"...at the?"[break][break]

matias holds it for perhaps longer than he should before chuckling. he reaches over to give derek a friendly pat on his back.[break][break]

"just kidding. yeah, no problem."[break][break]

it was just another day in the office for him.[break][break]

following derek's gaze out, he shakes his head.[break][break]

"i'm not a ranger but from my experience, we should be fine. just zap 'em away, or something like that."[break][break]

and after a moment, he raises a question of his own, genuinely curious.[break][break]

"how have you been, derek?"

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]

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

The reassurance was comforting, especially since Derek ended up passing out and needed to be carried. His jaw still showed hairline fractures, but the gym leader was fortunate enough that nothing else came of it all. Well, besides the extra bit of humility he suffered after waking up to realize how he'd been saved by the Silph.

Derek's attention snaps back to the task at hand at the mention of zapping them, or something. "Yeah. Should be a piece of cake then." For Derek, sure, but especially for Matias. Speaking of which, he'd finally asked a question.

"I guess, all things considered..." Derek drones on, probably overthinking the answer because of the company he's in. But more than that, because of everything that's taken place between today and the last time they met.

And somehow Sea-Hoenn was at the bottom of the list.

"It's been a little rough, I suppose. Lots of unexpected, let's call them complications." From the deaths of his pokemon, or even the barrier trapping everyone in the region... They were hard pills to swallow.

"I'm optimistic as always, but it'd be nice if something good would finally happen." That reminded him, noah faber had messaged all the gym leaders in a group chat. "By the way, have you heard of the splashfest yet?"

MATIAS SILPH | MISSION 2 of 5

☉

"complications, ha. tell me about it."[break][break]

from friendships being ripped apart to the temporary suspesion of his elite four status, it's safe to say he's had his share of complications. derek would know little of this, of course.[break][break]

he shrugs his backpack to the front before unzipping it to rummage through in search of a particular pokeball.[break][break]

met with a question, he looks up and shakes his head.[break][break]

"the splashfest?"

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]

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

Seems they both had some not-so-fun stuff going on.

Although Matias being unaware of the event had Derek worried if he wasn't supposed to say anything about it. But since he brought it up already....

"Yeah, a bunch of us gym leaders got a group message asking us to volunteer for some stuff." Being vague on purpose, he approaches the water and lets out both his Gyarados, as well as a Starmie. "Should be taking place pretty soon, I think."

Matias wasn't the type to get his hopes up for such a thing, was he? It'd be pretty bad for his reputation if Derek told him about this and it ended up being a total bust. "Anyway, we should probably get down there." Taking hold of his pokemon, they plunged down into the depths in search of the Corsola. It didn't take very long after that to spot the Mareanie getting ready to swarm the reef the little pink guys inhabited.

Erecting a LIGHT SCREEN around the Corsola as a makeshift barrier, Derek and his Starmie position themselves in front of it while observing the Mareanie army's approach. A series of SCALE SHOT made by the Gyarados impeded their march, buying some time for the Starmie to go on the offensive. Assuming Matias didn't manage to deal with them all first, anyway.

MATIAS SILPH | MISSION 3 of 5

☉

"nice! that sounds fun."[break][break]

a small part of him has fomo about not being invited into the group chat. briefly, he wonders if the elite four have one. if they do, he's likely not in it after what happened with Melody Miro.[break][break]

sticking the rebreather into his mouth, he plunges after derek and reaches out for his gyarados. with a firm hand on the water-type's back, they descend.[break][break]

even from afar, gyarados summons a WHIRLPOOL that wraps around the mareanie, hindering their approach and allowing derek's starmie to sweep them up.[break][break]

much to their surprise, matias plays the role of support today.

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]

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

Given ample time, the two may be surprised that a regiment of Corsola have joined them in this battle. Assembling in a line formation, they launch a series of their POWER GEM attacks towards the invasive Mareanie species.

Just as well, the Starmie launches a large wave of it's PSYCHIC energy, traumatizing the Mareanie who were already stunned by the dazzling attack on them just prior. Many had decided to run, or fainted, either of which being sucked up into the WHIRLPOOL and sent somewhere far, far away. Where they couldn't bring harm to the Corsola, or Pacifidlog.

The select few that endured beyond such measures found themselves suffering at the hand of Derek's Gyarados, who would LASH OUT at any who thought they could still win this battle. When all was said and done, Derek patted the wild Corsola as thanks and went to the surface for some real air.

"Say, Matias." He asks towards today's partner once they've also breached the top of the water. "Melody has her idol thing, Kyle is a dog enthusiast and Katherine is, well..." Obviously she was an intellectual, but that isn't exactly the part that stood out. And then there was Matias. Matias Silph. "So what exactly is your thing?"

MATIAS SILPH | MISSION 4 of 5

☉

when all is said and done, they ascend only to break through the surface a few moments later. he spits out the respirator, happy to be taking in a breath of fresh air.[break][break]

at derek's question, matias could not help but finish the thought on what Katherine Fairburne is.[break][break]

"...mean? yeah, sounds like her."[break][break]

but after a chuckle, he considers it carefully before coming to a logical answer. it's one he would've been annoyed by months ago but now?[break][break]

"i'm a silph. that means something here, i've found."

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]

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

"Well, kinda... But what's it mean to you?"

Matias didn't exactly seem to carry himself like a businessman. His demeanor was generic, like a normal person. FERNANDO SILPH was always a staunch wearer of the resting bitch face. Always looking tired... Often of someone, or something. The way he spoke sometimes had a way of reflecting that, intentional or not.

"For Fernando it's kind of his whole brand. But you don't exactly carry around the same company executive vibe as he does." Which gives the impression Matias wasn't affiliated with Silph Co. much at all. Or he just didn't advertise it like his kin.

"Sorry to pry so much. It's just one of the things I wonder about with all you elite four types." Something that brought them down to earth. Made them seem normal. After Matias had a moment to consider, or even answer, Derek gestured with a two finger salute to take his leave. "See ya again sometime."

THREAD EXIT

MATIAS SILPH | MISSION 5 of 5

☉

company executive. imagine matias in a suit! he could never.[break][break]

"nah. the business is his and rightly so."[break][break]

for all of his distaste towards his brother, even he has to admit that there is no better person to run silph co than FERNANDO SILPH himself.[break][break]

but so comes an end to their interaction today.

[attr="class","ooc"]DEREK HOFFMAN[break]

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