[attr="class","katherine"]
The urge to raise one of her eyebrows is resisted and dismissed. Katherine retains a neutral expression despite witnessing the man’s charade, perceiving it as an attempt at making himself appear to be busier than he truly is. She’s seen and met the type up-close, they enjoy making others feel grateful for being in their presence.

Being right about one’s character rarely matters when you’re both the jury and the judge.

“It’s alright, I am sure you have plenty on your plate now after that circus in the press conference.”

On that front, at the very least, she seems to sympathize and cut him some slack. That, or she’s keen on staying on his good side for the time being.

“There’s not much to explain, really,” she wasn’t being modest, only genuine. ”The traditional challenge limits me to ghost-types alone, whereas I am allowed to use whatever pokemon I like in untraditional challenges. Most challengers opt for the former, it gives them an easier time trying to prepare for the battle in hopes for an easy badge.”

She is not one to beat around the bush.

The trip within the gym is a strange one, as both Kim and her are surrounded by mirrors on each and every side. Despite the lack of personnel within the facility, they’re not alone. Their reflections accompany them as they walk, along with ghost-types that phase through one mirror wall into another.

"I am sure you're not paying me a visit because you've decided to retire early and you're considering which gym to challenge first, so how may I help you, councilman?"


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
It feels like an official interview, which is something she hasn’t engaged with in quite some time now. Still, there’s no harm in practicing that skill. Who knows, it might come useful in the future.

“It was a joke, but mostly because every journalist was allowed in and they weren’t vetted, really. Some of them, the less serious ones, should’ve been denied access.” She shares her opinion before a brief shrug of her shoulders ensues, “But what’s done is done. I get it, transparency and all.”

”From what I recall, most of the other gym leaders did fine,” then, a pause. “Well, actually… I suppose I should say the gym leaders who were present. I recall that one of them failed to attend.”

“The council has my support. Dahlia, less so, but I’d like to believe her intentions are good. That project, whatever they’re calling it, sounds crazy.” But it shows initiative, and that’s something the league’s lacked for a while now.

“Selena Desmarais, however, is a complete idiot who should never be reinstated in her former position. She’s made her stance very clear - she does not stand with the rest of us.”

And she’s sort of a criminal, but that’s almost less important.

“.. Oh. Rocket, right. I— I don't know," that's when she sound the least confident, where the most confusion lies. "I obviously don't trust them. No one should, but... I mean... If the footage they've shown is real, then... What exactly spurred the change? That's not the Rocket I've heard about."


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
“..Yes?”

She answers, although her tone is questioning slightly. Frankly, Katherine can’t see where Kim was getting at. Was he considering the possibility that Rocket had set their eyes on instilling a dictatorship on Hoenn after ridding the region of the League? For a moment, she supposes that he wouldn’t be too far off. It’s most likely what she’d have assumed if she was in his shoes.

“What are you getting at, councilman?”


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
The urge to roll her eyes at the councilman’s words grows bigger by the moment. Despite how Katherine may feel about his short lesson about this form of government, she stays to the character she’d adopted to fulfill this role, keeping a neutral and fairly stern expression.

I already know all of this, she thinks.

But he cannot be faulted for telling her this, all things considered. The knowledge of some of her peers astonished her at times, but that’s best kept between them. Pouring salt on Kim’s wounds by reminding him who he has to work with would be rude and unnecessary.

“Like I said, what they’re selling depends on whether if the footage is real or not,” she repeats herself, going further into detail. “I don’t know if it is or if it’s not, but considering their history… They’re going to have a very hard time convincing me - and others - that they’ve simply turned over a new leaf.”

And frankly, until victory is assured, she wouldn’t support Rocket publicly. Katherine preferred to keep her cards close to her chest, and revealing them prematurely would be a gamble she has no intention of taking.

“Between us, I don’t know if I’d trust them even if they did change. Too much innocent blood has been spilled to simply dissociate Rocket from their old crimes.”

At the end of the day, Katherine’s allegiance is to Giratina and herself. Both Rocket and the League come second. If the League was to serve her goals better tomorrow, who’s to say that she wouldn’t just shed her skin and fully commit to this job? The role she’d been coerced into taking?

”I only want to know what their end goal is. What they hope to achieve here, in Hoenn.”


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
“No, it doesn’t. You’re right. But knowing it would help us prepare better for whatever it might be.” Knowledge is power, after all. Kim didn’t need to be told that nor did Katherine need to recite one of FERNANDO SILPH’s many catchphrases.

As for his offer to divulge more information and answer any questions she might have, she only replies to with a brief shake of her head. “I don’t believe there’s anything you haven’t already covered, councilman. Thank you.” For a fleeting moment she does consider inquiring about the A.Q.U.A project to see where Kim was standing and if he might have more insight to share, but ultimately, she opts against it.

She didn’t want to seem too curious, after all.

“Is there anything else I can do for you? I have a few more minutes to spare before my assistant opens the doors to the gym."


notes:

[attr="class","katherine"]
“... Ah.”

Funny that Kim mentions that. Katherine pays a glance at their surroundings, and by that, she stares into the many reflections that gaze back at her. The eerie image comforts her, carrying a familiar, soothing feeling.

“Funny that you’d mention that, councilman,” she turns back to him, her countenance adorning a thin line of a smile. “I plan to leave.” Until now, it didn’t seem like she had any complaints to share about her position. What was wrong?

“Well, to be more specific, I plan to ask for a promotion.”

Oh.

Nothing was wrong.

“Fill up some of the space kyle lopez left, maybe.”


notes: