It was painful for anybody to experience loss or even trauma, even Pokémon weren't spared from it. During the discussion, Gwen gave Ameena total attention, even furrowing her troubled brows while hearing about the poor Espartha that had suffered so much. But still, she couldn't just not allow the thing to suffer.
”I see…” She puffed her cheek out in a frustrated manner, but understood that it wasn't her place to be making calls on the behalf of Ameena.
”I wish I could help a little more, at least. But I'll leave it to…”She froze at the tanned hand coming to her face. Her eyes followed it as Ameena tucked a loose strand of hair away. While the gesture was likely just making sure she looked presentable, it was anything but plain to Gwen.
The poor girl felt her cheeks flush haphazardly. It was the very same movement she had seen time and time again in her manga and online serials. But she felt her insides just…what was the right word? Squeeze out? Explode?
No, it was like something just clicked inside of her. Something that she knew was somewhere in her, but didn't really, like, know about?
Ameena was pretty, but like pretty pretty.
Like the pretty people who people wanted to be. It wasn't romantic, but sorta like a mutual respect thing?
Damn it, she was smart! Why couldn't she figure this out to put simply?
Like obviously, Ameena was way older than her, but fuck, she was pretty! So were some of the other women of the Rangers, but like respectfully! Freya, that cool new gym leader that had taken over for another.
Tsumaki, was it?
They weren't as pretty pretty as Robin though. B-But they were just friends. Really good friends. There wasn't anything against admitting your friends were pretty, nope!
Even if you enjoyed spending time together and kind of wished they thought the same of you.
Was that stalkerish? That sounded way too stalkerish.
Whoa, her heart was beating super fast now. Maybe she should calm down a bit?...
It was a few seconds after Ameena had stopped talking that Gwen managed to snap back into reality again. Somewhere in the hazy maelstrom of thoughts going through her head was a response to her first statement.
”R-Really? I, ah, mean, I try to be friendly. I guess it's just kind of natural. I just like getting to know other people.”Ameena did have a point about what would more than likely be in store for her at the Draciary. It wasn't always going to be full of happiness and Tauros steaks for everybody. Something was going to happen eventually that would affect her as it had when the ranger had learned about her Espartha. While she had normally been so happy to volunteer, it wasn't until now that the thought entered her mind.
Hesitation caught her words, only letting go after the younger of the two looked towards the Goomy on her arm.
”It's hard out there, like you said back in Ultra Space. Everything we've seen is fucked up, and I doubt with the war coming, it will get better.”The Goomy let out a malleable “squee!” noise as Gwen dug into her bag and pulled out a water bottle. She uncorked the top and dunked her fingertips in, then held them above the Goomy. The slime producing dragon was pleased with the result, as Gwen smiled a little. She had learned so much under
freya morningstar 's wings and put her utmost faith in the Councilwoman.
To some, it was blind loyalty, and Gwen couldn't blame them for it. But she wanted to be somebody anyone could rely on in this world, and Freya had given her a chance.
”But somebody has to be there for the Pokémon who we can help. I'm not the most experienced compared to every other Ranger or worker at the Draciary, but I want to leave the world a better place than it was when I was here. I think I owe it to the Pokémon anyway.”Gwen looked up at Ameena again, all heroic like and as if she had finished giving an awesome little power up moment before snickering to herself.
”Or maybe I just don't know what else I would be good at. Professor Conway sounds nice, but I haven't even been to college yet…”
