she had not known him before the incident, but during her short time thus far under his employment, he had been short. unapproachable. it hadn’t been the experience she'd expected, but she maintained her patience, gently at a distance and working diligently. most days, they didn’t speak much at length. most tasks did not require many words after a little repetition.

the roar drew her straight out of her assignment, eyes like small saucers. the epic crash that followed willed her to her feet, and finally towards the big door that concealed an obviously very distraught councilman black. a wounded bear.

her hand hesitated very briefly before knocking.

”sir? is everything alright?”

GABRIEL BLACK

this eruption was still unseen, only heard. now fallen silent. it became instantly clear to her, before he even said it. perhaps he wasn’t quite used to having her around yet. was this something the rest of his staff was accustomed to? they seemed to be rather skittish around him.

”yes, sir.” there was a moment of quiet on her side of the door, before she continued, ”would you prefer to be alone?” it would be understandable. clearly, he had not yet recovered. she could scarcely imagine the loss.

GABRIEL BLACK

she eyed the heavy door handle in brief consideration of suggesting otherwise, before she turned it to reveal the mess on the other side. she had to will herself not to gawk at it. it was as though a bomb had set off from his desk.

close the door. a request she had expected about as much as the initial cause of this scenario. she obliged anyways, quietly shutting the door behind her.

she didn’t enter much further into the room, watching him with a soft stare and hands clasped low in front of her.

”very well. i enjoy my time working in the offices, and you have a lovely home.” she did wish that he’d been more approachable, but predicated that enough patience and grace would pay off in the long-run.

GABRIEL BLACK

her eyes remained on him, careful not to drift to the mess that littered the floor. she would carry things for him; however, she would not pick them up off the ground. it would set the wrong precedent for someone of her status.

”i do, thank you.”

at his question about the rest of the council, she nodded, recalling the day she’d met the senior councilman in the breakroom. she hoped he had enjoyed the sandwich. she hoped even more that the gesture would be remembered regardless.

”i’ve met some of the staff, and councilman FERNANDO SILPH , so far. our conversation wasn’t long.”

she gave a small smile, then, with a touch of humor.

”he did express that he felt you had cut in line for an assistant—but don’t tell him i told you, of course.”

GABRIEL BLACK

did gabriel have a sense of humor? she wasn’t yet sure. the smile on his face was difficult to read.

his phone went off, and she waited patiently. then, at his announcement, a smile happier, younger than his own crept upon her face. vibrant, despite the smallness of it as she tried to suppress her excitement. this meant that she was now the new intern.

”i apologize, mr. black. i assumed you were aware i had applied for an internship. it was a while ago, to be fair.”

unsure what else to say, she ended with, ”thank you for telling me.”

GABRIEL BLACK

it would be uncomfortable not to apologize for mistakes to a councilman, but she listened well enough. if gabriel didn’t like apologies, she would complete her tasks to a level of perfection which did not warrant one.

”understood.”

as he turned to prepare his drink, her eyes finally drifted towards more of the mess.

”no, thank you, sir.”

had he been drinking already? had that been the reason for the explosion?

GABRIEL BLACK

this was… a little insulting. concerning. this single moment could have begun quite a bit of bad blood if iseult hadn’t immediately decided to keep it to herself. she could only hope that this was a lapse, or the booze, and that councilman black did in fact keep up with world politics—or at the very least, the world’s political figures who visited within the walls of his own headquarters.

”yes, sir. i'm here in hoenn with my father. my mother remains in kalos.”

GABRIEL BLACK