The Heights of Londo [IC 3: For The Love of the Lady]

[Comissar]

Leah accepts the coins off of Alyssa then, when the vendor confirms that they had the right amount, hands them over with a smile and quick bob of her head. "Umm, thankyou. Have, uh, have a good day."

Picking up the Yukata, she folded it so that it was hanging over her arm, before looking over to Alyssa with a grateful smile. "Umm, check any other stalls..? Or back to Parkin's..?"

[tgva8889]

Alyssa gives the shopkeeper a smile and a small bow of thanks. When Leah asks her the plan she shrugs, a few of her supplies clinking against one another. "We might want to head back. I wouldn't want anything to happen to your new yukata, and also these are kind of heavy to carry everywhere." She smiles at Leah. "I wouldn't mind going slow, though, if you wanna look."

[Comissar]

Leah grins and nods, "Umm, sounds good. Just, uh, just say if you want to go a bit, uh, a bit faster, though."

[tgva8889]

Alyssa smiles and winks at Leah. "I'll let you know."

[Hazuki]

The girls soon arrives at Parkin's home, where they find Maddy, looking all pretty and nice, just exiting the front door while Parkin waves him away.

[Comissar]

Leah raises a hand in greeting once she notices Maddy leaving Parkin's house. She gives him a smile as they draw closer, "Umm, hey Maddy."

Noticing his make-up, she hesitated. It looked really good on him, Parkin clearly knew what she was doing, but she found she didn't really know how to complement him. Realising she simply wasn't saying anything, she just said the first thing that came to mind, "You, uh, you look really, uh, really pretty."

[Hazuki]

"Hello! Thank you, Leah." Maddy smiles widely at the compliment. "I'm sure Parkin was inspired by her beautiful guests."

[tgva8889]

Alyssa laughs, embarrassed by the compliment. "Oh, no, I don't think so!" She looks at Leah and then turns red, realizing she may have just made fun of Leah. "Uh, um, I mean, maybe Leah, but, um, not me."

[Comissar]

Leah blushes at Maddy's comment, starts to nod in agreement with Alyssa, then reddens further as she catches her glance and is paid the same compliment again. She gives an embarrassed smile, glancing down for a moment, then back up between the two. Fidgeting a bit with the yukata in her arms, she responds "U-umm, I'm, uh, I'm not so, uh, not so sure." She hesitates, searching for a change in topic, "S-so, umm, w-what are you planning to, uh, to do for the, uh, the rest of the day..?"

[Hazuki]

"I'm going to talk with some more foreigners." Maddy says, a blush on his own cheeks, though that could be the make-up. "They're a...Orren? Person who wanted to know more about Londo culture. Lady Thundercrag, or somebody working for Lady Thundercrag, recommended me."

[tgva8889]

Alyssa perks up. "Oh! Cool! We ran into someone from Alola I think?" After a second to process, Alyssa thinks to ask, "Actually, um, what do you do? Do you know Lady Thundercrag in person? We met her but we didn't really get to talk much."

[Hazuki]

"I'm an actor." Maddy explains. "And sometimes a storyteller, but I prefer working with people. And that's not because Vaster's much better at it, and gives it away for free." He smiles jovially.

[Comissar]

Leah looks suitably impressed as Maddy mentions he'd been recommended by Lady Thundercrag. "Well, umm, don't, uh, don't put yourself down. If, uh, if Lady Thundercrag recommended you, you must, uh, you must be really good."

[Hazuki]

Maddy shrugs. "Who can tell with Lady Thundercrag? Maybe she finds them annoying and wants them to get bored."

[tgva8889]

Alyssa smiles at Maddy. "I'm sure you'll be great. We'd love to come see your act sometime if we could."

[Comissar]

Leah nods her agreement with Alyssa, "Definitely."

[Hazuki]

"Oh. Thank you." Maddy bobs his head. "I'll let you know when I'm performing next. Are you planning on staying a while?"

[Comissar]

Leah hesitates, glancing over at Alyssa, "Umm, I'm not sure, actually." She looks back over at Maddy with a faintly embarrassed smile, "Umm, we're, uh, we're staying at least until Alyssa finishes her, uh, her painting of Parkin. But, umm, I'm not sure how long we'll be here after that..?"

[Hazuki]

"You children chatter like Vibrost teeth! Knock when you want to enter!" Parkin finally says, closing the door and retreating fully into her house.

Maddy glances back at the door and waves at the closed door, then smiles at the girls. "I'd be happy for you to come to a rehearsal, if you won't be here when we next perf-" It's at this point that a passer-by tries to flip up Maddy's yukata, managing to get it about up to about his thighs (Revealing perfectly smooth legs) before he squeals and forces it back down. He flicks his head round, cheeks as dark as they can be, as the girl who did it grins at him. "Dai!"

