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Clicking her cane on the stone that rested below her, Marilyn listened to the words that fluttered out of the young man's lips with a skeptic gaze; a vestigial spirit should have resided in a place as haunted as this one, sure, but the thought that it could reincarnate made her feel all sorts of ways. Partially bitter, as all those who had passed on while she served her time that had found a way into her heart deserved it much more than a fiery creature. Yet partially relieved, as facing off against legendary beasts while being unprepared to do so was far above her limits.[break][break]

"I see, I see," she hummed about, taking delicate puffs of her cigar, ".. the drk triad are some real fuckers, eh? Hopefully, that twit that was graced with its presence deserved a fate like that." She was only aware of certain details relating to avatarship and the drk triad, brought upon by her inquisitive nature that followed embarking into the RKS simulation and other peculiar curiosities. All the more to jot into her notebook when she got home, logged in calligraphy and pearls.[break][break]

Hitting the side of the Golurk with the edge of her cane, it lowered a fist for her to slowly crawl into. "Leaving is a splendid idea, let's skedaddle on out of here, sweethearts," she shot a warm smile toward the bluenette, which was all the more artificial, ".. you can climb into the other palm if you'd like. Chum, chum, chum~!"[break][break]

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Marilyn spat at the ground in response to the bluenette's wish not to be patronized, unwilling to spark further controversies or scuffs to preserve her energy. Though she was one to detest the younger generations effervescently, she was well aware of how they felt their emotions took the upper hand in situations like these; going in circles would be unsightly, unclassy, no matter how much hatred for them was sewn within her aged heart.[break][break]

Ash flew until there was silence, working to wade the Moltres and the voices of league victims aside. It was satisfying to see it work, leaving nothing but char embedded underneath her fingernails. As she giggled, she removed her authentic cigar and sparked it, savoring the flavors as she puffed on it between ancient gargles. Clacks of her cane and the dissipation of the spirits brought them to what she perceived to be the edge of the mist, a place where they could finally see the expanse of mountains and the spirits floating toward them through the skies.[break][break]

While she was expecting to run into her victims, there was enough time passed since their timely demises to assume that they had already made it to another plane. "Enlighten me of the fire breather," she said to both of them, tossing a set of cookies that she had previously stored within her purse at the two, ".. and eat your cookies. They are sweet, unlike your malding, lass." She was not above refusing sweets for the younger generations, as most of them needed to plump up. Maybe their thin physique brought such anger and resentment upon their minds.

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Following in her younger counterpart's footsteps, Marilyn giggled as she hopped around attempting to dodge attacks left and right, unshackled by the confines of her aged body like she was in the ordinary world. It felt liberating to move around this much, adrenaline numbing the slashes and bruising that formed on her sagging skin; though, she was almost completely unscathed compared to Xenon, a relieving yet ultimately just feat. The battle went and eventually, the two were spared as he made an eye-roll-causing speech about Team Rocket. But why did he have to make that speech, when in the end, most of Team Rocket's lackeys had no wish in stopping their organization from flourishing? The granny at least assumed that were to be true, though she lacked opportunities to truly know.[break][break]

As for her, she had absolutely no plans of bringing more power into the roots of the rocket tree; she wanted to snag some for herself, naturally, but all would be brought as she left more imprints in the world she never thought she'd be able to see again. "I don't blame you after all of that horseshit, dear. I just hope he has more sense outside of the stim.. simulation, yes! All these fancy words, bah," she smiled, catching a glimpse of an ethereal rift just like the one that led them here, ".. an egress, damn, none of this mumbo jumbo makes sense to me. I'm going to step through it, come come."[break][break]

Nearing the rift to the next stage, she motioned to both her paradox and the ultramodernist to follow, bringing the scenery to rapidly shift. Despite her lack of being in the know with technology, the simulation had its perks in its sea of odd cons.

