Remi sees her roommate jolt up in bed and her mouth is open immediately to apologize, or explain, or... But then Remi catches the angry, cold look on her face, and the way her Pokémon immediately tense up, ready to attack. Her mouth closes. The guilt melts away, replaced by anger. Tack bristles beside her, responding to her roommate's team. Remi doesn't move to calm him. Instead, she stays stone-still, her own glare turning frigid. [i][color=lightpink]Stuck-up private school snob.[/color][/i] If her roommate wants to do some "silent treatment" BS, then fine. Remi can play that game too. Remi pretends not to see the girl as she walks by her bed glaring. Instead she places Trouble's ball on the bedside table again, runs a hand over Tack's raised fur, and slides her way back under the covers. She goes to sleep that night still bristling with anger, the sound of the running shower in the bathroom filling the air. [hr] Remi's awake well before dawn. She's never been one to sleep much - and the less she can interact with her [i]roommate[/i], the better. Tack stretches on the bed, yawning, as Remi quietly moves about her side of the room. Within minutes she's out the door, backpack slung over her shoulder and Tack scurrying behind her. The hallways of the hotel are eerily quiet, only the earliest risers starting to get ready for the day. Remi rubs at her eyes as she walks towards the dining area - she vaguely remembers seeing a pamphlet in her room about a breakfast buffet. She pulls out her phone to look at the time. [indent][i]17 texts. 3 missed calls. 1 new voice mail.[/i][/indent] She pauses. Something that feels suspiciously like guilt finds its way into her system, like drips from an IV. Then she turns her phone screen dark again. The buffet is devoid of people, save for employees trying to not look as tired as they must feel, and a drowsy looking couple at a far table picking at their plates and not talking. Tack scampers in the room, enticed by the smell of food - sweet syrups, frying meat, and the tang of juice make Remi's mouth water. Her stomach growls, reminding her that she hasn't eaten a real meal in over 24 hours. She grabs a plate and loads it with food - pancakes, french toast dripping with macadamia sauce, sausages, a bowl of cold soba noodles, a pile of berries, and an omelet loaded with cheese, mushrooms, peppers, and bacon. She grabs a table in a far corner of the room and digs in, Tack eagerly joining her. She's halfway through the omelet when a glass full of juice is placed on the table in front of her. Remi jolts up in her chair, Tack mirroring her. Then her eyes narrow when she sees who sits across from her: Taran, one of the students from her school. She'd been hoping to avoid him. He gives her a small smile that can only be called condescending. "Wouldn't want you to choke," he says before taking a sip of his own juice. [color=lightpink]"[i]You[/i] could,"[/color] Remi snipes back. Taran's smile grows sharper. Then he picks up a fork and starts eating from his own plate. [color=lightpink]"Don't think I invited you."[/color] "You looked lonely." Remi wants to scoff. She'd take loneliness over his company any day. He's one of Kara's friends - they have some exhausting 'will they or won't they' deal going on, and tormenting Remi is an easy way for anyone to get in her twin's good books. Remi just glares for a moment longer before grumpily going back to her food. Tack looks up at her questioningly, then back across the table. Taran's dour-looking Farfetch'd has perched itself beside him, pecking at a plate of steamed vegetables. They eat in moody silence. Remi refuses to break first - if he's just here to annoy her, then he must have some sort of plan - "So, I hear you're a thief now." [i]There[/i] it is. [color=lightpink]"Can't steal something that doesn't have an owner,"[/color] she snaps back. "Oh, [i]great[/i] defense. You brainstorm that one? Practice it in the mirror?" Remi's angry gaze shoots up to Taran, but he's just eating his breakfast, as relaxed as you please. "This is just a fair warning," he says, wiping at his mouth with a napkin. Then his eyes turn sharp. "Everyone's going to know. But then, I guess it's not surprising. Liar. Cheat. What's one more mark against you?" [color=lightpink]"I didn't cheat-"[/color] "[i]Please[/i]. We all know Kara should've been the one chosen." Taran leans forward, voice low and dangerous. "The teachers might be oblivious, but they won't be forever. You'll screw something up because that's what you're good at, and then you'll be on the first flight back to Hammerlocke." [color=lightpink]"Then what?"