[23:49:17] [Rosetta] So where would Chase be findable? Rosetta would probably have texted him asking to meet, so it'd be up to him where he was after the Gabriela thing.
[23:50:01] [Chase] He texts her to meet him back at the hotel, that's easy enough. Or to grab a soda float at the Hungry Garchomp or something.
[23:50:18] [Chase] Actually, let's go with the latter.
[23:52:12] [Rosetta] Alright, Rosetta skips her way into the Hungry Garchomp, stopping in the middle of the place to hop and turn in place until she finds Chase. She's got her hands in her pocket, with a shopping bag looped through one arm. NO ZOOF I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE BOUGHT FOR YOUR SILLY SWIMSUIT DRESS-UP.
[23:53:23] * Chase 's been waiting for Rose, a content and thoughtful expression on his face.
[23:53:57] [Chase] "Like an invisible blade cutting your cheek, so blows the Razor Wind. Whassup?"
[23:54:59] * Chase goes ahead and orders his float now.
[23:55:31] * Rosetta hops around to face Chase, then walks up and takes a seat, shoving her bag under the table. "Hey. It was an uh...interesting night, wasn't it?" She sighs with a weary smile.
[23:55:38] [Chase] "No kidding."
[23:56:00] [Chase] "An interesting morning, too."
[23:56:11] [Chase] "But I'll tell you about that later. What did you need?"
[23:59:25] * Rosetta flags down a waiter. "Dr. Pelipper float, two scoops of vanilla." She turns back to Chase. "Well, hm. to be honest, this day's already gone a -bit- better than I thought it would. I don't think I lost my best friend anymore for one." She sighs. "I dunno, maybe this might be easier - what'd you see happen around me last night if anything?"
[23:59:57] [Chase] "Garcia?"
[00:00:47] [Rosetta] "Mm, so you saw that then. Guess it was hard not to."
[00:01:20] [Chase] "I'm not the only one who noticed... so, what's up?"
[00:01:31] [Chase] "Was she bothering you, or..."
[00:03:34] [Rosetta] "I dunno. I mean, I guess it bothers me I don't know what she wanted or what her deal is. I get she was flirting with me, but whether or not she meant anything..." Rosetta shrugs and pulls out her phone. "I asked Gigi about it, and she was...really harsh."
[00:04:48] [Chase] "So you're into girls?" he asks, curiously. "Don't get me wrong, that's an important question. If you're not sure, you don't need to feel pressured."
[00:06:13] * Rosetta nods at the last bit Chase said. "That's exactly it. I don't know. I never even really considered it at all until lately," Rosetta grimaces, "actually not until Annette accused me of trying to say something with how I was teasing her about her ignorance of sex and all."
[00:06:58] [Rosetta] "I've been with two guys and both times it was...unsatisfying. Or, you know, didn't really feel like I had anything there."
[00:08:01] [Chase] "Well, some people just don't know what they like. For some it's not even a case of gender preference, it's a matter about being attracted to a person, regardless of what they identify as. You were unlucky, but that doesn't mean you're gay or asexual or anything. It can take a while to discover what you like, deep down."
[00:08:40] [Chase] "About Garcia, though..."
[00:09:10] * Rosetta sips at her float - it totally arrived sometime - as she listens to Chase.
[00:09:19] [Chase] "Well, I know as much about her as you do, really. But if it means anything..."
[00:09:47] [Chase] "You're the only person I've seen her flirting with that wasn't talking to or potentially after Anna."
[00:10:01] [Chase] "Scarlet even said something to that effect when I talked to her last night."
[00:10:35] [Rosetta] "Huh, what's that mean?" Rosetta tilts her head.
[00:11:02] [Chase] "That means I think Garcia being loose might be an act to protect her best friend. Her intentions with you? I dunno."
[00:11:17] [Chase] "If it helps I could try scoping her with aura to try and get a read on her intentions next time y'all talk."
[00:13:13] [Rosetta] "I um..." Rosetta straightens her head and takes a breath. "I considered asking you for that, but I dunno, doesn't it feel kinda...not really scummy but you know..." She trails off with a shrug. "I guess that'd help though."
[00:13:48] [Chase] "Just think of it as a supernatural form of reading body language. It ain't like mind reading or anything."
[00:14:13] [Chase] "I wouldn't be invading her privacy, just picking up on the signals she's giving off."
[00:14:16] [Rosetta] "Yeah I guess I'm more used to knowing 'bout telepathy etiquette given my tutors."
[00:15:21] [Chase] "Though... I'm pretty sure Garcia isn't the only one interested in you." Sip.
[00:15:27] [Rosetta] "Yeah, yeah, that'd help then, thanks."
[00:15:29] [Rosetta] "Huh?"
