Coquelic

The subject can turn her mental energy into a Mania Flower and attach it to a target to control, attack, or heal. She can also gift this red flower to others, allowing them to gain the mental energy of the flower's attached target.

The subject voluntarily formed a pact with the Mania inside her, exchanging her mental energy for her special power. After joining the Garden, she began to use a sword-shaped staff as her weapon of choice.

No obvious signs of corruption are visible on her body, and her mental state is good. Her actual age is unknown, but her eternally youthful body has been completely consumed by Mania, leaving her in very poor health.

The Garden's Mentor, currently the sole leader of the organization. She is suspected to have orchestrated countless attacks against the elite, and also to have deep ties with the Underground. She exposed her tracks during a mission against Paradeisos officials, and is listed as a priority for detainment due to the highly destabilizing impact of her actions.

The Garden exists in name only, as the subject ceased her activities as an assassin after being detained. Currently, she is committed to the MBCC, working with the Bureau in detaining Sinners. Moreover, investigations revealed that the Garden's catalyst in creating Sinners was the doing of the previous Mentor, not Coquelic. According to performance records, the subject's emotions are stable, and she rarely uses her power.

She was commissioned to launch targeted attacks on Paradeisos officials and the FAC. After the attack failed, she faked the destruction of the organization, led the remnants of the Garden to hide their identities, and took refuge in Syndicate. Later, due to the abnormal M-value caused by the gathering of Sinners, she was discovered and detained by the MBCC. She fiercely resisted during the detainment process.

The subject's parents were both FAC members. Due to their work, she was constantly moving from place to place with them. After her parents were killed on duty, she rejected all offers of care and condolences.

Years later, the subject began to be active as a Sinner of the Garden. During this time, she was personally involved in dozens of Eastside officials' deaths, including the commander in the incident where her parents were killed.

According to the subject, she seized the position of "Mentor" because she could not agree with the Garden's ethos. Under Coquelic's leadership, the Garden became a neutral organization independent from the Underground, and took on various deals while adopting a laissez-faire attitude towards the Sinners under its control.

After the destruction of BR-002, Coquelic and the Garden survivors are hiding in a worn-down shelter in Syndicate. A Garden member asks a listless Coquelic if she would like to move the Garden to a new location, but Coquelic refuses, and angrily insists that “there’s no Garden anymore”. She bitterly thinks that Shalom must have put her Mark on her after all, as Coquelic had almost believed her. A flashback shows a deeply wounded Coquelic meeting with Thistle and some other members, but many more (including Garofano) are still missing. Christina claimed that most of them were sent to Syndicate, hence the reason Coquelic is currently there. Back in the present, Coquelic muses to herself that she likely only has about a week left to live.

Several days pass, and Coquelic seems to be waiting for someone, perpetually lost in thought. The members of the Garden talk about the present circumstances, but Coquelic stays put, insisting that ‘the last threat’ to the Garden will come.

Sure enough, the day comes and the MBCC arrest team surrounds the house with Nightingale at the helm. She announces that the Chief has ordered for the Mentor to be captured no matter what. Coquelic unleashes her Mania power at great cost to her health, allowing the rest of the Garden to escape. Eventually she falls under the hail of bullets, and Chief Shackles her. She wakes in the interrogation room.

Coquelic was severely injured, but still cast her powerful Mania power to resist the arrest team’s attack. In the end, the exhausted Coquelic got detained, but the other Garden members remain unaccounted for.

Coquelic attempts to test the strength of the Shackles while acting playful with Chief. The Chief requests that they exchange information about the incidents that transpired at Erica Villa and Coquelic summarises Garofano’s mission perfunctorily, but Chief dismisses the pretence and hands her a thick stack of evidence; that the Garden has always targeted Paradeisos, and that their weapons and ability to convert people to Sinners come from the Underground. Coquelic laughs and finally comes clean, mentioning that she killed the previous Mentor and took her place, and also that their client for Shalom’s assassination was Segal.

Coquelic requests information from Chief about the Shackles: specifically, how it binds Sinners. Chief claims that they only use it to hold Mania levels down, but not to restrict Sinners. Coquelic challenges them, digging her nails into Chief’s wrist and causing them to bleed. Chief feels an intense mental pain, and finally guesses that Coquelic’s reason for allowing herself to be caught was to kill them (presumably to free Sumire, Gekkabijin, and Garofano from the Shackles). Chief eventually unleashes the Shackles to fend her off, but Coquelic takes this as a sign of Chief’s hypocrisy. They both collapse, unconscious, a single poppy blooming on their hands.

