With the greetings - if you were to call those panicked moments greetings - gone and fleeting, Summer decided she was on a mission to find a way out. Selfishly, for herself.

But also for the ones in here she was caring for.

Eris Halla. Martín del Mar. BARNABY FINCH. Perhaps Cillian Quinn.

Everyone else? She didn't know. Fuck them, they were a hindrance. Summer wasn't going to be weighed down.

With determination set, her shaking ceased, perhaps for a few moments, as she investigated the ladder. She grabbed one of the hinges, tugging at it to see if it'd move as she pulled. It remained in place, though the bolts seemed questionable at best.

But on further inspection, she noticed something else. Something that reminded her of the red seeping from under the door.

"Prints. And they're wet. Where are they-"

Her thought was interrupted as someone moved past her to the ladder. He began to climb, and as he did, the prints disappeared, smeared under his movements.

"Wait! You're erasing them! You fucking idiot!" Summer cried out, her hands coming to grasp at her head in dismay.

She shook again, from rage, as mint frost ruined the trail that had been set in front of them. Her hands grabbed him, rearing back with the intent of punching him or hitting him. Something to release this rage.

Perhaps it was the room that made her this way. Maybe it was her emotions building from before to now.

---

- examining the ladder, noticed it was sturdy
- spotted the wet prints
- literally what the fuck mint frost, you ruined the prints
- she's gonna punch you

mint frost

☉

Summer's mind still raced. Even though they were having this peaceful dinner together, she couldn't help but wonder about Knox.

About Sam.

She thought to herself, did her father have any clue about samuel carter? Did he catch him on the tapes from the party? Did he realize that his son had a different relationship than the one Summer suggested with Ollie?

It made it harder to swallow for a moment. She cleared her throat, her own glass coming empty rather quickly. A habit she had developed from her developing anxiety and stress as of late.

"I agree. It's been a while since we've done something like this."

She took a bite of food.

"How have things been going as far as business, Father? I know from my side, but I assume from your perspective, all is well?"

knox prescott

☉

Typically, Summer didn't go into bars or clubs alone. She would drink at home, alone in her mansion, or with a friend.

Perhaps Martín del Mar. Maybe BARNABY FINCH. But, alone was ideal, since no one could judge her on the amount she put in her body.

She found herself in the Lower District of Slateport after a meeting held with a potential business informant. Her father found her to be the ideal candidate for the exchange, and it had run longer than expected.

The room she had found herself booking, since she was decidedly too lazy to go back home at the moment, was still being cleaned. So, a trip to one of the upper class bars was in store. Summer sat at the bar itself, scrolling through a few emails as she sipped her drink.

Mind buzzing, as it always did at this point. About knox prescott, samuel carter... her father's ultimate plan.

With a heavy sigh, she set her phone down, perhaps too loudly, chugging down the rest of her drink before ordering another one.

Not even noticing the potential company coming to join her.

Felix Gallagher

☉

Summer was called in for, essentially, pest control. But, not only was this a mission to control the MIGHTYENA population in Oldale. No, Rocket took an interest in the growing population for smuggling and shipping for profit.

Of course, that would only benefit her and the liaison in the long run. Therefore, she found herself compliant with participating.

That didn't mean she was going to play nice with her partner, though.

Donned in tight, leather pants and a scarlet blouse, Summer Prescott clicked, clicked her way into Oldale, her path glowing blue by the flames of her EMBOAR. Black stiletto heels carried her forward as she looked around, an unamused and expressionless look on her face.

"No sign of the problem yet. Loki, be a darling and start tracking them down."

Her appropriately named THIEVUL made an excited noise, scurrying off into the bushes to see if she could find something of interest. Summer was left with the EMBOAR and her ABSOL at her side. When she noticed Freya turn her head, she looked over her shoulder, seeing a blonde figure appear.

"Huh. My help finally decided to arrive."

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

The first thing that she saw when she opened her eyes was darkness. Then, there was a blinding light, threatening to split her head in two as it ached.

Summer sat up, rubbing her head and groaning quietly as she adjusted, looking around. And then, it truly hit her.

She wasn't in Mauville City. Hell, she wasn't at Martín del Mar's place or somewhere with BARNABY FINCH, the only other places she could imagine she'd wake up to randomly at this point.

This was strange. Unfamiliar. Dangerous.

Suddenly, there was a feeling of unease and tension building in her as she placed her hands on the sides of the walls and stood, walking out. That's when she saw it.

Red, seeping from the door. Two spots empty from other capsules.

"Did someone get murdered? Was there twenty three of us, and we lost one already?" Summer thought to herself, looking around the room.

Then she saw the eyes, staring into her soul. She stared back, her face pale as fear overcame her. That's when she heard him.

"Mars. Oh Arceus. Barnaby?"

Why were both of them here too?

She didn't care. At this point, she came and wrapped her arms around each of them, one at a time. She didn't particularly care if she was showing a weakness. She was afraid. Perhaps they could feel her shake before she let go.

"What the fuck is going on...?" she asked to no one in particular, looking over the ladder.

Trying to find an escape.

---

- interacting w/ Martín del Mar and BARNABY FINCH but free to other interactions
- observing the ladder for an escape
- literally terrified and wants to vom or cry. or both

|TdNSarh

Martín del Mar & BARNABY FINCH

☉

The exam seemed to begin, with Remiel Calcifet stating to "bring in the girl." Whatever the fuck that meant.

Summer was still a bit bitter that Remy hadn't acknowledged her. She'd make sure he'd hear about that later, though. Right now, she was too busy looking down below to see what exactly was going on.

Honestly? This was all whack. Maybe because she was so pregamed and intoxicated that she couldn't really understand everything going on, but what she did get was that some people were accepting these bands that could save them from death or maiming or not. In her eyes, it was a simple decision.

You absolutely took the band. Why waste your talents and life in a stupid exam like this?

Summer huffed before slumping back in her seat, looking over at Martín del Mar and Cillian Quinn as they discussed bets. Her polished finger tapped her pursed lip as she thought about who'd she bet on. She didn't really know many of the participants down there. But, based on her intuition, she could definitely pick out some good potential from the crowd.

Absolutely.

"BARNABY FINCH has my bid. That blonde girl over there, with the long hair, she does too," she said, pointing over at Elisabeth Fiorelli.

Why?

Well, Barnaby was hot. And that blonde girl, she was a cutie. Maybe she had something in her.

"Hmm... and maybe that cute little girl with those group of idiots that refused the band. Oh, and that really scary looking dude. They seem to have potential."

Summer was referencing to Ceri Glynn, priam conrad, and oscar clayton, of course. And The Fixer.

spectra

☉