[00:15:42] [Chase] "That, though, is my own little secret to keep, for now." he grins.
[00:15:59] [Rosetta] "Christ, I dunno if I can deal with that right now." Rosetta slides down a bit in her chair.
[00:16:20] [Chase] "Just relax. One thing at a time, right?"
[00:17:27] [Chase] "In the end, no one can decide who's right for you besides you."
[00:18:15] * Rosetta nods. "So...what do I do? Do I keep at the dating scene even though I don't know what the hell I want? it feels like it'd be leading people on."
[00:18:50] [Chase] "Learning from my own mistakes over the past week or so..."
[00:18:59] [Chase] "I think honesty is the best policy, really."
[00:19:43] [Chase] "Though I guess there's a few different ways you could be honest to yourself."
[00:19:53] * Rosetta takes a deep breath and sighs, grabbing her float and scooping some ice cream up before taking a sip of soda.
[00:20:18] [Chase] "Okay, let's back up here a moment."
[00:20:42] [Chase] "So, you don't know if you're into men or women, but the thing is, you do want companionship, right?"
[00:20:43] [Rosetta] "This ain't exactly the easiest thing to be open about, yeah? Annette? She's the best friend I've got. And you're part of my team; we'll be together for as long as we're in this business. But everyone else?"
[00:21:05] [Chase] "Yeah, I can see how it'd be hard..."
[00:21:53] * Chase eats some ice cream, thoughtfully.
[00:22:12] [Rosetta] "I do. I think. My first relationship fell apart not just cause of...this issue, but because he was all tied down being a gym trainer, and I wanted to wander Johto."
[00:23:02] [Rosetta] "So....What I thought was it just didn't work cause we didn't want the same thing. Next guy I dated was doing the same thing I was, just seeing the sights and never staying in one place. But that didn't work either...That's sort of when I realized that...you know."
[00:23:42] [Chase] "Was he interesting, traveling aside?"
[00:24:15] [Chase] "Was he a good friend to you? There's a lot of things that can affect how attracted you are to a person. Just sharing hobbies really isn't enough, most of the time."
[00:24:42] [Rosetta] "He was like me, but with common sense and restraint." Rosetta smiles a little. "I thought we were perfect together, but when it came down to it..."
[00:27:23] [Chase] "Maybe you just haven't had good sex yet." he jokes, then quickly realizes how that might hurt her feelings. "Oh, uh, not to make light of the issue or anything, sorry."
[00:27:34] [Rosetta] "S'alright."
[00:28:28] [Chase] "But in all seriousness, I think there's someone out there for you. Maybe you don't know what you want. The best way to try and find out... might just be to test the waters a bit."
[00:29:31] [Chase] "I can't really say if Garcia is that someone."
[00:29:58] [Chase] "I think you're within your rights to get to know her a little bit better before you commit to anything with her at least."
[00:31:17] * Rosetta thinks a bit, swirling her straw in her float. "...I don't think I can commit to even a date without being upfront about this, but that's really really hard to do when in that situation."
[00:31:48] [Chase] "No one said love was easy." he smiles a bit.
[00:32:01] [Rosetta] "And yeah, I dunno, I think Garcia and I can be good buds at the least. She...doesn't seem like she's as bad as Gigi puts it."
[00:32:17] [Chase] "Another thing that's been drilled into my head lately."
[00:32:24] [Chase] "Don't judge people on first impressions."
[00:32:41] [Rosetta] "Hm?" Rosetta tilts her head.
[00:32:41] [Chase] "Gigi might have reasons to say the things she did, but I'm willing to give Garcia some benefit of the doubt."
[00:33:10] [Chase] "I'm agreeing with ya."
[00:33:15] * Chase laughs a bit.
[00:33:34] [Rosetta] "Alright." She nods, thinking. She tries to smile a little in response to Chase's laughter.
[00:33:52] [Chase] "I'm sorry, I know I probably haven't been much help."
[00:34:35] [Rosetta] "You know, it kinda struck m- Oh, no no, you've been a great help." Rosetta waves her hands. "I mean, just being able to talk about this helps a bit, yeah?"
[00:34:55] * Chase nods. "Yeah, I hear ya. But go on, what were you saying?"
[00:35:56] [Rosetta] "It sorta struck me, everyone who's in this business, Explorer Teams I mean, for a reason, yeah? Everyone who for some reason can't or doesn't wanna settle down and live a peaceful routine life."
[00:36:14] [Chase] "Yeah. You're absolutely right."
[00:36:52] [Chase] "Even Gigi, who didn't seem to have a care in the world during that arena match..."
[00:37:04] [Rosetta] "I think everyone might have something about them buried back somewhere. Maybe they're hiding from it, or they think they'll find the solution through exploring..."
