a small laugh involuntarily escapes her, head bowed and hair curtaining her visage from her sole audience member. she missed you a lot. it's been far too long since they truly reunited for her to be feeling this way. to be lingering on passing remarks and taking solace in the smallest of touches. there isn't any hidden meaning in mika's words (at least, julie tries not to dig deeper than the surface because she knows better than anyone if curiosity wins, only wounds remain). ruru is the one that longed to see her. that's all there is to it. [break][break]

of course, julie longed for more than simply meeting like this. a multitude of things; love and affection for one. but she settles on friendship. because what she desires can come in many shapes and forms. and that's why this is enough. it has to be. [break][break]

unconsciously, her gaze follows the contact of palm against pokemon, and she finds herself lingering on her bounsweet's head. ami chirps happily, bumping her head against mika's retreating hand, oblivious to her trainer's stare. baby pink acrylics idly graze at her thighs, and with practiced effort, julie swallows back all that she means to say, her usual picturesque smile gracing her lips, the curtain of hair tucked behind her ear as she laughs gently. [break][break]

"i wouldn't mind babysitting ruru," she begins, squishing the cherubi's cheeks with her palms, amused at cheerfulness she's met with. "ami missed you, ruru missed me — i'm sure they wouldn't argue with swapping for the day." the cherubi's cheeks are rolled in tiny circles, an isn't that right? being directed at the young grass-type, her tone quickly dissolving into baby talk. but then she pauses, head tilting with her lips forming an 'o,' as if she had a life-changing realization. [break][break]

"oh, but... i don't think ami would be suited for ranger life, even for a day." the tiniest of frowns replace her grin, her hands gently squishing the cherubi again. "of course, i trust you to keep her safe and all that. it's more like..." with brows upturned, she smiles up at mika. "you know. ami likes to wander." which basically means the sweet little thing would be prone to wandering into danger. wonder where she got that habit of hers! weird. [break][break]

with a sigh, she shakes her head, finally releasing ruru of her endless squishing as her hands raise with a shrug. "you aren't too good with the energetic types, after all." her teeth gleam as she nudges mika's side with her elbow, grin cheeky. it's always so easy to fall back onto this cushion where julie teases mika without prompt. it makes things easier. it distracts her (but does it really? when it showcases she knows so much about the ranger than she'd care to admit to anyone other than mika themselves?). [break][break]

+ Mika Nakayama / my turn to not sleep. julie squishing ruru like a little plush doll fr

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when she called for help, she wasn't actually expecting it to come so swiftly! in truth, she was ready to get her bewear to plop her down and deal with the problem herself (if, that is, no one had their eyes on her). julie can and has tolerated a lot, but getting pecked because of the possibility she might have more food was crossing her threshold! luckily, a kind bystander rushes to her aid and— wow, cold! cold! she shivers at the contact of icy wind to her cheeks, though with how the wingull hit the pavement with loud thuds, she's glad it's just the residual wind and not the full on attack. [break][break]

after all, how sad would it be if she lost her sandwich and got frozen in one day? [break][break]

at the presence of another person, pau slows to a halt, protectively holding onto her trainer even despite the assistance the stranger provided. when the hand is offered though, julie pats her bewear's chest, pau letting out a huff as she allows julie's feet to touch the ground once more. [break][break]

"you really saved me there!" julie sighs exasperated, squeezing the other's hand with both of hers before letting go, opting to pat at her clothes and hair to fix whatever's been disheveled. she winces slightly at the bruises forming underneath her jacket, palms gently rubbing at her arms as if to soothe them. ugh. pecks hurt. "i could be doing better," she confesses, eyeing the circling bird pokemon overhead. on instinct, she tucks herself against her bewear's side, gaze full of worry as she looks at the young man before her. [break][break]

"you don't think they'll...?" her vlogging camera is pointed towards the skies, though perhaps they take it as a challenge. the wingull dive down on her once again and a part of her wonders if a murkrow is mixed in their dna. wingull weren't attracted to shiny objects, right? right?! "oh, not again!" [break][break]

+ Noel Parker (boop!)

