Remi pauses as she sees a girl with light brown hair walk over, an Eevee on her shoulder - her roommate. She takes in a breath, stealing herself for whatever kind of attitude is about to be thrown at her. Remi is already on guard after the bad first impression, and then the early morning conversation with Taran. Word’s already getting around about her and Trouble, she knows, and now she’s partnered with some snob who - Apologizes immediately. Remi blinks in surprise. Tack’s head tilts to the side. Remi doesn’t know what to do with this new development. This is… a prank, probably. Right? Remi doesn’t think she’s had a single interaction with another student since transferring that hasn’t ended with her wanting to hit something. Her eyebrows pull together as her roommate chats and smiles. If this girl wants to play nice, then Remi won’t be the first to throw a punch. She’s not about to give anyone another reason to throw accusations at her. [color=lightpink]“Other groups don’t have a chance,”[/color] she says when the girl stops talking. Remi glances around, unsure what to do with herself - she doesn’t know how to be anything but combative with her peers. After a moment, she clears her throat. She tries for something less curt. [color=lightpink]“Remi,”[/color] she says, giving a short nod. [color=lightpink]“Tack, Trouble.”[/color] She points her thumb at each Pokémon in turn. She hesitates then, chewing on her lip. [color=lightpink]“...Didn’t mean to wake you up. Trouble’s… new. Doesn’t know his manners yet.”[/color] Trouble flicks his tongue in and out of his mouth. Kira tilts her head even as a grin pulls at her lips, eyes shifting to each Pokémon curiously. She's seen plenty of Pikachu before, but this new one is interesting. [color=fff79a]"Kira, nice to meet you,"[/color] she replies easily, a hand reaching down towards her belt to get Queen's ball. [/color=fff79a]This is Astral, and this is Queen."[/color] She introduces each of her own Pokémon, releasing Queen who lets out a melodic cry and stretches out her body. She can hear how those around them go quiet, no doubt confused to why her Milotic is such an odd color. Queen waves her golden-orange-red tail, eyes focused on the three before her. Astral jumps from her shoulder to get closer to the other two, pointed ears swiveling this way and that. Queen hesitates before sliding forward, head dipping down as she lets out another cry. Kira pays no mind to the quiet, hands settling in her hips as her nose wrinkles in thought. [color=fff79a]“How should we start? I'm assuming we'll be out in the open for this which means we'll need more supplies. I have a tent and a mini cooking set, but I'm guessing we'll need more….”[/color] As she thinks she begins to sway slightly, hair swaying in the breeze that glides along the beach. Remi’s proud of herself that she manages to [i]not[/i] roll her eyes at seeing the Milotic, unique coloring fully visible in the daylight. [color=lightpink][i]Probably had daddy buy it for her.[/i][/color] (Though if she’s briefly transfixed by the lovely scales, she’ll never admit it.) [color=lightpink]“Some food that’ll last and we can carry,”[/color] Remi answers. She’s quick to focus on the task at hand. This is what she’s here for - what she’s [i]good at[/i]. [color=lightpink]“Tack’s got a good nose for edible fruit and berries, so we can forage, too.”[/color] Her mind narrows in on the problem, spinning for ways to solve it. Ms. Simone’s words echo in her mind. [color=lightpink]“She said it could be on or [i]around[/i] the island. We should grab some oxygen filters in case.”[/color] The students have all been forced to learn to use them in PE class: small face apparatuses that you strap over your mouth to filter breathable oxygen when underwater. [color=lightpink]“We don’t have anything that can fly.”[/color] Remi’s gaze darted up to see Trouble gliding in idle circles. [color=lightpink] “Er… that [i]we[/i] can fly on. I have some climbing gear, but we should grab rope, too.”[/color] Kira's nodding along, phone in hand as she types out what they'll need. Then she's half turning to see Ms. Simone already surrounded by students, humming softly before turning back to Remi. [color=fff79a]"We should take one obstacle at a time, collecting what we need is half done. Next we should choose where exactly to start looking, if by sea or land-" [/color] She pauses to glance around at the gathered group, taking in their Pokémon of various typing. [color=fff79a]"-and judging by the fact that they're aren't many Water Pokémon almost everyone will go by land."[/color] She concludes with a shrug, flying would be easier but they don't have the ability right now. [color=fff79a]"Rope, food and the filters. Then we set or? Or try to dissect the riddle next?"