“Yes. He is not the reason I travelled at all though, more like…well, I wanted to go somewhere and this gave me a meaningful direction of sorts.” A pretty big of sorts, mostly since her brother certainly did not need her help or anything. Not with his legendary monkeycats.

Either way, due to her own shortcomings and the distractions of proximity, she completely and utterly fails to read the other’s reaction and more or less ignores the shift in tone entirely. “And, well, when I did finally find him he had somehow managed to get chased up into a tree by Poochyenas, hanging there like a Mankey. Which was not the first time something like that happened. I simply assume that at any given point in time, he is probably goofing around.” She chuckled briefly, only to then sigh and add quietly and more to herself: “Probably still beats being boring, though.”

“They certainly are,” she started, just barely stopping herself from finishing the line from one of her books. She did like to use them, even if they sounded stilted, since they helped her express herself. But, well, finishing that one would probably have meant coming on too strongly. And given that she slightly blushed when the other scooted a bit closer, despite her still holding a respectful distance, she probably was not ready for anything more.

Instead, she latched onto the talk about knighthood, after taking a brief, decisive sip herself. That was always a good reason to pause momentarily, after all. “I…well, my family is one of knights in general. Staying would have made me redundant, I guess. Not a lot of help I could give in a town where my parents already have a whole household ready to render it. My brother – “ she broke up briefly, flushing and needing to harrumph when she felt the other’s knee. Though, granted, she does absolutely nothing to stop the contact, either.
“My brother did the same. He came to Hoenn as well. Since he never reported back, I decided to search for him, as I did. I found him, but he is mostly just goofing around, I think.”

“Huh? Oh, I will take one too,” she replied to the waiter. Everything being said, she just knew so little about beverages like this that it was always hard to tell what to get. The only times she really drank anything other than water, juice and milk were during family functions or when someone thanked her for aid by inviting her. Usually, others just provided.

And since she was a rather boring person in her own estimation, she just defaulted to what the other ordered in cases like this one. Then, while petting the Togepi, she turned back towards Matilda. “I was born and raised in Galar. Though I guess since I have been travelling like a knight for so long, I do not really have a home per se. My home is the road, I guess. Though I am always looking for a place and person to settle down, I reckon.” That sounded much too coherent and forward to just be her own thoughts to anyone who knew her. Though the other probably did not know the novels that Mirri was cannibalizing in that very moment for her own little story of life.

Briefly, she worried that she had said too much. The other had seemed kind of out of it, momentarily, and took a moment to reply. However, soon enough they were facing one another – awfully close, actually, even though they held a respectful distance. It just felt closer now, somehow. A brief shift in angle could easily have consequences like that, it seemed. There was a brief stopping of her breath, barely noticeable, but she managed to catch herself and keep the air flowing, after all.

And thus, she listened. Those words made sense and it was probably good advice. But she could already tell that they would be hard to follow. “That certainly sounds…reasonable,” she started, slowly, as she was still mulling it over in mind. Dating multiple people….it just sounded so different from the novels. Granted, when it came to longer-running series, then the hero or heroine usually dated someone new every book. But it always still read as if you just had no one forever, then found the one for life and were happily ever after. Dating multiple people sounded like it would inevitably lead to multiple break-ups, so more heartache.

But on the other hand….it just kind of made sense, didn’t it? There was a logic to these words she could not deny at all. Still….it just was hard. Continuing this was difficult to her, so she had to pause briefly. Most certainly, the sincerity and insecurity in her words would be audible, too. “But trying is hard. It always means risking to lose what you have. Like….if I asked you out right now, it would risk destroying this whole mood, would it not?”

Phew. She was given a chance to sit down. It would have been really awkward if that had been ignored or – even worse – rejected. Not that there reasonably was a reason for the other to do so, but when it came to social interaction, where her instincts were of no help whatsoever, she simply tended to assume the worst. That was just how she reacted in situations like that. Couldn’t really be helped at all.

Fortunately though, this also led to a lot of positive surprises and relif. Which then turned into positivity of course. A smile adorned her face as she sat down – a cautious one maybe, but genuine nonetheless. The Togepi only made that easier for her, as she quickly decided to take that cute egg up on its offer and pulled it into her arms. She did quite like cute things and pokemon, after all, even though she tried her best not to show it too much. She didn’t put too much attention towards the one floating about. That was a little weird, but also totally fine, really. “Ah, they both seem quite alright. As for the rangers, I am not too fond of any of those uniforms, really. I mean, back at home we have knights that look much more proper, almost regal. Though I reckon that is also a little too fancy for a uniform in some regard. Hmm….” Evidently, she was trailing off in thought there, after going on a tangent to begin with.