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it certainly is amazing to watch people be good at what they do. it was one of julie's favorite forms of entertainment. prior to leaving home, she was very rarely exposed to things other than an orchestra or theatrical performance. upon venturing out though and putting herself out there, she became blessed with the opportunity to see people excel in their hobbies. josh is certainly one of those people, because if julie herself took a step onto the stage, she might be revealed to have situational two left feet. [break][break]

after all, isn't a game like this different than the waltz or ballet? staying on tempo was easy, but having to keep in mind the combination of arrows on screen as well as being mindful of where the corresponding ones were on the pad? coupled with how the notes could pause to beat of the song? oof, she might slip and fall.[break][break]

as she's pondering all of this, arms crossed and lips out in a thoughtful pout, the crowd around her cheers, putting a break on julie's train of thought. it isn't lost on her how their gazes miraculously meet, and deciding to take advantage of it, her usual smile blooms onto her features as her vlogging camera is brought back out. can i record you? she mouths, lifting the camera slightly to get her question across. she also does an 'ok' sign with her fingers followed by a sharp shake of her head. it's okay if not! is what she attempts to convey, though with only two signs, it'd be a wonder if he understood. [break][break]

+ Josh Devlin (boop!)

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she listens in earnest as she catches the eyes of their surrounding audience, julie earning shy waves in response to her own. in truth, she thinks it's amusing how buzzed they are with her presence, considering dewford is known as the hub of new trends. surely they've had their fill of people like her that drop by via recommendation or due to a popularity video seen in passing? or maybe that's the allure of it all. the uncertainty of just who will appear next. what a charming town.[break][break]

the joke has her laughing into her fingers, head tilting. "i would if i were a battler! maybe the me that is gives you a run for your money." her fists clench before her chest, a little determined nod accentuating her words. "i would love to sit and watch someday though. hopefully a trainer comes rushing in calling for you when i'm in town in the future." perhaps that was why she didn't dabble too much in the battling side of owning pokemon: julie just wasn't exposed to it as often as most. it's a rich kid thing, probably. where pokemon are more ornaments and toys than friends gained through trial after trial. [break][break]

settling back into her seat, she hums thoughtfully, finger tracing the rim of her teacup. how much can she talk about without giving too much of herself away? is it awkward to say she really just ended up in the region to see a particular person? that would unfortunately garner a tad too much attention with her comment sections, so she mentally sighs the truth away. [break][break]

well, not like she'd admit it with so many people around to begin with.[break][break]

after a beat of silence, she decides on: "when there are people working hard to keep it safe, it gives me a little confidence to walk around." it should be enough to pacify him and be the perfect response for the camera. "as for what they say at home... well, hoenn's certainly an eventful region." leaning forward, julie rests her cheek on her palm, that perpetual smile dropping in favor of a small frown. "there were always things about how we should be paying attention in case anything from here spills over to there. there are people that saw it as a business opportunity. called hoenn a struggling region." the frown deepens. she thinks of acquaintances of her father and blows out a sigh, puffing her fringe out of place. [break][break]

"but that's just a small percentile. a lot were concerned for the ones living here. i'm glad i can show everyone that people here are doing alright to the best of their abilities." pausing for a moment, she returns his curiosity with her own. "if you don't mind me asking, how have both you and dewford done through all of this?" [break][break]

+ Navy (boop!)

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mika brings laughter so easily from her lips that julie almost forgets to be startled by it. the tease has her giggling into her fingers, knowing if any one else said the same words, she'd fervently deny it. julie solette is a fragile girl that wasn't suited for battling. she isn't suited for taking on the world, one step at a time. and it's true. she isn't. because there are so many things she has to figure out about herself and so many things left unsaid that, if left alone, would shatter the jewel that's dull once removed from the illusionary bright lights cast upon her. julie solette is a fragile girl, but the extent of her fragility is different depending on the recipient of the act.[break][break]

(and she always has to wonder: which julie does mika see and what julie does she want mika to see?) [break][break]

