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 Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:00 pm
(( This is meant to be a short ORP for those who wish to say their final respects to Aila. Anyone in Team Rocket is free to join. ))
Team Rocket didn't exactly make it a habit to have lavish funeral services for their fallen members. Even if it wasn't exactly a common occurrence, it did happen. Memorial services were held for those left behind, as a way to improve morale or at least keep it from dropping lower. It was meant to give those that knew the departing agent, some closure. This being of course, if the agent was killed in the line of duty and not, say, a traitor.
The same was done for the most recent casualty in Team Rocket. After the autopsy, her body had been embalmed and placed in a rather simple casket for burial. There was the announcement of a viewing/memorial service for the agent, and those that wished to say their goodbyes needed to do so then. It would only be available for a couple hours. Then Aila's body would be sent away and buried. For now though, she lay still in the coffin for visitors to see, wearing a proper agent's uniform.
The room for the service was rather nondescript and practically barren of decoration. However, one agent had gotten there a little early to help oversee things. It was her partner, Asch, the only other person in the base that was familiar with Grande Ile tradition. As people arrived, they would see that the red head had set up 17 candles on a shelf next to where Aila lay. One by one he carefully lit the white tapered candles.
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 10:49 pm
None could ever accuse the pink haired elite of being the most sympathetic person in the world. She was not kind, she was not caring, and in all honesty, she did not bother to get to know the agents beyond the basics.
It might have seemed a bit odd that Kunai decided to appear for the Memorial for Aila Christelle de Valois. However, the bandaged up Elite Agent was present out of respect. This death had been a casualty of the mission she had led. It had been Kunai's responsibility in a sense, and so this Agent's death was her responsibility. Deaths happened all of the time. In a position like hers, she couldn't afford to get sentimental every time someone died.
What she could do was acknowledge and honor the Agent's contributions to Team Rocket. Her expression might have been serious as she stepped up to the open casket, completely unchanged from her standard expression. Her body might have been sore from all of the injuries she had sustained. Yet dry green eyes gazed upon the motionless body in the coffin for longer than a brief moment, signaling that the Elite was there with purpose.
Kunai silently gave the deceased girl a quick sharp salute as she stood there. Any familiar with the Elite knew she was not the sort to waste such a gesture. It was an action of respect, nothing more and nothing less. Having paid her dues, the Elite walked away from the casket, leaving more room for any others who might have wanted to pay their final respects.
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:34 pm
A certain informant had learned of this gathering from his infirmary bed and had specifically asked the Trainee Arcadie to escort him to the funeral/memorial. Why he had asked for her in particular wasn't widely-known, but the grunt had actually wanted to know if Arcadie would have had any connection to or known of the nobility that Aila had once possessed.
He did suspect with reason, after all, that both girls had originated from Grande Ile. Perhaps this way he could discreetly find out more. Since he had been so concentrated on the information of his local city, he'd never really known all that much about the island off the coast of Kodo. Because he knew Aila's remaining family dwelled there and since learned that Asch, Luke, and Natalia, too, were from the place, he had grown increasingly more curious of it. He hoped this would be an opportunity to learn more of Aila's homeland.
Pushed into the room by wheelchair, Izaya couldn't say he felt very dignified. However, he did his best to seem like he was a king being carted around in a state of luxury rather than a cripple being taken pity on. Glancing around, the grunt noted the occupants of the room who had beat him and Arcadie to it.
The first he took note of was Kunai, his and Aila's department head as well one of the two main elites on their mission. Last he had seen her, she had been shot. She was a tough cookie, though, so Izaya wasn't all that surprised to see her up and about so soon. "Kunai-san! Glad you could make it," he greeted with a bright grin, acting as though there wasn't a dead person in the room. It was difficult to tell if he was referring to Kunai's it back to base alive, or simply her attendance for Aila's farewell. "We were all so worried about your condition."
Orihara briefly wondered if Kunai was disappointed with him for not doing as he had been ordered and staying with the group during the mission. Even when he had been sure there was an easier way. He wondered if she blamed him for all that had happened at the site of the Machine, but he also guessed that she was not ever likely to disclose such answers to him, directly or indirectly. Whatever she would have wanted to say to him, she would say it herself without prompting or questioning - nothing more, nothing less. For that, he could rely on her to be predictable.
