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]

[... 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.]

[lyrids]

[Sonia looks in the indicated direction to Geo's Pokémon and flashes them a brief smile too. Kotone takes this as her cue, and gives her adoring fans a farewell chirp before returning to her Trainer, alighting on her shoulder.

Once she's settled Sonia turns her attention back to Geo, and a faint blush creeps onto her cheeks at the compliment.]

Thank you. I'm glad...

[She steals another skyward glance.]

[vistapoint]

Atik and Saiph seemed to like it too. [He looks over to the Electric-type and the Dark-type, clicking his tongue. Saiph scampers over, winding himself around both Geo's and Sonia's legs before he sits down at Geo's side. Atik darts off to Savior-knows-where, but Geo makes no attempt to call the Rotom back.

This time, Geo briefly follows Sonia's glance up, but he doesn't comment.]

Do you, uh, play that kind of music often? [... And from that one question alone, it's painfully obvious that Geo doesn't listen to the radio much.]

[lyrids]

[Sonia tilts her head slightly.]

Um, not really. Usually my songs are a bit happier, but...

[She trails off. She doesn't really need to finish that sentence, does she?]

[vistapoint]

... Oh. [Yeah, no need to finish that bit. He's not sure what to say to that now; he's already told her the song was good. Geo's awkwardly silent for a moment or two before Maia gently nudges him and he speaks again.]

What's your name?

[lyrids]

[Simple as it is, the question gives her pause, simply because it's not one she's used to being asked — most people don't need to.]

It's Sonia. Sonia Strumm.

[vistapoint]

[The name strikes Geo as vaguely familiar, as if he's heard it before but can't recall where.

Well, it's not enough to set off any signals of recognition, and really, it doesn't particularly matter here and now. It takes the Espurr clinging to his shoulder nudging him again to get Geo to respond.] I'm Geo Stelar. It's... it's nice to meet you.

[Maia sighs a little and shakes her head. Sorry, Miss Strumm, her human isn't very good at this socializing thing.]

[lyrids]

[Sonia gives Geo a friendly smile and giggles, partly because of Maia's rather cute little gesture.]

Geo, huh? Nice to meet you too!

[vistapoint]

[Saiph, apparently bored of the conversation, stands and starts winding himself around Sonia's legs, staring up at her endearingly (someone wants attention apparently).]

H-hey, Saiph, cut that out...

[lyrids]

[Sonia isn't bothered at all, aside from it perhaps tickling a little, and leans over to pat Saiph. If it's attention he wants, she's happy to provide.]

Haha, hey there.

[vistapoint]

[The Dark-type purrs, leaning into Sonia's pats.]

He, um, really likes attention. [He reaches into his bag, pulling out a few Pokémon treats and offering them to Kotone.]

[lyrids]

[Sonia glances up at Geo — though she continues to pet Saiph at the same time — while Kotone eyes the treats for a moment before happily snapping them up.]

He's cute!

[vistapoint]

[Geo offers a small, awkward smile.]

Your Swablu is really cute too.