Chapter Text
Giovanni drummed his fingers on the table as he read yet another report. It was nothing interesting, as he’s come to expect at this point. The scientist who wrote the paper proclaimed that the search for the ultimate lifeform has finally ended, that he has the answers to their problems, and knows how to meet their goals in no time. This was a serious statement, one that mustn’t be taken lightly. Giovanni was initially intrigued, but a few pages in, here it was, mentions of the Sinnohnian mythos, the supposed creators of life, death, time, space, etc.
“This is a waste of my time. Shred this one as well. Next.” He almost growled as he threw the 2-page report back onto his table. He has read enough about these Pokémon to know that pursuing them would waste his time and, most importantly, money. There was not a shred of tangible proof that these beings even existed outside of old as time folk tales, cave paintings and other similar junk.
Ariana, the head of the scientific department, nods and hands him a new report, considerably thicker than the ones he has looked at so far. Just at the first glance, he notices copious amounts of post-it notes sticking out here and there. He eyes the report curiously and glances back at her.
“I’ve saved this one for last,” she immediately admits, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. “You might want to read this one. The guy who wrote this makes some solid arguments and theories.” This is not the first time he hears this phrase, especially from her. Giovanni opens the lengthy report while keeping his tone cold as he responds: “You better not disappoint me this time. I hope that you know what the consequences are if you fail me again.” He sees her nod in his peripheral vision.
The first thing he sees on the paper reads, “A detailed look into the Hoenn myths, legends, and space oddities.” He looks back at Ariana, not trying to hide his dissatisfaction with her and her department. “I thought we discussed Hoenn many times. The only note-worthy creature there is Jirachi, which is out of our reach with its questionable sleeping habits.” He starts drumming his fingers on the maple oak table, and his Persian, that was sleeping a second ago, perks up, sensing trouble and relishing in it. “This is your last chance to give me something useful to our cause after so many useless reports and attempts at research. Tell me, is your department actually working on something, or are they writing everything at the last minute to meet the quota?”
She remains unfazed, determination visible in her fiery gaze. “I want you to read it, boss, not gloss over the title. I’ve read a few pages, and the report states that it will not focus on the Wishing Star Pokémon.” She briefly pauses as she walks closer to his table, placing her hands on it with a slight "thud" echoing through the well-decorated office. “Please, Gio. Give me- Give us a chance.” Her gaze is unwavering and adamant as she stares into his eyes, battling for domination, trying to magnify her point. He is not the one to give up easily, as he returns her a cold glare bordering on anger. After a tense minute, he sees her finally waver. She is not used to such a long silence; he assumes as he opens the report, still satisfied with her effort.
“Fine. Just because I don’t like seeing that pretty face of yours so angry, dolly.” He looks back at the report as he flips to another page. And then another. And another. After a few minutes of reading the detailed paper, he closes it back up and views his future admin again. “Who wrote this? I wish to have a word with them, one-on-one.”
Without knocking Ariana opens the door to her brother’s room. The ever-so diligent scientist wakes up from the loud sound and almost spills all of his cold coffee onto himself. She can’t help but snicker at how miserable he looks as she waltzes into the unkept room, carefully stepping over papers and various scientific equipment thrown up and about.
“Ari” he hisses as he adjusts his comically thick glasses and messed up fiery red hair. “I am in the middle of something. I told you a million times to knock, but you keep ignoring it. Must I teach you how to do it?” he tries to mimic Gio’s vicious glare, but fails, as he is interrupted by a yawn that could not hold in. “I told you to only barge into my chambers in case of an emergency.”
“Well, this is an emergency.” She chirps as she effortlessly picks him up from his chair by his shoulders, not listening to his complaints and rude remarks that follow. “Come on, boss wants to see you. You really did stumble onto something huge. Leave your royal “chambers” for once in your life.”
The slight mention of Giovanni immediately calms the resisting scientist. The look of shock on his face is priceless. “…This is not another prank, is it?” he frowns after a second of thought as he stops resisting and shakily stands up.
“I wish I could pull something so grandiose.” Knowing that now he will follow her, she releases him from her iron grasp and brushes the dust off her hands. “Come on now. This is the big break you have been whining about this whole year. Gio will be furious if you are going to be late.”
He straitens his coat and looks at a small mirror on his table. Hair still a mess even after his careful attempts to comb through it with his fingers. Glasses a little askew, the tiny mechanism inside the long attachments whirring, working as intended. The lab coat is covered in old coffee stains, ruffled after the rough treatment and smells dreadful. He quickly drops it and grabs a new one from his closet, attempting to make himself look at least a tiny bit more presentable “Sure. Stop calling him that.” He leaves the room after her, folding his hands behind his back. “We have a policy against pet names, you dementia-ridden, impudent -ow!” He receives a well-deserved elbow shove into the ribs for that.
“We also now have a policy against name-calling. Better keep up, nerdzo.” She laughs and sharply turns the corner, almost leaving him behind. The rest of the elaborately long way to the bosses’ office is spent with both of them bickering and taunting each other. In a loving way, of course.
As they come close to a shiny steel door with a bright red “R” decorating it, Ariana swipes a card on the card reader.
Before the now nervous scientist opens a menacing dark void, with no light in sight. Are they in the right place? Did she bring him to that dreaded closet again? “Go on now. Make a good first impression.” She laughs as she unceremoniously pushes him in, the door shutting right behind him with the loudest “CLANG” he ever heard. Before he could even start thinking about what had just happened, the lights buzz into life, momentarily blinding him. Before his eyes he sees his boss, Giovanni, petting his Persian and scratching behind the spoiled pokémon’s ears. His icy glaze immediately focuses on him, making him feel small, insignificant and suddenly sweaty.
“Maxie Matsubasa” he purrs. “I have a project you could work on.”