HEARING

SOCIAL

FROM THERE, fernando commandeers the conversation. he elaborates on the point of team rocket’s infiltration, agreeing with eva, that it’s an impossible ask. too many have gotten through. and too many will continue to do so. instead, he leverages that he exploits their system.

the nuances between what they lose versus what they gain is discussed at a high level. fernando argues that work they relied on priam conrad to facilitate, and free up the head scientist of illeana reyes and Eva Morales, counter act what they’ve lost. but even fernando cannot convince everyone.

so, instead, they double back. by now, PENELOPE LIVY should be no stranger for his knack of circular conversations. just around about way of talking about the same thing using different words.

it’s a game of chicken. who gets tired first. who runs out of time.

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Eva Morales

CONNIVING CONUNDRUM

social

FERNANDO DOES NOTHING DURING ALL OF THIS. it is not his place, nor his concern, really, to handle whatever cathartic release josh undergoes. if anything, this is courtesy. a small gift to someone bold enough to seek out his time.

“quick to blame and quick to assume. not a particularly good combo, devlin. and, whatever all this is.”

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Josh Devlin

HEARING

SOCIAL

HE GIVES EVA A CHANCE TO SPEAK FOR HIM. one last attempt to convince them, and by proxy, herself, that the ideals she championed during METENO may bear some fruit. that looking for the good in others may lead to another way. a more peaceful option.

it is an outlook that brings a smile to his face while he patiently fidgets with his sling.

how naive.

chet, chet!

he taps his mic so the static can garner their attention onto him. a prime target ready to soak in criticism without remorse. welcomes it even, with the way he leans in, maintaining sweeping eye contact with those that dare to stare on.

“i take full responsibility for what has happened.”

a strong enough opener that grants him some freedom to straighten himself.

“not black. not lane. the responsibility of this incident rests on my shoulders.”

and his expression is wholly unapologetic. the frank emptiness the league has known is what they face today.

“in regards to doctor morales, i believe her contributions overshadow today’s discussion with enough clemency to last her career.”

he takes a moment to breath, away from the mic, before stepping up once more.

“even silph co. does not understand the dimensional rifts and issues that currently plague her region. her constant research and published works have done wonders for not only the league but the scientific community at large.”

he doesn’t back away but he blinks once before committing to his next string.

“should there come a time where the league saw fit to relieve doctor morales from her duties, i will do everything in my power to retain her under the silph co. name. that is how valuable her work is in this current climate.”

the retort is obvious and plays into his expectations.

“do you not think that is a conflict of interest?”

“with her current commitment, that would require the league to make a move. i would only be following up on a relationship that was already severed. but that will not be an issue, nor do i think it is with the issue of priam conrad.”

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Eva Morales

PLACE HOLDER

HEARING

SOCIAL

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT EVERYONE HERE AGREES ON TEAM ROCKET. they are a brutal bunch. some are victims. others have their entire status quo questioned by their existence. whether it be selfish or self preservation, they all unite against the criminal organization. the how and why is what splits them apart.

“and this priam conrad could have been exactly why they were so well-prepared. if we ignore his successful and thorough invasion into your department, he was still apart of the league. there is no question that he would be privy to illeana reyes and your dispatch to dewford. who knows who else?”

“and we lost several members in the aftermath. may Elinor Anderson, annalise henderson, and luka chêne still be safe somewhere.”

“i agree with your morales. but if they were not able to develop counter measures for our primal nodes, would the battle not have been easier for us?”

“no one disagrees that team rocket is bad. we are all gathered here as a testament to their impact on the region. however, it is concerning that our very efforts may have been just a cog in their machinations.”

there is no matching glance to meet her. fernando remains rigid. straightforward and undaunted. frighteningly so.

eventually, a question gets pointed his way.

“and by extension, councilman silph, the science department now falls under your umbrella. what preventative measures will you put in place to ensure this does not happen again?”

“who will take responsibility for these damages? we understand doctor morales contributions to this organization and her promotion to head professor. do you believe this is justified in light of these new developments?”

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Eva Morales

HEARING

SOCIAL

THIS TIME AROUND, they are quieter. the revelation that the league has no idea just how much rocket research they’ve funded steals the air from their lungs. fernando too, is silent throughout this.

“how much do you think this information contributed to team rocket’s efforts in capturing the SEAL STONE?”

“our research in MEGA EVOLUTION, Z-MOVES, and now TERASTALLIZATION? they could have it all?”

“miss morales, as the expert in pokemon biology, how much stronger do you think makes team rocket? how many of the injuries we’ve sustained in ultra deep sea are thanks to these advancements rocket has been able to secure?”

