6th Patrol

[commissionergrump]

Near Caldera:

Volcanos are hot. This is something Gordon's known for a long time, even growing up in Union. Just how hot has to be experienced to be believed, however. It's important to learn new things, however.

Gordon is forgoing his usual hat and magically reinforced coat. His white button up shirt is sticking to him as is, through a combination of sweat and the rain storm Mike the Blastoise kicked up to give the pair some relief. He tugs at his suspenders, airing himself a bit, and wipes his brow, eye always scanning the horizon. It seems he's looking for something.

Union, days later:
An unseasonably warm day in Union still feels like heaven after multiple days spent in Caldera, and Gordon and some partners seem intent on enjoying it. He sits on a sleeping Rhydon, a lazily lounging stoutland by his side. A blastoise stands in the little used intersection, water cannons spraying water up into the air where it rains down as a harmless spray, like a fire hydrant with the top taken off.

Comments

Union

[incousinswithyou]

[an awesome looking Roserade appears, cape fluttering gently in the wind! She strikes a pose, sunlight streaming down behind her for maximal drama - and then chirrups happily and skips on over to the Blastoise fountain.]

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon glances to the dramatic little thing, smirking. As she skips over to enjoy the fountain, a head peeks up over the Stoutland, a little Riolu, cautiously taking in the new arrival and the city as a whole.]

[The blastoise, for its part, smiles.]

Sup?

[incousinswithyou]

[she's trying her best! It's hard, striking poses and pulling off one-liners.

Roserade grins up at Blastoise in response, and then can't help but twirl a little in "rain."]

It's a really hot day to be fighting crime!

[also she's not that great with the secrecy thing either]

[commissionergrump]

[Outting yourself, at least by proxy, to the cops would count as basic failure of secret identity, yeah.]

Kind of a hot day in general. I wanted to just make it actually rain, but Dad doesn't want me changing the weather inside cities.

[He glances back to Gordon, noticing the Riolu peeking over. He smirks, and nods his head over, encouraging the quiet baby to join them.]

[incousinswithyou]

[shhh, she's trying. Sort of.

Roserade takes a moment to think about it, and then nods.] Yeah, it'd work better at the park. Or outside! Just not inside. [insert serious nod here. Somebody might have tried something once.

And if Riolu joins them, Roserade will chirrup happily at the baby.]

[commissionergrump]

[Riolu seems on the quiet side, but crawls up over the Rhydon, coming to investigate the fountain, blinking as a drop lands right on the tip of their nose. It glances up at the Roserade, and, as if remembering something, bows their head briefly.]

Hello, ma'am.

[incousinswithyou]

[Roserade crouches, smiling. Somemon has experience with the young'uns.]

Hi! I'm Lulu. What's your name?

[okay, so she probably forgot about the secret identity thing too]

[commissionergrump]

[The Riolu looks up at Lulu, hesitating a bit.]

Ken. I... haven't spent much time with humans before.

[incousinswithyou]

Really? Did you live in outside the city before?

[Lulu definitely isn't a shy one, no.]

[commissionergrump]

Near the volcano. He seemed nice, and his friends are strong.

[incousinswithyou]

Oooh. Welcome to the city! The humans here are really nice! Though they do weird things sometimes...

[commissionergrump]

[The Riolu looks at the Blastoise.]

The pokémon too.

[The Blastoise just laughs at this, grinning broadly, fine with being considered a bit weird.]

Union

[steelbeowulf]

[Kyosuke watches the Blastoise with a bit of amusement]

Seems enthusiastic.

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon chuckles a bit.]

Just excited to be home, I guess. First it was up to Glacier, then a few weeks of heavy training, then Caldera. Getting back to where the weather is normal is nice.

[He gives a contented little sigh.]

How have you been, Kyosuke?

Union

[steelbeowulf]

Not bad. Trying to keep busy.

[a beat]

It's harder when there aren't people you need to stab.

[Is that a joke? The world will never know]

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon raises an eyebrow, considering the young man intently.]

Hopefully it won't come to that. Though it seems things are starting to head in that direction again.

Re: Union

[steelbeowulf]

Our history suggests it will happen soon. We will be ready when it does.

