Talk quickly transitions to Sootopolis. It doesn’t take long, and Eva is intrigued. At first, she remains silent. She wasn’t there. She had only read reports, so she felt she has little to contribute. Doug was there though; she knew that much. He makes a good point, hinting towards them now having a foothold. What he fails to mention is the bright side of that. Of course, Eva doesn’t want Rocket to have any foothold in the region but what’s done is done, “True, Captain,” she admits after John Sullivan, observing his rather somber attitude, “But –“ her tone has a rather hopeful ring to it. It’s intentional to try and brighten the dull mood, “Now we know where in Hoenn they are. Beforehand, they could have been anywhere,” now, at least, they were parked in Sootopolis. That makes them easier to keep an eye on. That’s really all she has to contribute.

It’s not long after that MATIAS SILPH arrives. Eva’s glad to see him and removes the item from his seat for him to sit beside her, “Yeah, no problem,” she responds in a hushed voice when he leans close.

The gratitude is quickly returned with a quick “Thank you” and a smile when he places a share of the hotpot in front of her. She watches Matias with an amused smile as she joins in on the ‘noodle dance’. She had no idea he came here so often . . . let alone knew the choreography.

@haidilao

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"Yeah." Doug agreed with Katherine Fairburne, nodding. "But that don't matter if they weren't confident they could pull it off. Their victory is owed to the rioting civilians on their side- much more so than any strength on their part."

Doug recalled his conversation with Melody Miro when she came to challenge his gym, tapping his finger atop the table.

"On the weeks leading up to the invasion, there was a sudden, unexplained rise in anti-league sentiment within Sootopolis- Melody mentioned it when she came to challenge me." Doug muttered, leaning his head atop his palm as his brow furrowed. "We weren't sure what was going on then... but I'm certain now it was all Rocket's preparations. And... I don't think it would have worked in Evergrande."

Precisely because Evergrande was so important. The League's presence there and the population's sentiment were much stronger. While it was possible to somehow build up Anti-League propaganda under Melody's nose, he doubted the same could be done under Commissioner dahlia goode's. She was likely more alert as well as more politically savvy than Melody, and could've hounded the rockets before any plans could come to fruition.

"The bulk of our forces couldn't really do much beyond helping evacuate and taking a beating." Couldn't open fire on civilians- even rubber fire.

HAIDILAO

A BROTH THAT BURNS FROM THE HEART

CARTS OF RAW MEAT ARE ROLLED TOWARD THE TABLE. Each platter finds an empty space to inhabit. For those that prefer their food already cooked, such as cait alfric, the menu will provide plenty of options. Others, such as the noodle veteran MATIAS SILPH, will transition to boiling their meats with expertise.

“You did plenty, Connors. You and Hoffman were integral to our success.”

A white lie but one that places them firmly on a self anointed pedestal. He saves them face in front of many only to rely on them later. The tired and defeated attitude of those from Sootopolis will need to be rotated out. These new, fresh heroes will fill their ranks and from there the League can circumvent burn out. At least, that’s the plan.

“Speaking of success,” he turns his head as @jess takes a seat next to Katherine. “Good assessment in the field.”

He doesn’t dare extend a hand with Katherine Fairburne between them but offers her a bright smile.

“Silph. FERNANDO SILPH.”

He’s about to quiet all the speak about Sootopolis when something cuts right in. The wet, moist feeling of Kim’s stringy dough slaps him right in the face. He can smell the flour from the cold, stiff noodle—an occasion he was hoping to avoid until they met in the Councilman bathroom.

It sticks to his face and he makes no gesture to remove it. He even breaks out into a jubilant laughter.

“Ha… ha…”

Forget the Rangers. Kim’s office getting a budget cut is the first item on his agenda once he resumes his position as Councilman.

