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Lavinia wishes this silly little thing were capable of understanding that her question was rhetorical. Just about the last thing she needs right now is for a Pokémon to yap incomprehensibly at her, even if — especially if it's one of her sister's. She can't tell whether Doireann is berating or comforting her, but she leans strongly towards the former given what-is-its-name's willingness to battle her Hatterene.[break][break]

Chrys really does hate her, huh...?[break][break]

Nonetheless, the Mawile is obviously frantic and so she keeps from snapping at him. Oh, how she wishes she kept from snapping at Chrysanthe themself! The damage is done, though, and all that's left is to try and repair it if she can. If. The love between her and Chryssy — or rather, the love she bears for them — may not be enough. She was so focused on not losing her mother's affection that she didn't even think...[break][break]

A flood of sobbing bursts forth from her. Calpurnia has never turned her fury against her, nor did the eldest Kubrick think she would ever have reason to do so, but now —[break][break]

Yet what right does Lavinia have to fear when she turned that very same fury on her sibling's gentle heart? She should have been gentle herself, damn it. She's always been gentle with Chryssy... even if it meant going against her nature. Now her mask has slipped and she's shattered the young one's fantasy of her, trampled on their innocence.[break][break]

“This is for the best,” she murmurs, more to herself than anything. “Who knows how long I could have kept this up. If anything, Chrys should have seen it coming. I have so much of our mother in me, but... I guess they're nothing if not self-deceptive.”[break][break]

When the Gardevoir reappears she's hopeful for a split second, only for said hope to be immediately dashed. This stupid creature left Chrys with only Munna and Hattena for defense, thinking their older sister a threat. The thought alone is enough for Lavinia to see red.[break][break]

Sensing this her Hatterene prepares for battle immediately, no less fierce despite being outnumbered. She's just like her Trainer; a realization which makes Lavinia chuckle, though it rings hollow.[break][break]

All the wrath she's inherited from Calpurnia, she has passed on to her Forest Witch in turn. Sure, this vicious Hatterene is also capable of impressive composure; but then, so is Lavinia. It's a miracle that Linus was spared this inheritance. He's much like Chrysanthe in that way.[break][break]

And yet, no amount of self-reflection can keep her rage from overflowing at the sight of both Pokémon using Double Team against her. The anger is now so intense that she forgets to weep altogether, instead laughing the same deranged, ugly laugh as before.[break][break]

Afterwards she tells them coldly, “What you lack in intelligence you make up for with brute force, I see.” Whatever fear she might have felt is utterly meaningless now. If they want to strike her down... Let them try. “That's my sister, you overprotective fools. Who do you think you are to stand between me and my charge?”[break][break]

She looks at the Hatterene and says, “Use Calm Mind and wait for my order.” To the hostile Pokémon she adds, “Stand down or I will have Kalliope beat you both up, much as it'll upset Chryssy.”[break][break]

Linus’ tail hits the back of her leg with surprising force and she whirls to glower at the Espeon, silently demanding What do you want? She knows the answer, though, and just as silently she signals for Kalliope to retreat, yielding — though not completely. Never completely.[break][break]

“I will grant you one thing,” she addresses the Gardevoir and its future relative, more quietly now. “I’m a terrible person. Wrathful, proud, selfish, all that. But I would never let any harm come to Chrys, let alone harm them myself.”[break][break]

A tear slides down her cheek. That they would even think that… Her eyes shining yet as hard as stone, she adds, “A woman like me never begs — but I beg you. Let me take my sister home.”

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Mission // Chrysanthe Kubrick[break][break]
— 3/5+ posts required[break]
— Note how she admits her flaws and even begs but doesn't apologize[break]
— That's because she still thinks they're stupid :pensive: I hate her[break]
— Also: "A woman like me [...]" is a verbatim quote from Medea. I hate her

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Though the Espeon's tail moved to warn her again, Lavinia did shriek when another wild Pokémon appeared. How could she not, when it was hanging from a tree branch and swinging right past her head with... something in its hand? It was hard to tell just what the stupid — monkey? ape? she couldn't tell as it swung, discerning only a green blur — the stupid creature was holding, but quite frankly she also didn't care. The only thing she cared about was that it could hit her. Flinching, she lifted her arms above her head and stepped back, breathing hard.[break][break]

“Get away from me,” she said to the monkey, ape, whatever, letting out a dry sob. “I said, away! Shoo!”[break][break]

