Don't Ever Forget [Open/Mod]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]Nero walked slowly out into the windy hilly area of Midsummer Meadow wearing something far from her normal formal cross-dressing gab. Instead, she had changed clothes and was wearing the slim pink kimono-type dress that she had received from a friend in Tree-Top Town years ago. Seeing as she had grown quite a bit since then, the dress was a bit short on her, but no matter. Under one arm was a basket, yet that seemed to be all she was carrying at the moment. However, as of yet there appeared to be nothing in it. The last medical patch up that she had to do on Felix had exhausted Nero's medical supply, and she was never one to let such a supply get low if she could help it. Mentally sighing, Nero began to walk slowly through the area looking for specific herbs. In truth, she probably would have gone to Era Castle, seeing as that area had quite a variety of grasses, yet her need to get away had led her rather far out into that particular area. Who knew, maybe she would find something that worked better than the herbs around the castle. Walking a bit a ways behind Nero, Est, her Espeon, followed lazily looking around as he went. He wasn't too interested in anything, really, but he did appreciate being out anyways. Looking around still, Est continued to follow. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Hot damn, Ryan had needed this. When Jae suggested he take a day to completely do nothing, he'd just about fallen over. He'd finished yet another odd temporary job for an old woman a few days ago, and he still needed to find a real job that was going to last more than a month, and he hated leaving Kitty with her all the time, but... Really, wow. Just lying here in the flowers grass now staring at the sky, he felt a thousand times better than he had this morning. In contrast to the discouraged and frustrated individual that had left the capital, he felt completely relaxed and rejuvinated and totally ready to take on tomorrow. He was really going to have to remember how well taking some time to relax and clear one's head really worked. Not having thought at all to pay attention to the sun when he'd laid down, Ryan could guess the rough time of day, but really hadn't the slightest how long he'd been out here now. All he could really say was it must have been at least twenty minutes and couldn't have been more than two hours. Probably more toward the middle. Or so he assumed. He really needed to get a watch other than his phone (which Kitty had decided he shouldn't bring, lest he be tempted to do something productive). At any rate, however long he'd been out, it was around that time when he heard the sound of something moving not too far off. He must have looked something akin to a prairie dog popping up as he sat up from the bed of rather tall flowers, he thought, but as opposed to potentially startling the Pokemon he'd expected, he caught sight of a girl- out for a picnic or picking flowers, of all things, if that basket was a good guess. ...Oh wow. He... had no idea why, but for some reason the sight of this particular girl- or perhaps the fact he'd been found in this situation?- made him especially tense, and suddenly he hadn't the slightest what he should do or say. After trying and failing for some time to think, he finally gave up and settled for just staring dumb-founded, waiting for a reaction or (hopefully?) to be solidly ignored or overlooked. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]The sound of something moving in the grass not too far off hadn't escaped Nero's ears, yet her belief that it was simply a pokemon had ridden off her initial need to look over at where she had heard the sound. Instead, she continued to examine the ground around her carefully before slowly bending down when it seemed that she'd caught something of interest. However because of some wayward sense of pride that had since set into Est after his evolution, the Espeon wasn't about to let go of what he too had sensed. While Nero continued to look around and finally settled on what appeared to be some sort of small green and yellow flowered plant, Est had turned his head quickly and caught sight of Ryan....._. Wait did....did the plants just birth a human Er... no that couldn't be right but uh........"ESP!" the Espeon finally called before going on some sort of defensive mode. Meanwhile, Nero had spent a few seconds examining the plant before finally reaching forwards and snipping the head of it off with her sharp unpainted nails. "Mmm Bloodroot was a sedative wasn't it...." the dark haired woman muttered a bit to herself thinking over how much easier it'd be to administer whatever aid she needed to give if someone was out cold for it rather than fighting her about it. However, when Est's call finally hit her ears, she turned her head and finally found herself staring at Ryan. There was a good few seconds she simply didn't say anything. Why did that guy look familiar..... Realizing she was staring, Nero turned her head back and went back to studying the plant now in her hand. "Est calm down," was finally what was said. The Espeon in turn blinked confused and ended up looking from Nero to Ryan and back at his trainer again. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan remained frozen as his eyes caught the woman's for an uncomfortable length of time. He-... She-... Erm.. uh... Finally he cleared his throat slightly, but she seemed to go right back to her flowers, causing him to let out a sigh of relief and fall back into the foilage instead. Ah, well crisis averted. He'd just continue his peaceful day and she'd continue her flower-picking until she moved on and he wouldn't bother her and she wouldn't bother him and everything would be just dammit all why couldn't he shake that weird feeling about her? She looked.. so familiar, and he simply could. not. place it. It wasn't even like she may have been a one-night stand in the past or a waitress somewhere he used to eat a lot or anything. He could swear he'd seen her a lot, like... a whole lot. Mentally going through every girl he could remember from school and every neighborhood he'd ever lived in and even the Yakuza ranks, though, he could not place her. Maybe she just looked a lot like someone in the face or that hair and outfit combo or... something? ...Agh he was going to regret this. Drawing his legs up a bit, he rocked forward to lunge back into a sitting position and sighed. Clearly regretting this already even as he began to speak, the man asked slightly hurriedly, "I'm sorry, but have we met?" [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]After examining the plant for a short bit, Nero set it in her basket and found herself looking around slowly again careful not to miss anything. She would probably have dropped the subject of why the man looked as familiar as he did if he hadn't in fact brought it up himself. Stopping and looking back slowly again, Nero stared for a few seconds at Ryan again keeping her general calm demeanor. If he was asking if they had met before then ... No. Don't jump to any conclusions. Nero wasn't the type to act on such and instead slowly turned her head back again and began to look around at the plants once more. "Possibly," she answered back at least appearing to go back to her floral work while meanwhile going over possibilities of who this person was. Est made a quiet mew noise and ended up edging a bit closer to Nero only to cause the woman to gently shove her fox pokemon away just a bit in order to not crush any of the possible plants. The cat let out something of a hiss and finally a quiet 'hmph' sound before trotting off and away from his trainer. Possibly on passing... but....then why would he...hm...red hair..and those features and....... Nero bit the inside of her mouth again refusing to jump to conclusions and simply moved to a different plant. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(242),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan eased a bit at that response. "Ah so..." Calm down, it was all good, right? "You dunno who I am either?" He sighed a little in relief. "A'ight.. I dun feel s'bad then.." He gave a very weak sheepish laugh as he looked away. "Sorry, guess I prolly soun' like a creeper'r somethin'.. You jus'... looked really familiar an' I... Iunno, I guess I was worried you'ere some old friend and I was bein' th'asshole who forgot." And now he was talking too much yeah he was just gonna shut up now okay. Yeah.. back to calm day... Calm and relaxing. She must just be someone he'd met in passing or look a lot like someone he'd known. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]As Ryan spoke, Nero slowly turned her head back again and stared at him for almost a full minute in silence. The hair, eyes, accent... Wasn't he.... As it clicked, Nero nearly face/palmed at herself for not remembering sooner who this man was. However, this man was a traitor to the Yakuza wasn't he? He'd left, simply disappeared. All these sharp thoughts remained behind her placid face. Turning her head back again, Nero began to shift through her options. Traitors were meant to be killed weren't they? But... the Yakuza was family, just like her psychic pokemon in a way.... However, in that moment another thought hit Nero. She she was dressed as a woman. If.. if he remembered who she was.... Nero's face slid a little as her eyes focused on the ground before her despite the fact that there was no actual plants of use to her there. "Antiquated by a mind trick," she finally half smiled upon saying it. She'd... she'd have to fight him and keep this all quiet, yes. However, on the off chance she just let it go... wouldn't it be fine? However, then there was the matter of Ryan himself. What... had he been doing over the past few months, exactly? Breathing in quietly Nero moved forwards a bit and began to pick at some other small and slightly helpless plant. "Your name is?" she asked after a moment. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]...'Antiquated'? What was that supposed to-... Eh, it probably didn't matter. At her question, it took a moment before he snapped back to attention. "Oh uh-" Ryan went ahead and straightened up before deciding to just stand up fully, then, brushing the grass off himself as he both realized he'd been a little bit rude and that a name may help him remember. "Name's Ryan," he told her. He debated last name for just a moment with the thought it might help if she was someone from way back, but eventually decided against it for fear she wasn't. God what was her name.. He wanted to say..... Nerina came to mind? No that was Jae's ridiculous Oshawott. N... something.. maybe..? "And.. you, miss?" [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]The name caused Nero to blink a moment. But... wasn't he... Suz-- That thought was cut short as Ryan asked what her name was in return. "N-...." Nero hesitated for a brief moment mentally kicking herself for slipping. If he really was Suzaku... then using her own name would not be the wisest move. "Natashi," she finally mumbled a tad weakly unable to come up with a quicker N name. Given that Ryan hadn't given his last name, and given that she rarely gave her last name anyways, Nero didn't feel compelled to give such. Forcing herself to stand up fully, she turned around and extended a rather calloused hand calmly to Ryan. "Nice to meet you." she said a bit stronger than she had given her name but keeping that slight monotone demeanor as best she could. "....What were you doing out here?" she asked after a moment realizing that it was somewhat of an odd place to run into someone just lying in the grass. Then again... it was a rather nice day...Relaxation could be a good thing.... maybe. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]....Shit. He was totally right. It was an N. God he knew he knew this girl. He had to. Fucking hell, maybe.. an old friend's girlfriend? Then... if he'd hung out with said friend enough it'd make sense to know her face and have a feeling on the name without really knowing her, right? Though.. that name didn't actually strike a particular bell, either, other than the fact he'd guessed the first letter, which... was really about a 1 in 26 chance of being total luck, and kind of more than that when one considered it was a fairly common letter in comparison to say.. Q or X.. Really, there was like... Quentin and Xavier, and even those were guy names, and who named their kids shit like that anyway? "Nice ta meetchu too.." he hummed weakly regardless, still certain they must have already. As he took her hand to shake, he found himself caught rather off-guard by the sheer roughness. It was like shaking hands with a hard-working, albeit dainty, man. Blinking in surprise, he started, "Your-.." Of course, at that moment he imagined screaming 'Also that dress makes you look fat and you have no boobs!' and he mentally cringed. Not that she actually looked heavy at all- he was pretty certain he could have lifted her with a finger or two now that he thought about it- but just the whole... Yeah let's not go around tellin' pretty girls things that are gonna make 'em upset.. 'Man-hands' wasn't something most would be fond of.. Fortunately, she brought out her own question and gave him a tunnel of escape. "Oh ah-" He glanced back at the impression in the grass and flowers where he'd been lying and shrugged lightly before turning back to her. "Just tryin' ta clear my head a bit I guess. Too much stress lately, c'reer-huntin' in t'day's market 'thout much qualification.. ..Heh." He rubbed the back of his head a bit. ..At this point, it hit him that she may have already caught on what his earlier stutter was going to be, or might if she hadn't. In attempt to cover it and move the subject back to her anyway, he instead grasped at, "You're.. purty fond o' them--of these flowers, I take it...?" Stupid stupid stupid. Because the question already wasn't stupid enough, so of course he had to go and sound like a backwoods hick saying it, too. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]The start of a sentence hadn't escaped Nero, yet when Ryan went along with the change in subject, she followed despite the slight worry that was now setting it. Had he recognized her? No.. he...she hadn't done anything to have confirmed it had she? Realizing that Ryan had given his explanation as to why he was there and had in turn asked a question, she blinked a moment and slowly looked down at her basket before looking up and finally down at the one still in her hand before closing said hand and looking up again. "They're herbs," she answered back abet a bit too flat even for her own liking somehow. "I use them to make different medicines and sometimes put them in cooking.." Medicines mostly for battle wounds and the like, but Ryan didn't need to know that. The herbs themselves were a bit different from the ones she normally picked out around Era castle. She'd either have to experiment with the ones she'd found or try and find a book on them seeing as only a few resembled those that she normally picked. "Doctors are expensive, and..." she broke off a moment not really wishing to go into her slight aspirations into the medical field. However, that did remind her that he'd said he had been job hunting. "....The economy is what it is." She shrugged a little at her own words. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Of course, Ryan took that comment as her practicing herbal remedies because the economy was too poor to find and/or afford good doctors. "I see.." he commented, sliding his hands in his pockets. "That's really purty cool." Should he..? Eh, why not.. She... really was very pretty, if in a.. pretty distinctive way. It.. wasn't as though he had the courage to honestly pursue Felis, and the more time that passed the more he gave up ever seeing Kamui again. Just as long as he wasn't so... aggressive as he used to be. He learned a lesson about that when he'd accidentally ended up making out with Jae. orz Putting on a light if somewhat uneasy smile, he offered, "If you show me whatcher lookin' for, I cou'd prolly help you find some?" Four eyes worked better than two, right? Yeah.. All the same, he gave a weak laugh. "Or maybe just offer a laugh at my blind ass failin' ta.." Ryan's eyes were actually surprisingly strong considering they were pretty light, but he seemed to have a knack for missing things that were right in front of him at times. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]A brief half smile came and went from Nero's face at Ryan's words, yet as the offer was brought up, she found herself hesitating just a little. If he was Suzaku then it probably wouldn't be for the best to continue this meeting, but she needed to restock her shelves least Felix decide to go get himself nearly killed again =_=... or someone else get injured for that matter <_<;....Which then made her worry a bit about where Rai was and how he was doing .-.. ALl of these thoughts came over the course of a good ten seconds before Nero blinked and realized she was mildly staring into space. Blinking, she breathed in and looked over the hills and grass. In less than a second, she came to her decision. "It's something like this," she finally commented opening her hand fully and holding out the plant she had picked earlier and pointing at the slightly crushed flower part. "But it would have a more full petal ring around the head," she explained making a motion around the flower's head with her finger. "The name for it is Chamomile. If you've heard of the tea, that's what it works in food wise." It was one on her list and the easiest to explain given what she had now with her, and it did help with fever. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan nodded as she mentioned the tea. Chamomile, eh? He couldn't remember ever actually having any, but he'd definitely heard of it a lot. "Eh yah, kay.." Ryan took a good long look at the flower trying to memorize it before realizing that it wasn't as though they came off an assembly line and any he found would probably differ slightly from this one. In light of this, he was suddenly rather nervous about his own offer, not wanting to overlook the right plant for appearing too different nor grab the wrong one thinking it was close enough. All the same, he steeled his nerves a bit and mentally shook out his head. He couldn't possibly make it worse than looking alone, right? Yeah.. Smiling softly, Ryan turned a bit and began to carefully rile through the closest flowers. "So.. Natashi." That name even felt weird on his tongue, and he was sure he'd never said it before... God this was going to drive him crazy. "...Where ya from? ...Jus' if ya don't mind me askin'.." He didn't want to pry, but that was a common enough icebreaker, particularly for people who'd bumped into each other in the middle of nowhere and as such could have been from anywhere, and it would help him figure out where he might know her from. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]Nero nodded and once again began to move slowly around the grassy area. With all thoughts that she could just leave disbanded, Nero was quiet in mind and body at least until Ryan's question came about. Thought it was supposed to be a simple question, and though it probably would be vague enough to simply say anywhere, she was caught between answers: the gang's hide out would always be a sort of 'home', Tree-Top Town had made her a honorary resident of sorts, she traveled a good deal most of the time, and she had a house in the capital..... "I live with a friend of mine in the capital," she answered back mentally sighing at the word 'friend'. Rai hadn't been home in months, and though he sometimes disappeared for a month, he'd never been gone this long. She refused to believe he was dead.. Like everyone in the Yakuza, he couldn't be killed easily as far as she saw it. There were other possibilities as well to where he could be... Kamui had disappeared as well, so... they could be planning something... but Rai was never in the higher ups, and Nero was sure that Kamui would have at least mentioned it to her given she did have status as a 'law adviser' within the Yakuza after a few minor events. "Where are you from?" she asked returning the question before directing more of her attention towards the flowers and plants in the immediate area. The sound of moving grass got Nero's attention, and as Est came back to her frowning and looking more sullen than a kicked dog, Nero blinked a moment and leaned downwards only to find that the Espeon had gotten himself into a good deal of spurs and clinging burs. Sighing and stopping a moment to take off the clinging seed capsules, Nero finished before brushing down her own clothes that might have picked them up before continuing to look around. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan blinked a bit at the arrival of the Espeon, and found himself momentarily distracted to a point he nearly forgot her return of question. He debated offering to help, but Natashi seemed to be about done, so he let the thought go. "Ah, I grew up out West," he answered. "But I've been all over since then. Mos'ly just travel." Technically, he stayed most often in the capital with a friend, too, now, but he hated to tell that to too many people just in case. Of course, as such, it only bothered him more that he still could not place the woman, as there were so very many times and places in the capital she could be from. Anyway, he should get back to searching. He got down to see the flowers better as he sifted through a few before suddenly his thoughts moved back to the Espeon again. Actually... Taking two PokeBalls from his pocket, he released three Pokemon: a Scyther, a Rufflet, and a Shiny Torchic. The latter two were small and unobtrusive, while the prior could fly and was the most attuned to this sort of job of his Pokemon. "Y'guys mind helpin' us look fer somethin'?" he asked pleasantly. When they all seemed agreeable enough- even if Zevran was a bit uppity as usual- he relayed the description of the flower Natashi had given him, though without her visual aid, and had them scatter. Back to Natashi he muttered without turning away from his own patch of flora, "Just... bit o' extra help.. Heh." [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]Est shook his head a bit when the spurs had been taken out and then quickly went on his independent way again. Nero said nothing but mentally sweat dropped ever so slightly. As Ryan spoke, Nero understood, or at least thought she did. So it was possible that he had just been traveling as of late, but that didn't exactly explain why he had run off. "Have you ever traveled out of Era?" came the more or less innocent question. The pokemon's release caught Nero's interest at least for the moment. The Scyther reminded her only of its evolution and the fact that a Scizor was part steel type. She'd need to get one, eventually. More psychics.. and more Steel types...."M...a Scizor.." he Torchic and Rufflet were of less interest, even if the Torchic had a sparking coat. The explanation was logical enough, and Nero considered releasing someone other than Est to assist her. However, the thought that Ryan may recognize Meteor came to mind, and though they weren't as distinctive as a shiny Metagross, Nero found herself unwilling to risk him recognizing Solaris or Luna. Well, she still had Gavin and Asa with her. Gavin would probably help and would be careful enough about the flowers though she was sure Asa wouldn't be as willing to help. Taking out a pokeball, Nero released the male shiny Gardevoir who took form gently touching the ground. "Gavin, would you mind helping me search for a herb?" Nero asked quietly. The Gardevoir simply nodded slowly as a gentle smile took to his lips. 'Of course' he projected before taking the mental image directly from Nero and beginning his own search. It was only after this that Gavin noted the presence of the other being in the area, and for a brief moment, his eyes drew on Ryan before simply moving away again. He didn't recognize the man, but if Nero was calm enough with his presence around, then it would be fine.... Nodding, Nero once more began to scope the area. Finally finding a few of the plants together, Nero reached down and picked them carefully before standing up fully and turning towards Ryan. "Here is the exact plant...though it's not enough, really..." she mumbled this last part. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Ryan didn't think much of the first question, just shrugging lightly as much to himself as to her. "Nah. Though I guess it could be nice to try some time.." Really, though, Ryan was kind of a sap about that. If he knew what was good for him, it would really be best to take Kitty and leave the country. At least head out east or down south, if not across the sea somewhere. The Yakuza would still be able to find him if they wanted to- of that he was fairly certain- but he really doubted they'd bother if it came down to that much work. But.... he loved Era. It was home, dammit. The Gardevoir caught him a bit off-guard, but not nearly so much as that voice. He'd just turned away from looking when Gavin spoke, making Ryan spin back. "Ohshit." It wasn't even so much 'he talks!' as 'he's a DUDE!'. Heh. Of course that was perfectly logical considering, and within a few moments Ryan had settled into that logic, but it was just... amusing, he guessed. Such fun in the Pokemon world. Some time went by before Natashi approached with the specimens. "..Oh." Somehow, he seemed to have gotten completely confused at her earlier description. "I think I saw a few more then...." He moved back to a spot he'd covered about a minute before and brushed aside a few taller plants to reveal a small clutch of what he thought might look like this now. [/scrolly]