[00:37:37] [Chase] "Not just exploring the wilds, but exploring ourselves, huh?"
[00:37:51] [Chase] "That's kind of lewd the way I put that, actually."
[00:37:52] [Rosetta] "Well, you offered your thoughts on Garcia. I'm gonna say don't judge Thomas for being just some mopey jerk either. Guy's unlucky, maybe worse at this love thing than I am." She laughs a little. "He knows what he wants at least."
[00:38:29] [Chase] "Yeah, I feel bad for Thomas at this point."
[00:39:57] [Rosetta] "I don't think I want to think about everyone in the guild 'exploring themselves'." Rosetta smirks and noms ice cream.
[00:40:31] [Chase] "Hell of a mental image. Oh god no, nonono." he tries to block what he just imagined.
[00:41:04] [Chase] "I am a terrible person."
[00:41:39] * Rosetta laughs. "You brought it upon yourself."
[00:41:40] [Chase] "Anyway, Rose, I hope you can figure this out. I'll let you know what I can if Garcia shows up to the beach party later."
[00:41:50] [Chase] "Yeah, I know..." he chuckles.
[00:42:55] [Rosetta] "...Right." Rosetta pulls out a folded up hat and carefully undoes it, revealing Garcia's phone number. "What the hell do I say to her? On one hand you said she's never flirted before with someone not after Anna, but Gigi says she's not into chicks. And I don't know where I stand, so..."
[00:43:24] [Chase] ."Like I said, I barely know her either. I just thought that was kind of noteworthy."
[00:43:46] [Chase] "But also like I said, some people don't actually care if you're a man or a woman, they're just attracted to who you are."
[00:43:56] [Chase] "Maybe you just happen to be the first woman she's been interested in."
[00:44:00] [Chase] "Who can tell?"
[00:45:17] [Chase] "Maybe deep down she was some kawaii sugoi innocent moe moe girl love. " he teases, but then looks horrified by himself."...God, talking like that makes me feel dirty. And I don't mean the 'girl love' bit. How does Saryx even..."
[00:45:28] [Rosetta] "Well, I have to say -something-."
[00:45:30] [Chase] *wants some
[00:45:32] [Chase] "Hm?"
[00:46:04] [Rosetta] "I dunno, I can't just avoid her. Also, I think Saryx is just super embarrassed by all that. You saw how easy it was for Jenks and I to troll him on his profile, yeah?"
[00:47:03] [Chase] "You could ask her up front. 'Are you interested in me, or my body?'. Probably won't make you friends with her though."
[00:47:53] * Rosetta grimaces. "Yeah, I'm terrible with people, but even I know not to ask it like that."
[00:48:34] * Chase looks thoughtful.
[00:48:44] [Chase] "Maybe... I could pull a Garcia on Garcia."
[00:48:45] [Rosetta] "I dunno, do I explain this to her? I don't even know her. Do I wanna...experiment? I guess won't find anything out if I don't, but..."
[00:49:38] [Chase] "Not flirt with her, but like... running interference to protect you and see if she persists."
[00:50:15] [Chase] "But uh, hm."
[00:50:30] [Chase] "I dunno, really. I'm not sure how she'd take that news."
[00:50:32] [Rosetta] "I can hear Lil starting up the popcorn machine already."
[00:52:52] [Rosetta] "But yeah, that's the thing, even if I know what's up with her, I still gotta...say something."
[00:53:17] [Chase] "That's the tricky part, and I'm sorry to say I don't have an easy bit of advice there."
[00:54:09] [Chase] "If I were in your situation, I'd probably wait until I was sure she was interested in me, then break it out before actually hooking up. It might hurt, but honesty is a good thing."
[00:54:20] [Chase] "But... only you can really decide what's best, y'know?"
[00:54:54] [Chase] "If she's still interested in you after that I'd say it'd be worth trying."
[00:56:21] [Rosetta] "Yeah..." Rosetta takes another sip of soda. "And there's not much time before we all head to the beach either. I've never been the best at, well, deciding what's best for myself or making responsible decisions or what have you."
[00:56:56] [Rosetta] "I wouldn't be here if Norina didn't push me into becoming an Explorer, and I dunno what I would've done if I was stuck here in the Isles without that. So taking charge of this..." Rosetta sips again.
[00:57:12] [Rosetta] "I guess only I can do it, but it feels like taking a shot in the dark."
[01:00:09] [Chase] "What's that saying...?"
[01:00:28] [Chase] "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars...?"
[01:01:06] [Rosetta] "That's so cheesy."
[01:01:09] [Chase] "Point is you won't get anywhere without trying, and you're sure to learn from your experiences either way."
[01:01:14] * Chase laughs. "Yeah, it is."