The green-furred monkey — because it was a monkey, she could tell now that it was moving to climb down from the tree — did not, in fact, shoo. Instead, it came closer to her as though in defiance. (It was curiosity, not defiance, her Pokémon at least could tell.) Lavinia shrieked again and took a step back for every one the monkey took forward, clutching at Linus' fur.[break][break]

“You two, don't just... just stand there! Do something!” She said, despite the fact that the Espeon could hardly do anything with how tightly she was holding on to his neck. Kalliope wasn't much help either, calmly floating towards the monkey and calling gently. Of all the times to keep her temper in check... “No, not that! Don't talk to it, send it packing!”[break][break]

Yet talking worked, since the monkey gave her one last concerned look (though to Lavinia it registered as hostility) before it absconded into the woods. Lavinia lowered herself to a crouch and buried her face in the Espeon's fur, shaking.[break][break]

“I'm going home,” she decided, voice muffled, “but you can stay here if you want, Kalli. I trust you, and anyway... It will be much more peaceful without me freaking out at every turn.”

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— Solo Wilds #1[break]
— Spawning Poison / Bug / Grass[break]
— Skipping Grookey

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The nurse counters her with the same firm decisiveness as before, and Lavinia realizes that she has no idea what they actually think of her. It doesn't matter; or, at least, it shouldn't matter at a time like this. It unnerves her just the same, and whereas Lavinia was reassured by their manner before she's disconcerted now — that, and insulted.[break][break]

“What the hell do you mean I don't?” The girl speaks harshly even as her voice falters. “Of course I do! They're only fourteen — I'm responsible for them, and I failed —” At the word failed Lavinia breaks off abruptly, swallowing. She's had enough of displaying her vulnerabilities openly, thank you very much. Gathering herself as quickly as she fell apart, she dismisses the topic with a brusque wave. “Let's stick to what you know about, Kat.”[break][break]

It's simultaneously a jab at them and the closest she can come to acquiescence. Though her pride is hurt, arguing further will waste more time — and Katharina has a point about her sibling's reaction to her state.[break][break]

She nods at the Audino in quiet surrender, though every muscle in her body is protesting against being treated by a freaking Pokémon. Yet admitting to her fear isn't an option, and besides she'd be hard pressed to find a creature more inoffensive than this pastel, floppy-eared... thing. It's just the sort of Pokémon her little sister would love; the thought makes Lavinia want to bawl.[break][break]

Instead she takes a shaky breath and lets her eyes slide shut. This'll be easier if she doesn't look. “Just... Be quick about it,” she mutters, hands clenching and unclenching. Cold sweat trickles down the nape of her neck. “And, uh. Thanks, I guess.”[break][break]

She's doing an awful job of appearing put together. If she keeps this up, they'll end up diagnosing her with a disease. Maybe she she should say she has a disease, that she suffers from severe Audinitis, but of course Katharina is a freaking nurse. He'll know that's bullshit. Ugh, why couldn't he be a random civilian, a gardener or something, who just so happens to own an Audino?[break][break]

In the next moment Lavinia forgets about the Pokémon, eyes cracking open only for her to squeeze them shut immediately, lest she see the stupid thing in her face. “Chryssy's been missing for... Half an hour, I think, but with how often she walks she could have gotten far. What she has is an absurd amount of sheer dumb luck,” there's no bite to the words for once, “and that can't last forever. Especially not here.”[break][break]

Lavinia does breathe, just not in the manner she was asked to, gasping when something touches her — oh, thank goodness, it's the human. Exhaling, she realizes it's in her best interest to look since these two are not being quick about this. Then she thinks of those huge blue irises (it doesn't even have pupils!) up close and keeps her own eyes firmly shut. “Look, I appreciate the reassurance, but can you get on with this?”

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Skirmish // Katharina Strophe[break][break]
— 50 MP have your character be injured by another's pokemon.

