Chapter 27 

Properly Prepared

Ravina’s Travel Journal — Day 26

I own a fishing rod now.
Ralph decided this.
Apparently hobbies can be assigned.

Pudding works at the station shop.
Of course she does.
That makes THREE Hunsies here.
I am not asking why.
I entered the shop for Repels.

I left with:
Repels.
Rope.
Chalk.
Lantern.
Batteries.
Bandages.
Trail food.
Waterproof wrapping.
Dry socks.
A mystery TM pack.
And knowledge that Ito has been hiding a source of income from me.

The Vs. Recorder can sell battle data to the League.
Apparently researchers use it for tactics, TM development, battle analysis, and sometimes TV.
ITO DID NOT GIVE ME THE MANUAL.
This explains at least some of her money.
Not all, but some.
Pudding gave me a replacement manual for free because my suffering amused her.
Definitely Briget’s daughter.

Nikola learned Flash.
I am proud of her.
She is proud of herself.
Victor says the cave might have lamps.
Everyone keeps making faces when I talk about how prepared I am…
What do they know?

Tomorrow:
Union Cave.
For real this time.
Probably.

- - - - -

Chapter 27.1

The universe, apparently, had not finished introducing impossible things into Ravina's morning.

Ravina had just extracted a spoon from Toni's clutches, the victory feeling temporary at best, when a voice cut through the common room's ambient noise with the precision of a knife through butter.

"Shales!"

Ravina looked up. Ralph stood near the outer doors, rain jacket folded neatly under one arm, his expression carrying the particular satisfaction of someone who knew exactly who he was looking for.

He lifted one hand. Ravina's smile arrived before she consciously decided to make it.

"Morning."

Nikola's ears swiveled toward the voice with the immediate recognition of someone who held grudges with impressive longevity. Ralph's smile widened as he approached, the motion carrying the comfortable familiarity of someone who had been here before.

"There's my little thundercloud."

Nikola stomped once. A spark snapped from her fleece, the light blue against her wool carrying the particular offense of someone who remembered an insult with perfect clarity.

Ralph laughed, the sound arriving with the musical quality of someone who found stubbornness endearing.

"Still touchy."

"She remembers you called her delicate."

"I apologized."

"She holds grudges, I guess."

Nikola lifted her chin as Ralph approached, her posture carrying the particular dignity of someone refusing to forgive until sufficient tribute had been rendered.

His eyes moved over the assembled group with the practiced assessment of someone accustomed to reading creatures without words. Cinder, dark teal and watchful. Nikola, defiant and bristling with remembered offense. Toni, nestled in her sling, then back to Ravina.

"You staying another night?"

"Probably."

"Traveling the pass?"

"Maybe tomorrow."

Ralph nodded, the motion carrying the weight of experience.

"Smart."

Ravina's gaze narrowed with suspicion.

"Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Because rushing into caves is stupid."

"Right."

Ralph looked at her for a second, the appraisal carrying calculation before his expression softened into a smile.

"You fish?"

Ravina blinked.

"No."

"Good time to start."

"That is not how hobbies work."

"It is now."

Ralph reached behind himself and it was only then did Ravina notice the long, narrow case slung over his shoulder. The canvas had worn thin at stress points, the edges frayed with use.

He unclipped it.

Inside was an old collapsible fishing rod, not fancy, not pretty, but well-maintained. The handle had been replaced at least once, the metal guides worn smooth from countless casts, and the reel carried scratches that spoke of actual water rather than decorative hanging.

Ralph held it out.

Ravina stared.

"...What?"

"For you."

"Why?"

"Because you don't have one."

"That is not a reason."

"It's the main one."

Ravina looked from the rod to Ralph, her mind cataloging possibilities with familiar suspicion.

"Cost?"

"Your patience."

"That sounds ominous."

"Fishing."

"Ah."

Ralph pushed the case into her hands, the motion carrying the weight of something that was not quite a gift and not quite an obligation.

"Old Rod. Nothing special. Still works."

The canvas case creaked as Ravina's fingers worked the worn clasps. Before she could open it fully, Cinder's dark teal head nudged closer, his nose twitching at the unfamiliar scent. Beside him, Toni reached with the uncoordinated determination of someone who had not yet learned the concept of "other people's things."

Ravina shifted the case beyond their reach, the motion carrying the reflex of someone accustomed to baby-proofing her surroundings.

"No."

Ralph's grin carried the particular satisfaction of someone who had witnessed this exact exchange many times.

"You'll get use out of it."

"I don't know how to fish."

"That's why you learn."

"Why are you like this?"

"Retired."

"That explains nothing."

"S'plains plenty."

Ravina sighed, the sound barely disturbing the air between them, but she closed the case with deliberate care, her fingers tracing the frayed edges as if acknowledging its history.

"Thank you."

Ralph nodded once, no ceremony, just done.

Then his gaze shifted toward the supply wing, the motion carrying the weight of practical consideration.

"You stocked for the cave?"

Ravina straightened, the question landing with the sudden weight of a task she had not yet completed.

"Working on it."

"Good."

"Repels."

"Useful."

"Rope."

"Probably excessive."

"Backup light."

"Fine."

"Flash."

Ralph paused, a slight look of confusion on his features.

"For what?"

Ravina frowned.

"For the cave."

Ralph looked at her, his expression shifting into something more mirthful

Ravina tilted her head, her gaze narrowing with suspicion.

"...What?"

"Nothing."

Ravina's eyes narrowed further as Ralph tipped his cap, the motion carrying the finality of someone ending a conversation on his own terms.

"Have fun shopping."

Then he walked away, his departure as unceremonious as his arrival.

Ravina watched him go, the fishing rod feeling heavier than it should in her hands. Nikola watched as well, her head still lifted with the particular dignity of someone who had not yet received sufficient apology. Victor drifted beside her, his gaseous form vibrating with theatrical delight.

"Well that was fruitful."

"Hmm.." Ravina's gaze drifted toward the supply wing as she processed the exchange. "Where am I going to have time to learn fishing?"

Victor drifted closer, his voice taking on the particular resonance of someone discovering new possibilities for mischief.

"Maybe the cave has a pond?" He smiled, the expression visible only through the subtle coalescing of his gas. "I hear Magikarp is tasty~"