[attr="class","robo"]"I cannot speak, so this will have to do."

[attr="class","sidetag"]Olivia Abbiati

[attr="class","bodytxtt"]for moments, there is nothing in the air but palpable tension and confusion. the one guard stares at him, and while nothing is said, he knows there is a question that is on his mind. it's a question he hasn't quite found an answer to, so he chooses to ignore it until he does. thankfully, silence persists long enough until it's interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. it sounds rushed, but familiar.

he opens his mouth to greet her but he's cut off by the sudden embrace, and though unexpected, it is welcome. he returns it in full. her question might not have been rhetoric but he makes it, perhaps unable to find the right words to answer her. her voice is faint but before he has a chance to ask, she pulls away. the bandages around her neck are worrying. only when olivia marches off into the castle does he turn to look at her assistant.

there is undeniable guilt that builds when he hears his words. "there is nothing to be excused. i understand." he follows perry into the castle and it doesn't take them long to climb up the bleach white stone steps. "thank you," he says to perry before stepping into olivia's office.

the sound of typing permeates the room, marred only by his footsteps as he approaches her desk. he stops momentarily only to give meara some attention before he takes a seat in front of her desk.

"olivia," he starts, leaning forward ever so slightly. he cannot ignore the bandages around her neck. "what happened?"

[attr="class","cranecred00"]MADE BY CRANE

[attr="class","robo"]"an ultra beast attacked slateport during the new year's festivities, dahlia was spotted there too - she is a refugee as of recent, something that is to be discussed at the meeting a presume, and chaos ensued. dahlia was . . ."

[attr="class","robo"]"possessed? by another ultra beast. ultimately, one was destroyed and the other was captured by, who I presume is rocket."

[attr="class","robo"]"there were casualties galore, both human and pokemon. I was strangled by the dahlia monster, and mateo martinez was sucked through a wormhole to gods know where."

[attr="class","robo"]"Balder Schwartz denounced the league, myself in particular, and promptly ran off. he is currently a fugitive avatar capable of summoning these wormholes - it was his own power that caused us to lose mateo."

[attr="class","robo"]"and that was yesterday."

[attr="class","sidetag"]Olivia Abbiati

[attr="class","bodytxtt"]there's not much of a conversation to be had. there's a lot of typing and waiting, but when the robotic voice finally speaks, it almost sounds like fiction. from ultra beasts to wormholes, none of it seems real. it seems almost impossible to believe. his brows furrow as a response, lips pursing, fingers tapping at the chair's armrest.

"interesting." he tilts his head then looks at her. his expression softens as he speaks. "all that sounds...horrible. i am sorry, olivia. i am for many things." she'll have questions for him, there's no avoiding that, but perhaps he can get ahead of the curve.

the typing allows him to interject appropriately. "i have no excuse for leaving in the manner that i did, and though it may take a while, i do hope to earn your trust again." because there's no denying that he needs all the help he can get.

"and i suppose the first step is to answer all your questions. so please, ask away," he says, now smiling softly.

[attr="class","cranecred00"]MADE BY CRANE

[attr="class","robo"]"im tired of asking questions, alexander."

[attr="class","robo"]"we all are. i deserve an explanation, and I am sure you don't need me to ask why or what that question is."

[attr="class","sidetag"]Olivia Abbiati

[attr="class","bodytxtt"]her stare is cold unlike the steaming tea in her hands. he meets her gaze and nods, understanding her sentiments. "i left to relocate my family to a safer region, one that was untouched by the violence that befell kanto and hoenn," he says, clearing his throat. "relatively untouched," he corrects before shifting in his seat. his elbows rest uncomfortably on the armrests.

"that took a little over a month. after that, i became involved with the region's affairs which led to me being stuck there." he's careful. he expects her to interject and call him out on how he had a responsibility to hoenn, but he continues speaking before she has a chance to finish typing. "i did what i could for them before leaving." 

he's vague in his words by design, because as much as he would like to reveal more, he's not too sure how much he can trust olivia. she had been somewhat of an ally during his reign as champion, but things change, people change, and it's that uncertainty that keeps him guarded.

"i know i have a lot to repay for. i was hoping i could start with you."

[attr="class","cranecred00"]MADE BY CRANE

[attr="class","robo"]"what do you mean, alexander?"

[attr="class","robo"]"are you asking for the position, alexander?"

[attr="class","robo"]"because i am, unfortunately, in no position to deny you. you appear to be a godsend in this perilous time, stone - there isn't anyone else fit or that i trust with sootopolis. i made the mistake once before of trusting a stranger with my life and this city; that will not happen again."