the reveal comes like a flash frost. the first frigid brine upon the ribs of jetsam, but it's quick to find warmer waters.[break][break]

she has to. for callan. for herself-but dahlia has become more acclimated to the temperature of traitorous turns. surprise reveals. though, this carries the stone weight of being yveltal's bandit.[break][break]

"i'm so sorry callan." dahlia manages to eke. "it's unfair that another's misguided actions are jeopardizing your career."[break][break]

she hums to herself. note solemn and anchored in the slight croakiness despondency.[break][break]

"if you were to disband Teravolt, what would become of you?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon stoutland"]

"if what you say is true." dahlia takes steps. paces some and disturbs ruffles in the neat threads of a rug. "then none of it must leave your lips, nor from anyone else's."[break][break]


the commissioner sighs. the breath seems to hold in the lungs, swirling like a building spout.[break][break]

"none of this must be told to the public." the commissioner says. "you tell this to annalise henderson and paxton concordas. understood?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

dahlia shakes her head tautly. her nose is a sharp arrow of dismissal or defiance. it cuts the idea, slices it like small wounds- but never quite all the way through.[break][break]

"what? not possible." the commissioner says. "as mentioned, sea hoenn has been dormant. dealt with."[break][break]

she places a hand against her chest, fingers fanned out as if to keep any part of it from bursting.[break][break]

"pink slash, you said. what caused it? can we trust what it shows?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

callan challenges churlish cyclones while dahlia works swiftly to pick up chipped pots and torn strips of daily papers. the mess is ceaseless—though she understands that is the nature of things.[break][break]

when the star enters her office, dahlia does dare discern anything past the handsome face. in the corner, her stoutland sleeps. too tired to scrutinize.[break][break]

she'll let purpose of this congress spell itself from callan's lips.[break][break]

"no! not a bad time." dahlia says as the door closes. "if not now, when?"[break][break]

the austerity of pre-meteno has faded some, rendering the angles of her shoulders soft.[break][break]

"i have to thank you for your service on mt. pyre." she says.[break][break]

"i knew we made the right choice in you as our newest elite four."[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Callan Young[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon stoutland"]

yes, the weight of the world has lessened. the boulder has rolled some. but not before bestowing dahlia with some lighter or duller hairs; the sunlight of a morning that shouldn't exist desaturates all with comforting fatigue.[break][break]

"oh?" the commissioner says, lips creasing thin.[break][break]

"sea hoenn? we haven't detected any movement from their world since meteno."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

"oh, believe me, penelope." the commissioner smooths out her lap and the sunlight tickles her nose. "they will always exist."[break][break]

her mr. rime rests against the door, bowler hat tipped to cast a tired shadow across its face.[break][break]

"when i became commissioner," she says, "the naysayers were oh so loud, howling about how i didn't earn anything. that i wasn't deserving or qualified. one couldn't hear themself think."[break][break]

the recollection leaves her lips as she smiles. she leans toward penelope with earnest shape.[break][break]

"so, how can i help you today?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

the commissioner nods. this morning is like any other, and although the weight of 99943 meteno is no more, beneath her heels, the world urges onward and onward, in a brutal march ever so ceaselesss, like the iron treads of some tank.[break][break]

"there is no settling to be had." dahlia says with a quiet smile. "but i can sleep a bit better now."[break][break]

her arms cross over her stomach. her hands grab her elbows to steady her. mr. rime leans on its cane.[break][break]

"and you? you're positively glowing... so what business do we have today?" the commissioner says. [break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

the coat is pulled. the chill lessened. it is placed on a nearby hanger as dahlia fights the smallest yawn from unfurling into the longest scarf.[break][break]

"oh i have. i have to admit," she says, "i was taking the tiiiiniest nap right before this."[break][break]

she laughs as her skin takes in the hoenn sunlight. the commissioner taps her cheeks, cold fingertips shocking skin pink.[break][break]

"but it's time for business." the commissioner does not move to her desk. instead, she takes a seat in another chair, situated diagonally across from penelope. "but first, i have to say i'm very impressed with the VALOR Initiative. no one should be able to question your credentials now, that is, if there were any doubters..."[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

there is no mistaking that the softest knock on her fortree wood door belongs to head scientist reyes. nevermind the scheduling. the notification on the phone.[break][break]

it is the acoustics of confluence that makes the memory.[break][break]

although her mr. rime is present, the commissioner answers the door herself.[break][break]

"you make it sound like a favor." she jokes and opens the door wide. face less taut as if all the stress of 99943 meteno had caught up with her and rendered her skin slack. "come on in, come on in."[break][break]

she strolls into the office. beneath fanciful chairs, an ornate carpet lays tickled with stoutland hairs.[break][break]

"have you had a good morning so far?"[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] illeana reyes[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

"oh. come in!" dahlia's mr. rime opens the heavy wooden door for her. [break][break]

inside, dahlia is drawing the curtains open. their fabrics roll into each other, thawed by the last of autumn's sun.[break][break]

she tucks the stray hairs away from her face. steadies her legs. the commissioner still shakes from the residual duress from meteno's shadow.[break][break]

"already so quick to work after the meteoroid, penelope?" the commissioner asks as she steps away from the window. "take a seat. rory can take your coat."[break][break]

her mr. rime extends a cold hand.[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] PENELOPE LIVY[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon mr-rime"]

"a pleasure nonetheless to me." the commissioner says. "we're quite used to it here, after all."[break][break]

dahlia's stoutland nestles its tired head back into paws when the handshake ends. it stirs little despite the liepard. instead, opting to continue its siesta against the historic wood of an armchair's leg.[break][break]

"take a seat." she says. "remind me, why choose hoenn for work? unless you had no choice?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @rhafiel[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon stoutland"]