Amelia had been sitting on the bench and working on her sketch for several minutes now, waiting for the other to-be trainers to come out so that she could go him and talk to the Professor, hopefully alone. She didn't know why but she couldn't stand crowds of people. Pokémon didn't bother her but other people did. However she had gotten so absorbed into her work that she didn't notice one of the trainers come out and release her pokémon. She didn't notice the pokémon either until a shadow blocked out the sun. She loked behind her and spotted what could only be described as a rather large but cute loking serpent. Amelia's reaction was classic: she screamed and tried to move away too quickly, which resulted in her falling onto the ground, she sketchpad a short distance from her. She let out a groan as she stod up, her face red with embarrassment.
Mariana was shocked at Lancelot's blatant display of indifference towards her. There she was, greeting him as professionally as one could greet a pet, and he had the nerve, the gall to ignore her in favor of some lowborn kid with a sketchbook. Her neutral, opaque expression concealed the whirlwind of negativity within, with the exception of a subtle twitch in her permanent half-grin. Calming herself down, she walked briskly to the Dratini, intending to initiate introductions again. Perhaps Lancelot just made an honest mistake, she thought. Perhaps he just doesn't yet know the proper etiqu–
A loud noise from the bench cut that thought short. Mariana had arrived just in time to see the child's own, clumsy reaction to Lancelot, beginning with a scream and ending with a fall onto the ground. She rose back up slowly, blushing from the indignity.
It was... kind of adorable, actually.
Without much thought, Mariana picked up the sketchbook, which had fallen along with the child, and handed it back to her. Then thinking it through, Mariana added (omitting as much negative emotion from her voice as she possibly could), “Lancelot seems to like you.”
Amelia's attention had been entirely on the Dratini infront of her that she failed to ntotice the pokémon's trainer as she approached. This in turn made her jump when Mariana did adress her while handing back the skatchpad she had dropped.
"Uuummm... Thank you." she said quietly as she took back the sketchpad and closed it, hoping the stranger hadn't seen any of her work. Her gaze quickly fell to the ground as she tried to think of what to say, since she had no real experience talking to people she didn't know. She quickly glanced over at the Dratini before speaking again" Is that... your pokémon?"
The lowborn girl was clearly uncomfortable with socializing, a trait Mariana couldn't help but find endearingly infuriating, mostly because it reminded her of herself at the same age. By then she'd known that life is the competition that it is, but didn't know yet how to compete. Most likely it was the same for the girl.
The girl asked, "Is that... your Pokemon?"
"Not quite yet," Mariana replied, after a moment of thought. "See, I only just got him today. From Professor Willow, just inside that building."
Mariana was about to ask if the girl knew anything about that. But that's when she realized - this girl was the one following the group before. Of course she knew about it, she was a participant! So, again without thinking, Mariana let out the question, "So, what Pokemon did you choose?"
"I... haven't." Amelia said, her face becoming redder"'m no good around people. Never really talked to anyone."
Looking over at the Dratini again, she slowly approached it and held out her right hand, stopping just short of the dragon-type pokémon's mouth, waiting for its reaction before going on to either pet it or back away.
Lancelot, staring directly at Mariana while doing so, nestled his forehead against the hand toward him. It was almost as if the Dratini were specifically aiming to stir jealousy in his owner's heart. If he is, he needs to work on his subtlety, Mariana thought, half jokingly.
It had a very different effect on her; watching the girl and Lancelot and how their interactions, she was no longer truly disgusted by the idea of traveling with them. She was still incredibly reluctant about it, but not to the extent she'd have been with others. So that settles it, then. I'm traveling with her!
The only downside to was the belated start they'd face, the girl being too afraid to brave a room full of people. Mariana understood the feeling, as she hated all of them too, but this was nevertheless going to hamper her efforts to become a gym leader. She had to do something.
It was a moment before Mariana spoke. "Well, if you like, I could go inside and get a Pokemon and Pokedex for you. I'm sure I can persuade Professor Willow to let me bring them to you." She paused before noticing she still didn't know one vital piece of info. "So what's your name, miss?"
"Huh?... Oh Amelia. Amelia Alison Aver..." Amelia said, stoping herself short of saying her full name. She remembered being warned may or may not make people treat her different if they knew who her parents where. And everyone was likely to know her mother if they watched pokémon contest, as she was a famous coordinator." And you don't have to... I'll go inside later."
Amelia Alison Aver, was it? What an unusual last name, Mariana thought. Well, this name was all Mariana would need to persuade that emoticon of a professor to give her access to the other starters. She began to rise from the bench and-
"And you don't have to... I'll go inside later," Amelia said.
