Troubled waters

Donuts, goddamn donuts. Lucifer slumped back into her chair after reading the message on her phone. She hated sugary foods; she absolutely despised the stuff. But Ruìsāng couldn't have known that, simply because she never told him. She didn't have the heart to. Lucifer couldn't refuse his kind gesture, so she just sucked it up and always gratefully accepted whatever he brought for her. She wouldn't do this for anyone else, as it went against her principles. But for Ruìsāng... well, she'd do a lot for him.

The woman placed her phone on her desk as she stood up, having received a buzz on her intercom from one of the many caregivers she employed here in the house of hearth, that ruìsāng "was here." Many of the staff already knew him, as he came by so frequently. But it was still mandatory for them to ring her to alert her of his presence. Lucifer kept track of everything in the orphanage, all the comings and goings. She ran a tight ship, but then again; she always did. Even in her battling days.

Lucifer steps out of her office and makes her way to the main entrance of the building, it's here she often receives guests. She expected that Ruìsāng had already been let inside by a staff member. And sure enough, there he was, waiting for her, with a bag of donuts in hand, Lucifer's eyes narrowed. His right hand had been banged up. The result of another outburst, no doubt. The woman sighed, but then forced a small smile to adorn her lips as she approached the young man. "You know you don't have to bring me "snacks" right?" She says, with a light and soothing voice. "There's plenty of food for me here." That wasn't a lie, there was plenty of food for her to take if she willed it. The house of hearth had large kitchens and an even larger storage room filled with food. Just so she can cater to culinary palette of every child the best way she can. "But still, I do appreciate it; donuts are my favorite, after all."

Oh, thank goodness, he didn't expect her to eat the donuts. The woman almost sighed a sigh of relief when he suggested giving them to the kids instead. They would certainly enjoy such a snack much more than she ever could. Lucifer stepped closer and took the bag from him. "I'm sure they will." she says as she opens the carrier to see if there are even enough for her to pass around; otherwise, she might have to order some more to break even. But there seemed to be just the right amount—one for every child. Lucifer closed the bag and decided. And handed them off to a passing caretaker. Instructing her to take the donuts back to the kitchen. It was best to store these goodies for the time being and hand them out later in the evening, probably after dinner.

The woman turned her gaze back to Ruìsāng when he spoke. He seemed nervous, or perhaps that wasn't the right word. It seemed like he was trying to hide something, act like nothing had happened and that he hadn't been doing things she knows he shouldn't have. And perhaps it would have worked if she didn't know him better or hadn't seen his bandaged hand. Still; she decided not bring it up. To let it slide for now. "Why don't we head into town together? I have to pick up some documents at the courthouse first, but other than that, I'm free for the whole afternoon." That wasn't really true, she had important paperwork to sort through. Something she was planning to do today, but she was willing to set that all aside to spend some quality time with Ruìsāng. He looked like he needed it. 

Lucifer smiled when he responded favorably to her offer. He mentioned a coffee place they could go to, to which she nodded. Knowing what place he was talking about. "I've heard of them before, they are said to have the best coffee in town, despite only recently settling in Santcum City and facing fierce competition." She muses. Lucifer had wanted to visit the café for a long time now, to discover whether the praise was true or if it was just the hype talking. But never had the chance too. So stopping by there now with Ruìsāng sounded like the perfect idea. 

When the woman noticed him picking at his bandages, she took a step closer and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. It was a subtle form of communication, signaling to him that he should stop what he was doing. "Let me just get my coat, and then we can leave." She says with a soft and reassuring voice. She retracts her hand and moves away to retrieve the coat from the nearby rack. The woman draped the clothing item over her shoulders and then motioned to Ruìsāng to follow her outside.

Although the words made her stomach curl in disgust, the woman widened her smile when cinnamon rolls were mentioned. "Ah well, then we simply must try them," she said, keeping up the pretense for the sake of her companion's happiness. At the very least, she could balance out the sugary taste of the treat with the bitterness of the coffee. 

He was jolted back into reality by her gentle tug on his shoulder. He quickly stopped toying with the bandages. Pulling his arm away entirely. The woman only hoped that her warm touch would bring him a sense of comfort. At least for a moment. Despite the clear unease he had with the wrapped hand and the unwanted attention it surely brought him.

