"In an ideal reality, no."
[break][break]

Anyone would be able to do anything, as long as they held the power to achieve their goals. But nowadays, the matter wasn't as black and white as one would think. Now more than ever, there were emotions attached to these mundane news updates. And, when it comes down to emotions and personal thoughts, forgetting details like someone's gym badge count became easier.
[break][break]

"But just one month ago, most of the region thought their lives were going to end. If you were at home, fearing your own child's future, wouldn't you grow a bit skeptical when the league introduces yet another new member to their ranks -- replacing a known local hero with some rockstar?"
[break][break]

She paused.
[break][break]

"Or would you think, 'oh don't worry, he has all eight gym badges. We'll be safe under him.'?"

[break][break]

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


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

There he goes again, putting down the people around him, as if their merit could be reduced to a mere badge count.
[break][break]
"And that is exactly why the public finds it so hard to put their trust in you."
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Penelope's eyes narrowed as her voice grew colder than the howling breeze. She could never get used to a man who lacked as much empathy as FERNANDO SILPH.
[break][break]
"Tell me -- power, strength, results -- what good is it all if you can't use it to persuade others to your side?"
[break][break]

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


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

"Was it one's individual power that dealt with the meteor," she fired back, "Or the work of trainers, beyond just those registered to The League, who were pushed to put their trust in the commissioner's plan and  sign up to defend their region from destruction?"
[break][break]
She gave the words some room to breathe before continuing.
[break][break]
"The thing is: we're not always going to have a world-ending meteor to persuade people to put their trust under us and fight on our side. The more we alienate them, the more they'll turn to an organization like Rocket for answers."

[break][break]

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


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

The fact that he dismissed the root cause of organizations like Rocket being able to siphon power from The League showed how far removed he'd become.
[break][break]

How lonely it must be, Penelope mused to herself, to sit on the icy throne for so long. Going day by day, with a world's burdens on his shoulder. Had it not been for his persistent habit of dismissing the words of those around him and revering his own as the one and only truth, the councilwoman might've felt sympathy for the man.
[break][break]

Instead, she only sighed and continued to fight back his cynical worldview.
[break][break]

"No matter how right you think you are, it means nothing if no one listens. Yes, dealing with those matters is far more paramount for our survival, but don't you ever consider why people are -- as you said -- joining an organization that is willing to kill themselves just to stop us from saving the world?"
[break][break]

Her fingers curled and uncurled again, shaking off the frost that had accumulated at her fingertips.
[break][break]

"I'm not saying we need to direct all of our attention to playing the PR game. We have far too much on our plate for that. But, I don't think it'd hurt to learn to employ empathy for those we serve to protect. To understand their worries, and why they criticize us, even when it's unwarranted. "
[break][break]

"Without their support, we can't win. Not against Rocket, or Sea Hoenn, or any of the other threats aimed our way."
[break][break]

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


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

Penelope had to fight the urge to flinch at his words. Each instance felt like a slap to the face, with the final being a blow straight to her chest. By the end of it, all of the wind had been knocked out of her.
[break][break]
Finally, without a response to retort with, she allowed the wind to act as her answer, howling over their heads with the anguish of hundreds of lost souls.
[break][break]
"dahlia goode?" She blinked in surprise. . Beyond her early criticism towards AQUA's original plan to deal with the Meteor, with everything that's happened since her appointment, it'd been a while since she's had a second to consider the commissioner's position.
[break][break]
"It's hard to say. Joining The League has definitively given me some perspective," She offered, finally allowing her lips back into a polite smile. "But I've never been a fan of how she's run things."
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"Why? What do you think of her?"
[break][break]

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


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

Something about the way he mentioned Penelope, a twenty-nine-year-old woman, 'maturing' nearly made her face scrunch up in disdain. But, alas, she could only assume it to be positive. Better than the alternative.
[break][break]
"I wish the same to you," She smiled, referring to what they spoke of earlier. Maybe, with some new faces joining the ranks, they could teach ol' jack frost here how to feel empathy. Or, at the very least, speak as though he felt any. Or, maybe, they'd continue on this way til their departure, arguing emotions versus logic.
[break][break]
"I can agree with that."
[break][break]
Penelope's eyes flicked back over to the endless blanket of white that spanned all around them. Internally, a small question continued to nag her, forcing her to continue, despite wanting to withdraw back into the silence and let the cold rush through her.
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"...I'm curious. What are your nonnegotiable?"
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[attr="class","ooc"] FERNANDO SILPH [break]


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

"Fair enough."
[break][break]
An answer befitting a politician and businessman like himself. Penelope had no choice but to nod and accept the ambiguous answer, with more layers than one, and hope, with time, perhaps she'd be able to peel back the nuance of its simplicity.
[break][break]
Finally, she glanced back at the cold councilman. Despite how close he stood to her, the man bundled in cloth looked as distant as ever, spanning miles away from herself. But maybe, with this small agreeance, she could look to close that gap. One footstep at a time. If she could only learn to understand him, their future as coworkers didn't have to be a painful one.
[break][break]
"At least we found two points two which we can agree," She smiled, breaking the silence, "even if they're a little...basic. It's something."


[break][break]

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


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