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Gladly, Thea's clothes are drying over the course of their journey, but this is not a reason to forego the hot cocoa, for sure! "Oh? I'm very curious," Lutgarde grins, "I'm from Kalos, but I gotta say ... my standards for food are pretty simple." Even if their parents also are foodies, even if their entire village is kind of food-oriented - home-grown is best! fresh vegetables for days, and delicious meat! - they just ... really appreciated quantity over quality. Nonetheless, they are looking forward to see what this café's all about!

It seems like Thea and her friend frequent this café, as the waitress already seems to know Thea, and she doesn't even need to look at the menu to decide. Lutgarde does have a quick look, before ordering, "I'll take a hot cocoa, too, a portion of macarons, and two of the sandwiches of the day. Thank you!" They're tempted to order more, but ... temperance. For now.

As soon as the menu for pokémon is mentioned, Zylf, now fully healed up again, and Sylph both bury their noses in it, while Sylv remains content in Lutgarde's lap (fluffed up by their many skirts and underskirts [hoops are too impractical for them to consider]). "The café really has a nice, relaxing atmosphere," they comment while their two pokémon are looking at the menu as if their order would decide over life and death.

Thea Naito (sorry @/thea if you see this still ... GDJSKJF)

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Lutgarde does notice the wince, but more importantly, knows (for once; but it's hard not to, when they still discover traces of the occupation now). They don't speak of it either, but there's a hand reaching out, patting Thea's for a moment, before the mood returns to a lighter kind. "Sometimes, you gotta be proud of simple," Lutgarde laughs, pointedly for a comedic effect, "but in all seriousness ... made my life easier once I did, honestly. It's a tad bit embarrassing, but at least they don't look for me anymore when it's about getting feedback on the food." (And, they might instinctively latch onto any detail to distinguish them from the masses; from someone else.)

"Now, about Kalos ..." They let the orders interrupt that conversation, giving them more of a moment to think. Frankly, it's not the first time they've been asked this, but it's always ... how do you explain your home to someone else? Thea's pokémon have decided, and Sylph and Zylf finally as well. They're about to double Sylph's order as usual, before Sylv actually intervenes and points at Zylf. Lutgarde smiles, correcting their order to Sylph once and Zylf twice. Once the order's placed, Sylph retreats a bit, preferring to be on the sidelines (but never actually outside), while Zylf makes some attempts at socialising by doing funny grimaces.

"Peak time in a café are terrifying," Lutgarde agrees. "I gladly got flexible work hours as ranger, so I could usually navigate around it, but still ... terrifying. It's also much more cosy if you don't add to a waiter's already high stress level, haha ... And as for Kalos ... it's a really beautiful region. We've got lots of great, like, really great architecture there." Lutgarde's not much of a nerd about anything not sports-related, but architecture is actually something they could talk about on a relatively detailed level.

... well, Kalosian architecture, but they are reading up on Hoennian, too.

Thea Naito

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Lutgarde laughs at Thea's grimace, grinning. "Oh, I feel you there ... I thought about going professional in sports for a while, actually, before realising that it means something entirely else outside of my village, and some of the food ... like, well, I did just say I have low standards, so I can't really complain, huh?" they laugh. "But generally, I can recommend it. Just saves hassle if you're really something of an everything-eater." Close friends of theirs know that inviting them to dinner would be a good time, and that money is spent on more rather than better.

They smile as Thea mentions their overprotective father, and nod. "Feels relatable. But hey, if it's anything, I'd be open to help convince your father, maybe," they grin. Even they are aware that they're just a stranger, so it is more meant as a quip, an idea for the future.

At the mention of Thea's mother, they tilt their head a bit questioningly, "Did she change jobs?" And then, as they listen further, ... hmm. Maybe they should move back to the ranger question. "I personally think it's a really good occupation, but well. I'm biased?" they laugh, reeling the easy-goingness back into the conversation. Gladly, food also arrives then, and they let the waitress do her impressive job.

Soon, their table is packed with mostly what Lutgarde ordered, and the pokémon also have gotten their fill of food. Sylv now hops down from Lutgarde's lap next to the other pokémon, greeting them with a coo as they all get cosy. Again, Sylph's a bit on the sidelines, but Zylf and Sylv are happily talking to Thea's team.

"I've mentioned I thought about being an athlete, but it was also quickly clear that I wanted to be a ranger. Started training at 16, and haven't regretted it ever since. My task field might be a bit more unconventional, however ... I work technically the most in urban environments," they explain, "meaning that I mediate a lot between pokémon and human, take care that nesting's proper, and also check on the sewers once in a while."

Thea Naito

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Lutgarde hums and grins. "True words, truly," they laugh, "There's a lot of good food around there, so why limit yourself by being picky? No offense though, too, but ... yeah." They understand texture or smell issues, and were quite glad that they could just wolf down just about anything if it's edible. "What do you want to be?" they do ask, curiously. It doesn't immediately cross their mind that people might be undecided.

The ranger nods, thoughtful. They, frankly, aren't entirely sure what to say, but nod, "I see." Maybe it's best to bury the topic for now, even if they wish to comfort Thea in it somehow, they probably aren't the right person for it.

They laugh at the overprotectiveness of Papa Thea, "Kids will always be kids in parents' eyes. I've moved out for years, and everytime I come back, it's the same old, really. But I'd love to visit Kalos together, sometime. It's really beautiful - I wouldn't even know where to start ... Lumiose City, of course, is a must-go-to, at least once. A bustling city, but not everyone's taste ... but there's a lot of other places, too."

