Orion wants to believe that those on the Council have integrity; perhaps this is why he accepts Fernando's response without question.

"Well, I'm glad you seem to have an understanding of public perception." His words are edged with a dry humour. "I'm with you on that, for what it counts. I imagine we'll need to convince Olivia."

After all, it was Olivia Abbiati that had issued the initial gag order on the media. Clearly she wanted their silence, that secrecy that Fernando was speaking against.

"I've still not met Kim... or Dahlia, really." He doesn't think today really counts as having 'met' the commissioner, considering she'd spent most of the night trying to kill everyone. Arceus, the media was surely going to have a field day with that. Orion can feel a headache forming already. "Any idea which way they'll swing?"

---

~
FERNANDO SILPH

It's not often Orion finds himself in Sootopolis. Compared to the rest of the region, it's fairly out-of-the-way, and unless it's on ranger business he doesn't often travel from the mainland. He'd booked passage by ship after confirming the meeting place with Annie, and they step off the boat into the bleached-white stone of the crater and its uniform buildings cut from the same.

"Never been to his house before," Orion tells Annie as he pulls up his phone to follow the GPS coordinates. "He's been to mine, though. I... think this is the place?"

It's less... obnoxious than he'd expected? Laurence's family had a certain renown in the city; Orion had lived in Hoenn all his life, had heard of them as a result, and he'd been worried that he was leading Annie to some intimidating mansion. He restrains himself from sighing in relief, acting for all the world as if he knew exactly what they'd been getting into.

He lifts his hand to knock, then looks to Annie. "You need a minute, or are we good?"

---

~
Laurence Anderson Annie Mei

Slateport's Pokemon Center is packed by the time Orion reaches it. He'd not felt safe abandoning the disaster site until a majority of the first-responders had arrived to take over the duty of rescuing civilians and Pokemon trapped under the wreckage: there's a track of dried blood below the councilman's right ear, he's covered in numerous cuts and scrapes from helping to dig through the rubble by hand, and he might be too late.

It's loud inside the Center through his good ear: people crying, shouting, clamoring to get attention for their wounded Pokemon. Orion's never liked crowds. People press in around him, ignorant of personal space in their rush to be heard, and he finds it hard to breathe for multiple reasons.

Schism.

He's not dared to release his Swampert since recalling it during the raid, fearful of any further damage the poison might do to the mud fish outside of its protective stasis. A faint light in the Pokeball's center is the only indication he has that his partner is... well, not all right, but alive.

His hands are shaking. He feels sick. He wants nothing more than to go home, but he can't... not until he gets his Pokemon seen to.

Orion chuckles at her words, shakes his head.

"Now I don't know who told you that, but they're full of it," he says, smiling at his own self-deprecating comment. "I know about as much as you do on this job, maybe less. I've just been around long enough to get attention."

His new role as councilman certainly helped. People started to recognize him even outside of the rangers, and that made him feel all kinds of uncertain. He was socially awkward at the best of times.

His sparring Pokemon seem to draw the attention of the Pangoro couple, and Orion's elated... until he notices that their anger seems a little... targeted. He steps back instinctively as the lumbering creature leans forward and bares its teeth at him, a clear warning. He's not sure what he'd done to offend — until Kaida speaks up. Shit. He had read something to that effect, hadn't he?

"O-Oh," he laughs, nervously, nose wrinkling at the smell of the Pangoro's breath. "No need to worry, you two, they're just having a friendly spat. Right?"

Leia barely seems to hear him, still trying to bowl her partner over, but Leus' ears flick at the sound of Orion's voice, and he carefully disengages from the overeager Nidoqueen. She seems confused, perhaps a little offended, until Leus grunts and speaks to her in their language that Orion can't understand. Whatever had been said, the Nidoqueen reluctantly shakes herself off and calms down.

"See? Just friends. They're just having fun. That's all."

Being savaged by an angry Pangoro was not on his agenda today.

---

these poor rangers
Kaida Adachi

Orion watches quietly as Josh interacts with his son, encouraging him with his cheers. It's sweet. He doesn't know a lot of people with kids, doesn't often get to see them interacting with those kids besides, but Josh is the sort of father Orion wishes his own had been.

Pushing that rather unpleasant thought aside, he gets the attention of the booth attendant with a silent wave of his hand, gesturing at the father-son duo as Josh helped Zachary to release the Magikarp back into the pond.

"Looks like we have a winner!" the attendant cries; his enthusiasm no doubt forced, but convincing enough. To Josh, the man asks, "Would the little guy like to pick out a prize?"

