you'd be here when I did. Or... I suppose that's a white lie."
He hesitated awkwardly, the smile faltering a little as he turned to light the final candle with the flame from the others. "When Ethfael and I came home one evening, I sensed your aura and thought you were visiting. When Era said you'd already gone, I guess I made up my mind, then. She wouldn't tell me where, but I figured it out from her expression. I waited a few days before I told them I was leaving."
Keiran smiled again, playing with the remainder of the candle light in his paws. It wouldn't burn him, so long as he was careful. "I hoped that I'd find you, but I didn't expect to be made your partner. I was actually quite nervous about my partner assignment, in all honesty- I was a little concerned that I might end up with a second Celeste, however unlikely it seems."
"I'm glad you're with me, Riley. It's because of you that I'm strong, and you being here... it makes me feel like I made the right choice."
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 11:31 am
Riley Riley listened attentively to Keiran's tale, doing his best to ignore the way his heart twinged at the sound of his former captains' names. Even though he'd been one of the first to set off on his own, it had never been easy. His heart was in his magic yes, but also with his teammates; they'd always have more of a hold on the Espeon than anyone else--they'd been through too much together for it to be any other way. "Ah, she'd mentioned you'd gone out, yeah," Riley said with a nod, "I wasn't trying to keep it a secret or anything, but I had to head off. Clive was waiting for me." His stomach clenched with guilt as he recalled the look on Era's face yet again, and he sighed, wondering if Keiran had experienced something similar. "I can't say I'm too surprised she didn't tell you, not after how hard she took it. But I guess I should've expected you'd figure it out on your own." He smiled slightly, "I would've waited for you if I knew you planned on coming here too."
Admittedly, Riley was a bit surprised by the Riolu's choice, particularly because of the very reason he'd stated: his old partner had been horrible. In Keiran's place, the Espeon doubted he'd have had the courage to go back and take that chance again--there were just too many bad memories to overcome. Still, he was glad for it, and couldn't help but smile at his partner's words, feeling their warmth wash over him. "You're strong all on your own Keiran," he said lightly, with a knowing look in the Riolu's direction, "You made it this far not knowing what was waiting for you here, and look where it got us!" The Psychic gestured grandly to the room around them, still grinning. "Partners, ready to take on the world again with nothing to stand in our way." He tapped his hat thoughtfully and blinked in exaggerated surprise as the bow he'd collected for the Guildmaster appeared in his paw when he lowered it again. Dropping the facade, he chuckled, extending the fabric to Keiran delightedly. "I got this for completing Veilmys' first mission. Apparently it's a sign of our acceptance into the Guild." Pressing the bow into his partner's paw he met the Riolu's eyes. "I think you should have it. A sign of our new partnership, you know?" The Espeon's eyes shone with a mischievous twinkle as he regarded Keiran closely. "Besides, what sort of magician's assistant doesn't have some sort of signature?"((I've deliberately not mentioned any specifics about the bow up to this point, so feel free to make it whatever color/size/etc you like~))
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 1:19 pm
KeiranKeiran smiled in return, feeling genuinely close to his friend at this moment. It was a rare moment of heartfelt sincerity, although the two were certainly friendly with each other on a normal day. He ducked his head at the praise, sheepish for how heavily-weighted those words were.
Then, his eyes glimmered in amusement at the extravagant gesture around the room. They did indeed have a lot of new space all to themselves, and there was a lot of excitement ahead of them. Sure, there was also a great deal of responsibility, but it was still a very fresh prospect for the Riolu. He would truly get to work as a member of the guilds, and sooner or later he would be able to take his first mission. He and Riley had quite a future ahead of them, here.
"Take on the world, indeed. We shall see if there's a Pokemon who could stand against the two of us," he chuckled, refreshed by his younger partner's enthusiasm. He often forgot that he was the older of the two, with how strong-willed and confident Riley was.
