Track 1 ♬ Action

[lyrids]

[With Union in its current state one might not expect to hear the sound of music filling the air, but those stepping into a certain corner of the devastated city will be met with the gentle strumming of a guitar and a voice that any regular listener of the radio should find quite familiar. Following it to its source will reveal a young girl sitting with her legs crossed on a relatively unspoiled patch of land. This girl is none other than the renowned singer, Sonia Strumm.

As is to be expected, Sonia's work has been put on hold because of the heavy damage the entertainment district suffered in the attack. She's supposed to be staying at home where it's more or less safe in the meantime, but honestly, nuts to that. Union is her home; she'd much rather see its wounds with her own eyes than stick her head in the sand until everything is all better.

That said, it's certainly not an easy thing to take in. She had been too occupied with seeking shelter (at her manager's insistence, of course) to really process the destruction as it was happening. To see the crumbling towers, the rubble littering the streets, the remains of the fallen still being recovered from the wreckage? It's been a sobering experience, to say the least.

Which brings us back to the present, where Sonia has decided to take a break, and almost without thinking begun to fill the gap with music. There are no lyrics to her song, but the melody alone — slow and melancholic, yet with an underlying warmth — makes its meaning clear. An audience of wild Pokémon has formed around her, and the Swablu perched atop her head provides a warbling accompaniment to her impromptu performance.

The result is a small pocket of soothing tranquility in a city whose sanctity has been shattered.]

Comments

[vistapoint]

[Well, there's a couple Pokémon in the audience that aren't wild. Geo's Rotom and Purrloin are among the audience, listening raptly. Their trainer isn't far away, his Espurr in his arms.

... He's never been one to listen to the radio, so he has no idea who this girl is, but...

... Maybe he'll stay and listen for a while.]

[lyrids]

[Eventually, the song comes to an end. While her Swablu, Kotone, flutters down to preen before the crowd of Pokémon, Sonia stands tall and looks to the sky with a pensive expression.

A few moments later, she returns her gaze to ground level, and that's when she finally notices Geo.]

Ah...!

[vistapoint]

[... Whoops, caught.

Geo doesn't smile, but he lifts a hand in greeting and Maia mimics the motion, the Espurr letting out a squeaky meow in greeting as well. It takes him a few moments to speak up.] ... Hi.

[Eloquent.

Atik and Saiph, in the meantime, start making excited noises at Kotone now that the performance is over, praising the Swablu's performance as well as the trainer's.]

[lyrids]

Hello. [Sonia does offer a smile to Geo and Maia, if a small and slightly sheepish one.]

I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone would be listening.

[...Which, in hindsight, was probably a little silly of her. Oh well.

Kotone laps up the praise, puffing out her already incredibly fluffy feathers proudly. You guys are very lucky, you know! Normally you'd have to pay lots of money to see her and Sonia singing live!]

[vistapoint]

Oh, um. I was following my Pokémon over here. [He gestures over at Atik and Saiph. The Purrloin seems especially excited--to have come across a wonderful live performance by chance, how incredible!]

... It was a nice song, though. [He shifts before finally offering a smile that's about as awkward as one might expect.]

[incousinswithyou]

[there's a Nidoqueen, slowly edging closer while trying not to disturb Sonia. The Pokemon has a colorful apron-like contraption on, complete with a Togepi nestled in its big pocket. The Togepi is fussy and making unhappy noises. Everybody around just seems sad.

The more Togepi gets to hear Sonia's song, however, the quieter the baby gets. Nidoqueen watches Togepi with one eye and Sonia with the other. Please keep singing.]

[lyrids]

[Keep singing is exactly what Sonia is going to do. In fact, she's so engrossed in her song that she doesn't even register the large presence drawing near.

A different story, however, is her Whismur, who toddles out of the front row of the crowd and up to the Nidoqueen, and looks inquisitively up at her. What are you doing?, he asks in a melodic whisper that's clearly trying to emulate his Trainer's singing.]