The second person Izaya recognized upon sight was none other than Aila's partner, Asch. As soon as he witnessed him lighting the candles, there was no help for it. The grunt opened his mouth. "Why seventeen? I was so sure this was her funeral, not her birthday. Could I have been mistaken...?" He sneered at the red-head's back, imagining the face behind that cascade of crimson locks. "In that case, I should have brought a present! And cake! Arcadie-chan, turn us around, would you? We can bake something in the kitchen!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 6:30 am
Asch noticed a bit of pink out of the corner of his vision and glanced over to see his superior paying her respects to Aila. The agent simply nodded respectfully to Kunai as he resumed lighting the candles.
However, the recognizable and annoying tone of Izaya's voice cut through the air and reached his ears. Causing Asch's expression to sour considerably at the disrespectful words that came from his mouth. But the red head didn't let Izaya's ignorance deter him from what he was doing.
"It's Grande Ile tradition," he stated while finally lighting the last of the seventeen candles. "Each candle represents a year of her life. The idea is talk about and remember the good things about her life until they all burn out."
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Posted: Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:21 pm
After her momentary display of respect, the Elite agent stood in a place off towards the side as if she was on duty. Perhaps in her mind, she was indeed still on duty, even as a recovering individual. Individuals wandered in as they were able to pay their respects in their own individual manners. Yet one voice seemed to catch her attention as it spoke in a manner seemingly inappropriate for the somber event.
Green eyes flicked to his direction as Grunt Nakura such an informal manner (though the use of "san" was noted). In her usual stern tone, she corrected the man in the wheelchair "Elite Agent Kunai, Grunt Nakura." She had given him the lecture before about her title, so she didn't make more of an issue about it. In all honesty, his casual conversational way of speaking to her did tend to wear on her nerves simply because it was quite opposite of her own common mannerisms.
The mention of the general concern for her health didn't cause any sort of notable reaction from the short Elite. She still seemed as if she was made of stone with how unchanging her expression was. Yet her voice spoke up, giving her own opinion on the matter. "I am expendable." She had no delusions about her role in Team Rocket. If she had taken a turn for the worse, someone would easily be able to take her place in the ranks. Nakura could take that one statement and make as many predictions and notes about her as he wanted, she wasn't concerned at all.
The one thing she did seem to mind was the Grunt's blatant disrespect for the one who had saved his life. If the trainee Arcadie had felt obliged to follow injured man's request, she'd soon enough find Kunai's foot stopped against the wheel of his chair. She did not speak as the redhead, Agent Asch explained the tradition. Agent Asch's ability to hold back his anger during such a ceremony was greatly respected in this situation.
"Grunt Nakura, if you cannot participate in this ceremony in a respectful manner, I will personally escort you back to the infirmary." She shot the trainee a look to let her know that she meant 100% of what she said before shooting the Grunt the same look. The pink haired girl was making certain her own tone was kept in check. "So I would recommend you bite your tongue if you cannot handle participating in this memorial service like an adult."
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Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:02 pm
"Ahhh, but 'Elite Agent Kunai' is such a mouthful," Izaya groaned, slumping in his chair. "Don't you yourself get sick of hearing it? If we were under attack, a Rocket might very well find themselves shot or otherwise injured before they managed to get your full title out of their mouth, let alone the words to ask your permission to retreat." His petty pout turned up at the corner of his mouth, forming a slight sneer. "With mannerisms that strict, it's amazing we don't have more deaths within the organization, seeing as we don't tolerate captures or arrests."
He sighed, wishing the place was somewhat more active, but then again, what did he expect? Hysteric tears? Eccentric sobbing? If it was going to happen or had already taken place, chances were it wouldn't have been in that room. Even less likely from the two other people already present. As far as Izaya was concerned, Kunai and Asch had all the sentimentality-expressing capabilities of a pair of rocks. At least when not behind closed doors.
"You, an elite agent, consider yourself expendable?" the grunt asked with an incredulous look, raising a brow. "Oh, well then I suppose that makes all the rest of us pretty much disposable as your underlings. If that's so, then what are we standing around here for? We all know the risks. She knew them." He jabbed an almost accusing finger at the casket in which the agent's body had been placed.
"If we're all just trash waiting to be used up and thrown away, why bother having a memorial at all? Because all of us are just so expendable." He hissed the last word as if it were acid on his tongue, glaring at the casket with his crimson gaze as he seethed in his chair. The instant he realized what kind of look he must have been wearing, however, he instantly straightened and recomposed his usual, emotion-concealing smile, ready to at least leave the room for a little while.
