“Pizza delivery girl. Heard you were starving, and had a thing for the smell of soot and death.”

June stepped out from the remnants of the undergrowth, more obfuscated by the dimness of light than actual foliage. Howard wasn’t kidding: this place was absolutely demolished. Crushed. Even the outskirts of the city weren’t safe from war. But yet again, was anything? No, not really. Least of all June.

But maybe this route had it rougher. At least she wasn’t being sieged by a bunch of small creatures making everything worse.

“You’re…” June snapped her fingers, but the eye-patched gal’s name refused to make contact with her tongue. Lack of two eyes wasn’t helpful, surprisingly. One would think it so, but it felt like half the population lost a peeper in the war. “The chick How– Fox, told me to help.”

“Which… I don’t know why, honestly,” she crossed her arms. “Unless you-slash-he wants me to deliver something. But I don't think there's much to salvage in what is effectively a pile of charcoal and skeletons, so…”

Her and howard slayte had another thing coming if they thought she was going to play hearse-driver.

---

Aurelie Lefevre

10 MP For post
50 MP for tagging another character in a meaningful way

[attr="class","aurelie-lyrics"]Politics (and wars) make strange bedfellows.

[attr="class","border"]

Aurelie's head jerked around, moved to instant alertness and attentiveness when a youthful-looking girl with short hair strolled out from the underbrush and mentioned the magic word. Which, of course, was "pizza." Her stomach gave an audible, plaintive growl at the prospect of some delicious, cheesy, pepperoni-smothered goodness.

The redhead looked eagerly at the newcomer, her expression lighting up in a grateful smile. Her single uncovered eye studied June hungrily for any signs of a pizza box. "Yes! I am starving. What kind of pizza is it?!"

Slowly, her smile faded when she realized the mention of pizza had been but a meme or joke. "There's no pizza, is there," Aurelie sighed, looking disappointed but unsurprised. "But I guess it probably isn't the best idea during a patrol."

Then her brows knit together above her eyepatch in confusion when June seemed to recognize her for a moment. The other girl didn't strike her as familiar, but something about her voice rang a distant bell in Aurelie's mind. It was a memory vaguely associated with guilt, making her squirm uncomfortably.

"Which I guess is the reason why you're here, if you're the one that How- I mean, the admin sent," she concluded, a little awkwardly. "I think we're just supposed to be looking around for any hostiles or League war camps nearby. They don't exactly approve of us laying claim to Petalburg, so they keep trying to disrupt anything we do here."

She sighed and glanced away toward the desiccated forest for a moment, before shrugging and looking back toward June inquisitively. Smiling weakly, she attempted to make friendly conversation. "So, how long have you been part of Rocket? Are you new to the organization?

"If so, this is...definitely an interesting time inside the organization." She sighed again, more deeply. "But when is it ever not interesting in Hoenn, right? So, how do you know Admin...uh, Admin Fox?"

---

june sleigh

Total MP So Far:
- 50 MP: reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way
- 50 MP: showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully (food but also using logic)
- 20 MP: number of posts

This girl wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, was she? Not only had Aurelie likely not ordered pizza, June looked nothing like a pizza delivery girl. She wasn’t decked out in the stupid bright colors of every pizza chain, but instead in all black and a motorcycle helmet. Didn’t even have a bag with her.

Probably best to let the thought go unsaid, lest she call her former work partner denser than a hunk of lead. Even worse if she was on the same executive level as Howard.

“Been around for, what, a few weeks? Month? Don’t remember exactly,” she said. June walked past Aurelie and further into the underbrush, hoping that the girl would decide to follow along. “What can I say? Needed a change of pace, or something. Figured the best place to get that was a… terrorist organization. Interesting is one of the words you could use for it.”

What was she going to do? Disagree? Not like she was wrong.

“Oh, Fox? He and I go way back,” she put her palms on the back of her helmet as she walked nonchalantly through the destroyed forest. “To last year. I delivered him funeral urns. He blew me out of the sky. I kicked his shit in and made him feel bad. he hired me as some vague temp worker, and the rest is last week's news.”

Howard would’ve called it history. She would’ve karate-chopped him in the throat. Good theoretical times.

“What can I say? Crime pays. And I prefer my Hoenn boring, honestly,” she finished. Her head tilted, and a yellow eye peered from the opened visor. “Like I hope this glorified patrol is. Since I can’t do my actual job.”

“What do you do for Rocket, then? Get stuffed with the delivery tabs? Sorry, that’s called a toxic relationship. Might want to cut them off.”

