he was a sight. as he entered, her fingers slowed on a keyboard. she had heard that he’d been in recovery, but there was little that could prepare for the sight of hoenn’s most powerful looking so worse for wear.[break][break] it wouldn’t only affect him, she worried. the health and wellness of a leader affected their people on a psychological level. if there was one thing her father had taught her, it was the importance of appearing invulnerable. [break][break]

first gabriel. now this. how much could hoenn take before the very infrastructure cracked in half?[break][break]

she stood form her desk as he maneuvered past with his meowstic, speaking up so as to not have to follow him uninvited into his office. [break][break]

”mr. silph, do you have a moment?”

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

the barrier. that wasn’t news. it was one of her family’s top concerns. her father’s frustration echoed through the halls every evening during his phone calls to kalos.[break][break]
she blinked, unsure what to do until he finished with an opening. such was a temperament she had grown very used to lately. whether it was truly induced by tragedy, or simply the general disenchantment that came with the territory was yet to be determined.[break][break]
respectfully paced steps followed him. she wasted no time with her explanation.[break][break]
”i’m an intern, now. my task is to help wherever i may be needed. consider me like an assistant.”

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

was it indifference, or something worse? either way, she weathered it gracefully. she felt no dire need to be liked or appreciated to get the job done. as with GABRIEL BLACK , she could only hope that the tone would change over time. at least in this way, she was optimistic.[break][break]

though his announcement of work was vague, and spoken to the door, she figured it meant stick around. so, she followed behind, lingering nearer to the door than his desk when he went to sit behind it.[break][break]

who was ‘cila’? she wondered about the name silently, gaze briefly peeking at the hologram before returning to him. she found his question a little surprising, considering the sort of bad mood that seemed to radiate from him so far. surely, he was not asking about her.[break][break]

”it's been very busy, of course. there is more stress than usual, but everyone seems to be managing well enough.” no fires or nervous breakdowns–at least not at the office.

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

while those at the helm did their best to maintain what they could in the wake of each new devastation, it was surely wearing on them. there was unrest. people were tired, dying. there was no time or energy for dreaming of the region's future when the present was a relentless treadmill.[break][break]
and now, the world which had watched on for too long could no longer extend a hand in their darkest hour. hoenn was on its own, condemned to whatever fate had in store.[break][break]
when the councilman stated the obvious, she nodded. her gaze didn’t shift to his screens this time. she quietly waited for the reason to be there.[break][break]
when his question came, the answer was a particularly troubling one. her tone was strong and steady, but deep concern lingered in her eyes.[break][break]
”no, sir. as of this morning, there have still been no reports of any break in the barrier. the border seems to be entirely impassable from both sides.”

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

the ability to prioritize, and to commit confidently to a plan of action was an essential quality of any successful politician. there were no perfect solutions in such a desperate climate. it was this struggle which had inspired her question for him in the breakroom.[break][break]

but without the ability to prioritize, she would never move into her father’s shoes. she knew this.[break][break]

in her heart, the answer was the people. simple. too simple, maybe.[break][break]

”i would say our top priority is the economy.” [break][break]

because in the event of its collapse, people would die. the risk, and its many grave consequences were almost unutterable. how did a region adjust to sudden, unexpected autarky, especially when so many of its own essential businesses had been reduced to rubble?

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

his disapproval was noted. what was his right answer, then, she wondered?[break][break]

her confidence was unwavering on the exterior, unaffected by his tone. the unstableness of being starstruck upon their first meeting was no longer present. wrong or not, she would stand tall with both feet planted on the ground of her decisions, until swayed by real words of reason and wisdom.[break][break]

“i mean in terms of our resources, sir. there may be a scramble for them. stockpiling. hyperinflation. disparity in availability of essential goods, which could result in death, and more civil unrest. it could spell a lack of sustainability for the region as a whole.”[break][break]

so, what was the first move?[break][break]

”i believe supporting our means of production and ensuring the availability of goods, while protecting equal access to them is important for hoenn’s people.”[break][break]

she paused, daring further, to the face of the businessman, ”meaning regulations on businesses, to start.”

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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

despite his agreement, the correction was clear enough. the people had been her first instinct–but of course the people were the priority, right? the economy deserved great attention, now, not for the sake of hoenn’s powerful corporations, but rather to ensure that their greed did not send hoenn spiraling into a dangerous depression. the people needed stability.[break][break]

”of course.”[break][break]

her chin dipped an inch, quiet. lavender eyes were inevitably pulled towards the holograms again as their screens changed to show a map. she listened while her gaze lingered curiously.[break][break]

adverse reactions were unlikely.[break][break]

it made sense enough that investors would put their money into hoenn, now, likely creating jobs, and helping the economy at threat; however, it did not remove the glaring fact that this was a prime opportunity to take full advantage of the region's desperation.[break][break]

”that is good to hear. i hope they will seize all opportunities to help where they are able to.”[break][break]

she opted to lock away the further questions that threatened in her throat. instead, she continued on the next thought.[break][break]

”there are other risks, of course, with increasing production. we don't know when, or if the barrier will lift, but if it does, would there be protections for those who might find themselves suddenly unemployed when foreign trade resumes?”[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH [break][break]

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