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 Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:51 pm
Client Quagsire  "I need some help retrieving some very... specific samples from the Toxic Swamp. Is there anyone willing to help?" Location: Toxic Swamp Floors: 14 Rewards: ??? TM + ??? + ???
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:52 pm
Keiran Keiran stepped quietly through the door to their living room, a large stack of papers cradled in his arms. He shuffled awkwardly around the edge of the door and reached out with a foot to nudge the door shut. Such things as doors and paperwork were too heavy to be shifted with aura, and the files in his arms were not the sort for him to focus his aura on regardless.
The Riolu made his way to the table, dropping the mission files onto the table. He didn’t need to call for his teammates, provided that they were home. Ivilon would easily sense his presence, and Riley had been expecting him back all afternoon. As a team, they’d been training hard in preparation for the coming mission, and now they finally had the clearance to get back on the field.
He easily suppressed his excitement, realizing that Riley and Ivilon had never seen him truly fighting. He would have to be careful about the sort of techniques he used, given the nature of their work. Killing was generally only acceptable for mercenary teams, unless it was unavoidable or accidental. He didn’t want to be the one to slip up, not with his work history.
He settled down onto one of the cushions, pulling the stack of papers closer to him and sorting through some of the more intriguing requests. As an exploration team, urgency was not a common factor in their work. He was able to prioritize the missions he’d like to undertake, rather than focus on the people who needed his help the most. The Riolu cringed at the idea of rescue work, feeling very much as though he’d end up struggling if he had to choose between two Pokemon who both needed help at the same time.
Finally, one stood out to the quiet fighting-type. His paws skimmed the edge of the file, the mission request stapled to the front. Samples? It wasn’t that unusual a request, but something in the client’s writing made him uneasy. He could sense the faint aura that stained the handwriting, as manic and unsteady as the words themselves. Something was wrong here.
”…Riley?” he questioned, already aware of the Espeon who now stood behind him. ”Could you take a look at this for me?” His eyes were darkened with suspicion, and the glance quickly shifted to Ivilon as the Beldum joined his captains. He held out the file to the two psychics, hoping that he might catch a glimmer of unease in their reactions. He wanted to confirm something.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:52 pm
Riley & Ivilon Riley and Ivilon were chatting idly as they awaited Keiran's return, the magician explaining the concept of his most recent trick to the interested Beldum. "...The idea is that most people can't see what's right in front of them. You leave the object sitting up on stage where everyone can see it and make it into something else when they won't notice. They're shocked every time because they think they've had their eyes on it the whole show and you've never been close enough to change anything, but really they've been paying less attention than they've thought. What's really fun is when you mix some mind reading into it and put the answer to a personal question that you'll ask them later in the show: the looks on their faces are priceless!"
"And you can truly do such things?"
"Can and do, about every other performance! It's a crowd favorite, because they can never figure out how it's done. Regulars try their best to come up with particularly obscure or tricky answers, but I've always got whatever they say ready to read right back to them." Riley chuckled. "You should come sometime. It's practically a crime that you're on my Team and haven't been to a show yet."
Ivilon blinked with surprise. "It is not that I have been avoiding your performances, I just have been unaware of their times. If you would inform me in advance--"
"Oh, don't worry about it," The Espeon shook his head, thoroughly amused, "I know you'll get around to it sometime, I'm just teasing you." His tail swayed back and forth gently as he smiled at his Beldum companion. "Don't be so tense: it's just another usual day, but we'll have a job to go with it."
If Beldum could have blushed, Ivilon would have shone a delicate shade of crimson, but as it was he simply looked down in embarrassment. "Forgive me," he murmured softly, "I am simply hopeful that I will be able to make you and Keiran proud on this day. I intend to prove myself a worthy member of your Team with my contributions."
Riley shook his head again, placing a gentle paw to rest atop the Beldum's head and staring him straight in the eye with a fondness in his gaze. "You don't have to prove yourself to us at all," the Espeon said reassuringly, "Keiran and I both see all that you do for us every day and we know how committed you are from that. I wouldn't have let you join the Team if I didn't believe that you would be a good member, and the same goes for my partner. You don't have to worry about showing us your worth because it's easy to see no matter what you do. Your only job today is to come along with us and assist in any way you can--just having you there with us is enough." Once again Ivilon glanced downward in embarrassment and once again Riley grinned at his newest Teammate, and at that moment Keiran reappeared, his paws filled with papers. "Look who's back!" Riley said delightedly, giving the door an extra nudge with his Pyschic to close it behind his partner as he turned to follow the Riolu to the table.
Keiran began to rifle through the papers and Riley read them over his partner's shoulder to see what sort of things Pokemon were requesting these days. There were several interesting ones, a few rather vague ones, and some that caught the Psychic's eye but they ultimately were forgone when Keiran spoke up, turning around to face him with an expression of concern. Ivilon, who had been hovering to the side to allow his captains some space came up also at the tone of worry in the Riolu's voice and immediately shifted his eye to the paper that was being extended towards them. The writing was oddly shaky, as though the client was under deep emotional duress when he'd written it, and the pen had been pressed hard enough into the paper that it had made marks that could be seen on the other side of the request most likely. What was most concerning however, was the fact that there was enough emotion behind the words that they echoed with a whirlwind of stress, impatience, and urgency. Whatever these samples were, it was clear that this Quagsire felt his life depended on them being found for him. "How peculiar..."
Riley looked at the paper as well, and the brush of Ivilon's Psychic clued him in to what Keiran was hoping he would do. Carefully he allowed his Psychic to expand outward and let him examine the words with the odd energy, and he flinched with surprise to find that it wasn't hard to detect the emotions behind it at all. "That's definitely strange," the Espeon agreed, fur standing on end ever so slightly. "There's no chance this is a normal request. Something is really troubling the client, something big." Dulling his Psychic senses again, Riley blinked a few times to clear his head of the Quagsire's residual emotional imprint. Ivilon turned his eye on Riley, having watched his Psychic interaction with interest, but said nothing for now. The way he'd approached it was delayed, and the Psychic itself was used brusquely and without Riley's usual finesse, except for the way he quietly tucked it away until it was almost completely lacking presence again. This was important--hopefully it would happen a few more times today so he could study it further and determine what guidance to give to his leader about the weakness of his Psychic. A moment later Riley voiced the question that Ivilon was wondering in kind. "...What do you think Keiran? Did any of the others seem that urgent to you?" It went unsaid, but it was clear that the Espeon didn't intend to leave the matter lie if there was nothing more desperate in the pile. Riley never said no to a Pokemon in need: assisting those in difficult situations was something as second nature to him as breathing, and his Team by extension. If this Quagsire was the one who needed them the most, then he would have their help in a heartbeat.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:52 pm
Keiran Keiran nodded in silent agreement with Ivilon, knowing that the Beldum had already been aware of the emotions that seemed to flutter off of the pages. Peculiar was one word for it, he supposed. The Riolu took note of the curiousity and sympathy that swirled around his newest teammate, smiling inwardly as he did. He could sense a little nervousness in his aura, too, but it seemed to have been tempered by the subject at hand. Ivilon was new to them, but the emotions he gave were always moderate and genuine. He had a solid grasp on his feelings. Perhaps that would translate well into his confidence on the field.
Riley’s examination of the paper took much longer. Keiran didn’t need aura to sense the hesitance in the Espeon’s expression, or the cautious and clumsy manner in which he approached it. He could feel the psychic’s sensory powers wash over him in the process, and he quickly withdrew any sign of his emotions in the hope that he wouldn’t interfere with Riley’s abilities.
It would matter little with a more experiences psychic, but Riley was completely unpracticed in this way. Who he was and what he was were often in conflict, leaving gaps in the Espeon’s rich and colourful aura that could not be ignored when they arose. It made situations like this, where it was required of the Espeon to use his psychic for empathetic purposes, very awkward and foreign for them as a team.
He nodded as his captain admitted his findings, watching the fur bristle on his spine. So they were all in understanding of the situation, then.
Keiran shook his head. ”I sensed nothing as urgent as this request, though there are a few others marked under the same label.” The guild always made sure to mark significant missions as urgent, and in truth- this mission was already a day or two old. It would have to be completed soon, or else it was likely to be cancelled by the client. Perhaps the samples were required to be gathered within a set time limit? ”I was actually hoping that we might be able to take this one as our mission, given the nature of it. I know that it isn’t the most pleasant setting, but there’s something about that letter…” He didn’t say it aloud, but the words chosen by the client seemed unsuited to the emotions he sensed from the handwritten scrawl. In either case, he was trying particularly hard to get their attention.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:53 pm
Riley & Ivilon "It's settled then." Riley's comment on the matter was brief and definitive, closing any further discussion on the matter--not that there would have been any. The Espeon tilted his hat back to a jaunty angle and chuckled as their Team's seal dropped out of it in what was clearly anything but an accident. With an ease that was night and day to his empathetic Psychic display prior, Riley caught the seal in his Psychic just before it touched the ground and plucked it from the air, passing it over to Keiran. "You go ahead and inform the Guild of our decision, we'll be setting out as soon as we get approved." Turning to Ivilon, Riley gestured to the bag they'd packed the night before containing everything they might need for the journey. "Ivilon, if you could check our travel pack again I'd greatly appreciate it. Make sure we have everything we might need, and grab us an extra bag to carry whatever samples we're going to be finding. If you can think of anything else, feel free to add it." The Beldum nodded in understanding and Riley beamed back at his Teammates. "Marvelous! And I'm off to send a letter and fetch us an approval slip. I'll meet up with Keiran so that we can finish the process." The Espeon had spotted the special mark on the back of the request, indicating that a certain ticket must be purchased to confirm the Team's capability to complete the task due to its difficulty. It only further supported their theory that something was strange about the whole situation, seeing as collecting samples didn't seem particularly dangerous, but Riley was more than happy to pay the necessary dues if it meant helping this Pokemon who clearly needed it desperately. With a nod of dismissal, Riley was out the door in a few bounds, tail swaying back and forth joyously as he hurried to the mail room. There was another reason that this mission was so important to him, and that reason was about to be recognized.
