An invite from the Ranger Captain of both Oldale and Littleroot would have seemed like a formality to anyone else. Though Sven knew Kolya for years. The man was more like a second father than an authority figure -- not that he didn't feel the man deserved respect. He was just a lot less formal with him than most. Maybe that's because the Volosenkov patriarch was really just a big old teddy bear deep down around the right set of people.

"Hey, papa Kolya," he greeted at an even volume as not to disturb any potential pokemon that swam in the radius of the man's fishing lure.

Sven raised his hand as he balanced on the back of his Dewott. He seemed to remain rather carefree about the waters -- nothing had popped out at the pair yet, so there was reason to be at ease for the scientist. With careful precision, he maneuvered onto the boat with careful steps as not to upset it. He was quick to approach the larger man and give him a quick hug from behind, arms looped loose around the shoulders.

"Thanks for the invite, how have you been holding up? Sasky told me about your recent promotion, congrats."

He released his careful hold on the captain and took a seat on the opposite end of the boat and carefully dug his own fishing rod from his bag before he began to snap it into place and cast his own line.

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Nikolaj Volosenkov

"I'm good!"

It wasn't exactly the truth, but it wasn't a lie either. He found himself buried up to his neck in research tasks that he'd taken on and tenaciously held onto because he was stubborn. But that was work, this was a day to relax and enjoy the Volosenkov patriarch's company. (Maybe he was jaded from knowing Kolya for so long, but he didn't see how some people found him to be so gruff and intimidating. Sven had no qualms about greeting the man with a hug.)

Before he could even register it, Nikolaj had both taken down and attempted to snag the Togekiss that swooped down. That split-second reaction must've been the power of a ranger captain. He found it admirable and flashed a wide grin at the Magnezone that floated above the water. Kolya always had an array of interesting pokemon. But before he could say anything, he felt the Lapras nudge at his arm again an he let out an earnest laugh before he reached up and gently stroked the pokemon's head.

"I know what you want," he said with a chuckle.

Sven dug into his bag before he pulled out some granola that he'd kept for pokemon. As he offered it out, the Lapras happily began to nibble it out of his hand as he reached up and stroked a palm against the top of its head as he mentioned for the Lapras to be gentle with its eating. Thankfully it seemed to have an easy temperament as it listened. With the treat gone, Sven turned his attention back to the water. Though when he saw his bag begin to squirm, the brunette turned his attention to it and peered inside.

"Hey!"

The Poliwag stopped its rummaging and looked up at Sven with crumbs from the granola around the corner of its lips as it stared at the younger man in surprise, its mouth drawn into a circle and eyes wide. With the sight unfolded, he couldn't help but laugh. Sven simply dug the creature out of his bag and held it just above the water.

"You're cute, but I think Marco will get jealous if I--"

The wild Poliwag shot at his face with Bubble and caused Sven to drop it back into the water. Face now thoroughly drenched, he looked over at his Dewott, Marco, who snickered at the sight of its trainer. Sven wiped his face and soon gathered his focus back on Kolya.

"If you or Saskia ever need a plus one for the icelands though, you know where to reach me," he offered with a thumbs up. "Kyurem right? It might seem impossible to revert the land back, but I personally believe there's never a zero probability if you're determined enough."

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Nikolaj Volosenkov

"It's a long shot, but Kyurem was the cause, right? Unova also has a fire dragon in its collective. It wouldn't hurt to try and locate Reshiram for its assistance in the matters."

Little did Sven know that Reshiram was already within reach. He wasn't familiar with the ranks and members of the Rangers other than those he'd crossed paths with. Naturally Nikolaj and Saskia were within that select few. With the pondering of a dragon within theoretical reach, he felt a sense of frustration. It was in that moment Sven realized just how very little he knew about Hoenn and the legendary beasts that had granted their favor to humanity. He sunk his teeth into his bottom lip. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to inquire more about it at another time.