That was, of course, before he felt the foot that blocked the path of his wheels. His smile tightened as he gritted his teeth. "How nice! Sounds like a beautiful tradition. Does anyone know where to start? Year one. Hmm. I wonder if she was a pleasant infant, or had been born knowing how to steal and take what she wanted..."
At that point, his direct superior gave the grunt a very clear warning, adding a particularly meaningful look to back up her statement. Izaya realized that Arcadie had received the same look and didn't entirely feel she deserved it, but he had faith that the trainee would understand this and her positive attitude would allow her to persevere. Besides, she wasn't the one in trouble.
"...How is it that the only emotion any of you seem to be capable of expressing is wrath?" Nakura wondered aloud. "Sorrow, nope. Agony, none. Gratitude for being alive, zip. Loss - loss of human life. Nothing." He shrugged and let his gaze wander. "Because we're all just expendable. We can be replaced in seconds and no one will be the worse for it. Is that right, Elite Agent Kunai?"
Now might have been a good a time as any to bite his tongue, but the grunt couldn't stop himself. Something about the way Kunai had made her statement had rubbed him the wrong way. It was as if, to Izaya, she didn't care how many Rockets they lost. To her, it seemed like people were just tools like pokemon, to be used and replaced when they were no longer able to do their duties.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:59 pm
Since his last encounter with Izaya in the infirmary, Asch had learned a great deal. It had been made clear to him that flying off the handle and losing his temper was an effort in futility with this man. Still, the red head felt his blood boiling at every word that came out of that mouth.
Asch fixed Izaya with a hard stare, and said nothing. The filth spewing from that grunt's mouth was pure idiocy, and Asch certainly didn't miss the look on his face during Izaya's rant. Although he was creating quite the disrespectful disturbance, and that's what annoyed Asch the most. However, Kunai had warned him, and thus the ball was in her court. Green eyes slid in her direction, watching and waiting to see what the elite would do or say.
This was not the time or place for this. It seemed that Izaya couldn't keep his mouth shut in any situation. Why the hell was he even in their department?
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:11 pm
A blue striped and bio-luminescence speckled Vaporeon sat alone, and still, off to the side so that she would be out of the way, but not far from where Asch had been preparing the aria.
Though she remained quiet, her eyes explored the room, with something of a puzzled, yet saddened look on her features.
She didn't exactly know how to take this, it was the death of a young women, but why? why did she even have to die?
Vany'n's conflicted feelings did need to be pushed to the side for now, this seemed to be a very difficult time for the rocket that was keeping her, she didn't expect this kind of behavior from them, to see that they actually cared for other living beings.
Large yellow eyes shifted toward the humans who had entered, one ma in a wheelchair, he was loud, and talked a lot. He seemed to be causing some discord among a couple of the others as well, Asch one of them.
Vany'n could tell he seemed a little more on edge then he was a moment ago.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Uniform was pressed and pristine, warn nearly with pride, and care.
The green was finally completely out of her hair, and all of her pokemon were in their balls, strapped to their usual place on her thigh.
Looking as professional as she could.
This was the best way Agent Faleen knew to pay respects to a fallen Rocket comrade.
Faleen had been in charge of making sure that the Rockets were aware of this memorial, Per Seth, she had sent out E-mails and posts to any Rocket who wished to attend, especially those who had been on the mission with Aila.
The first thing she noticed when she stepped in, were the Rockets already there.
Having paused at the doorway for a few moments to get an understanding of why things felt a little uneasy in the room, before a small frown played along the corners of her lips, with hands folding behind her back, the Agent started into the room.
Aila's partner, Asch was there, to no surprise, She was expecting to speak to him tonight.
Her own partner was there as well, he seemed agitated in his defense against Elite Kunai, who seemed her usual demeanor.
The trainee from the infirmary was also there, pushing Izaya in the wheelchair.
Hazel eyes glanced between then silently as she walked over. Though, she did hold a hand out to Asch as she drew close enough to stop.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:41 pm
The grunt in the wheelchair rambled on, making mountains out of diglett hills. Normally the Elite would have allow him to ramble on and on, giving little to no reaction over his efforts to rile her up. Unfortunately, it was inappropriate behavior considering the current environment. It was like allowing a toddler to have a temper tantrum in a church ceremony.
Once Grunt Nakura had addressed her in a baiting tone, he'd soon enough find a tight-lipped Elite making her way to the wheelchair he sat in. "Trainee, you are permitted to stay at this memorial service if you should desire to." She stepped behind the young man's transport, laying claim on the handles, signaling to Trainee Arcadie that the Elite had every intention to follow through with her prior threat. Despite any amount of whining that might have escaped the grunt, the short girl began to push, wheeling him out of the service.
