the tension in the air is palpable, so much so that the receptionist behind the counter wears an expression of stress and discomfort. matias doesn't blame them; melody is acting out of place right now, after all.[break][break]

the comment is met with a slight chuckle.[break][break]

"he'd just lose it again."[break][break]

skin burned and charred, blissey has done what it can to soothe the pain. but even without the aid of adrenaline, he feels little else but pride. the RED SHARDS embedded in his skin prove his strength and determination.[break][break]

"just so you know, this meeting won't go the way you think it will, melly."[break][break]

he idly picks at the flakes on his shoulder.[break][break]

"so try not to be too disappointed."

[attr="class","ooc"]Melody Miro dahlia goode[break]

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

a buzzer rings, rippling through the boiling sea of tension. the receptionist is quick to press their finger against a flashing button on her terminal as if they were breaching for breath. leaning across their desk, the receptionist calls for MATIAS SILPH and Melody Miro; on icy cue, a mr. rime opens the door to the commissioner's office.[break][break]

dahlia is behind her desk, phone clicking into its holder. even through make up, fatigue seeps through the shadowy crescents under her eyes.[break][break]

"hello! melody. matias. take a seat." dahlia says, the mr. rime holding the heavy door frame obediently. "what can i do for you two today?"[break][break]

by force, her voice springs high at the end of her inquiry.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro MATIAS SILPH [break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

the shadowy crescents under dahlia goode's eyes do not go unnoticed. he cannot imagine the stress she must be going through as some of the region look to her almost as their savior while others their damnation.[break][break]

matias is silenced the moment the door closes behind them, overpowered by the accusatory words of his fellow elite four. they hold truth to them, he knows that, but he'd hoped for a more civilized discussion. apparently, he'd been delusional.[break][break]

"what melody says is true. well, apart from being a crazy murderer."[break][break]

with a heavy breath, he continues, beginning his testimony as the adrenaline running through his veins slowly subsides.[break][break]

"i activated the crystals on her relicanth to open up a portal to the hoenn we'd seen during the mount chimney incident, and it was there that we came across them."[break][break]

them: the behemoths. the titans. regidrago and groudon.[break][break]

"to make a long story short, groudon has returned to hoenn and is now an asset to the league."

[attr="class","ooc"]Melody Miro dahlia goode[break]

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

dahlia raises her hands as if to brace against the tidal wave of tension. questions run rivulets down her brain; her throat almost tastes like metal as her heartbeat hastens to contend with the deluge of detail and distress.[break][break]

"thank you, thank you." dahlia says. "we'll go through one thing at a time." her mr. rime, sensing the volatility of the room, double checks that the door is shut tight.[break][break]

"first of all, if i am deducing this correctly, you two have just engaged in extradimensional travel. correct?" dahlia asks. she feels the earth beneath her become molten with curiosity and crust up with frustration. "are you two okay?"[break][break]

she looks at melody.[break][break]

"health wise."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro MATIAS SILPH [break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

again, matias allows melody to answer first, seeing how she's likely the one who needs more care which is funny considering how he's literally sat there burned and charred.[break][break]

"yes, we engaged in extradimensional travel through the use of primal crystal. high hopes for your plans for the meteor, i can imagine."[break][break]

he sneaks in the last comment right as his blissey's LIFE DEW continues to wash over his burns.[break][break]

"i don't regret what i did. we secured an asset — one of the strongest assets — for the league and for hoenn at a very small cost."[break][break]

the life of a fish weighed against the lives of millions.[break][break]

"but i understand and accept the repercussions of my actions."

[attr="class","ooc"]Melody Miro dahlia goode[break]

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

the two are okay. and that is more important than groudon. more important than melody's relicanth, for the assets standing before her are far more valuable.[break][break]

after matias speaks, dahlia draws heavy breath. the air feels like the primal shards themselves, scattering across the lungs and burning lobe and bronchiole.[break][break]

she stares at him. "while i am elated that groudon was recovered, i am also shocked to hear that you did not think to let melody in on your plan." [break][break]

the commissioner looks to the two equally.[break][break]

"was the relicanth's death intended?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro MATIAS SILPH [break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

"it—"[break][break]

his mouth opens, closes, lips thinning under the sheer volume of melody's words and demeanor. annoyance fades behind a thin veil as he continues.[break][break]

"it wasn't. i expected it to live like any other pokemon would have when met with a z-move. i did not expect for the crystals to tear it apart."[break][break]

an oversight on his part, though it's not one he regrets.

[attr="class","ooc"]Melody Miro dahlia goode[break]

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

dahlia sees the electric anxiety charging into melody's knee. even when grounded to the seat, the floor, the commissioner sees the angry current. how it fails to escape her closed circuit.[break][break]

sighing, the commissioner clasps her hands together as if joining two weights. the issue of groudon will resurface later.[break][break]

"then, melody." she looks to her, conjuring the illusion of fluid control. "what do you believe is the best punishment for your fellow elite four?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro MATIAS SILPH [break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

through it all, no matter how much he wants to interject, to say 'no, i didn't force you. you chose to intervene.', matias knows better. this fight is not one he'll win.[break][break]

but it doesn't have to be one he'll lose either.[break][break]

whatever punishment may come will be inconsequential. what matters is the fact that he's succeeded in extradimensional travel, that he's gained groudon, and that he's returned safely.[break][break]

so, he looks to dahlia, head dipping slightly as he waits.

[attr="class","ooc"]Melody Miro dahlia goode[break]

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