[attr="class","icon"]

"too cold!" the commissioner says.[break][break]

dahlia fumbles with putting on her gloves, their leather too thick and the cold too biting for her fingers to work.[break][break]

beside her, her bayleef trods. like ollie's pikachu its neck is warmed by a scarf.[break][break]

"how has it been, ollie? being head ranger." she walks in casual lockstep with him. "i must thank you, actually. you've brought about so much positive change."

[attr="class","littleollie"] 'Too cold!'

[break][break] Eyes widening at the familiar voice, Ollie spins around.

[break][break] "Dah - Commissioner Goode!"

[break][break] It's no secret that Ollie's not good with formalities, but given the fact that he's Head Ranger now, he ought to give it a shot. Still, he felt like someone like annalise henderson probably was a better Head Ranger than him.

[break][break] Tofu leaps off his shoulder to greet the Bayleef with a cheerful 'Chaa!', reaching out to sniff the grass-type as Ollie greeted the commissioner with a broad smile, cheeks slightly flushed with the cold.

[break][break] A hand reaches behind his neck, rubbing sheepishly.

[break][break] "Ah - yeah! It's been good. Great, I mean!" He lets out an embarrassed laugh. "Nah, nah. I gotta thank you for the opportunity. I'll be honest, ma'am, I wasn't really expecting it."

[break][break] His lips dimple into a smile.

[break][break] "But I've always liked working for the Rangers, so always happy to serve."

[break][break] Eyes glimmer with mischief.

[break][break] "What about you, Commissioner? Enjoying the New Year?"

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","icon"]

"as much as i can!" dahlia laughs.[break][break]

she teeters close to that cold chasm of reality. past the sentimentality of the season, its ribbons, ornaments and fireplaces.[break][break]

but she dare not ruin the moment. though peacetime has not yet come, peace still manifests in a hush between every footstep. every dimple and smile.[break][break]

as her bayleef mews back at ollie's pikachu, the commissioner continues to walk alongside him.[break][break]

"you've filled the seat very well."[break][break]

her hand rests on her heart, as if to keep it from spilling.[break][break]

"and i'm so very thankful for that. you could very well be the best head ranger hoenn's ever seen, if i am to be honest."[break][break]

she wonders if ollie will ever crack.

[attr="class","littleollie"] Ollie blinks.

[break][break] He's not one for compliments — at least, not for receiving them. He's usually the one dishing them out.

[break][break] "You flatter me," he says, letting out a laugh. "There's no way. But if there is - it's only because of the work you and the League already do, Commissioner."

[break][break] He grins, but as he turns his head, his expression shifts to a wistful stare at the nearby food cart, where the mouthwatering aroma of Kanto-themed dango fills the air. He hands over dollar bills, buying some dango for them both, offering her the skewer.

[break][break] "But seriously - thanks for the opportunity. I've always wanted to give back to the Rangers for everything they've done to me, so I'm happy to work alongside them."

[break][break] His eyes gleam emerald, matching his scarf, as he wraps his mouth around the sweet glaze.

[break][break] "To lead them."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","icon"]

dahlia plucks the dango skewer as if she were extracting a desert jewel. she cools the golden glaze with her breath, the condensation a brief bouquet.[break][break]

"no need to thank me." she says. "you've received the position out of your own merit."[break][break]

her lips hesitate before the dango.[break][break]

"i have to ask... are you worried about the amnesty program's reception? are you prepared?"

[attr="class","littleollie"] The sweetness explodes in his mouth in a satisfying way, enough to draw him away from the worries of the present. The League's holiday party had went off successfully — well, for the most part.

[break][break] It was one of his first forays into the League's political landscape. Without the support of PENELOPE LIVY and the others, he doubted he could have contributed in such a way.

[break][break] Ollie was content to enjoy the rest of the New Year's celebration in peace — that is, until their commissioner tested it with her gentle words.

[break][break] His teeth crunched against the dango's glossy barrier, sugar crystals dancing upon his tongue.

