the familiar objects remain in their usual places. her stoutland sleeps, too deep within its slumber to stir. the commissioner is effervescent as always— her voice a gentle hum, the incessant blond curl of hair tucked and untucked by the quick pluck of her finger.

dahlia does not give in to solemnities. rather, she sets the stage with ring lights meant to flatter.

"so you have! welcome back!" dahlia beckons alexander deeper: a grecian host who welcomes him to retrace a carpet of his past steps. "is your family alright?"

the living room remains unchanged— but perhaps, a change of scenery would be nicer.

ALEXANDER STONE

"oh? in that case," dahlia glides to her coat rack to pluck an evening jacket from its arm. nothing fancy. just thick, and filled with swanna down. "wilfred needs a walk anyway. he's becoming too lazy."

she claps her hands, calling upon her dog. the hefty dog stirs, breathing life to what once was a hunk of furry driftwood.

"go on ahead. i'll lock the door." she says to stone. wilfred trods forth, sparing a step to lick the man's hand.

outside, the air is cool. silent, save for the roar of a nearby waterfall. evergrande is a still island— but perhaps, the quiet is mistaken for peace.

"so, alexander stone. what do i have the pleasure of doing for you today?" dahlia asks. "unless this really is just a plain old visit."

ALEXANDER STONE

"mm, the past months." dahlia sets her head against her hand, the flat of her palm struggling to hold all of its weight. "i've figured this is simply the new normal now. whatever that may mean."

she begins to walk— but not without waiting for stone. there is time. and should the ills of tomorrow's scheduling gnaw at the perimeters of her thoughts, dahlia would drown them in the fall.

"that's nice, stone." her stoutland keeps pace with them as dahlia catches alexander's eyes. "and this may be hopelessly cliched, but you do not need to worry about me. you've been busy yourself." she stops among the blooms scattered around the path.

"how long do you intend on staying?"

ALEXANDER STONE

"make up for your absence." dahlia stills her hands, one holding the other to keep it from folding. she stops walking as if to pursue the thought with her eyes. "what do you think can make up for it, hm?"

the commissioner grows aware of how dramatic the scene is. the way the blooms bend in the breeze and how the horizon carries what some may believe to be a wistful gaze— she wants nothing of it.

so she turns to stone in full. the walk is paused. her feet shift to face him.

"do you know what you have missed?"

ALEXANDER STONE

"i'll spare you the lesson in contemporary history," dahlia snaps. she'll take whatever answer he gives for now; there is no use in scolding a puppy long after its mistake. "what has happened has happened, so i will be counting on you to show your best face forward for the region now."

her heart pounds against her chest like a fist of fire. the adrenaline of a one-on-one confrontation burns the ribs and galvanizes the breath.

"i may have received criticism for your appointment, but what you do from now on will determine whether we save face—" dahlia resumes walking. "—for hoenn. no place else."

ALEXANDER STONE

"good."

her lungs fill with air. the slightest scent of sea tickles her nose as she breathes out. pressing into her shoes, dahlia continues to walk. for a moment, she escapes onto some fantasized wave before being pulled back to work like a stubborn tide.

"of course. if you two are collaborating, i'm sure it will be fine," dahlia fixes her blonde curl behind her ear, "so do your best! i don't want to be playing the part of a scolding mommy- but i do want to let you know that i will support you as much as i can as commissioner."

she stops.

"if we walk further, the trail grows steep. we can turn back if you'd like."

ALEXANDER STONE