[attr="class","littleollie"] Soon enough, all of Ollie's hard work pays off. The stars that burst behind Gideon's expression are reward enough, though the part that gets in his face comes as a bit of a surprise. As he pulls himself to his feet, he's quick to grab a nearby tissue to clean up, but he can't help the grin stretching across his cheeks.

[break][break] "I'm surprised as much as you."

[break][break] It's not that Ollie hasn't had his own share of exhibitionism before, but there's something about the fact that he's gotten Gideon to do it that makes it special.

[break][break] "Mm." Feeling the touch of GIDEON GRAVES's thumb, the Head Ranger's gaze flutter closed as he relishes in the touch. Then he opens his eyes again, immediately reaching for the Museum Director's own, going to intertwine their hands.

[break][break] "You act like you didn't enjoy it," he said with a breathless laugh, clearly unfazed by the rebuke. Something tells him that things would have played out very differently if they had been caught up in Ollie's little antics.

[break][break] He leans forward still, close enough to brush their lips together but not quite.

[break][break] "But I know you did."

[break][break] Fingers graze the other's shirt, fixing his collar.

[break][break] "I'd love to stay, but I'm sure you have a lot of things to do. Mr. Fancy Museum Director."

[break][break] He smirks.

[break][break] "But maybe, I'll see you later tonight?"

[break][break] A pause.

[break][break] "Unless — you haven't forgiven me yet."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] GIDEON GRAVES [break]
canon connections

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] Ollie blinks.

[break][break] He's not one for compliments — at least, not for receiving them. He's usually the one dishing them out.

[break][break] "You flatter me," he says, letting out a laugh. "There's no way. But if there is - it's only because of the work you and the League already do, Commissioner."

[break][break] He grins, but as he turns his head, his expression shifts to a wistful stare at the nearby food cart, where the mouthwatering aroma of Kanto-themed dango fills the air. He hands over dollar bills, buying some dango for them both, offering her the skewer.

[break][break] "But seriously - thanks for the opportunity. I've always wanted to give back to the Rangers for everything they've done to me, so I'm happy to work alongside them."

[break][break] His eyes gleam emerald, matching his scarf, as he wraps his mouth around the sweet glaze.

[break][break] "To lead them."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] dahlia goode [break]
swept under the rug

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] To help Pokemon and humans alike, hadn't Ollie had heard the same before? Hadn't he wanted the same before?

[break][break] Part of him admired Noel Parker's idealism — it reminded him of a younger version of himself.

[break][break] "If the people you want to fight most with are Rocket, then why the Rangers?"

[break][break] Of all the sectors of the League, it was the Rangers that held the most contention when it came to their faction-based war. After all, the Rangers had an Amnesty program that supported the very people that Noel Parker wanted to fight.

[break][break] "You can continue the gym circuit, become a strong trainer or even a Gym Leader that fights them on the frontlines."

[break][break] He crosses his arms.

[break][break] "What would you do if you had to fight alongside an ex-Rocket?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Noel Parker

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] Maybe he'd regret it later.

[break][break] His honesty and loyalty were both the best parts about him, and also his greatest weakness.

[break][break] It was the kind of thing that people like PENELOPE LIVY undoubtedly struggled with.

[break][break] "Anything's possible, Anna."

[break][break] The last few weeks had taken it's tole on the Head Ranger. Part of him wanted to keep his head in the sand and pretend that things weren't getting as bad as they were, but after everything that had happened near Dewford and then later, during Area Zero, he knew that there was only so much that they could avoid.

[break][break] And it was better to be prepared now, then caught off guard.

[break][break] Instinctively, he brought his hand to his chest, fiddling with the bandages.

[break][break] "what do we do if they get evergrande?"

[break][break] "I - "

[break][break] The honest truth was that he didn't know. But he didn't want to tell her that. He was supposed to be the person that she looked to for support, not the other way around.

[break][break] "They're not going to get Evergrande," he said instead, firmly. "Because we'll make sure they won't."

[break][break] After all, in all the years that the war had been going on, they hadn't been breached. Right? So why would any of that change now?

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] annalise henderson

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] If Ollie didn't know any better, he would've thought that they were just talking a peaceful walk together. Sunlight trickled down through the treetops, creating beautiful patches of light that dappled the path ahead.

