With her work at the talent agency done for the day, she set about wandering around the islands, in search of any interesting places to maybe film a video at… Once she had better equipment for it. Sure, she had her phone, yet nothing else. She knew of one or two interesting places, yet wanted to find more to talk about, ignoring the extra research she would later do on these places.

Walking past someone holding… somekind of strange creature, one that reminded her of that electric mouse from a game she liked, she stops walking. The creature looked rather distraught, not to mention it’s friend seemed quite young, perhaps around Mizuki’s age? She wasn’t sure.

“Everything okay?” She asks, giving a slight smile after she spoke. Iris couldn’t help but feel a little worried about the younger girl, wondering how distressing it must be to end up being on her own— er, well… then again, she did have the strange not-electric mouse friend!

Well, that’s quite a compliment! Mimikyu worked quite hard on their costume, after all, so if it’s even slightly reminiscent of their goal, they’d be quite pleased! At least, as soon as they’ve settled down, which still seems rather far off, small creature’s body jumping at every sound and movement around them.

Girl runs her hand over partner’s back, small circles, trying to comfort—

Stranger’s voice calls out, and Mimikyu stiffens up suddenly. Mizuki lifts her chin up, almost surprised herself but only showing it with slightly widened eyes.

 Younger girl blinks, once and then twice, and then nods and then again shakes her head slightly. She looks from partner to stranger, to partner again, who once regaining themselves shies away behind Mizuki, trying to avoid attention, before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small ball. 

Mimikyu looks relieved, though shoots Mizuki questioning glance — though frightened themselves, they do not want to leave partner alone — but Mizuki gives a nod, and a red light emerges and Mimikyu disappears. 

Mizuki then turns her full attention up to Iris.

“Sorry. Scared.” Comes her explanation, brief.  

She opens the door. Stares up. Hello police. She doesn’t talk, but, goes into her bedroom…

Out comes a small rat, held in her palms.

“…He stole cheese. Sorry.”

Y’all hear sum’n? Nah? 

...Isn’t that Ratman running past her in the streets? Huh? Is he okay? He looks like he’s trying to escape something? 

Girl watches curiously, head tilted! I guess... I guess....

Oh, he might not have a clear sense for the darkness here, when they have snatched away that part of his identity here— he can see shadows flickering against the ground and can guess. He has both missed and not missed that darkness, if nothing else provide some sense of security in that familiarity ( but they take to him just fine regardless, which makes him feel slightly better ).

Eyes watch companion hiding in his shadows, if anyone bothers to spare a glance at the odd arrangement that they make, it goes ignored on his part; fingers remain as a comforting gesture even after shaking seems to have subsided. Soft hum responds to small noise that he gets, watches the gesture that they are making. “You’re looking for someone…?” A rough guess, he can assume that looking had to do with it but— exact motivations are less easy to read. “Or did you get separated, perhaps?”

Darkness is darkness is darkness; counterpart of light is universal, and even with powers missing, Riku is still himself, for better or for worse. 

Mimikyu stiffens every time someone looks at the strange couple, at first, but lifts their gaze to Riku and— 

This one is not worried, are they? Like he were steady rock, the Pokemon latches on to Riku’s reactions, emulates them. It seems to provide a manner of relief to Mimikyu, takes it as a sign that perhaps not all is bad.

Mimikyu nods to Riku’s first guess, but then hesitates and nods once more at his second. They stay still, for a moment, before eyes catch on a pile of misshapen twigs just in reach. Mimikyu inches closer, pulls them quickly with a blur of shadow, and positions them...

Seven twigs, at first. Mimikyu looks at Riku, waits for reaction, then grabs five of them and scatters them. Two twigs remain, one smaller and one larger. Mimikyu takes the smaller twig and moves it purposefully, as if the small twig were searching for the missing five...

light filtering in through the partly cloudy skies that threatened snow at any moment, dostoevsky tugged his gloves further up and looked dissatisfied at the bustling streets that faced him; there was naught another person to blame this predicament on than himself— having gotten wrapped up in ingesting every piece of information about this city that he could, actually eating had been temporarily put on hold.

until it began to interrupt his train of thought did he even think to bother leaving his apartment that was currently littered with newspapers; with the only source of light coming from a dim computer screen for the past three days, he looked worse for wear. perhaps sleeping would fix that, but sacrifices had to be made.

managing to grab a pitiful looking sandwich from a stand before it became overcrowded, he got an adequate distance away from the noisy rush of customers and released a small breath prior to opting on returning back home to eat; however, before he could take his leave, an unexpected tug at his coat paused his endeavors and he turned his head to peer behind him with a particularly sour visage.

seeing that it was a child hadn’t softened his gaze by any means; rather, it just further exhausted him. he hadn’t the patience for silly, nonsensical conversations today— he could not even pretend to care. with all intention to curtly leave anyway, once she opened her other hand to reveal a piteous appearing creature, his brows furrowed only slightly and he was given a reason to refrain from leaving; gaze flitting from the rat to her face only once, he took the animal into his free hand and it was quick to settle into his palm, as if that’s where it belonged. 

ah…

—perhaps it could have some of his sandwich later.

Mizuki stands, staring, and doesn’t move until the stranger takes the bedraggled rodent into his hands. She watches closely, at first, ready to take the rat back if Fyodor reacts badly and the little creature needed rescuing, but man’s eyes meet rat’s and Mizuki’s certain that she’s made the correct decision as his eyes widen slightly and... his expression doesn’t quite soften, but she gets the impression anyway. 

