[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


slowly, but surely. [break][break]

the day gave her no break in visitors, nor work. with the company still taking its time in readjusting with the new head, she had her hands full trying to get everything situated and organized - let them be internal affairs or external. it had been busy, busy (she found it more vexing than her days in university, and she could only hope that the calm would come after the storm instead of before). nevertheless, she is quick to pack up the appropriate documents into a file before taking another look at the desk for anything else. the dark, wooden desk was spotless and, thanks to the glaze over it, she was able to see a deep coloured reflection of herself. she uses a moment to carefully part her bangs before heading out; she didn't want to look like she tried to get ready in ten seconds. [break][break]

her heels click down the hallways until she arrives at the elevator and is greeted by a secretary to escort her down to the specific chamber. though she couldn't hold anyone accountable except herself, part of her was upset at how the secretary suddenly, with very little regard, rang her without much an appointment. it happened so quickly and she was going to immediately reject the meeting. that is, until she was told who, specifically, it was. [break][break]

of course he would turn up without a warning. [break][break]

she lets out an exasperated (though quiet) sigh. she takes dinging of the elevator passing each floor to slow and regulate her breathing, more so she doesn't sound like she didn't try to run down the halls in heels in a desperate attempt to keep the attendee from waiting too long. once she arrives, she is escorted to the room. when she opens the door, she sees the young brunette sitting at the conference table with his feline pokemon. with the wave of her hand towards the escort, they nod and leave the room to the two business partners. [break][break]

daphne walks to the table and takes a seat in the chair at the narrow end of the table. "apologies for keeping you waiting." she starts, then taking another deep breath. this was business, so it's okay. "... what is your reason for coming?" a habitual question from when she was a doctor.

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


good, so she was being coherent. [break][break]

she waits for him to finish before nodding her head. her hand reaches towards the folder holding the forms, and she pulls it towards herself. "precisely why i said i will deal with the matter and speak to them myself." her smile had shrunk, as her expression returned to the normal, cold stoic she had grown familiar with. "i intend to speak to a league representative shortly after i read on the details and obtain a better grasp on the situation. if i pursue the new contract, i will organize a meeting and schedule for an inspection of the previous assets. this is also for me to get a grasp on what exactly the previous head provided." she pauses "i will also take another look over the current - or, previous - contract." [break][break]

in any case, she was already prepared to clear up any messes or loose ends her little brother might have left for her. was this his way of spiting her for being so absent in the family? if it were, he got her good. [break][break]

"... of course, it's still far too early to rush into things. i have not read the documents in full, after all." but he was right; she sorely underestimated the power her name - and her position - had over people. on the other hand, she wasn't pressured to rush and make any hasty decisions. it would look bad on her - and by extension, devon - if she were to fly into a panic or stress.

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


she's relieved. [break][break]

more so that the one who came to aid was a polite one. daphne straightens herself up, more so to return a small smile of her own. "you flatter me." she offers a gaze as warm as the slight smile, and she then pulls out a pokeball to release a blissey into the open. giving the blissey a sparing glance, she waves her hand slightly to dismiss the pokemon. "pearl, help tend to the injured if you will." with the command, the blissey began to walk towards some other people and pokemon - using her heal pulse to hopefully rid of burn injuries and other wounds. [break][break]

turning her attention back to olivia, she holds her hand out with an open palm. "my name is daphne; daphne stone. a pleasure." she knows, fully well, the weight that stone holds. a little sister who revelled in the spotlight and a little brother known for his noble heart (she knows far too well). "i believe you might have known my little brother, alexander? he'd speak highly of you."