Ivilon watched his captain disappear, puzzled by the sudden burst of jubilation that rushed through the Espeon's emotions. He understood being excited by the promise of a job, but this affair seemed quite serious and little cause for such unbridled joy. He would have asked Keiran about the peculiarity of it, but the Riolu was already making his way out the door as well. If Ivilon wasn't mistaken, he'd felt a touch of that joy in Keiran's emotions as well before he'd left, but his second captain was far more business-minded and serious than his first, so it was difficult to say whether it was residual from Riley or not. If he was correct though, there was more to this anticipation than he'd realized before, something that he'd yet to be informed about. Ivilon considered the matter for a moment longer before he dismissed it and hovered over to the bag, deftly sorting through the contents with his Psychic and pulling a few other items over from around the room with all the finesse of a well-practiced Psychic--these things were a necessity when you lacked particularly useful appendages like arms or even a mouth with jaws. Riley's adeptness with the physical aspects of his Psychic had not escaped Ivilon over the time they'd spent together, but it was still always a shock to find one side nurtured and the other neglected. Eventually he would be able to learn how best to encourage the Espeon to embrace his Psychic fully, or at least that was his plan; for now he needed to see more of what prompted the reluctance and the fear that lurked in his captain's eyes whenever such things were mentioned. Satisfied with his work, Ivilon raised the bags up and carried them over to the corner of the room--one practically full, the other completely empty. The Beldum was intending to carry them during the mission, but if Keiran or Riley wanted to take one he would give it up without protest. For the moment however, he maintained the hope that he could be useful at least by keeping the load off of his leaders' shoulders.
~~~~~
When everything was finally sorted out and approved by the Guild staff, the members of Team Synchronicity made their way out into the field with all the vigor to be expected of Guild members on their first mission. While none of them could be viewed as younger members of the Guild, they were no less full of the same spirit that fueled the rookie Teams--to some extent they could have been said to have even more of it. Riley was full of energy and anticipation, his heart surging with delight at going out in the field again to do the job he held a special place for in his heart, just beneath his love of magic. The Espeon lead his Teammates on proudly as they made the trek out to the Toxic Swamp, engaging in pleasant banter and easy conversation with his friends to keep them occupied over the course of the journey. Although the Guild had offered them a Teleport for transportation, Riley had declined the offer for a number of reasons--the official one being that he wanted to allow the client time to prepare for them to get there. In truth, a large part of that was to ensure that everything went according to plan with his friend's arrival and his own Teammates' mental preparation for the task. While he wasn't terribly concerned about Keiran, Ivilon seemed to require a bit of coaxing to warm up to the ease with which his captains accepted the mission, so Riley devoted a good portion of the time to creating a relaxed atmosphere about his travelling party. All in all, it seemed to have been a success by the time they arrived on the border of the swampland a few hours after, as Ivilon appeared to be much more relaxed and confident in his position on this mission.
"Looks like we've finally made it!" Riley said when they reached a lull in the conversation, peering out at the change in terrain with interest. "I guess you were right about the setting Keiran," he added, wrinkling his nose at the smell that had begun to permeate the air. Swamps were never the most pleasant of locations, but this one was especially off-putting. The trees that took up most of the area were spindly and sickly-looking, their bark oozing with a purple liquid that was nothing like the usual amber sap. Vines hung between them and moss coated the ground in peculiar textures and colors that were likely unnatural in origin, and it was clear that a few steps in it would be terribly difficult to tell one direction from another, as the foliage blocked out the sunlight so much that more light came from the glowing plants than the day itself. That wasn't even the worst part though--the worst part was undoubtedly the water that was almost unrecognizable as a part of the river they'd followed to get here. The water had begun to lose its luster and clarity a while back, but the instant it passed into the shade of the swamp it grew utterly repugnant. Rather than being clear, the water was a murky blackish violet that occasionally ran with eddies of neon colors that gave off acrid fumes that assaulted the eyes and nose relentlessly. All in all, it was an utterly unpleasant place.
Riley frowned and committed a bit of Psychic energy to his outfit, ensuring that it remained solidly off the ground where his paws--unfortunately--had to step. Ivilon, on the other hand, felt for the first time just how fortunate it was that he didn't have to touch anything he didn't chose to. "Are you quite certain this place is safe for you?" the Beldum said, voice tinged with concern. "It seems to be terribly inhospitable to living creatures, particularly those who must breathe or swim."
"I'm sure the Guild wouldn't send us anywhere that would be permanently hazardous to our health," Riley said, though he couldn't hide the twinge of doubt in his mind that came from their most recent Guildwide mission. "Besides, there are Pokemon who call this place their home. Not just Poison Types, who obviously thrive here, but others too. If they can live here, we'll definitely be fine taking a day trip." Or so he hoped. The Espeon was not terribly excited about the prospect of trudging through this place and getting his fur and outfit covered in whatever things coated this place, but sacrifices had to be made for the sake of those in need. Hopefully they'd be able to find the Quagsire, discover what was troubling him, and assist him quickly so that they wouldn't be exposed to this place for too long.
Ivilon's eye clouded with discontent, and Riley received a soft, "Hm," in response, but there was nothing more Riley could think of to say to ease the Beldum's mind. Brushing his tail gently against his teammate's side for reassurance, the Espeon opened his mouth to offer further solace to his concerned friend, but before the words could leave his mouth he spotted a familiar patch of blue behind the Beldum and his words were lost as his eyes lit up with unparalleled delight.
"Clive!"
Ivilon turned as his captain ducked around him and bounded off in the opposite direction, wondering who he was referring to, but a moment later it was evident. The Espeon had bolted over to the side of the trees where another Eeveelution had just appeared, this one a Vaporeon. When the Beldum's golden eye rested on the stranger it widened considerably as he was overcome with amazement at what he saw: the Vaporeon was, in a word, beautiful--a stunning example of what Pokemon of his species could look like in their prime. His coloring was a gorgeous sapphire that contrasted beautifully with the whites of his ruff and ears, and fur was pristine and impeccably kept, despite the fact that he'd just emerged from the depths of this swampland. His eyes were bright and attentive, and his emotions practically sang with affection and jubilation when his gaze shifted to Riley. The Beldum was practically floored by the way that the pair's emotions swelled and blossomed in the presence of one another and he blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he was witnessing.
"Riley!" the stranger purred, hurrying forward to meet the Espeon and pressing up against him in a tender hug. The pair twined around one another for a long moment before separating and exchanging a few more gentle nuzzles with one another. "It's about time you got here. I've been trying to find you for the past hour!"
The Espeon laughed lightly, staring glowingly at his friend. "Sorry about that Clive, I wasn't sure how long it'd take you so I made sure that we took our time." The magician's heart was lighter than it had been in days with the arrival of his friend, and he felt fully prepared to accomplish the mission now that his whole Team was together.
At the mention of we, Clive's ears flicked and he turned to look at the others, eyes resting on Ivilon for a moment before he caught sight of Keiran standing nearby, his fur concealing him well in the low light. "Keiran!" the Vaporeon said delightedly, hurrying forward to give the Riolu a hug as well. "Riley said you were partners but it didn't cross my mind that you'd be here too! Legends, it's been a while. How have you been? And is this your client?" The Vaporeon turned to Ivilon with a curious expression, offering him a friendly smile. "Hello there! My name's Clive--I'm one of Riley and Keiran's Teammates. Pleased to meet you!"
"Ivilon," the Beldum returned, nodding to the stranger. "Though I am not our client on this mission, I am a member of Riley and Keiran's Team as well. I take it you're from their former Team?" Ivilon looked back and forth between his captains and the Vaporeon, searching for some sort of guidance about the whole bizarre turn of events. His captains had neglected to inform him of this new arrival, which seemed to have been expected by the pair of them, and certainly was being met with warm reception regardless; hopefully someone would be able to explain this odd state of affairs to him.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:54 pm
Keiran Keiran watched as Riley deftly plucked their team’s seal from mid-air, a glimmer of amusement lighting his eyes. Whether or not he had a captive audience, Riley was constantly practicing his magic and sleight of hand. It was a fact that no one within their team had yet to comprehend, apparently, because there was no trace of surprise in the aura that wafted from the Beldum beside him. Still, it at least ensured that his companions were in bright spirits for the task ahead of them. They would need their sharp wits and strong morale for their line of work, at least if they were to have any real chance of success. Keiran wasn’t a fan of narrow misses or last-minute comebacks. It simply indicated that they were ill-prepared to start with.
