running into barnaby had been one of the most pleasant surprises she’d had in a while. having been torn from kalos and what she’d expected to be her future, someone so deeply ingrained in her history was a sight for sore eyes.

after they’d happened across each other’s paths again, she’d realized later that her childhood friend had always visited with his father, who’d done business with her own, from what she could remember. it was business she had come to know, as she'd gotten older, as criminal. was it by pure coincidence that now barnaby was here as well? had family come with him?

she beamed back at him similarly. such things had never mattered before. the business between their families was not for her knowledge. 

she’d missed her friend.

after ordering a cappuccino, she made her way over. her tailored pants, blouse and jacket were polished-looking, and well-suited for office, and coffee, and even fish-seeing. it was not anything like the frilly dresses she'd been fitted with in her youth.

”barnaby,” she smiled. when she'd reached the table, instead of sitting, she reached for him, as though urging him to rise for la bise. ”it’s so nice to see you again.”

BARNABY FINCH

”i’m sorry to hear that.”

two jobs and school were a lot. though she’d come to like james, she rarely saw him. her own busy schedule made it so that windows of mutually free time was especially rare. it was a friendship maintained strongly on texts and maybe the occasional coffee when their routes crossed.

she was curious about what sort of things went on in the labs of Eva Morales and illeana reyes . they surely had their hands full with hoenn’s frequent phenomena. what were they focusing on?

”no gossip yet.” she smiled over at him. ”although i did meet FERNANDO SILPH the other day while i was in the breakroom.” considering a moment, she then decided, ”he didn’t seem all that different than times i’ve seen him on tv.”

JAMES BAKER

she had not known him before the incident, but during her short time thus far under his employment, he had been short. unapproachable. it hadn’t been the experience she'd expected, but she maintained her patience, gently at a distance and working diligently. most days, they didn’t speak much at length. most tasks did not require many words after a little repetition.

the roar drew her straight out of her assignment, eyes like small saucers. the epic crash that followed willed her to her feet, and finally towards the big door that concealed an obviously very distraught councilman black. a wounded bear.

her hand hesitated very briefly before knocking.

”sir? is everything alright?”

GABRIEL BLACK

her lavender eyes drifted to the sharp taps of his spoon. her time was waning. she didn’t dwell on an awkward moment.

”with everything going on, i find it difficult to imagine that budgeting is at all a simple task. when something unforeseen arises, how do you decide what to take away from?”

in the wake of war, civil unrest, and violent criminal enterprise undermining their infrastructure, things were tight enough without even considering future threats.

FERNANDO SILPH

near the gate to a flight back to hoenn, iseult sat in sunglasses, a scarf partially unfurled and pulled around her narrow shoulders. her hair was tied in a way it wouldn’t normally be, plainly looped and held almost precariously in the jaws of an even plainer clip at her back.

mostly, she’d been on her phone, picking through the news, and through the multitude of inboxes she was obligated to keep up with. work was never done; however, as she finished up an email, her attention was finally drawn to the whispering roar of the crowd on the screens. only a moment later, she caught a too-practiced earful of frustration close by.

a shaded glimpse found the boy's eyes on the screen, and hers returned there as she asked casually, ”is this in galar? i haven’t paid much attention.”

John Sullivan

”mossdeep?”

was that right? this was going to take longer than she’d thought. fortunately, she had already cleared her schedule for the day, and didn’t mind the ferry.

”oh, that sounds nice, actually. the weather is perfect.”

she kept pace with him.

”very well. a new job makes for a bit of an adjustment process, but it’s nothing i can’t handle.” looking over, returning the question. ”what about you?”

JAMES BAKER

”next thing we know, you’ll be taking over the mail, too. delibird delivieries who?”

her smile was pursed, cheeks swelled slightly as her gaze passed from him and then back to the delicate cargo which she was strapping in. almost done. maybe after the two danny was heading over to add to her person.

”thanks.”

turning towards him again, fully decorated, she fixed him with an expectant look. ”i will trust your navigation.” he was the egg delivery professional.

JAMES BAKER

time had not been the first restriction which had come to mind. it was the known confidentiality of these matters. her unwillingness to test any typical boundaries so soon after shaking his hand.

she noted the tone of his laugh.

”i apologize; i don’t mean to imply that you are not simple and straightforward when the time is right.” she thought about how else she could say it. ”only that your approaches seem well-managed. you’re not easily shaken down or riled by the public in perpetuating times of crises.” the press had been rabid. ”it shows patience and resolve. i will hope to develop the same qualities in my own career.”

FERNANDO SILPH

she didn’t quite need the money. volunteer work looked good, and she would donate whatever pocket change she might receive for the efforts. it was a plus that another student she had grown fond of would be going along too.

”good idea.” she smiled. ”you’re clearly the right man for this job.”

slipping on the baby carrier, she then went to work loading eggs. ninetales sat nearby on the ground, gazing outward like a sentry.

JAMES BAKER

iseult’s smile was knowing, quietly amused by the moment as it passed. she remained in the breakroom, even as he went to prepare his concoction, invited to do so by the arc of a single syllable. was his interest feigned? highly possible. but it was still, in the most important way, unambiguous. it functioned as an invitation to keep talking.

shifting into the space more comfortably, she continued to hold her mug, lavender eyes benign as she admitted, ”too much to ask, i’m sure.” the aqua initiative. the confidential operation that had costed black his arm. impending doom, and what he figured they ought to do about it that he hadn’t said within earshot of the press yet...

”i’ve lived in hoenn for three years, witnessing the acceleration of its phenomena. you’ve held your seat on the council for all of that time.” pinned-back blonde hair shifted with the slightest tilt of her head. ”you keep your cards closer to your chest than some of the others. i’m curious about your thoughts in general.”

FERNANDO SILPH

”the pleasure’s mine, mr. silph.”

she appreciated a good squeeze on the hand. as she grew older, it no longer surprised her the powerful levels at which she could find people who would still not offer this respect.

”did he?” the gentle smile on her face had become indubitably genuine. ”you may have to take that up with him.”

surely fernando silph had an assistant. either way, it could make sense, considering councilman GABRIEL BLACK ’s sudden loss of arm. things had become different for him, and there was too much going on lately to slow down for any length of adjustment period. it was more than just record-keeping and scheduling. it was support.

”although, i do regret i’ve yet to have the chance to pick your brain.”

FERNANDO SILPH

it had to be hot. nonetheless, she released the handle. her smile inched up with a small chuckle. it was free of nerves, as though she was entirely at ease. she belonged here, in this room, speaking with the likes of him—even if only in few words. even if only to hand him a cup of hot water, for now.

”several. commissioner goode. the council—yourself included.”

despite her prior considerations, she decided to hold out a hand.

”iseult babineaux. i’m councilman black’s new assistant. i study politics.”

FERNANDO SILPH

”of course.”

hot water was instant. in moments, she would have no other reason to linger, and nor might he if he chose to eat his lunch elsewhere. she wondered, should she bother with an introduction? surely one did not get much respite with such a packed schedule, and it was highly possible that he preferred a quiet lunch.

she reached for an empty mug, and hooked a small lever with her finger. steam ran hot up her hand, refreshing when it reached her face.

”you know, working here is quite a treat.” when the mug was full to a reasonably safe level, she turned and held it out with a polite smile. ”i get to brush shoulders with such interesting people.”

FERNANDO SILPH