Welcome to Gaia! ::

The blush on Matheson's cheeks extended to his whole face. "N-no, I'm not-" Am I? Juliet had made it expressly clear that she didn't want to be in an arranged marriage with Matheson. He assumed she'd also find someone else, and then maybe they could convince their parents to call it off. Perhaps that was too idyllic. It hadn't dawned on him yet that he neglected to explain the arrangement to Benedict.

"We're...She doesn't even like me," Math squeaked, but Ben was already walking inside. He hung his head in shame and trudged in afterwards.

Ben walked into the middle of Mia hooking up a projector to the big TV on the wall inside the main room. Salieri was putting together bean bags chairs and cleaning off the sofa. "Ben. Just in time. Mia made a Powerpoint," she said with focused seriousness.
"Just some slides. Always easier with slides."
Sal watched Matheson come in after Ben. "You two ever meet before? Ben, Math. Math, Ben."
"Yepwetalkedsomuchthankyou!" Math word vomited, plopping on the far end of the couch and still red faced.

Sal stopped cleaning momentarily to finally look Ben in the face. "You want something to drink? You can check the fridge."

And so, when the windows were shuttered and the lights were off, Mia began.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"For the past six years, Alanza Taine's track record has been flawless."

The first slide showed an old Trainer ID of Alanza Taine when she was ten years old. She was grinning wildly, looking just as tough back then. The slide was accompanied by match data. Dates of battle with Gym Leaders, each of which Alanza had won. "As of today, she has seven badges. If this record is consistent, she'll probably have her eighth within minutes. Actually, Bass, record her match."

Mia's Noibat flew over to the PC and danced back and forth on its key. Mia went on. "Alanza has had an incredibly slow pace for a Kalosian league trainer. You only need to collect all 8 badges once to qualify for the Championship. Safe to say, Alanza hasn't participated in the tournament yet. However, she's been far busier with extracurriculars."

On the next slide were snapshots from videos of Alanza battling with other trainers. Salieri also saw a list of Pokémon known to be on her roster: Klefki, Azumarill, and Blastoise. It was possible that she was a Type specialist. "Every year she's been active, Alanza has defeated dozens of league trainers in side matches. She hasn't lost any of those, either. And they've all been gambles. Each time, she allegedly bets her collection for badges for all of her opponents. That collection must be huge right now."

"So she's been hunting foreigners and commoners for six years?" Sal reiterated. She was leaning forward in her seat on the couch next to Math. "That tracks."
"It's not just them. She's done this to sponsored trainers too. And it goes beyond Pokémon battles."

The next few slides were more snapshots, these ones taken from phones. They depicted Alanza playing or winning a variety of games. "Arm wrestling, scavenger hunts, stunt racing. Even a fist fight. Anything that can be construed as competitive. She'll bet it all on any game she wants."
"How does she do it?" Sal tilted her head at the screen. "What's her gimmick?"
"Her gimmick is being the luckiest girl on the planet."

Sal and Mia turned to Matheson as he spoke. "Alanza got full on plowed by a car when she was ten. I saw it." He gulped, recalling that horrible scene. "No one should've survived that, but she did. Doctors said that the discs that popped in her back wouldn't let her walk again, but she was doing handstands two years later."
"That's not luck. That's low probability," Mia countered. "Rare, but could still happen to anyone."
"Mia, she once roundhouse kicked a slot machine during our spring break and she got a jackpot. I saw her put honey all over her stomach for a bet to see who would flinch first, her or an Ursaring, and the Ursaring walked away. Alanza has literally dived off a bridge, because she dropped her phone, and she swam right back onto shore. The phone was fine too-"
"Ok, I get it." Mia held a hand to stop Matheson, who she assumed would keep going until paused. "But that's still just probability. If she's got enough skill, she can manipulate her odds. Luck isn't really a thing."
"It is," Salieri chimed in. "Luck is real. Doesn't matter if she has it or not, though. Keep going, Mia."

Mia sighed. The next slide had a newspaper clipping from eight years ago, a headline depicting the car accident. Following slides had newspaper articles marking Alanza's progress. "Yeah, so she was hit by a car-you know what, I'll skip these. Thanks Math, for doing my work for me."
"No problem." Math flashed a thumbs up, unaware of Mia's sarcasm.
"Anyway, Alanza is known to travel solo, but likes to hold excessive parties. She's the black Mareep of her family. Her mother's a Taine who got knocked up by a regular dude, and they couldn't quite cover that, so she's regarded as illicit. Doesn't seem to have a great relationship with her folks."
"Spare me her sob stories. Does she only go after badges, Mia?"
"No. Sometimes she'll accept Pokémon or rare items as a worthy wager."

The slideshow ended. Mia had Bass swoop around and open the shades. The contrast of the light coming in was blinding. "That's all we've got, unfortunately. Still more than any other DH. Long story short, she bets people for stuff and doesn't lose. Questions, comments, concerns."

Matheson furrowed his brow at Benedict's rock paper scissors strategy. "That sounds like cheating?"
Mia shrugged. "It's not cheating if you're both still in motion."