The lunch? She briefly blinked, confused. Only then did she remember. Oh, right, there had been something like that. The rangers were an odd kind of organization, weren’t they? She’d almost forgotten about that event, mostly because she really did not feel a whole lot like she was some kind of cadet or anything. But apparently, that was what she was supposed to be here. After all, she had agreed to play by this region’s rules.

She still found herself scratching the back of her head, slightly embarrassed by all that – and the amount of attention the other had involuntarily drawn towards them. It was not good at all, but she could handle it, for now. “I do remember attending that, though there were so many people present then that I sadly do not remember you clearly,” she replied, still a bit stiff and overly formal. But hey, it was the truth. Could not exactly be helped, now could it? “Might I…take a seat?” It was getting a bit uncomfortable standing here, now that everyone was watching, after all.

Mirri, on her end, had a rather torn impression of festivals like this. At the end of the day, they were pretty and everything. But they were also places that people went to with others, with friends, with family, with loved ones. Yet usually, whenever she stumbled upon one like this day, she didn’t really have any of that. This was only exacerbated here in Hoenn, where she barely knew anyone at all to begin with. There were a lot of people around who clearly enjoyed themselves, yet she mostly just walked around the place, sort of acting as security though mostly just trying to decide what to do.

If nothing else, she did like the atmosphere of the place at least. Just because she felt a bit lonely with so many people about that were not, that did not mean she was sad, at least. The joy of others was something she often could sort of ‘leech off of’, gaining at least something just from watching them and listening to the music. Still though, the lady trailed by Honedges did seem a bit out of place to some people, that much she could tell. Maybe it was time to actually do mingle. All this walking had tired her lightly after all.

Blue eyes scanned the area for free seats for a bit until she came across a table with only one occupant, not counting Pokemon. That lady was probably as unpopular as she was in some regards. Though she also seemed oddly familiar. Mirri could not quite put it, really, but she did feel as if she had seen this woman somewhere before. But where? She could not tell, but she had already started walking that way. This was not the time to comb her memory for something she probably would not find with certainty anyway.
Thus, she took a deep breath once she closed in some more, before making up her mind. Worst case, she was wrong. Which was a fairly bad case as far as she was concerned. But that could not be helped. “Um, excuse me. Did we meet before somewhere?” It was a bit awkward and she lightly blushed. But it was done, now.

“You have my brother to thank for this. He came here to help the region and I to check up on him.” Ah, this was good. Being able to talk about someone else. That, she could do. Her brother was the more interesting one, after all. Quite literally even, given that her whole reason for being here was his presence. He was the one that acted, she reacted. That was why he was one of the heroes of the story, while she was in the background. That naturally did match her temperament better anyway, on one hand. But it also meant that she neither saved, nor got the princess, though, so that was the downside.

Couldn’t be helped. Just like it could not be helped that more Pokemon would appear. “Yes and no. Roads are always bustling with more activity than the deepest wilds. However, as for our companions, it is a two-fold phenomenon. For one, Pokemon, especially those who seek humanoid companionship, are naturally drawn towards signs of civilization and such sounds, though most respect the boundaries of settlements for the sake of safety. And for the other, action begets action. One can walk for miles without encountering a wild Pokemon of note – yet once they do, encountering a second is almost a given.”

Explaining this to the stranger who probably needed such, Mireille turned towards the newcomer, readying her Pokeball. “My services, however, are at your disposal my lady.” And with that she released the knight’s golden knight – a shiny Sirfetch’d, given to her by her family so that they both could fulfil their duties. Which probably involved fighting off a potential Pignite attack now.

The laughter did increase the embarrassment, of course, but it was also kind of nice. Part of the reason as to why Mirri did what she did was so that she could see people happy. Being around others who enjoyed themselves gave her something that few other things could. Plus, this woman had a nice laugh, too. Despite her blush, the knight was kind of glad now that she had not chickened out completely, since she did get to see the other this jovial.



“I don’t…..really mind sharing, I think. It is more akin to….I do not think others would be very much interested in these sorts of talk from me, so I keep it all to myself. I mean, if I just started talking about love, it would bother most people, right? They would just think that I was coming onto them. I don’t really like being a bother….” Her voice quieted progressively as she said this, not much above a whisper towards the end. It was only in the silence of the night that it could remain audible like this. Instead, she looked back up at the stars for a bit, thinking.

