[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Early March 2022

Located in the heart of Slateport City's Upper District, the Piazza Oro Grande bank was, quite purposely, the last stop on Aurelie's itinerary of banks to visit for loan applications and by far the most intimidating. The red-haired smith eyed the beautiful pond inhabited by shimmering Magikarp, the lush garden where delicate flowers were just starting to bloom in the pale springtime sunlight, the towering edifice of the bank corporate headquarters, and the entrance guarded by two statues of Persians with admiration and amusement alike. During family trips to Lumiose City, she remembered seeing cathedrals and museums less opulent than this financial institution. But, Aurelie reminded herself, she was still new to Hoenn, where perhaps they did build cathedrals to commerce and museums or monuments to money.

After all, cash is king, everywhere, at all times, Aurelie thought wryly. And don't I know it, as someone who doesn't have much money at the moment.

With an effort, she pushed herself onward toward the entrance and headed inside, where she found the bank's interior just as elegant as its façade. As with her other bank visits, Aurelie was glad to have worn her one good black suit today. Plain though it was, at least the suit kept her from feeling quite so much like a beggar as she approached the loan applications bureau, even if she was basically asking strangers to give her money.

After the usual moment of startlement at the sight of a one-eyed woman with an eyepatch and a briefcase asking for a loan, the loan officer handed her an intricate multi-page application to fill out. Aurelie sat down quietly in one of the comfortable leather armchairs and got to work. Frequently, she had to consult one of the many documents from her briefcase, checking on credit scores, financial statements, and existing debt. By now, though, Aurelie felt like an old hand at this process, and her pen flew busily across the pages as she dotted her I's, crossed her T's, and put the decimal points in the right places.

While she worked, a small commotion on the other side of the bank drew her eye for an instant. Like a murder of crows suddenly descending, a group of businessmen in crisp black suits or traditional frock coats were moving through the bank, causing a quiet stir among the employees and customers. Aurelie squinted her uncovered eye curiously at the tall businessman at their head, who looked surprisingly young, perhaps not much older than she was.

There was something about his expression, a certain seriousness, that reminded Aurelie with a pang of her younger brother. She bit her lip at the sudden, searing memory of hot metal and agonizing burns. Looking quickly away, she dragged her attention back to the forms in front of her. She couldn't afford to be distracted on this day of all days.

After a few more minutes of writing and scrawling, she finally got up and returned the application forms to the officer. "I'd like to submit my loan application for my business, please," she said, keeping her voice low and composed. "Let me know if you have any questions."

The loan officer nodded in a businesslike manner. "We'll review it now and do our best to conduct the loan interview with you as soon as possible. It shouldn't be more than half an hour. Please feel free to sit and relax, maybe have some water or coffee." He gestured to a station on a marble counter, set with various coffee machines and presses, as well as mugs, glasses, and crystal carafes of water.

"Thank you," Aurelie responded politely, having expected nothing more or less.

She went back to her armchair, taking a deep breath and preparing herself for the upcoming discussion of her loan request: her plans for the loan money, the bladesmithing business she wanted to establish here in Hoenn, the purchases she needed, and the revenue and trends she anticipated for the future. They would need to understand her business and her plans for the future before they could grant her the loan. Leaning back in the chair and closing her uncovered eye, she breathed a silent prayer that this interview would go well and POG Bank might see fit to lend her the precious capital she needed.

[attr="class","cred"]VEL OF PIXEL PERFECT