two: (audio / private audio)

[antiscience]

[ he wastes no time turning on the device, there being a moment of quiet before he speaks into it with an easy tone: ]Now that I've arrived in Violet City, I suppose I should start training for the gym challenge. After all, if I'm to be trapped here for some time, I might as well keep at the top of my form. And on the subject--I have a favour to

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[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

Huh? What is it?

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

I trust you've been in contact with Claire.

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

I've... spoken to her a couple of times. Why?

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

...Has she spoken to you at all about...my situation?

[ he's kind of wondering now if claire even mentioned him at all to flora. which would make things a lot simpler. ]

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

Oh! Yes, actually! She's told me all about it.

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

...I see. Then I suppose that you also know what she plans to do should I not tell the professor about my true identity.

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

I do know. She's going to tell the Professor herself if you don't.

[Why... does she have a bad feeling about this?]

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

No, I'm afraid I can't let that happen, Flora. You see, there's too much at stake here. Surely you understand that.

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

What is there at stake? I've seen what you can do. There's nothing good about it.

How do you plan to stop Miss Claire? She was pretty serious about it.

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

That's where you're mistaken.

...What if I told you that I have a different objective in mind?

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

A... different objective? Like what?

[Clive, Clive what are you doing, Flora does not like this turn of conversation. She does not trust you.]

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

I confess that I haven't been completely honest with you, Flora. I know that my plans for London cannot come to fruition here in this world, but there's something else I can gain from wearing this disguise.

--Of course, I wouldn't expect you to understand, as someone who has always held the professor's favour.

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

[Wait.

What.

What in the world was he talking about? 'As someone who has always held the professor's favor'?]

Wh-What do you mean? What do you want to gain from wearing the disguise, then?

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

Haven't you figured it out yet? What I want most is what you've got already. Imagine if I could be included in your little family--as the professor's "apprentice", I could gain the father figure I never had.

Think of it as...a rebirth.

[ oh my god so many lies. rooted in truth, of course, but clive's too cray cray to realise that. )8 ]

[Private Call]

[moepuzzle]

[... That's what he wanted?]

But what would you do if he found out later on anyway? Wouldn't he trust you more if you just... told him? I mean, if he found out later...

... [Oh dang it, she can't argue with the whole 'father figure' thing. Granted, she had her father, but he still passed away when she was younger... Still, she wasn't 100% convinced, this felt like a complete mystery to her.]

You just want the Professor to see you as...

[Private Call]

[antiscience]

Yes, I see you're getting it now.

Which is why the professor must never find out.