The office felt constraining. Though spacious in its own right, and with a nice view, there was just something about it that reminded her of a cell. Sure she could come and go as she pleased, but the ever piling paperwork chained her to the office chair.

Though she might look dabber in her clothes, she was naught but another slave to the system. The long sleeves on her suit hid the bandages on her arm. But there was one good thing about all the work she had to do. It kept her mind occupied.

And when her mind somehow managed to wander, the Pokémon by her side would quickly return her focus to the task at hand. For the Porygon-Z, which had made itself comfortable in one of the chairs there while on her phone swiping left and right, was always the ever dutiful worker.

Elinor looked at the clock, and realized that she had a meeting coming up soon.

“Java, I’ll be having a meeting soon. If you are going to be playing something noisy then please find somewhere else to do so until it’s finished.” She politely informed the Porygon-Z.

It nodded but did not move.

A moment later Julien Demassieux strode into her office. Confident demeanor and sharp gaze. These were the traits she noticed near immediately as he walked to her chest extending a hand alongside a verbal greeting.

“The pleasure is all mine.” She returned the empty pleasantry as she accepted his hand with a firm shake of her own, the movement revealing the faint hint of white fabric beneath her suit. And once the handshake came to an end, she gestured for one of the chairs, offering it to him if he desired it.

“As well as I can be given the circumstances of my absence.” Elinor said. She figured it would be or at least should be no secret why she was gone. At least to the people working with the government.

“So, what can I do for you, Mr. Demassieux?”

TAG: Julien Demassieux
LOCATION: Ever Grande City -> Pokemon League -> Elinor's office.

Elinor leaned into her chair as she listened to Julien’s empty sentiments. Luckily he had the decency to not be stuck by her initial unavailability.

Kalosian support, huh? Now that was rather interesting. While she wanted to appreciate the gesture, it rang rather hollow when put into perspective. After what happened to Galar she figured Kalos, and any other region for that matter, would be trembling in fear of the same thing happening to them. Kalos was just the most forward one about it.

“What is happening to this region? That is indeed the question.” Elinor repeated thoughtfully. “I will admit. I do not know the answer. Honestly it feels like Arceus has decided to have some personal issue with Hoenn.”

She paused.

“No offense intended if you are a man of faith.” He didn’t seem like it, but you never could tell.

TAG: Julien Demassieux
LOCATION: Ever Grande City -> Pokemon League -> Elinor's office.

She noted the frown he sent her, yet kept in mind that there was not a hint of accusation of skepticism in his tone, as she began to speak.

“What else could it possibly be?” Elinor stated.

Of course reports and her own experiences with the DRK TRIAD did place them as the culprit but she wasn’t about to admit that to someone who might not be in the know.

“Necrozma’s attack on Sootopolis, The Meteno Incident, and all the spatial rifts that have come as a result of that incident.” And to her knowledge that was just the publicly known incidents.

“If it had only been one or two incidents years apart, then I might have been inclined to believe it was pure coincidence.” She sighed mildly. “But it isn’t. So, here I am blaming Arceus for it until a better candidate is brought to light.”

There was. But again, she wasn’t about to let that slip. It would make Hoenn’s strength look bad if it was known something or someone had such superior firepower at their beck and call.

While she might’ve sounded a bit defeated, that was far from the truth. And the gaze she sent Julien would say as much. A blaze of fighting spirit accompanied with a sense of seriousness could be seen in her eyes as she spoke. “Knowing that this is the sort of thing Hoenn has to deal with, and with the assumption that something like that will be happening again. What kind of help does Kalos intend to offer?”

TAG: Julien Demassieux
LOCATION: Ever Grande City -> Pokemon League -> Elinor's office.

“We do. They are hard at work. And to their credit they have plenty of theories, but not one singular answer.”

But that was perhaps the crux of it all. Perhaps there was not one singular creature that had it out for them. Maybe it was the entire universe that preferred to see this Hoenn wiped away.

Elinor considered the proposition Julien. In theory it was a nice thought. Everyone is working together. But as a politician she knew it wouldn’t even take an hour into that before people would start to scheme ways of using it for their own gains.

“The help would certainly be appreciated.” Elinor began. “Though before I overstep my boundaries on this matter and make promises I can’t keep. I should speak with the other members of the Council.”

Surely Julien would understand this need for bureaucracy.

TAG: Julien Demassieux
LOCATION: Ever Grande City -> Pokemon League -> Elinor's office.

Elinor hid the sigh of relief. She had almost expected Julien to be a bit more pushy on the matter, but perhaps that had simply been Kalosian Stereotyping.

But with this pleasant surprise, she could beam Julien a professional but happy smile and a nod as Julien rose to leave.

“Thank you, I look forward to that as well.”

And with that she watched him leave. Wondering for a moment how the future of this would play out.


TAG: Julien Demassieux
LOCATION: Ever Grande City -> Pokemon League -> Elinor's office.