it's good pr, they tell her, to volunteer to help out the local community. as much as she agrees with it, it doesn't make the task any less tiring.[break][break]

but her mood and spirits lift at the sight of a familiar face.[break][break]

"cyg!"[break][break]

after a quick jog, ana catches up to them only to offer them a warm smile as she tugs on the straps of her backpack that carries a single egg.[break][break]

"do you mind if i join you? it's a rather long and lonely walk."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

Cyg froze in her tracks when someone called her name, a tendency instilled from years of menial labor under managers who only noticed you when you fucked something up.

Hello there, angel from my nightmares.

“Ana,” Cyg said, relaxing, and doubly thankful she remembered her name. She smiles, nodding to Phiona to continue pulling the cart. “Yeah, of course. The more the merrier. I see they roped you in on delivery duty, too, huh?”

ANA STONE [break]eggs in one basket

☉

"that they did."[break][break]

ana, if not for her sporty attire, would definitely look out of place delivering an egg in a backpack. at least this way she can chalk it up to just being out doing some cardio.[break][break]

it's not her preferred choice of cardio, however.[break][break]

"how have you been, cyg? i haven't seen you since our date."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

Oh yeah, the date. Cyg makes a face and looks away. The date. God, she was a wreck on that date. She was better, now. Had her feet on the ground.

“Been good,” she says, and realizes she means it. She’s not just saying it. “I have a new job, working at the flower shop in Petalburg. This is just… a side hustle.”

One of the eggs wobbles in its protective bubblewrap and Bryda is on it in a second, repositioning and checking the other precious shells.

“How are you?”

ANA STONE [break]eggs in one basket

☉

"it's a very peculiar side hustle."[break][break]

unique, even. but she is not one to judge.[break][break]

"i've been well. busy! but well."[break][break]

what else is there to say? the specifics of what ana has been up to will likely bore anyone, so she keeps it to herself.[break][break]

"oh! i have a friend who owns a flower shop near petalburg. have you met Elisabeth Fiorelli?"

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

Cyg laughs. “Yeah, well, peeps be wanting their eggs,” she says with a shrug. “Or, y’know, tis the season. Little kids are gonna get Pokemon and then abandon them in a few months. Love it.”

And here she was helping to propagate the abuse. All for the almighty dollar.

At Elisabeth Fiorelli’s name, Cyg’s eyes go wide and her countenance lights up like a bulb.

“Yes!” she says, too excited. “Elisa’s the best. She’s actually who I’m working for!”

The specifics of what Elisa and Cyg have been up to would likely horrify Ana.

“I just man the front counter when Elisa’s gone. I don’t actually do any gardening, thankfully, or I’d probably kill everything.”

ANA STONE [break]eggs in one basket

☉

it's a problem, she supposes, but she can't help herself to care enough about it to offer her help. that should say something about her. whatever it is, she leaves it for another time.[break][break]

"yes! she's lovely."[break][break]

the best, as cyg has said.[break][break]

"aw, i'm sure you aren't that bad."[break][break]

a pause before she corrects.[break][break]

"actually, i believe you."[break][break]

and after another pause, a question is asked, one that has crossed her mind before, believe it or not.[break][break]

"where'd you go after our date, cyg? i never heard from you after that."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

“I’ve got anti-green thumbs.” She held them up and wiggled them. “It’s why I like machines. You can always bring them back around.”

Well, gee, where did I go, Ana. I raided Sea Mauville for data and almost got eaten by ravenous squid. I took part in a reliving of the Ultra Beast invasion for a skills assessment. I got beat to shit in a haunted house by some psychotic scientist who wanted to develop eternal life.

Where didn’t I go.

“I was working, mostly,” Cyg said, and it was the honest truth. “I did do some hiking and, like, exploration. Getting lost in the wilderness type stuff. But mostly work.” She gave Ana a wry, tired smile.

There was a big sign by the road for LUCKY EGG DAYCARE, the end of her delivery route, though it was still up a ways.

ANA STONE [break]eggs in one basket

☉

despite her family's connection to hoenn and all that has befallen them, ana remains relatively unaffected by all that's been happening in the region.[break][break]

it's why should she ever find out about cyg and what she does for work, well, she wouldn't quite know how to react.[break][break]

"sounds busy."[break][break]

if anyone knows something about being busy all the time, it's ana.[break][break]

"but i find it useful to have a break sometimes. have a little fun, and all that."

[attr="class","ooc"]ana fell[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-rotom"]

Cyg can’t help but smile. “Not as busy as you, miss head of Devon Corp,” she says, just as there’s a shriek and a horde of small children burst from the doors of a nearby building. They swarm the wagon, reaching with grubby hands, whilst Phiona looks on in horror.

Bryda smacks Cyg in the thigh (gently, but enough to bruise) with her tail. “Ow! Oh. Shi-- I mean, shoot.” She fumbles in her pockets and pulls out a card.

“To Whitney, love Mommy. Share with all your friends.” The words make her wince and are barely audible above the shriek of excited children. She shares a glance with the pained face of the daycare attendant.

Phiona pulls a clipboard with a pen attached out of her pouch and hands it to Cyg, who in turn holds it out to the daycare lady.

“Sign here, please. Thank you. Have a nice life.”

As she recalled her Pokemon and backed away from the chaos, she looked at Ana.

“Wanna grab a bite to eat?”

ANA STONE [break]eggs in one basket

☉