[break][break] But they weren't. This was something important.

[break][break] "It's scary," Ollie confirms. His voice is gentle as he watches Yuina Higashi, her face twisted on consternation. He didn't know exactly what it was like to be targeted, but he could only imagine. He'd felt like that in the years after Kanto, when he'd been trying to run away from everything.

[break][break] "But remember - you're not alone. I'm here. The League's here. We're all here to help you." He glanced upwards to see if Saffron had found anything. When he didn't see the pokemon return, he looked at Yuina, gesturing to the small patch of fabric that she clutched close to her chest.

[break][break] "What's that?"

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Yuina Higashi [break]
A DEADLY JOB

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] As Remiel Calcifet explained how he was attacked - no, targeted by several high profile Rocket members, Ollie frowned. He made a note to make sure to include it into the Ranger report that he would write later, and also see if any other Rockets would know those telltale names. Something told him that maybe PENELOPE LIVY would recognize the name THEO BECKETT, though he wasn't exactly sure why.

[break][break] "Well," he said with a sigh. "It's unfortunate we lost the light stone, but at least -" He flashed a smile then. "We still have you in one piece."

[break][break] He opened his mouth to say more when Remiel Calcifet's words of doubt make him widen.

[break][break] "Oh! No. Not at all!"

[break][break] Ollie's quick to shake his head and dismiss such allegations. Putting aside everything else, he considered the former Ambassador a friend, and he was genuine in his words that he was happy to see him in one piece.

[break][break] "Actually," he said, clearing his throat, finally retrieving the folder in his hands. Ollie is unable to help the grin from his face, heart thrumming with the excitement of such news. They had such terrible things happen recently, it was nice to finally be able to have some good news to share. "It's the opposite."

[break][break] With that, he hands the folder over to Remiel. As soon as the other man would open it, he would find the unmistakable AQUA seal, as well as a contract and further contents that would seal the former ambassador's invitation to League's finest.

[break][break] "We're here to welcome you to AQUA."

[break][break] "Well, of course, if you want it."

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Remiel Calcifet PENELOPE LIVY

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] Oh.

[break][break] Ollie had been so focused on trying to explain why they needed to support the Amnesty Program, he hadn't thought much beyond that. He had been prepared to explain to FERNANDO SILPH all the ways that it was important to give even ex-Rockets a place in society, to explain to him that there were people that were worth saving that he hadn't even considered the practicality of it.

[break][break] "Oh. Uh."

[break][break] ollie morales was many things. Charming, outgoing, friendly. He had all the vibrancy of his sister Eva Morales, but there was one - important - thing that set them apart.

[break][break] "I hadn't thought about that."

[break][break] Ollie frowned.

[break][break] "What do you think?"

[break][break] Eva Morales was the smart one in the family for a reason.

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] FERNANDO SILPH [break]
sleepless in slateport

☉

[attr="class","littleollie"] Despite his general confidence, Ollie admittingly has little about this topic. But he can't let Thomas Benoit know that. He can't let the Rangers know that.

[break][break] If they really are one of the two only men who were somehow safe, they have to work together if they're going to solve things. Not crumble into rubble before they can even get started.

[break][break] "Oh sure. Of course."

[break][break] Ollie blinks with surprise, then reminds himself that people on Hoenn - especially people like Thomas Benoit - have closer connections with the League then he ever had. Well, not until recently that is.

[break][break] The Head Ranger then leans over in to his desk, pulling out a drawer and fashioning out what looks to be a beeper.

[break][break] "This isn't perfect, but it's better phones or radio signals in case things go awry. Those are things that can be hacked into."

[break][break] Ollie felt like a boy again, listening to his father explain the semantics of what could happen if someone broke into their house in Kanto.

[break][break] His adam's apple bobs uncertainly.

[break][break] "If you have time, you and I can head out to Area Zero to see if we can scope out any clues. Maybe by the time we get back, we'll have heard from one of them by now." He lets out a laugh that sounds perhaps a bit too breathless. "Imagine they're orchestrating some sort of surprise party without us, and just don't want us to know."

[break][break] Ollie glances at him, expression light.

[break][break] "You have a birthday coming up, Benoit?"

[break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Thomas Benoit

☉