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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 7, 2019 21:27:44 GMT

cait sipped daintily at her wine, the aged beverage having been gifted to her by her sire on her twentieth birthday. her uncle had discreetly slipped in a few pre-rolled 'cigarettes' that had originated from his carefully cultivated crops. it wasn't at all surprising that she had polished off the second prize within a matter of weeks, but cait reserved the first gift for a special occasion, having very carefully stowed it away.

she had decided that she'd like to share the bottle with the highly respected mister silph. it had been ages since she had requested his presence, hopeful and eager to partake in his good company during more personal hours. cait had painstakingly prepared her cramped studio for the occasion, making sure it was tidily arranged and smelled faintly of lavender.

the scent of a freshly cooked meal hung heavily in the air as she cleaned the counter for what felt like the umpteenth time, the arrangement she had produced colorful, highly varied and carefully placed upon the small table tailored specifically to accommodate two.

'i hope he doesn't think it's too small.'

cait worriedly eyed her personal quarters, the closet and the lavatory the only spaces that allowed for a decent amount of privacy. but because of her level of cleanliness the illusion of space was present, the lack of clutter coupled by the careful placement of furniture causing it to appear as though there was a decent amount of 'wiggle room' to be had.

"the food's ready," she thought. "a perfect balance of meats, grains and vegetables."

everything appeared thoroughly polished with the faint and barely noticeable reek of cleaning chemicals wafting from every solid surface.

'he should be here in less than an hour.'

cait had decided against clothing that could be considered unnecessarily fanciful or provocative, having decided upon a dress that was a fetching shade of blue. her hair had been brushed, her skin scented with lotion as well as perfume and her make up done to perfection.

'hypno'll escort him through the gym and straight here,' she thought. 'he'll be knocking before too long.'

she felt nervous.

odd. she hadn't felt this way when she had spent her time dating councilman kim. but she supposed this was somehow different.

'breathe.'

cait retreated into the bathroom after setting down her glass of wine, deciding to make sure her mane was properly groomed.

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silph

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TAG WITH @silph

POSTED ON Jul 9, 2019 6:12:44 GMT

there is a strange thread of trust between fernando and cait alfric. it stems from what fernando can only derive as a loyalty built on a foundation of his utmost support in her acceleration up the league ladder. that's not to say it is undeserved. even since their first meeting, fernando has had a fancy for the rising trainer and her dutiful pledge toward becoming the trainer he has always imagined. in that regard, fernando could not be more distinguished. his hand picked trainer is now regarded and heralded as the dynamic role model for gym leaders. for that reason alone, he holds her to a standard fit for a silph. she is a late bloomer but one that he could see fit to hold the family name. if only he had the chance to mold her soon, well before her transition into adulthood.

such wasted potential.

still, trust is a two way street and fernando can only surmise so much about how alfric feels in return. her behavior signifies that she trusts him as well. the way she presents herself, the nervousness that fernando picks up on. to an extent, he can never be to sure if his analysis is more than over-reading conjectures but he puts faith in his ability to read people. at least until he's proven wrong.

cait came to him about celebii and that in itself is all he needs to know. alfric trusts him and for that she will pay. not immediately. not with her life. but eventually, she will pay and when it's time for fernando to collect he will drag out from under her everything he's ever bestowed upon her. but that time is not now. not until she proves no longer useful. not until she turns her heel against him. and until that time, fernando will continue to court her with a charm that doesn't quite match kim cole-essam but one that demands more respect than anyone else in the region.

cait alfric is his and in more ways than one. that's what makes it so surprising when fernando faces a mild confusion at the sudden summon. her request is met with his characteristic confirmation as well as a prompt arrival. the gym doors open and he is not ready to face what she has prepared for him. even the coldest face in hoenn will be able to read the warmth of the mood she has set up for him but will that be enough to melt him?

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 9, 2019 11:35:13 GMT

cait favored the light produced by a single lamp, the harshness of the overhead bulb avoided in favor of a dim yet adequately lit setting. she very carefully set the atmosphere by doing so, everything about this arrangement in particular purposeful and chosen with the utmost care.

"sir!"

once he had been successfully guided to her door she'd welcome him with an almost infectious warmth that saturated her voice. cait appeared very eager to invite him in, the door opened with one hand as she beckoned with the other.

"please, come in. everything's ready."

he'd be greeted by the sight of a studio apartment - of walls that had been painted a pale green and of charming decorations that had been mounted upon its surface. the furniture appeared new and well-cared for, the queen-sized bed tucked in one corner and a small couch pressed against the opposing wall.

"i hope your travels went well," she said. "i'm sorry about the bit of rain outside. i'd have rescheduled otherwise."

cait gestured toward the table, the dinner that she had promised still resting there. everything was still warm and fresh, the plucked and thoroughly baked and stuffed farfetch'd that boasted a dark and golden brown layer serving as its masterful centerpiece. surrounding the main dish were plates of roasted and carefully seasoned vegetables that had been harvested from her personal garden, sliced bread acquired from the local market, a small cherry pie and a round chunk of ham.

