One second you're at home, finishing up another dungeon with your guildmates, and the next you're standing in front of the notorious councilman, GABRIEL BLACK -- a typical occurrence when you're the lead reporter for one of the fastest-growing broadcasting networks in the region. Or, at least, that's what Penelope told herself as she quickly slapped on a face of light makeup and threw on her work attire.
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When she first met up with Eva Morales, she would've given her a simple smile and wave, tied together with a polite "good afternoon."
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Entering the room with confidence, Penelope took to Eva's back right, allowing her the spotlight while she took note from afar. She only reached forward after the scientist did, giving the councilman a solid shake before retracting back into her corner, arms forciably kept to her side. "Pleasure to meet you, councilman Black."
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At the mention of business, a glint shone in her eye.


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[attr="class","ooc"] GABRIEL BLACK + Eva Morales [break]


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"i see no introductions are necessary." the women, while not intimately so, are familiar enough with one another that it warrants a clear moving on. he appreciates that.
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"Eva Morales reports have come across my desk-" or through the ears of his 'listeners'"-of your recent... encounters with members of team rocket." that was of course putting it lightly.
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"with league sentiment falling to all-time lows, rocket propaganda spreading like a disease, and with the looming threat of this meteor - it's clear that what we've been doing isn't working."
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gabriel leans forward into his chair and one of the two still forms on either side of him stirs. a pyroar, male judging by the mane, looks up at PENELOPE LIVY lazily. he yawns with a curled tongue, sharp canines flashing. it just as aloofly lays it's head back down on his paws.
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"information is far more important than people give it credit for. so-" his heavy gaze remains on eva, "-if both parties are willing, i ask from you, doctor, to recount the events of both of your attacks to ms. livy and myself, and-" his attention shifts just as pointedly onto penelope next, "-ms. livy i would like you to publish these details - with minor changes, of course - it in your next article."
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satisfied, he leans back, eyes flicking between the two as he reads their initial reactions.

[attr="class","notes"]Eva Morales | PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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The sharp stares of the councilmen brought shivers down Penelope's spine. She didn't show this, of course -- too many years in the field had hardened her enough to externally withstand more than those at HNN (BARNABY FINCH AKA barney) ever gave her credit for. Though, she'd be lying if she didn't give some of the credit to Eva's warm exterior. Scar-ridden and wounded, the woman was as jovial as when they had first met.
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"HBS would be more than glad to report on this," She nodded. The 'slight changes' part did worry her a tad, but she just assumed it had to deal with confidentiality and personal details. Something that didn't compliment the broadcasting studio's raw style of reporting, though, exceptions could always be made.
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From here on out, she'd no longer act as a participant in the conversation, but rather, as an omniscient narrator whose purpose lies in telling the truth behind this story. It was she did best.

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[attr="class","ooc"] GABRIEL BLACK + Eva Morales[break]


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what he asks for isn't easy — putting eva on a pedestal of which to talk about her trauma, and while he doesn't think of eva as a victim, many who read this will. so, when she needs to take a moment of consideration, he closes his eyes and nods once.
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after she's gone from the room, he sits there quietly staring after her and onto the door.
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"i cannot emphasize the trust i have placed in you, ms. livy." his gaze falls on her then, the edges narrowing slightly. "it's important to me that you understand the implications of that."

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY | Eva Morales[break]

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

Blinking, Penelope carefully observed the head scientist as she crawled back into a corner. It made sense-- agreeing to a press release without prior knowledge of it would be rookie mistake for someone as high up as she, so when Dr. Morales resided back to the door, Penelope simply nodded and offered a friendly hand raise for good luck.
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When the door clicked close, the weight of the room fell back onto her shoulders, pressuring her to gaze back into the pyroar's eyes.
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"Of course, councilman."
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Wrecking relations with public figures wasn't on her to-do list for that night, so while she'd love nothing more than to shit on the league, she would have to hold herself back for this occasion. That, and she liked Eva Morales too much.
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Now, back to staring.