"Aly's always been peppy but...yeah, her family stresses her out. Home life makes her uncomfortable so she's always on the move. She's not just a gambler, she's an adrenaline junkie. Chases thrills around the world." Math leaned back with his arms draped over the back of the couch, staring up at the ceiling. "A lot of the Houses pressure their children to maintain the legacy, but Aly's parents pressured her to stay out of it. So she did. And made her own. That's how she gets by. I always knew she was making a living gambling, but I had no idea it was part of the hunting."

"Cool motive, still an a*****e," Salieri summarized with zero hesitation. "These matchups are systematic. She's probably being handled by Nicolette Nostrad, just like the rest. Maybe she's a probability wizard, maybe she's an actual wizard, it doesn't matter. I'll do the rock paper scissors thing. If I control the factors, that's less she's got going on." She looked to Benedict.

"Got any tips on controlling said factors?"

((Wargames!))

Benedict gave Salieri some specific Pokémon battle strategies. Match control was an elementary aspect of battling, but so fundamental that it never hurt to review the factors. To her, the more important part was the general advice. Control the tempo. Make Alanza react. Strike when the opportunity showed. Then he asked the question that was probably on Mia and Matheson's minds.

It wasn't on Salieri's. She had thought about it of course. Many times, over many years. Just like what she'd done with Faust, she planned on taking away what made Alanza special. Her priority was getting Moze's badges back and making Alanza suffer for it in the process. The difference between Faust and Alanza was that Faust was more straightforward. Salieri had to operate on a lot of assumptions for her plan to work with the Duelist. It was, as expected, a gamble. If it did work, it would get Alanza to stop. The problem was that she was sure Ben, Math, and Mia wouldn't like how she did it.

"Even if it changed nothing, I have to go up against her. The way I want to beat her should put a stop to her hunt. But until I start the games, and find out more about her gimmick firsthand..." She trailed off and folded her arms. "I can't tell you my plan. Any of you. As it goes I can show you bits and pieces, but I don't know if it'll work otherwise."

Mia tapped her pointer in her free hand. "Let the record show that I hate that."
"I also hate that," Math added. He was the one who stitched up Salieri after her battle with the Sniper. He wasn't sure if Ben and Mia knew what she had done to Faust. That boy was blind now. He couldn't abide by the decision to do that kind of thing to someone, and he had a sinking suspicion that her plan involved crippling violence.

"Just try to trust me, ok? If I fail then at least we can find out more about what her deal is." With his knowledge base and expertise, Benedict was probably the better choice to go up against the Duelist. But this was too personal for Salieri to step back now. If she didn't handle this with her own hands, she might never be satisfied.

"I have a solid plan. I have the solid makings of a plan." The course correction was in the interest of being as transparent as possible. As much as she didn't want to, Salieri knew that for certain aspects to work, she'd have to improvise.

Mia shook her head. She wasn't a betting girl herself. It turned out Benedict was all about a good gamble, so the two trainers conversing was only throwing fuel onto the fire that was Salieri's drive. "I still don't like it, but you know me girl. I trust you."

"I trust what you're saying, but I can't back you up yet." Matheson shook his head. The slideshow was eye opening, showing a side of Alanza he didn't really know. He also knew about Salieri's heavy bias. "It's not that I don't think she's done these things. But she's still my friend. I need to hear her side of the story too."
"Do I need to go back to the slideshow?" Mia asked. "Alanza has been wiping trainers out through bets alone."
"But is that the same as sniping at you? Or binding you with someone else? If these games she plays are agreed upon then the challenger knows what's at stake. It isn't illegal to gamble like that in Kalos. She's not hurting people like that."
"Sure, she's just taking away their chances of winning the league," Sal added sardonically.
"I don't like it either, but that doesn't make her a monster. I want to know why. That's all. I owe her that."

Salieri folded her arms and looked straight ahead at the wall. "You do what you have to do, Math. I didn't expect you to pick sides anyway."

The last part was a bit pointed. Math didn't respond, which caused the silence to thicken with tension. Mia checked her watch. "Regardless, we have less than 8 hours to get ready for this party. I need to find out more about where it'll be, too."
Sal perked up. "Mia, you're coming?"
"I was invited like thirty minutes ago." That wasn't a surprise to Salieri. It was Mia, after all. "And I haven't been out of Lumiose City in a while. Could use a change of pace."

Salieri's hangover had all but completely faded right now. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't decided to go to one more banger. These were extraordinary circumstances. She had to do it up. Sal rolled her head back and shifted her eyes to Benedict. "If you don't have any plans tonight, I hear there's a party..."

"Sure, just hit me up." Benedict's advice had been appreciated. Sal wasn't about to ask him to stick his neck out for her when it came to Alanza. It was too personal. Besides, it was something she had to take on herself.

The day had been such a whirlwind so far that Salieri forgot Benedict still had beef with her. They hadn't talked about it all caesura. Sal thought back on their talk, after Juliet pulled them from the ship. She'd gone rogue to rescue Prou, leaving the cannon up to Ben. The decision had been a snap judgement, and Sal wasn't sure she would've chosen differently even now with the power of hindsight.

