(ACE) The OLIVINE Team

"Of course. It is far easier to transport the willing, however if I get my claws on her, I can take the other wherever, willing or not." Xiao spoke with complete confidence, like a master of a practiced art. The fox had seen the act before, but was now assured it was not simply a moral quandary. "Good. Then if we-" She starts, attempting to formulating aloud when a shrill yelp cut her off. "Faux, you're asking a death mission of him!" The hound stood firm, planting a paw into the ground as he stared her down. The fox did not flinch, and even straightened her back to raise her head higher. Shocked more by the outburst than the statement Cinder cringed slightly, and shot a surprised glance, but did not speak over Faux who motioned to continue.

"Xiao can handle himself." She attests, unshaken as she gives the floor back to the Togeren. "I am not new to putting my life in danger for the safety of others. I have no concerns about my own safety, as long as whomever I am protecting stays safe." There was a deep resolve to his words, like a Pokemon who lived to serve and protect rather than act for himself. The Vulpix realized that despite her confidence in their new companion she knew very little about him, and while his past did not concern them it made her curious to the hardships he had faced. That, and he did not necessarily say it would or could be a safe process for him, or that he was okay with it and not just accepting the request as needed.

Cinder's brow furrowed, head tipping with thought. It was the best idea they had come up with, morally and practically, but it still came with its fair share of roadblocks. How they would get that close to her being one of them, or prevent her from attacking or breaking away from Xiao. She tried to imagine some sort of trap, but the logistics with her, their time limit, and the location made any thought weak at best. "What if we tire her out? It'll make it easier for us to teleport her out and without putting Xiao in danger of being attacked directly." Bastet suggested, perking both fire type's ears. A glow came to Cinder's face as another chance to beat the shit out of the bitch was mentioned. It was enough to make her paws itch, legends she wanted to teach her a lesson, but they had talked their way away from that path of action. "It would certainly help, prevent further struggle and deepen the effect of being dropped off somewhere."

Faux was less enthusiastic, the manic hound's motions still burned into her memory. Her callous actions, her own inability to intervene, her quick work against her kin.. What if that was another of her wards, her friends? Numbers were on their side this time, planning, resolve, no surprises, but not all the cards were in their favor. It would still be putting them in harms way, literally in the line of fire, and back on their radar. "Absolutely not. Putting yourselves in danger for the sake of trying to make this easier is more likely to cause friendly fire. These halls are too small for a proper fight, and my speed means I can cross a distance fast enough to grab her and go, without putting others at risk." The Togeren was quick to dismiss the idea, but with further shuffling the fox found her thoughts at an empasse. But its the best chance for success.

"I am more than willing to put my life on the line, if it comes to that. I am no stranger to fights, I know my way around avoiding most mortal wounds." Curling her claws into the floor the fox took in a rattling breath. "Speed or otherwise you are not being sent into that mob alone, let alone without an exit plan and a clear shot." Angling her nose to the floor the fox flicks her head as she tried to think quickly. "She's fast, unpredictable, and regardless of the relation she has to those other Pokemon they can't be much better."

Getting to her paws the fox stands with her tails high. "If you insist on moving in alone I won't stop you, but before the moment comes we should move as a group. Well, two for those remaining behind."

The tips of Melanie's many tails flicked irritably. Circles, she thought, the same sort of circles they had bickered in back at the Castle. They argue like children. Even Etincelle, who's paw steps she could feel beating anxiously, whined beside her in distress. This was a serious conversation with deep implications, but they were turning it into a heated and personal debate. "Xiao can handle himself." The fox remained stoic and firm in her stance, unswayed even as her position was labeled as cruel. "I'm sure Xiao can, its the Houndoom I don't trust." The Electrike argues while waving one paw.

"I am not new to putting my life in danger for the safety of others. I have no concerns about my own safety, as long as whomever I am protecting stays safe." Continuing to shuffle his feet Etin didn't feel right about Xiao's nonchalant attitude toward his own safety. "Your life is just as important as anyone else's." He sternly reminds the other Pokemon. Treating oneself with kindness was just as important as caring for those around you, and his pink gaze softens with concern for the Togeren's self preservation. Looking out for others was honorable, but indifferently throwing himself toward death was too much.  

"What if we tire her out? It'll make it easier for us to teleport her out and without putting Xiao in danger of being attacked directly." Bastet adds in, a beaming chirp coming from the Electrike. "Like a chase, or a fight, or water?" It was good idea, it would protect Xiao if he would not look out for himself. "It would certainly help, prevent further struggle and deepen the effect of being dropped off somewhere." Cinder agrees with a thoughtful nod. If they could mess with her enough to just get her winded-  "Absolutely not. Putting yourselves in danger for the sake of trying to make this easier is more likely to cause friendly fire. These halls are too small for a proper fight, and my speed means I can cross a distance fast enough to grab her and go, without putting others at risk." Quick to shut down the idea the small hound cringes from the rebuttal. They were not here to invalidate the fully evolved Pokemon's skills, or get in the way, but there was no shot that he would sit idly on the sidelines. Not again at least.

