“I will stick with this salad for today,” she replied, pointing at the item in the menu. While not a vegetarian, she had always had healthy eating habits drilled into her from a young age. Plus, she felt like eating light. Though the thought occurred to her that ordering a vegetable-based dish in front of a plant-like Pokemon might be a bit off. Then again, these types never had issues with other Pokemon eating plants, so she figured that this would be fine, too.
[break][break]
For now though, she took her sparkling water and sipped a bit from it while the Gym Leader recounted the events of a fateful meeting. It did sound a bit outlandish, sure, but she took it at face value. This man was probably not prone to making up stories to make himself look good or anything like that. He at least meant what he was saying, she figured. “That does sound quite impressive. I would have liked to have seen that bridge to the heavens too. That’s the kind of imagery that any artist would want to evoker with their music, after all. Well, my kind of music at least.” [break][break]
She chuckled gently at that notion. Generalizing would have been too presumptuous. A lot of artists favoured other styles of music, after all. And even she liked songs that got her heart pumping at times too, quite different from the serene image that these words conjured up. “Then again, I think not getting directly involved in wards is healthier for me in general. Even if that means not being able to impress heavenly onlookers to want to join me.” Still though, she sighed a little. A Pokemon like this would certainly be nice to befriend, if nothing else.


[break][break]

+ Josh Devlin

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Had she even called him by that name? She could not remember. Eve was just about always formal when on jobs, keeping things professional. Even when it was not her chosen profession, she knew that it was that of others. It was just common courtesy to meet them on that level.
[break][break]
On the flipside, she tended to not get mad when people she knew just casually used her name like that. She only disliked it when her mother used that in a certain way, or strangers acted way too casually with her. “Being formal isn’t all that bad if you ask me,” she replied, though she was mostly focused on the little grassy one.
[break][break]
It did smell nice, after all. Though that certainly wasn’t everything about it that intrigued her. “A Shaymin. Interesting. Maybe one day I will find one, too.” He had framed it like quite an adventure to acquire one, but she figured that he was overselling that. Everyone was, after all. Hence, she gave a brief chuckle. “Though you would not believe just what I learned to believe since coming to Hoenn. You could tell me you found it in a hidden cave in an active volcano and I’d only doubt it since this is definitely not a fire type.”


[break][break]

+ Josh Devlin

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She had not exactly expected to get into the ranger business in any way, but here she was. Though, honestly, she had mostly been helping out sometimes when it seemed like she could. But she would never consider herself one of them, nonetheless. When the going got too tough, she did not get too close to the danger. And she was not one who wanted to take orders much, either, even though she knew how helpful that was for a big organization.
[break][break]
Hence, she had never thought about joining. Which made it somewhat embarrassing to be considered an asset by them. Not that she was one who shied from the spotlight – she had grown up in that. But she just felt like there were probably a lot of young rangers much more deserving of praise. Or an invitation to a dining area like this by one of the higher ups. Not that she had known that he was one when helping out before. Nor had she looked to rise up any ladders or the like.
[break][break]
Eve just did what she did. And she had almost declined the offer because of that. Yet, she knew that she would just feel bad about that in the end, so ultimately, she had still come back to the establishment. She had been here before, after all. Just in a much less formal environment. This time, she had decided against some kind of gala dress and instead gone for a blazer, shirt and skirt combination that would almost peg her for an office lady. But she could never shake her more exotic looks still, so that was not really working for her either.
[break][break]
Still, when she came she was a bit more stiff than usual – at least in the first moment, before she saw the Pokemon on the table. Eve did not complain about the one that then went onto the other person’s head. Instead, she immediately eyed it curiously. “What is that? It looks so cute. Is that what makes this smell?” Her questions came unusually quick and direct. Something she soon caught herself for and coughed lightly. “I mean…good evening, Ranger Devlin.”


[break][break]

+ Josh Devlin

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

She sighed. “I hope so, too. But some things you can’t force.” Love, especially not. At least not as she understood it. It would be pretty meaningless, if it could. And yet, she found herself at an impasse nonetheless. Everyone expected her to know about these sorts of things. Most songs were about it, after all. Yet, here she was, still a big novice despite her attempts. Maybe, she was just doing something wrong.
[break][break]
But she couldn’t just ask someone, now could she? That would be too embarrassing, to begin with. At least she, too, was saved by the distraction, catching that Pokemon for the time being. It was enough to distract the flow of conversation at least. After a bit of awkward silence, the dark of the caves was cut with another familiar, but different question – after the other decided to eat candy of all things. Odd, but also quite fine.
[break][break]
Still, she fished in her bag for something and offered the other a white handkerchief. “You have something on the left corner,” she noted. The half-melted nature of that that candy bar had not done her much favours, after all. “And so far, I enjoyed it for the most part. I might not have found what I was looking for but at least it never gets bored. Plus – “ she did not get to finish that for she had to stop, briefly. There was a lightly thunderous noise – something big moving just around the corner where their smaller tunnel led to a bigger cave.


