R & R

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Rex: [Energy: 19 - 5 (Entry) = 14]
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An onix slithered his way around the forest, in search of something in particular—though he wasn't sure what it was yet, he knew he'd know it when he found it. The last time he had been here he was simply causing a ruckus, attacking the locals and causing some minor deforestation via the means of uprooting trees. That was, until a couple of goody-goodies teamed up with the locals and ran him off.

It wasn't that he couldn't handle himself in an asymmetric fight—of course he could, he was Rex. He simply didn't want to bother with such nuisances. This time, however, he wasn't here to simply break things. He was here to cause a whole different kind of trouble. All he needed to do was find the right spot and the right Pokemon.

Never has a day gone by that Rex hadn't felt compelled to cause trouble. Often he could sate this urge by just wrecking the nearest structure or beating up the first unfortunate soul who wandered into his view (and who he was sure he could actually beat up). But other days, such as this day, that simply wasn't enough. No, on days like this, he felt an overwhelming desire for plots and schemes and subterfuge.

Finding a nice, small clearing, the onix curled up in the centre, assuming an appearance that to the unwary eye would appear as nothing more than an oddly place pile of boulders. Now, all he needed was to wait and listen for that thing he sought.

Rex: [Energy: 1 + 1 (Page) = 2]
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Rex watched the seen with interest. He could see the conflict within his protege; how she rapidly shifted from predator to something else—something less. While he enjoyed watching the little vulpix terrify the weepinbell, it wasn’t worth much in the terms with which Rex judged the value of each action. Perhaps, to instill such fear into another Pokemon, she was leaving a Mark of Influence? Despite his typical assurance in his own beliefs, even the onix sometimes had trouble determining what constituted what.

"... I'm done."

Yes, Rex could see that. He knew that she was reaching her limits, and the weepinbell’s surprising initial resilience was the breaking point. Rex wasn’t sure what his final assessment of the vulpix was. She seemed to grasp a general understanding of his philosophy. She demonstrated that she was able to pierce her own mask, but it was clear that she had grown attached to hiding beneath it. She did have great potential, of this he was certain. But as she was now?

She was far from ready. She would leave this place, and he would have to seek her out again. But first, he had to find a means of further preparing her. ”You should leave, then, before the locals seek retribution for what you have done. Worry not though, little hailstorm. We will meet again, in time. Perhaps next I see you, it will not be through your mask.”

The stone serpent suddenly tottered, as if he were going to collapse like a weakened building. Instead, he shifted his weight and lowered himself to the forest floor, curling up in a way similar to how he had just before meeting the snow fox. The hail had taken its toll on him. He remained conscious, but he was well and truly weakened. Still, his eyes never left the vulpix, always studying.

Robin's Energy: 1
(+ 1, new page)

She had half-expected the Onix to push her further, but perhaps even he could see that she was reaching her limit. She was physically and emotionally exhausted, her limbs still shaky and numb. She was trying to understand this stranger; she honestly, truly was, and she liked to think she was normally quite perceptive. But he was just so... alien, to her. Apparently their rampage had taken a toll on him, too. He swayed as if he may collapse, before tucking his massive body into an unassuming lump of stone. He could be a mentor. He might be a madman. But no one else had ever peered behind the mask before, and maybe that was where an odd sense of kinship was born.

She didn't like him, per say. But they were similar, he was right about that, whether or not Robin wanted to be. She nodded along to his low, thunderous voice, crouching down next to him as he finished speaking. A question hummed at the front of her mind, one she may have second guessed, were she not so thoroughly drained. This... session, she settled on calling it, had killed some of her filters, if only for the moment.

"... and what about you? Won't they be angry with you, too? I know you can handle yourself, but you've been in the hailstorm for a long while."

Was it concern or curiosity? Even she wasn't sure.

Rex: [Energy: 2]
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The onix remained silent for a while. The hail had worn him—still wore him. He was acutely aware of each chunk of ice that hit him. He was pretty sure that, if he gave it enough thought, he could recall each and every moment that one hit him, where it hit him, what he was doing the moment it hit him.

It was important that the hail didn’t stop. Each hailstone that struck him was a reminder of its importance—of the vulpix’s importance. His exhaustion was a sign of her ability—her inherent potential. Rex finally responded in his typical low, slow tone.

”What I said was simple advice. You should not worry yourself with my health. Or anyone’s but your own, for that matter. Your sympathy is like a leash. Show it, and others will use it to control you.” Another lesson. Always another lesson. He took every opportunity to teach her—she was still not prepared, still not fully convinced. He knew he wouldn’t be able to completely turn her in the right direction; not here, not yet. But at least he could educate her on his philosophy, give her a greater understanding of how he understood the world to work.

”I am still more than strong enough to crush any Pokemon who would dare attack me. Now, you should go.” After a pause, he added, ”Thati s a suggestion, not an order.”

That is a suggestion, not an order.

Robin was quiet for a very long moment. She did not believe in Turmoil and Chaos and Order; at least, not with those capital letters. She didn't seek to kill, she knew that, at least. But the idea of marks had spoken to her, not out of any appeal of being reborn or existing in this supposed world after... no, moreso that they served as simply proof that she was alive, more than a porcelain doll that nodded and broke at the slightest hint of pressure. She wondered if she would meet this strange Onix again.

She wondered if he would meet her. The her that he sought to find. Or would he simply find the mask again? It was ever so rare for this side of her to rear it's ugly head, and she wondered who she would be the next time they met. She had planned to strike him down where he stood, if he dared to think she was under his thumb- and yet he hadn't. He had put down that Weepinbell, he had listened to her. He had treated her with a genuine respect that was only ever afforded to the mask.

"... you're not wrong." She agreed after a long moment, heaving herself to her feet as she turned to leave. She could swear that she still felt eyes on her from the forest, but when she turned, there was nothing but trees. Just her imagination... she needed to leave. She had hit her limit, and now the weight of the world was once more catching up to her.

(... no, there was a Sudowoodo there, she could tell from a glint of it's terrified eyes. She pretended not to notice it.)

She walked off ever so quietly, her voice low and barely a whisper. She tried to force a hint of finality into it. She debated saying thank you, but it would not be genuine, not now, and he was much keener than she'd thought at glimpsing through to her mind.

"... goodbye." And just like that, the hailstorm began to ebb away.

The ice froze back over, and Robin was gone.