"ah, that."

her eyes shift briefly to the newspaper to skim the headline. she chuckles softly, pondering on the question for a moment before deciding to answer truthfully.

"it feels pleasant, i suppose. almost as though hoenn's welcoming me home."

but her attention's soon shifting back to elisabeth.

"i brought you a gift."

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉

despite her family's connection to hoenn and all that has befallen them, ana remains relatively unaffected by all that's been happening in the region.[break][break]

it's why should she ever find out about cyg and what she does for work, well, she wouldn't quite know how to react.[break][break]

"sounds busy."[break][break]

if anyone knows something about being busy all the time, it's ana.[break][break]

"but i find it useful to have a break sometimes. have a little fun, and all that."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

summits like these make for an ideal networking opportunity. the problem is most of them are already acquainted on some level.[break][break]

for example, ana sees more than a few familiar faces as she strolls through the space, dipping her head at a few and smiling at even fewer.[break][break]

it isn't until she reaches the chocolate fountain that she comes across an unfamiliar face.[break][break]

"thank you for having me."[break][break]

her eyes flick up and down, observing.[break][break]

"i don't believe we've ever had the pleasure of meeting."

[attr="class","ooc"]open to interaction![break]
currently with Spyro Xiphias at the chocolate fountain[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

it's a problem, she supposes, but she can't help herself to care enough about it to offer her help. that should say something about her. whatever it is, she leaves it for another time.[break][break]

"yes! she's lovely."[break][break]

the best, as cyg has said.[break][break]

"aw, i'm sure you aren't that bad."[break][break]

a pause before she corrects.[break][break]

"actually, i believe you."[break][break]

and after another pause, a question is asked, one that has crossed her mind before, believe it or not.[break][break]

"where'd you go after our date, cyg? i never heard from you after that."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

not quite moving on yet, ana interjects with a question of her own; one that's asked with enough coyness to play it off as innocent.[break][break]

that is, unless penny locks eyes with her.[break][break]

"and will you be rooting for me, miss livy?"[break][break]

rotomtv can wait for a bit while she watches for a reaction.

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"it's a very peculiar side hustle."[break][break]

unique, even. but she is not one to judge.[break][break]

"i've been well. busy! but well."[break][break]

what else is there to say? the specifics of what ana has been up to will likely bore anyone, so she keeps it to herself.[break][break]

"oh! i have a friend who owns a flower shop near petalburg. have you met Elisabeth Fiorelli?"

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"that they did."[break][break]

ana, if not for her sporty attire, would definitely look out of place delivering an egg in a backpack. at least this way she can chalk it up to just being out doing some cardio.[break][break]

it's not her preferred choice of cardio, however.[break][break]

"how have you been, cyg? i haven't seen you since our date."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

it's good pr, they tell her, to volunteer to help out the local community. as much as she agrees with it, it doesn't make the task any less tiring.[break][break]

but her mood and spirits lift at the sight of a familiar face.[break][break]

"cyg!"[break][break]

after a quick jog, ana catches up to them only to offer them a warm smile as she tugs on the straps of her backpack that carries a single egg.[break][break]

"do you mind if i join you? it's a rather long and lonely walk."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

fundraisers have always been commonplace in her life. tonight, ana finds herself attending one in hoenn, though this time she attends on behalf of the stone family.[break][break]

and as an auction happens on stage, ana slips through the small crowd before settling beside an unfamiliar face.[break][break]

"iseult, yes? GABRIEL BLACK's new assistant?"

[attr="class","ooc"]iseult babineaux[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

and so, as the wheels of the tape recorder turn, the interview begins.[break][break]

and as soon as the first question arrives, ana finds it almost too easy to slip into a different version of herself — one she reserves mostly for business.[break][break]

"thank you for having me, penelope."[break][break]

after a smile, she continues.[break][break]

"we have multiple plans, as you can imagine, but all of them share the same goal of restoring devon back to what it once was."[break][break]

a pause.[break][break]

"hoenn's powerhouse."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"as am i."

but the topic of war, as important as it is, is discarded for now. the weight of somberness that threatens them starts to lift, and ana smiles, returning penelope's own.

"of course."

she sips again, then lowers the cup back down.

"whenever you're ready, penelope."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

instead of words, a quick gesture to the bartender indicates that ana will be having the same. so, with a nod, the bartender leaves to tend to their drinks, leaving them to their own privacy.

her body tilts to face her partner.

"are you a fan of the holidays, summer?"

Summer Atreides

☉

"elisabeth! it's so nice to see you."

drawn to the presence behind the counter, ana approaches, her expression immediately brightening at the sight of the familiar face.

"just paying you a visit as i said i would."

it's a social call.

"not too busy, are you?"

Elisabeth Fiorelli

☉