she didn’t quite need the money. volunteer work looked good, and she would donate whatever pocket change she might receive for the efforts. it was a plus that another student she had grown fond of would be going along too.

”good idea.” she smiled. ”you’re clearly the right man for this job.”

slipping on the baby carrier, she then went to work loading eggs. ninetales sat nearby on the ground, gazing outward like a sentry.

JAMES BAKER

”next thing we know, you’ll be taking over the mail, too. delibird delivieries who?”

her smile was pursed, cheeks swelled slightly as her gaze passed from him and then back to the delicate cargo which she was strapping in. almost done. maybe after the two danny was heading over to add to her person.

”thanks.”

turning towards him again, fully decorated, she fixed him with an expectant look. ”i will trust your navigation.” he was the egg delivery professional.

JAMES BAKER

”mossdeep?”

was that right? this was going to take longer than she’d thought. fortunately, she had already cleared her schedule for the day, and didn’t mind the ferry.

”oh, that sounds nice, actually. the weather is perfect.”

she kept pace with him.

”very well. a new job makes for a bit of an adjustment process, but it’s nothing i can’t handle.” looking over, returning the question. ”what about you?”

JAMES BAKER

”i’m sorry to hear that.”

two jobs and school were a lot. though she’d come to like james, she rarely saw him. her own busy schedule made it so that windows of mutually free time was especially rare. it was a friendship maintained strongly on texts and maybe the occasional coffee when their routes crossed.

she was curious about what sort of things went on in the labs of Eva Morales and illeana reyes . they surely had their hands full with hoenn’s frequent phenomena. what were they focusing on?

”no gossip yet.” she smiled over at him. ”although i did meet FERNANDO SILPH the other day while i was in the breakroom.” considering a moment, she then decided, ”he didn’t seem all that different than times i’ve seen him on tv.”

JAMES BAKER

she gave a nod to the side with her chin. not much to be done but work through it, it seemed.

”definitely professional. i wouldn’t say tense, really.” what was he? there was some sort of coolness to him. almost cold, despite the polite smiles he’d returned in the breakroom.

and of GABRIEL BLACK ?

she looked over, lavender eyes filled with plenty of an answer without the need to elaborate.

”councilman black... does not seem to be a very happy man. at least, not recently.”

JAMES BAKER

she nodded in agreement, and then shook her head, ”i can’t either; and he certainly hasn’t shared any stories about it with me. in fact, he hasn’t spoken to me much at all.” this would change, though, surely, with patience and dedication—same as all things.

when they neared the dock, she considered the options. she didn’t mind the ferry, but the idea of their own boat did sound a little more appealing, granted they could cut their time that way.

”hm... how fast do you think the boats go?”

JAMES BAKER

iseult waited patiently as he decided on a word. it was cute. helm, she thought. what her father called the post she would occupy one day.

”it’s a wheel,” she agreed.

it seemed it was already decided which of their options they were taking, and she didn’t argue, simply following after him.

”i’ve never driven a boat before. is that legal?”

JAMES BAKER