Oddly enough though, she would start up again soon, despite it not being needed. Maybe it was just a dam that broke by opening up just a little. Talking more about such embarrassing things became easier to her once she started at all. “I am not rushing or stressing, I think. If it means that I can find my lady, I am willing to be patient, for certain. Yet….I always worry that I might be missing a chance. Does that make sense? There are so many people that are interesting to me but that I do not properly engage for fear of being wrong about things. But I also worry that if I do not do so, I might miss out on something very special. It is very….difficult.”

genesis aria fox

“I-“ she started, not sure what to say, ironically. Then again, was it really irony when it was something this predictable? Of course someone bad at conversation like herself would not be able to talk well about not being able to talk, natch.

“No, not really, sadly,” she eventually managed, though she felt a bit dirty about that. Simply because what she was saying there did not truly help, as far as she was concerned. It was just meaningless drivel, which she only said to have said something. And that didn’t really make any difference in the positive.
Fortunately though, there was a request. Being both eager to please and assist to begin with, as well as looking for something else to focus this meeting on, she naturally pounced on this. “It is not rude though, good lady. This is a Stufful, if I am not mistaken. Native to the Alolan region, but it has spread elsewhere, probably because it is considered cute.” A lot of people caught Pokemon they just liked at sight, after all. That just made it natural that most species eventually spread to other regions over the years, especially thanks to breeders.

However, her little introduction to these Pokemon led to proper introductions – for which she once again described a little bow. “Mireille Wynter, knight of Galar, here to find and assist my brother – and everyone else who might need it, truly. As such, I am at your service, Madame.” As she said these words, the Magmar already vacated the premises – which allowed a Pignite to take its place, which was a lot more of a curious onlooker than a wary guardian, clearly interested in what was going on there.

“Naturally,” she simply replied, otherwise falling silent. Mireille didn’t really know what else to say. On multiple levels. For one, she didn’t really know what to say in general, usually resorting to phrases she’d read before since there wasn’t much interesting on her mind. Right then, she had nothing insightful to offer, so she simply stood to the side, keeping sight on the other Pokemon to ensure that it would not interfere.

Because that was the other reason for her silence. This was the woman’s moment, her capture of the Stufful. Saying anything at all seemed like it had the potential to ruin it. Hence, she kept to herself and waited for the result of the capture.

---

passing

The only response she had on her mind in that moment was an incredulous look on her face. “I could never bite someone, even as a last resort. Better to just stop your attack.” Then, she fell silent, not knowing what else to say on that matter. It wasn’t that she didn’t believe him. In fact, she’d fallen completely for what he’d made up. But these people he was talking about still made little sense to her. They seemed alien.

Which probably was the point he was trying to convey, but it still did not sit right with her. Yet, she had answered his question. And, successfully bamboozled, she fell for his distraction as well. Especially since he was asking her for input, which immediately put her on the spot. “Um….hmm… I guess I would like some….oh, right. Something local maybe? I have not yet been able to sample much of the local cuisine yet, dear brother. Is there something you would say is worthy trying out in particular?”

“Naturally,” she simply replied, but otherwise remained passive, just watching the scene. This wasn’t dangerous at all, after all, but she would not downplay the other’s worries, so she kept to this more accepting stance. It definitely was evident that this person was more out of her league in this scenario than Mirri was at some kind of high society party. Which was also why the latter had a relatively easy time accepting and relating to what was going on.

In short, Mireille was no stranger to being thrust into scenarios where she was supposed to be able to do things as an adult woman, yet had little clue as to how to. In those moments, she would have loved to have some assistance, even of the silent kind, who understood her struggles. Naturally, she was seldom given that. But that also meant that she should pay this sort of thing forward, even if there was little chance that she would ultimately benefit from it again.

Plus, it was really easy, so she certainly did not mind at all. The Stufful, much as expected, took a liking to the ball as well and played with it. Heck, there was a good chance that at some point, it might trigger the mechanism and catch itself. Which was kind of adorable. Enough to make Mirri smile slightly. Naturally, she pat Bell on the head in the process. The knight usually had an easier time getting along with Pokemon than people, after all. “It appears that you have made a new friend already. That is something any one of us is capable of, in the end, no matter their education and experience. Though I am glad things seem to work out rather exceptionally here.”