[/color] Remi says, leaning in to meet him. [color=lightpink]"Kara gets to fly out and you two go gallivanting through Alola?"[/color] The smirk Remi gives him is mocking - almost cruel. [color=lightpink]"You know that you're already dead to her, right?"[/color] Surprise flashes in Taran's eyes. Then confusion. He's quick to smother them though, regaining his composure - but Remi latches onto the feeling of satisfaction they give her. [color=lightpink]"You did the one thing she'll never forgive: you were [i]better than her[/i]. Someone decided that you were good enough to come on this trip, and she wasn't. She'll resent you for it for the rest of her life."[/color] Remi's smirk widens as she can see the gears turning in Taran's mind. He knows she's right - she can see it in the cracks of his composure. Remi leans back in her chair and picks up a piece of french toast. [color=lightpink]"[i]Just a fair warning.[/i]"[/color] She takes a bite. Taran stares at her. Then he slowly leans back in his own chair. His expression is still and angry. Then without a word, he shoves himself up from the table and marches out of the room, Farfetch'd trotting behind him. Remi lets out a deep breath she hadn't realized she was holding, and slumps a little in her chair. Tack nudges himself against her hand on the table and Remi scratches between his ears. She lets Trouble out of his ball, and the little Dreepy swirls in the air for a few curious turns before Remi directs his attention to Taran's abandon plate of food. Trouble needs little encouragement to dive in. She picks up the glass of juice and takes a long gulp. [hr] Eventually Ms. Simone sends out a message to the students to meet at the beach for a special warm-up task to "get them acquainted with the local environment and stretch their muscles," whatever that means. Remi stands barefoot in the sand, still warming in the early morning sunlight, Tack on her shoulder, and Trouble swirling around in the air. She sees other students openly staring at her, eyes following Trouble. They whisper to each other, trying to point without her noticing. Taran stands among them, saying something. He catches her eye and gives a smirk and a nod. [i][color=lightpink]Skitty's officially out of the bag.[/color][/i] [color=a2d39c]"Is everyone gathered?"[/color] Ms. Simone's voice calls out over the group. Her eyes scan the crowd as she does a quick head count. [color=a2d39c]"Wonderful. I hope everyone had a lovely first night!"[/color] Students shift their weight from one foot to the other as Ms. Simone forces enthusiasm. Her smile falters a bit at the lack of response. [color=a2d39c]"Right. Well. After a night of extravagance, it's out into the world! We've set up a little starter activity for everyone! This will be challenging - it'll test your problem solving abilities and skills as a trainer. Somewhere on or around this island, I've hidden a very specific orb. You lot will have several days to try and find it. You'll be out in the wilderness of Melemele Island with nothing but your Pokémon, your partners, and whatever supplies you either sign out from me, or purchase from town. The pair that finds it is to bring it directly to me - and there may be a special prize involved!"[/color] Anticipation mixes with dread in Remi's stomach. [i]She[/i] will be the one to bring that orb back. Energy circulates through her, ready to move, to prove herself. The idea of partners though... already, students are whispering to each other, grinning and linking arms. [color=a2d39c]"This is a treasure hunt of sorts, but you won't have a map. Instead, I've based this item's location off of an ancient Alolan chant."[/color] Ms. Simone straightens up again and recites from memory. [color=a2d39c]"[i]Tapu Koko reclines under the full moon Resting between us friends. The singing shells call Listen to their enticing song. Ilima blossoms beckon towards you My love whom I miss dearly. Tell the story Of our loved hideaway.[/i]"[/color] She grins at the crowd. Remi raises an eyebrow at the cryptic words. [i][color=lightpink]What the heck is any of that supposed to mean?[/color][/i] [color=a2d39c]"I'll be sending the words along to each of you in case you have trouble remembering. Oh, and I forgot to mention, you'll be partnered with whomever you share a room with at the hotel."[/color] [i][color=lightpink]Shit.[/color][/i]