Yumi rolled her eyes. "Being charged with first degree murder was the reason Grandfather divorced her, remember? She's not in his will and has to build everything back up from nothing. She's paid plenty for her mistake." [break][break]

But Marilyn did not have nothing, not with Team Rocket supporting her. [break][break]

"Anyway, yes, I've met her. She's here in Hoenn, Sen. And she wants to meet you." Yumi gave him a pointed look, one that conveyed her expectation of his agreement. [break][break]

They reached the pho restaurant. Yumi led the way inside and sat down at a table in the back corner. The menu was a single page of laminated paper, the edges worn with plenty of use. She scanned the scant offerings and ordered a bowl of beef pho when the waiter came by with two glasses of water.

TAGS – Sen Hasegawa[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The idea of public indecency utterly repulsed Yumi, and her crinkled nose turned into a scowl. "You're full of shit." [break][break]

She thanked the lawyer and promised to talk with him over the phone to settle payment for his services. Then she grabbed Sen by arm and walked him out of the police station. "We can get food," she relented. [break][break]

Part of her wanted him to continue suffering with his hangover, but another part of her saw this as the perfect opportunity to raise a certain topic. She checked her phone for the nearest place to have a quick meal. [break][break]

"There's a pho restaurant down the street. Let's go." [break][break]

Yumi had half a mind to walk in silence, but she couldn't keep silent on the topic anymore. Glancing at her cousin from the corner of her eye, she said, "I don't know if you've heard, but Grandmother was released from prison, too, not long ago." [break][break]

There was no doubt of which grandmother she meant. Of the three women Yumi and Sen could call by that title, only one had been arrested and sentenced to decades of incarceration. [break][break]

MARILYN HASEGAWA.

TAGS – Sen Hasegawa[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

As Yumi walked into the police station, heels clicking, she repeated Sen's words in her head. A miscommunication. A little fight. Gods, had he picked a fight with someone on the street? [break][break]

Glancing around the precinct, she spotted a cop entering data into a computer and strode up to him. "Hello, excuse me. I'm here to pick up my brother, Sen Hasegawa," she said, keeping her tone pleasant despite the disgust rising in her throat. [break][break]

The cop directed her to a colleague, the actual officer who'd arrested her cousin. Unfortunately, the resulting exchange was lengthier than she'd hoped for. The lawyer—someone deep in Team Rocket's pocket and familiar with these incidents—arrived after five minutes and took over the conversation. Yumi sat beside him, listening intently, taking mental notes. [break][break]

Eventually, the police released Sen from the cell and let him sit with Yumi while the lawyer finalized his processing. [break][break]

"They're letting you go," she explained. "The crimes you were arrested for are relatively minor so they're slapping you with a fine, which I've already paid." She wrinkled her nose at him. "Seriously, though? Public indecency?"

TAGS – Sen Hasegawa[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi was grateful she was in the elevator when Sen finally confessed his location. "Prison?!" she shrieked. "What the fuck did you do?! Which prison?!" [break][break]

Logic told her that he was likely at a police station instead. Officers of the law couldn't just throw people into a detention center or correctional facility without a trial or hearing; that was illegal. But they could detain their arrests in holding cells until they finished processing. [break][break]

As soon as Sen gave her the name of the city, Yumi said, "I'm on my way. I'll call a criminal defense lawyer for you, too. Just stay put, and don't do anything stupid." [break][break]

She hung up, her heart hammering at a breakneck pace in her chest. Her brain was scrambling for the lessons her parents had taught her about legal procedures. Back in Johto, the Hasegawas had corrupt lawyers in their pockets who could handle any situation for them, but in Hoenn, she had no one. [break][break]

When the elevator stopped and the doors slid open, Yumi hurried through the casino lobby and down the front steps. At the street corner, she hailed a taxi. After sliding into the back seat and giving instructions to the Corviknight, she logged in to Team Rocket's database on her phone and looked through their network of resources. [break][break]

Fifteen minutes later, she stepped out of the taxi. Calm and collected, she strode up to the front doors of Slateport's lower district police station.

TAGS – Sen Hasegawa[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

After paying for a calendar, Yumi returned to her friends' side and started unwrapping it from the thin, protective plastic. "Let's take a look, shall we?" she said, giggling. Perhaps the spiced wine had affected her more strongly than she'd expected. [break][break]

Before she could open her prize, however, FIREWORKS bloomed across the sky, deafening all present with explosive noise. Yumi started at the sound and looked up, eyes wide. [break][break]

And then she smiled. What a wonderful day it had been. Not only did she have the chance to play in the snow, but she did it surrounded by friends. She took a deep, refreshing breath of crisp winter air.

TAGS – snowboy showdown 2024[break]
NOTES[break]
– open to interactions | outfit[break]
– Watching the fireworks with nabi park and Mei Liu.[break]
– Prompt: Reference the fireworks show.[break]
– Snowboy complete!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

As Yumi wandered the stalls with nabi park and Mei Liu, something unique caught her eye. She froze in her tracks, eyes wide, mouth open in shock. "Is that what I think it is?" [break][break]

She hurried over to the merchandise booth in question, not caring if her friends were following. Using her elbows to make room between two people (Alexei Ivanov and Elise Calcifet), she quickly snatched up the object that had grabbed her attention. [break][break]

"It is!" Yumi exclaimed, her shout quickly transforming into melodic laughter as she picked up the 2024 RANGER CALENDAR. She flipped it over to ogle the preview images on the back. [break][break]

"Look at how ridiculous this is!" she shouted to Mei and Nabi as she waved the calendar at them, pointing at it with her other hand. "I might just buy it!" [break][break]

Because who wouldn't want to look at attractive men and women from time to time?

