Assistance.
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Was there a word that could offer more pleasure for a woman in her position? Crossing her legs, the woman of silk suits and sharp fragrance leaned far back into her chair, allowing her gaze to peer back down, slanted beneath the peeking sunlight that trickled in from the surrounding windows.
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"It's been a few weeks since we last spoke," she smiled, tilting her head curiously. "How you've been? Are adjustments still going smoothly?"

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


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

[attr="class","header"]THE MIND IS ITS OWN PLACE, AND IN ITSELF

[attr="class","setting"]

"don't worry about Concordas. He likes playing the part of the hardass."
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Not a lie.
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"He'll come around with time. They all will."
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A lie.
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In truth, officer paxton concordas shared Penelope's once foundational principal of distrust in all rockets. Even those who bat their eyelashes and spread whispers of good will.
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Over time, and through CIAN MAHER's convincing, the councilwoman's heart had found itself snapped open to their sweet dealings. They were just human, after all. They're allowed to make mistakes.
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And yet, somehow, during these last few weeks, she'd found herself questioning that forgiveness.
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Why were they exonerated, while she spent her days begging for scraps? Her intentions never strayed from the region's best interests, but did that ever matter?
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No.
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It didn't.
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"I remember hearing of Remiel Calcifet and CIAN MAHER's transitions going smooth. Especially after we were able to start collaborating with the intelligence they'd brought over. "
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Without notice, a sharp gleen overtook the councilwoman's eyes. Amber blending into gold flecks, the spiral of colors became an assortment of unspoken desire.
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Desire for more than what was granted.
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penelope can manifest and intensify feelings of ENVY in others by being near or deploying a HYPNOTIC STARE, able to cause the effected to negatively project onto others, stir feelings of doubt and envy, etc. this power lessens the further her proximity from her targer. (REQ: RPER PERMISSION)

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'Maybe your shadow project wasn't good enough,' they whispered.
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'Maybe it would never be good enough,' they continued, venom dripping from the implication, 'but for Cillian Quinn, it was good enough.'
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-
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Your ruination is not one of brevity. It's a slow creeping illness, whose beginnings bud with that of a simple cough or unsettling sneeze. It feels right to ignore it at first; who doesn't get the occasional case of congestion, after all.
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But it's an error nonetheless. One you'll soon find to fatal.

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[attr="class","header"]CAN MAKE HEAVEN OF HELL, A HELL OF HEAVEN.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + Rowan Wrynn

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

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Maybe under different circumstances, the two could've bonded over their tragic tale of isolation. Of being questioned relentlessly about one's own dedication after already giving up the world to stand where they were. Maybe if Rowan had been called to her office a week prior, when the sun still held a glimmer and the breeze could still lift her mood, Penelope could've found herself sympathetic to his heavy words.
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But this was not then, it was now.
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"It's exactly because you were once their decorated beast that we hold our reservations, Rowan."
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with skillful decorum, the anger that smoldered at the mention of CIAN MAHER was kept well hidden behind a held-up smile and bright amber eyes. Even now, months after their part, her heart still leaped to protect the man who'd once been her world.
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All he ever wanted was to do good. And now that he's finally accomplished that goal, she'd allow no one to strip him from the rewards that blossomed.
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"I mean, let's be honest with ourselves here. The only one comparable to your situation is Remiel Calcifet, and he brought along Zekrom to our aid."
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A short puff of air billowed out from her nostrils.
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"It's not even comparable."
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And where was Suicune? The fabled legendary he'd made stories with? Gone. Out of sight, and certainly out of mind.
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Only once Rowan moved to offer more than he already gave does Penelope's ears perk up. Slowly, she inched forward, her elbows finding home along the slick carved tabletop. Head resting behind her tethered hands, observant eyes peering back over to him.
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"Give us something we can use now. Names, projects, schematics. I'm sure there's more you could tell?"

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


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"Fine."
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The admission to his own surrender was a melancholic symphony of sounds to behold. She could keep it on repeat for an eternity and never grow tired of its specific cadence, its rhyme, or its beat.
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The councilwoman could feel herself leaning forward as the man continued forth his path of treachery, vindication's arm snugged around her shoulders, keeping her close and warm, all while the film continued to roll before her.
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Like Icarus plummeting from the skies, Penelope could feel her smile drop, her heart twist, and her stomach crumble all to the first words Rowan let loose.
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Elisabeth Fiorelli.
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"Monsters recognize one another. Next time we meet, let's see each other for what we are."
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Resentment bore into her chest, claws scrapping past skin and flesh, nearly reaching bone before it planted itself deep inside. Penelope could barely keep herself from falling over.
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"I see."
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It took a moment to compose herself. There was so much left to unpack.
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"So, Martín del Mar sought freedom," she echoed off, the name feeling slick against her tongue. How a vile man managed to divide his time between directing a region-wide bank and maintaining his position as underboss was beyond her. Furthermore, the fact that it went unnoticed for as long as it did...
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It was troubling, to say the least.
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And yet, rather than dig her heels in the obvious holes littering their systems, the councilwoman couldn't help but circle back to the word forever attached to the former avatar.
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Freedom.
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Her tongue traced the outline of her teeth.
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"And Lulu Flint is missing."
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Her newly manicured nails tapped along the edge of her desk, one finger after the other, all in rapid succession.
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"Elisabeth Fiorelli,"
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The name tasted like vomit. It took nothing to physically react to its mention.
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"Do you know anything more about her? Maybe something she mentioned during your time there?"
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[attr="class","ooc"] Rowan Wrynn[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]