When they stepped outside together, she led him towards her car. She took the automated key out of the deep pockets of her coat and pressed the button, unlocking the locks of her car in an instant. The click of the locks being disabled and the thump of the car doors unlocking were audible. She could hear Ruìsāng behind her. A small and rare chuckle escaped her lips. She turned her head and met his gaze. "It will be fine, the children are well looked after." She had enough staff walking around to take care of them. "And besides, I needed to get out anyway; those documents are important." It wasn't that she didn't trust him not to pick them up. It was more that she was afraid that he wouldn't even be allowed to collect them at all.

But perhaps the biggest thing was that she just simply wanted to go together. It was much more fun that way, for both of them. She might, (if things go according to plan) take him shopping too. "Now hop in," she said, gesturing to her car. 

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His assurance and that grateful spark in his eyes—it was honestly enough to break her heart. Ruìsāng was such a kindhearted and well-meaning young boy, he really did not deserve everything he has been through and continues to go through, caring for his mother while also trying to find a balance between work and school. It was a lot of pressure. Sometimes Lucifer wishes she could do more for him. Get him out of that situation entirely, but she knew he would never leave his mother. But by the same token, Lucifer also didn't expect Mrs. Su to get her act together anytime soon.

It was a difficult situation, to say the least. Still, she would do her best to support him in any way she could. She promised to look after him after all - many those years ago when she first took him under her wing when he was housed in the very same orphanage as her. When he was but a child and she was a struggeling teenager. 

The woman resisted the tug of old, painful memories that were resurfacing, and she settled her face into a neutral, placid expression. She did not wish to give in to the emotions those memories were dredging up and wanted to maintain an outwardly composed and calm appearance. Lucifer was preparing to start the car. She buckled her seatbelt and put the car key into the ignition to start it up. But before she could turn the ignition, she heard the voice of her Ruìsāng beside her. This interruption caused her to pause her current action. 

His sudden question took her mind a few moments to process and absorb, but once it sunk in, she couldn't help but frown in response. "I think it's a very complicated subject." The woman spoke in a stoic and reserved manner, not sure if she should share her personal history and experiences with the it. "People can have different situations and reasons for battling. So it's hard to say if it's right or wrong."

Lucifer nodded at his words; it seemed like she had made the right call by baiting out his response first before potentially sharing uncomfortable or undesirable news with him. She didn't want Ruìsāng to have a different perception of her if he knew about her involvement in criminal activity. "You're correct in stating that if the government made it legal to engage in battles with Pokémon, it would be much easier to regulate and manage that activity. Since it's illegal currently, much of that action occurs underground, which makes it nearly impossible to enforce any rules or restrictions." The woman said as she drove off, her sleek and expensive vehicle gliding over the road. "Regardless of policy changes, there will always be those who engage in illicit battling, no matter what is done."

"Ah yes, the elections." The woman sighed, she normally wasn't so preoccupied with politics. For many years, she didn't even vote, feeling that it wouldn't make a difference. But as her orphanage grew, it became more and more important. And especially after she received government funding, she started to throw herself into the political world. She was actually keeping up with the elections now, since it was vital to know which party would take the reins of power next. "I'm joining with fellow activists to urge the government to implement stricter laws surrounding childcare in orphanage settings, hence the need to attend the courthouse to finalize the legal documents. The final submission of the appeal will take place once the elections are complete and a new party is elected." The woman elaborated while driving, nearing the city center of Sanctum City.

She took her eyes off the road for a moment, sneaking a glance at Ruìsāng who was sitting beside her. "Do you have a favorite party?" Lucifer certainly had a preferred party in mind, with the Progressives of Sanctum (POS) being her top choice.

There was some truth in his observation. Those with Pokémon would always have an advantage over those without them, especially if they knew how to effectively utilize their Pokémon's abilities during battle. However, the problem was not widespread, as only a select few possessed the knowledge to do so. There were certain areas of the city where the atmosphere was deemed unsafe due to such individuals, but for the most part, the threat was not significant enough to cause concern for the common person. Still, Lucifer had a suspicion that Ruìsāng's statement likely had very little to do with the actual problem. It felt like there was something more personal at play.

