Despite all the work he had been doing in Mauville and Rustboro, Tristan hadn’t been to Lavaridge since the attack. There were just too many people in this small town. He wondered how many might have gone to other surrounding towns, or to go live with family in other cities. This surely couldn’t be everyone displaced by the explosion.

Moving through the throngs of bodies took a bit of time for the thin man. Ether had an easier time of it given his affinity for knowing what was about to happen and all. Still, it took some time to get to the pokestation. 

Of course, along the way he would listen to the cacophonous din of people talking, hoping to pick up something, anything that might have pulled on a lead. Still in his costume-ish purple suit, he made sure to grab the attention of the nearest Ranger to let them know that he was here and had his team looking into a few leads.

In the meantime, Veritas floated her way through the crowds with pure grace while Vertigo essentially kited her and Oracle kept watch from above.

There was some anxiety around flying these days, what with that Draco Meteor that came out of nowhere the night of the attack and all. While the Air and Gale Rangers kept the skies rather safe, at the same time it was heavily regulated - a lone over-sized Xatu was sure to draw attention. Hopefully that kid Tristan spoke to reported to his superiors, and Oracle wouldn’t be harrassed.

The four (Ether, Vertias, Vertigo, and Oracle) would keep in constant communication via telepathy, with Ether relaying important information to his trainer. Otherwise, Tristan’s Pokemon were  telling and showing each other what they were experiencing. While Oracle focused on Mind Reader and Future Sight, along with the Telepathy, she would really only be able to glide from updraft to updraft so she could focus her mind to find… someone. Something? Somewhere?? 

Beyond that, it was also a good view to ensure that Veritas and Vertigo weren’t being trailed or snuck up on.

Veritas wound her way towards the bathhouse, keeping a keen sense on that decidedly unusual mixture guilt, embarrassment, and fear. While these three particular emotions mingled throughout the people here, the mixture of all three in this way was unique. If nothing else, she hoped to help someone who was in such distress. 

All the while she was listening in, both physically and telepathically, to those around her. She was intent on finding the source but certainly wouldn’t engage. Rather, she and Vertigo would get a physical description of the person - height, weight, hair color, eye color, skin color, clothes - and maybe follow to confirm suspicions or learn more. The pair, much like Oracle, would continue to Mind Read those around them, and perhaps their Miracle Eyes might pick up on someone… something?

Vertigo, of course, couldn’t help but think up some Nasty Plots to prank random individuals as they worked.

It was some kind of bubble. There was a strange void surrounded by these emotions swirling strongly with each other. One the second floor. Yes. A bedroom. An arrow. Some kind of confrontation. Two people, though they weren’t looking at each other. They were looking at the void.

Someone didn’t want to be found. Was it the contact or had someone confronted the contact and didn’t want to be found out and knew how to shroud themselves psychically? 

“The Quay...Rustboro.”

It was a faint echo, slowly drowning in the growing void that was swallowing this odd mixture of emotions.

The words echoed throughout the consciousnesses of all four of Tristan’s Pokemon at nearly the same time; their psychic connection to one another rather strong. These words were relayed to Tristan himself as he entered the Pokestation. Something else to keep an ear out for, he thought.

Vertias was instantly intrigued, and so decided to wait outside. It would be rather odd, after all, for a Gardevoir to enter a bathhouse of all places. Or, so she presumed. Instead, she would wait outside somewhere she wouldn’t be immediately noticed.

Vertigo, however, wasn’t so patient. Despite Vertias’ request, Vertigo went ahead and floated up to this second story to peek into this window. He’d use some telekinesis to draw a curtain or shade if one might obscure his vision.

Oracle, at this point, decided to land somewhere with a decent view to witness the past and future of this place, of these people, at the same time. While this was an inherent trait of Xatu, it was something Oracle herself rarely employed due to the stress on the mind and soul.