oh, but it's always about loyalty. it's about who is who. it's about painting lights and lesser evils, casting shadows on the unseemly. 

we may do terrible things, but at least we are not rocket!

"and we've talked for how long, councilwoman?" she says with a laugh. even with what little made way for pleasantries, they've barely held a conversation for twenty minutes.

"i may complain, but i go on the expeditions. i go where i'm needed. i lend my strength. and in the interim, i prepare for war. the next time the region needs me, i'll be there. that's all i can do."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"that's why I ask."
[Break][break]
Actions outweighed the ease of words. But, for the most part, she saw little reason to question the woman's spun tale.
[Break][break]
What merit would it bring to make such obvious lies, anyways?
[Break][break]
"And, when that time comes, what if you find yourself at a disagreeance again?"
[Break][break]
Expeditions were different from war itself. They acquired a sense of loyalty far more than what this woman might be willing to lend.
[Break][break]
" Will you still choose to fight for Hoenn's sake?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] freya morningstar [break]


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

she rolls her tongue over her teeth, thinking. the question becomes easier when she asks her second and it's then that, without skipping a beat, she says, "yes. for hoenn's sake, yes." without a doubt. 

decisively, she clicks her tongue and turns the conversation back to penelope: "councilwoman, do you believe the current highest-standing officials in the league have hoenn's best interests in mind?"

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

Her question failed to stray far from those propped up against her during the earliest month of her inauguration.
[break][break]
"I have to believe in that. Otherwise, the system would collapse."
[break][break]
Of course, she knew better than entrusting her faith in those who've yet earned it for themselves. Light caught in the rivers of red rolling down her back.
[break][break]
"Not to say I've allowed myself to fall into naivety."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] freya morningstar[break]


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

she laughs. "and if that system is meant to elevate the untrustworthy? provide them protection above the law they claim to protect?" and then she shrugs. 

"there will always be criticism. i faced it when i served. there are no right answers, but there are wrong answers. you have wolves among you, masquerading as tamed dogs, and so long as the system remains unquestioned and unshakeable, it will only lead to more bloodshed."

more. because she has seen MATIAS SILPH 's hunger with her own eyes, witnessed his disregard for consequence in carnage. 

PENELOPE LIVY

☉

"You're echoing sentiments I already agree with."
[break][break]

Born from the ashes of the still-standing HBS, councilwoman Livy was far from a stranger to the criticism that came. Hell, she had a hand in inventing its process, refining it with years worth of experience.
[break][break]

But it isn't criticism that changes the way a clock ticks. Only by digging through its gears can someone guarantee control over how its hands move.
[break][break]

"So, tell me, what wolf do you have your mark set on?"
[break][break]

She had a good guess already, but she wanted to hear it.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] freya morningstar[break]


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

freya frowns. agreeing with her sentiments and yet still holding the system aloft since its alternative is utter collapse. she's a fool if she believes being one of the cogs will change the way the wheel shifts. it takes outside pressure - anger and fire - to dismantle a power like this. 

"my mark?" her eyes are pale flame, a wolfish grin of her own directly contrasting her obvious lie: "i have none." she does not trust penelope. she's no reason to. and she'll be damned if she indicts herself here. 

"i work for the people now, councilwoman. more than i ever did when i was in your position."

PENELOPE LIVY

☉