"You get used to it, though. You hate it less." Or maybe she'd just forgotten what it was like to like anything she did. Rarely did she do anything she didn't hate. Her agreeability was always a nonfactor in the face of what had and needed to be done. Or, maybe, morally, Howard was simply better than her.

For some reason, that thought grated on her nerves despite how useless it was in the grand scheme of things.

She took a long sip of her drink, coating them in an uncomfortable silence as that question heavily lingered in the air once more. "Because it's where the victors are, admin." It's in her nature to try and appease him even when trying to be, somewhat, truthful. It's pathetic.

"Are you really that wanting for my sad, despairing backstory of how an innocent maiden came to befall you lot? Will it win me some points?" She theatrically sighed.

howard slayte

"The influence of so many unknown variables?" Ceres offers with a crane of her head. "Avatars, different dimensions, unheard of pokemon, God-like pokemon being more than myths, the creation of new technology— in contrast, the war in Kanto almost feels old fashioned."

Ceres answers with a hint of bittersweet amusement. Upon transferring, she'd heard things in Hoenn were complex, but this... was beyond her wildest dream. Even looking at Theo's blaziken, it felt like something foreign to her altogether. Some part of her was interested and another disgusted. She hated change, truly.

---

THEO BECKETT
Skipping both wild pokemon.

That, Ceres could agree with. It was impressive, even if she felt incredibly overwhelmed by it all the same. Even the vastness of Saffron seemed to pale in contrast to it, even if she still preferred the former. "I've never been to Unova before." A truth amidst a tangle of lies escapes as she nods, offering a thin smile, "let's see how well it holds up to Sinnohian grub."

"Oh, I'm Valerie, by the way. Nice to meet you— and thanks for the company."

Josh Devlin

"Boo." An unenthused huff left her lips, but the woman didn't complain further. "Alright, alright... Here I come then, big guy." Unfortunately, despite how toxic and mentally abusive she could be, Ceres did not get any enjoyment from getting to punch something. Maybe seeing someone getting hit? Oh, absolutely. Doing it herself though? Not so much.

Still, her form wasn't terrible. Aware of her smaller size, she made sure she was light on her feet, more prone to duck and weave, to be quick, than to be strong. And so, instead of one strong punch, as she sprang forward, she went for two quick jabs. A bit of an overachiever, maybe she did want some semblance of praise from the experienced fighter.

Tempest Quinn

"It's difficult, maybe even absurdity, but Rocket's done it before, in Kanto." Kanto was different, though. It didn't have beings thought to be Gods intervening and freaks from different dimensions. Maybe he had a point. Approaching anything in Hoenn like Kanto... maybe that'd been Silas' folly. 
Howard's question, while simple, peels at her ego uncomfortably. She was weak. It was a fact she'd known since her youth.

Weak-willed, weak-bodied, weak-hearted, weak. It saturated her insides like a second skin she couldn't remove; yet another fact she despised of herself. Thankfully, in her years, she'd grown adept at playing the role of someone strong. As long as others perceived her as such, or at least as weaker than herself, what she actually was didn't matter.

While she could easily lie and keep that guise going that she wasn't just as cowardly or simpering as a common grunt, Ceres spoke truthfully.

"I'm smart." She retorts without hesitation. "While strength wins the war, the smart commands the victors." 

"What about you? Excuse me for making assumptions, but you don't seem like the type who enjoys going in, guns blazing and bodies falling." For even someone as weak as herself, no, she wasn't intimidated by any prowess Howard may have possessed. Call it foolish arrogance that somehow existed in her anxious mess of a mind, but, he didn't necessarily seem 'strong' to her. 
No, he seemed 'smart' too. And that was what made him a threat in her eyes. 

howard slayte

Pale hues narrow in thought. Or judgment. Faintly, Ceres wondered if this was a test. The paranoid thoughts twist further into her mind, tearing between what she wanted to say versus what she believed he wanted to hear. Of course, in the end, her own desires seldom ever won.

"Propaganda." She gave the faintest shrug. "Or, intimidation. If we can keep Sootopolis secured and also procure Petalburg, that will be two cities under Rocket's siege. It'll prove our strength and further show the League's incompetence." That was a given, though. Their public relations made sure to nail that part in with each conflict between the two opposing sides.

"People cling to those who are strong. Power is what makes the world run. If we want to keep PR manageable, the rebuilding process could be prioritized. Get the citizens back into their usual life. There'll be plenty of jobs available in Petalburg for reconstruction among other things. Money always makes people shut up. Income brings in people." She scoffs.

"I can see the advertising now. 'Petalburg, reopened and ready for your business. Find a job today'!" Stifling a laugh, she continues.

"Either way, we show people we're not complete terrorists. Show them that Rocket is better than their precious League."

In times of desperation and hellfire, people were weak. And the weak would always latch onto the strong like parasites. Though the fires of war would run red and fear would be high, they could use it to their advantage, still.

"Sugar will always attract more cutieflies than salt. So, we shouldn't go around salting the earth too much, hm?"

howard slayte

Temp's friendly nature made it easy to fall into a flow with him. Of course, Ceres was a bit... wary still. Well, she was wary of everyone, truthfully. A constant state of being paranoid of any and everyone would rarely yield genuine trust. For Tempest in particular, though... being ranked as 'beast' wasn't a title given lightly. Regardless of how easy the smile, fangs still bear.

Swallowing down the anxious feeling that rose as she internally appraised his rank once more, Ceres gave a huff. "Aren't big brothers supposed to spoil their siblings though?" She whines with mirth. Still, she begrudgingly puts up her arms, sliding into a practiced stance.

