[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]the email lands in her inbox unannounced, similar to the paper found on her desk earlier in the morning.

and while she gives the paper her undivided attention, the subsequent meeting comes with an air of annoyance.

time is of the essence for the league's science division. there is still too much work to be done and with Eva Morales not in today, it falls on her shoulders.

unfortunately, she is in no position to decline the meeting scheduled in her calendar. the laboratories close for the allocated time of the meeting and she appears in FERNANDO SILPH's office five minutes early.

"councilman."

it is the only greeting she allows herself to give him anymore, absent of any warmth or affection she once had.

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]there had been a time where she missed the way things used to be. the warmth, the favoritism, the unwavering belief he held in her.

such a time does not exist anymore. she has accepted this fact begrudgingly.

"i have."

anomalies and what they mean for hoenn...

"JAMES BAKER did well with gathering information for the paper. it is both informative and well-written."

but that's not what he wants from her, is it?

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]a hum escapes.

"not necessarily, though i was surprised to see sea hoenn not included among the non-native actors portion."

perhaps it is simply bias or paranoia, but she believes sea hoennians to play an important role in the world as they know it. whether this is to be soon or far in the future, she does not know...

but she would bet it all on their involvement in their realm spelling disaster for the masses.

"aside from that, i see no issues. perhaps arceus's involvement could be added to the drk triad section if you wanted to get technical?"

it is, truthfully, a key point in her eyes.

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]ah, right.

classified tape restricts much of what they know from the public.

perhaps it is better that way.

"not necessarily, but the threat level they pose all of hoenn should be expanded upon."

a faint smile twists into existence. it lingers with her eyes, sharp against his body.

"they have not simply aimed for league officials, after all. the entire public is at risk."

mass hysteria, however, is another factor entirely... she expects no matter what they say, there will be fallout.

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she blinks, a slow attempt to shoo confusion out of her eyes.

"you... think people would help them if they knew of their allegiance?"

he's joking. he has to be.

her displeasure is palpable.

"even if some would be foolish enough to believe the drk triad could assist in their pursuits, it would be counterproductive for both parties. they'd be lambs led to slaughter."

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]his point hangs between them, rising and falling with the steady breathing of her body.

she is living proof of a simple fact: human desire breeds selfish sabotage from the masses.

"fair."

it's all she says on the topic.

he has exhausted whatever fight she's had left in her. they go around in circles, dancing through the same disagreement, the same betrayal. why bother at that point?

"how do you propose dealing with the allure this group has, then?"

FERNANDO SILPH

[attr="class","illeana"]

[attr="class","illeana b"]

[attr="class","illeana i"]she hums, satisfied.

"i suppose the only response would be preparation."

it is, after all, the only way to be ready for the unknown. variances constantly occupy much of the world around them... how they handle such obstacles speaks not of their supplies but of their readiness to face uncertainty head on.

but, then again, what does she know? in the end, she is the biggest question mark he didn't expect.

her head inclines into a curt nod and she begins to step away.

"very well."

she angles her body for the door, suddenly missing the comfortable and familiar silence of her lab's four walls.

"until next time, then, silph."

FERNANDO SILPH