Then, he felt Riley press a soft, silken ribbon into his paws. The explanation was something he'd already known, as he had also been subject to a similar test, but the gesture of being given the hard-earned garment was touching.
"Thank you," he murmured, genuinely lost for words for a brief moment as he ran a paw gentle across the surface. He'd left behind a lot when he'd left Era and the others- though perhaps not as much in material possessions, but it felt right to have something to remind him of his family.
The Espeon's joke cut through the quiet thoughts, and Keiran chuckled again, trying to picture his awkward self taking part in a magician's act. They'd only have to try it once before Riley figured out how effective that would be. "I suppose, then, if I'm to be an assistant- I should wear a bowtie."
He carefully tied it into place around his arm, tucking in the ends until it formed a blue band up to his shoulder. He hoped it seemed acceptable- it was hard to tell how it would look without a mirror, and he couldn't fathom another way to wear it.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:28 am
Riley "They won't stand a chance," Riley said in cheerful response to Keiran's musing. It was all too easy to underestimate Pokemon like them, a performer and an unevolved adult, but that only contributed to their cause--the element of surprise was something that wasn't just an advantage, but an ace in the hole if you used it correctly. Not only that, but teamwork already came easily to them; it was as natural as breathing after they'd worked under the same leaders for so long. Yes, they'd be quite the force to be reckoned with, there was no question. Working like this, it should be easy to demonstrate to the younger members what a veteran Team should look like. And maybe, if they gave it all they could...
Prompted back to the present by Keiran's movement, Riley watched him tied the bow around his arm approvingly. "It suits you!" he remarked, "I always knew that a bit of color would look good on you." It was somewhat amusing to see the way it stood out against the Riolu's gray fur after so many years of seeing it unadorned, but the Espeon found that he liked it. The color was striking, bringing out the blue of his eyes in a way that made them seem more expressive, almost like the bow had been meant for Keiran all along. He smiled at the thought, musing over the concept of coincidence and fate--just which of them applied to this situation? "Now you really look like a Guild member!" he said proudly, looking his partner up and down with a grin. "And a dapper assistant nonetheless! It'd be my honor to share the stage with you." He winked and rose to his paws, brushing past the Riolu as he made his way over to the chest in the corner of the room.
"So, blue and black and gold then..." he murmured, opening the chest and beginning to rummage through it's contents, "I can work with a color scheme like that." Removing his hat, Riley began the process of sorting and examining various objects searching taking stock of what sort of objects he had that fit the pattern. "What sort of gold suits you Keiran? For future reference I mean." Naturally he didn't expect his partner to be in costume at all times, but eventually there might be some need for it. But what sort of golden trinket would suit the dark-furred Riolu...? His paw froze as the memory of golden wings ambushed him suddenly, causing him to flinch; no matter how he tried, he was unable to shake the thought. "...Hey. How did they take it by the way?" It didn't need to be said who he was talking about, nor which of them held his particular interest.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 10:20 am
KeiranKeiran grinned, a little embarrassed by the compliment, but still much more relaxed than he might have been years ago. Riley wasn't one to give out a compliment without truly meaning it. He knew this from experience. That also meant that his words were something he could genuinely take to heart. A flicker of forgotten pride stirred in his belly.
His ears twitched, however, as the topic of gold was announced. "Gold? I don't know much about it, I'm afraid. Gold was never something we wore, back in the clan," after years of somewhat restorative happiness with Era and the others, it was a little easier to talk about. "High ranks might have worn it for ceremonies. I assume this is for your magic acts?"
The Riolu stopped, hearing the hitch in his friend's breathing. His aura felt darker, moodier. He was contemplating something painful, it seemed. As Riley asked about home, Keiran hesitated.
"Era... took it a little hard when you left. She seemed more frustrated than anything." His voice was soft, as though speaking more loudly might hurt more to say it. "I think she understands, but it's not something she can come to terms with, yet. There's a lot of hurt for her, in what the guilds did, but I don't think she blames you, Riley. She cares far too much about you and the others."
