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The boat was a rental. A tiny, kind of useless, leisure vessel with evidence of twenty different names sanded out of its hull.

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But it still conjured nostalgia as Lydia stepped onto its bobbing deck. She could imagine her father sitting in the captain’s chair, his grey-streaked azure locks rusting in a salty breeze. The veteran remembered the surprising roughness of his hands as he wrapped hers around the steering wheel. He pointed her straight ahead—and called out a couple of nautical terms. At that moment, it felt like she owned the world.

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Right now, that freedom was erased by a sense of urgency. In close quarters like they were, the Luvdisc were likely to fight among themselves. This would not only stir up the water but potentially summon all kinds of predators. Ones small enough to turn that grotto into an abattoir. “Eyes out to starboard, Triton,” Lydia called to the Kingdra keeping pace with the vessel.
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Though not a ranger, she often volunteered for tasks like this. As the future military enrollment hung in the balance, it was important to keep herself busy. “I believe we are getting close to our coordinates.”

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That’s when she saw her partner. Blue eyes blinked, easily betraying their shock. “Hm.” It was not the partner she expected. “Afternoon,” Lydia murmured. Her tones were tinged Kalosian with an icy, distrusting tone. “I was told to expect Mackenzie Cunningham.” Much like her trainer, the Lycanroc at her feet surveyed the new entrant with guarded suspicion.

“You are not her.” Some might say that she was being paranoid, but this region devoured anyone who wasn't.

NOTES

✦ She invited Thomas to join her in Evergrande to fend off a bird invasion[break]

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Lydia does not mind the sun’s touch. It is a warm and welcome reminder of hope. Still, there is a shyness to the veteran as Seraphim greets her. In her home, such openness was not encouraged. At least not for her—it merely encouraged barbed reminders from her brother.
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Though suspicious, the older woman makes no move to stop the girl’s entrance. Partially because she is blinded by the sunny interest and partially because she senses no threat. It would be like pulling arms on a playful kitten for batting your shoe. The sudden shift in weight is familiar to Lydia. One arm reaches out as if to steady the other woman, drawing short as the girl rights herself.
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Fingers tighten their grip on the steering wheel. A breath of irritated air escapes the nostrils of Lydia’s button nose. The idea of calling off a mission because one has sniffles runs her the wrong way. After a car bombing, she’d forced herself out of bed to try and rejoin the fight. Even if there was only one leg to stand on. “And is there a reason she could not tell me this herself?”
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After a moment, the shorter blonde gives Seraphim’s hand a shake. Her grip is firm and unyielding, almost as if asking for surrender from the stranger. The Lycanroc meanwhile stares at the Primarina. Lips lift awkwardly in the lupine’s approximation of a smile. The shorter blonde takes a calming breath. She cannot always expect perfect order.

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The soldier faces her for a moment, allowing the woman’s chattering to come to an end. “Lydia.” She shakes her head in response to the question, though her cheeks pinken. “N-no, it’s fine.” She waited until everyone was comfortable before edging the boat away from shore.

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“Are you aware of the mission?”

NOTES

✦ The enthusiasm makes her sigh[break]