It sounded like Bridget was saying something, but Quinn could not quite tell what that was, even while standing right next to her. It sounded important, but it was not the time or the place to ask for clarifications. The Malamar had reacted to Peat’s bubbles in much the same way it had to Normandie’s Tail Whip, and as much as that made sense, it was still frustrating. It was a three-on-one battle, but now the Malamar had enough speed to make up for it. Xe had to focus on what it did know. Cassiopeia was raring for another crack at the Pokémon, but Quinn could feel in their pocket that Normandie was just as ready, and with two Psychic attacks to deal with, Quinn opted for the Dark-type Pokémon in his arsenal. She was not sure she could catch the Malamar by surprise a second time with the same bait. They would have to try something else. Ze was starting to think of something, though, and as e stared at Normandie’s Pokéball in their hand, Quinn got the feeling that Normandie was figuring something similar. Cassiopeia did not return to her Poké Ball, but she did dutifully float to Quinn’s side as fae tossed out Normandie’s. The Ratffian popped out and hit the ground running, a purple glow already about her. She tried to stick to the more solid areas of the marsh, but she was light enough that it did not matter too much. It was not long before Normandie’s Pursuit caught up with the Malamar, and she crashed into the squid Pokémon. The Malamar wheeled around to face Normandie and directed a Psywave her way that she struggled through but did manage to shrug off, leaping forward and tackling the Malamar to the ground. She made sure to fight around the Malamar’s eyes, always keeping herself in its view. “Good,” Quinn said under hir breath. “Keep its attention. Draw it out.” The Malamar’s eyes widened, and it let out the gentle hum that signalled its Hypnosis attack. So close to the Malamar, it seemed like Normandie had to get hit. She ceased her assault on the wild Pokémon and her body went limp, eyes closed. Quinn bit its lip. Hypnosis was Psychic-type, yes, but even Dark Pokémon could be affected. He had known the risk, and he kept Normandie’s Pokéball at the ready to recall her if this did not work. Whichever the case may have been, the Malamar certainly believed its Hypnosis had finally affected a Pokémon. It chirped with glee, rising high into the air above the Ratffian before falling down, twisting like a drill to Tackle Normandie into the mud. But just before it could make contact, Normandie’s eyes snapped back open, and she rolled out of the way. With a hysteric squeal, she lunged at the Malamar again.

Anna doubled down on blaming him and accused him of leaving her behind in the rain. Which… isn’t… the furthest thing from the truth. Nikolaos looked away from her sheepishly. “I thought you were behind me. Honest.” He mustered his courage and met her gaze. “But that doesn’t mean this is my fault! There is no way you were two hours late because of me! You probably ran off after another Pokémon! And you never even said this is where you were going!” He was saved from the conversation by the fallen boy rejecting his hand and getting to his feet on his own. Nik frowned and let his hand drop back to his side. “Just trying to help, fílos,” he said. His amber eyes followed the grumpy boy’s frantic gestures to the now de-hinged door of the warehouse. “Huh? Of course it didn’t come off on its own. That sleepy-eyed girl from Borya Town used her psychic powers to knock it down.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Psychic powers were very rare, but they were far from the craziest thing someone could have. “She isn’t reading our minds though. At least as far as I can tell. She didn’t react when I thought about my underwear.” He smiled at said sleepy-eyed girl when she invited them inside. “Sounds like a good idea to me.” Nik followed Anna into the building. Most everyone else seemed to shuffle in not long after him, but it was too dark for him to be sure. “Well, I think I already told most of you, but my name is Nikolaos. I’m from Carpho Town nearby. And,” there was the sound of fabric ruffling in the darkness. Then… Light was cast across the building. Nik appeared at the center of it, holding a heavy-duty flashlight that was the source of the light. “I brought a flashlight! I actually brought two, just in case, but the other one is a little keychain light. This one is supposed to be like 40,000 lumens or something and last for 12 hours.”   

"What did I do?" "You left me behind, that's what! Once it started raining, you sped off like it was chasing you!" Anna pointed accusingly at Nikolaos. "Anyway, one of us has to be the scape-Aquoat, and it won't be me. So it has to be you!" The girl cared not one bit about the fairness—or lack thereof—of this statement. Decision made, Anna turned around and grinned at Shawn. "Roger dodger! I won't do that again. Or at least, I'll try not to," she winked. At the boy's next words, she peered at the fallen door, bringing a finger to her mouth in thought. She had arrived too late to see how the door fell. "Huh, so it came off on its own? How spooky." She peered around the psychic. "That means the warehouse is open, though. I don't want to stay outside here, so I'm heading in too Not that I can get any more wet." She gestured down at her raincoat and mud-splattered knees. Without waiting for a response, Anna walked inside after Lini. "Sure wish there was a light in here, huh? Maybe you can help us out?" she turned to face the darkness. "Can you tell us where the light switch is?" She paused, as if expecting an answer, but no such thing was forthcoming. The only noise Lini and anybody else within the warehouse would hear was a faint rustling. "Huh? No answer? Are you tired?" Anna hummed in thought. "That's fine. The dark works just as well. We're going to stay here for a bit. Let us know if we bother you." The two-toned girl turned back to the group, though they wouldn't see the movement in the dark. "Come on in, already! Yes, I know you can't see, but follow my voice. Let's not be too loud, but normal talking tones should work, since this storm is loud enough." She waited for everybody to enter the warehouse. "Because you were all determined enough to wait for me, you've, uh, passed the test! Yes, there totally was a test, and not me, you know, running late." Anna coughed. "That's not important right now, though. It's time for introductions! I'll go first. My name is Anna, and I'm Professor Appel's assistant. I volunteered to substitute for him today to meet you all and ask you for a favor on his behalf. He's been pretty busy at the lab, so it worked out okay, I think. Weeded out some of the less worthy." The girl grinned toward where she thought Dahlia was, though it was only when the lightning flashed through the open doorway and the windows that she could make out anything more than darkness. She turned back to face forward. "How about you all? What do you call yourselves?" OOC: Post didn't take as long as I expected, since Anna already talked to most of you in your posts. So that worked out nicely. Anyway, it's introduction time! We can FINALLY learn each other's names.