[break][break]

+ @kaelyn

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Evette sighed softly, as she retrieved the ball. That question was probably a pertinent one. She should have expected it. Yet, she had hoped against all odds that she could just talk to someone who knew her that would not ask. A foolish hope, probably, but one she had, well, hoped for until now. Not that she could have done things much differently. They always asked. And she seldom had a good reply other than the usual. Which was starting to sound less convincing these days, sadly.
[break][break]
“I….travel to experience the world. On my own, not on some tour with dozens of people about.” After all, even if she did set out as some kind of solo act, she wouldn’t really be alone on this journey. Any artist of renown had to travel with an entourage. There was hardly a way around that. “Plus, I was hoping to find something close enough to love to be authentic about it…” she added, almost lost in thoughts. Honestly, by now she was close to giving up on that notion. It really seemed like it wasn’t going to happen, at least not anytime soon.
[break][break]
However, before she could dwell on that for too long, two things happened. For one, the other changed the topic. For the other, she heard something else in a bit of a distance, namely soft, haggard breathing. Swiftly making her way towards it while Chandelure kept watch to ensure that they did not run into a trap, Eve looked around for the source of it all. “I did get to experience some firsthand, not just witnessed it,” she replied, evidently a bit distracted.[break][break]
Soon though, she found it. A poor little thing, probably unconscious, lying in the fog. Pulling out another Pokeball, she decided that it was a better idea to try that than a potion. She did not know what was wrong with it, after all. “Couldn’t be poisoned, it’s a poison type. Maybe the heat?” Either way, she nudged the ball against the Nidorina, seeking to capture it for now and let the ball keep it in shape until they reached a Pokemon centre.


[break][break]

+catching Nidorina

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Been there for a good few months before coming to Hoenn,” she replied, casually hopping over a stone in her path with a dancer’s step. Clearly, she was dealing with their current predicament a lot better than the other. “And I mostly came here on a whim. Met some nice people from the region vacationing over in Alola. They invited me over and I just decided to make that the next step on my journey. “[break] [break]
Granted though, she had not exactly expected things to play out as they had. Her relatively brief stay had become a prolonged one, first because of that weird dome blocking the exit, then because she felt like she would not be able to leave again, if she returned home. Any excuse to prolong the stay was a welcome one. [break] And speaking of distractions, she did notice something slowly moving through the vapors not too far from them. Judging by its glowing red body, it was probably a fire-type. “Chandelure, Imprison it,” she ordered without missing a beat, waiting for the ghastly prison to land before tossing a ball at the Slugma, just in case it worked. [break] [break] “What brings you out here though? Most people are a bit wary about coming over to Hoenn, given everything that happened recently. For some of which I was present, in fact.” She chuckled lightly, putting her hands on her knees as she leaned in a little to watch the wobbles of the Pokeball she’d thrown a bit up closer.


[break][break]

+ @kaelyn catch attempt Slugma

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Oh, I am fine,” Eve replied, almost casually. Between her time in Alola and the weird times spent in digital volcanoes, she was reasonably fine with the warmth. Maybe she was just naturally better at it to begin with. Her companion was the kind of pale beauty that probably did not spend too much time in the tropical sun, after all. That might have been a bit presumptuous, of course, but it was easy enough to tell that the lady had trouble with the climate.
[break][break]
Though she still soldiered on. That was something Evette could respect. It was one thing to walk this path when it was only mildly inconvenient, barely a problem. But when someone else did it despite those struggles, that was worth more. Eve still drank a bit, knowing of the importance of hydration. “This is a lot like being on Akala Island, so I am kind of used to it. Just make sure to not inhale the smoke directly. It is not too hazardous but it can be problematic. Fortunately, it sticks to the ground most of the time.” Which was why they probably should not trip. Eve carefully observed the ground to make sure of that, being ready to assist the other too, if necessary. Her Chandelure was hovering overhead, its Flame Body perfectly insulating it against the heat to begin with.
[break][break]

+ ooc notes

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“If I made them go wild,” she started, tapping her lips, “then wouldn’t that just be more work for you?” She chuckled, though there was some truth to it. She had seen crowds go out of control before. But usually, there had been a lot more alcohol involved and maybe a Pokemon or two instigating chaos. This venue was a bit classier than the last one she’d sung at, at least.
[break][break]
Ugh. She hated constructing sentences with two of the same word in succession, even in her mind. Briefly grimacing, Eve swiftly caught herself again. Still though, she watched the man leave for now. This was not the time for conversations, after all. What little there had been had been nice -ugh, again, she always got like that when agitated – but for now, she needed to calm down and prepare. This was just a concert. The kind she’d had a dozen time over in the past two years alone. It had been a while, but she would do well enough. There was at least person that she could not disappoint today. Not after they just expressed their belief in her.
[break]
Which was stronger than her parents just expecting success of her. It felt more motivating, really. With her parents, she was of half a mind to just stick it to them even though she wasn’t even angry. But random strangers that expressed confidence in her?
[break][break]Could not disappoint those.