A physical examination revealed that Coquelic is nearing the end of her life. Even in her weakest moments, she risked death to fight against the MBCC. Perhaps she can’t even explain the motive behind her radical actions herself…

In a flashback of her memories, it is shown that Coquelic lost her FAC parents at a young age. Furious, she makes a pact with Mania to become a Sinner. She states that she wishes to live a life where no one else can judge the value of her life, and to be strong enough to live for herself. After many years, she succeeds in taking her revenge on the DisCity official who was in charge of the operation leading to her parents’ deaths. However, while conversing with her Mentor, Coquelic realises that shee too had sacrificed Garden members as bait and treated it as something “honourable”, just like the FAC had. Coquelic kills her and usurps the Mentor’s role, determined to protect ‘her flowers’.

As time passes, Coquelic recalls supporting the ambitions and wishes of Garofano, Gekkabijin, Thistle, and Sumire; though they are all different, she does not place her judgements upon them. Coquelic’s consciousness returns to the present, and she accepts her impending death. She thinks about how she has managed to protect her Garden from the final threat (the Shackles), but suddenly sees flashbacks of the Garden assassins clinging on to her. Still in denial, she claims these ‘final attachments’ are ridiculous, that she has always lived only for herself. However, she is shocked to her senses when an apparition of Sumire asks why she is still waiting for them to appear.

Background dialogue reveals that the MBCC’s medical team are trying to save her by transferring all her Mania to Chief, even exceeding the limit of the Shackles. Coquelic finally admits to herself that everything she has done was not out of pure self-interest, but for the sake of her Garden.

There are still those who are waiting for her to wake up, and those who are using their frail bodies to shield her from danger. Coquelic sees her past self and finds the purpose of carrying on.

Sumire is caring for Coquelic in her ward. The latter reads a file that Sumire brought with her, which the Chief plans to send to the 9th Agency to claim that all members of the Garden except Coquelic have been killed (thus freeing all the members from being hunted). Sumire reveals that Chief had intended to submit the report even before Coquelic’s interrogation, and tries to convince her that the Chief has the same caring attitude towards Sinners that Coquelic has towards the Garden.

Coquelic goes to visit Chief, and is shocked by their injuries. The two banter a little, but eventually get serious; Coquelic says she will tell Chief anything they want to know under three conditions.

Later that night, Sumire and Gekkabijin are seen visiting Coquelic in her ward. She tells them about the conversation with Chief: The conditions were 1) That the MBCC has to track down all remaining Garden Sinners in secret, and Shackle them to suppress their Mania. 2) To not expose the existence of the Garden Sinners, and to not restrict or control them. 3) For Chief to cherish their own life. The Chief had chastised her, and suggested that they both abide by the third agreement. Garofano appears, having finally recovered, and says Thistle is also doing well. Gekkabijin asks again about the third agreement, and Coquelic responds in a roundabout way: that in the next crisis, she will continue to fight and protect them with all her power. And when the time for her death comes, she hopes her actions will be able to protect her Garden forever.

Elsewhere, Nightingale shows the Chief that the poppy from the interrogation has withered; Chief correctly takes this to mean that Coquelic has refused to abide by the third agreement. By being willing to die for the Garden, she silently sends the message that she has turned over the future of the Garden to Chief.

Someone’s got to shield these little flowers from the storm. Even if that means decomposing into the mud… This is her newfound purpose for carrying on. “The Garden is now in your hands, Chief.”

The subject claims to be physically weak and requires assistance with everything in life, including but not limited to eating, bathing, and going out. In particular, she has stringent requirements for the temperature of her baths and the type of petal shampoo to be used on specific days. Most of these requests have been rejected by the Bureau.

She likes to "moonbathe," claiming that the night makes her more alert, and that her face looks better under the moonlight. Before "moonbathing," she usually spends a long time selecting her nightgown and completing a long, complicated skincare routine.

She has a green thumb and is more than happy to give expert gardening advice to staff and Sinners. With her guidance, even beginners can grow beautiful flowers. However, when asked about her own gardening achievements, she simply gazes towards the Sinners from the Garden.

She often refers to the members of the Garden as "little flowers," and recently, has also begun to refer to the Chief that way. She's also carefully selecting flowers that could symbolize the Chief, planning to plant them in her own flower bed.

[Coquelic is examining the soil in the greenhouse.]

Coquelic: What kind of flowers do you think would be good to plant here?

Chief: ......

