@gladi0lus
Finding Gladion’s office (Gladion’s office; it still sounded strange to her, even now) might have been a harrowing experience had Lusamine not been given ample help from the locals. She was wholly unfamiliar with Viare, after all; the few travel brochures she’d happened to pick up on the way to Elstar couldn’t help her all that much. Recognizing her as a tourist, however, the locals were more than happy to point her in the right direction. These were her first steps in Viare, but, with its charming, helpful populace and gorgeous flowering trees, she’d already decided that Elstar Town could indeed be called beautiful.
It was with uncharacteristic uncertainty that she entered the Gladiolus Wing (at the very least, she mused, it seemed Gladion recalled something of his parents’ creation with some fondness, even if it was only his namesake). She had started this trip determined, urged on by clear feelings that had been purified with her blood. Her head hadn’t felt so clear in decades.
Now, though, she realized she had no idea what to say. It had been years since she last saw Gladion, and she could assume that anything she said to him would only sound disingenuous. She was a habitual liar, after all, and a selfish person. No amount of neurotoxins, or lack thereof, would change that. It had been selfishness that convinced her to come here, she supposed; after years spent respecting Gladion’s decision to cut her out of his life, she’d finally given in to her desire to see her son again.
Upon breaching the entrance, she stood in awkward silence with Petunia at her side. Eventually, she glanced pleadingly up at the hulking Bewear, as if her old bodyguard might have had something insightful or stirring to say. Petunia blinked, gave an adorable squeak, and lifted a massive paw to delicately (very delicately) pat the top of Lusamine’s head.
She supposed the gesture was meant to soothe her nerves, but it wasn’t very effective. Antsy, she glanced back at the door, contemplating just turning around and leaving before she had the chance to traumatize Gladion further. It would mean she wasted her travel expenses, but perhaps that would be for the best.
Dimly, she registered the skittering of claws across the floor. Turning her head back around, she spotted a Houndour. It stared, ears erect-- and then came bounding toward her. She tensed, prepared to recoil from snapping jaws or fiery breath, but Petunia did not lurch to protect her as she would have had there been any real danger. The Houndour’s approach, it seemed, was completely lacking in hostility; once it reached her, it went to sniff her sandals, then took a seat there at her feet, staring up at her adoringly. Her heart promptly melted.
“Oh! Goodness, you startled me...” She stooped down to pet the canine. It immediately placed its paws on her shoulders, trying to clamber into her arms and threatening to tear her sundress (turquoise blue, to spare Gladion’s eyes the sight of her preferred white). She cringed for her dress, but laughed for the Pokemon. “My, aren’t you friendly? Down, now. Down.”
As soon as she’d managed to gently push the Houndour away, she found herself surrounded by several Pokemon-- a pair of Sneasel, an Eevee, a Zorua, and a few Pokemon even she didn’t recognize-- all clearly curious about their newest guest. Under Petunia’s watchful gaze, she struggled to pet them all, cooing affectionately to each of them.
“Yes, hello, loves... You’re all so sweet-- So cute. Aren’t you? Yes, you are...”
The Pokemon chirred, yipped, barked, filling the previously quiet office with noise. What a ridiculous situation she’d put herself in. If Gladion hadn’t taken notice of their arrival already, he certainly would now.
