He lifts his arm, stopping Feral from going for the woman's throat.
The vague threat wasn't necessary, of course. Silver would've stopped his Pokèmon from taking things too far no matter who came to check on them - and he knew, from the second the Water-Type took down a whole tree with one last attack during his trainig, that someone would've come.
He didn't expect someone who would react like that, tho, that's for sure.
"Feral, down."
He's not going to bring the giant alligator back in his PokèBall, just to be sure, but he's going to keep him at a short leash.
For now.
"...there's no need to get aggressive."
A comment addressed towards his Pokèmon and the woman.
@pyroaress sent: “ You’re not half bad .. for a Rocket. You’re not looking for new opportunities are you? Scarlet Queens are worth more than bland pawns and there’s so little moving space on your side of the board~ ”
not half bad for a rocket.
ariana purses her lips at the backhanded remark, but her composure stays poised. sturdy. no scenes at dinner, especially when she's being treated. they're in some fancy lumiose restaurant--crystal chandeliers, gold leaf on plates, expensive wines in glasses--their privacy secured by a thick partition shielding them from the other patrons (or the other patrons from them.)
belladonna, ariana's arbok, coils languidly by her trainer's heels (much to the chagrin of the waitstaff, but none have the nerve to tell ariana off.)
in response to malva's coy remarks, the rocket looks up...and laughs.
"ironic..." ariana hums, leaning forward slightly, a wordless challenge glinting in those imperious, ruby eyes. "flare's lioness, lecturing me about 'moving space' while she's the one trapped in kalos's gilded cage."
the executive takes a slow sip of wine, letting the moment stew before continuing. "...as you are well aware, rocket has eyes everywhere. unmatched presence, yet enough freedom to dine openly with a stunning woman...mm, I want for very little."
"but you," ariana smiles, lowering her timbre to something discreet, almost intimate. her intense gaze locks with the gleam of malva's glasses. "you are hungry. you crave the throne again. I hear it in your words, see it on your face. it's why I've been called here tonight."
"so," she declares in a soft tone that demands transparency, reaching over to top off their wine glasses while gently turning the tables. "from scarlet queen to scarlet queen...how can I help you, miss bellerose?"
Something else I want to point out is that although they may cause headaches for another during downtime, Adam recognises and respects Malva as Lysandre’s ‘co-lead’. If she tells him to do something he’ll do it just as eagerly as he would with Lysandre. She is, after all, the only one in the organisation who ranks above him than the boss himself.
She may not have his loyalty for the exact same reasons as Lysandre does but she does have it, and there’s a firm difference for him between when they’re making jabs and taking the piss during a dull moment and when it is time for business.
For all of the light jabs he may throw her way it is in jest at the end of the day; his respect is as legitimate as his devotion to making the new world was.
