"right?" she murmurs, the tone sounding almost appreciative that someone agrees with her. there's something about the more muted colors of deus that seem so aesthetically pleasing. perhaps it's the way the darker tones blend into shadows quicker, lending themselves to the darkness it disguises itself within. well, normal golurks do anyway. hers is a bit... odd? it prefers the light to the shadows, the fun to the boring. part of her even wonders if deus evens her out in the end, a system of checks and balances in a way.
"hopefully the answers will reveal themselves soon," she offers before flashing a somewhat sheepish smile toward nova.
"i've been putting so much time into finding out that i haven't done much of anything else." work, work, work. study, study, study. she doesn't do much else, doesn't even have the energy to. no, she pours herself into cracking the genetic code, figuring out everything she can about what the dna holds. it leaves her lacking in both social skills and an actual life but... she doesn't know any other way, not anymore.
seeing its trainer so content with petting the mimikyu, deus takes it upon itself to join in on the good pets. the automaton scoots closer, slowly at first before practically shoving itself into illeana's lap. she squeaks in surprise, attempting to shift and coil out of the weight it adds to her legs. the golem is unbothered by her movements, however, and simply reaches a large hand toward the mimikyu with a rumbled coo as if to say "hi, notice me friendo!".
"hey," she whispers, more to the golurk than their company.
"he's not going anywhere. relax, please, dear." she knows as well as anyone that sometimes when things interest you, there's a certain sense of hurry that overtakes your senses. it's the pursuit of knowledge, perhaps, or simply a desire to learn all that you can before the object in question leaves. still... deus isn't fully aware of its large size and tends to fling itself around as if it's a small creature.
shaking her head, illeana returns her attention to nova just as the redhead is swishing her basket of goodies from side to side. a soft chuckle escapes the woman, then, and she's flashing an apologetic smile.
"you worked hard for those berries," she says.
"it wouldn't be fair to take some from you! besides, deus could eat its weight in those if you let it..." a glance is spared toward the automaton in question, who seems more content with letting out a purr-like rumble than their conversation.
"thank you for offering, though. that's very kind of you!" there's always something about kindness that makes her feel so torn. it's a virtue, one she holds dear to her heart, but the world is cruel and it's oh so fleeting now. people take advantage of that kindness, that softness these two women possess, and it's difficult to not allow that fact to snuff out that very trait beneath heavy boots. to be soft is to be strong, no matter how many times the world tells you that it's a weakness not a strength.
while the two women continue to chat among themselves, deus slowly eases away from illeana's lap and back into its spot against the tree trunk. it seems that fortune favors the behemoth because the mimikyu it had been so interested in follows suit. the small disguised creature shuffles closer and leaps onto one of its off colored legs, earning a rumble of excitement almost instantaneously. a new friend always leaves deus excited, completely enamored by the fact that another curious creature finds it just as interesting as it does them. and so, without a moment of hesitation, the golurk is reaching large hands out to stroke at the mimikyu, content and already chalking this day up to the best one yet.
meanwhile, illeana offers an understanding hum in response to nova's comments of work. it strikes a feeling of similarity in her mind, one that is becoming increasingly large as the two get to know each other a little. work is the driving force behind most things, it seems, and it's all too easy to get swept up in the theatrics of it all. focus too much on work and other things fall away, suffering beneath a lack of interest. on the other side of the coin, if work isn't focused on enough, it builds and builds until it's a mountain of menacing deadlines and the weight of that is suffocating in its own right. perhaps that's what prompts her to sigh almost wistfully and glance toward the gardens, toward the berries and the working bellsprout.
"how do we balance work and relaxation?" she inquires.
"is there any way to even do that? it always feels like a necessary choice between one or the other."the handshake feels comfortable, pleasant even, despite how quickly it ends. a meeting of two birds of a feather, two like-minded individuals who happened to have a series of coincidences leading them to this moment in time. part of her wonders if there are powers at work she doesn't understand. higher powers guiding them together, fate weaving red strands of string together into one. it's too much to think about, however, and so she lets the thoughts drift away on the breeze as her hand retreats back to her side. another creeping blush only deepens the color of her cheeks and it isn't long before she's awkwardly fumbling with the hem of her shirt. compliments always make her uncomfortable. they don't seem fitting for her, like they're some figment of her imagination to compensate for the lack of kindness she has seen.
"thank you," she says because this woman is wonderful enough to spare her some good words and it's too rude to vehemently deny them like she wants to.
"i think i get it from my parents?" the sentence tastes bitter on her tongue and she tries to cover the vile sting it leaves with more words.
"you're very kind to say that. i really appreciate it!" and then, she's attempting to smile and lift up her own thumbs-up but it's awkward and she's suddenly all too aware that she's not the best in these sort of situations.
nova begins explaining what brings her around these parts and illeana stays quiet, her words mulled over in her mind. there's truth to way she says, to the fact that gardening can be considered a form of therapy for most. it's rewarding, even, and the fruit it bears have a plethora of use. as far as hobbies go, it's a pleasant one for those who possess a green thumb. in fact, it almost reminds her of time spent outside of her small house in lilycove with her own tiny garden. this place is larger, however, and far more impressive than her pitiful garden and she tucks the thought away to respond instead.
"it's lovely here," she offers, gaze sweeping away from nova's features to find solace in the flora around them.
"it's easy to see why you come here. your family must be quite the gardeners! is it something you guys do for a hobby or is it a line of work in your family?" she can't help but seek more information, ask more questions, gather more data. it's something she can't shake, even outside of the lab. nova's next comment, however, distracts her and she's scrunching her nose in consideration.
"that's an impressive trait to have, you know," she says after a moment before flashing a smile.
"most seem to prefer the cities these days but it's refreshing to find someone who loves nature and pokemon so much!" and then, she's adding softly,
"hold onto that love."there's a brief interval of silence that falls over them, then, and illeana takes the opportunity to glance at deus. the golurk is still absorbed in the mimikyu, content with lazily petting the small creature while a satisfied rumble vibrates from its body. cuties, she thinks with a smile. and then, nova's speaking and dark eyes snap back to attention, finding her companion's face. there's another beat of time before her eyes widen in surprise.
"are -- are you sure?" she manages to get out, the question sounding so incredulous that it causes her to wince slightly.
"i'm sorry, it's just -- i wouldn't want to take your time with my research if you're busy!" she's sheepish and her hands don't know what to do with themselves. they sit in her lap, fingers twiddling endlessly. there's another pause before she's putting on a face of appreciation and dipping her head into a bow.
"thank you, you don't know how much it means to have someone interested in my work."the rustling of bushes isn't made aware to illeana or her golurk. both parties are occupied, unaware, and unsuspecting of the danger that lurks just beyond their sights. that doesn't stop the golurk from sensing something but it chalks it up to indigestion and doesn't investigate further. instead, both the woman and her automaton settle into their spots at the roots of the tree, smiles gracing both of their features.
