008 [Action]

[toxicrevenger]

[Unionites might notice a somewhat...interesting display in the street. There’s a gold and sparkly Lucario and a Bellossom, each with a canvas and easel sized just for them, with paint.

Their trainer, meanwhile, is a curvy young green woman with red hair, who’s sitting back with her notebook in the sun, sipping a glass of water. When someone approaches, she speaks up.]

Hello. Would you like to commission some art? All proceeds are going to charity.

[She felt like indulging the two artists on her team while simultaneously being philanthropic.]

Comments

[actsmagnificent]

[ Art. No one can ever be a better artist than Michiru, in Haruka's opinion, but that doesn't mean she isn't interested in it. Especially not when she knows the artist.

Up she walks with a Vulpix daintily padding beside her. ] I see they're just as talented as their Trainer.

[ Vulpix, for her part, sits with perfect posture and scrutinizes the artists from above an elegantly-tipped nose. That gold Pokémon is rather gauche. Is it glittering? ] Vul.

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela chuckles. Artistic talent? Her? Nope.]

Aside from scientific illustrations art is not a talent of mine. But Azalea and Daffodil here are artistically inclined and it seemed a shame to not indulge their interests.

[Daffodil is used to various reactions to her unusual colouring, so she doesn’t let Vulpix’s reaction bother her too much. But she does look at the Vulpix thoughtfully before excitedly declaring that Vulpix must be her MUSE!]

Luca lu cario!

[actsmagnificent]

That's thoughtful. [ Vulpix draws herself up at that pronouncement, however. Her? A muse? Her time is precious. Be careful not to waste it....

...but then she thinks about what being a "muse" entails, and what kind of reaction that really is, and so she sashays her way to in front of the Lucario (making sure her tails and curls all bob in a particularly alluring rhythm) and seats herself in front of the easel. You may begin. Is this acceptable? ] Vulpix vul. Vul.

[ How fortunate this Lucario is. She is allowing the other Pokémon to monopolize her attention. ]

[toxicrevenger]

[Daffodil doesn't take offense to this prima donna like behaviour from Vulpix. She is quite strikingly pretty, after all. She probably gets compliments all the time.

She takes a look at where Vulpix is sitting, considers for a moment. Vulpix needs to turn just a little to the left, please.]

Lu lu cari.

[actsmagnificent]

Pix? [ Left? Vulpix is of the opinion that all her angles are good angles, but she does as bidden, giving the artiste a quizzical glance to check for approval before settling into her new position. This should be better. And how about she arranges her tails out in front of her like this, splaying them to their best effect....

Ah, and her head tilted like so. Perfect. ] Pixpix.

[ ....Haruka has a feeling she might be here a while. ]

[toxicrevenger]

Cario.

[Yes, that’s perfect, Daffodil confirms. Exactly like that. She mixes her paint into a hue that’s very close to Vulpix’s fur to begin the base for her painting, and first begins by establishing her general pose.

Pamela turns to Haruka with a little smile. This likely will take some time, so might as well make conversation while the Pokemon do their thing.]

So. How have you been lately? Working on anything exciting?

[actsmagnificent]

Vul. [ As befits a perfect muse, Vulpix remains perfectly still. She'll barely even blink, so as not to disrupt the artist - less out of a desire to not be a nuisance and more to prove her worth as the only thing anyone should ever paint.

Her Trainer, while all this occurs, is happy to strike up conversation with Pamela. This might take a bit, yeah. Haruka shrugs. ] We've picked a play. I'm sworn to secrecy about that, though, so no Furreting for the answer.

[toxicrevenger]

[Daffodil slowly but surely begins filling in the painting more, starting with light shading and building up the painting from there.]

I wouldn’t dream of it.

[Although Pamela doesn’t mind asking other related questions.]

Has the casting been done for it yet and if it has, are you looking forward to your role?

[actsmagnificent]

[ This is no slapdash painter, then, Vulpix sees. Better and better. She continues to hold her position, understanding that great art takes time.

Still, ugh. They could at least have arranged for entertainment.

Trainer doesn't seem sympathetic to her plight either, considering that Haruka appears to be ignoring her completely. ] Not as much as some other aspects.

[ Meaningfully mysterious smile. ]

[blood_and_thunder]

[A nervous Noire approaches, accompanied by her newly evolved Dusknoir. She fidgets, unsure.]

A-Art...? Right now?

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela offers a relaxed smile before having a dainty sip of her water.]

No time like the present, right? Especially when it’s for a good cause.

[blood_and_thunder]

Well... I guess I can't say no to that.

... But I wouldn't make a very good painting. Maybe you can do one of my friend...

[That would be the gigantic hulking ghost. Who is waving.]