The Riolu nodded obediently as Riley listed off their tasks for the afternoon, accepting the team seal from his captain and carefully re-binding the work requests that he’d brought home with him. He listened absently to the list of tasks assigned to Ivilon, listing his own work within his head. He’d have to return the unclaimed missions as well, to prevent any confusion in the offices. Those Pokemon still needed teams to work with them, since theirs wouldn’t be able to answer to several calls at once.
He tucked the paperwork under his elbow, waving a glowing paw toward the nearby cabinet and pulling an envelope from the shelves. The envelope floated into his outstretched paw and he neatly tucked their seal and accepted work request into the open flap. There would still be paperwork to complete in order to accept the task, but it was far easier to compile it all together ahead of time.
A glimmer of excitement broke the air and the Riolu had to struggle to contain his smile. He could feel the joy that rippled off of Riley in waves and he glanced knowingly toward the Espeon’s turned back as the psychic departed.
”We’ll be departing quite early tomorrow, most likely. So ensure that you get some rest before we leave,” he commented mildly to Ivilon. ”Where we’re headed, the environment is far less friendly after dark. It’s wiser to spend the night on the road than it is for us to suffer nightfall in the swamps.” Keiran’s expression hardened for a moment, but he quickly forced his shoulders to drop in a cautious relaxation. The memory of his past conversation with the steel-type was not forgotten, and the pain of that encounter would be something that lingered for some time. It had for the others- this was simply a repeat of that experience, he reminded himself. He would cope as he did then.
He’d also be in need of rest before their pre-dawn expedition.
”Let me know if you need me to fetch supplies for you- I’ll be bringing back additional rations and equipment for us, anyway.” Then, with a simple nod to Ivilon, he departed after his team captain.
- - - - -
Keiran glanced at his captain with a faint smile. The expression of disgust that graced the normally cheerful Espeon’s face was certainly entertaining, particularly with his nose wrinkled and lifted paw. Riley had been fairly playful the entire journey here, now that he thought about it. He had a feeling that it was simply meant to improve the morale of their steel-type companion before their first mission, but his good-natured liveliness was warming to the heart.
He glanced across the toxic landscape ahead of them, eyes scanning for signs of potential dangers. The plants that grew here were almost certain to be toxic and judging from the sight of their water, he could understand why. Straining the silt and soils from the stream would not be enough to make that water fit for consumption, if the swirling sludge and glimmers of neon haze were any indicator.
He felt anxiety pool in the base of his belly, concerned for the health of their soon-to-arrive companion. Keiran was sure that he wouldn’t be foolish enough to merge with such water. Clive was far too intelligent and sharp-witted to make that sort of mistake.
The Riolu listened in silence to the exchange between his teammates, frowning deeply at the doubt that floated off both of them. He had to agree that the Guild were unlikely to bar their entry for the sake of safety- their job was in itself a health risk, after all. He’d worked under far worse conditions in the past, as had Riley.
A familiar aura swirled in the toxic mists below, and a dazzling smile suddenly graced his features. He remained at Ivilon’s side, unwilling to abandon their recruit in such an environment even for a moment. He simply waited for the Beldum’s reaction, reaching out with his own aura to bring warmth and welcoming to the familiar Vaporeon below.
There was purring and nuzzling between the two Eevee evolutions, a tender hug exchanged and glowing expressions. It was only a matter of seconds before the Riolu had to avert his gaze for the sake of quelling the jealousy that burned in his throat. He hid it fairly well, already satisfied that neither Clive nor Riley would catch it, but the secretive glance that he cast aside to Ivilon seemed begging for his ignorance.
Ignore it. Just ignore it.
Keiran’s smile had never lost its genuine quality, however, and he gratefully accepted the offered hug from the Vaporeon who’d trudged up to greet him. Especially in such a place as this, Clive was a gem among gems. He practically radiated with warmth and beauty. Were he any less welcoming to all of them, Keiran felt certain that he would be a person quite difficult to approach.
”I’ve been well, thank you.” Keiran replied calmly, settling back into the stiffness of his conversational tone. He was a little surprised that Riley had forgotten to send word about who would actually be working with them, considering that he’d notified Clive by letter. Riley always had his reasons.
”Clive is a childhood friend of Riley’s,” he informed Ivilon evenly. ”I believe they’ve worked together on guild tasks before, but most of their work together is in magic. He’s been Riley’s best assistant since the day he first donned that hat.”
The Riolu turned his eyes back to the handsome Vaporeon. ”It’s true, then, that you’re going to be joining us?” There wasn’t a particularly questioning tone to his voice, already knowing the answer in the first place. He carefully settled his pack onto the ground, dividing some of the contents out into a much smaller pack for the Vaporeon to carry. He then offered it without ceremony, expression passive. ”You’ll be needing this.”
”There is a reason that I had us split our rations and equipment between us,” Keiran explained. His voice was projected to speak to the whole of their team, feeling the need to describe his current plans. ”We’ll be avoiding major water routes and low-lying areas, but there is always a contamination risk. Be mindful of the state your equipment is in, and ask for spares in case of doubt. Everyone is carrying pecha and sitrus berries for maintaining stamina and poison resistance, and we’ll be resting frequently to avoid long breaks in any particular area.”
Riley was the team’s true captain in Keiran’s mind, but the Riolu had always been fond of strategizing. His past and temperment made him an ideal field strategist, at least until the others had gained experience enough to be of more use in balancing the responsibility. ”I’ll leave decisions regarding the mission itself primarily in your hands, however,” he informed Riley. Until something came up that was true cause for concern, he’d be content in observing and taking orders.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:55 pm
Riley & Ivilon "Oh, I'm so sorry!" Clive's cheeks immediately burned with embarrassment at Ivilon's comment and he bowed his head sheepishly as Keiran explained the situation. "Yeah I, ah, heard that they had a new recruit, but Riley didn't really give me the specifics. I just was told to meet him at the edge of the swamp closest to the Guild, and that we'd be looking for a Quagsire..." The Vaporeon's cheeks were still deeply flushed as he looked back and forth from the Beldum to his two teammates, feeling incredibly silly about having made such a mistake. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, he glanced up at Ivilon with apologetic eyes. "I hope you can forgive me for that," he said. "Maybe that'll teach Riles why he should be more thorough with his explanations." The comment was accompanied by a gentle tail flick that prompted a chuckle from the Espeon in question.
"Alright, alright I get it," Riley said easily. "Maybe I wasn't the most thorough in my explanation. I was just excited to get you here and get going on our mission. I figured we could fill you in on the other details once we all met up." The Espeon quirked an eyebrow at his friend with amusement. "Is that acceptable to you Mr. Particular?"
"Absolutely not." Clive scoffed, though there was a teasing light in his eyes. "It's terribly rude to your recruit and to myself and you should apologize immediately."
"Oh really?"
"Really."
The pair stared at each other for a long moment before dissolving into the helpless giggles of familiarity, eyes bright with amusement. "Legends I missed you," Riley purred happily, nuzzling against his friend's cheek gently before he turned to Ivilon. "I do apologize though Ivilon; it completely slipped my mind." Stepping to the side, Riley beckoned his friend forward into the light. "This is my dear friend Clive. Like Keiran said we've known each other since childhood, but we parted ways a long time back and were reunited around the same time the Guilds disbanded. He's been my assistant ever since: in magic and exploration alike. I suppose you could say he was my assistant since I donned the hat, if you count when we were both just kids, but Keiran's certainly right that he's been with me the longest and has been one of the best assistants a magician could ask for." Clive blushed again, this time from the praise he was receiving and Riley beamed back at him. "Speaking of..." he added, lifting the hat from his head to reveal a black velvet bowtie, "It's about time you dressed the part, wouldn't you say?"
Clive chuckled, extending his neck as Riley's Psychic tied the accessory around it with an elegant ease of practice. "I was wondering where that was," the Vaporeon said with amusement, "Thanks for keeping it safe for me."
"My pleasure," Riley returned before glancing back to Ivilon. "At any rate, I've been planning to get Clive on the Team since day one. Keiran agreed to the idea, and we arranged it so that he could meet up with us during our first mission. The Guild's very particular when it comes to accepting new recruits, so this was the best way we could think of to ensure we could be on a Team together. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it sooner. I hope you don't mind." He did feel bad for having forgotten to let the Beldum know, but Ivilon was an understanding person so he hoped that was enough.
"I...see." The Beldum in question was more than a little surprised by all of the sudden changes in atmosphere he was being made to adapt to, not the least of which being that his captains had already intended on taking a recruit who wasn't him. That was a little disheartening to say the least, and combined with the fact that Riley hadn't even mentioned him to his friend it made Ivilon feel more than a little like an unnecessary component in this situation. They had accepted him onto the Team yes, but he wasn't the one they had wanted it would seem; this Clive was already associated with both of the pair and they had some very pleasant chemistry between them. Could it be that his presence here would disrupt that? Well, it wasn't all pleasant. The surge of jealousy that erupted from Keiran and the unexpectedly desperate look in the Riolu's eyes when he'd spotted him staring was something else entirely, removed from Ivilon himself. That was a matter he would pay close attention to, since it seemed neither Eeveelution was aware of its presence.
