[attr="class","matias"]"hm?"

matias had been too enthralled in the conflicting fighting-types to notice the sounds of approaching footsteps. he turns, tearing his attention away right as a primeape lands a KARATE CHOP on a much taller passimian. twice its height, in fact.

"oh, i know you. katherine of the elite four, yes?" while normally bad with names, matias has no issues remembering hers. "i didn't know they assigned me a partner."

in the background, a raging primeape mid-charge suddenly slows to a halt, then drops to the ground unconscious. even from this far away, its snore thunders with the might of a storm.

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

[attr="class","matias"]"i guess they're shit at communicating here, too." it doesn't surprise him — in fact, it's what he had expected. to actually be right about it is a little depressing, though. perhaps a part of him was hoping to be wrong.

matias shakes his head, "you'd remember," then extends his hand, "matias silph."

shadows snake in the background, and from it, purple spikes seem to protrude. it heads in the direction of a passimian this time, and like the primeape earlier, it too falls unconscious.

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

[attr="class","matias"]"one of fernie's siblings. i'm his brother."

behind layers of half-smiles and indifference is undeniable contempt. but, as always, he hides it well, and in turn chooses to flash a grin.

"i'll be in the spotlight soon enough. you've worked with him?"

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

[attr="class","matias"]"i never knew fernie had an interest in politics, nor the affairs of a foreign region. but i suppose there are a lot of things i don't know about him."

by now, the monkeys have become nothing more than sleeping pests. it means little to matias but the quiet it brings them is appreciated.

"i've come to do more than just replace him," though quick, his comment holds gravitas. it fades in favor of something akin to charm. "we're already in good hands with you, i'm sure."

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

[attr="class","matias"]the urge to pry comes when stormy isn't named, but he swallows it back, deciding against it. katherine is simplifying — there are more moving parts and pieces than she names, but what he takes away is that everyone needs to be cohesively striving for the same goal. so, he nods in agreement.

a gengar finally leaps out of the shadows, landing by matias. its dark-red eyes glance up, seeking approval, to which matias gives in the form of a nod. gengar is recalled after.

"i do."

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

[attr="class","matias"]"bad experience with one?"

he raises a hand, gesturing for the bottle of whiskey. it doesn't take long for two rocks glasses to appear before them, each filled with fine liquor that surrounds a perfect sphere of ice. he extends one over to katherine.

"anything you want. but i thought we'd start with this."

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

[attr="class","matias"]at the mention of martinis, his eyes find the barkeep's, and after a knowing look and a nod, the barkeep gets to work. he returns his gaze to katherine just as she downs her drink, and soon does the same to his own.

"a reliable choice."

he sets his glass down, slides it away, and waits for the next. his mind flutters to earlier in the day and he can't help the chuckle that escapes.

"how often do they waste your time?" he pauses, then continues. "it was a simple mission a cadet could handle."

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