[attr="class","francie"]

She'd been so distracted by watching him eat - whoops, was that a creepy quirk she was discovering?? - that she hadn't even bothered trying her own.

"It's always good." Her default answer was given before taking the syrup and putting a bit on the side of her plate. She went to cutting the crepes up first, then started to dip the cut sections into the syrup before taking careful bites. The first bite got a hum of confirmation- yes, delicious, and then she was onto the other. Each bite was calculated because she didn't want to get any of the syrup in her hair.

Because of her short stature, while she took her bites, she kicked her feet happily beneath the table. She couldn't help but smile as she swallowed that bite and began putting the next one on her fork. "Yep, very good." Just what she'd wanted.

And in the second bite went.

‣ FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","francie"]

The closure of distance between them had Francie looking over at him right as he'd asked for a bite and pointedly looked at her like a dog waiting for his treat from her meal. For... some reason she decided to concede, but not before cutting the bite in half. Maybe that was selfish, maybe she didn't want to make a mess because he was much taller than her.

Bringing the fork up to his mouth, she placed her hand beneath the food filled prongs so that the morsel wouldn't drop on them if it did fall off the fork. Once he'd taken the bite, she lowered the fork and scooted that half bite away just in case he wanted another.

"You should take this as liquid gold, Mr. Silph." She spoke sternly, which was a contrast to her usually gentle tone. "I don't share food with just anyone. Suppose that'd make you my friend, now, wouldn't it?"

Made sense. He seemed friendly enough, he hadn't had an ill intention, and she felt oddly comfortable with him, even at a close distance.

‣ FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","francie"]

Well look at that, he can laugh.

Francie couldn't help how she genuinely smiled at him. It was interactions like this she lived for. Men she wouldn't have expected to be silly, being silly with her. It was refreshing and so very fun.

But then he immediately turned around and asked her something she wasn't sure she could wrap her mind around. She noted he called her Miss Francie instead of Miss Myrtle, thank goodness because her last name made people sound like Croagunks.

The word partners moved through her mind a few times before she realized he meant business partners. Right, because a man like him wouldn't have many in his circle that weren't business partners in some way. Which was sort of sad, and really made her feel special.

"Why would it put me in a bad light? What, your reputation so sour among those of the League?" Wouldn't that be a shame? She'd really hoped the League was more ... well, open, to the idea of somebody from Kanto coming to help out.

...or was he not? Great, now she was creating rumors in her own head about him simply because he was from Kanto. Though he did sort of say he was here to make better because of what had happened, revenge as a backbone for why he was a council member.

"I think associating with you is fun, in these sorts of instances." She admitted before shrugging. "I haven't associated with you politically yet," as she spoke she'd been cutting a part of the crepe for him and pushing it to one side of her plate, eating the blueberry crepe on the other side of her plate and leaving the strawberry for him if he wanted it. "But I'm sure it won't be terrible. Might even be comfortable." She shrugged her small shoulders before taking another bite.

‣ FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","francie"]

francie was sure to make a face at the idea of silph coming off as abrasive. her expression clearly read, 'who, you? no.' one could even possibly hear the sarcasm.

when he offers his plate, francie just looks at him. for a few seconds. so friendly, so strange that people call him cold. though admittedly he did have that scary sort of look about him at first. her eyes then travel down to the plate and she puts her fork into some of his has before taking a bite and smiling.

once finished swallowing, she smiles his way. that same warm and gentle smile, but there lies a familiarity within it now. "thank you, frenando." perhaps a first name base is allowed now. she'll soon find out, one way or another.

‣ FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","francie"]

breakfast was coming to a close and francie found herself smiling and kicking her feet. they didn't reach the ground, which was understandable with her height and how she was pushed with her back against the seat.

"i think... it's strange, because i've only just met you, but i would call you my friend."

random as that might have seemed, francie meant it. he really did seem like somebody she would rely on, which was worrisome considering she didn't know him very well. she couldn't help how she chuckled, a little embarrassed at herself.

"you should convince me that's a bad idea, you're an underhanded man, and i shouldn't trust you.... so it's not so strange and awkward." maybe she was considered naive for trusting him so quickly. maybe it was fate.

francie honestly had no clue.

‣ FERNANDO SILPH

If there was one thing that Fernando Silph could do well, it was resting bitch face. So to see that welcoming smile was a bit unnerving and even more striking. Francie had expected that sort of answer, so it didn't surprise her. But there was something about it that made her ... well, made her wonder just what sort of path she was taking in becoming a gym leader. In a sense, she was glad it led her to be friends, or at least acquaintances, with Fernando. But in another, she was a bit paranoid that maybe... maybe she couldn't be enough. Which had her all the more determined to be enough.

"I'm not at all saying you're a bad person, I definitely don't get that impression."

Admittedly, revenge as a motive was a bit of a throw off. But to each their own. She wanted to win her region it's freedom back, he wanted to do that, but for his own reasons. She could respect that.

"So, I suppose you're stuck with me, hm?"

Francie's eyes moved from the table, up to the blue gaze that was beside her at the table. They were finished eating, technically their time was up, but she definitely didn't want to leave just yet... did that seem silly? She liked speaking with him. Actual conversations, not just listening to complaints and fixing town problems... it was a refreshing change.

Fernando's confidence was jarring. That sort of moment where one realizes that they're accomplishments mean more than they thought. At this point, the idea of accomplishments had never come across Francie's mind. Sure, becoming a gym leader and helping Hoenn was her focus... but the small accomplishments it would take to get to that point had illuded her until Fernando's words.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. Maybe we'll plan on doing breakfast when you're so stressed out of your ears you can't walk straight."

Speaking of work, he was President of the Silph company while also being a Councilmember- then there was the idea of the Commisioner. With the current commissioner missing, did that mean Fernando could be next in line? Or even kim cole-essam? Is that how Councilmembers worked? They just ranked up like that? Suppose she knew her next question.