---

Aurelie Lefevre 

10 MP for post

[attr="class","aurelie-lyrics"]Politics (and wars) make strange bedfellows.

[attr="class","border"]

The more that Aurelie listened to the other girl, the more she felt as though they had met at some point, briefly yet somehow memorably in some way. There was something vaguely yet strikingly familiar about the way she carried herself, the tone of her voice, even some of her mannerisms and gestures. But Aurelie couldn't put her finger on when or how they might've met.

Especially not after the other girl shared how recently she'd apparently joined Rocket. Aurelie couldn't help raising her eyebrows and staring at her in consternation. To be fair, she wasn't sure if there was a truly good reason to join Rocket, but...

"Let me get this straight," she said uncertainly. "You decided—of your own free will—to join a group that you know full well is a terrorist group...because you like things to be boring?"

Her brow furrowed. "Now, I realize I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but... I don't think I understand. Rocket's not the place you go to find boredom. Monotony, craziness, trauma, or toxicity, sure, but not boredom.

"But it does pay." The redhead shrugged and smiled ruefully, remembering how she'd joined for the sake of financing. "So, good luck with that, I guess. Can I ask what your old job was? Was it exciting and low-paying? You were delivering...funeral urns for a living?"

The idea of her being a delivery girl tickled at the back of Aurelie's mind as she obligingly followed June through the underbrush. She felt like she'd met a girl like this a while back, a League girl with a certain amount of defiance and sass. But still, she couldn't quite remember when or where.

"As for me, I make stuff for Rocket," she replied, equally nonchalantly. "Tools, sometimes weapons, occasionally food. And then they pay me: with money, with cool materials, sometimes with secrets." She shrugged. "It's not the worst relationship I've ever been in."

Staring at the back of June's head, she swallowed hard. There really was something hauntingly familiar about this girl, even from this weird angle. Finally, Aurelie couldn't restrain herself any further.

"Do we...know each other? Like, have we met before?" she blurted out. "Although you'd think I would remember if I ever ordered a funeral urn..."

---

june sleigh

Total MP So Far:
- 50 MP: reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way
- 50 MP: showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully (food but also gullibility)
- 30 MP: number of posts

Well, Aurelie was right about one thing. Not the thing that she should be proud of, but, y’know. It was a start. But did they know each other?

How the fuck would June know?

“Uh, dunno,” June shrugged. “Something rings a bell I guess. Hell if I know what it’s from.”

“And to keep us on the same page, I was fucking with you: I’m not bored, I’m broke as hell. Like half the other Rockets. Probably,” she said. A good number of them had to have something wrong in the head to be there, but it couldn’t be all of them. Impossible, even.

“Speaking of, I’d just ask for the raw cash if I were you,” she looked back forward. Something sounded even more familiar. There had to be something. Broken memories were already a problem with Howard. Another one with this girl was the last thing she wanted. But seriously, how did they know each other?

“Um… you ever from Sleigh Fast Deliveries in the past? That’s my other normal job,” she offered. Arceus, these forests were boring. At least the island was more fun than this. In a sense. Sand, rocks, terrifying…

Girl… with an eyepatch…

---

Aurelie Lefevre

10 MP for post
50 MP for reflecting on why they fight (MONEY BRO I'M BROKE AS HELL GIVE 4000 PD TO GRIGORI RIGHT FUCKING NOW!!!!!!!!!)

[attr="class","aurelie-lyrics"]Politics (and wars) make strange bedfellows.

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"Ahhh, I totally get that." Aurelie nodded sagely in all-too-sympathetic understanding when the other girl admitted that she'd joined Rocket because she was broke. "I was the same way. Big dreams and empty pockets. And Rocket was the one who helped me."

She shrugged, flicking aside a springy branch that swung in front of her face. Despite the devastation all over Petalburg, a few leaves still clung stubbornly to it, supple and resilient. She didn't know if that was a hopeful sign or just...nature trying to be nature, no matter what humans did to it.

When June stated her preference for raw cash as payment, Aurelie grinned. "Yeah, maybe I should just ask for cash all the time. Things are easier when it's all just Pokedollars and cents. Even if sometimes, the stupid old saying really is true." She hooked her fingers into mocking air quotes.

"'The most valuable things in life can't be bought with money.' Isn't that how it goes?" She snorted. "Except they usually can be, one way or another. But you usually need a ton of money to do it."

An unexpected whiff of smoke wafted past, followed by a hissing, rustling noise in the underbrush and the whir of rapidly beating wings. Aurelie stopped dead as she caught sight of a wild Talonflame flying overhead, a dead Wingull hanging from its talons. Sparks showered from its feathers, causing the dry grass to kindle into flame only about ten feet away.