"always prepared, aren't you?" a rhetorical question because of course she is! it's expected of mika. always diligent and thorough. always earnest and kind. even now, she doesn't push julie away. is it to humor her? julie isn't sure, but she doesn't want to ask. she wants to bask in this closeness that mika has allowed her because eventually, they'll go back to drawing that wall between them so for now, before it's fortified, isn't it best to absorb as much as she can? [break][break]

it probably would have been easier on mika for julie to let go of her arm as she shuffles through her bag, though the girl clings on, even opting to rest her head on her shoulder. the mention of the cherubi has her perking up though, leaning into mika's space to gaze up at her, sparkles in her eyes.[break][break]

"really?! aw, it has been a while since we ran into each other! of course she'd miss me, wouldn't she?" julie practically beams with the revelation, hands patting mika's knees. "actually, you know? i was thinking the same thing, but with ami." the synchronicity of their thoughts isn't lost on her, but she doesn't linger on it for long (or at least, she tries not to. it's always exciting when their minds are of the same train). [break][break]

finally freeing mika from her hold and momentarily giving her some breathing room, julie reaches into her bag for her bounsweet's pokeball, calling her out without prompt. ami smiles up at her trainer in that dopey way of hers as always, though when her beady little eyes land on mika, she lets out an excited cry. with another laugh (she can never keep them from bubbling up in this company), julie leans forward and picks the bounsweet up, letting her roam free to settle in the space between the two.[break][break]

"i always think she likes you more than me." of course, she doesn't mean it. though, with how ami rubs her face against mika's forearm, it's clear she got her behavior from her trainer. [break][break]

+ Mika Nakayama / WILL YOU LET ME SLEEP

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"maybe i'm just not good at this?" she says it with a laugh, watching as the plush doll falls from the claw for the umpteenth time. it doesn't bother her too much to not obtain some sort of prize, considering she was only at it for about ten minutes. the disappointment is for the camera, and wistfully she decides: "well, maybe next time. there's other things to do here!" with a wink to the lens, she leaves the claw machines behind, wandering deeper into the arcade. despite the initial grind for content to record, the interest on her features is genuine, and she voices it as much, saying: i've always walked past things like this, when i was younger. [break][break]

soon enough, the forest of cranes part as she enters a sea flashing screens accompanied by the crashing of music. the genres meld together into chaos, and momentarily, julie has an expression of displeasure. it's an experience, sure, but the sheer volume beat hard on her eardrums. deciding to simply record without commentary, the recorder is raised to take in the sights, though she pauses upon the entrance of a particular figure in her frame.[break][break]

her hum is thoughtful as she inches closer, the camera politely being tucked away in her bag as she watches the one and only Josh Devlin hitting note after note on the dance machine. huh! who would have thought the city's gym leader would be tucked away in the depths of an arcade. [break][break]

the sheer concentration on his features is enough to tell her not to interrupt the session, so instead she stands idly by and watches his feet do the work. a glance at the screen has the smile she perpetually wears to become struck with awe, wondering how his mind processes the passing arrows. [break][break]

+ Josh Devlin (boop!)

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jules, mika calls her without fail, even despite mika's usual insistence. the smile only grows and widens, hiding itself in the way she casts her gaze elsewhere. she relishes in this; in the familiar comfort of being near someone so dear to her (one of the only people, she thinks, but never says. just like so many others it's a thought buried in the nooks and crannies of julie's heart). in truth, julie had half expected mika to gently pry herself free, creating that distance she so poorly attempts to keep. [break][break]

perhaps it's julie's lucky day then. the tenseness subsides. [break][break]

deciding to bypass the initial inquiry, julie hums, reaching up to bop the other on the nose. "i should be saying that to you, mimi! i mean, after all, of course i'd be in some city. i'm not doing dangerous things, after all." [break][break]

she bats her eyelashes at that, ever playing the innocent card. they both know julie's lust for mild adventure is stronger than it would appear at first glance. it's part of her charm, is what she says whenever mika chides her, that a cute girl like her is willing to brave the unpredictability of the region. however, when said cute girl has a terrifying bewear by her side, there really isn't anything to worry about, now is there? [break][break]