[toxicrevenger]

[Azalea the Bellossom waves cheerfully, while Daffodil the Lucario offers a nod in greeting. ‘Sup, ghost?]

I’m certain my girls can oblige.

[She motions behind where the two Pokemon are, so that Noire can see samples of each one’s work.]

Which style would you prefer the portrait done in?

[blood_and_thunder]

O-Oh, I'm not picky... How about I... I get one of each?

[toxicrevenger]

That's certainly an option. If you would, girls.

[And both the artists are happy to oblige. Daffodil motions to where the ghost should go so that both she and Azalea can have a clear view to work from.]

Just out of curiosity, why do you think you wouldn't make a good painting?

[blood_and_thunder]

Because... well, I'm a very plain person. Someone like you would probably make the painting gorgeous, but I'd be a very boring subject.

[toxicrevenger]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think you would be a perfectly lovely subject for a painting, but that’s just me.

[Pamela smiles encouragingly.]

Whatever gave you the idea that you were plain?

[blood_and_thunder]

[She looks down, shyness getting bigger.]

... My mother... she was one of the most beautiful people in our village. Yet somehow I'm her blood.

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela offers a warm smile, and decides to test out her pheromones just a little. Just to see how persuasive she can be, because someone is obviously in need of a self-esteem boost. She produces a little mirror from a compact and holds it out for Noire to look into.]

Even if you don’t look exactly like your mother, you’re far from plain. Have a look.

[A faint fragrance smelling of flowers and other flora wafts through the air. It’s almost like a perfume that was custom designed for Pamela.]

[blood_and_thunder]

[She blinks as the smell hits her... Ahhh, it's so... relaxing. it's as if her constant worries and doubt are melting away. She sighs deeply, and seems to finally smile.]

Ah... you really think so?

Action

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Here comes Lenna, followed along at a distance by a suspicious and shifty-eyed looking Bagon.]

Oh, how cute! Are your Pokemon doing portraits?

[Don't mind the Bagon, she's just going to hide half a block away behind a storefront sign, poking her head out every few seconds to peer at them all.]

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela grins.]

That they are. I thought I should encourage their interests.

[She motions to the Bellossom.]

Azalea’s been much better about not using my bedsheets for her art ever since she evolved and then I got her a canvas sized just for her.

[Which was good because it was just a bit annoying to constantly find patterns of berry juice stained into her good quality sheets. She glances over to the Bagon.]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Pokemon like that one you have there. ...that is your Pokemon, right?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

It must be a relief not waking up covered in paint.

[Lenna laughs a little, picturing it in her head before looking back behind her.]

Oh... yes. Claret isn't very social. She's friendly enough with me, but won't approach anyone else, or any of my other Pokemon.

[toxicrevenger]

Oh, believe me, I’m glad that issue’s been resolved. It was an ongoing problem for months. I kept having to replace my sheets and I had to be extremely thorough about showering.

[It was right up there with the problems she’d had with her Pumpkaboo randomly shooting off Confuse Rays while spinning as far as annoyance. Less dangerous, but consistently annoying.]

Does Claret just not like being around others, or is it a shyness issue? Or something else entirely?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

Well, I'm glad she's able to express herself without causing a problem now.

[Lenna's had some problem children of her own over the course of things, but that's just part of being a trainer.]

I don't know. I get the feeling it's more of a trust issue.

[toxicrevenger]

Having Daffodil around helps her, too. Those two are pretty good friends.

[It's nice to see two vastly different Pokemon find common ground and bond the way her Lucario and Bellossom have.]

Do you think she had bad experiences with others before she bonded with you?

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I'm not really sure. I met her in the Dream World, so it's hard to say what kinds of things happened there.

[toxicrevenger]

[Ah, the Dream World. The place where very little makes any sense whatsoever. It’s not Pamela’s favourite place, but she’d be a poor scientist if she allowed fear of the unknown to prevent her from traveling their entirely.]

She could have had some truly bizarre experiences...hopefully being bonded with you will help her to become more trusting over time.

[She has faith that if anyone can help with trust issues, it’s Lenna..]

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

I think she'll be all right. She just needs some time.

[Lenna looks back and smiles at Claret. She gets a smile in return, but if Pamela is looking, it's all suspicious glareface.]

[toxicrevenger]

[Pamela has to cover her mouth to hide the smile that creeps onto her face when she sees that glare from such an adorable Pokemon. She thinks it’s cute.]

Well, hopefully she’ll learn to warm up to your other Pokemon and your good friends in time.

[my_father_is_a_tycoon]

[Good thinking. Claret wouldn't appreciate being looked down on.]

I hope so too. In the meantime, I just want to show her she's appreciated.

[And... lightbulb!]

Oh, I know! Why doesn't Azalea do a painting of her?