(ley line)

[anciently]

[ Perhaps the light, female voice is familiar to those who hear it, recognizable as belonging to Aerith, or perhaps it's a stranger that you suddenly have chatting in your mind. Either way: ]

Hi there, everyone! I won't take too much of your time.

How many people have gone home from here and come back, and...how many have just...gone?

Just wondering. Thanks.

[ Those even a little familiar with the flower girl might note the uncharacteristic curtness to the message, clipped in tone and lower in energy than her usual... ]

Comments

[rotomphone]

Being proud of what you can do is all well and good, but it stops being cute when you start thinking you're better than everyone else for it.

[ which at least shows that even he has a limit. Raihan may sing his own praises until the day is done, but he makes certain that he doesn't put others down in the process. he learned a long time ago that an attitude like that doesn't get you anywhere - it took some hard lessons to figure it out. all of that showboating came to light in battle, at least. if you're going to brag, you at least need to have the skill to show for it - there's a reason why the Psychic-type gym has been stuck in Galar's minor league for some time now. ]

I like it! [ he meets her expression with a smile - not a wide grin like she might be used to seeing, but something a little more thoughtful. ] To good friends.

[ he taps his glass to hers, taking a decent-sized sip to solemnize their toast. he exhales with a slight furrow of his brow, remembering exactly how sharp hard liquor can go down. as he does, a thought occurs to him. ]

You know, I've run my mouth about my world more times than I can count, but I haven't heard too much about where you're from.

[ he knows that half of this bar - Seventh Heaven - is a part of it, but that's about all. ]

[anciently]

That's for sure. Well, maybe one day you or I will meet someone will those kinds of abilities who also has their ego in check.

[ She laughs lightly at the thought, and then smiles more broadly at the clink of their glasses. Aerith doesn't hide her expression as the drink goes down, and though she doesn't burst into a coughing fit, it's clear that the booze hadn't been a smooth sip, either. ]

Hm? [ Oh! That's true, she supposes, reflecting on their past conversations. Aerith's smile retreats to something a little more polite and restrained when he asks about her world, and she nods in acknowledgment about the lack of sharing to this point. ] Sure thing. What do you want to hear about? Anything in particular?

[rotomphone]

Let's hope! It'll be a breath of fresh air for me.

[ psychic powers are hella cool in theory, but only if the person who uses them is equally cool! but that's enough about that - they have alcohol to drink, and he can't help but chuckle a bit when he sees that both of their reactions are a bit sour. there's no need for comment on that - their faces say enough.

he takes note of her expression, too - he'd rather not pry into something she doesn't want to talk about, especially since she'd been so down earlier. ]

Whatever you feel like sharing, I guess. Anything that makes it unique? [ his world has Pokémon; what about hers? ]