"are you taking a break? how about we take a break together? walking around by myself takes a lot of energy!" without awaiting a response, she begins directing mika towards the closest bench, humming all the while. [break][break]

+ Mika Nakayama (teehee ♥)

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perhaps it was because she grew up in a large city that julie never tires of being near nature. of course, it's not as though she had been completely sheltered, but considering her upbringing... well! the daughter of the solette family was best suited for the indoors or carefully maintained gardens (allegedly, anyway. she was proving to be much more adventurous than both herself and her siblings believed to be). [break][break]

more importantly! who didn't love a little seaside city vlog?[break][break]

"i've never seen so many wingull in one place! i heard the fish market was popular, but maybe it isn't popular just for humans, huh?" she cradles her cheek in her palm, said pokemon in background as she turns her camera to selfie mode. "is that normal places near the ocean?" her bewear makes eye contact with julie on cue, their bodies tilting in wonder with startling synchronization before pau stares off at the flock. with her brows upturned, julie lets out a laugh, hand gently patting her partner's arm. "hey, don't do that. if you don't bother them, they won't bother us." [break][break]

as cute as her not-so-little pau is, the intimidation factor of simply being a bewear always existed. not that julie was worried about a few wingull. of course not. because they were minding their own business and so were the wingull. existing in harmony and all that, you know? though, now that she was following pau's line of sight, why did it feel like the wingull were waiting for something?[break][break]

"aw, you've got me all jittery now," julie chides, head shaking with a sigh. though, with what happens next, she wonders if with great power of a bewear comes a strange sense of intuition. [break][break]

all it really takes is for one thing for the entire domino stack to fall, is what she's come to learn time and time again. first it's aw, shit, hurry and pick it up! then it's 'ey, get the f— and lastly it's: forget the stupid fish, run! the sound of yelling and the sudden cacophony of wingull cries has her blinking in confusion, rooted to the spot. luckily at least someone has sense, and pau's picking her up to get away from it all.[break][break]

"how did that just happen in like, two seconds?!" and yet none of the chaos stops her from raising her camera to it all either. true dedication to her craft, really. it's a shame her bag was still open from taking her camera out from the initial recording. oops, there goes her sandwich. and here come the wingull. great. amazing. perfect. at least she has it in her to yell for help.[break][break]

+ Noel Parker (boop!)

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it's not like julie travels incognito. in fact, she makes it rather well-known where she'll end up next at the end of each video and livestream. it makes it easier to find willing participates to chat with when covering local delicacies, tourist spots, fashion trends and the like. how-ev-er! no matter how popular she is, it's not as though she expects special treatment (because she's had a lot of that and she finds it's more comfortable for it to be earned rather than out of obligation). that's why, when the Navy is at her impromptu meet-n-greet, the friendly smile she had worn had become laced with puzzlement.[break][break]

gym leaders were busy people, though she supposes even they need to step away from it all. and... well, who is she to pass up a chance at publicity when it falls into her lap just like that? (though, with how he sits awkward bathed with the buzz of curious onlookers, julie has to wonder if navy was even a fan at all).[break][break]

the tea cup in her hold takes its seat back onto its saucer with a delicate clink, julie offering a smile. "it's definitely different," she begins, finger tapping at her chin as she gazes to the ceiling in thought. the moment she had begun speaking, the whispers surrounding them cease, the giggle that escapes her acknowledging their curiosity. [break][break]

"i've visited before. several years ago with my family, that is. before..." she makes a vague gesture, as if to say well, you know better than me, right? without missing a beat, she continues: "which is why i'm very grateful! for both the welcome and your company. back then, i never visited dewford town since my family had several things to take care of. i'm really unfamiliar with things here so..." she tilts her head, the concern she wears settling in easily. "ah, but i'm sure your schedule is full...?" it'd be bad if he were eager to leave, and surely with this many eyes on them, he wouldn't say no to a girl giving him puppy dog eyes, right?[break][break]

+ Navy (boop!)

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