His clothes were much warmer than hers, and seemed much better suited to help the small creature. She was still dressed for summer, despite the biting wind and piles of snow, and she wasn’t sure how such a skittish creature would react around her roommate’s Gengar or even her own Mimikyu. 

Something about this man tells her that he would get along well with the rodent. When Fyodor looks back up from the rat to her,  girl meets his eyes with a knowing nod, and then a thankful one, and then—

He felt a tug at his cloak which made him ignore those around him for a moment, he grinned at the girl somewhat confused at first. He knew he’d seen this girl before somewhere but where? Oh and then he saw the Mimikyu so he bent down, “hey there.” Giving the Mimikyu a softer smile- ah and then it hit him. “Oh, you must be the Alola Champion right?”

Leon doesn’t seem to recognise her, at first, but the wheels turn in his head; she hadn’t been thinking about that when she approached him, actually, considering her own status, only meant to satisfy her curiosity.

Girl nods once, then twice at his greeting, eyes flicking to follow him as he bends down closer to her height. Mimikyu takes a few steps back, eyeing between Charizard and Leon and then their own partner before she stretches out her left hand to pet them gently, soothing them quietly until they let out a cautious but almost posturing greeting — “Kyu, kyu...!” — it seems the Pokemon themselves have not recognised Leon, and are rather shy for a champion’s ace.

Small smile forms on girl’s face, watching partner, before she lifts her chin to tilt her head at Leon. She seems surprised he recognised her, knows of her, but she nods regardless to let him know he’s correct. 

Solitary child crouches by the gutter, as world passes by. It’s lunchtime rush, so everyone’s out walking the streets at the moment, and their cacophony of chatter fill the air, but girl pays no mind. 

Mizuki’s partner, Mimikyu, is currently resting in their poke-ball. She watches the gray snow and leaves piled up, exceptionally still, until she blinks and reaches into her pocket, pulling out a small wrapped treat. She unwraps it deftly, holds it out and clicks her tongue softly a few times, until a wet, bedraggled looking head sticks it’s head out from the piles.

It sniffs, approaches and takes the offered food meekly. It seems a bit thin, obviously not taking the winter well. Mizuki watches it eat with a tilted head, before reaching out and scooping the soaked rat up into her hands; it seems startled, but too tired to put much off an effort into escaping and perhaps even slightly comforted by the warmth of child’s hands it settles quickly.

Mizuki holds it gently to her chest, though she’s not much better suited for the cold than it. She stands up, turns her head to scan the area...

Ah. There. That one looks perfect.

Quiet footsteps. Girl reaches out and tugs at stranger’s coat with one hand, the other curled protectively around something near her chest. When stranger turns to her, she will promptly hold out the wet creature! 

Mizuki’s a bit surprised to find something outside of her door, but picks it up curiously and takes it inside. Mimikyu on the couch chitters at her– “Kyu? Kyu!” – and the gestures her partner over.

When opened, the treats are immediately shared between the two of them, Mimikyu making a little bounce and devouring their portion. Mizuki is slower, leaves some for later, but does take a small bite that ends with a smile before she opens up the rest of the gift!

Scarf is looped around her, and then looped around Mimikyu; she did need more winter clothing, and it’s a welcome sight. The seashell charm is held in her palms, and her fingers squeeze around it gently before Mizuki places it in her pocket for good luck.

By nature, almost, he isolates himself, independent streak demands that, to some degree. He doesn’t mean to, old habits die hard and he’s never had the easiest time socializing with people— it seems ironically fitting that he can only find himself somewhat comfortable with a not person. Hesitation, clear hesitation on other’s part; an understandable course of action. He doesn’t mind, really: he has had people flinch at him at worse times, he can stomach this much; he himself would at least show that much precaution before trusting a stranger. He does not mean to project, but he thinks he can probably imagine how they feel. Regardless, he’s fine with leaving a little room and waiting, despite the fact that the ground is a little cold for kneeling, coat pools around his feet.

“H-Hey—!” Startled, brief noise of protest; almost loses his balance when creature rushes to hide: that act really only lasts for that short moment. Boy hunches over in almost a protective manner as hand comes to gently rest against top of head, attempted reassuring gesture. “You don’t really like strangers that much, hm?” It is not spoken with irritation, but with a certain soft fondness, a snort as he shakes his head. He can understand that— it seems ironic that they’ve picked him though, if anything, should run from him. “Still…what are you doing out here alone? Was it the festival that got your attention? I can’t imagine you like all this noise if that scared you…” Not that he really expects an answer on a level he can understand, but he’ll watch if body language conveys anything that might be more understandable— or maybe Riku will realize he should slow down a little and ask easier yes or no questions, if he thinks about it.

Riku is no more scary than any other person to Mimikyu, in fact is somewhat comforting in comparison; darkness is familiar, after all, even if it is a different type of darkness than usual.

Perhaps that is why when faced with strangers on all ends, Mimikyu hides behind Riku as their safest option. Instinct finds them well, Riku hunching over them, and Mimikyu finds themself inching in under boy’s shade even more.

Soft pressure on head, gentle pats, Mimikyu offers a small peep in acknowledgement, once they find themselves calming down from the fright. 

raihxn‌.

“yep, you know me, the cutest in hammerlocke. the cutest in the ENTIRE LEAGUE—”

“oh no, the cutest in the entire league is me, duh.”

The cutest in Galar, maybe! But definitely not the entire League! Alola is stronger!