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon hangs his head, giving a nod of agreement.]

We can only hope.

Re: Union

[steelbeowulf]

Walking in the city was eye-opening. It's a complex situation.

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon nods.]

Easier to hate someone before you see their children playing in the street. We'll figure it out, we always do, but I'm just afraid of what the consequences might be.

Re: Union

[steelbeowulf]

There'll be consequences no matter what, unfortunately.

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

Very few choices come without them, I've learned.

Re: Union

[steelbeowulf]

You worry we may not be able to handle them?

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

It's not handling them I'm worried about. We're adaptable. We'll manage. I'm worried about how we'll feel about them after.

Union

[child_of_luv]

[It was hard to miss the giant spout of water, so Minako headed over to check it out. Her newest friend, a young Bulbasaur, seemed happy to join in and let the water wash over his plant bulb.]

Well, someone looks like he's having fun.

[Minako giggled at the two as the Bulbasaur happily bounced around in the spray.]

Is he watering the whole town?

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[It's not all that giant, but it's definitely noticeable.]

He wanted to, made him settle for the intersection.

[The Blastoise grins at the Bulbasaur, sitting down. A blue face and black ears belonging to a Riolu peek out from behind the Rhydon.]

Re: Union

[child_of_luv]

[She nodded.]

He looks like he's having fun, at least.

[She looked at the movement behind the Rhydon.]

New friend?

[The Bulbasaur bulba'd a little greeting to the Blastoise with a happy smile. This was fun! Thanks for this!]

Re: Union

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon nods.]

Met him in Caldera a few days ago.

[Blastoise lets out a grunt towards the Bulbasaur, smiling.]

Re: Union

[child_of_luv]

He's cute. What type is he?

[Minako had seen Riolu's around, but never knew someone that had one before.]

Sorry for the huge delay there, got distracted by the event

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon looks at the small Riolu, still being quiet and shy.]

Fighting. The evolution picks up Steel Typing.

Understandable!

[child_of_luv]

Oh. I'm Steel, too. [That sort of just blurted out, but sure! She smiled.] It's a cute one. [She crouched down, addressing the little Riolu now.]

Hi, there.

Re: Understandable!

[commissionergrump]

[The Riolu gives a small little bow of greeting, still quiet as Gordon watches.]

Bit of a contrast to some of my others.

[He glances at the boisterous Blastoise at this.]

[child_of_luv]

I have a shy one, too. She's a Chingling. She doesn't come out much.

[Minako, satisfied with the bow, gives as much of a bow as she can muster from her crouched position before standing again.]

When she does, she tends to hide in my hair.

Caldera

[conquerorofwaves]

Sinbad was in the area for Business, and was dressed suitably - though the choice of adding three cornrows to his hairstyle might be questionable. He spotted the familiar figure and waves.

"Mr. Gordon!" He calls out. "Didn't expect to see you, what brings you here?"

Re: Caldera

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon looks to Sinbad, as if questioning the hair decisions the way only an elder can, but he gives a warm smile at the familiar face.]

I'd heard there was a rare pokemon out this way, seemed like it might be something handy to have. Don't suppose you've seen any. Small, blue, with black ears? Biped?

Re: Caldera

[conquerorofwaves]

[He tilts his head, noticing the look, he squares his shoulders slightly in response]

I've heard of it, hadn't seen it recently - though you got me thinking, I should consider seeing if I can find someone to join the crew.

I apologize for the huge delay, I got distracted by the event

[commissionergrump]

[Gordon nods his head, smiling a bit.]

Always worthwhile. If I'm being honest, half of these outreach missions I've been on recently, I'm keeping an eye out for new recruits.

For the Swords.

[The Blastoise grins. It doesn't take a Kindred Soul to tell that Gordon's Pokemon care for him, each in their own way.]

Any particular gaps you're looking to fill? I hear what I'm looking for learns a lot of moves other fighting types don't, so it won't step on Mac or Lauren's toes. Apparently it even learns Aura Sphere, meaning Mike might have some in his ancestry.

[This is news to the Blastoise, who looks over, eyes wide. His family up until this point has been entirely adopted, never really put much thought into blood relations.]