it has been a few months now since Eva Morales and matias last lived in their beachside house. it remains empty, only to be used on special occasions like whenever they have to entertain guests.[break][break]

guests like Alexei Ivanov who decides to show up unannounced. luckily for the fortree gym leader, it only takes matias a few minutes to show up with the use of TELEPORTS and virizion.[break][break]

"sup, alexei."[break][break]

a bright trail of MAGICAL LEAVES flows after them as he dismounts. virizion acknowledges alexei with a nod before running off.[break][break]

matias walks up to give the man a pat on his shoulder before turning to unlock the door. it opens, lights flicking on immediately.[break][break]

"what brings you to lilycove?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

matias had assumed as much, so with a quick gesture, he urges alexei to voice his question.[break][break]

he walks into the kitchen, circling around the counter which remains spotless because their maid service is still active. the fridge is pulled open, content a bit bare.[break][break]

"sure, ask away. want anything to drink, by the way?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

the only thing matias has in the fridge is orange juice, apple juice, and beer. water can always be poured from the tap but that seems a bit dull so he settles on the beer.[break][break]

"the same one everyone's been dreading? yes. 99943 meteno."[break][break]

he closes the fridge door and walks over, offering a bottle of beer to alexei.[break][break]

"what about it?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

matias glances down briefly to notice how alexei opens his bottle of beer.[break][break]

"you're lucky that's marble."[break][break]

for his own bottle, he simply twists the cap off with his fingers having learned how to do so back in kanto.[break][break]

after a sip, he shrugs.[break][break]

"i'm not too sure. where are you suggesting we send it?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

"what does that mean?"[break][break]

without context, matias is lost, and even after alexei explains he still has to take a moment to process what the gym leader is actually trying to say.[break][break]

he makes assumptions.[break][break]

"are you asking if we can send the meteor to that world instead of sea hoenn?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

"look, alex, i'm no scientist but i'm pretty sure changing where the meteor will go to is more complicated than it sounds."[break][break]

they'd likely have to somehow acquire the coordinates of the dune-like hellscape, map it to their primal points, and then reconfigure all the settings in order to achieve a successful warp.[break][break]

"besides, we don't have the time to do that. what we should be focusing on is supporting our existing plan."

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]

"to be honest with you, alex, what i want doesn't matter. the plan has been set and the best thing we can do right now is to support it."[break][break]

however blunt it might have been, the fortree gym leader needs to hear the truth. they are mere pieces on the board, some pawns, knights, bishops, but never the king. they listen and obey when the calling requires them to.[break][break]

or, in matias' case, he listens when there's nothing to gain from resisting.[break][break]

"think about it this way: that version of hoenn is one in millions. billions, perhaps. if your concern is curiosity, then i'm sure you'll be able to find other ways to sate it."

[attr="class","ooc"]Alexei Ivanov[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-charizard color-shiny"]