"i hope you're hungry. it's still warm."

the bottle she had been gifted rested on the kitchen counter before she carefully placed the wine upon the table alongside two polished glasses.

"you're welcome to sit, sir," she invited, indicating his seat with a gesture.

nervousness was quickly replaced by excitement, her eyes aglow with pleasure as she offered her beloved superior both meal and drink.

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TAG WITH @silph

POSTED ON Jul 10, 2019 3:28:52 GMT

the sound of her voice is familiar yet different, shifting to accentuate a mood that they rarely share. the whole presumption behind the setting keeps him on edge. there's nothing wrong with cait alfric but she prove too important a piece to tamper with. fernando silph does not shit where he eats and sometimes business is best left at that—strictly business.

his assumption grows with mounting evidence when he enters her living quarters. it's clean, it's neat, obviously tidied up unless cait conducts herself with a cleanliness that ma—actually, that's fairly plausible as well. fernando observes with a bated worry as he follows after her.

"no, no, miss alfric. i wouldn't miss it for the world."

a dinner. nothing more, nothing less. that was the implication but fernando can read between the lines, especially when it's this obvious. "ah, i haven't eaten all day. i look forward to a dinner cooked by someone as talented as you, miss alfric." he takes his seat, hesitant mentally but bold in action. he keeps his eyes on her, trying to probe her body language for a more telling sign of what's to come.

"so, i have to ask, what's the occasion, miss alfric?"

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 10, 2019 3:41:30 GMT

cait pours him a drink of burgundy liquid that smelled enticingly sweet, desperately hopeful that he'd fine the dry wine appetizing.

"with the war coming to an end..."

she slipped into her seat, her body language relaxed and well-practiced as she prepared her own beverage. the woman paused only to daintily sip at her chilled wine, a hint of a grin tugging at her beautifully pained lips.

"... i thought we could perhaps celebrate the occasion."

cait raised her drink in a partial toast, the smile she wore widening by a noticeable margin.

"we can enjoy good food - good conversation - and perhaps, if you're willing to stay for the night, good company."

the underlying offer was fairly obvious and perhaps if she appealed to him on a physical level he would accept her invitation. there was nothing romantic about her tone nor how she presented herself to him in that moment, that lustful spark that surfaced within her green-eyed gaze notably base in nature.

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POSTED ON Jul 11, 2019 6:58:13 GMT

cait alfric likes this

fernando narrows his eyes at the mention of the war, averting his gaze toward his untouched wine glass. the topic itself is a touchy subject that fernando pretends doesn't bother him. silas is dead and the threat of team rocket is over. that's what they all believe because that's what he told them. but that couldn't be further than the truth. that's what puts him on edge and the mention of it keeps him alert.

no matter how the topic makes him feel, fernando portrays his appearance with the same demeanor fit for his profile. he smiles at her toast, lifting his glass toward his, and only drinks from it after watching her do the same. only after letting it settle in his mouth does he realize the taste of the wine. "oh. this is magnificent, miss alfric," he answers, exaggerating beyond what his palate registers, showering her in false flattery. appearances mean a lot and fernando will maintain the impression that cait alfric can do no wrong. anything to kept her strung tightly around his finger.

"if dinner taste anything like that wine then i am in for a treat."

his eyes move toward her hands and he holds himself at her pace. as guest, it's only fair to wait for the host to make the first move.

"how late did you have in mind?"

the implication goes right over his head. he suspect there's something more to cait's question but not to the scale of which it is. for a man set on reading people, the possibility that cait is pursuing him, the same cait who's seen him in nothing but a professional view, slips right past his mind.

a mistake he will surely kick himself over when he reflects back on it.

cait alfric

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 12, 2019 17:24:05 GMT

he heaped praise onto her, which caused cait's expression to brighten considerably before it dimmed just as quickly. it was difficult not to overthink his question, the chance that he had no real desire to warm her bed niggling at the back of her mind. there was a hint of disappointment that surfaced upon her expression, but she managed to hide it after several beats.

'you can't have everything you want,' she thought.

"it's entirely up to you, sir," she said.

but there was still conversation to be had and a meal to be enjoyed before it grew cold. she favored the vegetables and a thin slice of ham, silently and discreetly blessing the food with a prayer before she took her first bite.

"my family tried their best at convincing me to retire early a few days ago," she admitted. "i guess they want me to come back home and focus on my education."

cait paused only to chew on a piece of slived carrot, mulling over the conversation that had taken place between her mother and herself.

"but i enjoy this kind of lifestyle more than i thought i ever would," she said. "i can't imagine doing anything else at this point of my life. going back to school sounds dull in comparison."

