♫ One Chord ♫

[nonstopyouth]

[Action take 1: Near the Gates]

[It had all been a blur, really. She'd lost track of time wandering through the wilderness and if it hadn't been for the friend she made (The small fluffy mareep trotting at her heels) she might have been in real trouble. But she'd managed to stumble into a merchant caravan that offered to take her in in return for a few chores and she'd gotten her passage into Union.]

[Union was ...well. It was a lot. It was a lot mostly because she didn't know what to expect and she didn't have much of a frame of reference. Still, even as she looked up at what was left of the tall spires, and the constant construction littering the ones that looked damage, there was something beautiful about it. Peaceful even.]

[It struck her as something inherently unfamiliar.]

[Immigration was stressful and scary and she didn't know what she was supposed to do. She'd bumbled her way through until they released her into the city with some information on getting settled and she was left to her devices.]

[She was tired, dirty, ragged looking and scared but somehow, looking at the city from inside, up at the towers and the people walking by, she felt at ease. Maybe Mr. Berry had been right. Maybe this place really could help her.]

Isn't this place incredible, Pyuru?

[The sheep Reep!s at her in agreement.]

I wonder what I should do now...

[To that, the pokemon had no response. Good question.]

[Action take 2: Near Ninetales Vale.]

[After some exploring, Cyan decided the best course of action would be to work up some money. Food and a place to sleep were the priority. Mostly food. She and her friend were starting to get hungry and she didn't want to impose on the merchants she came in with any longer.]

[So Cyan is sitting on a bench with her guitar. The case for it is on the ground and open with a small sign that says "Thank you for listening!". She's been playing for at least an hour by now. It's funny that she couldn't tell you a thing about where she was from, but music and songs, they always came right to her. She couldn't tell you where or how she learned them, but it was like her heart wouldn't let her forget.]

[She's not bad at all, either. And she plays with a smile despite the pretty poor state she's in.]

[Video: Warp band.]

[And of course a little later on when she's managed to have a meal. She's sitting outside, playing with the warp band. When the feed comes on she looks startled, black cat ears standing straight up.]

--Think it's working! U-Um! [Oh no, just a little stage fright.]

Hello... um! I was told I could talk to people on this so I guess that's what I'm doing...

[This was going terribly. She turns bright red and her ears fold back. Pyuru decides to take things into her own hands by showing off a sparkly electric move! Yeah!! Hello Union we are here!!]

[It's too bad that it also hits Cyan which causes her hair to poof right up]

--Kyaah!!

[In her distress, she drops the warp band and the static electricity probably shorts it out. It goes dead as the Mareep worriedly tries to apologize.]

Comments

Action 1

[disasterrific]

Look out!

[A little Golett races by the girl at the gate, chasing a rock. A girl with a Murkrow and a Klefki races by, chasing the Golett]

Al, get back here!

[nonstopyouth]

[She narrowly avoids going splat. She stumbled back, tail puffed, staring after the entourage with wide eyes.]

What was that?

[This place sure is lively. Maybe she should go help.]

[disasterrific]

[The group come racing back from the other direction]

Why did I let you learn Rollout!

[nonstopyouth]

[Oh no they're coming back! What should she do???]

You could always help. It shouldn't be hard with your abilities, you know.

[!!! Right, maybe ...she could distract it long enough for it to stop. Um. She pulls her Guitar over her shoulder and plays a cute Charming tune.]

[ooc: anything in pink is the voice she hears from her guitar and only heard by her!]

[disasterrific]

[The Charm doesn't work on the genderless Al.

Or the other three.]

[nonstopyouth]

[Noooooooooo now what does she do.]

Why don't you try raising your voice?

[...! Oh! Okay, she knows what to do now. She moves into the path of the incoming Golett, suddenly realizes shes about to do or die, takes a deep breath, and starts to sing with a Disarming Voice, plucking at her guitar with her words.]

Please stop rolling, your friends will keep falling, falling, falling after you~

[disasterrific]

[Al stops, not wanting to hurt the girl even though her voice is hurting her.

He stops so suddenly though that Rikku nearly runs into him. She's only saved from an embarrassing spill by using Al as a launch pad and tumbling over him and the girl.]

Phew!

Action 2

[warriormouse]

[Martin doesn't spend too much time in the Vale anymore, but sometimes it's nice to wander around and just be at peace or pray.

That was the plan for today--Boar was floating alongside him while Noonvale for once in her life was putting off a soothing, relaxing scent, Aubertia had tagged along for a change and Sunflash was chasing her tail. The others were at Redwall doing whatever they needed or wanted to do.

Sunflash is the one to spot Cyan first and go bolting over to the young girl, wagging her tail...and trying to howl along.]

Growl-iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiithe!

[nonstopyouth]

[!!! It wasn't odd by now for a pokemon to run up, though it was pretty startling the first few times. The growlith earns her a delighted smile and she keeps playing.]

[Pyuru decides to also join in with various sheep noises. Good heavens.]

[warriormouse]

[Martin comes running up shortly after, all ready to reprimand Sunflash before he sees what his Pokémon is doing.

He has to bite his lips to not laugh. The guitar is good, but the Mareep and Growlithe accompaniment...not so much.]

[nonstopyouth]

[Hahaha.... yeah... But when the trainer runs up she will carefully end the song. Maybe now Union won't kick her out for disrupting the peace.]

