Executive Power

[There was the sound of claws scraping at wood on one of the hallway windows. A Noctowl landed on the outside ledge, peered in at them, and hooted loudly.]

Glaucus, be quiet. [Ariana told it, without giving the owl a second glance.] You can’t come in here.

I’ve had time to travel, as well as capture and train more pokemon for myself. I’ll be needing them since I decided to take up teaching one of the Battling classes here at the Academy. I’ll also teach Mythology. Legendary pokemon have always interested me.

...and I lead the Future Business Leaders of Unova.

Well, look at that, you’re here too.

How are you doing these days, Proton?

...Good. I'm good. [There was something caught in the back of his throat.]

“Busy…hm, good to know. So long as you haven’t allowed for too much slack—that’s a lesson that can be applied to the classroom as well. But you knew that already, I presume. I can’t imagine you leading a lax classroom.” 

Archer leaned over to the desk before him and helped himself to some of Proton’s desk supplies. He wouldn’t mind. Taking a pen in hand, he printed his contact information on a blank card and handed it to his coworker. In three lines he wrote his current faux-surname—Mires—his address on the next, and a phone number.

“Listen, if you’re interested in contacting me you have my permission to call, visit. I don’t care. We can discuss work,” he paused, standing up. “Business, what have you.”

“Oh, also, do remember to update my mobile number in your phone. I seem to have misfortune with cell phones, so my number changes from time to time.” Which was a lie.

“It was a pleasure. We will keep in touch.”

He walked to the exit, his hand resting on the doorknob before he left.

He clicked his tongue in distaste, recalling Petrel’s lack of vigor when he had confronted him.

“No matter, you’re here now.” Archer’s eyes drifted around the office, not in search of anything in particular; he wanted to avoid Proton’s face. It wasn’t pleasing him very much. “I’ve kept myself quite busy. Travelled across the regions, all but Hoenn, along with doing some private research for a side project.”

Again, he didn’t let Proton speak. He didn’t have to. Archer predicted his interest the moment he gave him a reaction.

“…It’s a personal business venture, if you will. Perhaps, if you were willing to make use of those lazy hands of yours, you could assist me. Is that something you’re interested in? Or are you happy to see me for another reason?

It was exacting, just how Archer made him want to do more- the extra mile. He desperately wanted to impress. He saw Archer's eyes mindlessly scan his room and he wanted to clean the shelves a bit, tidy up his desk, vacuum the floors.

but his browed furrowed at Archer's question.

"Ah...Right. I'll be teaching business in addition to leading the business club and baseball team." He kept his eyes on Archer, not wanting to miss a change in reaction.

"...and I do have everything in order. I've been teaching for some time before you arrived, Archer." An irritated growl escaped himself.

He was mistaken about one of them, but Archer knew just how Proton would react. Ah, there we go, his spirits picked up at the sight of his old subordinate, the cruel executive attempting to restrain his elation. He took a seat in front of Proton’s desk, a hand going to his chin as he pieced his words together. 

It was so odd. Why was Archer a teacher? Would it be too optimistic to think that he had an ulterior motive for being here?

"Nothing. I've been up to nothing actually." Stupid. What else was there to say? Should he tell him that he had been waiting almost two years to find the smallest trace of Rocket activity? Or that he had been floating in limbo until he found this school? haha no

executiveransu started following you

Well! Look who we have here! If it wasn’t a sight for sore eyes—

If your eyes were sore from staring at a glaring monitor, trying to track down the location of your former coworkers because once you learned that he’d departed not long after you arrived at a prestigious boarding school renowned in the region, not only for its pupils but for its steep tuition, with the task of teaching and the ulterior motives known to no one, not a soul, not even his closest companion (who had also left him at the school with nary a moment’s notice)—

“Well! Look who we have here.”

Archer’s collected voice cooled the area around him, dispersing any pretense of the typical awkward welcoming. He’d taken the initiative to enter Proton’s office, a new one, barren of any personalization, and stood by the door. Upright. Delighted. His face was without a smile, but you could hear one in his tone. 

Actually no the pit of his stomach rose to his throat, the short hairs on the back of his neck and arms rose, his back suddenly got really warm, his palms got sweaty, his throat dry,  his peni

He stood on his feet.

"Archer."

His voice came out more collected than he had expected it to. A smile spread over his face. It was really Archer. Still, it was a bit strange to see him here, on a high school campus. He wasn't in his usual uniform either, but he still had that half-smile. Nonetheless, Proton couldn't help but feel delighted.

If I'm not mistaken you're a senior.

Her face cringed a little when he mentioned Lucas. What was she supposed to do, tell him the truth? That initially, being with the younger boy helped her forget about his absence, dulled the aching pain in her stomach whenever she was alone? That would just music to his ears, wouldn’t it!

Instead, Kris settled on a different portion of the truth.

He was feeling pretty dumb at the moment. He hated that he couldn't pick up from when he last left her. His competition irritated him the most. It meant someone else was handling his-

Haha.