[/color] They have several different options at hand to take, her eyes glance to the rolling waves with a curious glint in them. The riddle is as mysterious as this entire region, or so the books she'd read said. Remi’s eyes scan the group, mouth skewing to the side. It’ll be a bit before Ms. Simone is free, and Remi doesn’t like wasting anything, least of all time. Her sharp eyes flick back to meet Kira’s. [color=lightpink]“Bookstore. I want a guide book about the island. The poem she based it off of is ancient, right? Cultural. We can do some research, figure out where our starting point’s supposed to be, and come back when the crowd’s gone. Good?”[/color] It’s not a real question. Remi doesn’t wait for approval before she turns on her heel and starts walking away from the beach. The snort that leaves Kira's throat is sharp, her head shaking from side to side. Instead of feeling anger or annoyance at being left alone, she feels amusement filling her chest. [color=fff79a][i]So...prickly[/i][/color] Is her only thought before she's recalling Queen and taking off, mind wandering towards the riddle. Astral wiggles as they enter their destination, easily finding her roommate amongst a large collection of books. The air is cool and few people are currently inside, grabbing a book she settles in the opposite seat without a word. [color=fff79a]"Should we make this more of a challenge? Whoever finds a clue first gets free Malasadas from the other." [/color] It's a statement more than a suggestion, her attention never leaving her task. Astral settles in her lap with a wag of his tail, the silence a calm balm to their hectic morning. Remi’s hand pauses, the thin page held between her fingers half-way flipped. Her eyes go up to Kira, eyebrow raised. Remi would be lying if she said she isn’t intrigued. A smile [i]almost[/i] finds its way to her face. But then her gaze flicks down again and she turns another page. She reminds herself that whatever game Kira is playing, she’s not stupid enough to be pulled in. Memories of her first few days at school float back to her, of her sister’s friends acting nice and fawning for her, only to humiliate her for a laugh. [color=lightpink]“Shouldn’t make bets you can’t win,”[/color] she says, voice flat. Tack curls on her lap, nestling in, as Trouble flies up to a bookshelf. He tilts his head then shoots his tongue out experimentally against the spine of a hardcover book. It sticks, pulling the book out to fall to the floor. Remi’s head shoots up at the sound. She lets out a small sigh and gets up. [color=lightpink] “Besides,”[/color] she says as she bends down and picks up the book. She reads the title and flicks it open. [color=lightpink]“We should be focusing on beating the others, not each other.”[/color] [color=fff79a]"A little friendly competition never hurt anyone."[/color] Is her absent reply, her eyes scanning the pages before her. After that she says nothing and focuses on reading, pages flipping between pale long fingers. Then she's switching to another book, posture relaxing with each passing moment. She loses track of how many books she's gone through, when she finds a passage that rings a bell in her head. [color=fff79a]"Remi, look at this."[/color] She murmurs softly as she shifts forward, flipping the book to show the other girl. On the left page near the end of the largest paragraph the line stands out almost vividly, easy to miss if one wasn't looking for it. [i]The singing shells call Listen to their enticing song [/i] Remi straightens at the call, forgetting whatever it is she’s reading about ilima blossoms. She approaches Kira, leaning in to scan the paragraph. [color=lightpink]“Kahuli Point…”[/color] she says out loud. She catches Kira’s eye before reading, [color=lightpink]“A secluded point on the northern end of Melemele Island only accessible by hiking through dense rainforest, Kahuli was known in ancient times as the natural environment of a now-extinct species of mollusk Pokémon. Many chants make reference to the ‘singing shells of Kahuli,’ as they are believed to have emitted a sound similar to indigenous flute music when gathered together in mass quantities.”[/color] Now a slow smile finally [i]does[/i] make its way to Remi’s face. She meets Kira’s eyes again. [color=lightpink]“Not bad.”[/color] “Eh!” A sharp cry jolts Remi to attention. A middle aged man, tan and heavy set, waves an angry hand at them. “You kids! Dis one [i]bookstore[/i], not a library! You make a purchase or you go!” Trouble hisses at him. The man’s eyes widen, then narrow again. [color=lightpink]“Sorry!”[/color] Remi cuts in. [color=lightpink]“We’ll be right out!”[/color] She grabs her phone and snaps a picture of the page, being sure to capture the old map of the island on the opposite side (which elicits another shouted protest from the store owner). Then she grabs the book from Kira, puts it closed on the table, grabs Kira’s hand, and pulls her back towards the door. [color=lightpink]“Come on,”[/color] she says, a note of excitement in her voice. Tack and Trouble hurry behind.