• Prompt: You should decide. I have faith in your aesthetic.
• Coquelic: Well, just wait and see.
• Coquelic: 😏

• Prompt: Any kind except poisonous ones! Please!
• Coquelic: That's a shame. I was going to plant some oleanders.
• Coquelic: 😥

[Coquelic is browsing online shopping pages in the Recreation Area]

Coquelic: In your opinion, which brooch looks the best?

Chief: ......

• Prompt: The blue one, very eye-catching.
• Coquelic: It's rare that you share my opinion. This brooch is quite special. Hmm... It'll look good on you.
• Coquelic: 😘

• Prompt: The silver one? I actually don't usually wear brooches.
• Coquelic: I think the blue one is perfect for you. You have to learn to dress up once in a while.
• Coquelic: 😏

[You cross paths with Coquelic in the Bureau, a face you haven't seen in a while.]

Coquelic: Chief, why the long face with the holidays just around the corner?

• Prompt: I'm swamped with work. But now that you're here, I'm feeling a little brighter.
• Coquelic: Hmph, cheeky little one. When did you learn to talk like that? Quit looking so down. I stashed a little gift in your room. Go find it.
• Coquelic: 😘

• Prompt: I've kinda missed you...
• Coquelic: Chance encounters are supposed to be fleeting. That's exactly what makes them unforgettable, don't you think?
• Coquelic: 😘

⚠ Good Taste

Coquelic is someone with a high standard for everything.

System Notifications: Coquelic is someone who has a high standard for everything. It's just that, you have to pay for most of her "good taste."

• Prompt: Spare my wallet.

⚠ Recluse

There are many people in the Bureau who love flowers, but Coquelic definitely goes out of the way for them.

System Notifications: While there are many people in the Bureau who love flowers, Coquelic definitely goes out of the way for them. She plants a large number of flowers, especially poppies, at the door of her room. It's tough for anyone to pay a visit.

• Prompt: I can barely pass through there...

⚠⚠ "Trump Card"

You want Coquelic to help look at a list.

Chief: Coquelic, I have a list of Sinners who might be related to the Garden, could you please—

Coquelic: Hmm?

System Notifications: After a great deal of effort, you manage to escape her maze of fresh flowers, only to find Coquelic lazily sprawled on her bed, fiddling with a foreign language book, looking quite laid-back.

Coquelic: Please pour me a cup of tea.

Chief: Check the list for me, will you?

Coquelic: The tea.

Chief: ...

System Notifications: You sigh, getting her help is never easy.

• Prompt: Just do as she says

Chief: Alright, which tea would you like?

Coquelic: Hmm, the little jar on the third shelf, second row from the top. Remember, only two scoops.

Coquelic: ...

Coquelic: The water temperature is off... How can you make good tea like this?

• Prompt: Guess it's time to play the trump card

Chief: By the way, I remember that famous dried flower shop in Eastside you mentioned last time. It seems that their new stock has sold out.

Coquelic: Hmm?!

Chief: But if you're willing to do me a small favor, I might be able to get you some...

Coquelic: Hand it over.

Chief: ...What?

Coquelic: Tsk, the list, hand it over!

System Notifications: You chuckle to yourself. It seems she won't be giving you a hard time for a while.

⚠⚠ Potential Assessment

You bring a new Sinner to meet Coquelic.

Sinner A: Um... Excuse me, are you Ms. Coquelic?

Coquelic: Uh-huh.

Chief: Coquelic, we're here to assess her potential.

System Notifications: In order to ask Coquelic, who was once the Mentor, to assess the potential of the new Sinners, you went to great lengths to buy her the finest flower cakes in the city. But she doesn't seem to take this task to heart at all. She just chews on the flower cakes while staring at the somewhat shy newcomer.

Coquelic: Just average.

Sinner A: What do you mean by average...?

Coquelic: Hmm, just average.

Coquelic: We're finished here.

Coquelic: Escort me to my room. I'm tired of sitting.

• Prompt: Give her a small hint

Chief: By the way, she used to be a member of the Garden.

Coquelic: ...Wait a minute.

Coquelic: We have met before?

Sinner A: M-Mentor, I-I joined a bit late...

Coquelic: Oh my, what a coincidence, why didn't you say so earlier?

Coquelic: Come here, let me take a good look at you.

System Notifications: The usually lackadaisical Coquelic suddenly seems like a different person. She jumps off the couch and gets a close look at the Sinner from all angles.

Coquelic: Hmm, you've got some potential!

Coquelic: Your vision is also good... no tendency to be short-sighted... and you responded quickly to my test.

Coquelic: You're just a bit on the short side.