"As for me, I didn't tell them where I was going. I couldn't bring myself to do it- I just told them that I wanted to see the world." He sounded guilty as he spoke, knowing that he was clearly hiding the truth from the Pokemon that had taken him in for so many years. They would understand some day, but for now he would have to live with the consequences of his lie. "I don't know if they would suspect I'd return or not- after Celeste, they probably wouldn't expect me to rejoin an organized group at all."
His voice had dropped nearly to a whisper, feeling a hole of regret quickly surpass the glimmer of pride from before. He did miss his family, his home. That was who Team MistMelody had become for him. They'd supported him, perhaps even loved him, and yet he'd still walked away from it all on a risky gamble with the guilds. His fur prickled with unease at the thought.
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:18 pm
Riley The Espeon stood perfectly still as he listened to his partner's explanation, scarcely daring to breathe at the mention of Era's name. She cared then: she was thinking about him even though they had parted on bittersweet terms. It soothed something deep within him to hear Keiran's words, setting his mind a little more at ease than it had been since he'd left her behind. Riley trusted the Riolu's observations since they were inevitably influenced by his interpretations of aura--a gauge of emotion that no Pokemon could hide from those who sensed it; he had no reason to doubt Keiran or to expect Era would hide anything from one of their own, but this way he knew that no irreparable harm had been done. Still, he didn't turn, didn't breathe, until the Riolu had turned the subject to his own experience. Only then was the moment broken, and the past wrenched from his grasp once more.
The Espeon's heart went out to his partner when he heard the guilt in Keiran's words, and his thoughts collected themselves enough for him to attend to the matter at hand. His troubles were nothing compared to those of the ones he cared about, and Keiran needed the Riley who could assume control of the uncertain future--not the jaded, doubt-plagued Riley of the past few minutes. "Aw, don't sound like that..." he said, leaving his props behind in favor of approaching his friend again. "You haven't done anything wrong. I wouldn't want to say anything either if...if she was taking it as hard as you say. Besides, it's like you said: she cares too much about us to ever really be upset." Riley watched Keiran with sympathetic eyes, the pain of his partner all too familiar to him. "Listen," he said, placing a paw on the Riolu's shoulder, "Remember what we agreed to the first time we split up? We're a Team, above all else. No matter where we are or what we do, we're still family, and we'll always"--the Espeon faltered as he choked on his words, too full of emotion to finish the sentence at first--"we'll always be there for each other."
Just say the word and we'll come running! Her voice echoed in his ears unbidden, as it always did, but this time it gave him strength. No matter what you need, even if you're only looking for a friend, we'll all be there. She'd said those words with a tearful smile on that day, when so many of them had set out on different paths, but they still held true throughout the years. There was nothing that could come between the members of Team MistMelody--that was something that he had to believe in.
Blinking back the moisture from his eyes, Riley patted Keiran gently on the shoulder and offered a smile. "I bet they were proud of you," he said gently, "Even if they knew you were coming to the Guild, I think they'd still be proud of you. It's not easy to walk on your own, away from all the things you know and love." He smiled wistfully, thinking fondly of how much Keiran had grown over the years. "I think that the best any of us can do is to pursue the things that we believe in," he said, "It's never the same thing between two people, but that's a good thing--it allows us to learn from one another, and help each other achieve our goals. You said that you wanted to come back so you could make something of yourself, and that's just as admirable a goal as any of them. In the end, I think it seems so hard because we all just want everyone to be happy." Riley paused thoughtfully, tail flicking back and forth. "And I think we're all on the right paths to doing that," he said after a moment, a soft smile on his face as his mind began churning with thoughts of the future.
"At the very least, you and I just had the happiest coincidence of our lives," the Espeon said cheerfully, easing the conversation back to less intense matters. "We shouldn't be worrying about things we can't control, we should be celebrating our new partnership!" Eyes brightening, Riley watched Keiran for a reaction, excitement tugging at his paws. "What do you say Keiran? What should our first act as partners be?"
