[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

Today was going to be his first solo mission. It was a simple escort mission through the silent Icelands. If it hadn't been for orders, he would have refused. He had always avoided the Icelands since he first heard about them. Just hearing about what had happened to all those poor Pokémon was enough to make him sick.
[break][break]
But alas, orders were orders. Then again, his pride alone might have made him accept. While he wouldn't openly admit it, he was a fairly proud person. And one thing he would never tolerate was someone thinking he was afraid. Fear made you weak. And he certainly wasn't going to appear weak in front of anyone, especially his superiors.
[break][break]
His orders were as follows: escort the group through the Icelands and document what they saw. Those were the guidelines from the civilians he was supposed to escort, not the rangers themselves. Apparently, the group was from a company that wanted to survey the area for some reason. He hadn't really asked his superiors for specifics on the matter.
[break][break]
It didn't really matter to him anyway. As long as he knew the general idea of the mission, everything would be fine. After making sure he had everything, he set out using Corviknight's ability to fly to shorten the travel time. That was partly why he was surprised to be the last one to arrive.
[break][break]
After landing, he dismounted Rook before returning the steel bird to his Pokéball. Like the others, he had dressed in warmer clothes. He wasn't wearing a winter coat, though; it was too bulky and restricted movement too much. Instead, he was wearing a thermal jacket that could retain heat without being too heavy.
[break][break]
"I'm Ranger Rookie Ever Blackwell, your escort for this mission. You can call me Ever," he told them, his tone and expression completely neutral as he introduced himself. "I've been told you want to survey the area. Is there anything specific you're looking for?"[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

"Likewise," was his simple response as he shook the older male's hand. He was about to inquire as to who he and his companion were when the only woman of the group spoke up. His gaze flickered briefly to her, but he didn't bother speaking. Compared to how his father had been, that was nothing.
[break][break]
The older male coming to his defense was definitely unexpected, though. Even after three years, it was hard to believe anyone would just stand up for another person. People doing things out of the goodness of their hearts was something he wasn't entirely sure he could get behind.
[break][break]
Deciding to think more on the niceties of people later, he decided to see what was actually needed of him. Giving a tour of all the areas was to be expected. That was kind of what one did when they surveyed the land. You couldn't really survey the land if you didn't explore what it had to offer, after all.
[break][break]
"The way I feel on the matter doesn't matter. I gave my supervisors my word I would go through with the mission, and I never go back on my word," he said in response to what the older male said.
[break][break]
The consideration for his feelings was another thing he wasn't too familiar with. To be honest, he wasn't sure how to react to such a thing. Not that he really reacted to much of anything to begin with. He usually retained a pretty emotionless expression throughout everything he went through.
[break][break]
"Cautiously, there are still some pretty volatile Pokémon that make the Icelands their home. My advice is the Pokémon are best avoided. We wouldn't want to get attacked while we're getting a lay of the land," he said in response to the question. While the cold was definitely a problem, the biggest danger would be wild Pokémon. While it was true Pokémon would attack anywhere, Pokémon in the Icelands seemed to be especially violent.[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

Something he said must have been favorable since even the only female of the group was acting positively towards him now. Though he wasn't exactly sure what he could've said that would've swayed the most skeptical of the group. Oh well, he supposed it didn't really matter. Nor did he really care enough to ask about it either.
[break][break]
As the leader of the group explained that none were really trainers, he nodded. None of them seemed the type. Not that he said that. It did mean that defending them from Pokémon would fall solely on him though.
[break][break]
"I am quite good at battling, so that shouldn't be a problem," he reassured them in a monotone voice. To be honest, despite being good at battling, he wasn't a fan. He hated having to hurt Pokémon when rangers were meant to protect Pokémon. And yet he would do everything he could to protect these three if he had to.
[break][break]
The fact that they would listen to what he had to say was a relief. Some might be miffed about following the orders of someone younger than them. Especially if the person was still in their teens. Not that these people would know that he was that young. They could easily believe he was in his early twenties for all he knew.
[break][break]
Hearing the introductions, he inclined his head before speaking. "Nice to meet you all."
[break][break]
After that, he would fall silent. To some, he might seem to have become wrapped up in his own thoughts as he waited for them to mention more of what they wanted. But if one were to look at him closely, they would see the way his gaze scanned their surroundings as if watching out for threats as they continued to get prepared for the expedition.
[break][break]
It would be further proven that he was alert when he turned towards Hammond before he reached him. Probably having heard the older male's footsteps. Or maybe having seen him approach from his peripheral vision.
[break][break]
Taking the map, he scanned it to see where in the silent Icelands they wanted to go first. The location they wanted to explore first didn't seem too far from their location. Which made sense. Most would want to start near where they were located and go from there when it came to exploring. So it made sense that their first location was near them.
[break][break]
The path seemed straightforward as well. But that didn't mean they should let their guard down. Upon hearing Yannick's comment, he nodded. "Seems to be pretty straightforward from here, but stay on guard."
[break][break]
"Also, we should set a brisk pace. Being in the open will mean anything will be able to see us for miles. It also wouldn't do to still be out here after the sun goes down. Luckily, it seems we have a few hours of sunlight left, so I don't believe that will be too much of a problem," he explained, having to resist the urge to rub his throat after saying so much. Geez, that had been a lot of words to say.[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

