Are you here to defend the shrine as well?

The sudden question startled Aster and he couldn't help a small flinch of surprise as his hand automatically reached for his pokeball. He turned towards the voice and immediately dropped his guard. "Oh, you scared me for a second there. Didn't notice ya." He rubbed the back of his neck and nodded towards the woman he'd somehow missed on his hike here. "Yeah, I volunteered to keep watch over this here shrine while it's being repaired. So far I guess I'm not doing too good at staying aware of my surroundings." He huffed a soft chuckle and extended a hand.

"Aster Rousseau, nice to meet ya. Are you here to look after the place too?" He turned his gaze away to once again take in the shrine. "It's such a shame, the flowers are always so beautiful. There's not too many places left like it in Hoenn. I can't wait to give the hooligans I catch defacing it a good talking to."

Aster thought Elisabeth carried herself with grace and spoke with refinement, she was a picturesque lady. He couldn't help but feel that she was actually a fairy queen and double checked the ground near his feet to make sure he hadn't stepped through a circle of mushrooms. "A florist," he hummed, "that's lovely. I'd love to visit your shop sometime. And I'm sure whoever planted those gracideas would be happy to know someone has been tending to them in their place."

At the mention of her cottage, Aster lit up. "You live around here? That's incredible! I've lived in Petalburg City practically my whole life, to think we've never met." He smiled at her warmly then answered her question. "Well now," Aster surveyed the area around them, "it's my first day on the job here so I can't say for certain, but... It is a Friday night, an optimal time for young ruffians to get up to something, no?" He turned back to Elisabeth.

"Of course, we'll have our pokemon to protect us, but if push comes to shove, I'd like it if you'd stand behind me. Can't let a civilian get hurt on my watch, and certainly not such a kind and pretty lady such as yourself."

Aster smiled and quirked an eyebrow at the fellow trainer. "Of course Miz' Fiorelli. And please forgive me, I ne'er meant to imply that you couldn't take care of yourself. Just trying to do my duty as a ranger."

Aster watched Elisabeth's face as she thought, there was obviously a lot going on behind those eyes of hers; they looked to be as calculating as some of Aster's own superiors. He was slightly startled to have been asked about the approach he wanted to take. Aster had half expected her to take charge based solely on that look, as illogical as that was. He cleared his throat and took a good look around of his own.

"Hmm, I figured I could hide out in the bushes behind the shrine there," he pointed a bit into the distance, "Or maybe in that tree, and then have my breloom use spore on any approaching offenders. My only concern is if multiple people come from different directions, I don't have any other pokemon that could restrict their movement without hurting them or the surrounding area." He thought deeply for a moment and put a hand over his mouth and said, more to himself, "Maybe sweet scent could work?"

Remembering Elisabeth's presence, he shook himself back to the present. "Well, that's what I got anyway. Any ideas on your end? I'm not so proud that I wouldn't go with a better plan if one is presented to me."

"How funny, my partner Gogoat is also named Basil, I guess great minds think alike," Aster lightly chuckled, "But that plan seems just fine and dandy! Dare I say, you have a mind for strategy. I bet you are wonderful in battle Ms. Fiorelli, I couldn't have asked for a better partner."

Aster stretched, popping a couple bones into place, then clapped his hands together. He turned to the trainer's Decidueye and addressed it directly. "Well then, Basil, we'll be counting on you! Thank you for your help." He then gently tossed a pokeball into the air and his Breloom appeared next to him with a pop. "Alright Portobello, you and Petunia are on standby with your spore moves, alright? Stay focused and I promise to treat ya to some puffs later," Aster said with a wink. His pokemon chirped a salute and he smiled widely.

"That settles it then," Aster said shifting his attention to Elisabeth, "All that's left is the assistance from your Vileplume and getting situated undercover. Ready then?"

Aster gave Elisabeth a quick nod. Suddenly, a look of realization crossed his face. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small tourmalinated quartz and offered it to Elizabeth with a bashful smile. "For a little luck."

Without further delay, Aster got into position relying on grassy terrain for camouflage. Silently, he directed Petunia to use sweet scent. A sickly sugar scent permeated outward from her petals and across the area from which the offenders were approaching. Aster hoped to himself that their foes would be to enamored and distracted by the smell to draw out their own pokemon; he wasn't a fan of battles.

Aster turned towards Elisabeth and quietly gestured that he would take on those approaching from the right. Just as he finished, two young men broke through the tree-line near him. They certainly dressed the part of edgy hooligans in all black and chains with cans of spray paint strapped to their side. There was no doubt in his mind of what they were there to do. He let them get within a few paces and then shouted.

"Portobello, now!" His Breloom immediately responded by leaping from cover and spraying the two men with the yellow spores. The two tried to shake it off but it wasn't long until they dropped to their knees, immobile. Aster fought the urge to fist pump and turned to see how Elisabeth was fairing.

It was good clean work indeed. Perhaps the smoothest an operation had gone for him since he'd become a ranger. He returned Elisabeth's smile appreciating how easily she'd covered any of his weak points. He took her directed question and pretended to think for a moment. Having looked over the punks they apprehended, they all seemed no older than fifteen or sixteen, and Aster had a soft spot for troubled youths.

With a exaggeratory hand on his chin he said, "Well now, repeat offenders on the charges of graffiti are looking at fines of up to ten thousand or one to three years in prison. So we can't just let this slide right? I mean, especially since they were about to harm those precious plants you worked so very hard to care for. Should we rough them up a bit before we bring them in?" He had a soft spot for them, but that didn't mean he wouldn't try to scare them straight. He shot a glance towards the offenders as a couple grew wide eyed.

"Ah, shit, never mind. These maggots are just yellow-bellied young-uns. It be a waste of time an energy." Aster turned his full attention towards the punks. "Alright fellas, I'm not in the mood to fill out a bunch of paperwork. I think I'll just confiscate your supplies. Call your parents and I'll hold you here til they arrive. That alright with you?" He directed his last question to Elisabeth.