[attr="class","littleollie"]

as they enter, ollie beams.

[break][break] "glad you like it! the rangers set me up with it; i'm sure they can help you out too."

[break][break] plus, he'd pulled some strings as Eva Morales 's brother, but not that she had to know about that.

[break][break] ollie strides into the kitchen, putting the heftiest of bags on his counter. he was super excited to see that his old friend francie myrtle was back in hoenn, but he can't help but feel like things are a bit different now that she's not petalburg's gym leader. then again, so many things have changed since he's seen her last, what's just one more?

[break][break] "i'm really psyched that you're part of our squad now," he says, with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. "and now we've got a baker! wren'll be so jealous."

[break][break] wren rourke , petalburg's current ranger captain and lifelong inhabitant. ollie wasn't sure if the two knew each other but if they didn't, he would sure make them meet soon.

[break][break] "so," he says, hands on his hips. "where do we start?"

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]

ooh a theme?

[break][break] ollie's expression grows contemplative, as his bottom lip juts out and he tosses his head side to side in contemplative effort. he's not much of a baker, Eva Morales and willow atkins can attest to that, but he likes to try where he can.

[break][break] "i think cupcakes are a pretty good gift to give -"

[break][break] a pause.

[break][break] "oh. sorry! i didn't tell you what these were for. i wanted to bake some gifts for my friends, since life's been hard recently." after all, with everything that had gone with the meteor, he wanted to give the people of hoenn a little bit of hope.

[break][break] he puts up one finger.

[break][break] "willow's been working real hard lately, with ro and everything, so i wanted to get her a basket for ro and her to share."

[break][break] he puts up a second finger.

[break][break] "larsy-pie has been kinda dejected lately, i think. so i wanted to get him something to cheer him up."

[break][break] and three - his expression turned sheepish.

[break][break] "then for penny."

[break][break] that one needed no explanation. or at least, ollie thought.

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]

"penny?"

[break][break] surprise lights up emerald green for a moment.

[break][break] he flushes.

[break][break] "you know penny."

[break][break] not just any penny, but the penny. PENELOPE LIVY . former hbs reporter, current councilwoman.

[break][break] his ex. his first love.

[break][break] though, it's been years, he's not sure how much francie can remember. but when they'd been friends, he'd told her all about penny. and then he'd talked about willow. and then he talked about how penny didn't like willow, and how ollie could never fathom why.

[break][break] "penny's - she's - " he clears his throat. "she broke up with me three years ago when i went to kalos and it didn't work out. but we've - " what had they done? "we're talking again. she doesn't hate me as much. okay, she hates me a little - "

[break][break] he lets out a sigh.

[break][break] "i had to go back to kanto with eva. i think she hates me for that still."

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]

his eyes widen when she cries. cries like she really means it too.

[break][break] ah, he forgot how emotional francie could be sometimes.

[break][break] a hand reaches out to brush those tears away, but it turns out that francie's just as quick on the uptake as he is. she whirls him around and he makes a noise of surprise as she grabs him, ushering him forward.

[break][break] even though he's 6'5" and much bigger than her and could probably lift her over his head if he wanted to, he lets her.

[break][break] because it's francie, how could he not?

[break][break] how could anyone?

[break][break] her words caught him off-guard again, and there he is. making that stupid, dumb sound from his mouth.

[break][break] he pushes back a little this time, heels digging into the ground.

[break][break] "i -" the blur of memories of that night flood him. the guilt that followed. what he told her. what he didn't tell her. "i just want us to be - "

[break][break] his mouth feels dry.

[break][break] he swallows.

[break][break] "i just want her to be happy, francie. i want us all to be."

[break][break] because as stupid as he could be, as awful as he could be about these types of things, ollie knew that they couldn't be. things couldn't be the same, not when they broke like they way they'd broke.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]

"is it that obvious?" he says, laughing a little pathetically.

[break][break] but willow atkins had told him it was.

[break][break] and francie was basically saying it again.

[break][break] words that he'd never actually said to PENELOPE LIVY herself.

[break][break] "i'm not just making her cupcakes," he said, and that's when he smiles. this time, it reaches his highs. he grabs the jar of flour off the counter, and smears a little on the bridge of her nose. "i'm making you them too, dummy."

[break][break] he laughs again, and it sounds a little bit better. a little brighter.

[break][break] "pokemon sounds good, though. for penny, she likes blaziken." he purses his lips. "for lars, something to do with ice-types. and for wils..."

[break][break] his gaze softens.

[break][break] "flowers."

[break][break] they ought to be pretty too, just like her.

[break][break] an uncomfortable look crosses his face. guilt.

[break][break] "wait, is that too much? we could just do one theme if you want."

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]
a laugh bubbles to his lips, joining hers.

[break][break] "sounds good to me."

[break][break] as she goes to the fridge, he reaches behind her, pointing out the eggs and the milk.

[break][break] "i like leftovers too. we can share."

[break][break] ollie steps back and then rummages through the cupboards to pull out the bowls that francie hasn't. for a boy, he's surprisingly well-kept, but maybe that's because as of late, he'd been expecting guests over.

[break][break] not expecting. hoping.

[break][break] "is there anything i can help you with, francie? anyone you want to make cupcakes for?"

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"]
"you did - ? ouch! "

[break][break] he starts off in excitement, before standing up a little too quickly and bumping his head on the corner of an open cupboard.

[break][break] rubbing his head, he starts again, "i mean, you did? what theme?"

[break][break] ollie can't help the way that he looks at her - eyes a little too bright with excitement.

[break][break] last time he'd baked something with Eva Morales, he'd had to do all the work.

[break][break] he places a bowl on the counter, looking at all the ingredients splayed out before them.

[break][break] "man," he says, with a grateful sigh. "what would i do without you, frannie?"

[attr="class","ooc"] + francie myrtle

☉