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Much like the one that she had ventured into the simulation with, getting manhandled by all of those shadowy hands reminded her of the powerlessness she felt when she was tucked behind the walls of the prison. Unable to move, unable to see, unable to breathe without the grace of another with far more influence than she could ever acquire; it was a warm sensation, yes, but she still did not understand why they would need protection in a place said to be so artificial. But the spectral tides changed, bringing them to a room filled to the brim with graves and dull moonlit illumination.[break][break]

As Kazu turned to meet her gaze, she picked herself up with her freshly respawned cane and swept some of the dust off of her shoulders. "All good, dear. Such an odd feeling, it was quite distasteful," she smiled, joining him at his side as he placed offerings upon the tombstones, ".. but that is such a kind gesture, showing respect unto those that have passed on." Despite how she ultimately did not respect the ones who had passed due to her and rocket's endeavors, seeing him place coins and food on the graves was quite endearing. After all, there was no context to lead them to believe they were not in a place untouched by misdoings, as it was quite the ordinary spectacle. There was no need to spit on the graves as all the inscriptions were those she had not recognized or grown distaste or bitterness toward.[break][break]

But a Spiritomb appeared, a collective of spirits belonging to a keystone; though she was quite fond of subjugating eerie beasts of that nature, this one, in particular, was known to ultimately lash out at anyone. Known to bring corruption and take souls to form the weave a consciousness of 108. Even with its chaotic onlooking, Marilyn could not help but giggle in delight at his request and the unsheathing of his weaponry. Respect was felt, so respect had to be given back tenfold. "Oh absolutely, dear! Go for it," she said with an elderly rasp, "you're so sweet to ask."

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The bickering and bitterness were distasteful in Marilyn's already rolling eyes, emotions of hatred being exemplified by the strange quirks of the world taking root in her soul. She wished that the younger generations could prove her wrong, but the blue-haired girl's standoffish attitude was above all else pissing her off; why couldn't all of the members of team rocket be like Elisabeth Fiorelli, knowing when and how to show respect to their elders with their presence alone? Theo seemed, well, much better at dissuading her feelings of hatred toward the young with his presence, but Blue brought her to wish to spit.[break][break]

"Finally useful for something, frowny lass," she said, quickly snatching the talisman from her hands, ".. this world is beautiful because it's quite untouched by the grimy little hands all of you young fucks call your own. So many like you should not be allowed to inherit." Normally she would have simply bit her tongue and refrained from lashing out, as it was quite unclassy, but the energies brought on by such circumstances brought all of her deep hatred out. Loud and proud, almost forgetting that there was a big spooky-dookie bird of flames trying to make them their dinner.[break][break]

Taking her lighter out from her purse, Marilyn looked back up toward the bird with the cleanse tag in hand, igniting it. "Go back to wherever you once hid, you filthy mongrel!" She exclaimed, holding the burning tag outward in the direction of the Moltres as its paper fluttered toward it in the form of ash.

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Spirits and ghosts were indeed ones to lack prowess in being delightful, though Marilyn felt she had no choice but to be open to them with wide arms, as she felt like a ghost among the younger generations. "Having power against malicious spirits is something money can't buy, dears," she giggled and gargled, slowly advancing behind the two with her cane, ".. some that consider themselves ghost whisperers, like myself, feel as though power against spectral forces can only be brought by eliminating fear from one's mind! It's a curious spectacle, yes, yes, if you welcome them with kindness, most are believed to not bear ill will." It's how she tamed most of those that now resided in her violet orbs, that and allowing them to acquaint themselves with her beliefs and motives.[break][break]

However, she was indeed paranoid that the spirits of her victims would be displeased with her existence in this realm, being that she was the cause of their demise; this was a strange world, unlike the lands that kept her in shackles for all those decades. "Just a little walk, blue lass. Turn that frown upside down, it's a beautiful day!" She responded, though her rambles were cut short by the cries of the ghastly firebird. Blessed by the underboss's preparedness to take guard, she stood behind the virulent ultra-beast and looked at the Moltres in awe, taking small steps backward despite her curiosity. The granny was convinced the attitude of the girl had drawn it out, though there was no need to comment.[break][break]

A click of her pokeball released her Golurk, Ludwig, who was quick to launch one of its metallic fists forward to inflict a SHADOW PUNCH on the angered spirit. Overpowering the spirits unwilling to cooperate before they could inflict ill will was her specialty, at least when the occasion called for such hostility. Digging around in her dress pockets haphazardly, she could not find what she was looking for.[break][break]

"Did one of you manage to bring along a cleansing tag? One of the wards used against malevolence, it could help us against this twat. I can't believe I forgot the one I was going to bring back in Sootopolis, silly me!"