"I understand how such a thing could have slipped your mind, given the amount of business you needed to tend to surrounding the mission. I also can comprehend why you would imagine me the client, if Riley didn't inform you who all would be participating in this mission. If you can accept me as an additional member to the Team of your friends, then I think we will all be able to reach an easier understanding." Ivilon kept his response short and sweet, accompanied by a nod of deference to Clive who responded with a grin.
"Of course I can," the Vaporeon replied warmly, "So long as that's alright with you. It's your first mission after all, so I'd be happy to be of whatever assistance I can be, even if that means making myself scarce."
Ivilon blinked his golden eye in surprise, completely taken by the warmth and sincerity of the strange Vaporeon's emotions. Clive seemed to possess genuine concern for him and his comfort, and that ingratiated him to the Beldum more than anything else thus far. It was easy to understand why a person had connections to others, but it was nice to learn that the same person had the potential to form a connection with oneself as well. "I think it would be most prudent to keep you with us," Ivilon said when he found Riley's eyes on him, "The more participants we have to retrieve our samples, the faster our work will be completed and the more satisfaction our client will receive."
"Collecting samples?" The surprise in Clive's tone was evident as he glanced from Riley to Keiran curiously. It seemed like an odd choice for a first mission coming from the Espeon and Riolu pair.
Riley nodded, having expected the skepticism. "Yes, though there's a bit more to it than that," he informed his friend, "There was something very strange about the mission request, we all could sense that there was more to this job than what was written. It seemed like our client's request was the most urgent of all of them, so this is the one that we claimed."
Clive nodded, expression thoughtful. "Got it. That makes a little more sense." Riley and Keiran both could sense things that he had no way of knowing, their new recruit too, if he was remembering Beldum's typing correctly. Where others would see a request about collecting samples, they could see a cry for help with their Psychics and Aura readings; sometimes he envied them for it and other times he felt that it must be a terribly heavy burden to bear.
It was at that moment Keiran spoke up again, causing all three of the others to turn their full attention to him, Clive accepting the pack he was offered without further question. All three of them knew, in their own ways, that Keiran was the long-term strategist of the Team and that this was his moment to take charge: the introductions were finished and now the Riolu was drawing them back to their current purpose here now that he'd been given the segue he needed. His reasons were good and his plan seemed perfectly sound, even to Ivilon who bore the most strategic and cautious mind of the other three, so it was met with nods and appreciative smiles from the whole group.
"It would seem you have all areas of the matter covered," Ivilon said, approval in his voice.
Clive smiled fondly as he shifted his pack to rest at his side. "Yep, that's our K. Prepared for just about anything." The Riolu was not the only one to have missed his old Teammate, the warmth the Vaporeon's tone was enough to confirm that.
"I'd expect nothing less," Riley said brightly, glowing with appreciation for his friend's thoroughness. "I'll do my best not to let you down either." Everyone else here was trying very hard to do their best for the Team, and as their leader Riley hardly wanted to fall short either. Suddenly he felt the weight of pressure on his shoulders as it occurred to him just what sort of position he held here, and an imperceptible shiver ran down the Espeon's spine before the smile returned to his face. He wasn't doing Era's job here, he was just taking on the role of leader in her absence. It was just like if...anyone else led a mission when Era was preoccupied with something else.
"Right." The magician's tone changed to one more businesslike and serious as he tilted his hat back, gazing further into the thick swampland beyond. "So, as Ivilon and Keiran were both alluding to Clive, our mission is to assist a certain Quagsire in retrieving some specific samples from the area around the swamp. I wanted to meet up with you first so that we could introduce ourselves to him as a Team, so now that we're all settled in with one another we can go and find the place we promised to meet him." Apparently if they followed the river a little further they would reach a small island of sorts where the Quagsire had indicated he'd be waiting. He'd received a small (but surprisingly well-drawn) map indicating the location from the Guild staff when he and Keiran had received the approval for their mission choice, and they'd both gone to the library and confirmed it on the Guild's maps just to be sure; from what Riley recalled, they weren't very far from it here at the edge, though they would have to follow the river out of the sunlight and into the undergrowth at last. "I'll lead the way, so long as everyone's ready?" He looked across at each of his teammates, meeting their eyes and spotting the glow of determination in each of them before he smiled and turned back around. "Alright then: let's get going!"
The walk was shorter than Riley had expected, in part because the path was relatively straightforward and without many pitfalls so close to the territory's edge. Plenty of Pokemon from other places made their way into the Toxic Swamp for specific herbs and other items that were created by the area's inhabitants, and those merchants traveled along the path that Team Synchronicity took as they made their way toward their client's location. Occasionally there would be puddles to sidestep or patches of unnaturally luminous plant life that reached out onto the road, but it was nothing that couldn't be avoided by moving to the other side of the path. Eventually they came up on an area where the path continued forward but a lesser traveled fork could be found behind a clump of cattails on the side of the road; it was this path that Riley led them down to the outcropping of land where their client was awaiting them.
The sight that awaited Team Synchronicity when they arrived was...peculiar to say the least. When they reached the point where they couldn't continue any further they stood in a circular clearing surrounded by the rushing river and a half-circle of tall pillars of rock with surprisingly bulbous tops. "What on earth...?" Clive murmured, staring up at the pillars curiously, "I've never seen anything like that before."
"Nor, indeed, have I." Ivilon's agreement was somewhat awed as the Beldum stared upward with his golden eye, searching the worn stone pillars to see if the strange cracks they bore were only the result of age or if they had once been something with more meaning. "What do you suppose they could have been used for?" The question was left to hang in the air, not really expectant of an answer and yet somehow hopeful for one as well.
The pensive mood of the group was broken by an unexpected splash, and Clive quite nearly jumped with astonishment as a figure pulled himself out of the murky water. "...honestly expected me to accept that. It's ridiculous the things people think they can get away with these days..." The Quagsire muttered to himself as he made his way forward, purple water dripping off of his sleek body. "...the things I do for their sake. They'll never know, never appreciate..." Clearly he was beside himself about something, but what that something was was anyone's guess. He hardly seemed to be aware of the group that watched him as he strode over to the collection of rocks to retrieve something, muttering in fragments to himself all the while. When he came back, he was holding a rather worn piece of parchment and still murmuring something about mixed measurements. It wasn't until he stopped directly in front of Riley and looked up that any of them could be certain he knew they were there.
"...Ah." The Quagsire blinked slowly a few times, before sizing up each member of the group one by one. Almost an entire minute passed before he blinked again and spoke up. "So you're them. The ones who answered my request. Thank you." Although it was slow coming the thanks seemed quite genuine and was accompanied by a half-smile that gently curved his mouth at the edges. "I was worried you know... It took so long that I was beginning to give up hope. You see I have no way to do this alone..." There was something rather off-putting about the way his sentences slid out, like they weren't connected to each other at all. Then again, Quagsire as a species weren't known for being the quickest bunch.
"Yes...Well we're sorry about that. We came as soon as we got the approval necessary. We're Team Synchronicity and we're here to help!" Riley's voice was cheerful and upbeat as always, but something about the Quagsire made his fur threaten to stand on end. He really didn't know how to interpret the Pokemon's odd attitude, but he supposed perhaps the client was just inexperienced socially. That would explain the talking to himself at least, and why he needed a Team from the Guild to help with something that could have been done by a group of classmates or any similar collection of intelligent Pokemon.
"Synchronicity..." The Quagsire tilted his head to the side and a smile touched his expression again. "I don't blame you. You are here to help and so have my gratitude. You will help me find the samples I require, because that is my request." He spoke each sentence with conviction, clearly content with his understanding of the situation, and Riley simply nodded in agreement. What he was saying wasn't untrue, it was just the way he said it that was a little...hard to interpret. Something was definitely off about this client, and something was definitely strange about this whole scenario, but it was difficult to say what should be done about it when he was staring them down with such a complacent expression.
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 6:58 pm
Keiran Keiran could sense the unease that swirled around Ivilon, and a tangle of guilt had worked its way into the Riolu’s belly. He’d not really been thinking about team relations as much as he should have, with everything else that he’d been either working on or micromanaging on their behalf. It was wrong of him to have allowed Ivilon to be taken by surprise in this case, especially since they’d been going to such efforts to make him feel welcome among them. 'And especially with his current opinions of me.'
Cringing internally, he extended his aura cautiously toward the Beldum. His gesture was one of silent apology and acknowledgement that he’d been careless or inconsiderate of his emotions. A verbal apology didn’t really feel appropriate for some reason, perhaps because he knew that his word would not be seen as trustworthy.
His gesture shifted to one of warmth and relief as he felt Ivilon’s comfort return to some extent. Clive had always been a bright and gentle person, but he couldn’t help but feel thankful that the Vaporeon was so kind. It made the transition a lot easier when the people involved were able to communicate and enjoy each other’s company, especially since their team captains were obviously scatterbrained.
Withdrawing his aura, he allowed himself a calming breath to settle and veil his emotions. Riley was going over their plans for meeting the client and the general route that he hoped them to take on the way there. He was listening, albeit passively so. It was an emotional safeguard for Keiran, allowing him the peace of mind that his thoughts and feelings would not be overheard.