Did you write that yourself?

[To the growlithe, obviously.]

[warriormouse]

[Sunflash just yips and turns around to start tugging on Martin's belt. She knows he keeps his wallet in that general area, time to get the wallet and give this girl all the money! Martin manages to get her off his belt before he's half-naked in the Vale]

This is why I haven't gotten you a Fire Stone yet. [To the girl:] She didn't interrupt, did she?

[nonstopyouth]

[Oh my. She covers her mouth with her hand trying not to giggle. To his question, she shakes her head.]

N-No! Not at all. It was nice. I hope she had fun.

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[Oh boy, that's a really nice song! Enough to attract a good deal of attention though her audience seems to thin out a little bit as something seems to be stinking up the immediate area. Oh, there's a Grimer oozing up to listen with a big grin on its face.

Blob the Grimer is clearly thrilled to listen to this lovely music! Obviously he doesn't have any money but... surely there must be some way to pay this human back for her song. Oh, he knows! The girl seems to have the right idea, covered in dirt and grit from her travels, but that guitar is still spotless and that just won't do!]

Grime!

[Gathering up a glob of Grimer goo in one hand, Blob raises his hand juuuust long enough for an advance warning... and then tries to huck the gunk right at Cyan's guitar.]

[nonstopyouth]

[Well, it would have been rude to stop playing even if the grimer was really smelly. Pyuru was not showing the same consideration and definitely trying to cover her nose with her hooves for all the good it does.]

[As long as the grimer didn't get too close! Though the smell was starting to get to her. It's okay, just keep playing just--]

[What was- OH GODS]

KYAAAAAAAAAH!!

[Instead of doing something cool like deflecting it with her abilities she tips back and lands into the fountain she was playing in front of.]

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[Meanwhile, Ryuko's just stepping out of a small restaurant nearby with a bag of food in hand for supper. Hitting the sidewalk, she pauses for a moment to look around. Where the heck is Blob...? She's sure she had left him right here, so....

A sudden scream gets her attention and she's off like a shot toward the source of the commotion and what should she find once she arrives but her wayward Pokemon! And a girl in a fountain. Right beneath a glob of slime that had pelted the structure.]

... Blob? [She looks from the Pokemon, to the fountain, to the girl, to the slime. Then to the girl again and back to Blob.] ... What did you do?

[Blob just tilts his head at his trainer and gives a confused Grimer. He has no idea what all the fuss is about.]

[nonstopyouth]

[Somehow she manages to keep the guitar mostly out of the water while she tumbled in first. She's trying to right herself as Ryuko comes running up. Ryuko might note her apologizing to her guitar for falling into the fountain before looking up at.]

[This is the most pathetic looking drowned cat you could possibly hope to see as she sloshes to the edge of the fountain.]

Um. I- think he threw slime at me for some reason...?

[It looked like this girl was probably the Grimer's trainer. She didn't think the Grimer was trying to attack her. Maybe.]

[guitar_case_vagabond]

[... Oh god, that girl just looks terribly miserable right now. It's almost enough to even break her heart, and enough that she doesn't think too much of her apologizing to her guitar. The Cubone holding onto her shoulder looks equally as concerned as Ryuko sets her food down and walks to the edge of the fountain to reach over to help the girl out, never noticing the sudden blur of motion that sweeps past behind her when she does.]

S-sorry about that. He's got this idea in his head that everything's gotta be a mess, or covered in crap. He doesn't wanna hurt you, just-- [She just manages to notice Blob with a grin on his face and one arm wound up for another pitch and quickly jumps in front of Cyan with one arm outstretched.] No, hey, don't throw more!

[nonstopyouth]

[Oh, okay. Pokemon were so funny sometimes. It's good that he wasn't trying to attack her, though. She reaches to take Ryuko's offered hand.]

It's okay! I'm not hurt or anything. [Just wet.]

[She looks up just in time to see it too. She starts, slipping back into the fountain. How hard of a grip they had on each other probably determines if Ryuko goes in with her.]

[video]

[heartandsoul]

Ah...

[Well, that was definitely something. Who was that? Another new person? Will she come back onto the network eventually or did her band get wrecked forever?

Maka just waits for a moment before actually trying to speak.]

Hello? Are you okay?

[video]

[nonstopyouth]

[It does come back after a few minutes with her hair looking considerably more frizzed.]

I-I'm fine! Sorry! Pyuru got really excited and sometimes she just ...sparks a lot...

[video]

[heartandsoul]

N-no, it's okay! I just wanted to make sure you didn't...uh...

[Get hurt? It seems a little late for that.]

So...so...you're new here, right? Do you need help settling in?

[video]

[nonstopyouth]

I'm starting to get used to it.

[Pyuru bleats apologetically.]

I am! The city is really pretty. Um.

[Help settling in. That gives her something to think about.]

I'm actually ...wondering if you know of a place that might be hiring?

[video]

[heartandsoul]

There's a few, yes. Some of the hotels are opening back up again and would need helpers, same for the cafes and such. It depends on what kind of skills you have and where you want to live, for convenience's sake.

[video]

[nonstopyouth]

[! Oh this was good news. She smiles brightly.]

Oh- I'll have to look for those, then! I'm ..well. I haven't had a job before but I'm sure I could handle something like cleaning or making beds. Thank you!