Selena is the first to recognize the man than him the other way around. Of course, her new white hair is to be blamed for his uncertainty. She just have to tell him that perhaps it is really how the Desmarais naturally care for their hair.

As pairs of eyes continue to follow the woman who they begin to recognize as "probably the old Gym leader" of the town, the lady struts down the brick road leading towards where Lares said Alexei should be waiting. Circe follows beside her as she illuminates the path towards what almost seems like an abandoned compound, except for a few buildings that still house the remaining employees of Vantage.

“Fancy meeting you here, Ivanov.”

The cane looks difficult and she can only assume it is the more manageable option in this circumstance. And perhaps a wheelchair is not an option for a guy who takes pride with his ability to fly.

“I know. The white hair comes a little bit surprising. It's something you'd get used to.”

It's not. The world has known her with her iconic pink hair and it is very surprising for her to don a totally different look.

“But what happened to you?”

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov

“It was. Then I decided it's not.”

There's a little giggling as she curls her fingers by the shimmering paleness of her ivory hair. Selena takes the spot next to him, reaches to her coat pocket, and brings out bottles of vodka and whiskey.

“Besides, my hair has always been white since my childhood. People liked it until I colored them pink. I guess it's all about... perspective.”

There are chills when she mouths the last word; every syllable slipping with strange nonchalance.

“You didn't receive the memo? I went back to Kalos, silly!”

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov

“I heard things.”

The lady gestures for him to take his bottle as she gulps a good ounce of the Kalosian whiskey.

“I guess the commissioner's plans to weaponize the avatar didn't really succeed, am I right?”

The liquor is good but Selena tastes smug and bitterness. Being her trusted few in this region, the lady has no hesitation in saying what really transpired in Kalos when she moved out of Hoenn after the press conference. The only problem is that, even for a journalist like her, she has lost her words.

Literally.

“The big journalists journaling other journalists' exploits summoned me. They asked about Littleroot.”

Basically, too much words just to say that she's screwed.

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov

“Well, now they knew about a certain drag queen who's an accomplice to the crime.”

She takes it back before he can even react.

“Kidding! But at least now you figured out why a change of style is necessary. Pinkette Selena brings trouble. Blonde Selena—or whatever it is called—is all about lying low for a little while.”

And it's not like she does have a choice. The Journaliste International advises her to stay away from political cases for a while, which is almost like telling her that her big break about Team Rocket reportage will not get her anywhere with this lingering controversy. The only good thing is that Selena doesn't know when to actually stop.

“You know, if I'm being honest, A.Q.U.A Initiative isn't that bad. My only problem is with the people managing it.”

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov

Selena hasn't had a good laugh in recent weeks, and seeing Alexei's flustered face is indeed a gold nugget.

“Are you asking me that question now? I know it's the League meeting pre-Megalopolans that you've slept on and not the press con.”

She can only laugh at the ridiculous question she deems a no-brainer to answer. But she understands how Alexei is not really big about all the political jazz involved with his title. A gym leader is not even actually a very political position.

“Anyway, I'm not even in the League anymore to make informed opinions. And I can't even write about them anymore.”

The part where Thomas Benoit resigned, however, is not as surprising as Alexei thought it was.

“You know I'm a journalist and this isn't exactly news to begin with.” She teases him. “I actually kind of understand where he's coming from. And part of it's the answer to the question you asked earlier.”

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov

“I'm a newswriter first before I became a gym leader. And I guess before I became a journalist... I am a Desmarais.”

The last sentence hits her like a herd of bulldozing tauros in a way she has never expected before.

“Which, I guess, means I can figure something out for the time being.”

And without bothering to explain the technicalities of what is technically allowed to write and what is not, it is not like the organization can actually keep her or anyone from writing. Even a person who did not graduate from a university and earned themselves a journalism degree can write about their thoughts and opinions. She can still do and write about other things.

“That's the thing. I actually haven't heard from Billi Marsh yet.”

---

SOCIAL: A LOST QUEENDOM BESIEGED
Alexei Ivanov