spa staycation.

[ladyharpist]

( who ) mai valentine ladyharpist & joey wheeler infernofireblast
( when ) backdated to a few days after this takes place.
( where ) cherrygrove.
( summary ) catching up, making plans and enjoying a spa visit.
( rating(s) ) n/a. ( will update if needed but i doubt it. )

The trip to Cherrygrove City had been nothing short of amazing. Flying on the back of a Dragonite was definitely something to write home about. It wasn't the first time that she's ever been airborne but it certainly was in this manner. Usually confined within an airplane, Mai was excited to experience how it was to travel by flying pokémon and she was not disappointed. The sights were unbelievable -- just the water alone from above without being stowed away inside a plane was new if only because of the scents from the ocean below. Feeling the wind kept a light chill although with Joey pressed to her back, she barely noticed it after the initial shock. Other pokémon had even joined them on the trek here and there with wildlife soaring alongside of them now and then.

The sight of Cherrygrove from above was amazing in itself. Lush, pink sakura blossoms from up on high was one thing but upon landing and getting to feel the scent on the wind was something else. Mai isn't afraid to admit that she's the sort of girl who definitely loves the smell, look and feel of the cherry blossom trees. The white sands are nice on her feet, having removed her shoes at the time and enjoyed the soft, grainy feel as she walked from where Dragonite — or rather, Baby Dragon, had landed.

But— that was some few days ago now.

Checked into the spa with the help of Joey Wheeler, Mai's spent the last few days working out the intricacies of the PokéGear and growing accustomed to just being here because the change is somewhat jarring. Fortunately luck had decided to throw Joey her way because as cool as she likes to think she was at the time, the internal panic of how to navigate through this world was doing a number on her. Hence the spa! With adjoining rooms, Mai can knock and bother Joey with a question whenever she wants, even. The guy really didn't think it through, did he? Not to mention all the teasing she can get in now that they're travel buddies for now.

At the moment however, Mai is rooting a fork around on a pale dining dish while trying to decide what she come next as part of her relaxation retreat. She flicks her violet gaze over to her dining partner and wonders whether or not he's ever stopped feeling the anxiety about whether or not this time their shared meal is a date or not. Come on, it's plain on his face and in his actions! It's not helping that Mai derives joy from taunting him about it, either.

"Alright, Wheeler. What do you think we should look into next, hm?"

Comments

[infernofireblast]

[Joey had done his best to slide past Mai's teasing, but it seemed it wouldn't be as simple as just enacting a quick change of topic. Tugging at his collar as if the room had suddenly become a good chunk hotter, Joey makes an awkward face before answering.]

Mai... with all we been through by dis' point I woulda thought it'd be clear how I felt. I just... I'm no good at puttin' it into words, especially all of a sudden like dis.

[Joey makes a genuinely distressed face as he looks for a way to put his scattered thoughts and emotions into a cohesive structure that can be put into words, but finds his inner orator to be lacking and just does his best with what little his brain was able to put together for him.]

I... I'll be able to put it into bettah words soon, I promise you dat, but-
[Joey meets Mai's gaze with a serious expression, reaching across the table to give her hand a reassuring pat with his own.]
-I don't think I'm overreachin' when I say I think we both know how we see each othah.

[Having been cornered into a far heavier topic than he'd been meaning to touch on over dinner a now very flustered Joey attempts to, yet again, shift the topics to one of the other things he and Mai had touched-on.]

B-but yeah! Da lack'a cars n' such in dis place is crazy ain't it! Havin' ta hoof it on-foot across all deez places in da middle'a winter wasn't exactly what I was lookin' ta do upon comin' in here. Kanto's a lot bettah to get around den Johto is doe' so you won't have too much of a problem gettin' from Gym ta Gym.

[Joey shovels food into his mouth at a fever-pace as he desperately tries to turn the conversation into a different direction, blitzing through the steak and shrimp like a competitive eater.]

You, uh, got your eye on any new Pokémon ta catch once we get on da road?

[ladyharpist]

( she raises her brows when he starts to visibly tense and even tugs at his collar. it's endearing, really, but she doesn't want to actually call him out and make him too bothered. still, when he begins to show distress on how to make his thoughts make sense, mai is left feeling somewhat guilty for putting him through that until he promises to tell her more and hints that they both know feelings for one another. at that, she actually has some colour reach her cheeks and for once, she's not sure how to reply in a teasing manner so instead she rather genuinely herself responds: )

...I think we do, yeah.

