[FIN] It Doesn't Get Better

[Suudonym]

With the turn of the seasons and the onset of spring came warmer, more pleasant weather that enabled much more leisurely travel through the region. The canopy of the forest south of Camphoreon grew denser as the deciduous trees put out young leaves, their branches alive with a diverse array of birdsong. Sunlight scattered the trodden path and the grasses and flowering plants that bordered it.

The scenic environment offered a refreshing backdrop for an impromptu trip to Sandalwood to enjoy the springtime climate, and with the various events that always seemed to be happening, it was nice to take the time to remove oneself from the city now and again. Luke walked with Mieu at his side and Lorelei, as always, concealed at his shoulder, though he forewent the company of his two other eeveelutions so as not to burden Tenebrae with the task of keeping track of the overly energetic Rem in the wide forest. Mieu was content to enjoy it enough for all of his absent teammates, however.

"It's really different from the embassy, that's for sure," Luke explained to his companion, summing up his experience thus far with officer training for Special Ops. "The physical side isn't really anything new, but after being pretty much thrown to the Mightyena before, it's nice to know that some workplaces actually take the time to make sure you know how to do the job properly."  

[Blood_Goddess]

The fleeting beams of sun that flickered through the gentle rustle of leaves overhead provided an interesting and calming intensive during the walk, the final stretch into the wooded city of Sandalwood.
Already Rosie was able to pick out traits of civilization hanging high within the massive trees that lined the pathway.

Occasionally an extra sparkle would glisten across the ground, over the travelers faces, providing momentary blindness from the reflecting light as a small legendary with a glass head dress and ribbons flitted around the large trees with an air of exploratory wonder at the size of the trees.

"That's how most work places should be when you first start." she agreed, though was very much relived that this was a better experience for him then the job he had before. "What kind of things do they have you training on right now?"

As he trip was long, and much of it spent on the back of a quick moving Rapidash, Rosie's hair was tied back toward, keeping her blond locks out of her eyes, and wearing her traditional Trainers attire, not just to be recognized as such and invite trainer battles along the trip, but for how comfortable they proved during journeys. They were after all made for that purpose.  

[Suudonym]

He thought back momentarily to what they had discussed the last time they had gathered for training, "Going over the different kinds of reports and how to handle them - although apparently most of it is stuff that we probably won't have to deal with in Kodo, since the Kodo branch is mainly for dealing with Team Rocket. It's just part of the standard training." He smiled faintly at the recollection. "We break for battles sometimes, 'so we won't fall asleep at the desk,'" he quoted. "The recruitment information said you didn't a lot of experience as a trainer, but you can definitely tell that most of the officers are used to training pokemon."  

[Blood_Goddess]

There were only a few instances when Kyle didn't mind walking; all of it completely depending on if it was his idea to do so or not.
It wasn't so say he didn't like a good stroll, in fact, you could say he quite loved them, the trees smelled fresh here, and temperature was warm, but not too warm to make the bright red coat undesirable or uncomfortable, even with the added layer of a two button blue suit jacket.

Light brown hair slicked back with precision and product, holding every strand in place, and bright yellow eyes shielded by a pair of slick looking aviators tinted with a glossy mirror red that helped hang lower over his cheekbones.
Everything from the man’s blue matching tie, and brown rubber sole dress shoes to the long stride and confident swagger helped to disguise the annoyance that he held in his pressed features.

His ride wasn’t for another three miles, easily an hour’s walk away from where he was told the drop off point was.
And hour wasn’t a big deal, but what he would rather be doing about this point was peeling away behind the wheel of a powerful machine.
With the relocation of the HQ drawing closer and closer, Kyle had known for some time that he would have to consider moving his items in storage to a city that was a little closer to where they would be that Camphoreon.
So, on his day off, he decided he might as well get it over with, it would give him a chance to get out of the standard uniform and put on something a little more appropriate for making the kind of impression he liked putting on people.
It felt like he was just barely reunited with his baby, when he had to put her back away in some dark storage unit with a few of his other belingings, only to now have to walk to a vehicle with a lot less kick and noise that he so missed from his girl.