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 9:49 pm
KeiranKeiran felt a lump form in his throat as Riley placed a comforting paw on his shoulder. His world for the moment was found in the comfort of his captain’s words, and in the realization that Riley was right. They were family, something which the Riolu could never even have considered before he met their team.
They would be there for him. Every last one of them would reach out to him if he truly needed them, and that faith was not something easily lost on someone who had never before held such bonds with other Pokemon.
He could feel Riley’s aura shift as the somber mood began to lift from them, but he knew that the Espeon was struggling not to cry. The Riolu instinctively moved to hug him, but paused when he felt a gentle paw patting his shoulder again. The Espeon’s words rang true to him, and he knew that his captain was speaking as much from the heart as Era would. The pride and affection that swelled in Riley’s words were finally enough to break the sobered expression on his face.
A watery smile formed on the Riolu’s face, and he rubbed the tears away from his eyes as Riley finished speaking. He had not taken himself for the sort to cry on a regular basis, but it seemed that their family had a way of bringing out the best in themselves… and in him. They loved him, to the point that they were actually proud of him. The thought was astounding to him, and he found himself stirred by Riley’s words in a way that seemed to solidify the remains of the warmth and pride that still clung to his heart. He was not alone. As long as he treasured the bonds between himself, Riley, and the rest of their family, he never would be.
Keiran’s smile was very real as the conversation eased back into less sensitive territory. He could feel the excitement that burned in his friend’s soul, and the refreshed delight at their unexpected reunion. ”A celebration? That seems like a wonderful idea to me,” he agreed. Riley’s excitement was contagious, and he could feel the brightening of emotions within himself as much as within his friend. ”How about we find something to eat? You still like cake, right?”
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 7:47 pm
Riley Riley leaned into his partner for the hug that he'd been offered, feeling more capable of handling the physical contact now that he'd come to terms with his own emotions. His speech from before had stirred something deep within him, that touch of inspiration that he sometimes forgot about when he trapped himself in his own mental prison: the day that the magician learned to escape them for good would be the day that he could do anything. For now it was enough to overcome it--he took these things in pawsteps, something he'd learned to do over the years since his first (and worst) mental break. As he allowed the comforting presence of Keiran to sink in, and came to accept the presence of his friend as something that wasn't going to go away anytime soon, the Espeon made up his mind to never lose his spark around the Riolu again. The last thing Riley wanted was to bring someone else down with him when he was feeling low, and Keiran was so susceptible to emotions that there was no avoiding it otherwise. With any luck though, it wouldn't be a problem: there was so much to look forward to in their future that he could devote himself to that, and it would be enough.
The Espeon grinned in response to his partner's smile, ears twitching with amusement. "Well of course," Riley purred, eyes dancing with their usual sparkle, "Have you forgotten already?" Stepping back, the Psychic flicked his tail to make his cape flare dramatically behind him, a smirk on his face. "I'm Riley: magician without peer and baker extraordinaire!" He stared at Keiran mischievously, adjusting his hat to a jaunty angle. "I hope you haven't forgotten how to bake." Lowering his paw, the Espeon opened it and blew on its contents, causing a puff of flour to cascade over the dark-furred Riolu before him. Era had taught them all to bake over the years, and they'd gotten fairly good at it, but Riley had never been able to resist making a mess of the flour; it was a marvelous and relatively harmless way to tease his friends, and he didn't mind being on the receiving end--the sight of flour stains in his fur and on his garments was always a great conversation starter.
