Gabriel stared up at Allora for several moments, then looked over at Arashi and bit his lip slightly before he wandered over to place a gentle hand on his new friend's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. "Do you need the hug this time?" he offered gently, definitely not having missed his surge of emotion. He had mentioned the raids, and after this he assumed it was Team Rocket who had carried them out.

Jake listened closely to Allora's words, scowling after hearing that this hell was team rocket's doing. "F**k," he cursed under his breath, but nodded in agreement about Allora's plan. The best way to get out was to live and fight. Looking up from the rubble and destruction all around them, he asked, "So, if you know so much about this place, then where are we? How can we get out? And remind me again why we should trust you?"

Arashi was slightly startled by the touch against his shoulder, still twitchy after the Trevenant episode, but he relaxed again when he realised who it was. "I believe so. Thank you, Gabriel." He murmured by way of reply, grateful for the offer. He was a tad emotionally strained at the moment, and no longer aloof enough from the other two to shy away from comfort he sorely needed. They'd come through too much for that already, and it hadn't even been that long. The headset idea was unnerving, and he was unwilling to rely on the idea that it might not be real - they couldn't afford to not take it seriously. He could understand the point about not being overheard, though. He supposed that eavesdropping on many candidates at once could be rather impractical and tiresome, so they might not even have considered it.

"What concerns me is your point about the inside." Arashi added, after listening to Jake's points. "I am uncertain that I could effectively conceal the utter disdain and abhorrence I hold for the Rockets, were I to interact with any. As for trusting you, I'm uncertain, but willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for now. How long have you been here, to know as much as you do?"

Gabriel nodded slightly and shifted so he could give Arashi that hug, squeezing gently to try to offer as much comfort as possible. He tried not to let it go too long so that it didn't end up weird or anything, so he pulled back after a few moments to decidedly wiggle into his new armor, somewhat put off by the color. "Do they color the armor to try to fit us as well?" he asked quietly, not sure if he was alright with being associated with the color of blood. 

Jake wondered what Arashi meant by "utter disdain and abhorrence". Obviously he had had some interaction with them before, but he kept his mouth shut and listened to Gabriel's musings about the armor. It was true that the armor fitted him exactly, and that the sword was perfectly balanced and felt natural in his hands. But the color? Where had that come from? He didn't mind the silvery gold, and Arashi's purple looked natural and fitting for him, but Gabriel's blood red armor clashed with his character. Jake imagined blood red armor on a killer, exactly the opposite of Gabriel's mild, kind personality.

"I've read some studies that indicate a general rise in confidence in people wearing red as opposed to some other colours - perhaps that is the issue?" Arashi murmured to Gabriel, hoping to be of some reassurance to the uncertain teen who had just comforted him. "I mean no offence, but if they've done their research, they may have picked up on your self confidence levels. While I agree that the colour does not suit you, there is a discernible purpose to it that need not involve violent tendencies." He hoped that his words would ease Gabriel's worries, as he didn't want his friend to cause himself stress about his armour. It was unsightly, precisely the hue he disliked the most - but he disliked red because of the Rocket emblem, it was a residual learned dislike born of associating it with unpleasant events. This armour was from Team Rocket, so its obnoxiousness could be readily explained. Besides, it wasn't as though he would think any less of Gabriel for wearing red.

Mulling over Allora's words, he could see the advantage to being in a group - at least until they knew the ropes. Whether or not she could be fully trusted, she and her companions seemed their best bet for short term survival at the moment. Even if they proved dangerous, fleeing was still an option. If, however, they were beneficial - as it seemed that they were - then it would be an opportunity wasted to let them leave without them. At the very least, they could get information from them. Therefore, Arashi's opinion was that they should take up the offer, and see where it led them, and he said as much. "Alone, we're much more likely to fall prey to more like that Trevenant - we don't have the necessary experience to go it alone at the moment." He  pointed out softly, watching to see what the others thought.