"Oh. Apologies, brother." The girl is the same height as Maddy and one could easily mistake them for the other, were it not for the fact that her hair is cut short (And completely shaved at the sides) and (As her yukata-lifting proven) has visibly more muscles than him. "I was searching for cute girls and you do seem so very tempting from behind..." She grins.

"Sh-Shut up!" Maddy's blush is bright enough to blot out the sun. "L-Leah, Alyssa, this is my sister, Dai." He gestures to her, while the other hand firmly keeps his yukata down. "She's a bully."

[Comissar]

Leah nods along with Maddy as he begins offering to let them attend a rehearsal when the newcomer abruptly interrupts him. She gasps in shock as she watches her try and expose Maddy, too slow to react as Dai reveals herself to be Maddy's sister. The girl's explanation, and Maddy's subsequent introduction, left Leah feeling uncomfortable, suddenly very glad that she was wearing jeans. Fidgeting a little, she gave a hesitant nod of greeting to Dai. "Umm... Hi..."

[Hazuki]

Dai bows to Leah and Alyssa. "I think you'll find I'm not a bully. It's simply that Maddy is a dirty little boy and he refuses to admit it." She pokes the boy's side and he swats her hand away, much to her amusement.

"I-I am not!" Maddy's eyes flutter as he looks away.

"Is that so? Then why do you always attempt to show off on the stage, hmm? Trying to seduce the crowd and catch their eyes...?"

"I'm, I'm an actor!" Maddy insists, his already delicate voice sounding much moreso.

"No script involves bending over so much, dirty boy, naughty now~" Dai mocks in a sing-song voice, then looks to the girls. "Apologies for interrupting. What were you all talking of?"

[tgva8889]

Alyssa blushes a bit as Parkin slams the door on them, but it fades quickly. She smiles and waves at Dai when she arrives, laughing a bit at her antics with Maddy. "Not much. Just, um, asking Maddy about his work and things. How are you, Dai?"

[Hazuki]

"I'm well, thank you for asking." Dai says. "I spent some of the morning cooking - making a batch of melonpan with the local baker, then delivered them to some of the Knights stationed around here. It won't keep them in fighting shape, but I'm told it does wonders for morale. Are either of you interested in cooking?"

[Comissar]

Leah's awkward fidgeting intensifies as Dai needles Maddy over his acting. She gives the beleaguered boy a sympathetic look, taking a few moments to realise that Dai was asking Alyssa and herself a question. She shook her head, "Ah, umm, not, uh, not really."

[tgva8889]

Alyssa shrugs. "I've never spent too much time on it, but, um, I like trying new things. I might like it, who knows?" She smiles at Dai. "It sounds like you were doing something really good, though. Is that where you were before you came here?"

[Hazuki]

Maddy briefly smiles at Leah's sympathetic look.

"It was! Regardless, you'd owe yourself a favor if you visit The Cake Volt." Dai says. "Their cooking is impeccable, and you'll receive the utmost service if you tell them who sent you." It's at this point that a Pokemon slinks out of the nearby shadows and up to the girl's side. The Luxray stands at a little over Dai's waist. "Hello, Pentagon." She says to the Pokemon, casually reaching down to scratch its ears. "It was a pleasure to meet you all, but I've this one's exercise ahead. Farewell."

"Um, farewell." Maddy says to Dai, briefly squeezing her hand before she starts to head off.

[Comissar]

"Umm, bye..."

Leah gives Dai another brief nod of farewell, still not entirely sure what to make of her. She shuffles her feet a little as she watches her go before turning her attention back to Maddy. "Umm... Are, uh, are you ok..?"

[Hazuki]

Maddy bobs his head, though his blush has yet to entirely fade. "She always acts like that. She's normally busy, so I think she tries to get as much of it done as possible when we're together."

[Comissar]

Leah seems a bit surprised at Maddy's response, hesitating before glancing between him and Alyssa, "Umm, are, uh, are all siblings like that..?"

[tgva8889]

Alyssa offers Pentagon a pat before they leave, but things move too quickly for much of anything. She waves at Dai and Pentagon as they walk off, adding "It's nice to meet you too!" She gives Maddy a knowing smile of sympathy before Leah starts to speak.

Alyssa nods at Leah's question. "At least, my brother was kinda like that too. Always busy, always trying to make the time we had work. They mean well. I think." She smiles at the end. "I guess, um, I should head in. Parkin's probably ready for painting now."