When Michiko Maeda ran headlong into the lead singer of the group some fan blogs were calling the most influential internet artist of the decade, she was walking her dog.

The dog’s name was Thor, and Michi tried to love him. Honestly, she did. She tried to love him because her husband had bought him for her as a present, and she loved her husband, and (even if the Electrike wasn’t a beautiful exotic Furfrou with infinite hairstyles and was just a rescue animal from some shelter in Petalburg) he was still a symbol of their marriage.

That was what Michi tried to tell herself, at least. Sometimes it was hard to remember. Like when she couldn’t reserve a kennel before her weekend vacation and had to bring Thor with her as carry-on baggage.

It’s maybe not convenient, she thought to herself as the green Pokemon trotted along on its stumpy legs, wagging its awkwardly bent tail. But look! See how happy he is? If her husband could see them now, surely he would be happy too.

But she was still embarrassed, secretly. The boring Electrike didn’t fit her stylish image as she swept down the gorgeous streets of Sootopolis, draped in the latest fall fashion from her recent shopping spree. In fact--

It all happened quite suddenly. The small woman, gaze lowered to avoid eye contact with the people around her, ran head-first into someone walking the opposite direction. She stumbled back, hand over her heart.

“Y-yes! Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m so very sorry,” Michi’s voice quavered and she ducked her head in apology, horrified that she’d been so careless. “It’s my fault, I wasn’t looking where I was going!”

She looked up, and saw Evelyn Silph.

She was so surprised, face registering utter blankness, that her fingers went slack on the lead and Thor took off suddenly into the slowly-gathering crowd. Michi let out a little cry of dismay, tearing her eyes from the golden-haired idol. “Ah! No, come back!” she cried feebly, feeling faint.

^{ooc: hiii! evelyn silph hope you don't mind me dropping in!}

She should have known better. As a shelter Pokemon, Thor was skittish at the best of times-- much less in a new city with a crowd of people. People, Michi realized, who had been drawn to the presence of a celebrity. Had she not been so genuinely distressed, Michiko would have been more awed by the fact that Eve, of all people, was chasing her runaway pet down the street. Oh, the girls would be so excited, she managed to think semi-lucidly. Ah! What am I thinking? Not now! 

Reeling, feeling dizzy, Michi clutched her shopping bags to her chest and chased after them both.

She was puffing by the time they'd left the surprised crowd behind, and unfortunately, there was no sign of the Electrike. Even so, she waved a hand feebly at Evelyn, still a little starstruck. "No, no," she managed, embarrassed that she'd already so inconvenienced the internet star. "I'll find him, it's all right. Please don't worry!" Still flustered, the middle-aged woman lifted her voice, trying to call the dog. "Soa, soa! He always comes. Don't worry." Of course, she could never say his name the way her husband did, but he would surely still come back to her... right?

Looking around, seeing no Electrike, the woman's posture slumped. "Or... maybe not." Maybe he really was gone. The thought of admitting she'd lost their dog to her husband when he returned from abroad made Michi so faint that she had to sit down on the steps of a nearby fire escape, clutching the railing for support. To her horror, her eyes filled with tears. She hid her face behind her shopping bag. "Oh... How did this happen?"

^{evelyn silph}

Michi got herself together enough to peek out from behind her shopping bag in the background of Evelyn’s live video, clasping her hands together thankfully. Some dazed part of her mind was still reacting to the blonde’s flawless acting, deeply touched that the singer cared so much about finding little Thor. “Thank you,” she breathed, dabbing her eyes on a handkerchief.

The worst over, positivity seemed to cautiously trickle back into the little woman. “Oh!” she uttered, surprised by Evelyn’s offer. “Tea, yes! You are very kind.” She stood up, spirits already lifting, and looked around uncertainly. “Is it really okay?” What if Thor showed up? Oh, what if he just came back after Eve asked all her fans to find him? That would be terrible! She felt ashamed at just the thought. Perhaps it would be better to get off the street.

Seeming positively eager, Michiko pulled out her phone, scrolling back to the post she’d seen earlier that day. “Near here, there is a cafe with cute sweets I want to try— oh! Look!” She beamed, then turned her phone around for Evelyn to see the page of pastel-filtered photos. “They are shaped like famous sea character: Wailmer! Will you come?”

Belatedly, she realized she still hadn’t introduced herself and scooted back, bowing her head in consternation. “Ah! So sorry. My name is Michiko, please call me Michi.” Straightening up, she beamed again at the helpful young woman. “Nice to meet you!”

^{evelyn silph hope you like wailmer cookies w/your tea}

She tried to give Eve a little privacy and not listen to her conversation, but Michi couldn't help but turn a little pink with delight when Evelyn referred to her as a 'friend' to whoever she was talking to. Anxious to hide her eavesdropping, she quickly routed the directions to the cafe on her phone. "Yes! Is walking OK? It is maybe just two or three minutes," she said. She mimed walking. "Let's~ go~!"

The little blue cafe, whose elaborate name was written in the appropriate Kalosian dialect, was squeezed in between a dusty bookshop and a local boutique. It offered no spectacular views of the city or ocean, but its imported tea blend and unique pastries were popular enough among tourists and young women that it still distinguished itself. Seating was, of course, limited, and as Michiko caught sight of it she let out a distressed little "Aaah!" as she saw a small line to get in had already formed. 
 
Anxious that she'd already made Eve miss her appointment, Michi turned to Evelyn. "They have many delicious sweets," she said earnestly, "So they are popular! Ah, I'm sorry! Maybe, it will not be too long..." She hurried forward to get into line. Despite her distress at having to wait for a table, she was a little happy to see that so many other people liked this cafe. It made her feel like she'd chosen a good place to bring the young idol to. 

^{evelyn silph  aaand the dog is forgotten...}

Relieved that Evelyn wasn't upset by the prospect of waiting, Michi relaxed. Most of the people in line were chatting happily about the cafe, creating a quiet buzz of small talk on the sidewalk. No one seemed to be staring at them and the interior seemed to be shaded from the street view. Perfect for a quiet cup of tea, Michi thought happily. She was taking a picture of the storefront with her phone (to be shared on social media later) when her new friend spoke up.

Thinking the girl meant the paparazzi rather than security, Michi actually laughed, lowering her phone. "It is because you are with me," she said, eyes crinkling. "If you were alone, maybe everyone would see you. I look like a tourist, so they think you are one too!" Not knowing all the ramifications of Evelyn's family, she sympathized with not wanting people watching her all the time.

Michi went on, "Actually, I am from Petalburg City! It is a very nice city..." she trailed off, slight surprise registering on her face at Evelyn's change of tone. "Hmm..." she echoed, tipping her head thoughtfully to one side. Still, she didn't seem too concerned. It was surprising how lighthearted she could still be, considering everything on the news.

After a moment, the small woman nodded. "Yes, it is very dangerous these days! My two daughters, they are studying abroad in Unova. Not here! Aah! I am so jealous," she said wistfully. "But I could never leave Hoenn..." 

She counted on her fingers, holding up three. "All my life, I have lived here. My house, it was my mother's house, and before that, her mother's house." Her great-grandfather had built it himself. "I work in a hotel, so I know-- even now, many people want to come to Hoenn! It is so beautiful, and there is much nature. It is a special place." Her tone grew more self-assured as she smiled suddenly, glowing with confidence. "So of course, I will stay."

^{evelyn silph}