dahlia has a habit of hovering around nervously before meetings, appointments. little desk work can be done once the clock hits ten minutes prior. perhaps, it is a good thing, she assures herself. a good thing to allow her to transition from one bullet point to the next. to arrive with full breath and full attention.

then again, today's meeting is not scheduled. rather, it's quite impromptu. "at your earliest convenience," she had wrote.

still, she's quick to be notified when the man arrives.

hearing balder's voice, she bursts through some doors, their glass frames shaking as she greets balder with a brandished hand.

"no need for that. i'm here!" she's dressed in her usual attire. whites, black heels, a practiced smile. "just through here." the commissioner holds the door open for him, which leads into a corridor connected to several office rooms. "would you like anything?"

Balder Schwartz

the joke does not land. at least, to dahlia. she stands, stunned briefly, as if trying to construe some polite way of saying that it would be uncouth— but the chuckling and admission that pours afterward is enough to loosen her shoulders.

"i don't believe it'll take too long." dahlia says. "i don't want to keep you for long, that is. you must be busy."

she leads him into a wider office space by the end of the hall. it opens up into a large room that faces evergrande city. with wide glass walls on one end of the room. two leather seats flank a small coffee table; there, already, coffee and iced lemon water sit in metal and clear urns for self-service. glass cups wait beside them.

"take a seat." dahlia says, gesturing to one of the leathers. she takes her seat, smoothing her pencil skirt under herself as she descends.

a thin finger reaches over to dispense icy water into balder's clear cup.

Balder Schwartz

dahlia takes her glass. painted nails grace its sides as she lifts it to her lips. when she drinks, the water pours a little more than expected causing her to jolt for a napkin after.

"sorry!" she laughs, setting the glass down. "well, the situation was dire. a little bit of drama is to be expected." dahlia says in reference to balder's past interruption.

she crosses her legs, her shoe bobbing to some imagined rhythm.

"i just have some questions." dahlia folds her napkin neatly into a small square. "you weren't on good terms with the league last time i checked. how about now?"

Balder Schwartz

"do you actually believe we purposefully deployed children to the warfronts?" dahlia sets her napkin on the table. its tight fold releases, causing one face to rise lazily. "and should rocket's hoennian presence still exist, why would they want to 'kidnap' a megalopolan?"

the commissioner remains still. her earlier apology about her clumsy drinking calcifies into pointed questions. skepticism and curiosity refines the posture and steels the gaze, for all of her focus shines its harsh light on balder schwartz.

Balder Schwartz

"no one from the league?" dahlia's lips hone themselves sharp. "then why didn't you take them away from the field yourself?"

a cold droplet slides down an urn's surface. slowly, but surely, it amasses enough weight to join the pool within.

"in running a battlefield and in running a region, balder," dahlia says, "one can not account for every little thing. should rocket still exist, then we'll tackle the issue should it arise while preparing simultaneously for the possibility."

dahlia retrieves her glass and siphons a small sip.

"i am so sorry to hear about solgaleo." she frowns. "after such a loss and everything that has happened, at least you're still here. do you miss it?"

Balder Schwartz

"perhaps." dahlia says, in response to balder's assumptions for hiring. "but if that were the case, i'd have to reconsider."

she swirls her fingertip inside the cup, her painted nail like a swimming fin. after, dahlia dabs her finger against her folded napkin, which relaxes flat.

"balder, you can not criticize the league and exempt yourself at the same time. why didn't you? why didn't the league? guzzlord. the megalopolans."

dahlia leans forth with her elbows on her knees. like blades, her fingers curl and fan out underneath her chin.

"it was war." the commissioner says. "if you're on the battlefield, it might have been too late. after all, mauville was the site of a sudden attack." she hums with a sigh. "anyhoo, it's noble of you to try and move on— but i heard from a little birdie that you've been carrying that past within you for some time."

everyone in that war room had been scathed by special eyes, after all.

Balder Schwartz

bereft of all power, or how so he believes. the blood that leaks from balder's flesh causes her to wince. however, the admission of grief is more powerful, forcing her frown deeper.

"well, perhaps it is dormant. recovering." dahlia says softly. "after you take more time to heal, maybe they'll come back."

her elbows press more firmly onto her legs. surely, the skin underneath them would flush pink.

"no. but what if i said we could try and get them back? everything back."

Balder Schwartz