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Despite the worry and the fear coiled in her stomach like a pair of snakes; despite how fervently she wished that Kat would be right, that Chrys would somehow — by nothing short of a miracle — be fine; and despite love for her sibling being the root of all this burning, ugly rage... Despite all of that, Lavinia can't quite bring herself to be repentant when terror grips them and they recoil. Quite the opposite, she feels her pleasure grow. She thinks, Good. They deserve to know what they inflicted on me, even just an ounce of it.[break][break]

Of course, though, things are never that easy. Not with anyone in her family, least of all with Chrysanthe. The middle child is every bit as unapologetic as her older sister, and oh, they don't stop there either. Lavinia's expression, transformed with severity, barely twitches at their words; but when they plead with the Gardevoir she rushes forward madly, pleading — begging — in turn, “Chrys! Chryssy, wait, please —”[break][break]

She strains to catch her sibling's wrist, to at least be teleported away with them, but the pain makes itself felt just at the worst moment and then...[break][break]

Then Chrysanthe is gone.[break][break]

“Oh,” is all Lavinia says before she sinks to her knees.[break][break]

I’m so pathetic, she thinks upon collapsing after hours spent avoiding this very display of utter weakness. She has to get up, she has to keep moving, reach Chrys again — but she can’t, and it’s got nothing to do with her fucking ankle. I have to. Even if I can’t, I have to.[break][break]

She tries her damned best, legs shaking violently, only for them to splay beneath her again before either of her Pokémon can reach her side. As for Chrysanthe's, they might not be there for all the attention Lavinia affords them (though her Hatterene looks poised to strike at the Iron Valiant). Still on the ground, she lets out a sound much like a sob —[break][break]

— only it turns out to be more of a humorless laugh, as she throws her head back and goes on laughing until it causes her physical pain.[break][break]

“Kalliope,” she says, commanding even while hoarse, “after them. I don’t care how far from me you go, so long as you find them. Incapacitate their team if you have to. Linus —”[break][break]

Before she can command him, the Espeon’s head comes to rest against her shoulder. Her expression falls, the anger drains out of her like water, and she takes up sobbing with enough force to hurt her throat. What birds remain in the devastated forest take wing, startled, while she hides her face in her hands and bursts into tears.[break][break]

I hate you.[break][break]

Of course they do, Lavinia thinks wildly, her whole body trembling. She’s a failure of a daughter and a failure of a sister, not only letting her little sibling get away right under her nose but scaring them like that and enjoying it. Of course they do. Only hatred explains why they’re causing her so much heartache.[break][break]

“Isn’t it funny, Doireann?” She asks her sister’s Mawile after lifting her face and seeing his fearful expression. “I wanted to ask Chrys if they hate me. If they want me to suffer.” A sound that’s half a laugh and half a sob bubbles from her lips. “In the end… I didn’t have to ask at all.”[break][break]

Still weeping, she grips Linus for support and rises to her feet, albeit unsteadily. The Hatterene, too, comes to try and hold her up despite its small body. For once she doesn’t lash out over her orders going unheeded, instead wiping at her face with her sleeve — to little effect. Even with the water flowing of its own accord, though, she fans the smoldering remains of the fire in her chest and it roars back to life.[break][break]

“Doireann and… You there — I swear, there’s just too many of you — when did Chrys even get a Para — Ugh,” this last is said as she takes a false step and damn near twists her ankle a second time. “Anyway, help me out here, Kalliope is too light to lean on. More importantly… Any idea where Gardevoir might have taken my sister?”

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Standard mission // Chrysanthe Kubrick

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The nurse's response is enough to lessen Lavinia's fear, at least for the moment. She nods her head wordlessly, blinking back the tears that have welled up again. At the question she says, “Yes, they —” The girl stops dead, breathing in sharply. She’d forgotten about her Pokémon altogether, and having been reminded she’s realized that both of them are right next to her. For a moment she goes utterly still and the duo backs away in tandem, as though anticipating disaster.[break][break]

“What're you fools standing around for?!” Lavinia demands as she whirls on the pair, voice no longer trembling but cracking like a whip. Now she's forgotten their audience, as there’s only so much she can pay attention to with her concern drowning out all the rest. Lavinia clenches her fists, nails burying deep into skin. “If you’re not sensing Chrys here, then get to looking elsewhere! Can’t you two get anything done without being told to?!”[break][break]

Despite her outburst, she knows why they’re standing around. They’re worried about her; and overwhelmed too, no doubt. Between Linus sensing her thoughts and Kalliope her emotions, both are privy to the extent of their Trainer’s desperation in excruciating detail. She hates it. She hates her weaknesses being perceived so fully, even by her dearest partners.[break][break]

Lavinia's shoulders slump and she lets out a sob, fists unclenching. Then she dips her head, long hair hiding her face from view; for all the good that’ll do when they can read her like a damn book. Linus steps forward, but halts when she shakes her head.[break][break]

“It’s not me you should be worried about,” she manages to say, much more softly.[break][break]

