Though his primary duties were intended for work outdoors, Wren occasionally enjoyed volunteering at passing pokecenters when he had the chance. If anything, just to assist fielding intake on paarcularly busy days.[break][break]

He wasn’t a veterinarian by any stretch or means, but often took care to have Pokémon with healing based moves on his team. So occasionally, he could be of use for little injuries or maladies.[break][break]

Today, however, he’d been relegated to the desk itself to oversee new patients who had come in. He’d been there for a few hours, though, and so had been relieved for a short break. He’d noticed the boy with his joltik as he was leaving the desk, but it wasn’t until the whole gang had settled into launch on a pile of fries that the ranger said something.[break][break]

“Oh, all of your joltik are so cute!” Wren couldn’t help but comment from where he sat nearby with a sandwich. Eagerly, Juno was waiting under his chair— the leafeon dutiful in her effort to vacuum up anything he accidentally dropped, even though she’d already had a full meal of her own.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Hideo Kino      [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

Things definitely felt awkward. Though not in a way that Wren considered to be damaging to them. They just…needed to figure out how to navigate the shift that had occurred between them, and they were totally capable of it. He believed in them. Wholeheartedly![break][break]

He’d tried to instruct Juno to slow up a bit, but she was bigger now and couldn’t help that she kept outpacing Minerva. Though her softness for the eevee was obvious—she kept circling back to her and making sure she could be nudged along.[break][break]

Wren’s smile widened, and he looked down at their swinging hands bashfully as his own squeezed back. “Good, I’m glad. I like…this.” It was almost funny how aware of it he was now, considering how touchy he’d always been in the past without a second thought.[break][break]

“Oh, a smoliv!” It stood bright green and shivery with nerves against the snow. If it was anything like his own, a warm welcome would be well received. “C’mere lil buddy,” he said as he stooped down, opening his free arm for it to scurry over so he could scoop it up.[break][break]

Even then, when he was trying to catch something, he was reluctant to let go of Levy’s hand and so they remained tangled together as Wren stood again, smoliv tucked into his arm. “I have a friend who would probably love to have one of these!”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Levy Alinsky     [break]
poison/bug/grass // catching smoliv!

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

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Out of the frying pan and into the fire, right?[break][break]

Er, maybe he should’ve been easing back into work and more active jobs carefully, given the weakness that came with being off of his ankle for nearly two months now. But Wren only grew more restless the longer he was forced to, well, rest. So it had been no question in his mind to pick up on a task as soon as he was provided the opportunity.
That said, however, this particular excursion felt a bit nerve wracking.[break][break]

He’d only been back to Littleroot once in the time that had passed since the battle that had ripped through the sleepy town. And it definitely hadn’t been in pursuit of what he’d seen in the sinkhole. But the request for extra bodies had also suggested a preference for those who had been there. Or at least, the extra knowledge might prove useful. Or maybe it was bringing Levy Alinsky along that would prove to be Wren’s fumble, but he was reluctant to part from the other now—even if he was a bit of a black sheep in the party of leaguers. But it was totally cool! Wren could play dumb…totally…[break][break]

His glance drifted toward the other as his voice lowered in question. Reflexively, his fingertips brushed against Levy’s and he smiled, bright and enthusiastic as ever. “I’m sure! It’ll be good to move my ankle, don’t worry.” As if that were a feasible ask.[break][break]

As paxton concordas took over to prep the group, Wren nodded along, absentmindedly patting himself down like he was checking for each mentioned piece of gear. He’d at least met the other at rangers potluck months prior, but luka chêne was a new face to him. When she chimed in apprehensively, Wren gave her the most reassuring smile he could manage, along with a thumbs up. “I’m sure it can’t be that creepy! We got this, how back can it be?” From his side, Juno trilled her own added encouragement, the leafeon’s ears twitching excitedly.[break][break]

Famous last words?

[attr="class","bottom"]Levy Alinsky luka chêne paxton concordas [break]

Was this a date? Could this be called a date?[break][break]

Even a simple walk through the snow-laden woods felt like a date, as they wandered down a path they’d taken countless times before. It was cold, and it made his ankle ache even through the boots and several layers of clothing he’d put on. But he was told that it was good to practice moving around on it again. Gently so.[break][break]

and he could be careful! He wouldn’t trip. Probably, maybe. Hopefully.[break][break]

To one side, Juno trotted along—obviously proud of her newly evolved state. The stark green against her pale cream fur stood out harsh next to the crisp, white snow. And on Wren’s other side, Levy. The source of his newfound overthinking. Currently, his hands were shoved in the pockets of his dark jacket, but literally as soon as one emerged (maybe he was gonna scratch his nose or something?) Wren tangled it with his own.[break][break]

…only to quickly flush bright red. “Uh, is that okay? I hope that’s alright, I-I mean, er…” 
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Levy Alinsky     [break]
poison/bug/grass // notes xo

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]

“Oh…do you have one? Not here?”[break][break]

The events of Littleroot are temporarily forgotten. “Yep! Don’t want to harm the whole batch.” Wren nods eagerly.[break][break]

“Hm? oh, yeah!” Some of his apprehension fades, at least for the moment. “I’m mostly taking online classes right now, but I’m studying botany. And my dad is in agriculture, so..you know, kinda grew up around it.”[break][break]

That telltale friendliness of his seeps back in, steadily growing with every word. The nervousness he felt over Elijah’s flattened expression and blunt tone fluttering away with the breeze.[break][break]

Intimidated or not, he was the one to help Wren when he needed it. It will do Wren well not to forget that fact.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

elijah gardner [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-salandit"]

Wren’s own search from the other end of the tundra had yielded little results as well. He’d only read a bit about what had happened with Kyurem—mostly public report. But it was plain to see the effect it had left behind in the display of dozens of frozen up Pokémon along the way. The ones who hadn’t been so fortunate to take cover. It made his own heart ache to see. And it was a little frustrating that even if they, as rangers, did their utmost, it could still pale in comparison to greater forces.[break][break]

But wow! The beedrill was definitely a big distraction from his dour thoughts. “Yep! That’s me! And this is Basil, annnnnnd Juno!” He patted his gogoat in reference, then pointed down to the leafeon trotting alongside them. His eyes were still a bit wide as he regarded the rider and her massive Pokémon.[break][break]

She looked extra large, maybe that was important, but at the reassurance, he gave the beedrill a polite nod—figuring that maybe respect could go a long way. Then his gaze lifted back to Shalin. “I've just never seen anyone ride a beedrill before! That’s pretty awesome!” And also wildly daunting, but she looked way more up to the task than he was. As their discussion turned toward their task, Wren’s brows furrowed as he frowned lightly. “No, not a thing. They’re probably hiding? I would imagine it’s difficult to handle the cold.” [break][break]

But that begged the question— where were the rest hunkered down?

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

Shalin Nariya   [break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-leafeon"]