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 Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:33 pm
Rhei strode along the sidewalk, gawking into the bright windows of storefronts at all the goods that she could no longer afford. What little money she had she had spent on pokeballs and potions in preparation to catch her first Pokemon - whenever that might happen. She knew that there were urban Pokemon, Grimer and Magnemite and Trubbish and the like, and though she wasn't sure that capturing one of those as her first would be ideal (she'd have to learn to be nose-blind), she was sure it would be better than defending herself with nothing. And after all, Pokemon had personalities just as people did; maybe one would want to be her friend or something. Whatever the case, she had spent most of her money, and now, she had to be on the look out for a job. Even something simple or odd, like picking up trash, would do, just as long as she got paid. Rhei would certainly prefer something else, though, like temping as a waitress... Ugh, I have no idea, she thought, gritting her teeth as she forced herself to walk past another display filled with pretty clothes. What she needed right now was a help wanted sign, but she had yet to see one.
All the glass storefronts in Katarina were strange to her, baffling - she had never seen so much glass in her life. It shone in the sunlight that beat down, and all the people around were so different, some dressed in high fashion and bright colors, others shrinking along in the shadows, trying to keep their heads down. Some had their Pokemon out and were talking amongst themselves in groups or were sitting around little cafe tables, and it was all Rhei could do not to stop and ask to pet a Pokemon like a rude tourist.
Passing yet another cafe, Rhei stopped for a moment to breathe in the scent of coffee. She couldn't see into the windows - the glare of the sun was too bright - but she could only imagine what the inside must look like. Modern, cute, Pokemon-friendly or something. Sighing wistfully, she started on her way again, resigning herself to window-shopping.Systematic Sparta Rhei doesn't have the Pokemon in her journal yet. And she's broke. XD
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 9:08 pm
She'd watched the woman as she approached, familiarity setting off bells in her head. Annette didn't want to be too hopeful or fly off the handle and give a random person a heart attack. She'd almost done it once to a woman who'd had an uncannily close body type to her friend and she really wasn't good with the backs of people's heads. So she watched for the moment, her coffee in hand, as the other paused to take a moment. That had to be... It couldn't not be... "Hold tight, Magic." she warned, digging out a bit of cash to leave as a tip before she pushed away from her table and moved to head for the door. The Pidgey on her shoulder only tightened it's hold and settled in for yet another tangent her trainer seemed to be on. Pushing the door to the cafe open, Annette raised a hand in greeting, calling out a, "Rhei!".
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 9:39 pm
The ding! of a bell against a nearby opening door attracted Rhei's attention, and she caught sight of a pink-haired woman, who called her name. Rhei blinked, uncomprehending, as she tried to take in the trainer's appearance and apply it to someone she knew. They eyes were familiar, the face... OH! It was the hair that was throwing her off! "Annette!" she called back, perhaps a little too loudly as she reflexively waved. Rushing over to her friend, she stopped just short of a hug - there was a Pokemon on her shoulder. "Look who you got," she cooed to the Pidgey, smiling at the creature. "You're beautiful. Are you shiny?" she asked it, wondering if it would know the specialness of its coloration, or if it just thought it was another Pidgey.
"How have you been?" she asked both trainer and Pokemon. "It's been ages!"
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 10:28 pm
Annette had moved to greet her, the trainer grinning widely at the sight of her friend. She was ecstatic to finally be meeting up with her best friend in Katarina. They'd planned this meeting a while ago, but now that it was happening... Oh. It was a fantastic feeling! She paused when Rhei did, her grin shrinking a bit before she realized that Magic and Rhei needed to be introduced. As Rhei had moved in, Magic had shuffled a bit, ready to move in case that hug was completed. When the other stopped, she ruffled her feathers and chirped at her. She most certainly was shiny but was just like her kin. "I know right? It's been so long! I was almost thinking you'd either changed your mind about this place or I'd missed you somewhere." Annette was grinning again as she shifted the shoulder that Magic was using as a perch closer. "I'd like to introduce Magicka, my most recent partner in crime. Magic, this is Rhei." Magic raised a wing in greeting, trilling at her. It was a pleasure to meet her trainer's friend.
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 11:18 pm
Grinning as the Pidgey greeted her, Rhei waved back at the Flying-type. "Nice to meet you, Magic," she said, hoping that the Pokemon wouldn't mind being called by what seemed to be the shortened version of her nickname. "Sorry for taking so long," she said to Annette. "Things felt like I was needed back home, but they just... got so bad that I finally quit and left. Soooo." Rhei shrugged, grimacing, and held her arms out. "Here I am. Perfect timing, too, apparently. Got to run into you." Nudging Annette's shoulder with her knuckles, Rhei's expression changed back to a smile. "How's life in this big city?" She pointed a (for once) manicured finger between Annette and her Pokemon. "And how did you two lovelies meet?"
