Things weren't the same without his best friend. Not as Head Ranger, or just even at all. It reminded him of the years that he'd went to Kalos himself — made him bitter knowing that it was Lars who had left this time.

[break][break] But it would have been hypocritical to blame him for it.

[break][break] Ollie was just glad that he was back after all.

[break][break] "You know," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "You don't have to hide from me."

[break][break] Sharp green eyes stared at the back of his friend from where he was packing away boxes.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]

'Demoted' sounds like such a dirty word, when Lars says it like that.

[break][break] "It's just temporary, you know that."

[break][break] Or at least, that's the way that Ollie prefers to think about it. He doesn't like to think about a future where Laurence Anderson isn't in it, where he isn't by his side. After all, they'd started this together.

[break][break] Wasn't it right to finish it together?

[break][break] "Come on, don't be like that." Ollie steps forward, out of the doorway, and over to the desk. He picks up a bobblehead that looks suspiciously like kyle lopez. Or maybe it's just some generic Champion toy. He tosses it into the box. "This is supposed to give you more time to see where Articuno is. You can't do that and be Head Ranger at the same time."

[break][break] "You —"

[break][break] Before he can finish his thought, suddenly, an ominous voice rings out:

[break][break] 'Red or Blue?'

[break][break] "Fuck! What was that?"

[break][break] He jumps, jostling against the blond.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]

Hearing Lars laugh is a welcome relief from the awkwardness that he feels in the room. Ollie isn't a competitive person, at least not when it comes to things like this. And while the Rangers have always been his family, and leading the charge is as easy as breathing, Lars is family too.

[break][break] "So what if I did?"

[break][break] He chuckles, glad to feel that things could be normal again. Or at least a little bit normal.

[break][break] That is, until, something creepy echoes in the dark space.

[break][break] "Red!" he blurts, in the same moment that his friend declares blue. Oh, shit.

[break][break] He looks at the other Ranger, conflict rising in his eyes.

[break][break] "Should we... uh, call someone?"

[break][break]

V8eufFAU

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]

It was true. Ollie didn't know. In fact, it would not have been surprising at all that he had no freaking idea.

[break][break] Things such as alternate universes or other worlds were a lost concept on him. Things that he was only beginning to learn, thanks to the events of the last AQUA meeting. And so, when this giant dinosaur appears out of a freaking wormhole, he has no choice but to gawk in absolute and utter shock.

[break][break] His jaw could've dropped to the floor.

[break][break] But it didn't.

[break][break] "Shit! Fuck!" He reached for his belt, grappling as Lars stumbled backwards. His hands brushed over his Dragonite's ball - wait, fuck, no, he couldn't ruin Lars' office. He chose his Blissey instead. "Bubblegum! Sing!"

[break][break] He chose the less destructive option.

[break][break] A blissful song swelled in the air in front of them, aiming to knock the Tyrantrum out, while Ollie grappled for an empty pokeball and threw it. Aiming to knock the giant thing on the skull as it fell to the ground with a loud thump!

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]

Click, click, click.

[break][break] Eventually, the situation is resolved. Whether it be because he knocks out the weird blue dinosaur, or captures it, or something something. Either way, the imminent danger is resolved.

[break][break] Though perhaps, this wasn't the way that either Ranger intended on spending their evening.

[break][break] Not for the first time, Ollie recalls the first time that he met Lars. How easy things had been back then.

[break][break] "You aren't," Ollie corrected, nudging his friend with a laugh. "I am. New job, remember?"

[break][break] He flashes a crooked grin.

[break][break] "Downside to being the only one left. All the paperwork falls on my desk."

[break][break] "Lucky you."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]

"This'll always be yours office," Ollie said, surprisingly solemn. And it would, even if one day there might have been someone else that would have taken it over. Ollie at least would always think of it as such.

[break][break] He blinks when Lars mentions his due diligence and he wants to laugh. Wants to pretend that it's easy and normal and —

[break][break] But the quiet yeah makes him feel oddly choked up.

[break][break] A breeze whistles through the open window, like an ominous wind.

[break][break] "I think it was!" Ollie laughs, glad for the change of topic. He wraps his arm around his friend, helping him wrap up the rest of his things. "C'mon. Let's finish this up, and I think there's a bowl of carbonara somewhere with your name on it, old friend."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Laurence Anderson [break]