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"It's best to assume the worst in these realms," she advises to Malcolm Stone, half suspecting the slippery cell to be alive as well. It reacted to them-- that alone confirmed that it wasn't another mindless machine.
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Which wasn't necessarily a good thing, but still.
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Judging by how it slithered on the cold, metallic tiles, almost as though in a rush to flee from the pursuing shadows of ALEXANDER STONE and Katherine's Pokemon..? It was hard to imagine that the creature didn't sense their presence.
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It eventually makes a break for it, managing to slither upon one of the broken CLOCK TOWER'S walls. Katherine traces it with her eyes, a narrowed scarlet stare that intently judges the creature when it out-manoeuvres her Mimikyu and Alexander's Doublade.
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And then she spots it.
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Her eyes widen when a familiar glimmer reflects upon them, the gleam of her most precious jewel. It's unmistakable. The murmur in her heart confirms it, a reassuring guarantee that she finds solace in. This wasn't the Ultra Desert. Her mind was no longer playing tricks on her.
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"Alexander," the yearning-- the desperation in her voice should be familiar to him. He's heard it before. "I see it. I-- I have to-" no further explanation is offered. Instead, her body acts; a hand moves and with it a ripple of distorted energy paints upon this realm with a stroke of a violet, otherworldly shade. Gravity bends to her whims, likely affecting both Stones and their Pokemon in the process.
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If they weren't to hold onto something or adjust fast to its now reversed pull on their body, they'd join Katherine as she rose in the air to the top of the tower, seeking to reach the clocktower's bell with her hand.
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It's here. It's right here.
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---

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🗺️ Katherine Fairburne may discover another small GRISEOUS SHARD that fuses with her current; her giratina may surmise it has been displaced here during the planeshifting of dimensions and that another giratina may be in search of it.

[attr="class","bottom"]ALEXANDER STONE Malcolm Stone [break]

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Where BARNABY FINCH learned how to ingratiate himself with the public, Rocket taught Katherine to do the opposite. To be a shadow, to move without being seen, to speak without being heard. She was a puppeteer through and through, and the people of Hoenn were cursed to remain her marionettes. Little dolls and toys for her to play with.
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And she was damn good at it. Today was no exception.
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Under the League's ever-radiant light, she blossomed into an actress and finally accepted that she, too, was a puppet worth directing.
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Time for the show.
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The smile that paints her expression when she steps forth, on cue, is easily faked. Manufactured. So heavily practised that she barely notices its rise.
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She shakes Barnanby's hand with the smile persisting, the twinkle of stardom glimmering in her scarlet stare when she finally graces the camera with a proper shot - and then she claims her seat. Her throne.
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"Thank you for having me," she softly responds, easily slipping into the smooth rhythm of exchanging pleasantries, "I'm such a big fan of your show—it's shocking it took so long for this to happen!"

[attr="class","bottom"]BARNABY FINCH [break]

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"Ah, I wouldn't be so quick to assume that. Call it a hunch-- but I find it hard to believe that Galar did nothing to earn their fate. Life may be cruel, but it tends to bestow such misfortune on those who truly deserve it." Not only and far from always, Katherine reminds herself. But enough so that she can't dismiss this possibility, much less consider it less likely than its opposite.
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The delicate balance between the predetermined and the man-made was often contradictory like that. Both were true, neither was wrong - and not one was absolute. It was even hard for the Malevolent to wrap her head around. "Not staying idle, though. Hrm, hrm. I can agree with that," her lips find it easy to curve into another smile, content with the florist's assessment, "but gratitude is much too overrated." And it's as harmful as an infection, she thinks.
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"Are you heading to the other bars after this?"

[attr="class","bottom"]Elisabeth Fiorelli [break]

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"Bug and fighting. Highly susceptible to flying-types, as you can imagine," curt and simple. She sees no value in hiding what could very well be public information tomorrow. It's not an advantage worth safeguarding.
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"You know, I have a similar Z-move myself. When I can-- when it's necessary-- I make sure that the Pokemon who uses it is equipped with the right measures to survive the damage. It's not something you always need to rely on, but..." she mulls her words over, silently considering which to discard and which to use.
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"It's a good plan B to have. A contingency in case you ever need it."
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He's graced with a handshake solely for the sake of appearances. After all, manners were of the utmost importance in their line of job. "Maybe," was her way of accepting his challenge and, "until then, Josh, take good care of my city. Yes?" was her way of saying goodbye.

