"Forgive me for saying so, but you never seemed like much of a scholar. I'm eager to see your recommendations."[break][break]

Receiving a book from his calloused hands disarmed her, revealed by a genuine albeit bemused smile as he ordered her to read. What a refreshingly easy directive. She'd spent ten years or so doing little else in her solitude.[break][break]

"Climate and terrain can be also manipulated," she commented, flipping through the pages with idle curiosity. This was a well-loved book, which she hadn't expected. You could tell by the way the book cracked open to a yielding spine, wholly lacking in resistance. "My intent is to do so with Wo-chien. I couldn't ask for a place more suited to its strength than Petalburg."[break][break]

Some evidence of that blighted day yet remained, left as a lasting testament to the aftermath of her Avatarship. It had healed, for the most part, but enough hadn't to ensure the grudge between her and the woods went both ways.[break][break]

"Is there something similar that compels you to Mossdeep?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Utility is relative," she remarked, though she didn't push him further on that subject. Her eyes traveled across the curious collection of tomes, lingering a moment too long on the biography of a certain councilman. Whatever that book said of him would be useless to her, she thought: Lies and more lies.[break][break]

The sound of a laptop opening startled her back into reality, and as the general took his own seat she took the armchair opposite him.[break][break]

It disturbed her, how comfortable it was. A man like Zev should have seats that felt like knives.[break][break]

"I'm certain the Head Scientists would be thrilled to see us abscond with it, yes," Elisabeth agreed mildly. It was all the same to her, really. If they didn't get the Space Center, they were no worse off than they already were. Should Petalburg be a failed ambush, however, it would be a blemish on her own record.[break][break]

The element of surprise was not nothing. And she remembered much of that city and the woods outside it, too, just as Zev did Mossdeep.[break][break]

A curious question flitted into her mind, one that was likely better left unspoken but that current company seemed unlikely to find rude.[break][break]

"It seems you'll be with many of Hoenn's best for this operation," she started, then paused. "Are you concerned that their obedience might be lacking, compared to their Kantonian peers?"[break][break]

THEO BECKETT seemed to think it was a recurring issue in their ranks, at least. Not that she cared a whit what he thought.

[attr="class","ooc"] Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Her head dipped in assent. "I intend to."[break][break]

Wielding the environs to her advantage was Wo-chien's specialty. Unlike the waters surrounding Sootopolis or even Mossdeep, her Ruinous Avatarship thrived most inland.[break][break]

She could have relied on Tapu Fini, perhaps. But it would be a waste of her strengths elsewhere.[break][break]

"Petalburg is an ideal ambush because the League won't expect it," she surmised, propping her chin upon her hand. "The Kantonese troops will simply need direct instructions and a lay of the land. It's understandable we'd want the bulk our Avatars aimed at Mossdeep, when it will be the more difficult to attain victory."[break][break]

Her green eyes met his, quiet in thought.[break][break]

"Do you think Sootopolis will be at risk during the operations? The League will be split two ways, after all."[break][break]

Cillian Quinn had volunteered to oversee their defenses, in case that proved to be true.

[attr="class","ooc"] Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"Mm."[break][break]

Her fingers drummed quietly against her armrest as she pondered this, lost in thought.[break][break]

"Kyogre will attract Groudon and Rayquaza, then," she said. It was not a question when she spoke it, but a fact. Her green eyes shone with quiet certainty as she looked up at him. "I've seen the way that MATIAS SILPH hunts the beast, and I've witnessed how Rayquaza yearns to establish peace where chaos reigns."[break][break]

For the best that she had nothing keeping her invested in Sootopolis, then. Petalburg was less likely to invite personalities she had no interest in dealing with. And if anyone was to venture to Sootopolis, wouldn't it be freya morningstar, its noblest champion?[break][break]

Better to avoid that ill-fated reunion.[break][break]

"If that happens at our most vulnerable, that does mean our efforts elsewhere have a higher chance of success. That's two dangerous pieces taken off the chessboard."

[attr="class","ooc"] Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","pkmn"]

She blinked once at his mention of Sootopolis as “on the chessboard,” dipping her head again in a low nod.[break][break]

”Of course,” she said agreeably, but the truth was that she didn’t care.[break][break]

They were playing different games, really. For all that THEO BECKETT remained skeptical of Zev Harcourt, it was difficult to deny how he valued Rocket’s collective assets and resources. He would deign to serve Rocket so long as it rewarded him for his service.[break][break]

What purpose did Rocket serve for Elisabeth Fiorelli? It had given her all the power and opportunity for destruction that she had craved, and she’d only resented the organization for giving her exactly what she’d wanted. It was unfair, irrational, and hypocritical, but nonetheless here she was.[break][break]

She needed Petalburg to succeed because she needed to perform success for Rocket. Everything else was beneath her notice or care, but she’d gotten at least marginally better at performing interest too.[break][break]

”You have been more than helpful,” she assured him as she rose up from her seat and gathered the book back into her arms. ”I wish you success in the strategy and warfare ahead, God-General Harcourt.”

[attr="class","ooc"] Zev Harcourt

[attr="class","pkmn"]