While Thea's talking, they also start eating - a sandwich disappears in a flash. They then nod, smiling. "It's good work, yes. Not always the easiest, of course, especially with tensions being so high, but ... I wouldn't want to do anything else." They laugh as Thea mentions venturing the wild, "Got a little adventurer here then, hm?"

Thea Naito

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Lutgarde listens with a smile, nodding at the many ventures that Thea would like to pursue in the future - and then there's the question about how to unite them, make them fit "one" singular job description. "Maybe you don't have to be one singular thing?" Lutgarde muses. They're not the best with words, but they've been surrounded by wisened folk - or something like that. At least, some of the talks they've shared on the porch, they'd never ever forget. "I'm not sure how yet, but we aren't ... ever, really, just one thing. If you pursue one over the other for the moment, it doesn't mean you'll have to keep doing this thing forever. You shouldn't limit your mind, especially if you're so young - but even if you're old. There's - there's never only one way."

They hope their point somehow gets across - if they even truly remember what their point even is. And, the mention of a Dojo does pique their interest. "Oh? That's very cool! What kind of Dojo is it?" they ask. They might be interested in stopping by every once in a while ... and Thea makes for an impressive fighter, so her mentor must be even more impressive.

Lutgarde grins after the successful tease, but they could understand. "Yeah. Being outside, seeing the far horizon ... or even just trees, wondering how far they stretch as you run around ..." They sigh, smiling. They love city life, but there'd always be a special place for the wilderness in their heart, kept safe by their younger self.

At the question how they knew that they wanted to become a ranger, they actually become a little bit pensive - for the fraction of a second, it seems like dark clouds come up, but they're quickly dispersed. Making the broodiness seem like an illusion as they laugh, maybe a bit embarrassed, "I've, too, always been the helpful type, just doing what I can where I can. It's ... yeah, it didn't have to be ranger." They lean back, taking a sip of their drink and eating a macaron in one bite. "My village's a bit off the road, and we rarely ever get visitors or travellers that are just passing through, it's fairly ... closed, in a way. So rangers were about the most regular type of people that come by, so they had that ... that fascinating novelty, if you get what I mean? And eventually, as I started training, it was ... it clicked. Something clicked. Working with both pokémon and human in my field especially, bridging this gap for co-existence is an extremely awesome job, I think."

Thea Naito

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Lutgarde nods. They could understand the feeling, and ... it's not like their school itself has done a good job of showing them what an actual job is going to be like. "Ranger is also something that some do part-time, if that's something you want to consider, too. A Dojo might be a bit tougher to handle, but, you know ... you don't have to do anything alone, either." They think back on their community back home, always supporting one another - maybe the first inspiration that they wanted to be that personified. The troubles that Thea brings up are also valid, and they ponder for a moment.

They smile fondly at Thea's explanation of the Dojo, the passion that she clearly has for it. "I really need to check out the place, it sounds amazing ... do you have a card or something? Or write me the adress on a napkin later." Then, after a moment, they start speaking again, adding, "I don't want to push for ranger, or anything, but ... I've learned that many different experiences can also help with like, one thing. Your experiences as ranger - as challenger, pokémon coordinator, contestant - can also help with the Dojo. Maybe it would help not to see them as different things, but the same, just varied? Like the saying goes ... Jack of all Trades, Master of None, but oftentimes better than a Master of One. Or, in a more direct example," they laugh, not believing that they'd bring out all those idioms that used to fly over their head, "a village is a city, too. A place where we live together, ultimately. There's conveniences from the city we don't have to miss out on; there's no need to feel lost and alone amongst skyscrapers and asphalted streets."

That, at least, is what they think and try to achieve.

Their clear passion for the intertwining of pokémon and human, co-existence and helping it around is clearly also audible in their voice as they think back on the very beginning. They don't notice how Thea's swept up by it, being thrown around by the wind itself, as well. At the compliment, Lutgarde looks surprised, and almost a little bit sheepish. "Oh, oh thanks!" they laugh, embarrassed but also pleased. "I'm very sure you will be, Thea."

Thea Naito

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Lutgarde smiles, satisfied and content that their message came across. They felt quite pleased with themself, having hopefully been able to open Thea's eyes to a more relaxed view towards her future - the future is uncertain as is already, no need to make it worse.

"Yes, exactly! It's not a bad idea to spread out when you feel like it." The topic of the Dojo seems very dear to Thea indeed, and they grin at her enthusiasm. "Thanks! I'll definitely make sure to stop by soon ..." They look at the opening hours, and nod, "Probably going to be either in the early mornings or late evenings, unless we talk Saturday ..." But even then, Lutgarde likes being available at any time for any mission that they could reasonably finish ... and even those that were over their head.

(They aren't entirely sure how to deal with the fangirling, while pleasantly surprised, they're also quite out of their depths in a good way.)

Lutgarde has sneaked in a few more sandwiches during their conversation, and finished everything on their plate just as Thea finished her macarons. "Now, time for-" ... Just as they were thinking about liking to be on-call any time. "Hmm. We might need to take a raincheck on the shopping? Just got a mission in," they explain with an apologetic smile. Of course, they could decline, but ... if not them, then who? is a mindset they couldn't really let go of.

Thea Naito