[attr="class","uriah"]uriah nods, appreciating her smile a little too much.

"yeah i mean it can be tough at times, but i know you're just looking out for the squad."

which requires her to be tough and perhaps a little unforgiving at times, but such is the job, and he holds no ill feelings because of it; quite the opposite, strangely enough.

"you're a great captain."

and after another smile, his gaze fleets to whatever exhibit's next to them. he's not really paying that much attention to anything else.

[attr="class","noodles"]Sol Edelman

[attr="class","uriah"]the yampers does follow them, thankfully, which makes their jobs that much easier.

"so, kid, tell me about your day."

probably not the best thing to talk about but at least it's a conversation that'll keep the kid distracted.

soon, they arrive at a hospital that tends to the boy's injury.

[attr="class","noodles"]Mireille Wynter // [x]

[attr="class","uriah"]"this is dreadful. no offense."

this being the bake sale, not her; hopefully, his words translate his thoughts well enough.

"i don't know, like, maybe something you like to do outside of work? like writing, watching movies, or something."

not like he has many hobbies either, but he leaves this unsaid.

[attr="class","noodles"]Suzume Amemiya

[attr="class","uriah"]"probably not. i'm sure there are better sights out there."

museums just aren't his thing; they never have been, not even the cool science one in sinnoh he went to when he was a kid. he remembers how excited his siblings were and just how...disinterested he felt looking at the various exhibits. to be fair, he understood very little. what even is a mitochondria?

at her response, he nods, perhaps understanding the desire not to talk about any issues they may have with their family, and leaves it at that.

but for whatever reason, he feels obligated to share as well.

"the only reason i'm in the military is because of my dad. he enlisted me; thought it'd set me straight, or whatever."

he could leave at any given moment, but what he doesn't share is why he's still choosing to stay.

shrugging, he offers sol a genuine smile.

"it isn't as bad as i thought it'd be."

[attr="class","noodles"]Sol Edelman

[attr="class","uriah"]"they might not vote you in because they don't see you as one of them."

he grabs a sponge, dipping it into the bucket of water.

"i wouldn't vote for you either."

what he means to say is someone like you, but of course, he slips when least convenient.

[attr="class","noodles"]GABRIEL BLACK // [x]

[attr="class","uriah"]"yeah, you and like three others."

it must be nice to have so many assistants.

he reaches for a cookie not long after she does, biting into it before speaking.

"don't you want to, i dunno, do something fun? or something you like? like what are some of your hobbies?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Suzume Amemiya

[attr="class","uriah"]mirri does have a good point. he turns back to look at the kid, then moves to kneel down beside him.

"hey there. where are your parents?"

"i...i don't know...can you please help me? my foot realllyyyy hurts!"

"good call. we'll take him to the nearest facility."

and just like that, uriah scoops the kid up on his arms then stands back up.

"make sure his yamper's following."

[attr="class","noodles"]Mireille Wynter // [x]

[attr="class","uriah"]"it's one of hoenn's must-visit attractions. or at least that's what it says on the pamphlet."

uriah may be a hoenn citizen on paper but he might as well have been a tourist. he's only ever visited a few times growing up, and he barely remembers the trips. even now, he's too busy to sightsee, but he is slowly acquainting to the region and its culture, though it helps that it's not vastly different from sinnoh.

at her question, he looks down at the electric-type.

"no. just with you."

it's not a lie; briefly, he wonders why kachow's only like this with her.

and then he's caught in another loop of wondering why she's telling him this. he looks back at her, deciding then to pry a little.

"that sucks. that have anything to do with the plans you no longer have?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Sol Edelman

[attr="class","uriah"]too distracted by trying to understand the map, he doesn't even hear her call his name. but he feels the tug on his sleeve, and there's little resistance in how he follows after her.

"yep. exactly where i was pointing."

definitely not. he folds the pamphlet in half before sliding it into his back pocket for later.

"oh don't worry about it. it was about time i started seeing some of the sights."

he decides to exclude the detail of how he tried to worm his way in without paying, perhaps aware of how that'd make him look.

"sorry he followed you. not too sure what's gotten into him."

kachow's still by her side, walking as though she's his trainer.

uriah glances around at the exhibit, taking them as best he can while distracted. it doesn't take long for his gaze to return to her.

"i didn't know you liked museums."

[attr="class","noodles"]Sol Edelman

[attr="class","uriah"]"that sounds dreadful."

to constantly check-in, to wait for orders; in a way, he's thankful for being in the military. at least he has a plausible excuse whenever he wanted to get out of doing something.

"doesn't he give you any time off?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Suzume Amemiya

[attr="class","uriah"]and just like that, uriah concedes.

"...nothing."

how pathetic.

he reaches down for the cleaning supplies, finding distractions in setting it up.

[attr="class","noodles"]GABRIEL BLACK // [x]

[attr="class","uriah"]the smirk, no matter how subtle, is noticed, and he tenses as a result, feeling even more awkward as he approaches; so much so that he doesn't even think to return the greeting.

the sight of her petting kachow does ease tensions, however, as he smiles down at them only to be caught off guard by her question a few seconds later.

"uh...sure. that sounds nice."

nice? pull it together, uriah.

he clears his throat, looking away to notice an information booth. he reaches for one of the pamphlets the museum offers for their visitors, turning to the back of it to look at the map.

turning, he points ahead, completely unaware of the arrows on the ground to help guide visitors.

"right. i think it's that way."

[attr="class","noodles"]Sol Edelman

[attr="class","uriah"]"but you didn't grow up here."

his reasoning is sound, or at least he believes it is.

"i have citizenship too but it's not like i'd call myself one of them."

[attr="class","noodles"]GABRIEL BLACK // [x]