As she began to try to make an exit, the Elite stated in an even, emotionless tone "Please continue as scheduled." Apparently the Elite Agent was going to have to tend to some babysitting now.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:58 pm
"...Not even an acknowledgement," the grunt grumbled when he realized he was being ignored with Kunai's addressing of Arcadie. His demeanor changed, however, when he noticed the elite herself headed directly for him. His brows rose and his lips parted slightly, as if surprised that his superior was, indeed, taking action.
This dumbfounded look did not remain on his face for long, however. As soon as they were half-way over the threshold of the door, Nakura made an effort to push himself up and out of his chair; never mind that he couldn't properly stand on his own, much less walk. He flung out his good arm to grip the door frame beside them, using that to support himself as he leaned against it.
Pain shot through his injured leg, but he bore it without so much as a wince. He knew he couldn't remain up on it for long, even with one good leg, but he was determined not to leave. Not just yet. He had goodbyes to say too.
He stared at Kunai long and hard, his face void of emotion. Izaya seemed to be studying the young woman in a way he never had before, wondering what had made her the way she was. It was almost inhuman, the way she seemed to view the lives of her fellow Rockets. By her lack of response to his prior questions, he assumed he had guessed right - she really did consider all of them to be expendable. It seemed she had little to no value of humans or human life.
"Pardon me," he said at last, his tone even and his concealing smile back in place. "I'm not very familiar with the expectations and mannerisms associated with participation in this sort of...ceremony. Please excuse my disrespectful behavior." He shifted his weight slightly, glancing back into the room at Asch, Arcadie, and his newly-arrived partner, Faleen, before returning his gaze to his superior. "If you'll allow me a second chance, I'll keep quiet until I'm certain I know how I am expected to behave."
If Kunai could read people's expressions, she would note that there was something almost pleasing about the look in Izaya's eyes. He doubted that it would have affected her decision in any way, however, even if she could. Everything he had learned about her so far had supported the idea that Kunai was a strict, down-to-earth kind of woman who didn't let her own or anyone else's emotions get in the way of her judgement.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:16 pm
Asch watched the confrontation between Kunai and Izaya, until his attention was diverted to someone else who was approaching. Turning his gaze to a familiar face and an outstretched hand, the red head paused for a moment. He then reached out and grasped the other agent's hand and addressed her politely.
"Agent Faleen."
His gaze straying for a moment as he followed the exit of Kunai and Izaya. He certainly was not sad to see the grunt go. Good riddance really. But then it seemed that Izaya had other plans, and this drew a frown. Izaya's promise to behave was dubious at best. Would Kunai really allow him to stay?
Not his problem. Thus Asch turned his attention back to Faleen.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:40 pm
It was a face the Vaporeon recognized instantly, the shock of realization, and the pain that followed reflected rather abruptly in Vany'n face, her eyes, already large, went wide, joined with splayed fins.
Her hair was shorter then it had been years ago. She had seen the cut before, but it was still so different from how she used to have her hair, and easily, the most jarring difference, was the uniform, emblazoned with the red R on her chest.
Faleen wore it with pride, it was in the way she walked, in the way she carried herself toward her fellows, and the way she addressed them with such respect.
She really was one of them.
Fins drooped, along with her heart, and the pain didn't subside.
Still, she watched, with stiff silence, and mournful disappointment.
the light jingle of her jewelry joined the movement of her head as she turned away finally. Still wearing most of what she had when Asch stole her away from Rosie, minus a ring around her arm that she had given to Komashi, the young Growlithe, and plus one necklace that Asch had put on her for the time being... a necklace hat had apparently belonged to the girl now laying in the casket.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Asch took her hand, there was a moment that Faleen noticed a pokemon that was sitting not too far from where Asch was.
There was no mistaking who this was, and for a split second, the shocked look of Vany'n was met with a rather empty hazel stare, before eyes barely narrowed and the agent completely disregarded her presence as she turned back to Asch.
"Agent Asch."
Interesting though... Faleen had not expected Asch to have her out, and for her to be sitting so... well mannered like that.
"Agent Aila was an outstanding Rocket, and I imagine an equally great partner." Her tone suggested a hand of support in the fact that Asch had just lost his partner, while still remaining professional... and possibly distant?
There was a moment's distraction, along with Asch's when Izaya had started to be wheeled out of the room by Elite Kunai.
