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Deidre Karune was in her kitchen, putting the finishing touches on the meal she prepared. She’d received a phone call that morning from Uva Academy’s Director that was a request to visit. Normally, Clavell simply dropped in with a claim he was in the area, so she was curious as to the change.
“Oh!” She turned around, hands fluttering for a moment. “That must be Clyde!” Wiping her hands on a nearby dish towel, she hurried to open her door without checking to see who it was. “Cly -“ she cut herself off when she realized that it wasn’t the person she’d been expecting. She rolled her azure eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the doorway, “Geeta.”
“Deidre,” the darker haired woman drawled, one hand on her hip while the other was loose at her side. She gestured into the house, a sarcastic smile on her face, “Aren’t you going to invite an old friend in?”
“Why in Arceus’ Name would I-“ she began, only to notice a few curtains rustling in the houses nearby. She huffed, turning on her heel and storming through the foyer, “ Fine . Come in, won’t you?”
Narrowing her dual toned eyes at the other woman’s back at the blatant disrespect, the ex-Champion entered and closed the door behind herself. Thanks to the open floor plan of the house, she was able to see into the kitchen and noticed the prepared meal. Following the navy haired woman, she made her way to the couch. “Expecting someone, are we?”
“Not that it’s any of your concern, but yes. I’m expecting a special guest,” Deidre huffed, crossing one leg over the other as she sat on the opposite end. “What is it you want?”
“As direct as ever, I see,” Geeta raised an eyebrow. “Very well. I have a question before I inform you of my intentions. Why did you come back?”
“What?” That hadn’t been a question she expected, but Deidre quickly rallied herself, “Because it was the best thing for me - my Daughter,” she corrected herself.
“Deidei, it’s just us,” Geeta leaned back into the couch, shifting slightly so she faced the other woman. “You and I both know you could care less about what’s best for Juliana. As proven by how much of a presence you had in her life when it didn’t directly benefit you. I assume it’s to continue your torrid affair with Clavell?”
“I believe he’s going to propose soon,” Deidre responded huffily. “Not that it’s any of your business.”
“You already said no to him once, what makes you think he’ll ask a second time?”
“You don’t know him like I do. Unlike you and Trevor, we’re meant to be,” was the response.
“Turo and I were nothing more than a fling, it passed the time,” Geeta refuted, waving a hand. “He was a powerful man, even back then. I needed that. However, do you truly believe that Clavell will stay with you once he finds out how you treated his Daughter?”
“Like you’re one to talk, Gigi ,” Deidre scoffed. “You left your Son after only a few weeks- simply because Trevor doted on him.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” Geeta shook her head. “I left because I knew Motherhood is not for me. It was better for the boy for me not to be in his life. I’ve taken measures to avoid interacting with him.”
“Truly? Is that why I heard rumour that naught but a few years ago, you picked up a young girl that has your eyes from the Orphanage in Alola? Trained her and assigned her a position within your Elite Four?” Deidre laughed coldly, “At least my Child was able to be a Child. I may not have cared for her as a Mother possibly should, but at least she didn’t grow up alone and unloved. Both of yo-“ she was cut off by a gloved hand slapping her.
“I did not come here to be insulted by someone who’s accomplished nothing in her life,” Geeta sneered as she stood over the shorter woman. “Nor to be judged for my choices by someone who would have made the same in my position.”
“Then why are you here, Geeta?” Deidre glowered up at her, azure eyes dark with anger as she cupped her assaulted cheek.
“I am here as a courtesy to the… camaraderie we once had,” Geeta held herself stiffly. “Turo is dead.”
“I-“ Deidre couldn’t help but gape, “T-Trevor is dead?”
The Paldean nodded, “I assume you’ve seen the strange Pokémon your Daughter rides around on?” When the other woman nodded, lips pursed, she continued, “It turns out there are two of them, the one in Juliana’s possession is the more… docile of the two. Apparently there was a territorial altercation between them, and Turo attempted to defend the weaker one. This,” she took a breath that was almost a sigh, “resulted in his death. The weaker one, injured, fled towards Poco Path where it met Champion Nemona and Juliana.”
“But… he’s contacted Juliana since then,” Deidre was confused. “And Clyde, as well.”
“It was recently discovered by Juliana, Champion Nemona, Arven, and a friend of theirs named Penny that Turo successfully created a near perfect AI replica of himself a few years ago that has been impersonating him since his death.”
“He’s been a hermit down in Area Zero for years , Geeta. How would four Children-“ she cut herself off when the other woman nodded. “ No . How could you allow them to go into the Great Crater?”
“I didn’t have a choice - in case you haven’t noticed, Deidre, I’ve fallen out of favour with many people since Juliana defeated me,” the ex-Champion snapped. “I am barely holding onto a position on the Boards, as it is. My vote means next to nothing right now, thanks to you allowing her to be influenced by your Sister and her Lovers. When the girl informed the Board of her intentions, it was a nearly unanimous vote against me.”
“Oh, please . It’s your own fault you thought she’d be easy pickings, like that Nemona girl. Regardless of my feelings towards her, there’s no way anyone related to me or my Sister as closely as she is could be anything other than the best at what she chooses,” Deidre laughed derisively. “Whatever her name is now, she is a Karune - we don’t back down. You made that mistake with me when we were in the Academy together, Gigi Dearest, if you’d like to recall. Instead of just you being chosen when we Graduated, like what you aimed for, I was also chosen by Trevor and Clyde.”
“That’s hardly as impressive as you seem to think, considering Jacq was also chosen for the Research Team by them, Deidei,” Geeta retorted sharply. “As I said, I’m here as a courtesy to what we once shared. I informed you of the reason,” she turned, walking back to the door before she half turned back. “Oh, and in the interest of full disclosure: Clavell was given information by your Sister’s Professor Lover and Juliana how you treated her growing up. The man who interfered in your attempt to persuade her to do those interviews you wanted - Hassel - also backs up Juliana’s retelling of your last words to her. He will want answers.” She opened the door and left, closing it behind herself and leaving the other woman staring after her with a concerned frown.
It wasn’t long after the ex-Champion left that a knock that was familiar to Deidre sounded from her door. Mentally shoving the concerns that had popped up from her old Teammate’s visit, she called out, “The door’s open, Clyde,” as she stood up. Seeing the man she was in a relationship with open the door and step in, she smiled coyly, “Welcome Home, Darling.”
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