“An understatement if ever I’ve heard one.”[break][break]

Her dessert of choice is a pure mound of vanilla, no toppings, no specials, a bland abomination courtesy of a life lived more carefully and wretchedly than aught else.[break][break]

“You know, Mr. Graves—”[break][break]

They had reached first name basis by now. Her version of affection was simply pulling at the last name in all directions, like death by quartering.[break][break]

“—my most recent posting in Hoenn has no end date. None at all.”[break][break]

A fat-faced fidough ambles by, followed by a couple.[break][break]

“A lot of us were sent here this time. A lot of things are mobilizing.[break][break]

Ah… it’s enough to make me want seconds.”

“Aw, would that be nice?”[break][break]

The grin flashes quickly before settling into melancholy. She leans back too, letting the sun cast its drowsy spell and the wind carry away all intransigence.[break][break]

“Actually, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Living or dying, I go at it alone.”[break][break]

Every pause is accentuated by the slow demise of her cone.[break][break]

“Stay too long in one place, then people get to know you, yes? They remember your mistakes. They learn what makes you tick.”[break][break]

All deeply undesirable outcomes.

The studious and genteel older brother: described now and then between the placement of chess pieces, when companionable silence had run its course.[break][break]

Her lips pull together in an ugly grimace. It is the very picture of transparency.[break][break]

“My brother would have said the same, but those mistakes got him killed.”[break][break]

The pause doesn’t sit long this time. The darkness beyond that door is easily held at bay with just a simple lock, albeit worn from twenty years of doing its duty.[break][break]

“But it was a very long time ago. I don’t think that’s the reason.”[break][break]

The worse truth was that there was no reason at all. These habits, these cruel inclinations, are senseless and traceless.[break][break]

“Ugh!” She slaps her cheeks lightly and stands up. “Let’s go for a walk—feed some pidoves, maybe.”

She nods at his apology, understanding it was a pleasantry but taking minor pleasure in its offering nonetheless.[break][break]

They stroll in the quiet past trees of somerset, past senior citizens reading their newspapers and joggers plugged into their playlists.[break][break]

The exchange at said food stall is brief and sweet.[break][break]

Making herself comfortable by a tree, Yujin tosses some of the treats at the more inquisitive pidoves gathering nearby—overhand throws, like she’s trying to score goals in their little beaks.[break][break]

They don’t really learn the game.[break][break]

“When this war does break out, where do you want to be?”

There is a draw in having a concise purpose. He can be a sword or a shield because he’s already a knight, raised to the banner and outfitted in the arms of the land.[break][break]

She is more like an arrow. Stuffed with tar. Set alight.[break][break]

“Like you, I’m wherever they put me. And that’s also where I want to be.”[break][break]

She passes him some more treats and vaguely wonders how tasty they would be.[break][break]

“Mm… before, I would have said one of the small towns. I usually cover the rural areas. But lately I’ve been chained to Mossdeep.” Because of the Space Center, though that was less because of Interpol and more because of their contract with the Aether Foundation.[break][break]

“So there's a chance we might not be fighting together after all! What shame.”

“Of course. A woman must keep some mystery around herself.”[break][break]

Without that, are we even worth chasing?[break][break]

The HBIC and Interpol had a long-standing relationship, but they were ultimately separate agencies with typical politicking. Sometimes Big Brother forgets birthdays and sends a card instead.[break][break]

The last of the treats is flung from Yujin’s hand, leaving only crumb dust which she wipes away.[break][break]

She gestures back to the park plaza with a tilt of her head. “Ready for another round of chess, dear Gunner? As always, loser buys dessert. Though perhaps all this ice cream is making us tubby... hmm. We should run laps to compensate.”