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"learning from others who have healthy bonds with their patrons would be a start, laurence." the commissioner takes a seat too, legs crossed, hands folded neatly over her lap. "that is partially the reason why you're in the initiative after all."[break][break]

she cultivates a purposeful pause—unless the man before her disrupts it.[break][break]

"have you learned from any other avatar in aqua?"

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"heavy surveillance will be conducted then, but we would have to inform matias of the formal arrangement. we do not need to tell him of Razz Kingsman's role."[break][break]

the commissioner pinches her brow, heavy head nested against the bow of her fingers. her thoughts flurry into cold gusts. each action must be assessed for risk, how they blast into immeasurable paths seeking possibilities in aeolian caves. she scours for paths that do not terminate.[break][break]

"the aqua initiative was also developed as a system to keep other avatars in check." the commissioner removes her fingers, eyes glancing back and forth between her cabinet. "would eva and rayquaza be our best bet for tempering them?"

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"thomas, i don't think you are in a position to call councilman silph a snake after what you've done. remember why you are here."[break][break]

her cabinet is not perfect. the constraints that scaffold the justice her government strives to uphold may show signs of wear and tear. yet, to compromise the league's principles for an outcome so destructively uncertain is a death sentence for the league's moral body.[break][break]

"you have already stabbed us in the back with your crimes. however, i am offering a chance to stop yourself from twisting the blade."[break][break]

the course can be reset. he can be rehabilitated. the league can not afford to lose more assets.[break][break]

"i believe we're done here." she says. "just don't make another mistake, thomas. you can't afford to anymore."

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"i believe i have."[break][break]

but time is easily distorted by the flipping of pages, the tangling of press conference mic wire, and sleep. broken sleep. nights where the body remains restless, not because the mattress is too hard or soft, but because the gravity of all the world's problems tugs and tugs and tugs.[break][break]

"another check up wouldn't hurt." the commissioner says. "but people do not enter seats like mine by resting on their laurels. like a hopping spoink, if i ever stop, there is a chance i won't ever bounce back."

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dahlia allows the silence to pass. there is not much to say, not much to offer, save for a saccharine frown and a nod of knowing; to be unaware of elinor's whereabouts would be folly, especially when treading through the fluid tides of war.[break][break]

"utilizing the resources of the aqua initiative?" she asks. "for articuno, yes?"

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"let's start small. two? three?" dahlia says. she unbends her elbow, the hand holding the crystal's chest swaying to the deep green of the perimeter.[break][break]

one bodyguard approaches with dutiful gait. when the weight leaves her palm, her hands come together to clasp.[break][break]

"pardon the pun, but we should be careful that this isn't gigantic operation from the onset. your work with the surplus can help disguise any additional operations." the commissioner rests her hand against her heart, like a gracidea petal pressed between a mannered novel's pages. "thank you. both of you. atkins' arrangements will be doing hoenn a remarkable service."[break][break]

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lars is not ringed in. rather, the commissioner greets him herself, blonde locks emerging through the widening gap between the door and door frame.[break][break]

"come in!" she says. "good to see you, laurence."[break][break]

the commissioner holds the door open to a quaint yet distinguished office swathed in neutral browns and taupe. a brocade sofa looks over a small coffee table graced by a small bowl of fruit.[break][break]

she beckons for him to take a seat as he enters.[break][break]

"to what do i owe the pleasure of this visit today?"

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"mothers can be monsters." [break][break]

dahlia can not help but adopt melody's laugh; though, the circumstances dilute its color and thin its body. nevertheless, the commissioner worries in quiet. [break][break]

an epiphany is but realization's strongest bolt. yet bolt's appearance is brief. it can be grounded. follow through from understanding requires a longer journey.[break][break]

"we all have our different faces after all." dahlia says. "shall we finish our walk then?"[break][break]

surrounded by summer, petalburg wood continues to bear witness.

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"oh i'm all good. we're all tired."[break][break]

the commissioner laughs, but the question reminds her palate of coffee. she drinks the rest. sets the cup on the desk and is quick to stand, as if to allow the beverage to plummet to her gut as fast as it can.[break][break]

"but it's nothing i can't manage. you should worry about yourself." she says. "but do i look that tired to you?"

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"our next steps are indeed to gather something more tangible. if matias' treason is to be believed, then we can not act until enough evidence is gathered." [break][break]

there is a thinness to dahlia's voice. a fragile surface; though this is no meteoroid, the commissioner fears the earth shattering beneath her feet. [break][break]

"rushing into this can spoil our chances for a just punishment."[break][break]

she frowns.[break][break]

"but this situation is complicated by groudon's agency." dahlia looks to fernando before gliding her solemn gaze across the table. "whomever is chosen may not be chosen by groudon... and groudon may not take kindly to the decisions mandated by our government."

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with every decision, dahlia attempts to secure the future. each offer, each contract, sealed and signed on premium multipurpose creates foundations, but stacks no block. for how can one build properly when the future knows no shape?[break][break]

but she must try. inaction is a more grievous wound than a mistake is.[break][break]

"of course." the commissioner says to willow. "whatever you need."[break][break]

and whatever greyson requires.[break][break]

"we have discovered that dynamaxed vespiquen are able to filter dynergy into a more digestible form: max honey." the commissioner says. she wonders if she is becoming too verbose. she clips her enunciations tight in case she drones and dribbles. "even more peculiar is that certain pokemon, when fed max honey, are able to assume their mega evolved forms when dynamaxed. we call it the gigantamax factor."[break][break]

dahlia presses the box against her belly, keeping it balanced between it and her palm.[break][break]

"i understand your vespiquen are quite healthy and well-trained?" she says to the elite four member.[break][break]

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at first utterance of MATIAS SILPH's name, the commissioner is quick to mentally demand the brakes for the sentence. what has he done this time? who has he offended, wronged, or outright harmed? like a parent dreading a phone call during academy hours, she awaits the conclusion.[break][break]

but she realizes she has already known. already briefed by the HBIC, by PENELOPE LIVY.[break][break]

she had wondered if there had been more.[break][break]

"by way of your announcement, i assume more conclusive evidence has been found?"