[incousinswithyou]

[Nidoqueen nods a little, but seems afraid to speak. Instead, she leans over carefully and then motions Whismur to come closer.

Upon examination, he'll find a Togepi slowly blinking up at him. The eggbaby gives a tiny yawn even as he watches.]

[lyrids]

[Whismur dutifully follows. He lets out a small gasp when met with the baby Pokémon. Aww, how cute! Not wanting to disturb it, he backs off a little and looks up at Nidoqueen again, making an apologetic gesture with his stubby little arms.]

[incousinswithyou]

[Nidoqueen grins at him, completely grateful that they're going to let her stay here. She definitely doesn't know Sing.

When the baby's eyes finally drift shut, she's almost afraid to breathe until Togepi's own breathing has settled into a deeper pattern.

Nidoqueen sighs in relief, and then quietly rumbles out a greeting to Whismur.] Nido. [her name's Stradivarius!]

[senpaidol]

[Rise, on her way back to the Theater from trying to help out at another wreckage site, hears the song a few seconds before she recognizes the voice. She instinctively smiles and hums along before she realizes where it's coming from. After that, she quietly approaches and appreciates the skill of her fellow performer for a couple more moments. Not to mention the whole princess thing she has going on with the wild Pokémon.]

Hey there, Sonia.

[She says it quietly. No point disturbing the wild kids.]

[lyrids]

[Gentle as it is, Rise's voice stirs Sonia from her reverie. She blinks and looks up from the instrument in her hands, then gives the older girl a bright smile when she sees her.]

Oh, hello!

[Meanwhile, Kotone chirps indignantly at having her singing interrupted.]

[senpaidol]

Sorry, sorry.

[She doesn't speak Pokémon, but she can tell when one's irritated at her, at least.]

Are you doing okay? I mean, you definitely sound like you are.

[lyrids]

[The Swablu huffs and flies off to hang with the other Pokémon, while her Trainer nods.]

Yeah, I'm fine. Better than most at the moment, I think...

[senpaidol]

I'm glad to hear it. I uh...wound up in a bit more of a mess the last couple times we had a disaster like this.

[She walks closer and sits down in a spot vacated by one of the singing Pokémon.]

You're sounding great, though. I don't get to hear you a lot off the radio.

[magicquotes]

[ He doesn't even notice, really, but his Pokemon do, and that's enough for him to follow along.

He sits out of the way, soaking up the sun while his Shuppet bobs and sways to the music's time. His Venipede...simply twitches her antenna a bit, but seems to be enjoying it. He has no real reaction at all; he taps his fingers a little to the beat, but that's all he can muster.

Almond, on his shoulder, flutters his wings to indicate the performance is over. He applauds, quietly. ]

You play well. Is that your own creation?

[lyrids]

[Having been unaware that she had a human audience, Sonia starts slightly at the sound of clapping. She quickly composes herself, however, and bows humbly.]

Thank you, mister. Yes, it is.

[magicquotes]

[ He gives her a quick bow in return, because he's respectful to someone who obviously knows their craft, even if she's young. ]

Wonderful. It had a nice rhythm to it. [ He compliments the beat, because that's all he could hear. ] Is this a hobby of yours, or...?

[lyrids]

Something like that, I suppose.

[If he doesn't know who she is, she's not going to go out of her way to change that.]

[magicquotes]

[ The momentary look he gives her is - not suspicion, but something between curiosity and amusement. He knows that something is off about the explanation, but he's not going to pry. ]

Well, mystery musician - my name is Magnolia. Could I have yours, by any chance?

Or an alias, if you like. I'm not picky.

[child_of_luv]

[Minako waited until the song was done. She was there with a Persian and Sylveon.]

That was lovely.

[lyrids]

[Upon wrapping up the song, Sonia looks up and smiles at Minako and her Pokémon.]

Thank you.

[child_of_luv]

Where did you learn to play?

[lyrids]

Oh, nowhere in particular... I mostly taught myself.

[child_of_luv]

That's very good. I don't play any instruments, but I have been learning to sing.