She could feel the heat from Mia shooting her a glare. Riiiiight. Mia had felt the same way Ben did. She almost tried to explain herself again, that she ended the call so they wouldn't distract her or tell her to stop when she knew that she couldn't. It wasn't the right way. Just her way. And it turned 241 back into Prou. I'm tired of explaining myself. I guess I was tired of it when I was on that call, too.

Against her better judgement, she was about to defend herself, until Matheson spoke first. "Yeah, I've got you."
"Here Math, I'll do it." Sal held her hand out for the key. "I wanna chat sponsorship stuff on your way out anyway," she told Ben.
"Surethat'scoolhereyago." Math tossed her the key, and she rose her eyebrow at what she thought was relief in his expression. "Good meeting you, Ben."
"Thanks for coming by," Mia said to Ben. A twinkle appeared behind her glasses. "And hey, if you're still interested in bankrolling a project, we can talk about something I've got you can invest in. Another time."

If Benedict followed Sal she'd look back over her shoulder, shake her head to herself at Math's weird behavior, and ask Ben, "So you got a plan about your sponsorship yet? Or the makings of a plan?"

The nobility hated Salieri. That was well known fact. Salieri now understood why Ben said earlier that they might have to have a public fight. It certainly wouldn't help him if they knew he was a part of her crew. She wasn't a very good actor, and didn't like the idea of pretending to be something she wasn't for the sake of appearances. Fortunately, if she had to act like she was getting into a fight, that was an easy one for her.

"You might make a choice you don't want to make. But if it gets you what you need, there's a difference between not liking what you did, and regretting it. It'll be...easier on you if you can make that distinction." She didn't sound too happy to give that tip. It sounded like she was speaking from experience. "I won't tell them."

She wondered who else he may confide in about his fears. Or why he chose to tell her. It could've been because someone had to know. Or because she asked. Or maybe because he thought she'd understand. She did.

"Matheson's been my eyes on the inside. But he's not close to the real s**t at all. He's been helpful navigating me around the nuances of noble life. Still doesn't want to take a stance though. He's not ready for a fight." And he's scared, Salieri thought to herself. Matheson hated confrontation, and she realized that part of that was fear.

"Anyway, if you need help on the inside, he may be a Leroux but I'm sure he'd do what he could. I've seen him get mauled for people he didn't know at the drop of a hat. I trust him." Salieri stepped to the bottom of the porch. "What you're planning on doing is an advantage I never thought I'd have in this fight. If it means people have to watch me be an a*****e to you, I'll do it. Just try not to make me look too wack."

Anistar City Hospital - Alice Olivier's Shared Room

"Are you excited to go home?" Helena asked the happy Kalosian woman laying in the bed.

"I am! I'm so excited to get home and relax." They had reached an agreement that Helena would keep Ecarlate with her for the rest of the league run. Alice had months of physical therapy ahead of her, but she was finally almost well enough to get home.

"Have you spoken to your roommate much?" Helena asked, nodding to the curtain that separated their rooms.

"She doesn't speak. Apparently they found her outside of the city an hour ago. She doesn't have any life threatening injuries but she's covered in all of these scars."

"Like, self harm?"

"No, I think someone did them to her. She might be a run away like she escaped a serial killer. The police came by earlier but she wasn't awake. I heard the doctor whisper that someone cut out her tongue so she can't even speak."

Helena shuddered at the mental image of that. Someone had tortured and mutilated the poor woman and Helena's mind traveled to all of the creepy people she'd met over the years, settling finally on that of Jean-Pierre.

Then, shaking his image from her head, she'd smile. "You're gonna get out the day after my birthday, you know."

Alice's face lit up even brighter. "Oh! Why didn't you tell me sooner? I will make you something." Helena snorted and shook her head.

"It's okay."

"It isn't." Alice pouted and then pointed to her bag. "I write poems, if you give me a topic I will write you one for your birthday you just have to come by during it to get it and so that I can sing you happy birthday in person."

Helena laughed. "Of course. I have to get ready for a party soon, Azucena said K-Rok is gonna DJ for it."

Alice nodded. "Text me, okay?"

"I promise." Helena would lean over the beg to hug her friend who kissed each of her cheeks.

On her way out, Helena would feel the tiniest pull of morbid curiousity and, turning to place a finger over her lips to indicate to be quiet - a gesture that Alice enthusiastically copied with a smile on her face - Helena would peak past the curtain to look at the woman in the bed.

Green hair fell down around her shoulders. Scars ran up her face in two places, semi-circles that started along her jaw, hit the corner of where her mouth would normally start, curving, running along the side of her nostril and then curving to just barely miss her eyes before curving fully off and disappearing into her hair line. Her lips were scarred from tip to the start of her ears. Each of her cheeks, on the peak of the cheekbone, had dark heart scars like they had been remade again and again to make sure they would never heal.

And the womans green eyes were open, staring Helena right into her own. Emotionless, empty eyes upon an expressionless face. Helena gasped sharply, fear prickling into her heart and running through her veins turning her blood cold.

"Sorry," she squeaked and, feeling embarrassed and guilty, the teen stepped out of the room.