Etincelle's frustrations were radiating, making Mel's skin prickle as she commented for him. "You don't need to bear the entire load for our sake's though." Getting awkwardly to her paws and bearing extra weight on her good leg the fox felt the need to move around as more bickering filled the air. "Speed or otherwise you are not being sent into that mob alone, let alone without an exit plan and a clear shot." Did Faux have faith in him or not? She trusted him but wouldn't let him go alone as he wishes? The Ninetales snorts, and starts to hobble toward the sounds of Arry and Mathias on the other end of the room. "That's it Arry, find where it goes." Mathias coos softly as Arry fumbled with some sort of toy, the soft sound of wooden blocks tapping against each other most pleasing to her ears. The different tone pinged different sizes or shapes, though she could not know for sure without asking, "What do we have here?"

"If you insist on moving in alone I won't stop you, but before the moment comes we should move as a group. Well, two for those remaining behind." Turning his pink gaze toward Melanie Etincelle wondered if she knew already to move. Already she was settling down by the others, her motions stiff and pained. Legends help her.. "If we go as a group we're not going to avoid a fight. I don't know about exhausting her, but we could act as a diversion for the lackies and give Xiao the opening he needs."

OoC)) Skip, Mathias and Bastet are doing nothing this round. Bastet is waiting for Faux and Cinder's orders.

((Skip while I take a nap, just gotta proofread my post but I gotta sleep first))

Stamping a paw against the floor Faux commanded the room and opened the floor for input. She would not take rebellion, but discussion was still welcome as they devised their plan. "If we go as a group we're not going to avoid a fight. I don't know about exhausting her, but we could act as a diversion for the lackeys and give Xiao the opening he needs." Etincelle rationalizes, his anger over the situation finally giving way to reason. With a nod the fox considers the idea, and how their role as support could be most effective. The followers were just as important as their target, if not more so if they fell into a blind panic, and dealing with them would be a lasting problem even after the Houndoom was removed.

The fox's head tilts as she considers something, but Cinder takes no notice as her own gears turn. "It's a shame I cant make a real good smokescreen on command anymore, or we'd have the perfect cover for him." It'd been so long since she made a proper Smokescreen the skill was all but forgotten. After all, it didn't put down her enemy so what was the point of practicing it? Maybe with enough effort she could make a thick black cloud again, but she did not want to risk it going wrong with so many eyes on the prowl.

Cover.. By now the dust would have settled, and their cover would be nonexistent. Should they look into that, did they even have effective options at all? Cinder grunts, looking upon her party and their collection of fire types. She could not make a smoke screen, but perhaps the others still knew the move. Glancing at Faux the fox's silence on the matter was telling; she could not make one either. Melanie, Arry, and Mathias had already collected in the corner, ready to stay out of the danger zone and keep their youngest safe. They were meant to stay back, but perhaps.. "Can either of you make a smokescreen?" She asks Mathias and Melanie directly, though the doubt was thick in her voice. At their levels the defensive skill was more of a hindrance. Experienced fighters didn't fall for it for long and they should not need the cover to flee.

Even as the words fall from her mouth Cinder feels her pelt prickling with frustration.Stepping away from the others and closer to the door she waits impatiently for this whole thing to wrap up. They had wasted a fair amount of time talking in circles. Hadn't they come to this room in a blind panic? The disorientation that took over the other groups entrance the floor would be long gone by now, injuries assessed, plans made; they needed to hurry.

OoC)) Skipping Arry this round.

OoC)) Skipping Bastet this round


Mathias was standing around listening to the others talk. Opinions went on for how they're going to deal with the present threat. But one thing got brought up. Getting a smoke screen to give them a chance to get out and do what needs to be done. "Can either of you make a smokescreen?" Smokescreen? Mathias wished he knew it still but it has been a long time and he forgotten it years ago. Looking at Cinder, the charizard frowned and shook his head no. This time, he couldn't be of much help on that point. Bastet could attest to that.

Mathias opens his maw and speaks. "Sorry, I don't even remember how to use it anymore." The Fire type however knew how to use Shadow Claw but not even that was useful at this time.

Arry felt that his bravery was a bit more better and since the adults needed to focus on the bad pokemon. Putting on a brave face, he looked at the other before turning to see an opening just small enough for him to slip through. Maybe there was more things through that opening. Hoping to surprise the others that he finds more things, Arry crawls through it only to start sliding down it. It wasn’t an opening, it was a chute. Sliding down it, he was feeling scared at first until he seen what was below him. A hamper filled with towels and rags was there for those who scaled the tower. Landing inside the hamper, Arry looked around, he was back on the first floor. There wasn’t any way to get back up to the others. Seeing this, the aron had thought about Miyu. He was going to find them himself. ”Bye bye Cinder, Faux, Mel, Etin, Mr. Xiao, Mathias and Bastet. I’ll be back with Miyu. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be a brave boy. I’ll do it for all of you and Miyu.” After that, he tips the hamper over and falls to the floor. The next thing was to find an exit and luck be have it that an opening was there.

Getting outside, Arry had to think of some way to show that he was safe so the others didn’t worry about him. Taking his right front leg, he drew some stars as a way to show he was okay. After that he ran off into the woods hoping to find Miyu and Rebel. They might be a long way from there by now but Arry was determined to find them.

OoC)) Leaving post. Arry will return in due time.