[break][break] "No."

[break][break] It wasn't really a lie. The Amnesty Program existed much like the Rangers themselves: a natural product of an organization whose goals emphasized the region's generosity and commitment to change.

[break][break] "The program's existed for a while, right?" he said, head tilted towards her. "People may not be receptive now but - " He thought about the fight that paxton concordas had with Remiel Calcifet at the party, and the calming tones of Isaac Merlo, a hero who wanted nothing more than to save the family he thought he'd abandoned. "Everyone deserves a second chance."

[break][break] But even as he said those words, there was an unmistakable hesitation in his emerald green eyes—an undercurrent of nervousness that seemed unlike ollie morales himself.

[break][break] "What about you, Commissioner? Are you worried?"

[break][break] About the program? About Ollie himself?

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","icon"]

"i'm not worried about the program."[break][break]

the commissioner finally bites into her dango. warm black sesame, toothsome sweet rice. the pang of flavour is quick to fade, as the soft cud presses against her cheek.[break][break]

"i'm worried about you." she swallows. "you're already a high profile man... i fear for the target on your back."

[attr="class","littleollie"] Oh.

[break][break] Well, of course she wasn't worried about the program. Amnesty had existed as long as Rocket had been a threat to the region. Which was... well, it was quite a long time before Ollie had ever been in the spotlight, at least.

[break][break] The Head Ranger chuckled at her words, shaking his head.

[break][break] "You give me too much credit Commissioner," he said, cheeks dimpling into an easygoing smile once more. "I'm just one person. There are far more important people in the League than me, including my sister."

[break][break] His eyes glimmer.

[break][break] "Including yourself."

[break][break] "Do you worry about you having a target on your back too then?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","icon"]

"i have my worries." [break][break]

dahlia bites into another dango, hand hovering over her lips out of habitual courtesy. [break][break]

"but i trust my security. i trust in paxton concordas."[break][break]

she continues their stroll all the while balancing a half-bitten dango ball on its skewer.[break][break]

"such worries have to fade into the background, don't you think?" she sighs. "but i don't wish to see you fading away by your own volition. you are just as important. if you say otherwise, i'll fire you!"

[attr="class","littleollie"] "Pax is a good man," he agreed, though added, "Though, I wish he wouldn't pipe up so often during Ranger meetings."

[break][break] He chuckled.

[break][break] "Sometimes the Rangers have enough to bicker about."

[break][break] But it was all in good nature. Though he knew that there were some within the Rangers that didn't see eye to eye, Ollie felt a lot of love and loyalty for all of them. He knew that when the chips came down, they'd have his back — and he'd have theirs.

[break][break] His eyes widened comically as she threatened his dismissal, before he let out a laugh.

[break][break] "Alright, alright! You got me. You know I won't risk anything for my job — the pay's too good." He winked, as his lips closed around his final dango, chewing the gluttonous pastry thoughtfully.

[break][break] "But I say the same to you, Commissioner."

[break][break] "You're always worrying about others — you got anyone worrying after you?"

[break][break] After all, Ollie had no shortage of loved ones in his life. But if he thought about it, he wasn't exactly sure the relationships that dahlia goode held with other members of the League.

[break][break] "Don't burn yourself out either. We need you to lead the way."

[break][break] He smiled at her then, expression bright and warm.

[break][break] "Or maybe I'll petition you for early retirement."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","icon"]

dahlia laughs. the sound of "retirement" is so foreign, so nonsensical that it croons off-key or too low or high, failing to beat against the inner drum.[break][break]

"call me morbid, but i imagine my retirement will come when i'm finally six feet under."[break][break]

she dismisses the dark humor with a flap of her hand.[break][break]

"anyhoo, there's no worry. this time together is a break from all things after all." [break][break]

she sees a stall ahead. small wooden dolls carved into families. children. a future she may never have. her bayleef comes close, its verdant neck a comfort against the winter cold.[break][break]

"let's peruse those, shall we?"