What...? Seriously? Did this child have no pride? She would rather let a crowd of imbeciles take their sweet time inside than accept someone's offer of going inside in her place, asking for nothing in return. Why? What, did she not want to trouble others?
Amelia's words were upsetting to Mariana, similarly to how in Chess an amateur's horrible, game-losing move would be upsetting to a passionate expert.
"No... no, you won't." Facing the ground, Mariana spoke in a quieter, heavier tone. The tone was used by many, but it was below the strictly-neutral voice range that Mariana used at all times. Her hands became fists, and her breathing hastened.
Then she realized what was happening. She hurriedly turned away from Amelia, took a breath and let her expressions subside. What exactly was she getting all worked up over, anyways?
As the lukewarm mask of neutrality settled onto her face again, she turned back to Amelia. "I insist, Ms Aver. They could take hours to get done in there! Just tell me which Pokemon you want."
"I... you don't... I don't know." Amelia said, looking at the ground" I'm not is a rush so... I can wait and they can take their time."
So that was it? Amelia was to just give up without a fight. She didn't even want someone to get her Pokemon for her.
Well, fine then. Perhaps Mariana could become a gym leader despite this humiliating setback. She hated the idea of just letting those fools take their sweet time, but it was vital so that this fool could be appeased. Or, you know what...
Mariana sat back on the bench, seemingly in resignation. "Out of curiosity," she sighed, "what kind of Pokemon would you want as your starter?"
"I... I don't know anything about Pokémon." Amelia admitted, her face growing a bit red" But maybe... something cute and that I can feel safe around."
... Well, that answer was unhelpful, as cute as it was.
Maybe I should just give up on the whole prospect of leaving early, Mariana thought. It wasn't the prospect of leaving late that really bothered her, but rather the prospect of leaving later than others, so she forced her mind to forget that last part. She was just leaving later than usual, not later than others.
Suddenly something occurred to Mariana. She hadn't even introduced herself!
"I'm sorry, Miss Aver, I don't believe I've introduced myself. My name is Mariana Silva Camilo Coelho."
"Please don't call me that. My first name is fine." Amelia said before Mariana introduced herself. Amelia recognized the last name: Coelho.She knew immediately that this meant Mariana was as rich, if not richer, then her." So you're an heiress?... Why are you here?"
Oh? This child was well educated in regards to those above her, a trait rarely found among the lower class. Mariana felt ambivalent about this: on one hand, at least one person was suspicious of her presence on the island; on the other hand, she didn't have to inform the child of the wonders of Unicim anymore. Although she was a little disappointed about that.
"Well, Miss Av- I mean, Amelia," Mariana corrected herself. She decided to tell Amelia her parents' reason, instead of her own. "Both of my parents went on Pokemon journeys before they took over their corporations. They think this'll teach me how to lead."
"That's their reason but you wouldn't see it through unless you had a reason of your own." Amelia said. She was finding it easier to talk to Marianna as the conversation went on and a small smile slowly formed in her face" So why are you seeing this through. Surely you have your own reasons."
She sees right through me! thought Mariana. She had to think hard about her response. Should she be completely honest? No, of course not. Should she tell a complete lie? Almost certainly... but the idea of lying to this child just felt cowardly.
So Mariana chose the universal answer to such dilemmas: vagueness. "Well, Amelia... there is something on this island that I need to acquire."
"What would that be?" Amelia asked curiously
"I, uh..." I suppose cryptic messages only work when they don't ask for more details, Mariana thought.
Would she really have to lie to this girl's face? No... She was going to have to tell the truth. Just... presenting herself in the best possible light.
"Well then, Amelia... Can you keep a secret?"
"I think I can. But, uh... what is a secret? Ive never had one before." Amelia said, being completely honest.
Mariana blinked. Is... is she serious? she thought. The concept of secrecy was so ingrained into her mind that not knowing the meaning of the word was inconceivable to her. If it was a joke, though, it wasn't too funny.
Maybe Amelia was just unfamiliar with this language's vocabulary? Yeah, that had to be it. This Willow-sponsored journey was international, after all.
"Well, Amelia, a secret," Mariana described, slowing down at the word in question, "is something someone tells you, that you don't tell anyone else. If I tell you why I've come to this island, you don't mention it to anyone else, and especially not Professor Willow. Do you understand?"
"Oh... I think I can" Amelia said, looking uncertain. She wasn't sure why Marianna didn't want people to know whatever it was she was hiding but she had to have a good reason... right?" If you don't want to tell you don't have to."
Well, it would've been nice of her to say so sooner, considering how suspicious the line "especially not Professor Willow" was. And Mariana had all that momentum built up for it, too. "Well, Amelia, all you need to know is that I've come to free the people of this region from a tyrant."
