🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀🌀

[fire_leaf]

 
Leaf's won, among other things, a Dratini hairband. It took some work, but she's managed to make the ear fins look like ear fins without taking her hat off. It's an accomplishment! Maybe it's not as obvious as some of the other prize winners, but it was only a carnival game, and she doesn't need the stares anyway. It can stay tucked under the brim of her hat for her own satisfaction. She's got a Long Poster tucked under one arm, with the other occupied as it is. It's not a Dratini or Dragonair, which she doesn't understand, but she has it now anyway.

The sun is a disc on the horizon, but the festival is only really getting started. There are signs everywhere about a glowing ribbon show pointing towards the beach, and she's going that way, but it doesn't take much time before Leaf is distracted by a Pokémon, a yellow bug-type that's lurking behind the food stalls she'd watched help pitch the tops for earlier. When she asks, she gets told that's Galvantula.

The tiny Vulpix cradled in her arm hides her face. Leaf laughs and lets her. 

Right. Ribbon show.

Comments

[fire_leaf]

Leaf makes a noise of agreement. The Ninetales father is certainly one of the most willful of her Pokémon.

Rawst's eyes slide shut in bliss, and then she immediately tries nipping him. Leaf gently redirects her muzzle away.

That is mysterious. A more interesting and harder to grasp subject than congratulations, as evident by the blatant grimace that crosses her face.

Being Champion isn't what she thought it'd be, she'd say, if she seriously thought she'd make it at all.

She didn't. She really, really didn't. She just...did what she felt like doing.

She helped her friendly old neighbor (and occasional babysitter) with the Pokédex. She trained to be stronger with her team. She got fed up and showed up her other neighbor who never stopped being a jerk to her or even his own Pokémon. And somehow that's netted her fame literally beyond her wildest dreams, and people just won't leave her alone about it.

Leaf accidentally leans a little too far forward to get out of someone's way, and Rawst takes another nip--this time, aiming for Blaine's taiyaki. (Not actually in reach.) "Oh, you already want more treats, huh? Charti bites weren't good enough?"

...Actually, it has been a while since last mealtime. There's too much people-crowd around to just set all her stuff down and dig for anything by now.

[quickfirequiz]

He quirks a sidelong grin at the attempt at biting. Clearly he would not have been entirely displeased.

Blaine is experienced in more than just Pokémon. It's her quietness he notices, and though he doesn't understand it, it feels like it raises questions.

None of his business as a Gym Leader, of course. Blaine sticks a hand in the pocket of his waistcoat and leaves it there, next to the League-issued button phone. Now he's confirmed it's her, he can wrap this up and make the call. He'll probably feel good about that once it's done.

Blaine's other hand excitedly wiggles the taiyaki at Rawst.

"Oh-ho! Well, now."

(Fox Pokémon. Bean paste filling - no nutritional value. Batter - very unhealthy, but alright in tiny amounts. And for such a tiny one - tinier amounts.) Blaine one-handedly scoots the Magikarp shape lower in his hand, and smushes off a little smudgily-broken paste-sandwiched scale with his finger and thumb, and sticks a sticky finger out for Rawst to lick the piece off.

And it occurs to him:

"I hope you're keeping yourself and your Pokémon well-looked-after?"

[fire_leaf]

Leaf's eyes snap back from vaguely wandering around her eager little Vulpix to Blane's face, lips flickering to show teeth like she's choked down a dry Charti and maybe a far more bitter Durin herself. "Of course I am," she says curtly. Because excuse her. What Champion wouldn't be looking after her Pokémon?

[quickfirequiz]

"Good, good!" He's oblivious to whatever effect that just had. He's Making Conversation, as adults are wont to do, which probably means it doesn't really mean anything.

Behind his glasses, he gives her a better once-over. She looks fine. Her Pokémon looks fine.

"Upkeep with a fully-realised team is tough! Between you and me, accept the freebies whenever they come your way. Nothing wrong with reaping what you sow, you've earned it." A pause. "Though, read before you sign anything." Has anyone told her this? He hopes so.

There is a slight rise in hubbub around them. Mindful that the show is impending, Blaine faces front.

"Can you see from there?"