Much of this guardedness was related to their praise. He was certainly used to enduring high expectations, but having such vocal praise for meeting expectations was embarrassing. Pleasing, certainly, but embarrassing all the same. The other reason was one that he wished he could more easily forget. Jealousy was not something he’d expected to experience on this trip, and certainly not between Riley and Clive. The two of them were excellent companions and had been very supportive of him- there was no reason for the Riolu to behave so childishly. Still, until he better understood his own reasoning for the action, it was better that Ivilon not have too much insight into his inner emotions and reasoning.
Tripping up now was a poor way to prove his worth.
He huffed quietly in agreement with the plan, not really finding a particular fault in it. He would remain alert for danger on their path, but the chosen route took them along the high ground between the river and floodplains of the swamp. It would be safe enough for travel provided that they were cautious.
The Riolu followed his team without comment or complaint and walked calmly at the back of the group. His position at the rear would allow him ample opportunity to guard his teammates and predict enemy positions, should the situation arise. Besides that, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of unease at the height of the swirling toxic water several feet to either side. Swamps weren’t supposed to have water movement.
He watched the others much more closely after that.
Their curiousity over the uniquely-shaped pillars wasn’t a fascination shared by the Riolu, as he idly stood to the side in waiting. Their client hadn’t yet arrived, but there was certainly a presence nearby. He was much more interested in the waves of frustration and chaos that rolled off this stranger than he was with the bulbous head of a sculpted rock.
The stranger emerged directly from the water, streams of violet swamp water pouring off the Quagsire’s rounded form. The Riolu could hear the harsh and hurried muttering of the water-type, sending shivers down his spine as he tried to interpret the meaning of what he’d overheard. His speech was broken, with irregular pauses and awkwardly formal phrasing. He spoke as if he was out of practice in speaking at all, and that in itself was intriguing to Keiran.
The Quagsire turned to greet them suddenly, and Keiran felt himself go cold as he met the severe gaze of their client. It was as he’d suspected.
He could feel the tension among his teammates, though the unease was quickly fading from Riley and Clive. Awkward could be easily excused, particularly with species like Quagsire, and they had dealt with similar characters in the past. It was the Quagsire’s aura that was most concerning to the Riolu and his concern was not without reason.
His aura felt sharp and erratic, as if one were watching the path of electricity. It fluctuated wildly between something vivid and sincere into much darker, angry emotions. The breaks in his speech were punctuated by shifts in his aura, and the water-type’s inability to maintain emotional control was more than a small red flag for Keiran. It was as much possible that nothing would come of this as it was that the Quagsire would become spontaneously aggressive.
The aura-wielding canine took a steadying breath and allowed himself the chance to calm and refocus on their task. There was nothing he could do about it now, though he somewhat wished that his team had not followed him into this particular job.
”Of course.” Keiran’s voice was calm and polite, as though he were the picture of professionalism. ”We’re here to assist you in your specimen collection.”
The Quagsire simply blinked at him, as though he were slightly less pleased to be talking with a secondary person and not the apparent leader. Keiran could sense his dissatisfaction, but said nothing of it. Still, that eerie smile remained plastered across the client’s face.
”I have a list of objects… You will acquire them for me,” the Quagsire informed Riley shortly, as though Keiran hadn’t spoken at all. Perhaps it was a matter of pride for him that he didn’t want to do dealings with anyone insignificant. Riley had introduced the team and they were positioned around the Espeon. It made sense through that logic that he wouldn’t recognize the rest of them in conversation. Still, there was more than a social awkwardness to this and Keiran couldn’t shake his unease.
The Quagsire passed along a meticulously-rolled piece of parchment to the Espeon. The papery material had been slathered with wax to protect it from water, though it didn’t appear to be toxic in any way. It seemed that there was some careful consideration into how this would work. That was somewhat comforting. ”The first set of samples… I’ll need them before noon. The second set are due by nightfall. I will work with them tonight. I have it planned out.”
Keiran was careful to stay silent this time, though he did shift to glance over the instructions they’d been given. It was a curious little list, with the two sample sets grouped on separate parts of the page in the same messy scrawl of their work request. Some samples were directly named, while others were given descriptions in their place. The descriptions varied between vague to meticulously detailed, leading Keiran to believe that a fair number of these samples were objects that the Quagsire had yet to actually lay eyes on.
Still, he could tell that most of them were plant material of some variety. They’d have to play it by ear and hope that they were able to correctly identify everything on the list.
”There are bags and bottles there. For the samples,” their client continued. He abruptly turned from them to point at a pile of belongings in the center of their outcropping into the river. A rough and worn-looking bag sat there with an open top. Inside, Keiran could see the glimmer of glass jars and several smaller bags. They were mismatched, as though all taken from different sources. ”It is difficult to get them. The bottles. Don’t break any so that I don’t have to get more.”
Keiran maintained his perfect silence, glancing back from the bottles to their collection list. They could manage thirty samples in a day, provided that they were efficient. He was never particular good at multitasking, though, so he would have to learn quickly if he was to protect his teammates alongside the completion of their listed jobs. ’I’m going to regret this.’
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:03 pm
Riley & Ivilon Ivilon remained mute from the moment the client splashed up to the surface onward. The Beldum was hardly the type to be easily overwhelmed by other Pokemon's emotions, but this fellow was an open book of the worst kind. He'd never dealt with Psychics, you could see it written in the way that his thoughts and feelings radiated off of him like heat from a too-bright sun, and Ivilon was forced to pull his Psychic energy back into himself before he was overwhelmed by the stirring feelings of hope and fury that reacted so strongly inside him. This Quagsire was volatile, and Keiran knew it too--he could sense the trepidation rolling off the Riolu in waves though it wasn't written on his face; no one could say what was causing it or what it would amount too though, so there was no way to know how to respond accordingly. Keiran seemed to have decided the best method was to leave it lie for now and Ivilon was inclined to agree with him: there were more reasons to leave him oblivious to their knowledge than not.
The Beldum was having an increasingly difficult time on this expedition, with so many potential problems piling up on themselves. First was Keiran, who things had never been right with since their conversation. Ivilon had been watching the Riolu closely and had liked what he'd seen thus far, increasingly finding no reason to doubt what he'd been told about his second captain's reformation yet. For all the world it seemed as though Keiran genuinely adored Riley, and now Clive too, and his gentle personality had persisted at all times. Of course, there was no way for Ivilon to conceal his presence from an aura reader, which meant that if the Riolu was smart he could still be performing all this time, but Ivilon's convictions were growing increasingly shaky. The only thing that didn't make sense was that he was an aura-reader. The Beldum had met a number of them before and found that they held as much empathy as Psychics--if Keiran's persona was to be believed then that would mean he either once was practically blind to aura or else he was so apathetic as to ignore what he saw in it when he killed. Neither of those was particularly pleasant to think about. He'd considered asking Riley about it, but he wasn't sure how reliable that source would be, so he was constantly dragged back to square one. He wouldn't allow these doubts to stand in the way of this mission, and would follow his orders provided they were reasonable, but they were still there, pervading the atmosphere and making things tense between he and the one other Pokemon who could understand the alienation that came from seeing Riley and Clive together.
Clive was the second problem. He'd appeared out of nowhere and inserted himself into the situation like he belonged there; worse still, having seen Riley and Clive together, Ivilon wasn't so sure that the Vaporeon didn't. The closeness those two shared was something more than the Beldum was accustomed to seeing and in an atypical fashion. The affection they shared was like a mixture of that between brothers and lovers, and it left him on edge simply because the emotions threatened to rub off on him and make him delirious with that odd overwhelming joy. He'd originally been inclined to attribute the feeling of exclusion to Clive, but that had been confounded when the Vaporeon had demonstrated such concern and care for his thoughts and emotions. It wasn't Riley either though, because his captain was constantly keeping track of each of them and conversing easily with all of them; in the presence of his friend it was like the Espeon had blossomed into a fuller version of himself. There was nothing either one was doing wrong, yet it made him feel like he was lesser to be in the presence of the pair of them. Perhaps it was something like Keiran's jealousy, though it didn't feel so much like jealousy as it did like...failure. He felt as though Clive was truly benefiting both of his captains and he was being a burden to them all--it made him doubt that he was ever supposed to be member of Team Synchronicity after all.
And now their client. Ivilon couldn't make sense of the fellow because he was being forced to practically suffocate his Psychic from all the emotions swimming around their group. For once he understood the benefits of being someone like Riley, who picked up on only the slightest traces of energy when it was terribly strong: empathetic as he was, Ivilon had never managed to master the art of cutting himself off from his Psychic senses entirely. All in all, it left him in a very odd mood and filled with doubt and uncertainty more than when they'd left. At least they had their job now, so they could complete it and go home. Then perhaps he could sort through some of the sudden emotional weight that had been thrust upon him.
"Will you be able to accomplish that? Do you think?" It was unclear whether the Quagsire was talking about breaking the bottles or collecting the samples in time, but the question was incredibly earnest and accompanied by an intense stare directed at Riley. "If you feel that you will be unable to accomplish this task of mine I understand: it is a very heavy order."