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Eva Morales

FRIENDS WITH THE ENEMY

SOCIAL

TIME AWAY FROM HIS ABODE HAS TEMPERED FERNANDO’S EXPECTATIONS. there is no unannounced intrusion with francie myrtle. this spot is as much razz as his own. the only difference between them is who’s name is on the deed. a minuscule detail to the one person in hoenn who could effectively buy this very city.

the rasp of his knuckles against the door serves as a sharp alarm for their appointment. a firm, echoing reminder of what the head ranger has committed to.

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Eris Halla Razz Kingsman

INTREPID SWORD

MISSION

LIKE THOSE BEFORE HIM, callan will find that his presence alone does not warrant fernando’s undivided attention. what’s left of his eye remains split between two screens, not quite in the middle, but able to oversee all that he needs to.

“young.”

the clatter of his fingers punctuate his greetings. their constant strokes measure to the beat of his own inner monologue. here, in his empty sanctum, he is the musician. an the concerto of his lengthy response is one the elite four should be no stranger to. for what the single word he says aloud is made up for with paragraphs of praise in the HNN.

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Callan Young

BEDROCK

a solid foundation built on the crumbs of others

“THAT’S QUITE IRONIC,” is the most that he can say. “coming from you, that is.”

there’s no further point in entertaining the conversation. as far as fernando is concerned, alexander is a lost spectator released from some ancient time capsule. his opinions on MATIAS SILPH is irrelevant, even if they’re coincidentally correct.

“i have already paid so much to defend hoenn. even more, in your stead.”

an inhale expands his chest. sets his shoulders for his next words. full and proper.

“and i will continue to do so regardless of your ingratitude and selfishness.”

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ALEXANDER STONE

GOODBYE

mission

HER SMILE IS MET WITH THE SAME EXPRESSION THAT HAD WELCOMED HER TEARS. many thing change but fernando’s impartiality does not. even when the scar digs into his eye and ends with an empty socket. he leaves that covered, for the others, but his face remembers what it should look like.

“i read the league reports,” he says simply. “and i pay attention to the details.”

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francie myrtle

HEARING

SOCIAL

HER ANSWER, or rather, any answer, sparks chatter between them. not loud enough for them to hear but audible enough to nitpick that her answers are under scrutiny. eventually, one mic goes live.

“so you had no clue. given that, what is the likeliness that you still have team rocket members on your team?”

that one elicits silence over the room. at least until someone else decides to spearhead another point.

“doctor morales, what do you think talent acquisition can pick up on during a week long process that you cannot discern since you were instated? if this, priam conrad, was here before you, and you were unable to identify this, what chance does anyone else have?”

someone else chimes in almost immediately.

“do you know how much information priam conrad may have collected? how much of our hard work was given to team rocket for free?”

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Eva Morales

CONNIVING CONUNDRUM

social

“AVATARS ARE HUMANS CHOSEN BY POKEMON TO ENACT THEIR WILL.”

his words are certain and punctuated full stop. it is the basis of everyone’s understanding but rarely do they ask beyond that. knowing just that is enough to make them go wild. to throw themselves into volcanoes or assault children.

as an avatar, such behavior is nothing short of revolting.

“that is the extent of what you know? and you are willing to throw your life away? for a far-fetch assumption? do you think the world revolves around you? that it will obey your standards of what is good enough?”

an error that must be dashed immediately. one of the only reasons why fernando entertains such conversation.

“these pokemon, who have hidden for centuries, are returning because they sense a disturbance. they are looking for individuals who can prevent or mitigate this danger.”

fernando turns around to look at his whiteboard. it’s empty now but that’ll soon change. he grabs a marker and twists off the cap.

“explain to me, why raikou would bargain with you, when you are already so willing to lick the dirt off its paws without ever having seen it?”

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Josh Devlin

CONNIVING CONUNDRUM

social

“TCH.”

fernando’s words thus far have been strict but plain. they do not coddle, yes, but there was never any forthright disdain in his tone. just an objective, apathetic truth. a business transaction of passing knowledge from the old guard into someone new.

it isn’t until now that his disapproval leaks between the click of his tongue.

“quick to blame, are we devlin?”

his brows furrow but he holds back further words.

“it matters not. even your solution is not enough.”

he breaths.

“even now, you think that merely changing yourself will open yourself up. that possibly, you may one day meet it and become its friends. that it may acknowledge you, if not bond to you. because you are special? because you worship it?”

and he exhales.

“but you are wrong. you and the rest of the region who shamelessly throw yourselves at pokemon you do not understand.”

fernando remains in place but his figure grows. his shadow scales the wall, as if his imposing nature was enough fill the whole room.

“devlin, what are avatars? why would a pokemon acknoweldge you?”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
Josh Devlin