Aurelie stared for a moment and then reached out to tug at June's arm, pulling her backward. "Let's backtrack! I'm pretty sure there's no League people here, and I'm definitely sure we don't want to be caught in a random wildfire! Your Talonflame's going to...to..."

Wait. Why am I assuming it's her Talonflame? she wondered suddenly, even as she started to hurry away from the spreading flames. It just seemed so natural to think of this girl with a Talonflame. But why was that?

In her mind's eye, the redhead thought back suddenly to a rocky island, a hill overlooking the coast, and a defiant delivery girl with a Talonflame...

"Arceus! Wait a minute! You're that girl?" she blurted out suddenly and breathlessly, even in the middle of rushing away. "From the island! The one that rose up and then sank again! I thought you had intel! But it turned out to be a box cutter! And...and then..."

She trailed off, realizing first that she probably wasn't making any sense. And second, that she probably didn't want June to understand—let alone remember—what she was referring to. Even if it'd happened over a year ago, and they'd both clearly survived, in some fashion.

---

june sleigh

Total MP So Far:
- 50 MP: reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way
- 50 MP: showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully (food but also gullibility)
- 50 MP: have your character make a regrettable decision or make a sacrifice (mentioning the box cutter, oops)
- 40 MP: number of posts

Fire? That wasn’t good. The forest could go up in flames if they just walked away from it. June pulled herself out of Aurelie’s grasp and walked quickly over to the flames. Her ramblings were mostly ignored, and a poke ball rose. She held the ball straight out and let the creature, a Vaporeon, materialize from red static.

“Sweety, put out those flames.”

“Vap!” She opened her mouth and released a torrent of water. Sparks and red licks sizzled beneath the drowning waters, until all that remained was black grass and several new puddles. June wiped her brow and recalled the blue quadruped.

“Wait, what’d you say?” June turned her attention back to the island. “You say something about a box cutter?”

Mostly ignored.

“Wait, you’re the bitch who stole my fucking box cutter?!” June stomped across the clearing and straight to the one-eyed girl, and she raised a hand. It grabbed the collar of her shirt tight and pulled her closer. Straight into the girl with fire in her eyes and slanted brows. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Of course, they both knew the answer, but it was lost in the heat of the moment. June tried to shake Aurelie violently, “You better give that back, or you’ll have more to worry about than some stupid forest fire!”

Maybe she should release Matchstick instead. Get a rematch in, one entirely in her favor.

---

Aurelie Lefevre

10 MP for post
50 MP for Regrettable decision (getting physical with Aurelie, static electricity, etc.)
50 MP for recalling a past thread

[attr="class","aurelie-lyrics"]Politics (and wars) make strange bedfellows.

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Aurelie nearly broke into applause when June's quick thinking and her Vaporeon's torrent of water put out the fire sparked by the wild Talonflame before it spread too far. "That was so smart! Thanks for doing that before things got out of hand."

Babbling out of sheer relief, she went on blithely, "I really should've thought of that myself! I even keep a Water-type in my workshop specifically to put out fi..."

Her cheerful words cut off abruptly when the other girl unexpectedly rounded on Aurelie, with the glow of enraged recognition dawning in her now-furious-looking face. Suddenly dragged face-to-face with June, she indignantly tried to wriggle free from her gasp, sputtering in dismay.

"Yes! That was me! I thought you had valuable intel Rocket wanted!" Aurelie admitted openly, guilt furrowing her expression and clouding her eye as she recalled the events from the resurfaced island. "I was sorry then, and I'm sorry now! I'm sorry for chasing you down! And punching you! And stealing your...your..."

The redhead's brow creased in sudden puzzlement. "For stealing your...box cutter? Was...was it a really important box cutter to you? Did it have sentimental value?"

I could've done even worse. I could've done so much worse. Other Rockets would have done so much worse to her, she'd been thinking. But now, Aurelie couldn't help wondering, Why does she seem more upset about losing her box cutter than about being hit in the face and tied to a tree?

She didn't say it aloud, though. Instead, she lowered her gaze humbly. "I don't know why you joined us after all that. And after anything else Rocket has done to you. But...I'll try to find your box cutter.

"Or..." Aurelie sucked in her breath thoughtfully. "I don't know if this would make up for it or not. But one of the things I'm good at making are knives. I could make you a new knife, free of charge. Or new box cutter, if you prefer.

