Welcome to Gaia! ::

Aila had been living in a state of mild irritation since returning from Camphoreon, sacrificing the majority of her sleeping hours to a repetitive and angry rant in the quiet confines of the room she now shared with herself. Dawn had found her too tired to continue complaining, and she had fallen asleep curled up in the seat of her chair. The hum of her buzzing Pokedex roused her, hours later, and she fumbled with the device before managing a glance at the screen. A summon to the boss's office. She frowned slightly and climbed down from her perch, stopping by the restroom to wash her face and straighten her uniform before leaving for the elevator. Her hand hovered in front of the control panel, searching for the proper floor, when the small room began moving of its own accord. Efficient. She took a step back and loosely folded her arms, straightening her posture when the elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open. She took a few steps into the room - just enough to clear the elevator - and raised her arm in a salute.

"Grunt Aila, sir," she announced. She fought her eyes' instincts to study the interior.

A curt "yes, sir" marked her movement forward towards the designated chairs. She cast a cursory glance at the Houndoom - a handsome pokemon, and Aila was willing to bet that its shiny coloration was natural, too - as she seated herself. The low height of the chair was largely excessive in Aila's case, and she straightened her back in an attempt to match a more average height. She stared forward and upward silently, awaiting whatever words Lucere had called her to say.

"I have no excuse." She couldn't imagine he was looking for one, nor for an apology. It wasn't as though she had the heart to give one, anyway. She regretted only one thing, and it was not that she had killed that girl. "I behaved irrationally. It was graceless. I understand and accept whatever penalty you see fit."

Aila caught the newspaper and rested it in her lap, scanning the article briefly. "I understand." She was quiet, pensive, then, "If you deem it the best course of action, I will act as a scapegoat. Mention of my identity should separate the murder from Team Rocket's name." It wasn't as though it was completely untrue, after all: her vendetta was unrelated to Rocket's activities. Besides, going directly to them to voice a confession would give her another chance at Leon's life. Once that was complete, Aila cared little what happened.

"Yes, sir." She heard and internalized the words, but her mind continued to dance around the dream of a universe in which he goal was fulfilled. Part of her wanted to ask to become the scapegoat right then and there, but reason won out. Perhaps patience would reward her with another opportunity. Her mind continued to rifle through such thoughts as she awaited dismissal.

"Understood." She stood, saluted, and returned to the elevator. Inconvenient. Irritatingly so. But if that was the price of satisfaction, she would pay it a thousand times over. The next time she succeeded in ending a life, the consequences of doing so wouldn't matter.