"okay. i'll await your list."[break][break]

simple and efficient as the purpose of this conversation is to provide her with a top-level view of what to expect moving forward. further planning and preparation can be done later.[break][break]

"is that it for business?"

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"well, there are always ways should he not be willing."[break][break]

and though she may present herself differently, she has no qualms about a takeover, hostile or otherwise.[break][break]

her arms fold over her chest, index finger tapping idly as she thinks.[break][break]

"name them."

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

the revelation, however surprising, does not shake the foundations of her well-crafted mask that rivals even alexander's. where his is stoic, hers is alluring.[break][break]

"hmm."[break][break]

she feigns a thought, then continues.[break][break]

"oscar won't be too happy about it."

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"current events."[break][break]

she echoes, though chooses not to delve deeper as the truth matters little to her. whatever changed fernando's mind is left unsaid, perhaps for the best.[break][break]

her composure holds.[break][break]

"how drastic?"

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"i would."[break][break]

an answer they both know even if she has always felt little inclination towards rescuing her family's company. their legacy, some might argue. but it's one of the reasons why she returned to hoenn.[break][break]

she hums briefly, considering.[break][break]

"what changed your mind?"

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

she laughs softly, quickly, like a whisper in the night.[break][break]

"bet."[break][break]

her attention remains on the canvas, on how her side seems to be shaping up quite nicely. but such is expected from the devon ceo.[break][break]

"you're right. but distracting you is fun." sat side by side, she moves her leg to brush against his. "and easy."[break][break]

she doesn't look at him when she introduces herself.[break][break]

"i'm ana."

[attr="class","ooc"]aaron faust[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"let's."[break][break]

and so, they start their walk.[break][break]

"i've not been up to much, honestly! just busy with rotomtv and now devon. boring, boring, boring."[break][break]

she muses, then tilts her head to look at her sister.[break][break]

"i want to hear about you, daph."

[attr="class","ooc"]DAPHNE STONE[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

ana envies her brother at times. to be so blissfully unaware of the ongoings and politics within the family must be nice. she wishes she had the luxury. maybe things would be different now if she had.[break][break]

"it was resentment, honestly."[break][break]

she has never had a problem being blunt, especially so when it comes to family.[break][break]

"did you know he didn't want to come back? he said no at first when dad asked him. he wanted to stay in sinnoh, but dad eventually persuaded him."[break][break]

a sigh.[break][break]

"i told him he was an idiot."

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"fernando."[break][break]

her greeting contrasts his as she thinks little of the title.[break][break]

"i have, thank you."[break][break]

she approaches, drifting closer as though she was being pulled by the gravity of his presence until she finally reaches his side. she peers up, gently reaching a hand up to brush over the corners of the eye patch.[break][break]

her hand falls back down.[break][break]

"you still look sharp as ever."

[attr="class","ooc"]FERNANDO SILPH[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"that he is. so is your father, i hear."[break][break]

experienced, really, as she hasn't been able to meet him since coming back to hoenn. their schedules just don't seem to align.[break][break]

"it's been a while since i've last seen him. how is he?"

[attr="class","ooc"]iseult babineaux[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

aaron's newfound courage (or hidden?) has her tilting her head at him in slight surprise; good or bad, they'll find out soon enough.[break][break]

"after this?"[break][break]

she hums, turning away to glance at the model still frozen in a pose before them. she briefly wonders how uncomfortable they must be to be stuck like that for hours on end.[break][break]

"i'll think about it. i'm leaning towards a yes, but you'll have to impress me with your painting."[break][break]

another flick of her hand draws a stroke on the canvas.[break][break]

"can you do that for me, aaron?"

[attr="class","ooc"]aaron faust[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"anxious?"[break][break]

a stone being anxious? surely not. but daphne has always been the more empathetic one out of them all. it's that fact that has ana reaching up to hold her sister's face in her hand.[break][break]

"we'll change that soon. we have to stick together now more than ever, don't we?"

[attr="class","ooc"]DAPHNE STONE[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

the small roll of her eyes is meant in jest but leo is right: devon was never hers to run. it's a fact that still stings to this day even if she pretends it doesn't.[break][break]

speaking of things that sting...[break][break]

the funeral.[break][break]

her sip is cut short as she ponders over it in an attempt to find the right words to say to him. but what could she say besides the truth?[break][break]

"i didn't want to be there."[break][break]

she shrugs, oddly cold in her response.[break][break]

"i paid my respects after."[break][break]

only recently. years after.

[attr="class","ooc"]Leonidas Stone[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]