Today was gonna be a cute day!
[break][break]
Despite the shitty way DEREK HOFFMAN had treated her on the beach, they had called a truce, and to solidify this sense of peace between them a small pokemon playdate was called into order. So, with her Rotom bouncing beside her, the reporter made her way through petalburg's famous woods.
[break][break]
When she arrived, she offered a large, sweeping wave and lazy smile.
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"Yo!"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-whimscott"]

"Oh, hey!" Derek turns his head to reply, offering a little smile to their guests. "Glad you could make it." The gym leader could always use an excuse to visit the woods.

"Go on, say hi." Nudging his Raichu forward, the pokemon waddles it's weight towards Penelope and what it assumes to be it's new friend. An audible Rai! Rai! was offered to them both, as well as outreached paws in hopes they would return the gesture.

PENELOPE LIVY | MISSION 2 OF 5

☉

"Of course. You think I'd pass up an opportunity to see my favorite gym leader."
[break][break]
An obvious tease punctuated by a wink. Sliding up beside him, she urged her rotom forward with a shooing gesture. The pokemon, who had previously been elated to go out and play, looked back at her, a mixture of worry and uncertainty plaguing his electronic features.
[break][break]
'bzz'
[break][break]
Penelope gave them a smile before returning her gaze back to Derek. "He's a lil shy, but give him a sec to get comfortable, and he'll be all over the place. Fickle as hell."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"No worries." As the two adults exchange words, Derek's Raichu drags the Rotom along. It grows bored with human interaction, and instead wishes to test whose electricity is the strongest—seeing which can scorch a larger patch of earth.

Meanwhile Derek can't help but scoff a little at Penny's claim. "I don't think I am anyone's favorite anything." A little bit of self-deprecation, which was very common for him.

"Well, as far as people go. Obviously I am Jonesy's favorite. It was surprising to see him chicken out on today's little playdate. One mention of getting shocked and he camouflaged himself and ran for the woods."

PENELOPE LIVY | MISSION 3 OF 5

☉

Penelope had to hold herself back from rolling her eyes at the self-deprecation. It was a small pet peeve of hers.
[break][break]
"Aw, how cute."
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So, instead, she chose to direct her focus onto the mention of Jonesy. All the while, their Pokémon continued to play amongst themselves. Rotom tried showing off his electrical prowess by sending out a hefty SHOCK WAVE.
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"So, Hoffman, how's life been treating you? "
[break][break]
It was a simple question, but what else was there to really say?
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

"Well, not a whole lot is new." Derek starts, allowing the two electric types to play. Or whatever else it was they decided to do. Maybe a fight would break out? Who knew.

"Everything in my garden grows, save for that Gracidea seed from the speed dating." He assumed Penny knew what he was talking about, but he could always elaborate if she didn't. "Gym is fine. Pokemon are fine. I am fine, I think..."

Saying you were fine or that you're doing alright, well...often enough the people that said that might as well be trying to convince themselves. Or so Derek felt as he finished uttering the word. "The only thing that could be going better is my search for the titans." Namely Registeel, who he blamed for the death of his Charizard. And the deaths of pokemon belonging to the other rangers that were along for the ride.

PENELOPE LIVY | MISSION 4 OF 5

☉

"it'll come when it comes," she assured him. No search of merit came easy. It takes time, effort, and a bit of luck to push through. Or, at least, that's what she told herself back at HBS, when she was still running stories.
[Break][break]
"Is there anything I could do to help, or like, are you good?"
[Break][break]
It wasn't a very professional way of asking, but they were friends now. It wouldn't hurt them to be a bit more casual with things.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"I'm good, thanks." Realizing how he made it out, Derek quickly retreats from that frame of mind. "I just wish it wasn't still there in the back of my head to bother me, y'know?" They had more pressing matters, after all.

"Knowing there's more to be done about it, but being unable to do so because of a meteor, primal crystals, and all that...?" It's easy for Derek to see why he seems to be growing oh so very tired of it all. Or just growing tired in of itself.

"Let's just say I am looking forward to being able to rest easy, when it's all said and done." Whether that was due to their success or failure didn't really matter.

Their pokemon had begun to draw closer by this time, seemingly fed up with one another. Or maybe they were just hungry? Derek's Raichu certainly seemed that way. But it made him wonder, what did a Rotom eat, if anything at all?

PENELOPE LIVY | MISSION 5 OF 5

☉

Penelope could resonate with that sentiment.
[break][break]

When things are finally all said and done, would she be able to rest easy? Unlikely. However, when you're world is drawing to a close, it's easier to live off lighthearted beliefs than stay forever grounded by reality.
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"You will."
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There was nothing of substance maintaining this assertion, but for their conversation, there didn't need to be anything there. Just the thought was strong through.
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"It'll be over soon enough. One way or another."
[break][break]

From there, their Pokémon returned to them, his raichu obviously annoyed by the buzz of the rotom. Loud, proud, and overly hyper, the electric type was definitely a handful.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DEREK HOFFMAN[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]