The prizes for hooking a golden fish were the most extravagant, of course, but off to the side there were an array of smaller ones for those who'd hooked a regular old 'karp. Mostly themed around the fish themselves, of course. The Gyarados plushie for hooking a gold fish took up half the stall.

---

we're clear to end this whenever you'd like! (both got 5 posts)
Josh Dragomir

Orion can't help but to wince under her withering gaze; had he done something to upset her? His mind races to calculate potential outcomes of their past interactions: she hadn't seemed upset with him during the raid, focused more on the argument he'd missed, but perhaps that had been the problem? Had she expected him to do more? That was ridiculous, they hardly knew each other.

His stomach crawls into his throat, but he swallows it down before formulating a response.

She's turned away from him, now, won't see him opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water as he tries to work up the courage to try again. He can fake competence and confidence in the public eye, but privately his insecurities are palpable.

Her curse catches him off-guard. He closes his mouth again, and this time does not reopen it until he's fully processed the situation.

It feels less targeted at him, now, which only leaves him more confused.

"Making it kind of hard not to worry," he points out, his laughter weak and echoing through the helmet. In spite of the jest, his nerves are like live wires: they spark with every word.

---

hope this works! figured her sour mood would be evident, but can always edit if not!
Stormy Silph

He's not sure whether to be flattered or terrified by the implication of her words. He plays it off with laughter, sweat beading on the back of his neck.

"Good things, I hope."

The Ekans catches his attention, its beady yellow eyes fixed upon him. It might have unsettled anyone else, but Orion merely smiles at the coiled creature.

Kaida, it seemed, had about as much information on their targets as he did. He'd braced himself for such an outcome, and disappointment is minimal. This wasn't exactly a priority job for the Rangers, after all: the couple had been more than happy to take what they could get, lest they lose their business to inaction.

Her (likely rhetorical) question startles a laugh out of the councilman.

"Not a clue. Your idea doesn't sound half bad, though; I'll get my Pokemon to spar, see if it spurs them on a little."

A sharp whistle draws the attention of the power couple; Nidoking is more responsive, having been with Orion longer, while his Nidoqueen spares him a lazy glance as if loosely considering obedience.

"Time to show off, you two. 'king, Poison Jab. 'Queen, Body Slam!"

Their clash shakes the earth, Nidoqueen's powerful slam managing to unbalance her mate before he regains his footing and jabs his horn at her chest. They make a dramatic show of it, growling and stomping, and Orion looks over at Kaida with a shrug. Maybe...?

---

rip, less than 100, no goodies for us (feel free to decide how the pangoro respond!)
Kaida Adachi

Fernando, too, is less composed than when Orion saw him last. The annoyance that sharpens his tone might have intimidated Orion under other circumstances, but forcibly dulled emotions lend well to reasoning: it's not directed at him.

"Which they don't," Orion finishes, rubbing at his temple. "I'm willing to bet it'll be all over the morning news no matter what Olivia said to them."

Though they've never had a formal introduction, Orion's quick to form opinions about the councilwoman based on the events during and after the attack. Schwartz, as well. His opinions of Kyle are, at least, tempered by the fact that he'd actually spent time with the man prior to tonight.

"You have an idea of what to tell them?" he asks, curious. "Silence'll no doubt just point them to conspiracy and cover-ups."

People loved to think that the government was up to something nefarious. Giving them fuel for that fire would only do more harm.

---

~
FERNANDO SILPH

Adrenaline fades in the aftermath of the battle, and with it goes Orion's steely resolve: the only thing that's been keeping him stable. It's the first real tragedy he's ever been a part of. He's heard of them — Mossdeep, Slateport, tragedies that dominated the news — but to experience it...

It's almost too much.

He'd slipped away from the crowd gathered around the portal and now walked the battlefield, rubble crunching underfoot. He checked his phone for the first time post-battle to see alerts pouring in from the rangers: all available were to report to Slateport. He could see a few of them now, those with the fastest methods of transport already combing the wreckage for survivors. Orion goes through similar motions mechanically, feels his mind closing off from the overwhelming emotions that threaten to suffocate.

He could break down later. For now...

His ear's definitely busted. He needs to see a doctor. He needs to go to a Pokemon Center, for Schism. He needs to figure out what the deal was with the argument back at the portal.

He spots Fernando, winces at the reminder of Olivia and Balder's fallout. Nevertheless, he approaches.

"Media's swarming like flies." Not much of a greeting, but it's hardly time for small talk. "Arceus, what a mess."

---

~
FERNANDO SILPH