THE ONE

MISSION

“FOUR BROKEN RIBS,” he reveals, “along with a sprained elbow. the medical wing doesn’t think i’ll have any lasting damages from my concussion.”

her short hand approach is countered with oversharing. if she will not supply him with a tangible statement then he’ll pry it from wired shut mouth.

“after we separated, i regrouped with morales to hold a point.”

it takes a lot for the league to lose. with an operation that lasted an entire day, there’s plenty of skirmishes and opportunities to lose.

“she got restless and decided to go play hero.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
illeana reyes

THE ONE

MISSION

“REYES.”

this part of the building has become second nature to him. he recognizes these halls well enough even if he doesn’t visit its inhabitants. after all, they now rest under his domain.

“i’m here as a courtesy check in. how are you doing?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
illeana reyes

HEARING

SOCIAL

“PERHAPS,” is his way of applying pressure. “but you chose to and you will continue to choose to.”

that he has no doubt. because that is who she is: a bleeding princess who want to have her cake and eat it too. but the world does not work that way.

it didn’t work in kanto. it will not work here.

that is why they have roles. that is why they have responsibilities.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

HEARING

SOCIAL

“YOU LEFT,” he parrots for added effect, “and i maintained our position.”

the entire operation becomes a blur. for him, most of his battle happen back to back. a constant gauntlet of warping between realms and being pincered by team rocket. how much of the blame does he put on her? all of it. but how much does he voice?

“team rocket pushed with their numbers. i held for some time but the unstable rifts caused us to be displaced.”

he looks away.

“i lost a few pokemon. and some are still in the pokemon center. but that’s a small price to pay.”

he reaches for his drink the moment its poured.

“but the protection of many triumph the protection of a few. i’m glad you were able to save so many.”

how many? not enough. but he doesn’t say she was wrong outright. the guilt must seep in and eat her from the inside.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

HEARING

SOCIAL

“FAIR ENOUGH.”

he smiles wide at her rejection. being turned down does little to trample on his mood. in fact, it seems to play into his expectations. like playing an otome.

“but the offer stands. my job is to be whatever you need me to be: protection against politics, procurement for resources, or even an ear to listen to.”

he waves his hand once more. this time, he doesn’t gesture for another set. it’s her call. whether to indulge, refrain, or switch it up.

“but i am only one person. i need you to be upfront and vocal. adamant.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

HEARING

SOCIAL

SHE DOES NOT DISSUADE HIM. not with that level of conviction. blame it on the exhaustion. push it off as something personal. make an infinite amount of excuses. that is what they do.

he does not.

fernando silph, for all his faults, for all his greatness, knows one thing.

never give up. never give in. not in even in the face of certain defeat.

not when they strip him naked of his boon.

not when they cripple him beyond recognition.

he stares her in the same way he had defied countless, insurmountable odds.

“try me, morales.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

PRESSURE

POST POSTDORMITUM

“HA, HA, HA, HA!”

her answer betrays her. rips the band-aide off a wound that has festered for too long. MATIAS SILPH? greatest asset? how can that be when groudon’s avatar isn’t even the one who has the most fearsome eruption?

fernando is loud. proud. exuberant in the smokey release that settles under a rumbling belly.

“you did all this, for him? and you don’t even understand him.”

and, with surgical precision, he quiets himself. there will be no desolate land here. for the proper silph knows how to defend. how to maim while protecting what is truly important.

the bigger picture.

“you can lie to goode. you can lie to yourself. but don’t think for a minute, you can lie to me livy.”

she won’t look at him so he does it for her. turns to stare at her. not obstructing her view of hoenn’s disillusion, but letting his figure loom until they both have to admit what she’s doing.

avoidance.

“a mistake made once is forgivable. a mistake made willingly though?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
PENELOPE LIVY

HEARING

SOCIAL

HE HAS NO REPLY.. no slick come back for her impromptu confession. so, he kills the silence with an executive decision.

“morales,” is his abrupt intrusion. “let me rephrase, then. what is the answer you wanted?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

PRESSURE

POST POSTDORMITUM

“IS THAT SO?”

silence mulls an infinite amount of questions. there’s so many ways to start this. so many ways to dissect the human body and its many passages. but all it takes is one obstruction for the hate in his veins to clot into something fatal.

“then humor me, livy. what do you see in him?”

his lips twist into a frown deeper than the pit of his envy.

“what about him makes you so willing to sacrifice this institution and your principles.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
PENELOPE LIVY

HEARING

SOCIAL

“THEN YOU STEP DOWN,” is his unwavering answer.

it’s not the first time he’s put it on the table. nor will it be the last. for those in power often look at themselves as the apex. the triumphant peak that validates all their struggles and sacrifices. but it is not the end. the next journey is to remain there. to reap the just desserts in spite of it all.

“like i did, previously. and like we all will when our time is due.”

he scoffs, diverting his eye away. toward the bar. the hurt in her voice holds a sobering nuance he has no intention of tackling head on.

“what was the answer you were looking for, morales?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Eva Morales

SINTHETIC

a compilation of all his ends

“I STAND CORRECTED THEN.” this argument isn’t worth the battle. so he submits, “let me rephrase, my route is nonsense.”

a lazy eye looks up at her.

“unless—nevermind.”

he continues with what he’s doing. work.

“have fun.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Katherine Fairburne

SORDID

A SEEDY UNTANGLEMENT

THERE IS NO PROTEST TO HER INTRUSION. no zeal to secret indulge, or malice to spite her for her disobedience. just apathy. one that opens him up so she may take from him and be quick about it. for it is not the crime that disturbs him but the impact.

it takes a good measure of character to stay strong. biology works against him as his body craves a drug he has not partaken in for far too long. her smell. her taste. the affirmation of coiling bodies.

no!

the WISH TAG had perverted what it means to be him. to be a silph. to be dedication that stands above what it means to be fragile. the character of fernando eliard silph is one paramount to his own purpose.

to know weakness and to overcome it. to be better.

“which is why,” he whispers, running his thumb against her lower lip. as if that will cleanse her of her snacking. “i advise against it.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
anya fowl