To his relief, they didn't question his orders. He was well aware that some people might not be too keen on listening to someone so much younger than them. His father had been one such person. Then again, they had seemed more than willing to listen to him when he had first arrived, so he supposed he shouldn't be too surprised that they didn't question his orders.
[break][break]
Once they were ready, they started the trek. It wasn't hard to see that the brisk pace was a bit taxing on the others. It wasn't as if he was heartless, so he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Unfortunately, staying out in the open wasn't the best idea, so keeping the brisk pace was a must.
[break][break]
Finally, they reached the top and he paused to allow the others to catch up. He also allowed for a small break while the others caught their breath. The first to reach the top was, of course, Yannick, and the older male was immediately taken by the view. He supposed if he didn't think about what lay ahead of them, he could admit that there was something breathtaking about the Silent Icelands.
[break][break]
"It's one of the reasons I enjoy what I do," he admitted, staring out into the distance before turning his attention to the older male. "You definitely should. It can't be healthy to stay cooped up all the time," he pointed out, glancing at the others as they finally joined them at the top.
[break][break]
After making sure they were ready to continue, he resumed walking. He was content enough to allow the silence of the place to surround them, but the silence was broken once more by the leader of the group. While there wasn't really anything wrong with the question, he still couldn't help but be confused by it.
[break][break]
Wondering what an office and Slatesport had to do with anything. The only thing he could think of was that was where he worked. But one didn't need to work in Slatesport to work in an office, and that's where he was confused, not that he really showed it. Instead, his silence could be taken as him thinking of the best way to respond.
[break][break]
Finally coming up with a response that wouldn't give too much away, he glanced over his shoulder. "I've always liked a good adventure, nature, and Pokémon, so I decided to try my hand at being a ranger. Being able to make a difference is a bonus."
[break][break]
Though he had somewhat spoken the truth, making a difference had been the main reason he had decided to be a ranger. That, and he had wanted to distance himself from the kind of person his father had been as much as possible.
[break][break]
There was also the fact that he didn't like sitting still. Sitting still meant thinking. And thinking could lead to thinking about stuff he didn't want to think about. That was part of the reason he had decided to become a photographer on the side.
[break][break]
"Being a ranger isn't all I do, though. I'm also a photographer on the side. Mostly nature and Pokémon."
[break][break]
Yep, just a freelance photographer. Nothing strange about a ranger having another job. Nothing strange at all. Not unless it was all for the wrong reasons, anyway. At least when it had come to getting started.[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

Upon reaching the stretch of forest, it seemed they had finally reached their first location, if the fact they were stopping was anything to go by. Hammond would, a few seconds later, confirm this fact before ordering Griselda to get to work, causing the only woman of the group to grumble, but she did as she was told.
[break][break]
He watched as she released a Dugtrio and a Loudred from their Pokéballs and couldn't help but feel a small pang of sympathy for the Dugtrio, not that he showed it. As a Ground type, the Dugtrio would really not like the cold, after all, it was more often than not used to a hotter climate and weak against Ice type moves, as most Ground type Pokémon were.
[break][break]
Looking at the two, he could tell neither were too pleased with their new environment. Unfortunately, aside from knowing Loudred was a Normal type, he didn't know much about it to know how hard it was for the Loudred to be in the cold. Perhaps he should ask Absalom the next time he saw him for some facts about Loudred. Or maybe not. He had a feeling he would get more information than he asked for.
[break][break]
As the Dugtrio started to dig and the Loudred started to emit sound waves, Yannick spoke up, cutting off his observations. Turning his gaze onto the older male, he listened to what the older male had to say. He wasn't sure what all the hype was about, but to each their own.
[break][break]
Whatever explanation Yannick was given was cut off as Griselda piped up, singing her Pokémon's praises. "That sounds impressive. None of my Pokémon can do that. Though I do have a Gliscor who can use sound waves to detect obstacles. She's usually the Pokémon I send ahead to scout if I'm in a cave," he explained, not bothering to return the smile. Smiling just wasn't something he did. Of course, for obvious reasons, Nyx would be staying inside her Pokéball.
[break][break]
At the question, he nodded. "That's really right, kind of a side job I have," he said before continuing. "And yes, I rarely leave home without it," he told him as he took off his pack and pulled out his camera before putting the pack back on. That way, he wouldn't accidentally forget it. With how paranoid he could be, it was highly unlikely, but he wasn't about to take any chances.
[break][break]
Hanging the strap around his neck, he raised the camera to his eye. "When you're ready," he said before backing up a bit and starting to take pictures when he got confirmation the older male was ready.[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

