What had been a supposed campfire in the park had turned sour. This was why there was a temporary fire ban, people. So that idiots who can't control the height of the flames wouldn't set the whole goddamn place on fire.

Too late, I guess.

Stormy gets the call and she's already on her way - as usual. It doesn't take her long to arrive, already halfway dismounted from her black Charizard before a familiar voice beckons to her. He's crude in his approach and it makes her catch her breath and blink in disgruntled surprise. Maybe even a bit of disgust? Did he really just use the phrase 'damn girl'?

"Excuse me?"

It takes her a moment to recognise him. After all, she hadn't exactly gotten a good look the first time they'd met. It was dark, she distinctly remembered a flashlight in her eyeballs, and a couple of explosions. Not a great mix for remembering specific faces. That and he's dressed in a flattering suit and she's momentarily distracted by it all.

Fortunately, the fire in the park and the shouting of other rangers landing was enough to bring her back.

"Officer Kipling, always a pleasure. Mind telling me what the situation is, or are you planning on staring all day?"

Abner Armstrong

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She does a double-take, glancing at him with warmth creeping into her cheeks at his forward comment. He's not looking at her when she goes to study his face and read whatever intent he may have had behind his words. She finds nothing and she isn't sure if that intrigues her more or unsettles her. She chooses to swallow it, whatever it is, and move on.

"What Pokemon is it?"

Her eyes narrow as she stares into the fire. She can see several Blastoise and Swampert hard at work battling back flames. Mud is sprayed, hydro pumps pouring into the heart of the flames. But it seems as though there's a source - a Pokemon encouraging the flame and feeding it despite everyone else's attempts to slow it.

But she isn't sure she can make out the culprit. It vaguely resembles a Houndoom, perhaps. It wouldn't surprise her, but was it truly capable of such firepower? Just who did this beast belong to?

Unfortunately, her train of thought is put on hold as she finds herself involuntarily exhaling in surprise at Abner's following comment. Was he flattering her?

"Something like that."

She clears her throat, avoiding direct eye contact with the man as she decides to roll up her metaphorical sleeves (because she doesn't wear sleeves) and brave the flames. Wadjet takes off to fly above, fanning the worst of it away from her trainer. Someone douses the woman in water to help her fight the flames as well, much to her chagrin.

Abner Armstrong

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Water evaporates easily off of her exposed skin, but the buffer is well received. It appears that, upon entering the wall of fire, there's a haggard and stressed female Houndoom at the center of it. The female is breathing heavily, standing over a bundle of eggs that may or may not have had a 'for sale' sign. If it had, it's long since been turned to ash.

Another Houndoom lays nearby, fainted. Several water-type Pokemon are advancing slowly, careful not to put too much pressure on the anxious mama.

In fact, it ends up being Stormy who calms the situation. The flames don't reach her and her super calm composure is startling and relieving for the Houndoom mama. The poor hound's entire body is trembling with the effort of her fight and she ultimately gives in to the woman's gentle touch and soothing words.

The flames die down all at once, embers put out by the remaining water-type Pokemon on duty. But there's still a crime to be had here, and Stormy lifts her head from cradling the Houndoom to gesture to the two men still arguing.

"Officer Kipling, it might be a good idea to put those two in custody for the time being. Get this whole thing sorted out. There's supposed to be protocol for breeder exchanges, and this definitely wasn't it."

Abner Armstrong

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The cleanup is quick and efficient. The officers step in to confiscate the Pokemon and the eggs and she's left to stand up on her own and dust off her pants. Rather than join his comrades, however, Abner chooses to join her at her side again - and she can't shake the prickling feeling of crackling anticipation whenever he draws near.

She glances at him as he uses a pet name, 'Silphette'. It causes an instinctive reaction to her face, brows raising.

"Silphette? Just Stormy is fine, officer."

But she finds herself following the tail end of the exhausted mama and papa Houndoom. She crosses her arms and sighs.

"They're incredible Pokemon, I have one myself. But they're a handful if you aren't careful with them. More headstrong than your average Arcanine - even though they're about half the size."

She shifts her weight, bringing her attention back to Abner more directly.

"Sure, I'm more than happy to lend a hand where it's needed. I'm only a phone call away - usually."

Abner Armstrong

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Stormy regards him a moment longer, oddly amused by the lazy way he interacted and otherwise carried himself. He's interesting, and she finds herself drawn to it like a moth to flame.

But then he's holding out his phone and she's hesitating, visibly shocked. While she had offered - she had more accurately assumed the police station already had her number, or had access to it via contact with the rangers. It hadn't occurred to her that he might actually want her number.

This wasn't weird, right?

"Oh? Alright."

She adds her name to his list of other contacts, keeping it as simple as 'Stormy Silph'. She passes it back.

"Now... don't get any ideas, alright?"

But she winks.

Abner Armstrong

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Oh no.

She had winked and the grin on his face was telling - she had overstepped and given him ideas. It warrants an involuntary blush as she chuckles nervously.

"I--"

But ultimately she comes up with nothing good to say, people are watching (kind of) and, while they really pay them no mind, Stormy has no intention of drawing attention to herself. Especially not now that she's embarrassed and flustered.

The feeling only worsens when he opts to ask her out. He's confident, cheeky, and she's overwhelmed.

"What happened to 'no ideas'?"

She's smiling as she shakes her head.

"Depends on the movie."

Abner Armstrong

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"Hmmm..."

Stormy studies his face a moment as she thinks, perhaps trying to perceive if he's being serious or just coy. But he's still smiling and it's making her feel warm and overwhelmed.

He seems.. genuine, at least somewhat. Pushing her with only subtlety to make a decision on a movie.

"I'm sure there's an action movie or something to see..."

She can't help but return the smile he gives her, watching to see his reaction.

Abner Armstrong

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