Making his way over to his chest, Riley tossed the extraneous objects into its depths and closed it, smiling at the satisfying click it made when it shut. Turning back to his flour-dusted friend, the magician smiled. "I'm ready whenever you are."[ / end ]
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:14 pm
Ivilon Ivilon had awoken early the morning after his acceptance into Team Synchronicity's ranks, prepared for whatever work might be expected of him in regard to his new position. The Beldum had no idea what to expect from Guild work, so he was prepared for absolutely anything that might come his way, or so he'd thought. The night before his new captain had been out of sorts, and he and Keiran had spent a number of hours after the mission was completed keeping him company as he insisted on laundering his outfit before retiring for the evening. Eventually however, their Leader had dismissed them, insisting that they get some sleep and he would head to bed shortly, but that wasn't the case; when Ivilon had awoken and attempted to report to Riley he'd immediately noticed the obvious absence of the Espeon's Psychic energy. There were no residual signs of it either--he'd left some time ago and had yet to return. Somewhat disheartened, the Beldum returned to the curtained sleeping area, uncertain of what to do in the meantime. He sensed that Keiran, at least, was still with him, and his energy was enough that Ivilon knew him to be conscious as well; he was considering going to the Riolu, who Riley had insisted was second in command, but just as he'd made up his mind the presence of their Leader swept into the room, accompanied by the soft click of the door handle that seemed muted in comparison.
Immediately Ivilon turned to head into the main room, but the clouds that he sensed in the Espeon's emotions immediately brought him to a halt, and he froze in place, seeing with his Psychic instead of his eyes. Riley's feelings weren't the same as the night before: then he had been clearly shaken in his faith, now he was radiating confusion enough to make Ivilon's head spin. From his curtained resting place, the Beldum followed the movement of the emotional whirlwind that accompanied his Leader--from fear to discontentment, to bitterness, to bewilderment, round and around again. The Beldum felt sympathetic pains twinge in his mind as he resisted the urge to send a pulse of Calm Mind out to his Leader, knowing that Riley was hoping very strongly not to be approached by either of them. He left in a matter of minutes, all of his movement very quiet if not for the chaos of emotions he dragged with him, and Ivilon wondered how his Leader didn't suffocate under the weight of his feelings if this happened so frequently. One of the Espeon's better qualities was his emotional nature, Ivilon had sensed that when they first met, but perhaps that was one of his worst qualities as well.
The Beldum waited another minute or so out of caution and respect before making his way out into the main area of the room, eye fixed on the door ahead of him. That such intense emotions were crippling his Leader twice in as many days was concerning--particularly since Keiran would doubtlessly be affected by such things as well: Riolu were deeply sensitive creatures, given their capacity to read aura, which meant that he was doubtless hurting right now as well. Clearing his throat, Ivilon turned around to face the curtained off area where he knew Keiran to be, certain that the Riolu had observed everything much as he had. "Keiran?" the Beldum said, his tone soft and calm as he waited for his secondary Leader to come join him. "Are you quite alright?" The Psychic hovered patiently, waiting for the Riolu to join him and respond to his question before he continued. "I regret the forward nature of the request I am to make, but I feel that there are some things I must be made aware of about our mutual friend."
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:10 pm
KeiranKeiran sat still within the boundaries of his sleeping quarters, the dark blue curtains holding back the light of early morning and separating him from the world. He focused entirely on his breathing and his aura, allowing his physical form to relax as the strength of his meditative state increased. It was a well-practiced ritual for Keiran, giving him the strength of spirit and the calmness of mind to reflect on how he felt and what he intended to accomplish over the course of the day.
This morning; however, he did not focus on himself. He could sense Ivilon resting behind his own curtain, clearly awake. He could feel a sense of acknowledgement in the Beldum’s aura, and felt that his own presence had in turn been accounted for despite the worry and confusion that seemed to cloud the psychic’s mind. Riley was still away from home, and the missing presence of the captain had created a clear gap within their team.
A soft click could be heard, and Keiran’s eyes were abruptly open. He rose silently to his feet, listening as Riley stepped into the room. There was a shuffle of papers, perhaps writing a note, and a series of gasping breaths. Keiran cringed, feeling the Espeon’s chaotic aura wash over him. The normally rich and friendly emotions his captain brought forth had been replaced by something as intensely painful as losing a limb. There were few things that could cause such a whirlwind of emotion in Riley, and most of them began and ended with Era.