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[attr="class","ooc"] GABRIEL BLACK + Eva Morales [break]


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while pervew to the main points, many of the smaller details are new to him — their previous encounters, for instance, and the confirmation of a new rocket avatar. this masked figure (bryan delarosa), whoever they might be, was a new threat to be dealt with.
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at least it gave him something to shift his attention too.
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other than his presence, he's quiet. gabriel leans into the back of his chair, the thumb of his one good arm moving absent-mindedly against the leather of his armrest.
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when she finishes, he looks to PENELOPE LIVY to gauge her reaciton.

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY | Eva Morales[break]

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

When Eva returned, Penelope had already gotten out and prepared her two pieces of equipment. She first placed the tape record onto of the desk between three of them, clicking the device to life, then she moved to pull out her small note pad, flipping all the way to the middle of the pad.
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The head scientist's recount started out relatively tame-- as a public league figure, it wasn't uncommon to be targeted by the occasional criminal or two. Especially when it came to rocket. That organization seemed more like a dick measuring contest between killers than an actual group looking to sought out change.
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"wears this wolf mask thing..."
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Pausing, the journalist heartbeat flared up and her eyes grew an inch too wide. Was this about him? Again? It took a second for her to return to her notes, and another for them to come out legible.
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From there, the story only soured, as Dr. Morales went off to describing the worst of the situation: the rocket's avatarship. With Xerneas. It was an ironic spat on the face.
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"..."
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Part of her wanted to chime in and give her spin on this tale, but she knew that'd contradict the role she already self-assigned herself. The one of the narrator. The one who didn't reshape the direction of the story. That is, until the councilman turned to gauge her reaction.
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"..."
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It was foolish to think she'd be able to keep quiet about this.
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"The wolf mask rocket," She echoed out, her brows furrowed in thought, "He was responsible for the fire at Littleroot back in November, too."
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Hesitant, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small plastic baggy. Inside was a charred-up piece of blackened wood. "Found this in Petalburg woods yesterday. I thought it might be part of his mask, but I'm not completely sure yet."
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She had found it after hours' worth of investigation. It was brutal, but hopefully it'd open some room for discovery. "I went out to the area after hearing reports of a skirmish between MATIAS SILPH and an unknown rocket assailant. So far, that's all I've been able to find."
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[attr="class","ooc"] Eva Morales + GABRIEL BLACK [break]


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slow and purposed he reaches out to grab the plastic bag in PENELOPE LIVY's grip. his eyes give it a once over, then another, as Eva Morales speaks.
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when they both finish...
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"i'm inclined to believe you, ms. livy, but a charred piece of wood is hardly proof." he sets it down on the table, "do you require assistance in investigating this?"
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turning to eva he addresses her. "dr. morales, the league has failed you. accept my apologies on behalf of them. should you wish it we can have a bodyguard on your person at all times, and MATIAS SILPH's as well." something told him she would be hard pressed to take it, but he offers anyway.
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"i'll speak my mind here, but, i believe this 'wolf' figure is a rising threat. i'm... working on my end to discover their identity with no luck, and i think it'll behoove the league to bring this figure into light. with your help, i believe we can."

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY | Eva Morales[break]

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

They were both right, in different ways.
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"I will," She assured the scientist. There was no telling what dangers would come from snooping around, but as it stood, Penelope wasn't the type to let the possibility of trouble sway her direction. If it did, she'd have to reconsider her career path majorly.
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When Gabe spoke again, Penelope's eyes flicked back to his, eager to hear what the man had to say.
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Unfortunately, it wasn't as insightful as she had hoped it would be. But that was her fault for granting the league a crumb of expectations. She swallowed down the urge to fire back about how it obviously didn't act as any solidified proof and how it was better than the piles of nonexistent results the local PD have turned up. Instead, her lips only quirked up into a cordial smile befitting that of a journalist.
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"In the form of protection, maybe." A guard could help, given the volatility of this masked man. Anything beyond that felt like a waste of resources. Especially since she wouldn't be able to trust any aipom they'd send her way.
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Unlike the first sleuth of political garbage, the tail end of the councilman's speech lit a smudge of hope in her heart. Glancing back at Eva, the reporter nodded, "I agree. HBS will cooperate in whatever way we can to bring his identity to the light."
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As long as they're the first to report on it.

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[attr="class","ooc"] GABRIEL BLACK + Eva Morales[break]


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