But his thoughts were completely thrown out of focus the moment Kolya mentioned the two had been spending a lot of time together. A thrilled smile bubbled across his features as he gave an eager nod. Then an awkward laugh.

"I mean it's so great to have reconnected with all of you," he began. "She didn't tell you that I cried the first time we saw each other again, right? I was just so overwhelmed with everything during the bubble going up that seeing a familiar face shortly after it was dropped came as such a shock. I didn't realize how much I missed her until she was right there."

In the midst of his talk, his Dewott swam back to shore to make an attack on the Haxorus that stalked its way around on land. The two took to battle in a furious flurry and the only thing that pulled Sven out of his reprieve was the cry that his Dewott let out to let its trainer know it weakened the dragon enough. Sven quickly stood up and haphazardly dug through his bag to grab a pokeball and fling it as far as he could. Somehow the pokeball managed to reach the Haxorus in an attempt to catch it.

"I'm sure I didn't miss her anywhere near as much as you and Camila did though," he partially joked. "It's been tough being separated from my family so I can sort of sympathize with you both. But it's been easier, you and your wife have been like a second family to me."

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Nikolaj Volosenkov

Had Sven had any further foresight to give, he would have realized the game Nikolaj was trying to play. No shock that he seemed utterly ignorant however. The idea of love wasn't really something he thought long on -- it was normal to love family and friends, right? But the following words Kolya offered caught Sven completely off guard. He nearly dropped his fishing rod from the shock that came. Had Kolya just said that his family viewed Sven like a son? A hand came up to cover his mouth.

It wasn't until that moment he realized just how lonely he had been. How he wanted so desperately to have someone to fall back on, that safety net of family, that there was something akin to it right then and there. His eyes burned but he didn't dare to let any tears slip out. Because he wasn't sad. If anything, he was elated. A shaky breath shook his body as he attempted to calm himself down.

"I'd love to be the son you never had if you'll have me," he offered admittedly shakily.

At least his tone of voice came off as even. No sense of his own inner turmoil. He didn't want to burden Nikolaj with those feelings, the man had enough on his plate as it was. Sven shifted just a bit to turn around to say something to the older man, but he was nearly flung out of the boat by a violent Staravia. Sven was quick to hold his arm up to block the sudden swoop of the quick attack the creature offered.

His body teetered just over the edge, but he managed to keep himself steady. Hands clasped the edge of the boat as he pulled himself up and eyed his Dewott with a nod. The otter like pokemon hopped out of the water and onto the edge of the boat where it pulled out one of the shells it kept to throw at the Staravia. The Razor Shell attack managed to make contact and brought the cocky bird down. And as it began to plummet, Sven took out another pokeball and threw it at the bird.

"These wild pokemon are getting a bit bolder, make sure to watch yourself."

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Nikolaj Volosenkov

Brows knit together, quite baffled at the Volosenkov patriarch's words. His blessing? For what exactly? But nonetheless, his expression softened as he turned to look at Nikolaj, met with the back of the man's head. He was too focused on fishing to really bring the topic up again. So he didn't. Instead, he accepted such a blessing in a reassuring silence. While he hadn't reeled it in, the Prinplup that swam up to the boat seemed rather interested in the fishing rod. Even enough to give it a gentle tug. Sven's eyes widened in surprise to see such a dapper pokemon making its presence known.

A hand offered out to the penguin as he felt excitement bubble in his chest. It seemed that like Sven, the Prinplup would be a new addition to the evergrowing family. The Prinplup offered its flipper to Sven and he flashed the creature a look of surprise before his features softened once more.

"You're so polite," he mused. "Did you want to join the family too? There's plenty of room."

He offered one final pokeball out to catch the Prinplup and relaxed back into the boat. Maybe when they weren't so entangled in the ambience that the waters offered, he could ask Kolya exactly what he meant with his words. For now, he'd just live in ignorant bliss.

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Nikolaj Volosenkov