Opalescent

Lips part and he stares at her, dejectedly. While he was raised to know never to disrespect elders and to give them the benefit of the doubt, somewhere along his late adolescence he ditched the idea, treating them as he did everyone else. Which wasn’t the best, so to say.

“Lady, did you lose your sight already?”

“Oh yes, in fact. I’m terribly near-sighted, and I seem to have misplaced my spectacles.” 

She wasn’t at all- however, she wasn’t above playing along just to see how he’d respond. After all, who was to say she couldn’t have a little fun? It wasn’t just kids that liked to play a few tricks.

        Maybe he should have expected this. The citizens of Galar had granted a small, odd hope that this would happen, even if it had never seemed plausible. But here, Bede heard her voice, turned, waited to see if she was merely a trick of the light as she approached—and she certainly was all but.

        “Miss Opal—” the winter wind quavered behind him, and he turned briefly before shaking his head. “I’ve been fine. There’s no need to worry.”

        …Well, that almost counted as a barefaced lie. Almost.

        “I was wondering if you’d be here, and yet I never found time to investigate. I suppose that speculation was right after all.” He paused and crossed his arms, elbows pressed against his chest. “I suppose it hasn’t been long, but… I take it you’ve been well?”

“Well, that’s good to hear. It wouldn’t do for you to be getting up to no good, would it?” There was a sparkle in her eye as she spoke- she herself was no stranger to a little fun and mischief, and she certainly wouldn’t fault a child for just having some fun. 

Besides, a few tricks and games suited a fairy-type trainer.

People. Far too many people. Even if she couldn’t feel what they felt or heard what they were thinking, there was simply too many of them. She was not fond of cities in general and it seemed she couldn’t go anywhere without the crowds being present. Well, at least she had her hat to hide under. 

“Toge!”

Hm? She looked around for a moment, and then looked down. Ah. Well, if there was one saving grace it’s that she seemed to keep bumping into Pokémon here. Adorable… Though, should such a little one be aimlessly wandering around? Gwinifer knelt down.

“…Hello, little one… You’re not lost, are you?” She reached out a hand to scratch the top of its head lightly.

Togepi was happy to run into the new stranger, positivity practically radiating from her. This person could definitely use some, the little pokemon thought!

It wasn’t too long before Opal came walking after smiling as she saw togepi bouncing with enthusiasm.

     “Yeah. Yer… Opal, right?” The Fairy-type Gym Leader, at least a the time she’d taken the Gym Challenge at. Opal had been looking for a replacement leader at the time, but Marnie had taken the badge and nothing more. Which was for the best since she was more of a Dark-type gal.

     “Have you seen Bede yet? I met him here.” As far as Marnie knew, Bede had already replaced Opal and would probably care about his presence. 

“Yes, quite right.” Opal nodded, though she tilted her head as Marnie continued. Bede was here, then? That was good news. Or rather, it was good she was here then.

“…I feel strange.” The Queen Consort had noticed strange happenings in town had heard of weird things happening, but she had assumed that nothing would happen to her. How wrong. She had noticed that she had someone else’s face entirely. How weird, she hadn’t even noticed that she had physical changes until people started staying her name. …Oh wait, whoever this person was… She held their name currently? No, she was still Queen Arianna. 

Admittedly, she had panicked.

“O-Oh my goodness! Excuse me! I do believe you have my body! Please wait a moment!” With this person’s eyes, she had spotted her body somewhere in the crowds. Arianna couldn’t wrap her head around this! How curious, people swapping bodies with each other. That shouldn’t even be possible!

Only in this fascinating city could incidents like these happen.

@alcremtea​ | empatheorem.

It was strange- suddenly, Opal felt like she was at least a good thirty years younger. And when she looked at herself, she realized that was because she was! She didn’t realize entirely what was going on until she noticed her own self walking towards her, the old woman stopping and nodding.

when it comes to memories- there’s an obvious spoiler warning here!! However, given Opal is 88 years old, she’s got plenty of other memories that we could explore. There’s 70 years of the gym challenge to learn about, tons of friendships and rivals and things she’s seen and done from her younger days.

things to note:

even if she’s still got plenty of energy, she is an old woman. Opal tends to walk very slowly, and the dynamax ball looks heavy for her. 

you’ll start to find you want to drink tea. you can’t miss your tea.

p i n k

(actually, your favourite color is purple. but aesthetic matters.)

togepi will know that you aren’t her, and she won’t be terribly pleased about it.

you have the desire to do Cryptid Things

[gives you a werthers:tm; original:tm:]

you’re a very good judge of character now

also, love the drama. love the arts. you’re a theater lover.