( just like him, though, she suddenly wants to get onto a whole other subject entirely. back to the actual conversation: )

Y- Yeah, I can imagine that trucking along during the dead of winter probably wasn't the epitome of glamour. I guess I'll start my "journey" in Kanto once we get there but I'll definitely train up Gothita on the way.

( she shakes her head lightly, blonde hair swaying back and forth as she lifts a portion from her own plate into her mouth. )

No, not really. Any suggestions? I miss my harpies but I'm not sure there are any pokemon that remind me of them. This lil'gal is pretty cute though. But I need the sort of team that'll put gym leaders to shame-- no offense, Wheeler.

[infernofireblast]

[Things certainly got heavier there than Joey had expected but, with an "out" to that heaviness, Joey is happy to take it. Given the topic that had come up though, he can't help but wonder if he's just pushed the proverbial wrecking ball away only to make it now swing back with even greater force later on. He would definitely need to get his thoughts into better order now that situations like this were set to be the norm, and there was no way he was going to pull the same weaksauce move he'd pulled back in Battle City. For the short-term, though, the chance to talk about Mai's Pokémon team was exactly the escape rope he needed.]

Well, providin' dat you're not going for a particular Type as a theme, den if you're wantin' ta have more Pokémon in like ya Gothita der's a couple'a options you might like.

[Pulling out his Pokégear, Joey opens to the Pokédex and slides it onto the table between them.]

Well, if ya wanna do like I did and build off da theme of ya Duel Monsters...

[Joey scrolls through the list of Pokémon before pointing to two particular entries.]

...you could use Lilligant 'n Gallade. Dey both got da sorta "arm wing" thing goin' on so you could rock 'em a lot like ya Harpie Ladies. Dey got good Typings too, so you'd have a good start'ta work off of in pickin' out da rest'a your team.

[ladyharpist]

( the pendulum sways both ways, so, it's liable to come back with some force however that's a "problem" for both future-mai and future-joey. she'll be doing her best to piece her own feelings together before that comes into play though. both of them are ( inwardly ) thrilled to have a new subject and she takes to it like a moth to a flame. )

I didn't have an idea for being a type trainer, but, I could think about it. I suppose I was kind of hoping to pay homage to my deck somewhat-- especially my harpies.

( they were her first "friends" in her opinion so she's not going to forget them in all of this. when he opens his dex, she leans to look at what he's showing her. they both look interesting to her and he's right, the way their arms are formeed is reminiscent of wings akin to her harpies. she smiles. )

Heeey, these two are great choices! I'll have to look into getting them. Let's see...

( instead of opening her own pokegear to check her own pokedex, she just slides a little closer to joey and peers over his. with a few keystrokes, she can see the infantile form of lilligant and of gallade. )

Petilil and Ralts, huh. I'll have to keep an eye out for both of them. They'll be good starters for a harpy team.

[infernofireblast]

[Scrolling through the the Pokémon Map for the region with one hand while finishing off his last plate of food with the other Joey nods and says something unintelligible upon seeing the western part of Johto. Sliding the Pokégear back over to Mai while he washes down the contents of his mouth he places his finger right over the city of Cianwood.]

Der's a place called da "Safari Zone" right next'ta dis city, and it looks like you can get a Petalil. Da city itself's got a fightin' Pokémon I got my eye on too, so we could make a trip der' before headin' ta Kanto and catch 'em if dat sounds good to ya.

[Having finished the last few morsels Joey stacks his plates and wipes his hands and mouth off with his napkin. Scooting the plates towards the end of the table to make it easier for the waitstaff, he turns his attention to Mai once more.]

Dat's da food all done den. You wanna hit dese mudbaths you were talkin' about?

[ladyharpist]

( mai has finished off the remains of her meal and setting an elbow to the table, she leans over the pokegear to look at the map he's showing her. there's so many places in johto and she'll, eventually, do her best to visit them all but until then she follows his finger and notes the city he's direction her attention unto. )

Cianwood, huh? Hmm, a safari to find a Petillil. Well, I suppose that's the best place for me to start if I want to gather up this one and all. Most importantly, I won't feel like I'm putting you out by making you go there if you have one you'd like to catch, too.

( she shakes her head at the sheer amount of dishes he has leftover from his meal. honestly, where does all the food go on this guy? )

That's right, it's time to go get muddy and relax!