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2015 11:51 pm
If it bothered the shiny bird, it didn't show it. Instead, it made itself comfortable again on Annette's shoulder. "You'll have to tell me all about it. If you want to, that is." A sympathetic smile offered to Rhei in response to the grimace. "I am so glad that you're here though! We can start getting into trouble again!" Annette was teasing her, the grin back on her face as her friend was smiling again. "Life in the big city was quite the change. You get used to the noise really quickly though. As for Magic and I, well, she found me. I have this great balcony that she and a few other Pidgey decided would be a nice place to roost. I had some extra bread, so I fed them a bit. Then I broke and bought them seed because I didn't want them to miss out on the nutrition they need and before I knew it, she'd moved herself into my apartment."
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 12:06 am
"I probably should talk about it," she confessed with a sad smile, "but it's probably not really a conversation for public." One of her hands went to the back of her neck anxiously as she looked around. After a moment, though, Rhei laughed. "Trouble's right! And that is amazing. Sounds like you two are having a great time here."
Realizing that they were still standing in the middle of the sidewalk, Rhei raised an uncertain shoulder in half a shrug. "Should we move somewhere else? Your drink isn't sitting in there on the table or something, is it?" Try as she might, she couldn't see through the glare on the window. Wow, the sun is strong here. She was used to light filtering through the canopy or hiding behind clouds in the misty harbor, not so much this sunny weather. Is the whole region like this? Better invest in some sunscreen...
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 7:52 am
Annette nodded at the notion that she should talk about it, but definitely not out there. Too many ears and honestly, no one else needed to know. Plus, they'd get an earful of a very annoyed trainer. "C'mon. I'll take you to my place and fix us up some food." Annette smiled, moving to put an arm around her friend's shoulders to lead her away from the busy cafe. Quite reminiscent of when they'd been younger. "So how long have you been in Katarina? Where are you staying?"
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 10:18 am
Following Annette under the comfort of her arm, Rhei put an arm around her waist. "Some solid food sounds great. I can't believe you have your own apartment. All grown up!" She flashed a grin at her friend. "I've been here for maybe... Two days? Been staying at the Pokemon Center. It's really crowded, but there isn't anywhere else that I can afford." Shaking her head sheepishly, she added, "I pretty much left in a rush with my gear and nothing else." More tall glass-and-steel buildings rose around them, and Rhei wasn't certain she would ever get used to this. It was like being caught between two sections of impossibly dense forest. "You don't ever get claustrophobic in here?" she asked, letting Annette guide her along.
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Posted: Wed May 06, 2015 11:00 am
It was a rather shock considering where they'd grown up, but Annette hadn't had too hard a time of adjusting. In a few months, Rhei would hardly bat an eye at it. Granted, Annette found herself missing the dappled sunlight of Fortree and just how connected it seemed with its surroundings, but Katarina had so much to offer. So many free and cheap activities during the day, job opportunities, and even a night life. It could be awkward and weird the first few months, but Katarina was certainly worth the shot. "I think you should come stay with me. I have a two bedroom/one bathroom apartment. That second room is going to waste. You can have it no charge at all."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2015 2:04 pm
Gray-green eyes blinked at Annette. For a moment, Rhei might have thought she was joking, but the girl had seemed so relaxed when she had said it, like it had just popped into her mind. Rhei's eyebrows went up. "Seriously?" she asked, and her voice sounded just as incredulous as she felt. "That would be so generous... Are you sure? I mean, I won't be there a lot, since I plan to be traveling. I'm sure you could rent the room out to somebody and make some extra money." Why are you undermining yourself? You need a place to stay! Her hands clasped in front of her and fidgeted anxiously as she walked, wondering where Annette's building was. Everything was so sparkly and shiny around here, metallic - the only thing that Rhei could tell might distinguish office buildings from apartment building were the balconies. Those probably belong to the apartments, she thought, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Oh, she had so much to learn.
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Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 10:04 am
"Of course! You're my best friend. Besides! What's the point of shelling out big bucks for a place you'll maybe use half the time anyway? I mean, unless you really want to get a place to call just your own and that's okay too!" Annette was grinning as she took Rhei another few blocks before she was leading her into a large brick highrise. Magic took her leave of them, the bird taking flight and zipping up toward a particular balcony. Obviously the balcony of their apartment. "See you up there, Magic!"
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