"No no! We'll be able to handle it no problem." The Espeon was confident in his answer and accompanied it with a smile of reassurance. He still didn't know what to think of the Quagsire, but after having collected the list and giving it a quick once-over before he passed it to Keiran, he found that the request seemed manageable enough. It was a bit strange that they didn't have names for every object of their search, but it was also a very helpful gesture for a Team who couldn't be expected to know technical terms for the specimens. It was best to give Pokemon like this the benefit of the doubt: even though he gave off an odd vibe he seemed more desperate than harmful. Glancing over at the bag the Quagsire had indicated, Riley caught Clive's eye and nodded deliberately towards it; the Vaporeon quickly nodded back and moved to fetch the shoulder bag, returning with it draped across his back and an odd expression of discomfort on his face. "Right then, so you'll need the first set by noon? That seems simple enough," Riley said cheerfully, "I take it you'd rather not accompany us then?"
"Ah..." The Quagsire murmured, eyes widening as though the thought hadn't occurred to him. They returned to their usual slightly dim state a moment later, and he shook his head slowly back and forth. "No...No, I should think not. There are things that I should be tending to in your absence. Unless you require my assistance in identifying any of the items on my list I will choose to remain on my own."
Riley tilted his head curiously, noting a hesitance in the client's voice. "Are you sure?" he asked. "If you'd feel more comfortable coming with us to make sure we're collecting the right things, none of us would mind." Well, that wasn't strictly speaking true. Riley could sense the uncertainty coming from all of his teammates without needing any use of his Psychic at all--the Quagsire didn't just give an odd impression to him it would seem. Still though, they had an obligation to the client to resolve his issue in a way that left him satisfied, so the offer had to be made.
"Yes yes, I am most sure. If you have any questions to ask me you can find me here." The Quagsire dipped his head to Riley with a wry smile. "If I am otherwise occupied and you cannot find me simply call my name and I shall hear it no matter my distance. Sound carries well in these waters."
"And your name was...?" Riley's ears twitched in surprise when Ivilon spoke up, and he glanced back at the Beldum curiously. The Dual Type's expression was grave but intrigued, and he stared intently at the Quagsire when the aquatic Pokemon turned to face him.
"...Aric." It seemed as though it had hardly registered to the Quagsire that the members of the group other than Riley had the capacity to speak at all. Much like when Keiran had spoken, there was a brief twinge of displeasure that the Beldum picked up on despite the bemused smile on his face. Ivilon continued to stare the Quagsire down even as he turned his dreamy stare back to Riley. "My name is Aric. Just call my name and I will be with you shortly." Dipping his head to Riley once more, Aric took a few steps back, glancing longingly towards the brackish water. "I will leave this to you. I must embark on my own morning task. I wish you the best with your endeavors. Thank you once again Team Synchronicity." The latter sentences came out quickly, like he was suddenly bored with them or anxious to get somewhere else. Either way, with another dip of the head he turned, toddled off to the edge of the river, and slipped inside, leaving the Team alone with his list and each other.
There was a brief period of silence in the wake of Aric's departure before Riley ventured a comment. "Well that was...interesting."
"Perhaps we should discuss this elsewhere." Ivilon's comment was murmured but firmly spoken. He turned his eye intensely on Riley first and then Keiran, both of whom had the authority to approve his suggestion. Aric had mentioned that sound carried and given the tone of Riley's initial comment and his own thoughts on the matter, Ivilon thought it better that they take the discussion to a place where they wouldn't risk being overheard.
Riley nodded mutely, recognizing the wisdom in the Beldum's recommendation, and headed off down the path. "Fair enough. We should probably get started on searching for some of the samples too anyway. Wouldn't want to waste any daylight." His tone was far from offended but merely businesslike. The rest of the brief journey was scattered with little conversation, except a bit of conferring between Riley and Keiran about the direction they should head next. When they reached the main path again however, Clive was the first to speak up.
"What was with that guy?" The Vaporeon had a disgruntled expression on his face and he shivered violently as he slipped the bag off his back and onto the ground. "Did anyone else get a weird vibe from him or was it just me?"
"It wasn't just you." Ivilon shook his head. "Aric has deeply erratic energy, I'm sure you noticed it also Keiran?"
Riley frowned. "He did seem pretty tense, and we didn't learn a whole lot about his situation. Those times were really definite, and it seemed like he had a lot on his mind. I'm a bit concerned honestly, I'm not sure he's alright..." In truth, the Espeon was more than a bit worried about their client and what he might have gone off to do. It was more reassuring to be able to look after the client and make sure nothing happened to them when they were present for a mission. "I guess the best thing for us to do is to get the samples as soon as possible and try to learn some more about the situation when we meet up with him at noon?"
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:03 pm
Keiran Keiran bit his tongue, listening intently as their plans for the day were laid out between his captain and their client. It was an unusual exchange, but the mounting tension between the Pokemon who stood between the great stone pillars was certainly indicative of problems in future. There was something about this Quagsire that concerned him, something familiar. He’d never met him before, and certainly the water-type seemed too young for him to have forgotten his face. It was a quality to him that he couldn’t name, but the familiarity was not one that bred ease or comfort.
He could sense the displeasure spiking again as Ivilon spoke up, and Keiran resisted the urge to twitch. Ivilon’s discomfort was nearly palpable at this point. Clearly he also could sense that something was wrong with the Quagsire, in more than just a social context. It would certainly be interesting to hear the opinions of his teammates.
Riley evidently agreed, although Keiran was not the first one to chastise him for speaking so freely about the client in such a place. Aric had already made it quite clear that his hearing was impeccable. They would have to be careful about what was said and where. ”Mind your words,” Keiran agreed with the hovering Beldum, his voice hushed and firm. Still, his warning was but an afterthought now that Ivilon had spoken.
Obedient to a fault, the Riolu turned and stepped after his team as they departed. He could hear the soft huffs of breath from their lips, as though trying to find the right time to speak.
He didn’t speak unless spoken to, which happened more often than he’d perhaps expected. Riley referred back to him on matters of direction and which way they should go, and Keiran simply responded in turn. He could easily sense the aura that indicated the path they’d taken to reach the standing stones, but he could also sense the tug of aura that led along a shorter path back to the main road. It was this path he led them on, hoping to provide their group with the privacy to discuss their mission so far.
Clive spoke first, his expression aghast with a mixture of horror and disgust as he spoke. It was interesting, then, that Clive had so easily picked up on the subtleties of their client’s behaviour. He was always a perceptive one, but it was good that they were all on the same page.
Keiran blinked as Ivilon addressed him directly, and the Riolu nodded once in confirmation. He didn’t have the time to speak before Riley did, but he waited patiently with a listening ear. Riley held a different opinion of the client than the others, it seemed. That was good, in some ways- it was important that they held onto their differing perspectives in case there were signals that another person would overlook.
It was still true to Keiran that concern for the client’s wellbeing was not at the top of his mind.
”I would be cautious in how you pry for information, Riley,” Keiran advised quietly, his turquoise eyes dark with suspicion. ”When Ivilon noted an erratic energy, he wasn’t just talking about Aric’s mood. There is something… fundamental that is amiss with his aura.” He spoke very quietly, though he had long since thrown a weak Detect barrier around their group to minimize the chances of being overheard.
”I’ve never met Aric prior to this, but there is a quality to his aura that is… familiar, and it makes me deeply uneasy. I would prefer it if we didn’t venture too far from each other for this mission.“
His warning was hesitantly made, aware of how he must sound to the others. He could tell from experience that he was not being paranoid- something was truly wrong in this circumstance, and yet he still found himself hesitating to share what he knew with his team. There was a reason for that, though he hadn’t yet recognized it himself.
The Riolu half-heartedly waved his paw, his aura unfurling the specimen list they’d been assigned for the morning. The hand-scrawled list was surprisingly legible, as though the client had been very determined that they be capable of collecting all the proper specimen at once. Courteous, at least. It made their lives easier. Still, it looked as though the title of “samples” at the top had been written over part of another word. An ‘I’ or an ‘L’, perhaps to start it, but the rest was difficult to read. It had been scraped fairly well from the parchment.
Keiran passed the list to Riley and Clive, assuming that Ivilon would float closer to more properly judge the contents of the list for himself. ”Where would you like to start?” he asked quietly.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:04 pm
Riley & Ivilon There weren't many things in the world that set Clive off: the Vaporeon prided himself on being the calm and collected one of the pair that comprised Riley and himself. This however, this was more than enough to push him over the edge. It wasn't often that Clive came across a Pokemon who deliberately made others uncomfortable in the way that Aric had, and the way the Quagsire had responded to both Keiran and Ivilon was enough to make him displeased with the fellow. He hadn't particularly wanted to speak to the guy, though he was sure he'd have received the same treatment if he'd tried it--all in all it was enough to rub even the most collected of Pokemon the wrong way. Clive had been waiting from the moment they left the inlet to voice his opinion, and now he'd finally had his chance.
Staring sourly at the bag he'd placed on the ground, the Vaporeon shuddered to think that it had touched both his scales and Aric's flesh. He'd been fine with holding onto it until he'd seen the Quagsire disappear into the water, and was reminded that he'd come from there as well. Being comprised of water himself, Clive was very particular about the contact he had with outside water sources. He'd been less than enthused about the prospect of going to a swamp in the first place, given the poor quality of the water there and his sensitivity to such things, but the fact that their client swam in that water was enough to send shivers down his spine. No Pokemon in their right mind would swim in the awful toxic waste that contaminated this swamp unless they were a Poison Type, which meant their client had to be in the former category. Looking at the bag now, he could practically see the residue of the swamp water on its strap and he shivered as the others began to speak up. "Glad it wasn't just me."
