@madeline

Madeline's Chansey and Togepi were not the only ones who sensed their trainer's morbid thoughts.

"Yarrow?"

Novak's Kirlia flinched, as if his concentration was broken.

"Is something wrong?" The Kirlia shook his head, but Novak saw his eyes flicker up towards something. He followed the Pokemon's gaze, and saw that he had been looking at a pretty lady who was about Novak's age, apprehension in his eyes.

"Was it her?" asked Novak, indicating Madeline, and Yarrow nodded.

Huh. What emotion could there be among someone who was here to help Hoenn rebuild after the chaos of war that would unnerve Yarrow so badly? Novak began to step towards her, but Yarrow grabbed his leg, shaking his head frantically.

"She won't hurt us, buddy," said Novak, but Yarrow wasn't willing to budge. He sighed. "Well, now I'm really curious," he said, "but you can stay in the ball if you want. How about that?"

Yarrow needed no urging, pressing the button of the Pokeball himself.

This was really weird. Just in case, he released Bamboo, the Pangoro materializing from his Pokeball. He could help clear the rubble, like he came here to do, and could protect him from the lady if he really needed it, for whatever reason.

When he walked up to her, though, he realized that he had no idea how he was going to start this discussion. What was he going to say? "My Pokemon that can sense people's emotions, and is generally rather collected, freaked the hell out about something you were thinking?"

"Hi," he said. He cleared his throat, heat rising to his face. "I'm Novak. Do you want to, um. Clear out that rubble?"

Of course she wanted to clear out the rubble. Damn. He probably sounded like the world's biggest dunce right now.

@madeline

Thank god, she didn't seem to be put off by Novak's blundering introduction. She seemed to be a nice lady, at first glance. She had been whispering some sort of prayer when he'd approached while she was healing people, or something. He wasn't really sure.

Novak wasn't terribly religious himself, but he could understand the appeal. Something powerful watching over you and helping you sounded like a good thing to believe in when you felt too small for your troubles. 

And, yup, here it was again. "May the gods bless your kindness." It was an opening for a deeper conversation, and Novak decided he would take it. No harm done with a small amount of philosophical discussion here and there.

Even if Yarrow's Pokeball was trembling like a fucker on his belt. Dear Arceus. He hoped she wouldn't notice and ask about it.

"The gods, eh..." He shrugged. "Which gods, if you don't mind me asking? I'm not sure what I should be believing, with all the things going on recently."

Another Pokeball opened and revealed Marigold. The Ribombee only looked about for a few seconds before realizing what the deal was, helping with the healing with her own Pollen Puffs as Bamboo put his might to use moving rubble, grabbing the larger pieces and hauling them out of the way.