dahlia slips the card between her fingers. carefully, she presses the card to the tip of her nose. her lips blossom into a smile, eyes expanding wide like a firework.[break][break]

"ooooh, scented too?" the commissioner's laugh flutters quick like combee wings. "i like your touch. priya? pencil in a visit to petalburg, will you?"[break][break]

and just like that, the illusion is broken. one of her staff flips through several pages of an agenda before finally penciling one in.

"it may have to wait until we save the region though." the commissioner says. "well, i had a good time. thank you for the company, elisabeth."[break][break]

her stoutland is careful to let the sunkern know as it lifts from slateport's illuminated sands.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elisabeth Fiorelli[break]

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

MATIAS SILPH's report is noted. It is swiftly added to the list. "Alien-thing." Though vague, there is no reason to distrust the testimony.[break][break]

Councilman GABRIEL BLACK is correct. the deterrents are here, seated in melody's chamber— and should order follow, are also stationed in the various gyms dotting the region like flags. She agrees with his arrangement. Business meetings are par the course; nothing out of the ordinary.[break][break]

"the aqua initiative is the designed defense against any renegade avatars, elinor, should anything come to that."[break][break]

After all, they have a myriad of defenses gathered and forged, including one that pulses with the same primal energies as Kyogre's. And one that she does not know about yet.[break][break]

"and skyler's volatile nature and fragile pride is precisely why we need to tread carefully with absolute scrutiny."[break][break]

In the arguments, The Commissioner pulls the pigment of biased, narrow ommission. She shakes her head.[break][break]

"remember, we are not the only active forces of influence in this region. skyler and her husband by proxy, without the protection of the aqua initiative, can swiftly be at the mercy of team rocket, or even the dark triad."[break][break]

After all, unbeknownst to everyone in this room, Team Rocket has its contingency plan already in place.[break][break]

When John Sullivan finishes his piece, The Commissioner returns the stares. Locks eyes and shakes her head softly.[break][break]

"it is not a single person's job, but you may assist." Doug's relative inexperience and youth allows for a leniency bordered with cautioun.[break][break]

After Katherine Fairburne clarifies the complex entanglement of diplomatic immunity and Remiel Calcifet to Raziel Beckett, The Commissioner listens to Katherine Fairburne intently. No glare. Just patience and a willingness to understand.[break][break]

"thankfully, nautica will not be under our payroll or a part of the aqua initiative." The Commissioner declares. "but they will be bound by the same checks and balances all companies have. seafaring rules. the terms and conditions of any nautica-league relationship will leverage the aforementioned pride of the captain to our benefit."[break][break]


As for secrecy, she looks at Raziel Beckett.[break][break]

"and should anyone betray government confidentiality, consequences will ensue."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Aqua Kennedy[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-koko"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-bulu"]

"whether our respective parties share the blame for necrozma's arrival is arbitrary."[break][break]

the commissioner says. by now, she is comfortable in her role. her posture is practiced, her expression revealing no nerves, just a sharp stoicism found in board rooms. still, she makes time and space for smiles.[break][break]

"instead, we can focus on the fact that team rocket could not handle necrozma alone." the commissioner says. "and now, you require our help once again."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

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

"hello, hello."[break][break]

as if on cue, the commissioner arrives. her heels click on the pavement warmed by hoenn sun.[break][break]

"freya. eva."[break][break]

she acknowledges them with a quick nod. there is the edge of urgency in her movements. business rather than pleasure.[break][break]

"shall we? i hope the rehabilitation enclosure is to your tastes."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] freya morningstar Eva Morales[break]

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

even weeds weasel themselves in between stalk and reed despite the most careful hand.[break][break]

"thankless in some ways. fulfilling in others. i suppose gardeners don't garden for the purposes of praise, after all."[break][break]

the commissioner wonders if she must dirty her nails. tuck soil and grime underneath their cut crescents as she unearths those who choke the roots of others.[break][break]

and her own.[break][break]

"do you have a business card? i'd love to visit one day."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elisabeth Fiorelli[break]

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

"might i remind you that i am here to offer you and the city aid."[break][break]

she does not raise her voice, but each syllable propels her to the next line like a rising shoal tide.[break][break]

"we did not bring necrozma here. we responded to it."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Cillian Quinn[break]

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

"trusted me?"[break][break]

the commissioner attempts to siphon any memory of betrayal from her mind's stream.[break][break]

the other names, save for MATIAS SILPH's, ring no bells. whisper no tales.[break][break]

"melody, we need to remove that toxin from you." dahlia says. she does not reach for the needle. not yet. "the perpetrator of your poisoning does not matter. what matters is your health and your safety."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro[break]

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

"there is a reason we have multiple head rangers, doug. in fact, we have ample talent to fill in if necessary."[break][break]

dahlia is softer here. voice feathered to a blurrier texture. one mixed with the breath and the golden flecks of some imparted sympathy. for doug is young. not a politician, but a passionate youth.[break][break]

"we have captain boruta maher of rustboro. Tam Fawley of slateport. Izumi Yamamura of lavaridge and LANCE VOLLANS of lilycove. and right here, in this city of ever grande, we have captain ollie morales."[break][break]

the commissioner's posture however, remains obstinate.[break][break]

"they will do just fine."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Aqua Kennedy[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-koko"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-bulu"]

and with laughter, the man leaves. the waterfalls continue to pour, the sound both cold and darling.[break][break]

"if you are able to assist, you may." dahlia says to Katherine Fairburne. "but councilman black is right. we do not want the elite four spread thin. perhaps, councilwoman anderson may consider taking point for collaboration with lars."[break][break]

in the ensuing conversation that follows kim cole-essam's monologue, dahlia remains still. she has shed her casters. she does not budge despite the heightened beat of her heart.[break][break]

although grateful to katherine and fernando, she does not betray such feelings. not here. not now. however, her allowance of fernando to list item after item of compounding obstruction and discord within the league is sign enough.[break][break]

"as you have just said, kim, there is a perception that suggests the rangers are a failing sector."[break][break]

the commissioner speaks directly to him. there is no scowl on her face- just the sharpest of gazes.[break][break]

"then, if it is failing, is that not a failure of its leaders? logically speaking, then it is reason enough for a reshuffle. may lars and the rest of the head rangers rise to the occasion."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Aqua Kennedy[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-koko"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon tapu-bulu"]

under the bloom of celebration, the elaboration of her name's meaning flatters her. fireworks may be transient. brief and fleeting, but the commissioner is determined to do as her namesake and outlast.[break][break]

"you are too kind, elisabeth." she is purposeful in saying her name. so she will not forget. "oh, well, people will do as they please in the end. we ultimately can not convince others to do what we want, let alone a wider public."[break][break]

she laughs. her stoutland snoozes, its bed of fur the softest nest for the sunkern.[break][break]

"but you never know, elisabeth. taking care of a region could be compared to tending one's garden."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Elisabeth Fiorelli[break]

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

spotty memories prior to imprisonment? dahlia can not be certain and yet...[break][break]

"it may very well be the effects of the toxin, melody. memories are all interconnected after all. i do not think the poison knows how to discriminate from past, present, and ever arriving future."[break][break]

she raises her hands, attempting to calm her with a soft frown. there is nothing in her palms; however, the antidote lies nearby alongside its needle.[break][break]

"you can trust us, melody. me. illeana reyes. our doctors and scientists."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Melody Miro[break]

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