“If you’d like to pet her—mind her body language, of course, if her ears go back leave her be—”

Tiernan leans forward and holds out his hand.

She puts her head under his hand and directs him to scratch behind her ears.

"Awwwwwwww."

“—well, this seems like a match well-made!”

He’s clearly thrilled.

“Assuming she’s the one you’d like?”

The Chespin has become incredibly intrigued by Persephone’s shoe—

—and the Froakie has found a very convenient table leg from behind which to peer and blow quiet bubbles.

"I love her and her ridiculous ears and her tiny feet!" Petpetpet.

Persephone can't seem to decide which of these spectacles she is most charmed by.

“Then...congratulations! Your first Pokémon!”

He hands over her ball.

“Would you like to give her a name?”

"Oh, I'm no good at naming things."

Her ears are so soft. What a good little creature she is.

“Well, as long as you’re so affectionate with her, I’m sure she’ll be happy.”

He turns to Persephone, studies her carefully.

“...do you happen to have a Pokémon of your own?”

She shakes her head.

None of these things are enough to report.

But he has a gut feeling he would deeply regret ignoring.

“...well. Would you like one of these two?”

"Oh!" she says, surprised and pleased. "I—well—"

She looks between the two remaining creatures, and then leans tentatively toward Froakie.

Froakie looks briefly shocked, and then puffs itself up proudly behind its table leg.

He laughs and withdraws the Chespin, tucking its ball back into his bag, before he hands Froakie’s ball to her.

“I don’t believe I know your name, mademoiselle...?”

"Persephone. Thank you so much."

She smiles at her new small bubbly friend.

It takes a few tentative hops out towards her and emits an odd little chirpy croak.

“Of course. Pokémon like these aren’t just for the adventurous, you know. It’s good to have a friend who’s always in your corner.”

She glances sideways at her brother and nods. "Yes," she agrees. "It is."

He looks up from petting his Feunnec and examines Froakie, looking back and forth a few times between the creature and his sister.

Then he says, "Yeah, I think you'll take good care of each other."

It’s a wonderful thing to watch.

“I can send you a few care instructions, if you need them — here —”

He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small, slightly beaten-up notepad and a pen, scribbles a phone number and hands it off to her.

“I’ve lost my business cards somewhere again— please call me if you have any questions.”

Or if you need any help.

"I will!" she assures him. "Thank you so much."