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


she shakes her head. it isn't something that she liked to talk about (it wasn't something she liked to remind herself). [break][break]

instead, she tries to put on a small, sheepish smile at this comment on her medical background. she was thankful that the waiter had come up when he did, so that she could avoid what dark turns and questions were awaiting if he decided to continue with the line. she takes a listen to his order - was he being considerate of her? she could pick up on that - and she appreciated it, even if it didn't show in her expression. with another shake of her head, she lowers the menu. "no, don't worry about me." she offers a slightly warmer smile. "salad is a nice entry." [break][break]

she takes another listen to his choice in drink, and notes it. after taking both orders, the waiter leaves them to their conversation. her heart sinks, listening to the story. indeed, she was fully aware of the difficulties in hoenn. it was the reason she became a doctor; in hopes to help people. unfortunately, the years were wasted and the dream suddenly ripped from her hands. but she holds it in; maybe she can do something to help (through the corruption of business; she wasn't a stranger to the shadows hiding beneath the surface). "I see.." she trails off, more so to collect herself. if she could, she would offer more assets to the league for their rangers. for the time being, she was more occupied with tying loose ends her brother left in his departure. [break][break]

she feels helpless, watching from the other end of the table.[break][break]

daphne reaches her hand across the table to gently tap the surface before him. "if driving is a problem, i can ask someone to drive you home." she offers with the slight tilt of her head. "i can have someone drive your vehicle back to your house not too far behind. so.." ... feel free to drink? she pulls her hand back, after realizing what she had said. a soft hue of pink climbs to her cheeks. [break][break]

"th-that is--" she begins to quiet down, whilst turning her head to the side, slightly. "if you're.. comfortable, of course." [break][break]

she stutters and lowers her hand into her lap. "I-i apologize. that was an odd offer.."

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


he was toying with her; looking down on her. the gaze in his eyes and the way he carried himself was clear. it wasn't anything she was unfamiliar with; perhaps that's why she felt more distaste than what should have been pressure? she didn't know what nonsense this oaf was spouting, and she can't help but to worry, subtly, under the icy exterior she held. was this the same way he had treated her younger brother in the time he was head? she shudders to think of it. [break][break]

shudders in frustration. [break][break]

she'd thought him taught better than that. pursing her lips and directing an icy glare to the man, she leans back to cross her arms and legs. "no." she says, flatly. he was a representative of the league; and that's all he was in her office, at the moment. "i do not believe i made myself quite clear, so i will repeat myself; the issue here is that the previous head is no longer in hoenn" she says, narrowing her eyes to the file "indeed, this would be a problem where the league would be liable - and it would be in their best interest to return what the previous head had offered." she shifts her gaze back to fernando. "but it will not be an issue if the current head were to reinstate a contract for the league to continue using said assets." [break][break]

she sighs and rubs the back of her neck. "this is a pressing matter, if it really is as you describe. it requires my immediate attention, among other things." but she knows that she can't act rashly without thoroughly looking through the files. "i appreciate the assistance from a fellow--" a pause, and slightly nauseating feeling "--business partner, but that is unnecessary. you are aware, as well as i am, how important a connection the league is." and this woman - the nerve of her - gives the man a slight smile in gratitude. [break][break]

she felt disgusted.

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


this wasn't business. [break][break]

it takes a while for her to register that in her head; it wasn't business. she managed to call someone out to ask questions regarding her brother and she had the entire thing planned out. she'd written it on a note the day before and, gods, she even tried to rehearse. yet when she sees the man sitting in front of her, she's at a loss of words. a greeting, yes. she needed to greet him, like a normal person-- like a person. she takes a deep breath and, in a poor attempt to maintain her composure, keeps a relatively stoic expression on her face. "good morning." she replies, abruptly. [break][break]

... that was a bit much, wasn't it? the blonde lowers her hands into her lap to twiddle her fingers under the table. "and you are kyle, correct?" once again, the flat, formal tone. she raises a hand to him, reaching across the table. ".. daphne. daphne stone. i believe you were familiar with my younger brother, alexander?" she asks. to calm her nerves she gently clasps her hands around the cup of coffee. "i'll start simple" she says, before taking a quick sip to warm herself up. [break][break]

"how well did you know my brother?"

