divinitea | 1 ♣ [TEXT/ACTION FOR GOLDENROD CITY + ACTION FOR THE ROCKET BASE]

ACTION

[Having grown tired of the sparseness of her room, Celes has taken it upon herself to investigate her new surroundings - in her regular clothes, of course. She's walking slowly, peering around the halls and taking in everything she can, eyes flicking back and forth suspiciously, as if expecting something to pop out at any moment.]

How mysterious....

[Behind her, a Gothita and Vulpix are pattering along, doing their best to keep up with their new trainer, despite the fact that she's ignoring them. The Gothita appears to be doing worse than the Vulpix (having tiny legs will do that to you), but she struggles furiously on, watching her trainer with wide, reverent eyes.

Feel free to interrupt Celes' wanderings if you happen to spot her - she'd be grateful for the information. Maybe.]

TEXT/ACTION

[It's later in the day, and Celes has managed to find her way out of the Rocket Base and into the heart of Goldenrod City. She's currently seated at a table outside a rather quaint cafe, sipping from a cup and idly flicking through the feed on her Pokegear. Seated opposite her, sharing the chair, are her two Pokemon, eagerly watching both their trainer and the small cake sitting in front of her. Celes hasn't touched her food, but is onto her second pot of tea, murmuring to herself.]

...it's perfect....just how I like it.

[Her appetite hasn't really kicked in since she awoke in her room in the Rocket base, so with a slightly repulsed look she roughly cuts the cake into two pieces with her fork and pushes the plate over to her Pokemon. They fall on it in grateful desperation. However-

Do try to have some decorum.

[Celes' words are calm and even, but her Pokemon immediately freeze and start to eat slowly, any traces of their prior frantic feeding completely gone. Her Gothita even attempts to use the fork.

Having dealt with her Pokemon, Celes goes right back to ignoring them and instead focuses on her Pokegear, placing her teacup neatly back in the saucer.

She's spent most of her day gathering what information she can from the citizens around Goldenrod and her fellow Rocket members - now it's time to see if this 'feed' works as well as she's heard.]

I have a few questions that I would appreciate answers to, should any of you be able to help.

1) Are any of you familiar with a place called Hope's Peak Academy?

2) What can you tell me about 'Gothita' and 'Vulpix'?

3) What exactly is Team Rocket's purpose? Should I fear them?

Thank you very much for your time.

- Celestia Ludenberg

[Those aren't her only questions - by far - but at the moment they're the most pressing. If she finds someone helpful she'll pick their brain, anyway.

For now, her tea is waiting.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That doesn't make it impossible. If anything, you should be assuming there would be subsequent trials — after all, the only way there wouldn't be is if we all failed to identify the murderer in the third, isn't that right?

That's a pessimistic outlook to take, Celes-san, and particularly from someone as committed to justice as yourself. If we fail to find the murderer, then you and I will both be dead, won't we?

[LET'S GO.]

[MACHINE GUN TALK BATTLE START!]

Because you spoke as if you had experienced these 'other trials', Kirigiri-san. If you're going to be picky about my wording, then please don't be offended if I choose to be particular about yours.

I am committed to justice and logic - hence why I would rather focus my efforts on finding Ishimaru-kun and Yamada-kun's killer rather than thinking about any trials to come. After all Kirigiri-san, as you said; there is no point considering future trials if we fail the upcoming one, don't you think?

Although frankly, I don't understand why you're being so pigheaded about this - Ishimaru-kun is alive, and we aren't even in Hope's Peak Academy.

What motivation could you possibly have for focusing so strongly on the upcoming trial, when it technically isn't even going to happen?

We've both seen how a single word can make or break a case. There's no reason to take offense.

What if there were a way I could have experienced subsequent trials? That explanation would also explain how Ishimaru-kun could be alive even if we both remember him being confirmed dead, wouldn't it?

[.......]

I won't rob you of the pleasure of explaining your fascinating theory, then. Do go on.

What if people could be brought here from different points in time?

Oowada-kun did mention something of the sort.

[......]

Are you implying, with this talk of future trials, that you are from a time period ahead of mine?

[What?! Are you implying the world doesn't revolve around her and her timeline? Nonsense.]

An adorable theory, Kirigiri-san.

But without proof, also a completely useless one.

What sort of proof would suffice? It'd have to be something you could verify, but also something I couldn't possibly know unless I'd survived the third trial, correct?

[....you sound confident and that is unsettling. Hmm.]

I suppose that would suffice, yes.

You've never shown anyone your Electronic Student ID, have you, Celes-san?

[....no, she really doesn't like where this is going]

Is that unusual?

No. I just wanted to confirm that you hadn't — and therefore, its contents are something no one but you could possibly know.

When you registered your Gear account for the first time today, did it use the name Celestia Ludenberg?

Of course it did. That is my name, after all.

[She definitely

didn't have to change it

or anything]

The same name that's on your Electronic Student ID.

Obviously.

Then there's just one thing more, Celes-san.

We found the gift Fujisaki-san left for us. I'm sure you'll be glad to know it's safe and sound.

[......]

Very much so, Kirigiri-san. I was so very worried when it went missing.

Is that all you wanted from me, then? It is strange - I am the new arrival, and yet you're the one who has been asking all the questions. It's almost like you're suspicious of me.

I do hope you keep such silliness to yourself.

I'm confident we'll all be on our best behavior from here on out, Celes-san.

I'll look forward to seeing you in person soon.

Likewise.

[Aaaand she won't be sending any more replies after that - she'll have to watch you, Kirigiri-san.

But it would be boring otherwise.]

1 ♣ [TEXT/ACTION FOR GOLDENROD CITY + ACTION FOR THE ROCKET BASE]

text

text

text

text 1/2

text 2/2

text

text 1/2

text 2/2

text

text

text

text 1/2

text 2/2

text

text

text

text

text

text 1/2

text 2/2

text

text