The Riolu’s head throbbed painfully in response, as if hurting in solidarity for his friend and captain. Keiran closed off his aura all at once, barring it from his mind as he stood with shaking paws to wait for his captain to leave.
The Riolu swept his curtains aside within moments of hearing the door shut again, stepping into the waking world to greet the concerned voice of his teammate. Ivilon was hovering before him, the Beldum’s singular golden eye blinking rapidly as he processed the situation. Having little in the way of physical posture or expressions to judge by, Keiran relented and allowed the Beldum’s aura to wash over him again. He was certainly concerned, it seemed, as well as confused. At least there was no panic or truly intense emotions for Keiran to deal with, as his head still ached from the force of Riley’s aura.
”I’ll be alright, Ivilon. I appreciate the concern,” he replied quietly, offering him a half-hearted smile. He was sincere in his gratitude, but it was difficult to smile given the context. Regardless, he had suffered much more painful things than a headache in his lifetime.
He waited, unsurprised by the Beldum’s request for information. He sighed, gesturing for Ivilon to seat himself, or hover in the general area of, at the table. Keiran himself was already walking toward it, lifting the note with a gentle burst of aura and catching it with a graceful paw. Apparently Riley would be out for a little longer, though the remaining aura that stained his note was still strong enough to make his vision blur at the edges. He promptly set it back on the table, allowing Ivilon to read it if he chose.
”It seems that Riley will be out for the morning, likely to try and fit his head together,” he admitted, figuring that it would just be insulting to pretend that they hadn’t both shared that wave of pain from the captain. Keiran steadied his shaking paws, moving to fill the kettle for his morning tea. ”Do you drink tea, Ivilon?”
He waited briefly for the Beldum’s response before he moved on, absently gathering a collection of herbs and spices to brew his tea with. ”I assume that you’re familiar with the idea that this guild is not the first of its kind?” Keiran began, his gaze flickering to his teammate as he settled down onto one of the cushions at the table. ”Riley and I both worked in the old guilds, albeit for different teams. Riley’s team, MistMelody, was a champion-ranked rescue team. They were quite well-known, particularly for the open compassion of their team captain. Era is a lovely person, as I’m sure you’ve guessed already, but her relationship with Riley is… unfortunately quite strained at the moment.”
The Riolu took a steadying breath, wishing that the throbbing in his temples would subside. Tea would help, if the water would finish boiling quickly enough. ”I can only guess at the actual circumstances, but I imagine something has happened with Riley that renewed the emotional strain of that relationship. Such a circumstance is the only time that I have sensed such strong feelings from him.”
There was a moment of silence as Keiran extended an arm, taking an orange from the bowl of fruit in the center of the table. Despite the seriousness of the conversation, he still felt the need to continue his morning routine. He sliced it cleanly in half with a force palm and plucked out one of the sections, enjoying the tartness of the citrus as he chewed.
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Dark_Hunter-Angelic_Tears Crew
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:29 pm
Ivilon "I certainly hope that to be true," the Beldum returned to Keiran's reassurance. While the Riolu might at some point be alright he certainly wasn't alright at this instant, and it was no wonder. While he knew that Riley surely couldn't have hoped to cause any harm to his Teammates it was quite the surprise to know that a Psychic could be so careless about the force of his emotions. Of course, there had been something rather strange about the nature of his new captain's Psychic, something undernourished and neglected about it that suggested it was less developed than that of most Psychics, particularly most Psychics of Pokemon who were Riley's age. He did not know when the Espeon had evolved, but it couldn't have been less than a year ago--Riley was far too comfortable with his body for that to be true--why was it then that his Psychic was so untouched? Surely most former Eevee were eager to explore the new abilities they obtained upon evolution, and Riley had seemed so spirited and cheerful that it was difficult to imagine him being otherwise. Hopefully Keiran would be able to answer such queries for him, since his two captains had such history that the Beldum doubted such an obvious thing would have escaped the Riolu's notice.