[attr="class","bottom"]Josh Devlin [break]

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"Then you have a healthier imagination than I thought you do, Lopez." Which says a lot, considering his (alleged) avid interest in video games.
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The Champion's orders almost draw a smile upon Katherine's lips, stopping only out of the fear he might pick up on her enthusiasm. If there was anyone she could trust to adapt quickly to her reactions, then it was him. Her expression maintains its neutrality and blankness, a tight poker face.
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"Steady."
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The GIGA DRAIN is allowed to strike unimpeded just as the PLAY ROUGH commences, but only when the Sableye is tackled does it glow with an ethereal, silver light. Its METAL BURST glimmers against the Mightyena, threatening to strike the feline for the damage it has endured.
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The Nihilego does not seek to change its strategy. Another ICY WIND billows from its direction, threatening to strike both of its foes.
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"Hrmm? Since when do I throw down threats? I always thought I talk less and do more..." She feigns offence with her voice as easily as she suppresses another smile.

[attr="class","bottom"]kyle lopez [break]

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Katherine bestows her scarlet gaze upon Angelo, along with the privilege of witnessing her lips curve into a smile. "Yes, exactly. Even gods have hobbies." The murmur in her heart is silent to all but her, the voice of a dissatisfied god. Fortunately, she could excuse invoking his name for such a goal.
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"Cousin? I figured they'd be brothers—but yes. I also wouldn't mind if we walked away with more than last time." Regardless of what familial tie bound the two together, it does remind her of the other Regis-- it makes her question how many more of them remained. A couple? A dozen?
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"Mm. Not really. They were always just fine. The real thrill is in heist films."

[attr="class","bottom"]angelo vestri [break]

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Rowan was right to keep his cards close to his chest.
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If he were to expose more than he needed, then the Malevolent would easily sink her fangs deeper into him until he could do nought but conform to her demands. Her greed was insatiable, fueled by the devil of a god that she embraced into her heart.
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"Aw. I thought I did that already," she jests, a smile already playing on her lips, "what makes you think they'll believe it this time? her eyes flutter in a series of blinks, confused and curious. "They would want to check the body. Test the blood. Bury her. They wouldn't believe us unless they saw it for themselves."
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A low hum parts through her lips.
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"She has to die, Rowan. That's the only way they'll believe it."

[attr="class","bottom"]Rowan Wrynn [break]

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"Barely," the Malevolent finds it important to add after Penny's rebuttal.
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During the next two, however, she patiently waits and listens. Contemplating and weighing, mulling over words and recent events. Barely still rang through in her mind, despite the confidence the councilwoman exuded.
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"Not long," Katherine assures her with the confidence of a fortune-teller, "but I suppose we can take comfort in knowing we'll face it together, hrm?"
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How naïve; how unlike her.

[attr="class","bottom"]PENELOPE LIVY [break]

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"It's Marco Cosmos, Fernando. It isn't all nonsense." No company that could depict a flushed kyle lopez with such accuracy should be easily dismissed.
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"But I suppose if it's all made-up, you won't mind if I try your route, hrmm..?" She questions, her voice low and sultry, filled with a confidence that exudes power. It's challenging in its strength and force, desperate for a match.
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Witch.
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Hot is what first comes to her mind. The second-- well, it's less of a thought and more of an impulse. She presses the button to upload her data.

[attr="class","bottom"]FERNANDO SILPH [break]

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"Good. Thank you." Hearing Katherine thank anyone without having been forced to was almost as mythical as the Pokemon they were joined by.
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"It's dangerous enough, I'd say. I haven't read too many reports about this realm, but from what I know, there are mechanical guards surveying most areas. They are supposedly nothing we can't handle, but enough of them could overwhelm us. If we end up drawing too much attention, then it's best to retreat," not flee, of course, she would never use such a word or resort to such lowly ways.
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"Oh, and of course we also can't stay here too long, but that's the same for all the rifts, as you already know."

[attr="class","bottom"]Greyson Connors [break]

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Clink.
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Her glass meets his in a toast, her smile radiant and soft. They were long gone from the Ultra Desert, and yet, the warmth clung to her tightly. Her expression is painted with a light flush that couldn't be attributed to any wine or liquor. If she were intoxicated, then it was with him. "To spending more time together," she repeats before taking a sip, sealing her wish with a stamp of wine.
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"You know," her digit lightly traces the edge of the boot of the glass, finding comfort in the motion, "the day you came to see Fernando, I thought you were-- I don't know. Not interested. Taken, maybe."
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She breathes before asking, "Did something change or did I just read you wrong?"

[attr="class","bottom"]ALEXANDER STONE [break]