the site wasn't as impressive as most of their types scattered around the region. like the other it was old, dilapidated, but clearly not taken care of. the work that greyson had put into the one outside of oldale was now Cleary visible, at least compared to this one.
[Break][break]
"interesting, isn't it?" says a voice to her right- greyson's. he stood there with a fixed gaze on the site, wearing a simple tee and chino shorts.
[Break][break]
he turns his gaze to the woman, smiling slightly.
[Break][break]
"hello penelope. been well?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

The sudden voice caused her to jump. Turning, her eyes widened, and a shot of blood flushed her cheeks.
[break][break]

Greyson.
[break][break]

"Hey," She waved, her voice nearly wavering. "Yeah, I've been good."
[break][break]

Kinda. Sorta. Everything about her life was looking up in most regards, except for one.
[break][break]

Hands bound behind her back, she inched up towards the shrine, her eyes failing to leave him.
[break][break]

"How about you? You doing well?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


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

naturally his own follow her as she moves, fingers nestling into his pockets with only this thumbs remaining on the outside.
[Break][break]
"managing well enough." if it had been months prior, he'd have shown how nervous he felt; how much his chest hurt right now.
[Break][break]
in truth if penny looked close enough, she could see the signs - thumbs moving in rough circles on the exterior of his pants, gaze flicking from hers to the shrine as if unsure where to look, and the thin line his lips made as they wanted to frown.
[Break][break]
"what brings you by?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

Hm.
[Break][break]
From where she stood, a brief taste of his anxiety could be had, but beyond saying what she already knew, it didn't amount to much.
[Break][break]
"I," how should she put this? "...got at tip."
[Break][break]
She hesitantly averted her gaze back onto the shrine, unsure if she could keep it steady on him any longer than she had already. "Thought it was worth checking out. Should've known you would've beaten me to it, though." A pathetic excuse of a laugh forced itself out from her lips.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors [break]


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

her comment only causes his lips to lift into a small, amused smile.
[Break][break]
"you're not the only one with your ear to the ground." he says, moving closer himself. his eyes rose to the apex of the shrine and he 'tsks' audibly.
[Break][break]
"it will need some work done, but, it's remarkably similar to the one in oldale, dont you think?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"Remarkably similar," She echoed back, teasing lightly.
[break][break]

The facade of normalcy slowly began to melt away, as a genuine smile curled up, slowly, between her cheeks.
[break][break]

"Should we clean it up, then?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


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

he blinks, taking her suggestion with a bit of surprised consideration. the thought was a nice one, but, their last interaction still lingered.
[Break][break]
"sure," he starts, "i'm sure it would make for a good story." his walls remain up and fortified, not daring to come down for a second. not daring to hope for a second.
[Break][break]
"we can meet back here tomorrow and start then?"

[attr="class","notes"]@name

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"Not really here for a story," She corrected him. For once, her job hadn't wrangled back into her mind, and she'd like to keep it that way.
[break][break]

Against her better judgment, she turned to face him.
[break][break]

"Why wait til tomorrow? Are you busy, or something...?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


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

he let's the story thing slide; it was a defense mechanism, an excuse, for why she would've really been here. it was easier to cope that way.
[Break][break]
"uh," he stumbles on his words for a moment, eyes dashing up to the sky would be bleeding orange in a few hours.
[Break][break]
"no, no. today works for you then?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"Today works plenty."
[break][break]

Turning the satchel she had slung over her shoulder around, she pulled out a handful of cleaning supplies and offered some to Greyson.
[break][break]

"Here, I brought these. I don't know how to properly clean up a shrine, but I thought it might help."
[break][break]

Lysol wipes, brushes, clothes, and more. It was basically a mini cleaning kit prepped and ready for usage.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


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

"okay," he says, going along with her take charge attitude. he'd intended to go get cleaning supplies of his own, but was pleasantly surprised she'd had the foresight to do so.
[Break][break]
from his belt he releases a myriad of pokemon, some that would help with the task at hand, and others who would just enjoy the time spent free from their capsule.
[Break][break]
still, a question lingers, and seeing as how the situation had already dissolved to this, he says screw it.
[Break][break]
"why are you doing this, penny? trying to clean this place up, i mean."

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

She handed off the supplies with a smile, moving to release her own pokemon shortly after. Unlike Gym Leader Greyson Connors, her line of pokemon is much smaller in comparison, including mainly her Garchomp, Milotic, and Magnemite.
[break][break]
None of which could actually help to wipe down the shrine.
[break][break]
Greyson's question came mid-step.
[break][break]
"Because I want to?"
[break][break]
Not really the answer he was going for, but to be honest, she hadn't really thought it through herself.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


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

he doesn't push. if that's the answer she gives, than so be it.
[Break][break]
"help me clear these roots," he says to a shiny drillbur at his side, pointedly looking away from penny as he speaks.
[Break][break]
it's razor sharp claws begin making quick work of the tangled mess around the shrines based and greyson himself is on his knees pulling at the weakest of the ones.
[Break][break]
work keeps his mind idle, and the... thoughts at bay. he loses himself in it. better to distract himself now than to let the feelings come rushing in.

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