Ivilon nodded in response to Keiran's warning. "He is quite right," the Beldum concurred, "There is something about his persona that is off-balance in a way that should not be. I know not what it is or why this may be, but I know that it is so. Aric should not be trifled with or set off by any means, this is what I have determined. I will try to learn more if you wish it of me the next time we see him, but I do not think there is wisdom in approaching the problem directly." There was no telling what it was that might trouble the Quagsire, so it was better that they not press on any difficult topics at all if possible. Keiran's advice was sound, though his recommendation was a little strange; the question tugged at Ivilon's mind what familiarity the Riolu could have found in the Quagsire's aura, but he didn't inquire about it just yet. Later he would perhaps, if it proved necessary.
Riley was surprised to find all the suspicion that came from his friends, and his expression darkened as he heard them explain their thoughts one by one. "I...see." It was clear from the hesitancy in his voice that he didn't fully see, but also that he was willing to believe their analysis. "Well, he's left us with a simple enough task at least. I'm sure we won't have any trouble accomplishing it for him, and maybe he'll stable out when it's finished. Some Pokemon are deeply disturbed when things aren't ordered the way they should be, and he might be one of those, upset by his inability to get the things he needs on his own." It was very hard for the Espeon to accept that there was something fundamentally wrong with another Pokemon, and he found it more plausible that something had gone awry with his aura and energy because of a temporary problem that could be resolved. Of course, this also meant that if his theory was correct but he was wrong about the trouble coming from an inside source, there was some very menacing outside source that had caused the imbalance that troubled them all--this was the outcome that Riley suspected and that worried him the most. "In the meantime we'll stay close together and work quickly," he said, meeting Keiran's eyes reassuringly, "We'll do the Guild proud and take care of our client all at once." His tone was warm and encouraging, rallying his Team through the haze of their doubt.
Clive smiled slightly at Riley's pep talk, albeit rather weakly. "I hope you're right," the Vaporeon said, "But the sooner we get this taken care of and get ourselves out of here the happier I'll be."
Perhaps prompted by the Vaporeon's request, Keiran chose that moment to pass the list along, and the others gathered around it as Riley held it up for examination. "Hm..." The Espeon's forked tail swished from side to side as he looked the list over thoughtfully. "I'm not very knowledgeable about plant growth," he admitted, "Especially in a place like this. So I think we'll probably be going on a bit of a scavenger hunt to find some of these."
"Well there's quite a few mosses," Clive noted, wrinkling his nose at the prospect. "Those always grow where it's damp and shady, normally close to the water."
Ivilon bobbed his head slightly. "There are also a number of lichens, which can grow on almost any surface in a place like this. It would be prudent for us to keep an eye out for any of them as we walk." Narrowing his golden eye, Ivilon scanned the clusters of samples, committing them to his memory with care. "It also appears that he's separated some of the specimens into clusters. Most likely that is a subtle indication that these samples can be found in the same general location." It was interesting though, that their client would know this and yet not have gone to retrieve the samples himself. Noting the client's bag still lying on the ground the Beldum opted to lift it up with his Psychic and drape it over his body to relieve Clive of the burden he clearly didn't want. The action earned a smile from the Vaporeon and Ivilon looked away humbly: there was something about Clive's smile that was terribly flattering, and he didn't really know how to handle something like that.
"Well we have a few options." Riley said candidly. "We can keep following this path and see where it leads us, we can head back the way we just came and head down by the waterside to look there, or we could head off into the forest to see if we can find some of the fungi or other things that might be growing on the trees." In reality they'd probably have to do all three of those things, but it was more a matter of where the best place to start was. Turning to his co-captain, Riley dipped his head to him. "Any thoughts Keiran?" Whatever the Riolu decided, Riley would agree the plan and lead them on in that direction.
Clive
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:04 pm
Keiran Keiran dipped his head in acknowledgement to Ivilon, a glimmer of appreciation rising in his chest for the Beldum's support on the matter. He was well aware that they weren't on the best terms at the moment, but he knew that he could count on the Steel-type to maintain clear judgement on topics like this. He would try as hard as the rest of them, when it came to protecting their own, perhaps harder- given his psychic abilities. He was far more empathetic than he'd expected from his species, if the Riolu was to admit his own prior judgments.
He took note of the surprise in Riley's voice as the captain took their explanations into account. He was understandably confused, being someone that rarely held judgement against another before he'd come to know them, but he was also intelligent enough to know when the concerns of his team were just.
Keiran, too, shared a weak smile with his captain, reassured that they would remain a team unit this mission. He felt a sliver of doubt in the tone of Riley's words. The Espeon was still reserved in his opinion of their client, as was probably professional to do, but something felt powerfully amiss to the Riolu.
The fighting-type pondered their options as the others voiced what they knew about the flora they'd been asked to collect. He was aware that fungi and lichens were not plants, but as far as he knew, they would also be the most resilient to staying in collection jars for long periods of time. Plants would be more likely to wither if carried around in little glass jars.
Did that mean they should collect them first? He wasn't sure. The forest would probably be best suited to later expeditions, when the sun was bright enough to break the canopy and provide better visibility. The last time they'd spent the night in a forest had been fairly traumatic for Riley, at least.
"We might try the riverside first. Given the nature of our environment, I'm not sure that it would be wise to work around the waste water once the afternoon heat has started to set in." Keiran considered their options carefully, the deliberation still evident in his voice as he explained his reasoning to the team. "It's true that we'll still need to be cautious, but the increased heat might evaporate some of the river contents. I'm not keen to have us working under those conditions."
He gestured for a moment to view the list, and found it promptly returned to his paws. "Thank you," he murmured to his teammate, already scanning the list for the specimen they'd be most likely to find at the river.
"...Looking back over this, I do recognize some samples that we'll want to collect before this afternoon." He tilted the page, gesturing with the tip of a claw to a particular description on the list. "Water hemlock is here- it's actually quite deadly if you ingest any of it. ...This one describes a white flower on a dry riverbank- red fluid... that might be blood root... Just how many of these are poisonous?"
Keiran made no attempt to veil his surprise, realizing that their client had failed to mention the toxicity of his samples. Perhaps he didn't know, or perhaps he hadn't wanted them to know either. No, it was probably to be assumed, given their environment. Even the water would be toxic in a place like this, so it was fairly obvious that the plants would follow suit.
"...I suppose it makes sense. He seems not to mind poisons, if he lives in a place like this." He awkwardly clutched the paper, glancing to his captain for confirmation on their plans.
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:05 pm
Riley & Ivilon "In truth, I cannot imagine there are many samples on our list which lack poisonous properties." Unlike Keiran, Ivilon's tone was even and steady, apparently unsurprised by the revelation. "A place like this would be unsuited to most normal plant life--even the ones that did manage to grow would likely have adverse effects if ingested. Being familiar with this place, as you mentioned, I imagine Aric is well aware of that fact. We're only obtaining samples however, so I doubt he plans to ingest them." More likely he was simply fond of plants in general, or else intended to extract some parts of the samples they brought back to experiment with them. It was very plausible that Aric was simply a troubled scientist, he certainly had the character for the type. Most poisons were also instrumental to medicines--it was possible that there was something to that as well. The Beldum hummed softly, a sound of uncertainty. "I cannot say what Aric's intentions are, but I know that we cannot discuss the matter further if we return to the riverside."
"Whoa, whoa guys, calm down." Riley spoke up quickly, his eyes reflecting concern. "I hear what you're saying, really I do. Just...don't make up your minds so quickly." For one reason or another, the Espeon found himself feeling defensive about their client, alarmed that his friends were finding reason after reason to mistrust the fellow. "Let's all pay very close attention to what we see and what we find out here, but don't be so certain so soon." His forked tail thrashed in agitation as he looked around at his Teammates. "I know that I can't see everything you see, but there also might be reason to doubt what you think you've seen already. Aura and Psychic are reliable, yes, but only to a point. There are ways to trick and alter both of them, there are extraneous circumstances that we don't know about that can impact them. You said he had something wrong with his energy, but doesn't Erinn? ...Don't I?" The last statement was scarcely above a murmur, and Riley's eyes fell to the ground. There was the truth of the matter--the judgment of Aric's energies hit too close to home for the troubled Espeon. He knew that his Psychic was malnourished; he knew that his aura shifted on the turn of a coin; he knew that his energies spiked and flared and suffocated not just him but those who had to witness them. Whatever it was that troubled them about Aric, wasn't his own energy even worse?
Ivilon was struck speechless by Riley's conclusion, heart twinging at the sudden wave of something like self-loathing that came over his captain. No, no, that was all wrong. That wasn't what he'd been trying to say at all and Aric and Riley were nothing alike. Aric's energy seemed somehow warped, while Riley's was pure, just constantly being muddled by the demons he had made for himself. Guilt came over the Beldum, and he allowed it to seep over toward his leader so that the Espeon's Psychic might pick up on it and he could understand what Ivilon couldn't figure out how to say.