Had it been any other rank, Faleen would have questioned this act, but Kunai was an Elite, she had no place questioning an Elite's actions.
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:01 pm
The Elite paused in step as soon as the Grunt was out of his chair.
"...you obviously don't need this anymore then..." she stated in a flat tone before turning around and rolling the wheeled chair away so Nakura could not reclaim it. It had been his decision to make things more difficult, so at the same time, the Elite could dish it back without any sense of sympathy.
His eyes seemed to give her a hint to what his true emotions were, and yet the short Elite Agent did not seem willing to budge with her decision.
"You have sixty seconds more for your 'second chance', Grunt Nakura. You will remain where you stand this very moment, and once the time is up, I will be accompanying you to walk back to the infirmary." There was a pause, almost like she was willing to let him speak, but then she spoke up again.
"Sixty seconds, starting now."
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Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:51 pm
Shoot. Damn that woman. The grunt certainly hadn't expected Kunai to have acted as she did, but it slightly cheered him up to note this. Perhaps there was more to her than met the eye after all, if she wasn't always going to act according to his predictions. Either that, or he just needed to adjust his assumptions of her, considering he was still only just getting to know her as an individual. It was some relief to know what he'd thought before hadn't been all there was to her, though. That would have been too boring.
With a grin and an expression that resembled a mix of admiration and slight contempt, the grunt nodded in understanding of his superior's instructions. He would have liked a little more time than a minute to pay his respects his own way, especially with not so much attention on him and not without his wheelchair. As it was, though, it seemed he had little more choice in the matter. The grunt felt his way toward the casket, holding on to whatever he could find to support himself.
From the door frame to the door handle to a regular chair to a table, he steadily but surely made his way towards his destination, doing his best to conceal the pain of his movements. There was a certain rigidness in the way he maneuvered himself and a stiffening whenever he had to put pressure on his broken leg that hinted it was more difficult than he wanted them to believe. Eventually, though, he was leaning over the casket, staring at it silently.
With a heavy sigh, he glanced at Faleen after she paid her own respects, trying to think of what he, himself, could say. Of all the times for words to fail him, why now? He knew he'd told Kunai he wouldn't speak, but if he only had less than a minute...
The man leaned down and whispered some things, as if to a conspirator. Had one been listening for it, they might have caught what escaped the informer's mouth. "I hope you can make amends with little Aila, wherever you are," he murmured. "Hope you can finally be at peace with yourself and your past now that you no longer have to worry about the future."
"You died nobly, agent, if for a stupid reason. Nevertheless, I'll do what I can to make it up to you. Just like I've been trying to since you recruited me here and took the blame for my actions." He took a step back, a bittersweet smile on his lips. "But now...you just made my debt to you a whole lot harder to repay. Impossible, even." A shrug and a light chuckle. "You were right; you were always right, even when I didn't want to admit it. But that was low, leaving me alone with Luciole to deal with...though I guess I deserved it. And maybe with a lifetime of work, I'll eventually be able to pay you back for the life you gave up. Maybe."
Time was up. Had been for a few seconds. The informant already started half-dragging, half-limping back toward the door where Kunai awaited him. "Stupid girl..." he laughed quietly under his breath, shaking his head, his gaze on the ground. "Forcing friendship on me like that...what a dirty trick..."
Making his way over to Kunai, the grunt ignored the shorter woman's personal space bubble and reached over to lean on her shoulders. He attempted to wrap his arms around her as if expecting a piggy-back ride, or as if in an intimate embrace. "Shall we, Elite Agent Kunai?" he asked in her ear, fighting to keep his smile. The corners of his mouth twitched painfully and there was a slight tremor to his voice. "I feel so honored to be escorted by a higher-up."
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:14 pm
Had Kunai been in better condition, she would have easily prevented the Grunt Nakura from taking advantage of her ridiculously generous amount of time to say his goodbyes. Hell, she would have even been able to dodge out of his grasps as he leaned against her heavily, arms draped about her in a ridiculous manner. He did weigh more than her, but it wasn't a vast amount more than her own weight. She had to lock her legs to support the both of them.
"I do not recall offering any sort of assistance in your walk back to the infirmary, Grunt Nakura." Her lips still seemed to form that infamous flat line as she stood there. She was not amused by his actions, but any who knew Kunai would have figured her for the sort who liked her personal space.
"I recommend you let go of me and get started walking, Grunt, before I break your other leg." Her stature might not have been the most intimidating, but her words seemed sharp, ready to act upon her threats should this Grunt choose to test her any further.
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