danny shouldn't be here. actually, there are a lot of things danny shouldn't be doing or shouldn't have done, and yet at each occasion, he's done what his heart told him to do — the part of him that truly believes in doing good always wins.[break][break]

this time's no different.[break][break]

"professor."[break][break]

his greeting is warm and pleasant as he slides into the seat across from her. feeling too awkward, he doesn't gesture to the waitress. chooses to focus on her instead.[break][break]

"how... how are you?"

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she wants to correct him, even opens her mouth to do so. and yet, words refuse to come. they get lodged in her throat and only go back down with a swallow.

"fine," she offers softly. it's noncommittal, as if she wants to avoid all attempts of small talk. and maybe, just a bit, she does. it's easier to get what she came for and never turn back.

the same question is asked of him anyway.

"how're you?"

fingers continue to tap, a little faster than before.

DANNY HALL

noncommittal. the way it should be. except the same question is asked and now he doesn't know what to feel. so he answers naturally.[break][break]

"good! good."[break][break]

too excited, maybe? he catches himself, decides to tone it down a bit.[break][break]

a lot, really, because today he comes bearing bad news.[break][break]

"i..."[break][break]

he pauses, waiting until the waitress passes.[break][break]

"i couldn't get it."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she flashes a small, awkward smile in the face of his genuine response.

and her mouth opens to speak, to murmur pleasantries back to him...

but his next statement knocks the wind out of her sails.

"you... couldn't?"

how? what happened after she left?

"i don't understand." it's firm, clipped, restrained. her fingers still against tabletop.

"did something happen?"

DANNY HALL

"after that day, they ramped up security around the tree."[break][break]

not only did they double his patrol hours, they also added in more grunts just for the extra manpower should something happen. nothing ever did, however.[break][break]

"i actually got around them once but then i realized i had no idea how to get the sap."[break][break]

he actually chuckles then.[break][break]

"sorry."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]a look of puzzlement etches into the muscles of her face. more security... because she went? no, it couldn't be. she's not a threat, not in the way they were expecting. perhaps she used to be, back when a pretty pink deity followed at her heels and the critical scales between life and death laid comfortably on her palms.

and that was a different time, a different her. sometimes she misses it... if only for the company she had but not herself. never herself.

"i see," she murmurs.

this... is irritating but understandable. and with a sigh, she offers a small smile.

"it's okay. the bark of the tree seems tougher than it used to be." perhaps because this one is bigger, more alive. "would you be able to get a soil sample, perhaps?" would that be easier?

or has the opportunity come and gone, fading from existence without care.

DANNY HALL

a soil sample?[break][break]

"i could get that, yeah. digging soil sounds much more simple than extracting sap out of a tree."[break][break]

let alone a tree that big.[break][break]

finally feeling comfortable enough, he gestures for a waitress and orders a cup of coffee.[break][break]

"do you think there's anything else i could try to get?"

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]truthfully, she'd prefer the sap. it's... easier to do comparisons with pure samples but the sap they still have is tainted by her own brilliant terrible decision making skills. perhaps if she compares blue mulch from then and now, the differences will be astounding.

she hopes for groundbreaking, for revolutionary, for reviving. and maybe, if it's stronger now than before, there's a chance.

"no, that should be okay," she murmurs. he orders a coffee and the waitress disappears after a shake of the head from illeana. nothing for her besides nerves and an unsettled feeling in her bones.

"if you wanted to try extracting again, you could." a tiny smile rises, almost uncomfortable at the seams of her lips. "the soil sample should suffice, though." besides, she doubts he wants to drill into the tree and stab a spile in there.

DANNY HALL

"i'll stick to the soil, i think."[break][break]

doing anything more would be dangerous, considering his lack of knowledge in both the science and espionage departments.[break][break]

a moment passes before the waitress returns with his coffee.[break][break]

with nothing else to talk about, silence surrounds them, broken only by the occasional sounds of his sips.[break][break]

a statement comes eventually.[break][break]

"oh! i'm danny, by the way."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she nods inaudibly. and for a few passing ticks of hands on a clock, a lull of silence envelopes them. between his sips and the soft chatter of patrons around them, she's almost lured into a sense of security.

it fades, quickly, with the utterance of a name.

her eyes widen. arms settle over her chest and her head is tilting to the side before she can stop herself. somehow, she looks more confused than surprised.

"is it... wise of you to tell me your name?" they're supposed to be... enemies, she supposes. although, perhaps it's only fair given the work he's doing for her.

and after a silent deliberation with herself, one hand unfurls from beneath crossed arms to extend across the table.

"illeana, it's nice to meet you."

DANNY HALL

danny shrugs.[break][break]

"probably not. but i trust you."[break][break]

what is she going to arrest him on, anyways? defending the tree of life? he's not been caught in the act. hasn't been caught committing a crime. all he's done is sipped his coffee.[break][break]

he glances down at her hand before reaching for it, shaking.[break][break]

"i know, professor. you're kinda famous, you know."

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she stills at the sentiment. trust... it's flimsy. easily given and easily destroyed.

and before she can open her mouth or offer a rebuttal, he's continuing along with a handshake.

embarrassment bleeds into rosy splotches on her cheeks.

"i -- no, i couldn't be," she mumbles. there's no way, not her. when she thinks of famous, her name doesn't pop up. it doesn't even beep on her radar. he has to be mistaken... right?

DANNY HALL

"you sure?"[break][break]

he pulls his hand back, lowering it to his cup of coffee for its warmth.[break][break]

"illeana reyes, youngest head professor in the league, hero of the war at meteor falls."[break][break]

he's definitely reciting something he's read online. never say he doesn't do his research.[break][break]

"you've done so much for the region."[break][break]

and danny? what has he done?

[attr="class","ooc"]illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dedenne"]