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


the displeasure tasted metallic, like blood against her tongue. [break][break]

it might as well have been, with how she was biting to hold it. in spite of that, she maintains composure. was he serious? of course he was; he was a silph. she wasn't keen of pulling the assets out of the league, nor was she keen of forfeiting them to the league. he offered two options that, in her humble opinion, were mightyena shit. his final words, however, has the woman take a deep breath and shake her head. "that will not be necessary." she says, leaning forwards to the desk and resting her hands against the table top. [break][break]

a deep, blue gaze spares the files a sparing glance, and she shakes her head. "my brother's disappearance is irrelevant to the assets devon offered to the league. i am aware that he was the champion, but the transaction was with the head at the time. and as the head--" until her brother returns, that is. "-- until i can properly read the forms and speak to another representative at a later date, i will with-hold any decisions regarding it."[break][break]

she was the head of devon; her brother made that decision while he was the head of devon, and as the head of devon. his presence in hoenn was irrelevant at this point; the fact was that the head of devon made the choice, and now the head of devon is standing with it. she didn't see an issue. "and if there are any issues, i will arrange a meeting, myself."

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


displeasure is like the taste of steel in her mouth; uncomfortable and unnecessary. that being said, this proposal was unnecessary. as far as she was concerned, devon was and always had been a strong power in hoenn; hoenn was the home of devon corp, and devon corp was the heart of hoenn (an egotistical and needlessly patriotic or prideful statement to make). nevertheless, she takes another gander and look through the papers before setting them back, neatly in their ordered pile. "i see." [break][break]

though she took alexander's position, she wasn't under the mindset of completely pulling out of what he had invested in. though the corporation was adjusting to her abrupt rise and shift in power, they were at no loss in resources. especially not when they had already formed a connection and relationship with the league. to some degree, she had to question why they would bring the proposal up; but she also knows that it should be mandatory, even when they know she will keep the investment into the league. [break][break]

"indeed, these resources are under my jurisdiction" she repeats, before closing the file. "and i have no intention to pull them out from the league. i will read the rest of these forms and files, and i will respond to the league at a later date."

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


her brothers disappearance wasn't a secret. Not anymore. [break][break]

naturally, it would reach the ears of someone (if not those in the league, then it be the higher powers in the region). it was a major tear through the region; without their champion, who would lead as a governing power over the region? though she knows, she had long tried to push the political obstacles around her brother's disappearance aside. she didn't want to think about it. [break][break]

she quietly takes the folders and papers, then quickly skims through the pages that she assumed all needed her attention. she raises a brow.[break][break]

"and this is?"

[attr="class","freiheitt21"]


It was rare for her to get a call--[break][break]

No; it was rare for her to accept or even start a personal call, especially when she was on the job. Even when she was living her peaceful life running a small clinic, she never did set time asides for her little brother, sister, or family's disputes or matters in the grander company. The life of a doctor was taxing; the life of a head of a corporation even more vexing. Nowadays, she found little time to indulge in herself; she didn't even have time to even attempt to search for answers regarding her little brother and sister; not after they disappeared, at least. [break][break]

Her brother, though worried as she was, she knows he was capable. Her sister, on the other hand, was still missing even after the dispersing of Team Rocket. It was odd to her, and it sent alarms in her head. She found more questions arising in her mind, from the concern and worry topped with the fretting a big sister would have. Did she have the right? Especially with how out of touch she was from the family, and how little a part she played in their company. It felt like she swooped in, was called upon because there was no one else (it was exactly that, but never would those exact words be uttered from an employee's lips). [break][break]

Today, though, she was trying to find answers. [break][break]

And those answers started with a contact of her brother's who she has heard about in the news, now and then. It was more so in previous articles, but she was curious. She had tried to get into contact with him, and set up a meeting day and spot at a cafe nearby the company to speak. She made her way in, ordered a donut and some coffee, then made way to a booth by the large window. [break][break]

She waits.