Though the real reason he was so annoyed with walking right now might be due to the fact that walking made him think, and it was growing very difficult to not think about the kind of expense he would have to fork over to keep her in storage, and being a Grunt for Rocket wasn’t exactly the most forth giving of jobs when it came to the kinds of funds Kyle was looking at.
His strong jaw tensed as he bit down on his teeth in irritation, this was exactly why he didn’t like being broke, he needed enough money to just do whatever the hell he wanted and not have to worry about anything.
Ryan wouldn't come get him either, said he was taking a nap. Kyle was going to be sure to make him pay for that once he got there.  

[Blood_Goddess]

"So they really are more focused on Team Rocket then," She paused, lifting a shoulder "Well that makes sense, since we don't have the kind of pokemon populations organizations like special ops really calls for." was her conclusion.

She smiled at the comment about not falling asleep at their desks "I bet everyone appreciates that. The pokemon most of all."
She figured if the pokemon were going to be part of the team, they be prepared too, it only made sense.

With a quick flash of light Norther appeared back in front of the two trainers, holding her hands open, and wearing a deep frown on her face.
"I didn't know that the trees are sticky." She said, showing them splotches of yellow sticky sap clinging to her palms. "I don't like this."  

[Suudonym]

"Kodo's not the right kind of region to have its own Special Ops division," he said, recalling the explanation he had heard. "Usually they're only in bigger League regions, like Kanto and Unova, but since Team Rocket is here, they made a special exception. I sort of got the impression that they're going to just keep leaving the other stuff to the police like always, but it might just be that they expect to deal with Rocket-related stuff more frequently."

Northern's sudden appearance gave him a moment's pause, and he blinked at the Jirachi as he tried to understand what she was showing them; it didn't take more than a second for his confused and surprised stare to turn to a sympathetic smile. "Not all of them are," he explained, "just pine trees - it's sap. I think you'll probably have to hold out until we reach Sandalwood to take care of it, though."  

[Blood_Goddess]

"You mean you can't get it off now?" Northern asked, sounding somewhat horrified, looking closer at her hands and gently poking at the stick splotches.

"Saps a little harder to get off." Rosie replied, reaching her hands out in offer to help. Northern blinked at her hand, but offered hers out to the women, watching curiously
"It won't take it off, but if you rub at it like this then it will help make it less sticky."
Being gentle not to hurt the much smaller hands between her hand and thumb, Rosie gently rubbed at the sap that had collected on the Jirachi's palms.

"Just like that, see?" Letting go of the Jirachi as she took over for herself, picking at it with more determination set on her features, drifting back up.

"Eh- it still stuck though, lets hurry!" the legendary announced, then floated off.  

[Suudonym]

"It won't help with the stickiness, but you could stick on some leaves and pretend you're a grass-type," Luke suggested jokingly. "You wouldn't be able to notice how sticky it is that way, right?"  

[Blood_Goddess]

Northern turned around, the ribbons from her back fluttering as she went, her eyes a little more wide as the frown worked off of her face, feeling the humor that Luke had about his comment.
She could tell that sap was an annoying experience, even when she didn't have to go through it for herself, it was just associated with frustration.

"Or dirt, and be a ground type." Rosie offered as well, with a growing smile.

Northern hold her palms out, feeding off the humor the two were feeling and deciding to try and add to it. "Or you! And then I can be a human type!" With that threat she drifted quickly toward them, palms out.  

[Suudonym]

"Ah-ah," he said, raising a hand palm out defensively and wearing a broadening smile. "See, that's part of what's good about gloves - no getting stuff in your hands!"  

[Blood_Goddess]

Paused by Luke raising his and, while Rosie gave a light squee and ducked away from the advancing Jirachi, pulling herself behind Luke and peering over his shoulder as he held his gloved hands up to Northern, unable to keep from smiling.

"AP-" Blinking away very suddenly with a flash of light, and when she reappeared Luke would find himself staring directly into two large amber eyes.
"Bop-" Luke would then find two small and sticky hands papped against his cheeks.  

[Suudonym]

"That's cheating!" he exclaimed with a laugh, recoiling reflexively and raising an arm to prevent further contact.  

[Blood_Goddess]

"Gloves is cheating too!" she argued back, waving her hands toward him and trying to float over to get closer.  

[Suudonym]

"Gloves aren't cheating!" he countered, lifting both hands as if to create a barrier field. "It's utilizing resources!"  

[Blood_Goddess]

"Than that's what I'm doing too" Northern giggled, teleporting again. This time literally draped over the top of his head, where her hands could reach his forehead.