Benezia sipped happily from her straw, the sweet yet tart drink she had been introduced to was just what she needed on this particularly hot day in Sinnoh. The whole of Jubilife City was bustling as people prepared for this year's trainers challenge. Parents ran busily around Jubilife, buying sturdy clothing, and league sponsored outdoors kits in hopes to help their children along their new occupation. Veteran trainers offering advice on what best aided them on their journeys to the new generation of wide eyed youths. The whole practice brought a primal feeling of community that space-aged society sorely lacked.
She found herself on Earth nearly as much as she stayed on Thessia these days, a habit that hadn't gone unnoticed by her detractors. They whispered that she had gone native, that she had forgotten she was Asari. She scoffed the cowards wouldn't dare utter those words to her face, all of Thessia knew that making a true enemy out of Matriarch Benezia T'soni was akin to social suicide, they would curse her name in their silent circles however. They would target those close to her, the only T'soni that cared not for the political machinations of the Asari elite.
Liara. She smiled as her thoughts drifted to her only daughter, just truly beginning her journey into her maiden years and had already proven herself better than most of her peers. Where other Asari maidens sought excitement in the form of mercenary work, or shaking their blue asses in one of the galaxy's many strip clubs, Liara chose a path so much more valuable. Her work on the Protheans had already gained some eyes, and while many overlooked her work as the ramblings and inexperience of a maiden, Benezia could see that brilliance in every word.
She worked tirelessly to see to it Liara got a fair shot to prove herself, cutting the legs from under any who hoped to tarnish her daughter to harm the mother. Yet Liara was going to need to do the truly hard work on her own. She had every faith in her precious girl's abilities, Liara would achieve greatness unseen in Asari society.
"Benezia, it's been too long!" Benezia smiled as she rose and hugged the woman she had quickly become fast friends with. She reminded Benezia so much of the domineering woman that acted as her mentor, donned in a sticking black two piece ensemble of slacks and vest. A lovely white long sleeved undershirt, hidden under a small black coat there to guard against that slight chill being brought from the looming form of Mt Coronet, "You really must visit Lucas and I more often!" Dawn Berlitz was probably the closest thing to an Asari matriarch the Humans had.
"I'm here to see you actually, come sit." I beckoned to my table and the Sinnoh Champion obliged, waving a waitress over. The blonde woman fidgeting nervously as she introduced herself to her regional champion. Dawn merely smiled at the nervous woman and ordered herself a brandy made from Johtonian Apricorns. "Does that ever get tiring?"
Dawn smiled, "Sometimes, luckily I spend most of my time in Jubilife City and the citizens have grown used to seeing me walk the streets." she looked quizzically at my glass, "Still haven't gotten over your last experience with human alcohol?" Benezia would have blushed in embarrassment if she was any less of a public speaker, the last time she went out with May, Dawn, and Serena on a 'girl's night' she had underestimated just how strong Earthlings liked their alcohol, and just how little the drinks could taste like alcohol. Suffice to say the papers of Lumiose City had a great headline about three champions and an Asari running roughshod around Kalos.
"Yes, I think the Republic would like to not have a repeat of that situation." She smiled, "How have May and Serena been anyway, I haven't had time to speak with them due to my travels."
Dawn thanked the waitress that had appeared with his drink, the short class hosting a light brown liquid that Dawn happily sipped away at. "Fine as can be, with the league challenges starting up again the champions have been making sure everything is ready." She smirked at Benezia, "We still haven't gotten an Asari trainer yet, what's the Republic waiting on?"
Benezia didn't need to ponder on that question long, the Matriarchs knew that the first Asari trainers would be representatives of the Asari in a sense and they were vetting every maiden they possibly could to make the right choices on who to send to Earth. Already she had been approached about sending Liara, but Benezia knew Liara would have no interest in Pokemon training, at least not enough to tear her away from her Prothean research for long, "Asari maidens have a bad habit of recklessness, the Matriarchs are most likely making sure that the first few trainers we send won't set a bad precedent."
Dawn chuckled, "They don't need to worry, Human children are reckless as well, the Rangers usually are swamped dealing with the madness that novice trainers get themselves up to." Benezia couldn't help but poke a bit of fun at her new friend.
"I'm sure the Rangers were ready to pull their hair out during your and Barry's adventure, how many reports did they get about a girl and her blonde friend attacking Team Galactic?" The two shared a hearty laugh before Benezia continued, "This talk of adventure is actually one of the reasons I wish to speak with you, my daughter Liara is a brilliant girl but after seeing what young humans do I fear she isn't as worldly as I hoped she was."
"I was hoping that you could assist me in getting her an internship so to speak, Liara would have no interest in battling but Pokemon research, especially your history would be ideal." Dawn seemed to be deep in thought before she smiled.
"Do you mind if I make a call?" Benezia shook her head, wondering just what the bluette was planning, "Rotom, please call Researcher Sada Moreno." She placed her phone on the table before a small hologram of a woman appeared. Benezia was taken aback by the appearance of the woman, she looked like the definition of the word feral. Her clothes were patchwork brown rags, adorned with various beads, arrowheads, and twine, the only normal clothing she had was a white lab coat.
"Champion Berlitz, it's an honor ma'am, have you reconsidered my theory on paradoxical pokemon being linked to multidimensional time travel?!" That set off warning bells in Benezia's head, were humans attempting to create actual time travel?
Dawn sighed, "I already told you and your husband, I believe that your theory has weight but it would be extremely dangerous to test, we already have the Ultra Beasts running around we don't need to poke something potentially worse." Sada looked decidedly unimpressed, "This is the time for this conversation Mrs. Moreno, I would like to introduce you to Matriarch Benezia T'soni. Benezia, this is researcher Sada Moreno, she is one of the leading minds on human/pokemon history alongside her husband Toro."
Benezia smiled warmly at the feral looking woman who merely looked at her in interest and confusion, "Sada, Benezia had a daughter who I believe would do well under your tutelage, if you could take her under your wing as a favor I'd be in your debt."
Sada ran a hand through her brown tresses, "I don't know Champion Berlitz, I've never been good with kids, that's always been Toro's thing, and the University pretty much gives me unlimited funding for my research. What could you give me?" Benezia was taken aback by the bluntness of the woman but Dawn merely smiled.
"Trust me Sada, I have something you want in on the ground floor of, the league is beginning a program called the Paldea Project soon."