The sight of the weapons and vehicles alike that Rocket had in their employ was not the most comforting. It was yet another reminder, of what was to come - of the violence and death that many were all too comfortable with inflicting.

They thought to the offer that Howard had made once upon a time, of them going back home, to Johto, for a bit. Of getting to revisit their roots. Perhaps they should have taken him up on it; though there were better times and places to lament it.

In the meantime, they'd glance to the man in question who they had accompanied here, asking "Where should we start, do you think?"

After his walking freezer got corrupted by Eternatus and tried to destroy Dewford Island, Howard didn't think his month could get any worse. Of course, the admin was wrong. Being right was getting harder and harder, it felt.

That plan to supercharge Regice to beat Eternatus? That had blown up in his face. All he had gotten from that deal was a glowing red Regice that had tried to kill everyone, and it must've realized that Howard wanted Eternatus dead, because it had made sure to douse him in enough Dynergy to shorten his lifespan by at least a decade.

But wait! Howard got to throw hands with Registeel the Friendly Giant! Regice must've told Registeel what Howard's plan was, because it had seemed especially interested in killing him.

Then, after cobbling back home to rest, Jayden and Barnaby had dragged his dilapidated corpse out for a few pre-war exercises! Luckily it was with Makoto—he liked Makoto—but the admin needed rest and enough time to scream into a pillow, not time preparing and overseeing certain aspects of wartime practice.

Still, he put on a winning smile. Act happy, be happy.

"Well, my disciple..." He clapped Makoto on their shoulder. "I think it's finally time that you got your driver's license."

---

Makoto Kurumi
VEHICLES GO BRRRRR

Driver's license? Makoto blinked a good few times. "I... I've never actually... Learned to drive..." They confessed sheepishly, suddenly feeling a little self conscious. It wasn't as though they ever had to; between Yurei, Nobusuma, Ryuu, and even Kuro's Phantom Force, they had options for getting around. And these options were often faster or more convenient than a car, at that!

It didn't help that none of the vehicles here really read 'baby's first car' material. It was all military stuff - things with guns strapped on or made to transport supplies around. None of it was anything that they felt anywhere near comfortable getting behind the wheel of; and so, they found themself inspecting the different vehicles more than actually trying to drive one.

Their gaze drifted back over to Howard, questioning "Are you sure that using these for a driving lesson is a good idea..?" Something told Makoto that they'd sooner crash something on accident.

"Of course!" Howard clapped Makoto on the shoulder and guided them towards a jeep loaded with turrets on the back and front, the barrels large enough to fit shells and bullets capable of ripping the wings off of flying Pokémon. It didn't matter what type you were, a 30-cal was always super effective. "I've paid for half of them!"

Why in Arceus's name had jayden cross stockpiled a ton of vehicles in a city that was surrounded by water was beyond Howard, but he wasn't a military professional. He just signed checks and cashed them and paid for whatever the organization needed.

"Keys!" He snapped his fingers, and a grunt tossed them to him. He tossed them to Makoto, before sliding into the passenger sheet. "Come, sit! You've got a lot to learn, Makoto. First, a clutch..."

He rambled on, ignoring the pain wracking his body. Keep on pretending. Keep on pretending. Keep on lying. Be someone else.

Be Amor Rose.

"And that, Makoto, is what we call a steering wheel."

---

Makoto Kurumi

Makoto nearly fumbled the keys that had been tossed to them. But even once they get a proper grip on them, it takes Howard's voice calling to them for them to stop staring at the keys sitting in their palm. They jump a bit, glancing over to the weaponized jeep, and - though reluctantly - settle into the driver's seat.

There's so many buttons, levers, bells and whistles... Though parts of Howard's teaching makes them feel like a child, Makoto almost can't help but take at least some comfort in it. In being able to simply turn off parts of their brain and just nod along as he puts a name and description to each mechanism that they can file away in their mind.

Of course, it didn't completely wash away the anxiety that was gripping in their chest, but... It was something. It certainly distracted them from a small impulse nagging at the back of their head, to look a little deeper into Howard's body language, his expressions.

It takes, perhaps, a bit too long - in part due to a little bit of fumbling from shaky hands - for Makoto to put the key in the ignition, and turn the jeep on. It takes another few seconds and perhaps a light prompting, for Makoto's hand to drift down and put the jeep into drive.