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TAG WITH @silph

POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 5:47:03 GMT

[attr="class","spiral"] fernando misses the first social cue but not the second. what he can only interpret as dissatisfaction flashes across her features and fernando at a loss for words. did he say something wrong? no, certainly not. he reflects on any possible slights and comes to the conclusion that her expression stems from something else. unable to dig further, he let's it go.

fernando waits for cait to sample her own food and follows her order. he has no doubts that cait has nothing but respect for him but his paranoia has saved him more often than not. sure, she could poison his own plate but the added measure of caution lets him rest easy. at least until she brings up a disturbing announcement.

"retire from what, being mauville's gym leader?"

fernando takes this as a chance to stop eating entirely, caught off guard and secreting loathing the alfrics from one of the few good things to have happened to hoenn. "if education is what they want, i would not mind covering your tuition at lilycove university. if you would like. you could learn and teach, as gym leader."

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 6:47:43 GMT

crunch.

she chewed on another piece of glazed carrot, her expression kept plain as she considered fernando's gracious offer.

"it's also the distance they're having a difficult time with, sir. and while i do appreciate your offer, i've saved up more than enough working here to cover my own tuition."

'i could always say yes. but he's given me so much already.'

cait wondered if her superior could completely understand or even sympathize with her current position. and then she considered his relationship with his own siblings and the way he apparently treated his adopted sister; Stormy Silph .

'stormy paints a completely different picture of fernando. cruel - she says. domineering - supposedly. manipulative, even. but i just can't see it. maybe she's just reading him wrong?'

"i won't be retiring anytime soon," she assured. "perhaps in a few years i'll consider giving up the position. because i do want to find a man or a woman to settle down with one day. i want to get married - and even have a family by the time i'm... your age, i think."

while she didn't mind her promiscuous lifestyle she wasn't at all opposed to acquiring a companion and sharing children with them.

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POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 7:17:15 GMT

[attr="class","spiral"] "ah. understandable." fuck. there's no way around that. family is the one thing fernando cannot replace and having them offed will do more harm than good. luckily, cait's already expressed her disinterest in following their suggestion but having the weight of her family bear down on her does not bode well for him.

fernando smiles, laughing softly at her comment. "glad to hear it. hopefully you find better success than i do." the mention of woman or man doesn't disturb him in the slightest. fernando is many things but all of them stem from meritocracy. he makes no comment about the fluidity of her choice in companion and treats it like normal. "but that begs the question: how old do you think i am, miss alfric?"

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 7:31:30 GMT

cait blinked and appeared to mull over the inquiry.

"i'd say - ...um."

she had never looked up the man's birth date nor his age, finding the information entirely inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.

"thir-ty?"

the young woman decided to hazard a guess, her face lightly scrunching up as she considered his features with a sweep of her green-eyed gaze.

"thirty-five, at the most?"

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POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 7:44:12 GMT

[attr="class","spiral"] fernando isn't sure whether to frown or to laugh, so he does both. "i guess i should take better care of myself then." he takes another bite out of his carrot while he mulls alfrics answer. does he really care that she's off by quite a bit? no. he doesn't. because, like knowing his age, it is inconsequential. appearances are superficial and mean nothing to a man who builds himself on action.

"twenty seven, miss alfric." fernando squints, pausing for a moment, before laughing. "i think."

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POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 8:03:50 GMT

'three years off.'

a hint of a grimace passed over her expression before it settled back into a contented look.

"i think you look perfectly fine no matter how old you may or may not be, sir."

from her perspective he was a man who appeared to be in the prime of his life. it was likely that he'd age well as days and months transitioned into years and she was very curious to bear witness to that particular change.

"you're very handsome, actually," she clarified, heaping praise onto him.

several mouthfuls of wine later and she grinned, the young woman appearing satisfied.

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TAG WITH @silph

POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 8:15:47 GMT

[attr="class","spiral"] "ha, ha, you don't have to flatter me, miss alfric. although i do appreciate it." fernando takes another sip of his wine and leans his head back to stare at the glass. he really tries to emphasize how much it impresses him before leaning in. "i'll tell you a secret, just between you and me, but promise me that it's just between us."

he doesn't wait because it's nothing important. just a joke to ease the mood between friends. "i can already feel some of the wrinkles."

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TAG WITH @cait

POSTED ON Jul 15, 2019 8:33:40 GMT

she tittered softly, relaxing further within her superior's presence as he continued to jest.

'it does feel like we're friendly now.'

but were they really? officially she had been employed by the counsel - and handpicked by fernando himself to take a precious gym leader's slot. cait sobered a little at the thought, a touch bemused by her position as well as her future.

"sir, there's something i'm curious about."

she wanted to inquire as to why he considered her to be a valued league member despite her inexperience and what he truly thought of the freshly elected young woman. but instead she shifted the focus of discussion elsewhere, the alcohal that had crept into her blood managing to encourage at least this much.

"with the region at peace," she began. "will everything go back to how it was? the gyms - the counsel - the usual?"