[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]"oh, the news?" illeana tilts her head as if this is all literal news to her. the whole basically living in a lab thing doesn't go well with keeping up to date on things, unfortunately. she does remember one glimpse of a news report though... something about slateport, maybe? hell if she knows, honestly, but she smiles a little wider anyway. "maybe that's it, then! was it recent? i could've sworn i just saw you." poor illeana, unable to place her memories enough to sort through the mess. it'll dawn on her eventually. probably tomorrow, though... oops.

the name helps, at least. recognition flashes in her eyes for a moment and she's all too happy to balance her own things in exchange for putting her hand in ruby's. the shake is loose, almost a little excited or frantic on illeana's end.

"ruby! it's a pleasure to meet you," her lips curl further into the smile, almost a little too bright by this point. "i'm illeana, illeana reyes." she leaves out the whole science bit for now, if only to spare ruby the process of having her ear chatted off about random projects. anyway, she releases ruby's hand after a moment and adjusts her goodies once more. this gives her golurk the opportunity to shuffle forward a tiny bit, just enough to put itself beside her in an attempt to get ruby's attention. the automaton will wave excitedly. new friends are always high on deus' priority list.

"well, this is definitely the place to take it easy," a soft laugh escapes and she takes the chance to glance around at their surroundings. man, it really is amazing here. who knew they could just plant a whole carnival and circus on the beach? apparently everyone else but her. "are you enjoying yourself so far?"

in the distance, shouting can be heard. it's hard to tell just yet if it's yells of excitement or panic. eventually, it'll all go to shit though but for now, it's just two girls chatting among the carnival games.

Ruby Walker
midsummer madness prompt!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]the notion that she has seen her in person before bugs her. not enough that she presses it but enough to cause her to linger on it for longer than necessary. but where? and when? recent or a while ago? god, her memories are a jumbled mess and her excitement over the events of today is making it difficult to sort through anything besides thoughts of right here and now.

meanwhile, her golurk is ecstatic over darling returning its wave. the automaton coos happily before allowing them some space and stepping back to stand beside its trainer. it's oblivious as far as the step ruby takes goes but that smile? that wave? that looks like a new friend to the dual type and man, is it excited. her ninetales, on the other hand? she seems distracted by something in the distance. some commotion that seems to be creeping closer. it has tan fur standing on edge, not quite defensive but tinged with mild worry. illeana hasn't noticed yet, too absorbed in her conversation with ruby.

"i'm glad!" the scientist's smile is so wide by now that it should hurt her cheeks. and yet, it doesn't. not quite, anyway. "you know, i don't blame you! sometimes, big events like this seem a little overwhelming. too many people, maybe." she's not the best with crowds. not in the sense that she's comfortable throwing herself into big parties or groups without choking on nerves. the shouting snags illeana's attention a moment later, her eyes darting toward the direction it comes in. funny... it almost seems to be coming closer. are they just excited or is something wrong?

her attention returns to ruby, to the question she asks. the scientist is quick to shake her head with a soft laugh. "unfortunately, no. i'm from snowpoint in sinnoh. big things like this are usually not a normal occurrence back home. not in snowpoint, anyway." she shifts gears, then, with a curious look etching itself into her features. "you're from galar? that's lovely! i've heard good things about the region but haven't had the chance to see for myself. is it as beautiful as they say?" she pauses for a moment to halfheartedly gather her thoughts. and then, her mouth opens again but no words come out.

instead, a shrill shriek pierces through their conversation and she's spinning on her heel, head whipping around to find the source. "okay, what is that? it doesn't sound good."

Ruby Walker
midsummer madness prompt!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]while deus and darling giggle between each other, illeana shifts her focus solely on ruby. the ninetales at her side watches curiously, tan head slightly tilting to one side. she understands enough to recognize the relaxed atmosphere between both parties but the conversation is lost on her among the noises around them.

"that sounds incredible!" illeana's smile grows until it almost aches against her cheeks. "what makes the mushrooms glow, i wonder? and --" neither of them get to finish their conversation as commotion draws their attention away like rubber bands snapping beneath pressure. a new addition joins their makeshift party in the form of a hatterene escaping its pokeball. the psychic type is somewhat familiar to illeana, if only because she has one of her own. a small, almost apologetic smile is directed toward whisper and ruby before her mind begins to work through the problem at hand.

there's a crowd moving toward them now, perhaps too fast to just be excited carnival goers. and at the center of it all is a man who, in all senses of the word, appears to be mad. off his rocker, bonkers, what have you. the beginning of a light foam escapes corners of his mouth and those around him are trying their hardest to escape. she can't make out the words he's screaming over the sound of shrieks around him but it doesn't look good.

"i hope not," she murmurs. her features settle into a more serious expression and there's no hesitation in her step as she moves closer. a glance is directed toward ruby over her shoulder, face softening for a moment. "i guess we have to find out, huh?" if only to stop what she hopes isn't about to become a disaster.

illeana doesn't make it very far before the crowd is pushing back, as if she's crazy herself for trying to get a better look. a better understanding is really what she's aiming for but that might be difficult when the cause of it all has begun swinging his arms toward those around him. ah shit, she really hopes this isn't about to become a brawl...

Ruby Walker
midsummer madness prompt!

[attr="class","illie"]

[attr="class","illie b"]

[attr="class","illie i"]yep, definitely going to become a brawl...

the man is unruly, untamed, almost feral. there's a look in his eyes that sends her skin crawling the longer she stares, the closer she drifts. and yet, there's the persistent understanding that she has to do something. it seems ruby is no different in this aspect. both her and her pokemon get closer as well, her hatterene beginning to handle the arms that are being thrown toward the crowd. and without processing on if it's such a good idea, illeana herself is stepping toward the center of the crowd. her ninetales follows close at her heels, the off-colored fur on her back already rising from the threat.

"deus, phantom force. try to restrain him." the golurk doesn't need another word from her, merely nodding and sinking into the shadow at her back. and despite so many shadows in one place, the automaton deftly jumps between them to find its target. it reappears moments later, rising up from the stretching shadow of the madman. only half of its body is revealed for a minute until its full stature comes into view. clay hands reach out to subdue the swinging arms but it isn't fast enough to stop the few punches that hit ruby's hatterene.

and by the time ruby calls her name, illeana is close enough to see her more clearly. she flashes a small, nervous smile. "be careful!" she calls back, despite shifting through the crowd to join the girl's side again. being separated in this crowd almost seems overwhelming and given the unpredictable nature of a man like this? yeah, she'd feel better to be within arm's reach of ruby.

the crowd is difficult to navigate, to move through without catching an elbow to the side or a foot stomping onto hers in the process of panic. she understands enough to quell whatever irritation rises but man, if that last elbow didn't hurt. eventually, she makes it close enough to ruby to cross that last obstacle in her way. and when she joins her side again, her lips are settling into a firm line. "what are we going to do about this? i'm afraid i've never really handled this sort of thing before." perhaps she has? or it's just the blind leading the blind. either way, the man is struggling against both the golurk and the hatterene and she can practically feel his anger growing. not good.

Ruby Walker
midsummer madness prompt!