"Gliscor is a very capable Pokémon, and while it's true that training them takes some skill, they're not as hard to train as Dragon-type Pokémon," he said with a small shrug. None of his current Pokémon gave him any trouble, but that's because he had always had a lot of willpower. No Pokémon had ever had the upper hand against him when it came to training.
[break][break]
He supposed that made sense. Then again...
[break][break]
"Outside of my ranger duties, I'm not really a trainer. Battling is more of a last resort for me. If a wild Pokémon can be calmed without the need to battle, I'll do it."
[break][break]
While he was good at battling, it wasn't something he went out of his way to do. Battling just didn't appeal to him. As a ranger, it was his duty to protect Pokémon, not hurt them. He especially hated to see his own Pokémon get hurt. Not that he would ever admit to all this.
[break][break]
Pushing aside thoughts of battling versus not battling, he decided to get back to the task at hand. Upon taking out his camera, he would signal for him to get into position. Eventually, an iced-over tree would be chosen as the backdrop, and he would get to work.
[break][break]
While some photographers would give shouts of encouragement like 'work it, that's it, etc.,' he wasn't the type. Not only did the whole idea make him uncomfortable, but he had always felt the prospect was just a little weird.
[break][break]
After taking a few of Yannick in front of the tree, he would take a few pictures of him pretending to work, as well as Griselda and Hammond.
[break][break]
Once he had taken an adequate amount of pictures, he paused to look at them. Good, no glares or weird stuff in any of them. Though he supposed he would have to get Yannick to look through them to see what he thought.
[break][break]
At the suggestion, he looked away from the camera. "I don't really like having my own picture taken. I never really thought I was photogenic."[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]EVERYDAY BY MYSELF I’M BREAKING DOWN

[attr="class","setting"]

It was a relief to know he wouldn’t be forced to have his picture taken. His grandparents were bad enough in that regard. Don’t get him wrong; he loved them, but he would rather not be forced to take part in pictures. That’s not to say he didn’t understand it, but still...
[break][break]
As he went on to explain that he would at least get a shoutout, he nodded. He supposed he could deal with that, even if praise did make him a bit uncomfortable. A shoutout would help with his plans to get better at accepting praise, so that was a plus.
[break][break]
He was just about to thank him for his compliments when he noticed Griselda approaching from his peripheral vision. Deciding words would be a lost cause now, and not wanting to seem ungrateful, he would incline his head to the other as a show of gratitude. Telling him the prices could wait and showing gratitude couldn’t.
[break][break]
With that in mind, he would listen to the conversation between Griselda and Yannick. It seemed they had been able to find a bit of what they were looking for, but not enough.
[break][break]
Rocks, stones, and gems were never much of an interest. No, he was sure that would be more Absalom’s cup of tea. However, he was polite enough not to say anything negative. He was skilled enough with controlling his emotions that he could also keep his expression completely neutral when he went on to explain what the mineral was.
[break][break]
At the mention of Smoke Stone, he couldn’t help but think about something he had read in a book once. Not about smoke stones, but about different quartz crystals, especially the Smokey Quartz Crystal. Hearing something so similar made him wonder if there was any relationship between the two. However, not wanting to seem stupid held him back from asking. Perhaps he would look it up later.
[break][break]
“It’s pretty; it kind of makes me think of a gem stone with the way it reflects light,” he said at last as he continued to eye the fumite.
[break][break]
It was only the talk about wanting to explore further that would draw his attention away from the mineral as he listened to the conversation going on around him, not interrupting.
[break][break]
As it was his job to guide them, he really didn’t care what they did. So he would maintain his silence as they debated what to do. Finally, a decision would be made.
[break][break]
“I’m fine with that; we should get moving, though. We don’t want to be caught out here when the sun sets. The temperature will drop without the sun to at least warm things up,” he pointed out.
[break][break]
Not that it wasn’t already cold. But with how they seemed to be faring, he doubted they wanted to still be out here when the temperature dropped.
[break][break]
With that out of the way, he decided to finally answer the older male's question since the conversation had been interrupted before he could. “To answer your earlier question, $150 for the pictures.”
[break][break]
Most photographers do $100 to $250 per hour, but unless he was working on something for multiple hours at a time, he really didn’t see much point in that. Besides, with how well he had done with his photography in the past, he wasn’t exactly short on cash.
[break][break]
That aside, once he was sure everyone was ready, he would lead the way to the next location.[break] YANNICK SOLETTE

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]