[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“So you are saying you only apply yourself in that regard when you feel that’s helpful to someone else? Not sure that makes you a dunderhead, but if you want to talk it down, be my guest,” she replied, shrugging. By now she had found her groove again and decided to be more casual with this person. It wasn’t like she had cried her heart out on his shoulder or something. But he had said enough nice things to warrant her not insisting on the usual guard-client denominations.
[break][break]
Then, she turned to face him proper. “I am way too young and pretty to be washed-up, so that can’t be the case anyway. And honestly, once I get on stage it all works out anyway. That’s when instinct takes over. Kind of like on a battlefield indeed, but I reckon no one will get hurt out there today. Well, that is your job anyway, right?”


[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He sure had a high opinion of her. At least that was the impression she got from his words, wrong or not. At the very least, he seemed to believe that her music could have soothing effects. That was a nice sentiment, though she was not sure she was quite good enough in that regard. Or rather, not really unique. That was probably the issue. “Not just about any song, though. If any would do, then what I do has no meaning beyond interpretation.” She sighed, mostly to herself. Hence she also continued that thought a bit more quietly: “I still have not found my song, my way to do it.”
[break][break]
Her musing saw her briefly lost in thought, gazing at her countenance in the mirror. At the end of the day, she was mostly working with her own versions of the music others provided or those written for her. Eve had the knowledge and handiwork to get something done herself, yes, but she was never satisfied with anything she produced. That was what she had set out to find in the first place, after all.[break][break]
But mulling over that got her nowhere. Blinking briefly, taking a conscious breath, then another, and she managed to still herself. “But I guess what I can do right now is enough, else people would not show. Could do better, but perfect is the enemy of good, after all. Though you can’t really be all that random now, can you?” She chuckled to herself. “You did just upgrade yourself in your mind from ‘some random security guard’ to ‘Kouji the security guard’. Well, ‘Kouji the philosophical security guard’ at the very least, right?”


[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Odd. For him to sit down, really. Taking the water, striking up some kind of cursory conversation? That was nomal, common even. Yet at the same time, sitting down in someone else’s room, even a temporary one like this? That was different. He seemed a bit too at ease with that, too. Not quite acting like he owned the place, but sure as heck not as if she did. Granted, she didn’t either. But it still struck her as odd.
[break][break]
“I had enough in preparation. Drinking too close to an event just makes it riskier, for bladder reasons.” Being a bit parched and sweaty was perfectly fine. But needing to run off to the restroom was not a good feeling to have. Hence, she tended to prepare sufficiently, ahead of time. If nothing else, her training ensured that she could handle this professionally.
[break][break]
“And I guess its not stage fright. I’ve gone out before in the past few months without issue. I guess I am not used to bigger, scheduled events anymore. Kind of does not feel like Hoenn to me, if that makes any sense.” In fact, she felt much more as if she currently was in her home region, not this one.


[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“At least you are not walking in on me changing,” she replied somewhat dryly, eyes still fixated on the mirror. That also meant that she could see the man, of course, meaning that despite her presenting her backside to him in the moment, nothing was hidden from her view. Which was an awfully convoluted way of saying that she was not as surprised as she could be about the intrusion, of course.
[break][break]
Though, obviously, what she snarked about was not something that could happen anyway. She was way too conscious of herself regarding this event that she would ever let this happen. This was the first time she was going on a proper stage in ages, after all. A return to a life she was not yet ready to return to, it seemed. Heck, just having any security at all around was anathema to her journey of self-discovery. Yet, it was necessary. She had promised. One had to make concessions after having been cut off from the rest of the world alongside the rest of Hoenn for a while.
[break][break]
She sighed, watching her own reflection in the mirror more than this man. Odd, how familiar this all felt, yet did not at the same time. “I don’t mind, though. I don’t feel like drinking any of it right now, anyway.” Probably not a good thing since her throat was feeling a little dry. But she just did not feel like it for some reason.

[break][break]

+ Kouji Matsubara

[attr="class","pokeclass"]