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Marilyn never blamed her kin for becoming estranged from her while she lived out her life behind bars, despite how much it hurt. It was an understandable feat, taking away the things that she loved the most for the sake of the refinery; what she did was something she should have gotten away with, had it not been for a single mistake. She blamed the systems in place at the time of her arrest, alongside her carelessness, for all the time that was lost. But time brought countless blessings that were once deprived, including the very gift of life beyond the cells, something nobody could have ever imagined she'd retain.[break][break]

It had to be due to her exquisite genes, no less. After gaining clearance to enter and exit Sootopolis as much as she pleased, as soon as she heard that the alleged owner of the Casino Starlight bore the name of Hasegawa.. well, she couldn't and wouldn't take postponing as an answer in correlation to her arrival. Welcome inside or not, there were great odds that one of her descendants was inside. One that she had never got the chance to meet due to her ex-husband's wishes, one that she insisted on being there for one way or another. She hoped for that to be the case and not a chance encounter with the man that left her, the man her heart still beat for despite everything that had transpired.[break][break]

She patiently waited as the concierge drifted away from the front desk, slumped in a chair, knitting away at one of her special projects. Time passed slowly as she anticipated just who would come out from the back; she was partially excited and partially nervous, her cane shotgun loaded just in case it was him to arrive in a hostile manner. With each weave of the yarn, she yawned, debating if her rotting appearance would be enough. But when the duo would part the doors, her knitting needles and the work-in-progress blanket hit the grand floors. One of the two she peculiarly recognized from her time in prison, the silly little lad that would bring her cigarettes and yum yums as contraband offerings; could he have been the one, keeping the family name from her all this time?[break][break]

"Oh dears, hi," she said with excitement and relief, picking herself up with the cane to slowly inch closer, ".. Granny Hasegawa is in the building, oh my, how youthful and full of energy the both of you look! You, boy, did you keep the Hasegawa name hidden from me every time you visited me in prison? Or you, lass? I've never met you, but you certainly have the looks to be one of my blood! Unless.. are you both my kin? Oh!" Squealing in delight, she would shakily raise one of her arms outward to greet them both with hugs, so delighted that she could not help but ramble in dazzling inquiries.

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It was as if the universe was finally rewarding her after a lifetime of betrayal, that of which she felt she ultimately did not deserve for her wretched sins, unlike the tumble Matias ultimately did deserve in her eyes. Marilyn nodded at her words, for she felt deep down that he was an unpleasant fellow; a curious one cloaked in jaded crypticism, the young ones she hated above all else. At least, the ones that were not loyal to the organization she now had been indebted to by an exchange of countless blessings.[break][break]

Her heart beat in her chest as if the tea leaves were growing from the inside out, thumping wildly in delight. Respect for the younger generations that had flourished while she was behind bars was a tough one to gain, true respect, but the words guided out of Elisabeth's lips caused her to feel it tenfold. In her eyes, she was now one of her honorary grandchildren, one who deserved everything simply for her willingness to not underestimate or limit her true potential. Sure, she was overconfident, fueled by grudges and the time that she had lost, but being enabled was a whole other ballgame.[break][break]

Watching the woman speak with a nostalgic demeanor to the staff, cheque in hand, the granny's perception and excitement made it feel like the exchange lasted much longer than it truly did. "Oh Elisabeth, this will be a day I will never forget, and it is an offer only fools would refute," a tear of joy escaped her eye, promptly taken care of with a handkerchief, ".. I will be quick to make this place into a home for everyone, for all the tea connoisseurs our organization has taken under its wing." Looking around, she took in everything she wished to keep and everything she wished to change, her mind full of ideas, concepts, and imagination running wild.[break][break]

"I owe you the world for this opportunity, dear. And if there's anyone you need to be taken care of," she raised her hand and motioned her nails together as if she was cutting at her throat with scissors with implication, ".. I'll do it, no hesitation! I've always said that I never leave empty-handed, but truthfully, I always pay my debts one way or another. I will never fail you."[break][break]

As she clasped her hands together in jovial nature and thankfulness, the Sinistea that floated amongst the table began to glow a decadent violet light, a shimmering ethereality that brought its teacup to blossom into a teapot. Guiding the Polteageist into her hands and rubbing its antique structure, it felt so right; she had finally retained one of the most precious things she lost, able to pick up the kettle she had been forced to leave in the dust of her twenties.

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