Lucy has finally, after a truly unnecessary number of shenanigans, made it to Petalburg city. Moving to Hoenn from Johto has been difficult, but Lucy is going to be upbeat about the situation if it kills her.
At least she has Tess.
Anyway. Visiting Dad at the Gym is definitely a good thing. Hi Dad!!!
Gym Leader Norman is talking to a man and woman who look about his age!
A slightly-nervous-looking girl is standing behind them. She glances Lucy's way as she walks in, and her face brightens a bit.
Oh! Yay, she's friendly! Her face perks up, and her body language loosens a bit. "Nice to meet you! I'm Saph."
Then she glances down at the pokeball at Lucy's belt and makes an O: face.
Slightly louder: "Hi Dad!"
"Lucy!" The gym leader briefly breaks off from the other adults to hug his daughter.
Woah, Leader Norman is her dad? Cool... Maybe she should ask about what that's like, later.
(She finds herself shuffling behind Aunt Rachel without really thinking about it.)
"Lucy, this is Rachel and Kai, and their niece Sapphire. They were hoping I would help Sapphire get her first pokemon."
"Oh, cool! And...Petalburg doesn't have a Professor in residence, or anything, so that makes sense."
The woman smiles at her. "It's nice to meet you, Lucy! It looks like you're a Trainer already - what kinds of Pokemon are you interested in?"
Chikorita... Chikorita... her head tilts in thought.
Saph doesn't think she's heard of chikorita. Another question to ask, once it's her turn to talk again.
No wurmples? Huh.
She glances around, and when Aunt Rachel doesn't immediately respond, she pipes up.
"What kinds of bugs do you have instead?"
She's never heard of those! She can ask later, though.
"Do you miss them?"
Oh, right, Lucy said she just moved to Hoenn. Maybe because her dad's a gym leader here?
Ok, what was she going to ask... "What kind of Pokemon is chikorita?"
"Oh, cool! Ours is... treecko, I think?" (She glances at her uncle, who gives her a thumbs up)
Oh, right, there is a Real Life Gym Leader in the room!
Saph shoots uncertain glances at everyone present, train of thought derailed.
...Oh, the poor girl's overwhelmed again.
She reaches over and squeezes her niece's arm. (Saph visibly relaxes at the contact.)
"Leader Norman, would now be a good time to have Sapphire here catch her first pokemon?"
"Oh!" She glances at Lucy, and then at Saph, who gives a hurried nod. "Yes, I think that sounds good."
Eeep! ?cute girl?? holding her hands!?
Saph blushes and smiles. (Her hand are oddly cold to the touch!)
hello, Saph, use your words,
"-ah, yeah, I have a weird circulation thing - my hands and feet get cold easily."
She's blushing, but maybe that's also a weird circulation thing? Who's to say.
"Oooh, that's a good idea! I bet they have some in Lilycove..." her eyes are sparkling, and her hands wiggle a bit in Lucy's.
"Yeah, but they have such good selection there! I can get a pair in a nice comfy fabric with a pretty pattern..." She sighs dreamily.
"... though I suppose it might make sense to get some sooner," she adds as an afterthought.
(eeee! She's excited to go catch a pokemon with Lucy...)