Truthfully, Lavinia is a moment away from collapsing and sobbing her heart out — but the knowledge that she’s hampering the search is enough to steel her resolve. She should never have faltered to begin with. Her mother wouldn’t have.[break][break]

“Kalliope,” she calls evenly, head held high. “I want you so far that you can't sense me.” Before the Hatterene protests, she lifts a hand. “Chrys could be anywhere. We need to expand our range, and I’m only a hindrance.” She smiles, just barely. “Oh, and Kalli? If anything irritates you…”[break][break]

She trails off as the Hatterene cries out in eagerness, then promptly obeys. Good girl. Perhaps its violence will grant her catharsis as well, even if she isn’t there to see it. She turns to Linus next, running her fingers through his fur. This will be hard. The Espeon is her support and her alarm system, and she’s almost never without him. Still… If it’s for Chrysante…[break][break]

”You cover the other direction,” is all she says, quietly but decisively. “We can’t waste your power on sensing every silly little Pokémon right now. I’ll manage, Linus. Now go.”[break][break]

Rather than watch him leave she turns to Katharina, only for her heart to lurch upon seeing the Xatu on the other's head. Isn’t that, like, unhygienic in their line of work? Oh, and speaking of his work — what is he on about — Lavinia stares, incredulous.[break][break]

“You can’t be serious,” she replies harshly, the steel in her gaze sharp enough to cut. “Grievous? These are scratches, nothing more.” With a dismissive scoff, she walks right past Katharina and doesn’t halt as she goes on, “I get that you’re a nurse, but we’re racing against the clock here. No one’ll blame you if I get infected, and that's a small price to pay for Chrys' well-being.”[break][break]

The next words are almost an afterthought: “Besides, I deserve punishment for this.”

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Skirmish // Katharina Strophe[break][break]
— 50 MP showcase your character's strengths (decisive, conscientious).[break]
— 50 MP have your character cast doubt on another's judgement.[break]
— 50 MP have your character make a sacrifice.[break]
— 50 MP have your character's Pokemon represent their condition.[break]
— 50 MP showcase a moment between your character and their Pokemon.

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Lavinia isn't quite sure what she expected; although, perhaps it's more accurate to say that she didn't expect anything. Her mind is too frazzled to make any sense, and the only coherent thought she has at the moment is of Chrysanthe — Chrys — her sibling —, repeated over and over.[break][break]

That is, until the stranger's reaction snaps her out of it. She's surprised to the extent that she doesn’t immediately shrug the woman's hand off, or even protest at all. She doesn't register this stranger's apparent knowledge of her predicament either; doesn't realize they've heard her shouting and swearing, though even if she did she wouldn't care. For once in her life, she's abandoned composure altogether.[break][break]

Which also means she's abandoned any pretense of being an adult who knows what she's doing. She wants to sob on this woman's shoulder. She wants to scream herself hoarse. And, more than anything, she wants her mother.[break][break]

Yet, though she may not quite be an adult, she isn't a child either. So she gathers herself the best she can, swallowing the rest of her tears and taking comfort in the fact that this kind stranger will help, that it’ll all be figured out. Lavinia never trusts so readily, but now… She doesn't even consider that this person may be anything other than reliable and kind. She couldn't bear it. So, she opens her mouth to thank them —[break][break]

— and snaps it shut again as they go on to describe her sister. Lavinia's eyes widen, the nurse's opening words slip her mind and for a moment she feels a spark of hope. Remembering, she feels the deranged urge to laugh in their face. Dreamy. Yeah, sure, that's one way to describe the delusional spoiled brat who's gone for a stroll in a fucking war zone.[break][break]

None of this is Katharina’s fault, though. They can't help that they haven't seen Chrys today, much less that the stupid child is out here at all. It's Lavinia's own damn fault, but she can't think of that or she really will cry in the nurse's arms.[break][break]

“Thank you, Kat,” she says at last, her voice quiet but trembling only slightly. “My name's Lavinia. I'm Chrysanthe’s older sister, and… and the one responsible for their safety at the moment.” She shouldn't have said that. Yet she says more after, letting herself be a frightened teen for the first time in years: “My mom will kill me if she finds out.”

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Skirmish // Katharina Strophe[break][break]
— 50 MP Have your character spotlight another character's strengths.[break]
— 50 MP Have your character learn to respect another character in some way.[break]
— 50 MP Have your character "hit rock bottom".