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/natashiishi.png);][atrb=width, 497][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(234),w(229),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:51px;margin-left:21px;color:#202122;)]Ah, so he hadn't left the country at all. That was something, at least. However, that still didn't answer the questions she wanted known. However, if she revealed who she was, there would be a problem either way she looked at it. She could say she had a cross-dressing tendency, but she'd already given a fake name. She couldn't predict how this clash of information would go. Gavin mentally sweat dropped but hadn't reacted to Ryan. He was already aware of his feminine physique and wasn't going to satisfy whatever negative parties, whether actually in existence or existing only in his own self-perception, by reacting. Instead, he'd went back to looking for the desired plants. At Ryan's response to the plant, Nero blinked a bit in surprise but followed before stepping sideways around Ryan to examine the flowers. Indeed, that was right. "Yes, those are right," she stated before a light, if small, smile slowly touched her features. "Thank you," she finished the thought before slowly reaching forwards and picking the flowers carefully, using her nail only slightly as she did so. Setting the flower in her basket, Nero looked back at Ryan. "Did you see any more like these?" she asked holding a flower up with her forefinger backing it in the way she sometimes threw single needles. Force of habit, really. "If I collect enough, I may try and make some tea with the excess, heh..." She was in a lighter mood than before and had even managed a partial laugh. Meanwhile, Gavin had succeeded in finding a few. 'Ner-...' Gavin stopped dead in his projection at the sudden biting thought that had rushed off Nero and onto him. What was wrong? Red eyes slid backwards, and the Gardevoir turned to stand there for a moment. However, as his eyes refocused on Nero's clothing, he understood. 'Atashi....' he corrected, or at least tried to. 'I found some more...' he explained after a brief moment. He mentally kicked himself after that, wondering why he hadn't realized what she was wearing as soon as he had come from his pokeball, yet there wasn't much he could do about it now, was there? The Gardevoir had to stop himself from staring in Ryan's direction least he say something more. Nero, meanwhile, was fighting down the sudden pounding in her heart, and the smile had subsided from her features into something not quite a frown. "Thank you, Gavin," she answered. [/scrolly]

[Admiral Striker General]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc64/Heart-of-Thorns/VC/Ryantable.png);color:#990000;width:470;height:294;][atrb=style,border:3 darkred groove,bTable][scrolly:h(202),w(262),sy,as(padding:4px;margin-top:52px;margin-left:14px;margin-right:175px;)]Natashi's smile arrested Ryan's attention for more than its familiarity, and it took until a few seconds after her question to realize he was staring. When he did, though, he just did his best to pretend he wasn't blushing and gave a goofy half-smile. "Ah.. Nah, not yet." He wondered if the tea comment was an invitation or if she was just making conversation, but he thought it better not to assume either and figured he'd find out if they found enough. Her laugh reminded him of a songbird, somehow. (When he realized how horribly sappy that sounded, he would end up blaming it on the atmosphere of the meadow putting him in a daze, and probably pretend that his general love of birds just made him relate everything to them, even though that didn't actually happen all that often.) The Gardevoir's comment did get Ryan wondering, but only for its stammering and the cut-off of the first letter of her name. After all, to him, the first bit had been 'near'. After a few moments, he found himself borderline worried that maybe he was only catching every other word- like maybe his mind wasn't attuned to hearing telepathy very well. ...Well, not that he had really had any practice either, he supposed. Sigilyph kind of creeped him out, it wasn't like a Victini was suddenly going to fall from the sky, and while he'd always liked Gallade he'd never really been able to see himself raising the lower stages to get to that point. That sort of limited his choice of Psychics to the Medi-family- and while Medicham was a pretty great color he had a bit of trouble taking that face seriously- or Natu and Xatu. Between the hundreds of kinds of Pokemon out there and the fact that he'd never searched all that hard even back when he was training semi-seriously, he'd never really happened across either, so it seemed that explained that. Alternatively, he did have the passing thought that maybe he wasn't supposed to be hearing the Gardevoir and was picking up a bit anyway, but that didn't seem nearly as likely, heh. Ryan's smile had fallen away in his confusion, but his expression fell further when he noticed Natashi's. The logical thing at that point would have been to ask 'what's wrong?', and that was what Ryan intended to do. Instead, though, he heard himself suddenly blurt out, "You should smile more." ... Why did he open his mouth sometimes? Really. He fought back the urge to sigh at himself and tried to at least look like he totally meant to do that. At least it had sounded as sincere as he could've hoped instead of blunt or stupid; that was something, he guessed. About that time, the little goldenrod Torchic returned with a beak full of daisies. "Jik?" she asked, somewhat muffled. Ryan blinked a few times, and thought of saying something, but eventually just looked back to Natashi questioningly, then back to Amy and back again. They looked really really similar, but... maybe a bit different? Ahhh, he'd have to have Felis give him a lesson in flowers sometime. Heh.. hehe.. [/scrolly]