[SINNOH] Hearthome City - Shopping District

Overwhelmed. 

It was interesting, really. She was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of Hearthome, now that the city had probably waken up to go about their day, and was overwhelmed by just how overwhelmed she was. Awkwardly in the middle of the narrow district street, she glanced at all the stores as she made her way further and further down, taking deep breaths to stabilize herself. 

Before she had come here, though, she had separated from Taemin to go to the girl's area and shower in their available public showers, necessary due to how much mud, dirt, grass, and other forestry had stuck to her body. When out, she considered releasing her Pokémon to check on them, but thought otherwise. It would be best to save the checkups until later that night when she was in a stable environment.

The two had made plans to meet each other there at the district, and as Bryony was the first done, she was then the first to make her way to the area. Which, is where she found herself now; suddenly overwhelmed by the city and the fact her only pair of clothes did nothing to hide the fact she was clean. 

She caught the eye of what looked to be a Coordinator, unlucky for her, as she watched as they looked her up and down with an expression of disapproval and slight disgust. Bryony quickly looked away, worsening her anxiety and breathing as she cursed silently under her breath. She looked like a disaster, she couldn't help it, and she knew she was attracting looks wherever she was going.

Bryony wasn't vain, per say. But she did care for appearances, feeling somewhat necessary to given her mom's job as a tailor. And so it was degrading to her to be looked at like... well, like she was back on the ranch in Hoenn, hay sticking out her hair and overalls' strap falling over her shoulder like a country bumpkin. 

I should wait outside. she thought, looking around for any sight of Taemin before making eye contact with a group of younger teenagers, who looked at her like she had five heads. Nevermind, he can walk into every store for all I care-

No longer wanting to be seen in the public view, she quickly dipped into the first store that seemed to have any sort of clothes she would like, nodding quickly to the employee who greeted her at the door and stepped behind a rack of shirts. Behind here, she eased her own panic, and glanced at the shirts, slowly and methodically going through each and every one, trying to find anything that stuck out to her.

Please, let me just find something good in here...

At the sudden sound of a voice, Bryony jolted back and put her hand in her pocket, defensively grabbing a Pokeball. However, when she realized it was just someone offering a short, she awkwardly and embarrassingly backed down. 

"O-Oh, thank you." she mumbled, taking the hanger and observing the shirt on it. She checked the size, the fabric, and the length of the shirt, glancing back to the man who had offered it to begin with. Her sights shifted to Popplio, subtly raising a brow at the seal Pokémon. She had never seen the Pokémon in person, only in class when studying the different regions and their official starter Pokémon. 

Clearing her throat, she looked back at who she assumed was Popplio's Trainer, and spoke again. "Uh... do you work here, or something? Sorry, I just don't remember seeing you when I walked in, or asking for help in general-" 

Oh. Oh, that was rude-

 
This is going to be a longer day. Fuck me.

Piplup chirped from the scratches and nuzzled against Bryony, emphasizing the pleasantness of what she was doing. Taemin chuckled and held his hands up in surrender, placing them against his hips as she went to look through the racks. The moment he stepped in, he could sense a bit of tension between the two of them and they had dealt with plenty of that before getting here. The anxiety from Bryony and irritation from Jirou: it was something he didn’t want to deal with in extreme measures, so he figured it’d be best to diffuse the situation before it had the potential of getting worse. 

“You know how I kid, farmer girl,” He stated jokingly before turning his attention towards the new face. He couldn’t help but chuckle from Popplio’s expression and behavior: it reminded him of his second youngest sibling and little brother. He would always hide behind Taemin’s leg and give a strange look towards strangers just like the Popplio was doing. He found it fond. 

“Kind soul for checking on her then,” Taemin replied to Jirou with a chuckle. “We’ve both had a bit of a rough day yesterday, so we’re a bit frazzled, is all. Appreciate your concern though.” 

Bryony glanced over when Jirou began cooing to the Piplup in her arms, a flash of a scowl crossing her face before she suppressed entirely. She wasn't exactly sure what was making her so vicious to a stranger. Perhaps the fact that he was, in fact, that: a stranger. Then again, when she simply asked if he was an employee, he was the one who had started the hostility. In retrospect, she didn't really fault or blame herself for any tension; she blamed this cocky man who made assumptions she was having difficulties.

Which... she was. She was having trouble. But she didn't need to be called out on it.

Instead, she set Piplup back down on the ground, catching Popplio's eye and staring back. The staring unsettled her, but not wanting to look afraid of a tiny clown seal, she kept with it before speaking up.

"Does your Pokémon have a problem with any of us?" she frowned, looking over as she pulled a couple pairs of jeans off the rack.

Jirou glances over when Bry started to make that question, this yee haw is a ticking time bomb. "She always on edge with strangers, and considering the damn borders are closed off, we both are since we were planning going back to Alola." Sparring a glance at Bry as he answered, patting the now happy Popplio's head.