It seemed that Ruìsāng's initial interest in the topic had suddenly waned when Lucifer began speaking about her rationale for having to stop by city hall first. The fact that he did not seem to be paying attention to her reasoning was mildly disappointing to her, since she felt that it was an important matter she was working towards. She was actively trying to improve childcare and orphanages, particularly to ensure that things that had happened to them would never be experienced by anyone else. However, even though she was slightly disappointed, she did understand that he might have had other matters on his mind that were closer to home, so she decided to forgive his lack of appreciation and move forward with the conversation.

When the woman asked him about the party he thought about supporting. She didn't get a concrete answer back, but not one without its own merit. The woman parked her car before the large government building and turned off her car before she turned back to Ruìsāng. Not making a move to get out of the car yet. "Politicians often make empty promises during their campaigns to win over the vote, but rarely follow through with them once elected." It was part of the game, no? "They will instead act in ways that align with their ideals and beliefs. And that is what you are voting for." 

He bounced her own question back at her. And without hesitation, the woman responded, "I quite like POS; Progressives of Sanctum" For several reasons, she didn't really want to list them off right now. "Won't you come with me inside? It will only take a minute, we can just walk to the coffee shop afterward." She gestured to the courthouse, and she started to step out of her car.

Lucifer remained uncertain of the genesis of his questions and musings on politics, but the topic was quite evident to Ruìsāng's. Politics occupied his mind, despite his more direct and tangible concerns looming over him, the woman hoped that her perspective would ignite a spark within himself to pursue greater knowledge on the matter.

Ruìsāng' confirmed his interest in the navigators, and the woman nodded to acknowledge his stance. She believed that he should vote purely for the party or group he supported If he favored the UNOX Party, she had no objection, and wanted him to maintain that position without her interference or influence.

Lucifer was well-informed of Ruìsāng's displeasure towards "official" and formal locations, having felt similarly as well. She had disliked entering the courthouses and institutions of the state that had abandoned her, for a long time. Yet despite this aversion, the visit was necessary. They had all afternoon to spend in leisure after this official business had concluded. Ruìsāng had agreed to accompany her to the government building, masking any internal conflict he may have felt.

Lucifer made her way to the government building, intending to ascend the steps and make her way inside. However, she was halted in her tracks the young man's unexpected query regarding the subject of dates. Caught off guard, the woman spun around with a frown, uncertain of how to respond. She took a few seconds to formulate her response, eventually settling on a simple declaration: "I have no time for such things." Her tone and composure remained neutral and even, though the surprise of Sang's question lingered in her expression.

Lucifer's experience with romance was limited. She could not recall ever being in love or experiencing any of the other emotions that accompanied it. Perhaps she was supposed to find "the one," but she didn't believe that it would ever happen. Maybe she was just not built for love.

Not that she was bitter about the lack of romance in her life. She didn't feel that she was missing out. She was doing just fine without love, and she saw no reason to change that. But besides that- she did not enjoy dating for even casual connections. She had been on a handful in her lifetime, but they always left her feeling awkward and uncomfortable. Therefore, she generally refrained, even if they didn't demand much of her time, she deemed that time better spent on other endeavors.

"I appreciate the offer, but I don't need you to set me up with anyone." She climbed up the stairs toward the goverment building, which seemed to have an endless number of them. "Come along," she continued. "The sooner this trip to the courthouse is over, the better."

Despite shutting Ruìsāng's wingman idea down, He didn't really let go of the dating topic. instead of turning it around on himself. After briefly sulking, he followed her up the long, stony steps of the courthouse. And proclaimed that he himself had gone on a date some days before. Lucifer turned her gaze towards him, listening quietly as he prattled on about it. Lucifer couldn't help but chuckle softly when Ruìsāng told her that he forced the other person to go with him. That sounded like something he would do. "Oh?" The woman raised an eyebrow. 

She came to a stop at the top of the courthouse. The large door of the building stood just before them, and marble pillars stood at each side. Giving the courthouse an almost temple-like feel. "Oh, come now, I'm sure this date of yours enjoyed himself," Lucifer began, speaking in a light tone. She placed her hand on Ruìsāng's shoulder for a brief moment, as if attempting to reassure him of his likability. "Who wouldn't, with such great company?" Lucifer said as she ruffled his hair before she walked past him and opened the door to the courthouse, entering the building.