June really wanted to play that game. Her bike wasn’t a speedster, but it also wasn’t slow like molasses. Furthermore, she drove for a living– basically. All she had to do was drive better than the cop, and she could theoretically get away from them. Slateport? Knew it like the back of her hand.

She revved the gas and started to pull away. Slightly. Ever so slightly. All it would take is a second for her to get a head start. Take a right, and go into the opening on the sidewalk? Home free. Guaranteed to finish it before it started.

But she didn’t. Instead, her tail lights flared red, and her speed slowly curled up and died. When she finally stopped and pulled up onto the sidewalk, she cursed herself out.

Damn annalise henderson . The ranger was a terrible influence on June. Old June would’ve not only gone for it but would’ve nailed it. Instead, she stopped like a loser. All because of the idea of her angry blue eyes that bore into her soul and made her do more work she hated.

If she got sent to clean out the injured Pokémon stalls one more time, she’d lose it on the spot.

But she did not take off her helmet. Instead, the pitch-black visor flipped up and two restrained eyes met with the officer. “What seems to be the problem?”

---

Miyako Noguchi

Great. She got the fucking alcoholic cop. At least, that’s her initial assumption. June recoiled from the potent stench of vomit and her raspy voice as she tried to play ‘nice’ cop. Almost made her want to laugh. Like an Oinkolonge trying to play human, except not even remotely as useful. It was just sad.

But said cop also held all the power here. So she kept the chuckle firmly in her dreams and the disgust from her eyes.

“What do you mean? Oh, the red light thing?” She jerked her thumb backward. “That was an accident. Sorry. Turned red at the last second, thought I’d make it if I sped up. No one was entering the intersection, yea?”

She was reckless, but she was certainly not stupid. Wasn’t going to risk her life to make it a minute faster for a delivery– that was what the Talonflame was for.

“I won’t do it again. Promise.”

June crossed her toes beneath her boots.

---

Miyako Noguchi

Junes mood soured faster than lightning, and her shoulders slumped lower than humanly possible. A ticket? What the fuck? She couldn’t afford that– literally. A million dollars didn’t get smaller in the blink of an eye. Even a fistful of bills would cost her months on her debts.

“I’m the only one at risk here, this bike only dents,” she shoved a gloved hand into the way of Miyako’s pen. The notepad sank slowly as June reached into her ass for something. Anything. What did pigs like to hear in times like this?

Maybe… that might work. It’d feel absolutely disgusting, but her pride was only so strong. June pulled at her jacket zipper, and then her collar. She pulled her arms back and squeezed tight onto her chest from the sides. For extra luck, she leaned a few inches forward and tilted her head down.

There wasn't much to work with, but it'd have to do. Please let her be a lesbian. Or bi. One of the two. “Last I checked, you don’t have to do things you don’t want to, baby. Nobody will know what happened here if neither of us say nothin’, yea?”

Arceus, maybe she should just try to run now. It’d be more dignified than this.

“What if we did something else for five minutes?”

Scratch that. Should’ve just reached for Miyako’s gun.

---

Miyako Noguchi

Gears turned in her head. The command processed inside her neurons and presented the reality of the situation to the logical side of her brain. That gun twinkled underneath the street light, and its call was intoxicating. All she had to do was reach for it, and it would be over. June Sleigh would cease to exist, and in the easiest way possible.

But Grigori would be sad. So she didn’t. Instead, she weighed the ramifications of being arrested. Running was a stop-gap. It wouldn’t save her. They’d just put a warrant on her head. Resisting would only add to the charges. Community service was… not the worst. Probably.

Wait a second.

“Um,” June quickly zipped up her jacket to avoid any more creepy stares from Miyako. Even if it was intentional, it was the last thing she actually wanted. She saw her gaze shift downward, even if only for a half-second.

“How much does it cost to get arrested? Money wise? Also, what law did I even break?"

---

Miyako Noguchi

That was a shit ton more money. This wasn’t worth it. This was a mistake. The gun called.

June ignored. She nodded along and took off her helmet. A full head of white hair greeted the world, and the helmet set itself on the handlebars. “Okay, alright. This bike is expensive, so let me put it on the sidewalk at least.”

Just needed a second. One measly moment. She pulled one leg over the bike, on the opposite side of Miyako, and began to walk the expensive and beloved motorcycle onto the side of the road. She glanced over once, then twice, and then–

“SEE YA SUCK–”

As soon as she tried to run, her face slammed into the metal pole. A stop sign, for the motorists still on the road and not breaking the law. The sign wiggled in place silently as June fell onto her back. Her head rang out hollowly, and it hurt like hell.

Slowly, she rolled over and pulled her hands behind her back. Defeat was an easy thing to claim. “Please be gentle with the bike. If it gets ruined I'm reaching for your gun.”

---

Miyako Noguchi