TAGS – snowboy showdown 2024[break]
NOTES[break]
– open to interactions | outfit[break]
– Hanging out with nabi park and Mei Liu. Loudly laughs at the Ranger calendar.[break]
– Prompt: Purchase or look at a Ranger calendar.[break]
– Snowboy complete!

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Nabi's immediate acceptance was a pleasant surprise. A satisfied smile spread across Yumi's face. Reaching out, she rested her hand on Nabi's shoulder. [break][break]

"Wonderful. Consider this a bright new chapter of your life." [break][break]

Withdrawing, Yumi stood and walked back to her desk. She slid into her high-backed, comfortable chair and started tapping away at her keyboard. [break][break]

"I'll have a contract ready for you shortly. Once we both sign it, you're free to go." [break][break]

It was a simple and straightforward affair. Both women signed two identical pieces of paper after Nabi had time to read them. Then Yumi folded one and tucked it away into a drawer of her desk. [break][break]

"By the way, this is for you," she said before Nabi could leave. Quickly, she scribbled a phone number on a sheet of custom stationery and handed it to the younger woman. [break][break]

"My phone number, in case you need to reach me."

TAGS – nabi park[break]
NOTES – mission | outfit | office inspo

[attr="class","pkmn"]

"There's no need to decide right away," Yumi said, sensing Lex's hesitation. Anyone with sense knew better than to accept or refuse a proposal on the spot, anyway. [break][break]

To bring more ease to her friend, Yumi's expression softened into a familiar smile. "I just wanted to put the offer out there, in case it's something that interests you." [break][break]

A waitress came by with identical dishes of pork katsu, the crispy cutlet resting on a bed of rice and fresh vegetables. A small jar of katsu sauce accompanied each plate. The aroma was heavenly. Yumi picked up her chopsticks, ready to dig in. [break][break]

"But enough about work. Let's eat and catch up." And, because she recognized that Lex may not wish to speak about herself, she added, "I'll tell you all about how things are going."

TAGS – Alexandra Briarwood[break]
NOTES – social | outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

As Nikkari released his two Vulpix, Yumi opened the capsule housing her Tsareena. The Shadow Pokémon regarded her mistress and three other companions with an unreadable expression. [break][break]

Ignoring the silent judgment, Yumi nodded and started forward between the empty cells. "Just once, and not in any place like this," she admitted. "Nor do I recall seeing a prison among the buildings. We must be underground, or in another area of the kingdom." [break][break]

Finally, she turned to her Tsareena. [break][break]

"Kaori, scout ahead up those stairs and clear the rooms of anything hostile. We'll follow." [break][break]

At first, the Tsareena did not move to obey. Instead, she narrowed her eyes at Yumi as if sizing her up. Then, with some reluctance, she strode ahead and disappeared around a corner. [break][break]

TAGS – nikkari hect[break]
NOTES – mechanical kingdom #2

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Yumi and Lex had known each other for a long time. They'd met as children, became fast friends, and grew up together—at least, for a few years. Now, in the latter half of their twenties, they felt more like strangers. [break][break]

But Yumi saw the emotions erupt across Lex's face and knew exactly she neared a line she should not cross. Calmly, the black-haired woman took another sip of her plum wine. [break][break]

"Not the casino. I have enough staff there. I'm expanding my operations outside of Sootopolis. Sometimes shipments of goods need escorting, sometimes locations need guarding, and sometimes an arrogant fool needs to be reminded of their place." [break][break]

She set down her glass again. In a matter of minutes, her casual demeanor had transformed into no-nonsense business. The gleam in her eye was not amusement and curiosity but ambition. [break][break]

"You wouldn't have to set foot in Sootopolis if you don't want to. I need people all across the region: Lilycove, Slateport, Rustboro, Petalburg. Just tell me where you want to go and what you'd prefer to do."

TAGS – Alexandra Briarwood[break]
NOTES – social | outfit

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Among the few visitors approaching the entrance, one approached with a cautious, searching expression on her face that suggested she, too, was looking for someone. Yumi honed in on the stranger at once. [break][break]

A pale-haired woman of average height was not the person Yumi had been expecting. Her annoyance at Fern lessened somewhat. Even if the idea of a date was stupid, perhaps she would make a friend. Assuming, of course, that the stranger was indeed there to meet her. [break][break]

There was only one surefire way of finding out. Yumi strode over with confident elegance, Yukiko shadowing her every step. [break][break]

"Are you supposed to be meeting someone here? A blind date, perhaps?" she asked, holding up her own ticket.

TAGS – Galayne Valois[break]
NOTES – mission | outfit | coat

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The Petalburg Botanical Gardens were a staple of the city's wondrous sights, drawing locals and visitors alike throughout the year. Despite the chill of late winter, its flowers were all in bloom, forming a dazzling display of color all across the grounds. [break][break]

Yumi stood at the entrance of the gardens with her ticket in hand. It was a Palentine's Day gift from fern delaney, which was all well and good by itself. However, Fern's card had warned her that he'd given an identical ticket to someone else with the intention of setting her up on a blind date. [break][break]

And no matter how many times she repeated that she didn't want to go on a date, they insisted that she go enjoy the day, regardless of who showed up. [break][break]

Fern had a point. Yumi knew how to treat herself to nice things. A stroll through the gardens was certainly one way to do just that. Then afterward, perhaps she'd buy a Frappuccino and a new pair of heels.[break][break]

Dressed in the new Burberry coat jayden cross gave her and attended by her Alolan Ninetales, Yukiko, Yumi eyed the solitary visitors walking up to the entrance, wondering who might be her lucky date that day.

TAGS – open![break]
NOTES – mission | outfit | coat

[attr="class","pkmn"]