Katherine Fairburne cait alfric Razz Kingsman John Sullivan DEREK HOFFMAN Greyson Connors @jess kim cole-essam zenji jabami kyle lopez Laurence Anderson Kaida Adachi MATIAS SILPH Eva Morales Stormy Silph

Allotted a variety of choice cuts of crude meat, Derek takes some and begins the cooking process while contemplating most of what's been said so far.

On one hand, the anti-league rhetoric has him worried.

On the other, he doubts that they could amass sympathizers anywhere else. Especially now that there was a body count, which would undoubtedly go public at some point.

This leads Derek to believe that it very well could be the prelude to some kind of offensive. Whether it be a siege on the mainland, or something to do with the water drowning them like previously mentioned. Talk of Kyogre made him wonder very much about that.

But before making any further comment, Derek leered at FERNANDO SILPH , who kept placing him and Greyson Connors on a raised platform. The ranger trainee didn't want anyone speaking for him, or of him. In any manner. Especially at this dinner.

"I don't think anything I did was worth that much praise." This is what Derek thought, anyway. The raw noodle to Silph's face felt like some kind of just desserts, drawing attention back to them, and away from him. Not that he had any of that to say when he received his endorsement. "Guess I can only strive to change that, the next time."

It didn't exactly feel like he earned his spot at this table, and those around him could easily think the same. Some were literal giants, famous all around. And their defeat warranted much cause for alarm. How could Derek expect to do any better than them?

Having willingly clammed up, Kaida had taken the menu and glanced over it, confirming what she already knew...this was a place of very expensive food. With payment not landing on her, today would be the day she discovered if price resulted in flavour. More than once, she'd turn the menu towards Laurence Anderson , a quirk of her lips displaying that she was enjoying this particular part of the dinner meeting too much.

She did have an ear to hear John Sullivan speak though, and tilted her head, "So they wanted new packmate-uhhh...group members more than they wanted a good place?" She scratched her head, echoing a similar situation of kyle lopez , "We were fighting monsters...I didn't see many civilians...busy saving noah faber ." A tang of irritation entered her voice, curling her lips distastefully. Sympathy and blame mingled whenever she thought of that particular situation. His Pokemon would have never died if he wasn't so stupid about fighting monsters.

And then she witnessed FERNANDO SILPH take a noodle to the face and her snarling teeth quickly transitioned to a smile and she barked out a harsh laugh. Oops. Not proper here, she thought.

HAIDILAO

In which Doug tries to speak like the rich

The clap of noodles on skin filled the air, and Doug's serious mask broke as if released a long, drawn out 'pfffffft' before bringing his fist to bang againsT his chest, the meat in his maw suddenly stuck in his throat.

"N- nah... not quite." Doug said to Kaida, correcting his pronunciation as he managed to swallow the meat, sighing in relief before leaning back. "Just as Mr. Kingsman says, Sootopolis has an inherent geopolitical and military strategic value. I believe that it was these facts, plus bein' an easier target that led to it bein' chosen over Evergrande."

He rolled his tongue behind his closed lips, lip curling. Speaking 'properly' was a pain in the ass.

---

tags: Kaida Adachi Razz Kingsman

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A SOMBER DINNER...[break]

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[break]
he doesn't attempt to refute FERNANDO SILPH this time, catching just the hint of a political agenda in his continued hyping of him and DEREK HOFFMAN . that, combined with the bulk of his question left unanswered, he turns to mindlessly sear the meat in front of him.
[break][break]
had he been less exhausted, the faces of Katherine Fairburne , Stormy Silph and kyle lopez would have had him star struck -- even if he counted himself friends with the avatar of moltres. instead, as if promoted by a forgotten memory, he turns to MATIAS SILPH amidst thr conversation.
[Break][break]
"congratulations, by the way. you've it earned it man."
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DEREK HOFFMAN | John Sullivan | FERNANDO SILPH | Katherine Fairburne | cait alfric | Razz Kingsman | MATIAS SILPH | Eva Morales | Stormy Silph | kyle lopez

[attr="class","credit"]milky

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