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By the time the sun dips below the horizon, Lavinia's anger has all but evaporated. The image of Chrysanthe gagged and bound, or else dead by the roadside, flashes before her eyes with every ragged breath she takes. She cannot shake it off, not any more than she can rid herself of this bone-deep exhaustion that she's forced to acknowledge against her will.[break][break]

Even without rage to spur her onward, though, she keeps running. Her chest is burning, her heartbeat erratic, and she knows that if she allows herself even a moment of rest she won't be able to move again for too long; half a second being too long. With every instant they inch closer to the sky going dark, to their mother coming home to find two daughters gone and their next-door neighbor wringing his hands while he watches the little ones in her eldest's stead.[break][break]

With every instant they inch closer to everything Lavinia has worked so hard for coming undone, to her mother's love turning into indifference. For all that she's always had faith in Calpurnia Kubrick, she can't imagine her mother will ever look at her with affection again if the worst comes to pass.[break][break]

With that being the case, it can't be anger that keeps her going. It can't be hope either, not after so long, or even determination. She's fueled by terror, pure and simple, for herself and Chrysanthe both.[break][break]

Lavinia catches a glimpse of flowing dark hair and pushes herself harder still, too tired to speak; too tired to even run, it turns out, as she twists her ankle and only Kalliope's deft claws keep her from crashing to the ground. Wincing, she allows herself the luxury of leaning on the Hatterene and slowing down.[break][break]

Then she lays eyes on Chrysanthe and quite suddenly a tidal wave of anger comes over her again, its force such that the pain and exhaustion seem unimportant. She shrugs the Hatterene off and marches towards the younger girl wordlessly, stepping right into her path.[break][break]

Under different circumstances Lavinia would have checked her little sibling for injuries and embraced them. Now, even though Chrysanthe is unscathed, she doesn't feel an ounce of relief. Instead her rage swells — she is more hurt between them — to a fever pitch, and the only thing she can think to do is slap the stupid girl across the face with all her strength.[break][break]

She might well have too, if not for Kalliope's tentacle coming to wrap around her arm. Instead she takes a breath, visibly trembling with anger and the effort it takes to restrain herself from physical violence.[break][break]

“Chrysanthe Eireann Kubrick,” Lavinia enunciates each syllable with very deliberate slowness and a deranged sense of pleasure, expression harsh even with tears welling up in her eyes, “I could kill you with my bare hands right now.”[break][break]

She could scream at them too, but this is a war zone and she's nothing if not dutiful. Lavinia turns on her heel without so much as a backwards glance and adds, her tone chilling, “Get moving.”

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Chrysanthe Kubrick[break][break]
— Standard mission: Side Skirmish - Petalburg[break]
— 1/5+ posts required

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When she was ten, Lavinia swore never to cry in public again; and yet here she is, struggling to hold back tears as she dashes through the forest without so much as lifting branches out of her way. She doesn't have time for that, and a few scratches are nothing compared to the injuries her sibling may be suffering right now; compared to her mother's rage if she should get home to Chrysanthe Kubrick missing.[break][break]

Truthfully, despite how well she knows Calpurnia Kubrick, Lavinia can scarcely imagine her reaction. She won't soon forget the woman's state when Cassandra Kubrick was kidnapped, and the mere thought of it is enough to break her down. She skids to a halt, struggling to catch her breath and wiping her tears away angrily.[break][break]

“When we find Chrysanthe,” she says, with chilling wrath despite the fact that she's actively sobbing, “I’ll drag her back by the hair. I'll wring her fucking neck myself, I swear I will!”[break][break]

Neither of her Pokémon contradict her, with Kalliope continuing to search every nook and cranny she can teleport to while Linus takes a step closer to his Trainer. Lavinia actually screams at that, her fist smashing into the nearest tree trunk.[break][break]

“I do not need comforting, Linus. Oh, fuck, we don’t have time for any of this! Keep looking! Chrys?! Chrysanthe! Answer me!” [break][break]

Along with the Espeon Lavinia takes up running again, wiping at her eyes a second time as she goes. As she careens left, though, she crashes into another person and is forced to step back.[break][break]

“Get out of the way,” she snaps at this complete stranger despite the fact that she’s at fault. She glares, too, no less mean while red-faced and sniffling. “Can’t you see I'm in a hurry?”

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Skirmish // Katharina Strophe[break][break]
— 50 MP Have your character recall a past thread or event (link the thread).[break]
— 50 MP Reference a character not in your thread in a meaningful way.[break]
— 50 MP Showcase your own character's weakness(es) meaningfully.

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