bravenewworld | (002/action)

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(002/action)

Okay, Five-Iron! Hold on!

[On this fine day, Elhaym van Houten is in one of Union's parks. Grass and the occasional tree dot the surroundings. She has her uniform off; this is a day off, so instead, she wears a cream-colored tunic with golden trim on it, and dark blue pants. In her hand, she has a soft balsa wood pole, which swings back and forth. And directly in front of her is her Seedot.]

[He looks like the happiest Seedot ever. He beams, then he hunkers down, his eyes screwing up just a little. Elly swings the balsa wood staff back, and then...]

FORE!

[WHOOSH! The Seedot goes flying into the air, hits the grass with a bounce, and comes to a stop. Elly grins after him while the Pokémon chirps happily.]

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[She laughs. Clearly, Elly isn't offended. She shakes her head, then shrugs at him with her shoulders and hands.]

Don't be. I can imagine what it might look like.

...Yeah. It did seem weird for you, of all people, to do something like that. You didn't seem like that one bit from the conversation we had.

Thanks. [...well] I think.

Why the "you think" bit?

[He's not sure how that could be construed as anything but positive.]

Rangers are usually supposed to seem kind of hard and tough. Of course, I'd never want people thinking that I would do that...

[Asemu doesn't say anything for a moment. He may or may not be reading into implications that may or may not exist.]

You're referring to my dad, aren't you?

[No accusatory or annoyed tone. Just curiosity.]

[Elly looks surprised at that. She looks up, worried and distraught at that. She hadn't thought of his dad; really, Flit Asuno hadn't occurred to her at all. But then the rest of it catches up to her; what Asemu must assume, if that makes him think of his father.]

[She looks down, then, and she shakes her head.]

No, I didn't. I was thinking of how people see Commander Erwin, or maybe Colonel Curtiss. But... your father, I don't think he would be like that, either.

[Asemu begins to feel bad that he even brought Flit up...but then he hears the last part and surprise takes over.

Clearly Elly had never actually met the man.]

You...don't? I dunno, he's been that way for as long as I remember. Less so when I was a toddler, but I don't remember those times too well.

He might act that way. It's what I've seen. But... we often have to pretend to fit the roles expected of us. Rangers, especially ranking ones, have expectations. But...

[She shakes her head.]

Who we are, what's in our hearts, that's more complicated, and sometimes it's hidden away.

...I guess. It's hard to tell sometimes. But then, sometimes it isn't. I guess it just depends on the person.

[Asemu at least knows that Flit's goals are for the benefit of Union, and he also knows that Emily has told him in the past that her husband is a good man, even if he has a cold exterior. He just wishes he could see deeper.]

Yeah... sometimes, I think we have to have faith. Even if it's hard... it's better to have faith and not be rewarded, than to not trust and realize you were wrong. Someone... told me that, once. I can't put my finger on who.

You...don't know who told you that?

[Asemu finds that rather weird. Surely she would remember someone who gave her advice she took to heart.]

It was someone from when I was young...

[Or so she tells herself. It's something she remembers, but can't place -- so that must be it, right? Yet, when she says it, it feels wrong.]

Oh. I see. So was it, like, a friend of your father's or something?

Mm... it must have been. I can't remember exactly, but it was a tall young man who said it.

Hm.

[He doesn't really have anything to add at this point.]

...So where is that Seedot? I lost sight.

Oh--right! [Elly laughs and looks in the direction he flew.] He's waiting for me. I better catch up. It was nice talking to you, Asemu.

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