And the first thing that became clear as day, was that Makoto was going very. Very. Slow. Wo-Chien itself could outpace them with ease, if it so deigned. Granted, with how many things there were in here as potential obstacles, could you blame them for trying to be careful? Even if a lot of this was paid for on Howard's money, the last thing they wanted to do was make him needlessly spend more.

Perhaps he'd be able to see it, the tight grip they held on the steering wheel, the way their eyes kept darting between every little dial on the dash and ahead of them, as if expecting something to jump out and attack them. They were not used to this, at all; they were pretty sure they still had zero clue what they were doing.

Though, amidst the driving, a grunt watching this go on would pipe up. "Hey, c'mon!" He called - not necessarily jeering or taunting, but still playful and teasing. "You can drive faster than that, this ain't a parking lot!"

Makoto jumps in their seat a little at the call - blinking, glancing first to the grunt, then to Howard. There is a questioning gaze in their eyes - unsure of what to do. Should they go faster? Should they keep going at it slow?

Makoto Kurumi was, in fact, a very slow driver. Cripplingly so. Their skills at snatching intelligence and espionage were impeccable, and their illusions were second only to Rocket's newest set of Avatars, but their skill outmatched Beast Frost and Admin Bee. Still, their driving skills were...

...depressing.

...sad.

...slow.

Amor could fly from Kalos to Hoenn by the time Makoto and Howard left the parking lot. He could probably walk back, too. Still, Howard wasn't complaining. He just stared at the horizon and tried not to vomit. He barely noticed Makoto's glances in all the mirrors as his vision flickered.

They were like a kid learning their first car. He smiled at their panic.

"Careful." The admin gently squeezed their shoulder to reassure the grunt. "Don't ride the brake."

When a grunt shouted over at them, the admin raised an eyebrow and cursed. He didn't want to start something here, when he could barely stand, but there was little to be done. He gestured at the grunt and raised a hand.

There's dangerous material in this jeep. Return to your task, David. Remember who pays your salary!" The grunt retreated, and Howard slumped back in his seat. His face twitched in pain. "Prick."

He tapped Makoto again.

"Back up."

---

Makoto Kurumi

Makoto jumps a hair from the touch; but Howard's reassurances and instruction prompts them to take in a deep breath and nod. It helps encourage them to go a little faster, to dip their toe in the water a little more. They seem a bit more at ease, from the gesture.

It's definitely still in the category of 'slow', but it's a good step up nonetheless.

But, when Howard scolds the grunt, they blink and glance over to him proper - and they can't help but note that little twitch. And though they're quiet at first - double checking that the mirrors give them a good view behind them, before setting the jeep into reverse...

... They speak up, softly questioning "Are... Are you okay?" Their eyes do not leave the mirrors, but it's clear their attention's on Howard now. A lot of things have been going on - they hoped that he hadn't hurt himself too badly somewhere...

When they ask, the admin doesn't respond. He stared out beyond the horizon, his gaze draped in red from Dynergy that still marred the admin from a month prior. Dewford exploded beyond the horizon, and the admin heard distant screams and the thrum of Dynergy.

After that, Registeel's Dynergy Storm had sickened him further. He was a shade, a skeleton draped with skin. He closed his eye for a moment.

Yet he remained strong. He tried to, at least.

He opened it.

"I'm fine, don't worry." He smiled at them and gestured towards a lot left vacant. It was a perfect spot to park, with minimal risk to hitting any nearby vehicles. "Park over there. I need to run a few errands once we touch down."

He was silent for a spell, before addressing Makoto.

"You did good."

---

Makoto Kurumi

Liar, a small part of their mind whispered as Howard insisted he was fine; but Makoto lacked the spine to really wanna voice it. They simply nodded in response, unwilling to make a confrontation of it even if they were concerned for their friend. Who knows, for all they knew maybe he really was okay... Surely he'd say so if something was up, yeah?

At least, that's what they'd tell themself. They didn't want to worry any further. It'd only cause them a headache - and perhaps even heartache - if they lingered on it too much.

Instead, they turned their focus back to the driving - carefully bringing the jeep to a stop in the indicated lot. They pause to glance down and shift the vehicle into park, before turning it off...

... And as Howard praises them once more, Makoto casts a faint smile to him. They still felt like they'd rather riding a pokemon around... But, at the very least, learning a bit about driving was probably good.