Chapter 29.20
Outside, Cinder stood.
Nikola lifted her head.
Owlbert looked down from the railing.
Victor emerged from the shadow beneath the awning.
“Well?”
Ravina grinned.
“I have a job.”
Victor spread his vaporous appendages.
“A triumph for capitalism.”
“Don't ruin it.”
“A triumph for you, then.”
“Better.”
Cinder moved closer.
Ravina scratched beneath his chin.
“Trial shift tomorrow.”
Nikola bleated.
“You'll be staying with April.”
Toni looked up.
FOOD?
Ravina glanced back toward the café.
Then at the little tart Selene had packed for her.
She smiled.
“Apparently employment comes with benefits.”
Victor leaned closer.
“Is that strawberry?”
“Yes.”
“A fine establishment.”
Ravina laughed.
“Come on. Let's get everyone settled.”
Behind them, through the café window, Selene returned to the counter.
She picked up Ravina's application.
Straightened the pages.
And placed them neatly into the new-hire folder.
Then the service bell rang.
Selene looked up.
Her smile returned.
“Coming!”
And the afternoon continued.
- - - - -
Chapter 29.21
Back at the Pokémon Center, April looked up from her desk as Ravina approached, her expression unreadable.
"Success?"
Ravina's smile bloomed. "Success."
"Where?"
"Slowpoke Café."
April nodded, her pink hair catching the overhead lights. "Busy place."
"You know it?"
"Of it."
Ravina's shoulders straightened with pride. "They hired me."
"Congratulations." April's voice carried no false enthusiasm, merely acknowledgement.
"Trial shift tomorrow."
April's pen paused mid-signature. "Then we'd better get your boarding arrangement finalized."
Ravina leaned against the counter, studying her. "You're very efficient."
"I am." April's matter-of-fact response left no room for argument.
"Suspiciously efficient."
April lifted her gaze. "Would you prefer someone less competent?"
Ravina considered for a moment. "No."
"Good." April returned to her paperwork without further comment.
Ravina watched her for a few heartbeats longer, noting the precise way her pen moved across forms. Then her smile softened. "Thank you."
April glanced up from her documents. "For?"
"Being here."
April's expression thawed fractionally, the barest softening around her professional mask. "Someone has to keep you out of trouble."
Ravina laughed. "Good luck."
"Thanks." April's eyes had already returned to her work, but there was something like amusement in the set of her shoulders as she spoke.
- - - - -
Chapter 29.22
That evening, Ravina returned to the inn with her first proper Azalea routine taking shape.
She had secured a room at the inn, a boarding arrangement at the Center for the team during work, and a trial shift tomorrow at the Slowpoke Café. Bugsy's Gym loomed as a future challenge, and there was still Kurt's craftsmanship to explore once she gathered the right Apricorns. Her unused fishing rod leaned against the wall. Most critically, just enough money remained to survive until that first paycheck... probably.
She sat at the little desk and opened her notebook to a fresh page.
AZALEA PLAN:
WORK - SLOWPOKE CAFÉ (trial tomorrow)
TEAM - POKÉMON CENTER / APRIL
TRAINING - MORNING OR AFTER SHIFTS
GYM - BUGSY
Below her basic outline, she added training notes:
CINDER - FIRE / MOVEMENT PRACTICE
OWLBERT - AERIAL CONTROL
NIKOLA - FAST TARGETS
VICTOR - GHOST ATTACKS
She paused, her pen hovering over the page. Looked up at Victor.
The Gastly floated upside down over the bed, his purple haze swirling lazily.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Your expression implies a plot developing behind those lovely eyes of yours."
"Training."
"Ah."
Ravina smiled.
"I want to see what else you can do beyond your usual theatrics."
Victor's grin widened as he righted himself.
"My dear muse, you have scarcely scratched the surface of my capabilities."
"That is exactly what I'm worried about."
She closed the notebook with a soft snap.
Cinder settled beside the bed, his flame vents glowing gently. Nikola curled near him, her fleece crackling with soft static as she found a comfortable spot. Owlbert claimed the windowsill with his usual precision, while Toni climbed into the welcoming warmth of Cinder's fur, her small head already beginning to droop.
Ravina watched them arrange themselves in their habitual positions. Tomorrow, she'd leave them with April. She'd work and earn money. Train. And eventually walk into Bugsy's Gym with something better than an improvised plan and a type advantage.
She leaned back in her chair.
"Okay."
Victor turned upright to face her properly.
"Okay?"
Ravina smiled.
"I think we can do this."
Cinder lifted his head, orange-red eyes warm with agreement. Nikola's tail glowed softly in response. Owlbert offered a single, steady hoot from his windowsill perch. Toni raised both arms from her spot against Cinder, her movements confident despite her drowsiness.
THERE!
Ravina laughed.
"Yeah."
A new routine.
Something ordinary.
For once.