"I've even been working on infusing blades with Pokemon materials so they have different effects, like inflicting a minor electric shock or being harder than diamond." It hadn't been something she normally offered, but this wasn't exactly a normal situation either.

"Let me know if I can make it up to you somehow. I can say sorry until my face turns blue or turn Hoenn upside-down until I find your old box cutter. I just..." The redhead squeezed her eye shut. "Sometimes, I do things I wouldn't normally do, because Rocket asks me to. I think we all do. If I can make amends, somehow...I'd like to."

---

june sleigh

Total MP So Far:
- 50 MP: reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way
- 50 MP: showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully (food but also gullibility)
- 50 MP: have your character make a regrettable decision or make a sacrifice (mentioning the box cutter, oops)
- 50 MP have your character recall a past thread or event that they have participated in or not (link the thread)
- 50 MP: number of posts

Unfortunately for Aurelie, there were far worse things than death. Far, far worse. As she continued to dig the hole deeper, static electricity built up on her clothes. Towards the end of her long-winded rant, where she expressed deep remorse, her hairs stood up on end. June only looked more pissed upon the promise of something better.

She didn’t want better.

“Man, you really are that stupid,” June shoved the girl away. For her safety, if anything. She didn’t want to cover up why the girl would have the equivalent of a car battery through her system. Absinthe Blackwood was already on the back of her mind. “Did I not just say I’m broke as hell? Why the fuck else would I sell my soul to terrorists?”

“And I don’t want shocky knives or diamond knives, I want my box cutter back,” she said. If she lost it, then she was gonna be in for a world of pain. “So you better find it. Fast.”

“But at least you didn’t humor a million apologies like fucking Fox,” a sigh escaped her lips as she crossed her arms. “So… thanks. I guess.”

“It was my Dad’s.” Her head quickly swiveled away, and she suddenly found an invisible patch of grass interesting.

---

Aurelie Lefevre

10 MP for post
50 MP for antagonistic exchange of diologue

[attr="class","aurelie-lyrics"]Politics (and wars) make strange bedfellows.

[attr="class","border"]

The color drained from Aurelie's face and her face slowly fell when June said the box cutter—such a strange thing to value and desire so much, otherwise—had been her father's. Unbidden, an image of her own father sprang to mind, as well as the forging hammer he'd given her as a gift. If she ever lost that hammer, she too would do anything to get it back.

The redhead did bare her teeth in a scowl when June yelled at her for being stupid, though. "I said 'free of charge' earlier. I wasn't going to ask for anything in return. What use would I even have for your soul? And a contract signed in blood just sounds unhygienic and gross.

"But...I get it. Even for the girl who'd only want cold hard cash as a payment, some things matter more than money, right?"

As Aurelie stumbled back from the other girl, who was now staring at a patch of grass as if she were trying to light it on fire with her eyes, she yelped a little as every motion seemed to jolt her with tiny shocks of static electricity. It was as if she'd rolled all over a wool carpet while rubbing a funhouse full of balloons all over her hair. When did this happen? she wondered. Was it...the other girl?

It didn't make any sense, but it was enough to make her back away a few steps from June anyway. She took a long, shuddering breath as she tried to remember what happened to the girl's box cutter. Hm, it might be in the bag of random finds I brought back from...that island? she thought.

Or if the edge on it was good, she might be using it herself to open up boxes. You just didn't waste a nice sharp blade, after all.

Aloud, Aurelie promised, "I'll do my best to get it back for you. I understand now why it matters so much." Though if it had that much sentimental value, she couldn't help thinking, I don't understand why she brought it to a war zone in the first place.

Awkwardly, she cleared her throat and crossed her arms tightly. "Anyway. Let's get this patrol over with. We can talk as little as you want for the rest of it, if you prefer."

But I hope she's ready for a lot more confrontations like this, if she's tussled with us in the past, she thought bleakly. We only ran into each other once. There's bound to be other Rockets who would've taken just as much or even more from her. If she goes around demanding amends from all of them...

Maybe some would react even more generously than she had. But on the other hand, maybe not.

---

june sleigh

Total MP So Far:
- 50 MP: reference (tag) another character that is not in your thread in a meaningful way
- 50 MP: showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully (food but also gullibility)
- 50 MP: have your character make a regrettable decision or make a sacrifice (mentioning the box cutter, oops)
- 50 MP have your character recall a past thread or event that they have participated in or not (link the thread)
- 60 MP: number of posts
- 25 MP for completing your Skirmish thread.
- 100 MP for "tying" or having a "neutral" outcome for your character and their Skirmish thread
= 385 MP total