"...You sure?" She questions his instruction with a slight falter. "Not saying it'd hurt you, but, I've got a mean right hook, you know?" She was, probably, bluffing.

Tempest Quinn

Even at his explanation, she can't help but wonder if there's something more. Oh, what she'd give to be able to pick his mind a bit better. Not to offer any real comfort in the case of plights, really. Rather, for her own benefit. Always for her own benefit. Regardless, her smile remains. "Of course."

She takes her place at Theo's side confidently, content to walk in step with him and relish in just a brief taste of his presence, as though his power were her own.

"While you've never been anything but capable," Ceres spoke without falter, "I'm always happy to lend an ear." A bold offer, but one she decided was worth the risk. For as long as she'd dealt with him, and he her, seldom had Ceres tried to bridge that vast gap. Maybe, in the past, it was due to cowardly fear.

But, perhaps with new beginnings in Hoenn, it was time she started being a bit more... progressive.

"I know Rocket's going through many new developments. I couldn't imagine standing at the head of it all." That was a lie. Oh, many times she had. And how sweet those thoughts had been.

As she spoke, the appearance of a larger, more hulking pokemon caught her eye. Though it might benefit the scientists she'd proclaimed she wanted to help, selfishness reared its head.

The grimmsnarl wearily stared at her absol and the lingering blaziken. Utilizing this brief moment of hesitation, she offered a command. "Wear it down." Against a trainer, she'd usually give more direct command and strategy. For something like this though, innate and instinctual malevolence would work well.

Her absol engaged, deftly dodging a startled bite from the wild pokemon in favor of striking first with a sucker punch. Though mostly ineffective, relentless pursuit of its prey through attack after attack would, eventually, yield results. Stumbling slightly from the nausea of swagger, Ceres took the chance to throw a Pokeball at the fairy/dark type.

---

THEO BECKETT, attempting to capture the grimmsnarl

You'd think an admin could afford to have more expensive tastes. Ceres was, quickly, proven wrong.

She offers a small smile back, "oh, must be my lucky day." She muses. She had a creeping feeling that being treated out by Howard was a rare occurrence... Thus, she'd enjoy being a freeloader with him while it lasted.

Shifting in her seat, a brow soon arches. She pauses, as though thinking over his statement, and words leave her lips easily enough.

"For good reason and cause." She wasn't entirely sure if she believed that answer herself. Wanton violence via war hardly ever passed without blameless victims. Was there ever a 'right' reason for that? She briefly follows his gaze, watching the bustle of clueless lives going about their business.

...And all she felt was a stinging numbness. An inability to care, aside from what doors their sacrifice may open for herself.
What soon followed was a sting of, perhaps, slight envy that even a corrupt admin could afford more sympathy than she could.

Refraining from the urge to bitterly smile at herself, she decides to stop focusing on her own thoughts. Nothing good ever came from it but unwanted self-reflection and realization.

"Right?" The words came off more challenging than she intended. Ceres was quick to soothe them, however. "It will rebuild. People will learn to live through it and move on. Like a scabbed wound, they'll heal. Scar, maybe. But heal."

"Unless," she continues, "you have some other grand idea to pitch to the head honchos. Maybe I'll even back you up if you do." Her sincerity seemed genuine.

---

howard slayte

She'd pressed her luck, however slight, and was nearly nipped by the waiting fox. And though her insides churn with bitter envy and relent at recoiling even faintly, she accepts his authority with grace. There is a faint twitch to Ceres' smile, however, it does not falter.

"Of course." Her head slightly dips in a faint nod of acknowledgment, a hint of begrudging respect forced through teeth that ache to bare. "My apologies, Howard. It won't happen again." She lies to him for the second time today. It won't be the last.

Stifling her irritation, Ceres offers a pleasant hum once more in thought.

"If you're paying? A Fuecocoa with a dash of caramel. Otherwise, a muddy water cappuccino." One was significantly cheaper than the other. "Unless you have something you'd recommend," she offers a slight shrug. "Yourself?"

howard slayte

"I can't just phone you in if I find myself in a fight?" Ceres' complaint is followed by a delicate laugh as she locks her fingers together, holding her arms above her head as she stretches and loosens taut muscles.

Combat, in any form, was not her forte. More adept at playing support or being a hindrance, feats of brute strength were, often, something she'd be more than happy to let another deal with. However, with outright war encroaching, brushing up on self-defense wasn't entirely a terrible idea, especially if she found herself in a situation where her pokemon were already occupied.

That still didn't mean she cared for the idea, though.

More than content to let someone bloody their hands for her, she had no qualms with letting her fights be fought for her if the chance arrived. Better someone else get their face broken than her.

Alas though, she'd play the part of a bleeding heart more than willing to jump into the fray for any of her comrades.


Tempest Quinn , lmk if you need smth changed! <3

"I don't, either. Confusing, but interesting." Ceres agrees. In her, slightly drunken, state, his words blurred together more than she would've liked for them to. But, she paid attention to them well enough.

Some part of her felt uncomfortable exposed in her somewhat intoxicated state, even more so given who this man was. But, another part of her predatory mind saw an opportunity.

"Veilstone is nice. Though it definitely feels a bit less... grand," she enunciates with her hands, "than this. I'm not complaining though, it's a nice change of pace." Ceres laughs once more. "I wasn't, but... if you join me, I think I could be convinced to." She offers him a hopeful smile.


Josh Devlin