bookmarking | leaf 009 | [video; action for the Goldenrod hotel]

leaf 009 | [video; action for the Goldenrod hotel]

[Clover is in her room at the Goldenrod hotel. She's sitting on her bed with an Eevee beside her, looking somewhat...confused. The Delcatty (yup, we now know where much of the money Clover earns from the Center went to) at her feet is staring at the Eevee, as if wanting to ask, "WHY ARE YOU HERE." Her tail swishes and her attention returns to Clover, who just sighs and starts talking.]

I found Scoville waiting in my PC. [She pats the Eevee on the head.] And there's one other thing.

... [Clover the Delcatty cocks her head to one side. Her next unspoken question is, "WHAT OTHER THING."]

His previous trainer was Ace, and he's gone. I have no idea why he'd give me his Eevee, but...I'll keep him.

[Scoville beams and wags his tail, bracing his paws onto Clover's lap. Delcatty will just fold her paws regally and just sit Sphinx-style.]

I better start thinking of what he'll evolve into, huh? And his new name, probably. [She frowns in thought. Names are serious business.]

[Filtered to the 999 cast]

By the way, I checked Scoville to make sure he didn't have any tricks up his furry sleeves, and got nothin'. Twice. So I'm pretty sure he's safe.

But I really dunno why he'd leave him with me. Or maybe Scoville escaped and then found his way into my PC? Geez, I'll never understand that guy. At least he's out of our hair.

[Clover rolls her eyes, and sighs in relief. And at least he hadn't tried anything out of line.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[IT WAS IN MY TEXTBOOKS FO' SHO'.]

Let's just say...I hate what they did, but I understand why it happened.

Still, I know they have to do the time. They kidnapped us and forced us to play a dangerous game which resulted in three deaths. Even if they weren't the ones who actually did the killing.

[Clover frowns in thought, really unsure whether or not she should reveal the identities of the masterminds.]

... Big, small, sensical or nonsensical, whether they realize it or not--I believe there is a reason and a cause for the things people do. Sometimes I can understand those reasons, as well.

But you're right. They have to serve the time. Regardless of the reason, what they did is a criminal act.

Unfortunately - or fortunately for them - they won't be serving it while they're here.

...

The brother who only wanted to save his sister...and the sister who only wanted to live instead of die are here with us, in Johto.

Is that so? It seems there are a lot of people like that.

Are they close by?

[Clover actually ran into Santa on the day she got her Plain Badge.

She nods once.]

But they haven't done anything wrong here. At least, not to me.

If they do, Pess would be glad to give them a greeting. [The canine grunts.]

[The corners of her mouth turn up a little at that.]

I appreciate it, but I think I can handle them on my own. Besides, I don't think they're completely bad. I dunno if I can call 'em my friends, but...they're not my enemies either. Besides, if it had been my brother trapped in that incinerator...or if had been me...

[She falls silent. Would she really? Would she stoop to their level just to save her brother? Clover wanted to tell herself that she would never do such a thing, but she had never been thrust into Santa's place. Being helpless while his sister died...turning to the last resort that would reunite them and help them exact their vengeance...

Clover covers her mouth with both her hands. Why was she even thinking about this?]

No...I don't want to...I can't...

[He taps her arm when he sees her changing expressions, his own flattened into a state of neutrality.]

You shouldn't think any more about that.

[She takes a deep breath.]

You're right. It's over. Hopefully none of us will ever have to play the Nonary Game again.

[...But what about GOOD PEOPLE DIE, Clover?]

I mean you shouldn't think about the motive past the point of necessity.

They committed a crime and there is no need to feel either sympathy or empathy.

But...he nearly lost his sister...actually, he technically did and he just got her back...

...

Well, if I return home, I'll go back to driving that SUV after them.

That's no excuse, is it?

He had that reason, so he killed those people. Another can deduce, from those reasons, that he committed those crimes.

... That's as far as it goes. The motive, after that point, holds no value in judging either crime or criminal. He kidnapped and killed; that's a crime and no tragic story behind it is going to change that.

Actually, both of them were behind it. I mean, when the second Nonary Game was going on, she was with us. Fooling all of us into thinking she and her brother were just two more participants.

But yeah, you're right. We'll still chase after them. Don't forget the bombs in all of us and deceiving us along the way...

A crime is a crime. [Of this he is definitely sure.]

I know. And it could've been worse. We could've been killed afterward.

[She sighs. It's far more complicated for her.]

Even Junpei finding the clover bookmark and giving it to me was all part of their plan. I found out that it had been...been one of the masterminds who gave it to him.

They knew everything then, huh.

[His arms are crossed again, a finger tapping on a forearm.]

[Clover frowns.]

At least they knew enough to make sure everyone stuck to the plan, while they exacted their revenge on Gentarou Hongou's friends behind our backs.

In some ways, you could say it was brilliantly executed.

I never suspected them at all. Then again, both of them were on the ship during the first Nonary Game, and I was at the facility. I didn't know they were also part of the experiment until Junpei said one of them gave him the clover bookmark.

That must have made it easy for them.

Did Snake recognize them?

How could he? They first met each other on the ship nine years ago, and since he's blind, he can't exactly recognize faces, or even hair or body type.

I'm pretty sure he was just as surprised as the rest of us...

[MAN I NEED THAT CANON REVIEW.]

They say that blind people hear better. Did he recognize any voices?

They do. [She nods vigorously.] Even if he did, he never said a word. But I don't think he did...that was nine years ago, after all, and the girl died.

Or at least, she supposedly died then.

...I don't think even morphogenetic fields could explain that.

No, I suppose not.

[So he's back to thoughtful. Crimes always make him think.]

So yeah, that's why I have no idea why Ace - or Gentarou Hongou - would leave his Eevee with me.

But there's one thing the masterminds of the second Nonary Game and the rest of us agree on. He's bad news. At least he didn't do anything bad while he was here.

leaf 009 | [video; action for the Goldenrod hotel]

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