[01:02:57] [Rosetta] "You're right though. I can't just...do nothing." Rosetta sips more at her soda. "Thanks, Chase."
[01:03:22] [Chase] "Yeah, no problem."
[01:03:54] * Chase grins. "Always happy to help a friend out. But uh, if I could ask for a favor."
[01:04:36] [Rosetta] "Sure thing."
[01:05:25] [Chase] "Like I said, it's been an interesting morning. I found out that Gabriela served with my sister all those years ago. She was like one of two confirmed survivors. I don't want to get too much into it because it's a really personal thing, but it turns out those Sirens in the video Corbin recorded may be linked to the deaths of the Sundown Corsairs. I'd really appreciate it if you
[01:05:25] [Chase] could forward the video to her so we can make sure."
[01:08:15] [Rosetta] "Shit. Only two...That's heavy stuff. I'm sorry." Rosetta pulls out her phone and taps out a message to Gabriela with the password to the Dropbox with the videos. "We're gonna have to look more into this."
[01:08:25] [Chase] "Well... I said 'confirmed."
[01:08:49] [Rosetta] "Do you know who the other survivor is? Or why they disappeared? Shit, wait, sorry, I shouldn't really be asking, should I..."
[01:08:49] [Chase] "It turns out that Gabriela was on an escape boat with my sis... they got separated."
[01:09:00] [Chase] "My sister's body was never found. It's a slime hope, but..."
[01:09:07] [Chase] "Yeah, I do know."
[01:09:22] [Chase] "I just... don't know if it's right of me to bring it up myself."
[01:09:34] [Chase] *I do know who the other was.
[01:10:03] [Chase] "Some people don't like the past being dredged up, I don't want to step on anyone's toes."
[01:10:12] * Rosetta nods.
[01:11:05] [Rosetta] "If there's any chance though you can find your sister from it, I'd say you shoud ask them about it. Only when it's right though."
[01:11:24] [Chase] "Gabriela told me everything she knew, I'm sure of it."
[01:11:50] [Chase] "It turns out she was really close to my sis. We sort of bonded over it." he mentions with an awkward smile.
[01:11:57] [Chase] "But, yeah."
[01:12:29] [Chase] "This shit wasn't what I expected to get into when I woke up on the floor of the gym's bathroom."
[01:12:33] [Chase] "Some world, huh?"
[01:14:50] [Rosetta] "Yeah, I don't think anyone expected what we got when last night started. Thought it'd just be a fun night of watching a match between the Regalia and the Storm Sentinels."
[01:16:45] [Chase] "Drama, hookups, shattered hearts, long lost friends of family, bullshit asspull tie explosion, yeah, one hell of a night."
[01:16:54] [Chase] "With any luck though, this beach thing will be much more relaxing."
[01:18:26] [Rosetta] "I hope so. Are you bringing that hookah Dr. Spore gave you? I actually changed my mind about my prize at the last second and got an egg. My cousin's been saving up for one from a private breeder, but it's been tough. So I was gonna surprise her today."
[01:18:58] [Chase] "Yeah, that's the main attraction, I think. I was thinking about trying the expensive dreamquest stuff, what do you think you'd wanna try?"
[01:21:36] [Rosetta] "What do you got again?" Rosetta sips at her soda. "I'm really up for just about anything."
[01:22:48] [Chase] "Visionquest violet and dream mint, heart-scaled rose, and lucky lillies 777."
[01:23:39] [Chase] "Miracle Eye said the first was 'expensive and enlightening', the second has 'hilarious' results, and the third she hadn't heard of."
[01:24:25] [Rosetta] "Judging from the name, I think we've had enough 'hilarity' of that vein for now. The third might be shiny though. I was thinking of heading to the arena once it opens, and some luck wouldn't hurt."
[01:26:01] [Chase] "Mm." he nods, though he seems pretty set on trying the expensive stuff first. "We'll probably have time to try more than one."
[01:28:26] [Rosetta] "Yeah, probs." Rosetta finishes her float and glances at the clock. "Speaking of, guess we should be getting ready for the beach thing, yeah? Thanks for the chat Chase; I think I have an idea where to go from here..."
[01:29:20] [Chase] "Sure thing, Rose. Glad you're a bit more confident." he gets up, going to pay.
[01:30:10] * Rosetta thumbs through her wallet again and just leaves her portion on the table as before. "Also," She hops up, "congrats. I saw your status message."
[01:31:12] * Chase grins. "Thanks. I screwed up before, but I intend to make pretty good use of my second chance."
[01:32:27] [Chase] "I was thinking of a gift idea further down the road, but that'll be in the future. In the meantime, you see what Dahlia posted?" he shows her as they walk off, probably discussing potential shenanigans as they go to leave.