Gabriel nodded slightly, smiling a bit in response to Arashi's words. "That actually makes me feel a bit better, having been given this armor," he responded softly before he ended up flinching back from Allora's harsh tone. He held his shield a bit closer out of reflex before he once again nodded in response to Arashi's words.

Jake, slightly startled by Allora's harsh words, drew back, fists clenching around the hilt of his sword instinctively. He reached over to give Gabriel a tight squeeze on the shoulder, trying to help comfort him. After a few minutes of total silence, Jake nodded. "She looks like she know what she's doing, that's for sure." He stated finally, breaking the ominous barrier of silence. "I think our best hope is to join with her. Besides, she said she had other teammates." He held his sword loosely in one hand, tracing the tip with his finger. Looking up from his blade back to the other two teens, he waited for a reply.

"It sounds as though we are all in agreement, then." Arashi responded, somewhat relieved that there weren't any arguments threatening to break out. He had been concerned that Jake would have been too riled by Allora's attitude to see the merits, but then again, Jake wasn't as hotheaded as to ignore opportunities in a threatening environment. "Should we go now, or make them wait a little? I don't know how injured either of you are, but I need just a little more of a breather.

Jake smiled. What about using your new Pokemon to help out? You know, the eggsecute or whatever it's called," he said, "But I agree. Let's all take a few minutes for a break, than once everyone is ready we can go outside and meet the others."

"I'm still not too sure how hard the Trevenent really hit me," Gabriel responded quietly, frowning a bit. He smiled a tad, though, hoping to be reassuring. "I didn't hear any cracks and it doesn't hurt tobreathe, so I still think it's probably just going to be a large...unsightly bruise for a while. One of those things that'll hurt worse later than it does now." But that was what the armor was for now; to lessen the impact of hits aimed for them, and while he still wasn't fond of his armor color he knew it was probably exceedingly important to keep it on. And, considering everything and how close the three of them already were, he didn't want to end up causing unneeded stress on the other two just because the color still made him uncomfortable.

"That's a point, Jake." Arashi mused aloud, considering things. Overall, it would be better for them to be in as good condition as possible as long as possible, as it would make it easier to keep going, to move fast, and to retain their full spectrum of movement. Someone in pain could run the risk of falling behind, or dodging too slowly. With this in mind, he called out Zelimer and requested of him the use of Aromatherapy. He was careful to remain polite, as he didn't yet know the Pokemon very well, but there didn't seem to be any problem. While Gabriel had, as far as Arashi could tell, been trying to make light of his hurts, the purple-haired teenager was worried that a contusion as extensive as the one described would hamper Gabriel's movements and emotional state by causing him pain - whether  when aggravated by a movement or simply background aching. That wouldn't be practical once they started to move, and Arashi really didn't want his friend to be hurt in the first place.

Jake watched as Arashi talked quietly and politely to the eggsecute, sighing with relief as an indescribable scent filled the air. Jake stretched, energy seeming to flow through veins and causing the pain from his ribs from being thrashed around by the trevenant to subside drastically.

Gabriel relaxed a great deal into the Aromatherapy, closing his eyes and smiling a bit. He said a soft thanks as he felt his bruising beginning to fade. It was nice, the green-eyed brunette feeling as though he could stay like this forever.

Arashi sighed as he felt the Aromatherapy working, easing strains and injuries and making him feel relaxed. It also got rid of the headache the gas had given him, which was a bonus. After thanking Zelimer, praising him for a job well done and returning him, Arashi considered Gabriel's query. "I would imagine so." He responded, after a moment's thought. "We've rested and tended our injuries, so they should be next on our agenda. What say you, Jake? Is it time to give them our answer?"

Gabriel nodded as well and straightened up, holding his shield close as he followed after Jake, his body language more or less him shrinking back as opposed to standing tall and proud. He had Cynder nestle closer to him and he looked over at her, offering her a small smile before he held his shield as close as possible, using it more or less to hide behind than anything else. He was a bit too tall to really hide behind it, though, so he had to deal with what he had for the time being.