"Riley." Clive's gaze was soft as he stared at his sorrowful friend, and the Vaporeon stepped forward to close the distance between them. "Riley, Riley, Riley..." His chiding was gentle, much like a mother would scold a sulking child. "You know that's not what they were saying." The Vaporeon sat down before his friend and raised a paw to lift Riley's head from its hanging position. "No one thinks there's something wrong with you. You're just one person who's been through hell and hasn't had the chance to recover." Painful tears gathered in Riley's eyes and Clive shook his head fondly, leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on the Espeon's gem and feeling the hot tears that fell as his paws as he did so. Rising to his feet, the Vaporeon adjusted his position so he was sitting next to his friend, and Riley proceeded to bury his head in Clive's shoulder, body shaking as he sobbed quietly--the stress and trials of the past week finally leaving him through his tears. Clive simply wrapped his tail around his friend, holding him close and resting his head on the Espeon's own. "There now, it's alright. You have time."
The Vaporeon waited as long as it took for Riley's tears to dwindle into soft, infrequent sobs before he righted own head. Clive knew how hard it would have been for him to do that--Riley didn't like for others to see him cry, especially those closest to him. Looking up, he met Keiran's eyes, certain that the Riolu would be filled with a number of feelings he shouldn't be bottling as well. Shifting his eyes towards Riley, Clive turned them back to Keiran a moment later, signalling that the time was right for the Riolu to step in. Riley held his partner in such high esteem that it was really Keiran's approval he wanted most of all; Clive had simply known that he wouldn't have been ready to accept it without processing the emotions driving his outburst first.
Clive ((Well, the whole Serrin/Skye thing had to catch up to him eventually. Better now then at some inopportune time?))
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:06 pm
Keiran Keiran had been reasonably calm, at least until Riley's voice began to crack. He felt a stab of agony through his chest, his aura picking up on the pain that littered his friend's mind and soul. He knew that this would not all be about the topic at hand, but rather that this was simply the straw to break the Numel's back. The leaf that broke the dam.
Keiran knelt at Clive and Riley's side, waiting in silence as the Vaporeon placed a soothing kiss to Riley's forehead. He could not acknowledge the flicker of relief at his absent jealousy, as absorbed as he was in ensuring the Espeon's health and comfort. They were more than just co-captains to each other- they were friends. Right now, the three Pokemon around him were the only family he had.
The Riolu extended a cautious paw as Clive released Riley, and he carefully drew the Espeon into a tight embrace. The feline captain was just light enough for Keiran to draw over his lap as he held him, resting his chin on his friend's shoulder for a moment so that he could speak close to the psychic's pointed ears.
"Riley; you are my dearest friend, and one of the very few to have believed in me from the very beginning. There is nothing wrong with you- certainly not from what I can see." His voice was soft and pained, but he did not attempt to withdraw from the turbulent aura that surrounded Riley. "Everyone hurts sometimes. It's a part of what makes you real and reminds you that you're alive. But it's not all of who you are."
He pulled away slightly, looking into his friend's eyes. "It's because you also laugh and smile, because you have such a powerful belief in the good of other Pokemon- that is as much a part of you as the burdens you bear."
"I would not be here without you, Riley. I will never take that for granted."
He managed to keep a steady voice for the most part, but as he repeated Riley's name, he could feel his throat tighten. He dropped his gaze finally from Riley's face and loosened his grip further so that the Espeon could relieve himself of the Riolu's embrace and return to the ground.
He could feel the heat in his face at sharing so much of how he felt, not always comfortable with expressing emotions in the same context as his companions. There was frustration, too, at his inability to explain what he had meant when speaking about their client. If he'd been able to describe it, or to show Riley what he'd felt and remembered, maybe he wouldn't have broken down in such a way. But at the same time, this was not the source of all that Riley went through- he had an entire lifetime of experiences to colour his perception and to change his view of the world. Perhaps even in understanding, it would not have changed a moment of this conversation.
"There is something about our client which frightens me, for reasons I cannot explain right now. I'm... not often scared, and it worries me that I might not be able to protect you or our team when I'm needed to. I'm sorry for putting you in the middle of that."
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2016 7:07 pm
Riley & Ivilon It hurt. The emotion swelled up deep inside him like it always did and his self-doubt came crashing down with more weight than he could ever hope to withstand. Part of it was about Aric, but that was such a small part of this he forgot the Quagsire as soon as his demons showed their faces--no, this was about him and the truth. That truth he pretended not to see but acknowledged here for the first time aloud: that truth that he wasn't alright, and hadn't been alright for longer than even any of his teammates knew. Once he said it out loud he regretted it, knowing that it would instigate a conversation that wasn't meant to be had here or now, knowing that his teammates wouldn't just leave the matter lie. He couldn't have helped it though--when the words came they wouldn't stop coming, just like the thoughts.
As he sobbed into Clive's shoulder, Riley tried to block out the presence of his friends around him. He just wanted to forget all this and start over. Maybe if he could just go back to that moment--he often had thoughts like those. Now, as his tears faded to the whimpers behind the familiarity of his best friend's ruff, he wished that he could accept what was being said to him, but even more so wished that it didn't need to be said at all. He was suffocating slowly, beneath the weight of these feelings, and he was afraid of what would happen if he let in any more--almost certain it would be the death of him. Did they know? Could he tell them? His words were caught in his throat and as his empty cries faded to silent shivers he felt the familiar presence of Clive slipping away. He didn't have the energy to cry out in protest, but his soul did it for him until he was picked up again by the comforting paws of his co-captain. Soothed by the Riolu's strength and scent, Riley allowed himself to be transferred to his friend's lap: he had neither the strength nor desire to protest left within him.
His eyes stung with the absence of tears as he heard his partner's whispers, but he had no more water left to give him, all of it long since absorbed into Clive's skin. Instead he burrowed in closer to his partner and clung to him tightly, needing the warmth of their bond to keep him securely tied to reality. Something was cracking beneath that smile Keiran spoke of, and it scared Riley to think what would happen if it broke. He couldn't let that happen--he knew it--but at this rate... What do I do Era? How can I keep doing this when every turn gives me more reason to doubt myself? If I stop then everything's been for nothing, but if I keep going...what will be left of me? She couldn't answer and he couldn't ask her even if she could--all he had was the present and his friends here, but they were doing their best and he could feel it. Whatever "enough" was, this wasn't it, but he could use it to pull himself together for the moment. Sooner or later something had to give, but as a Psychic he could live off of the good intentions of his friends and the love they gave him. It was a lifeline, and it was able to bring him back to his senses; fragile as he was, the Espeon could press on until his work was done--he'd been doing that all his life.
"It's not...you." Riley's voice was hoarse as he picked himself up off the ground, eyes heavy as the paws that didn't want to hold him. "There's something happening to me that I can't explain. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it before but...well I'm terrible at hiding my emotions even when I want to." It wasn't so much that he expected Keiran to notice as he expected it would be easy to tell. He could sense the irregularities in his own Psychic enough to know that it wouldn't be hard for his perceptive friends to deduce. "Now isn't the time for this I know, but... Please understand I'll need you. All of you." The Espeon swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I don't know about Aric, but if what he's facing is anything like this... Just don't be too hard on him." He mumbled the words tiredly, looking terribly fatigued although the day had hardly begun.
"And you have all of us." Clive's words were accompanied by a smile that glowed with tenderness. "We won't leave your side. We're your Team after all. Whatever it is we have to face today, and whatever secrets our client is hiding we'll get through it--that's what we do, and what we've always done since the beginning."
"Indeed." Ivilon contributed his words softly, golden eye dull with sadness. "I am indebted to you also, and wish you to know that I never have thought ill of you from our first encounter. I wish you happiness Riley, and I hope never again to be the cause of your strife."
Riley smiled gratefully, feeling the strength of Clive's warm energy bringing vitality to his paws and Ivilon's calmness fending off the erratic chaos that plagued his mind. "Thank you," he whispered, feeling his heart begin to beat again, "Your support means the world to me." Tipping his hat back from the angle it had fallen to, the Espeon offered a weak smile. "I know this can't be the end of this conversation but our time is wasting. What do you say we head down to the river?"
"If my captain commands it, I will follow," Clive returned playfully, stepping up to stand at Riley's side. Although the act was made in jest, the gesture was most real: the Vaporeon wouldn't be leaving his position for quite some time, if at all--it didn't take a Psychic to tell that the magician was barely able to walk on his own by now.
Ivilon remained silent aside from a chime of assent, doing little more than sending Psychic waves of support toward his captain with a subtle and regular steadiness. The Beldum's mind was racing with thoughts, observations, and emotions, yet the only thing he could focus on was the strong sense of wrongness he felt beside his teammates. They were such good friends and he had done more harm than good ever since their true teammate had arrived. The idea of leaving hadn't occurred to him until now, but suddenly it hovered on the edges of his mind. He couldn't go now of course--despite the harm he'd done he was needed to accomplish the task at hand. When it was over though, at that point perhaps it would be the right thing to do... For now he deemed it best to keep quiet so his words couldn't turn on him again, and to remain attentive to his captain's vital signs. Riley needed all the help he could get at the moment to function as normal, and just as the Espeon had done for him when he believed Ivilon had lost his ability to hover, so now did the Beldum return the favor, using his Psychic to alleviate pain and enhance basic functions. Riley wouldn't fall again while he was watching, that was the one and only goal Ivilon had in mind as they continued on.
Clive ((I apologize for this being super real all of a sudden. Riley just kind of snapped on me out of the blue.))
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