Following behind as Keiran beckoned him to the table, Ivilon proceeded to hover at its side as he was bidden. When the Riolu replaced the note, it began to glow with the distinctive silvery-white Psychic of the Beldum as he drew it closer to read what was already being told to him. "...Hm." Ivilon assented at Keiran's explanation, aware of the Riolu's remaining discomfort from their shared experience. He too retained a touch of a headache, but he doubted it was anything compared to his companion's pain; the Riolu's paws still shook with aftershock from the emotional assault, enough that he couldn't move the kettle for a moment. Immediately Ivilon felt a burst of empathy wash over him, and his gaze softened as he looked at his second captain's back. I could find some use in the cathartic taste of tea on this particular morning." Simple tasks helped to soothe the spirit and ease mental stress, even as simple as pouring an extra cup of tea.
After that Ivilon fell utterly silent, perhaps unnervingly so since he didn't even need to breathe as he listened to the explanation Keiran began for him. So they had worked for the Guild before, back when it was multiple Guilds instead of the unified product that existed now, and they had been close enough then to come back and form a new Team together with one another. The Beldum briefly wondered what had happened to Keiran's former Team, since they were left out of the explanation, but seeing as that question detracted from the topic at hand he placed it aside for later. So Riley was currently at odds with his former captain: that was easily enough to explain the terrible doubt that had pervaded his emotions ever since the mission. What it wasn't enough to explain was why the emotions were so present and so powerful. Unless he was terribly mistaken, it sounded like this Era was removed from their current situation right now, so Riley's return with such poignant and present emotions was rather unlikely. He should have possessed all the same emotions before he'd left if that were the case, but these were new ones stained with a pain that was practically indescribable. What could have happened over a matter of hours to change and strengthen the cycle of emotions he was feeling? Clearly there was something he was missing, but whether it was something Keiran wasn't telling him or something that he'd missed in Riley's demeanor was still unknown.
"She does sound like quite the pleasant person," Ivilon agreed, gathering that this Era was quite the important figure from the way Keiran spoke of her. Perhaps he would be able to meet her himself at some point. "But someone like that--I do not doubt what you say of her is true--but I am left to wonder how someone so renowned for their compassion and someone as good-spirited as Riley might be at odds with one another. If Era and Riley were once former Teammates I would imagine they possess an intimate understanding of one another, and the closeness of years of cooperation. All this leads me to believe that they should have maintained such closeness over the years. What quarrel would be able to divide them? It is clear it has taken quite the toll on Riley, and I am quite sure even the most callous of persons shouldn't wish his level of anguish upon any less than their worst enemy. A compassionate person like Era, how could she bear it? Unless she does not know?" That was a possibility, that Riley had kept the matter a secret from his former captain, and yet it was remarkable--how did one hide such volatile emotions from anyone but the blind?
Staring at Keiran with concern deep within his golden gaze, the Beldum pondered his next words carefully. "...You may stop me if I tread too far into something of privacy, know this now, but I have another question. How is it that you two came to form a Team but Riley's former Teammates did not accompany you in your endeavor?" It was possible some of them had lost interest, grown too old, even died; Ivilon didn't know what was true, but he did know it was one of the things he had to understand as a member of this Team. There were too many heavy, unspoken understandings held between his captains and by each of them individually: if he didn't begin to learn them now he would never be able to function in tandem with his captains, not in the way that an effective member should be able to function. Groups of Beldum functioned through complete understanding of one another, sharing their entire selves with their companions telepathically; while Ivilon had never experienced that himself, the instinct was there and it was strong--to work effectively with others you had to understand them like you understood yourself. It was clear he would have to work very hard to understand his new partners, but he would put his whole self into it and nothing less: he'd committed to this Team, so he would do whatever it took.
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