Well, a corporate monopoly is a tyranny, kind of... and by breaking that corporation apart, I am freeing these people, kind of... Bleh. Even Mariana was sickened by how much she was sugarcoating it.
Before the girl could question for more details, Mariana quickly asked back, "And you? Why have you come to this island?"
"I came to get away from my family." Amelia said.
"To... get away from your family?" It wasn't an alien concept to Mariana. She was aware that, among commoner children, family wasn't nearly as important as it should've been. But it still seemed bizarre to her, especially upon meeting a live example of it - so bizarre that she couldn't help but ask "Why?"
Amelia thought about it before answering.
"Its hard to explain." She said slowly" I can't really think of how to... phrase it I guess. Maybe I can give you an answer later?"
"Alright. You'll tell me why you wanted to get away from your family later, and I in turn will tell you more about my own goals on this island. And we'll keep them secret from everyone else. Er, if you want your story to be kept secret, I mean," Mariana concluded.
And speaking of things they could do longterm with each other. "Say, would you mind me traveling with you?"
"It doesn't matter who knows. Its nothing... uh... big... important... I don't know." Amelia said before a surprised look crossed her face when Marianna asked if Amelia would mind traveling with her." Why would you want me to join you? I'm no one special and I might slow you down."
Because you're adorab-SHUT UP!! Mariana (mentally) shouted furiously into her own, treasonous mind. Seriously, what was going on? She had just asked Amelia that question without even going over it! And to be honest she didn't yet know the answer either. This wasn't like her.
Without even think about it for all that long, Amelia had already given Mariana two great reasons not to travel with her. And yet Mariana's traitorous brain didn't buy it. Well, the most accurate answer would be to say that I don't feel as personally insulted to have to stand near her as I do near others, but I don't think she'd appreciate that answer much. Another accurate response would be to say "That's the point! If I do this Pokemon journey with you weighing me down, everyone respects me more!", but once again...
Though they reflected her thoughts quite well, neither answer reflected her emotions at all. If she were to be absolutely honest to herself, without anybody else listening in on her, she would say that she found the child ador... adoruh... adoraaaaAMUSING! She found the child AMUSING. There. Close enough! Somehow, she didn't think that would cut it, either.
She subtly began glancing around for an excuse, any excuse. The sketchbook Amelia is currently holding? No, by the way she holds it, she doesn't seem to be comfortable with others seeing it. Lancelot, currently hugging Amelia while staring fixedly at Mariana? That might work, and would teach Lancelot a lesson about subtlety, but it's honestly a little flimsy. Professor Willow through the window, giving a swordswoman a Pokedex? No, that wouldn't- wait, a... Pokedex? ...crap, I have to hurry!
She decided the excuse involving Lancelot was good enough, and cleared her throat. "Well, Amelia, Lancelot there seems to like you, which is good enough for me." She then pretended to just notice what she had just noticed a few seconds earlier. "Oh, it seems Professor Willow is handing out Pokedexes now," she said as she rose from the bench.
Ugh, that all sounded a little forced, she thought to herself.
In an effort to make this sudden end to the conversation more natural-sounding, she added, "You... want me to get you one?"
"I guess he does doesn't he?" Amelia said, petting Lancelot on the head again. She had mixed feelings about traveling with Marianna. On one hand she wouldn't mind traveling alone, at her own pace. On the other traveling with another person might be fun. She snapped out of her thoughts then Marianna brought up the Professor handing out pokédexes. The older girl asked if Amelia would want one fetched for her. Amelia shook her head in response" No thank you. I'll get one when I go to get my Pokémon"
She didn't seem to refuse the offer of travel companionship - at the very least, she hadn't explicitly refused it, which was good enough for Mariana.
Mariana wouldn't normally have accepted something so uncertain, but at that point anything would've been good enough for Mariana. She was feeling the strangest compulsion to go back inside... or more accurately, to get away from Amelia. This girl was dangerous, tugging on Mariana's heartstrings like a puppeteer, and all of her instincts were finally in accordance: Get the hell away from her!
Getting a Pokedex was merely a convenient excuse she had latched onto, and was clinging onto for dear life. In fact, she was kind of glad Amelia declined her offer, as now she had no reason to leave the building until the beginning of the journey.
"Well, then, Amelia," Mariana said, now standing. She turned to Amelia and bowed, making sure not to lay eyes on the adorAMUSING little girl, lest she falter in her escape. "This was a pleasant conversation we had." At least for you. "Thank you for your time." Now I've learned a fatal weakness of mine... "I look forward to traveling with you on this journ-" ...
She stood there, facing the ground in mid-bow, in silent realization.
Wordlessly, she turned around and walked into Professor Willow's lab.