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Yet again, their violet-haired companion is quick to determine a solution. Impressed, Orion nods at the instruction and makes his way to the rotomi; no Pokemon among his usual suspects had a penchant for theft.[break][break]

Thievul, however, as its name would suggest, was a natural THIEF.[break][break]

With the Alakazam spattered with acid, the canine slinks along the edge of the room. Its eyes shine with excitement, for Orion has never allowed it to take something before. This is normally something punished, and the aptly-named Bandit does not need to be asked twice.[break][break]

Once it's in position, it sizes up its target before wiggling its rump and leaping forward, snatching a spoon in its jaws. Landing gracefully with perked ears, Bandit wags his tail gleefully.[break][break]

"Good job," Orion chuckles.

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After the intense rumbling beneath their feet subsides, Orion grins over at Ruby Walker. Another challenge passed![break][break]

Ascending to the next floor, Orion frowns thoughtfully at the newest puzzle prevented. It's getting more and more difficult to keep track of his wide array of Pokemon, but he doesn't recall having any particularly sturdy ones in his ranks.[break][break]

It hits him as an afterthought: what he did have was an ICE-TYPE.[break][break]

Weavile lets out a growl as it's sent onto the field; it's one of his more aggressive Pokemon, kept in check by the bond the two shared. It glances over its shoulder at Orion, flexing its claws, and he offers a silent shake of his head.[break][break]

"All you need to do is enjoy the cold, pal."

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Orion finds the young man with the Galarian accent to be rather smug, but it's nothing the councilman isn't used to. Politics had taught him to weather all sorts of personalities without flinching, and he ignores it.[break][break]

Ruby's Girafarig receives his attention instead: he's always wanted one of his own. He offers the Saint of Slateport an encouraging smile as her Pokemon successfully passes the trial along with the others. For a teenage girl, she'd proven able to hold her own in situations far more chaotic than this.[break][break]

On the next floor, Orion returns his Shedinja and sends out a survivor of the very Slateport attack that had earned Ruby her moniker: a Swampert whose skin was hued a poisonous purple. It was the single long-term side-effect, and the otherwise healthy mud-fish slams his forelimbs against the ground in a display of eagerness for whatever challenge awaited.[break][break]

Orion chuckles. "Just do that, but harder. EARTHQUAKE!"[break][break]

Beneath their feet, the ground rumbles with the force behind Swampert's furious stomping.

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Orion removes his shoes before he is requested to; having been born and raised in Hoenn, the customs of such places are familiar to him. The floor is cool against his bare feet, the incense calming as he breathes in deep.[break][break]

The initial challenge at first seems impossible, but the quick thinking of a teammate reminds Orion that he, too, has such a simple answer: he'd even went so far as to clip Shedinja's pokeball to his belt, though his tendency to overthink a problem had obscured the obvious solution.
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"Nice thinking," he compliments the unfamiliar girl, giving her a nod.[break][break]

His own husk of a Pokemon is released from its Pokeball, and the vines and roots that claw and grasp at it appear to have no effect. WONDER GUARD was truly an amazing ability.[break][break]

"METAL CLAW!"[break][break]

Shedinja drifts forward and swipes at the offender with claws of steel.

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Gardening has become a monotonous yet comforting routine in Orion's otherwise busy routine. Most days, it is a simple matter of watering the berry trees and clearing away any dead leaves and branches.[break][break]

Today, however, he's confronted with a particularly hungry bird.[break][break]

The councilman's tired gaze settles on an dozing Vileplume; usually, she kept the garden safe from such invaders, but it appeared she had little interest in contending with birds. Not that he could blame her.[break][break]

Didn't I see an ad for one of these on the forums...?[break][break]

Standing a safe distance away in case he missed - or worse, it broke out - Orion palms a pokeball and tosses it at the distracted, unsuspecting bird.

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Orion purses his lips, biting back the instinctual response: that undertaking a mission under the influence of fear was putting herself in danger. After a pause for thought, he thinks of all the jobs he'd taken on in spite of being afraid. Such were the expectations placed upon the Elite Rangers; they took on dangerous tasks so the new recruits didn't have to.[break][break]

Her words resonate with him, and he nods.[break][break]

"I can respect that."[break][break]

She rests her head on his shoulder and, with his anxieties dampened by the adrenaline of their mission, Orion does not pull away.

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Alexei seems exasperated by his own failed hunt, and Orion's grimace is half-sympathy and half-discomfort.[break][break]

"Not here, apparently."[break][break]

Aside from the Poliwhirl, the only thing he spots is a Marill bobbing lazily on the water. It's of no interest to him, but his Litwick huddles close as if afraid of being splashed.

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Orion stares blankly for a moment too long, surprised that someone so well-traveled had never even heard of the Galar region before. Realising belatedly that it could come across as rude, the ranger quickly attempts to rectify his expression.[break][break]

"Shouldn't be too hard to find information," he provides. His gaze finds a Golbat hanging from the ceiling of the cave — he's happy to look anywhere else. "The hype'll die down eventually, but for now everything's still new and exciting."[break][break]

It had proved less exciting than he'd initially hoped, as introducing foreign species into the Hoenn wilds was a process of trial-and-error not helped by inexperienced trainers eager to get their hands on a rare catch. That was to say nothing of the Black Market trade...[break][break]

He keeps these thoughts to himself; no need to trouble a civilian with the drawbacks.

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Naturally, the worrywart that was Orion was quick to wonder if they'd told her about his position on the Council out of genuine concern for formality, or if it was because they knew it would make him squirm. He sincerely hoped it was the former.[break][break]

Regardless, he shakes his head, winks. "Don't worry, I won't tell 'em."[break][break]

She stresses once again upon how honored she is, and he's flattered and flustered in equal measure. After the events of the new year with the Blacephalon's attack on the Night Market, he'd found himself thrust more into the public eye. He did his best to maintain a veneer of professionalism despite feeling completely out of his element. Now, he opts for a casual air to put his ranging partner at ease.
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"Trust me, that'll wear off real quick," he jokes. She'd spoken of home, and he latches onto that. "Where are you from? You — uh, don't have to answer that if you don't want to." He can feel heat flush to the back of his neck, separate from the burning sun overhead. "Just curious. I've never traveled outside of Hoenn, myself."[break][break]

Hoenn, however, he knows like the back of his hand. Even the confusing expanse of sand that was the desert felt familiar to him, if uncomfortable with the battering sand and howling winds.[break][break]

"They originate from Galar, so territorial issues could be the cause..." He frowns in thought, adjusting his goggles. "I imagine they're not used to sharing the space with some of the native species here."[break][break]

Raegan asks after his partners, and he nods, letting her slip-up slide. She was only being polite, and he respected that. "They've been with me a while, now. I have a lot of Pokemon for a lot of different jobs, but these two are perfect for the desert. Tia, especially."
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Flygon's shadow passes overhead, the dragon having been told to scout for signs of activity.

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