System Notifications: Coquelic nods in satisfaction, then turns to you.

Coquelic: She's one of my girls from now on. You better keep an eye out. Don't let others bully her.

Chief: Yes, yes...

⚠⚠⚠ Moonbathing

Before going back to your room tonight, you plan to go to the Outdoor Activity Area for a bit of fresh air.

System Notifications: Before going to bed tonight, you plan to relax at the Outdoor Activity Area, but unexpectedly find Coquelic sitting on the grass.

• Prompt: Greet her

Chief: Good evening, Coquelic. What brings you here?

Coquelic: Oh, it's you.

Coquelic: This is the only place in the Bureau where you can see the moon. I'm here to moonbathe.

Chief: Moonbathe?

Coquelic: Hmm... Only the moonlight can truly highlight my beauty.

System Notifications: The usually lazy and fussy Coquelic seems a bit gentler. Only now do you notice that she has carefully dressed up, even though it's late at night.

Coquelic: What do you think, doesn't the moonlight tonight suit me well?

Chief: I must admit, indeed it does.

Chief: You look beautiful under the moonlight.

Coquelic: Hehe... You have good taste.

• Prompt: Head back
• Chief: I need to get going. I have to get up early tomorrow.
• Chief: You should go back to sleep too. It's quite cold in the Outdoor Activity Area at night.
• Coquelic: You're right. I've had enough moonlight for today.
• Coquelic: Let's go together. You should escort me back.
• Chief: Do I have to...? The Bureau is very safe, and you're quite capable of protecting yourself...
• Coquelic: What, you don't want to?
• Chief: ...Fine, I'll escort you.

• Prompt: Stay a bit longer
• Coquelic: How's that for a plan of action?
• Chief: Yes?
• Coquelic: I meant moonbathing. Don't you feel more awake under the moon?
• Chief: I think so, now that you mention it.
• Coquelic: How about joining me for some moonbathing more often?
• Coquelic: To be honest, I quite like you. I think you'd make a good moonbathing buddy.
• Chief: Let me think about it...

⚠⚠⚠ Prepare the Bath

Having just finished your miscellaneous tasks, you plan to catch up on your work.

System Notifications: Today, just as you've finished dealing with all the miscellaneous tasks at hand and are planning to catch up on your work, an uninvited guest appears at your office.

Coquelic: The bath bomb you bought last time was good, so I bought some more myself.

Coquelic: I'm about to take a bath. Give me a hand.

Chief: Uh, give you a hand...? Isn't that a bit inappropriate?

Coquelic: What's inappropriate about it? Just come.

Coquelic: In this Bureau, you're the only one who knows my preferences. Come help me prepare the bath.

Chief: Prepare the bath...

• Prompt: Try to refuse

Chief: It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I have too much work piled up. There are a lot of documents I need to look at...

Chief: The logistics department's quarterly bills, the hypnotist's treatment plan for the Sinners, field mission reports...

Coquelic: You won't be able to finish all that in one night anyway.

Coquelic: Stop wasting time and come with me.

Chief: ...

System Notifications: You can't refute that, so you sigh and follow her. And you start preparing the bath.

• Prompt: Do it hastily
• Coquelic: ...I asked for cold milk. Why did you bring me hot?
• Coquelic: Today we should use white rose petals. Why did you use the red ones?
• Coquelic: Also, the water temperature obviously isn't 113 °F.
• Coquelic: Tsk, you've really disappointed me...
• System Notifications: Distracted, you hastily escape before she can blow her top.
• Chief: Catching up on work is more important!

• Prompt: Prepare carefully
• Chief: Cold milk with two ice cubes.
• Chief: Keep the water temperature at 113 °F.
• Chief: Sprinkle a bag of white rose petals.
• Chief: Prepare the bath towel, shower cap, and bathrobe...
• System Notifications: Watching you dutifully playing the role of a "servant," and meticulously arranging the bathroom, Coquelic, who has been standing behind you, speaks up.
• Coquelic: There are quite a few Garden members in the MBCC, right?
• Chief: Yes.
• Coquelic: I've seen them. They're all doing well here.
• Coquelic: You arranged all this, didn't you?
• Chief: I'm just treating every Sinner equally.
• Coquelic: Haha. Maybe you really can accomplish something.
• Coquelic: ...
• Coquelic: Thank you for taking care of my flowers.
• System Notifications: Her last sentence is said very softly.

Soft clothing designed to be easy on a body suffering from the backlash of Mania. The fire mark design is reportedly something Coquelic requested.

Such a delicate flower. I almost can't bear to pick it.