(@ask-the-shiny-pokemons) Johanna (either form is fine) @ Cherry and Braken
"Greetings, Your Highness." She kneels before Cherry as a respect to the royalty. "Apologies for entering your room. I know it's pretty rude to invade anyone's privacy. But I want to check on you nowadays..." she smiles with a sweat.
As she sees Braken. "Oh, cool outfit!" somehow she lost her formalities. "It looks like I know that member of the band who loves wearing it. But is there a meaning for it? A some sort of a gang group. Sorry if it's a bit rude to mention, I don't have other word to describe it..."
”Oh there’s really no need for any of those formalities with me,” Cherry waves it off with a smile, “and as long as my door is open anyone is free to stop by for a visit, nothing rude about it at all. But I’m doing well myself.” She watches as the keldeo’s attention turned towards her girlfriend.
“I’ve had this jacket for ages, my brother has a matching one of his own. A lil gift from our pops before he passed. Me and brother? Two peas in pod! Always hanging together and getting into trouble so of course we had to match. And you could say the style is catching on,” Braken leaned back on her hands with a lazy grin, “got some close pals of mine sporting the same look now. We’re a biker gang so you ain’t wrong saying it like that horsey.”
Cherry watched as Braken and Johanna talked, a smile on her face at the sight of the two getting along. The smile strained a bit as she glanced at the other guest in her room.
The poor riolu was still sitting in the beanbag chair he had been in from the beginning. She could see how tense he was, the way his paws fiddled with each other while he glanced at everyone else in the room. It was clear he wanted to say something but was biting his tongue.
She held back a sigh. Cherry was hoping he would have let it go by now but clearly it was going to be a problem, especially if left unaddressed. Lupin was still a stranger to her but she had high hopes that he would become a good friend not just for her but Crow as well. Though it clearly ended in a blackout drunken romp through the festival, that alone was a great sign that there was a chance the two could stop being such hardheaded idiots and come together. Crow wouldn’t just invite anyone to drink with him, let alone spend the night of the nightmare moon playing ghostly shenanigans together.
First though she had to address some of Lupin’s issues.
While her girlfriend was still distracted with the visitor Cherry stood up from her own cushion and made her way over to Lupin. She saw as his eyes darted towards her when she started moving before flicking back towards Braken and then back to her.
“Lupin sorry to bother you,” Cherry’s voice was filled with its usual pep and her smile as friendly as ever, “there’s actually something I was hoping you could help me fetch real quick if you don’t mind.”
“O-of course my prin- I mean… Cherry,” he winced as he stumbled over the formality before correcting himself to something more casual. Pushing himself to his paws his eyes glanced towards Braken again, his ears pulling back slightly as a frown crossed his face. “I’m more than happy to assist you but… should you-“
“Oh thank you Lupin,” Cherry cut him off as she grabbed his paw. She called back to the others as she pulled the riolu out of the room, “We’ll be back in just a moment! Don’t throw a party without me!”
With swift but unhurried steps Cherry led Lupin down the hall. Only a few doors away she stoped and brought Lupin into an empty guest room. The door shut softy behind them and Cherry let go of his paw and turned to face Lupin.
The confusion on his face almost made her feel bad about dragging him here without any warning, but this was a talk they needed to have. Especially if Braken was going to be around him.
This time Cherry did let the sigh escape her lips but she didn’t let it erase her smile. “Sorry to pull you away so suddenly,” she spoke in a calm tone, hoping to avoid spooking him further, “but I could see there was something you wanted to say earlier? There’s no one around now so you may speak to me freely Lupin. You will face no trouble for your words.”
Emotions flickered across lupins face, a little hard to track as they warred with each other. His tail twitched and ears pinned back. Confusion, annoyance, fear, anger. Fur rippled and smoothed in the few seconds as Lupin tried to find the words he wanted. He clenched and unclenched his paw as frustration seemed to win out. “She’s a criminal!” He finally snapped out. There was a small flinch as he registered his own words but he didn’t take them back, standing his ground as he looked back at Cherry with confused and frustrated eyes.
She let out another sigh, “yes. I’m well aware of Braken’s career choice.”
“But- then-,” Lupin stuttered trying to find the words he wanted. He gave a frustrated huff, “why?!”
“Because I love her,” Cherry spoke softly, giving a gentle smile, “I said earlier how we met when I was younger. We’ve been friends for a long time and I know her well.”
“But she’s a criminal?! She wanted! She and her gang actively steal from other Pokemon across the region! How are you fine with that?! Why are you fine with that?!” Lupins voice rose as he spoke. He tugged on one of his tassels with a growl, “your the princess! You shouldn’t be- be running around with people like that! It’s not safe! Who knows what they’ll-“
“Do you think I’m stupid?” She cut him off.
“W-what?” He stuttered to a stop.
Cherry looked back at him, her face carefully blank and her voice neutral. “Do you think I’m stupid?”
“Wha- of course not! I-I never meant to imply-“ He held his paws up in defense, taking a step back as Cherry stared at him.
“I’m not stupid Lupin,” she cut him off again and folded her hands in front of her. She kept her voice calm as she spoke. “I know the type of company I keep. And I know what people think of them. And what they think of me for it. I know the actions they have taken. The people they have hurt. And yet, I still choose them. Because I know them. I know the good in their hearts. The lines they refuse to cross despite what life tries to force them to do.”
“Yes Braken is a criminal. Yes she and her gang are thieves. But she is not evil or heartless. She doesn’t go out of her way to cause harm and most mischief is directed as those who either deserve it or are able to handle it. Do I approve of her robbing people? No. Do I approve of her using what she’s gained to help the family she has built and the less fortunate around her? Well if the rich must find their funds a bit lacking to feed those that need it, why would I be against that.”
“People are not black and white Lupin. It’s not as simple as good and evil. Good people do bad things and bad people do good things. The world isn’t fair and many find themselves in situations that force them to do terrible things simply to survive. I just choose to look past it and see the good behind the scars of life. I see what could have been, what still could be if given a chance. That’s all most people need. Just a chance.”
“Thank you for not telling on Braken,” Cherry’s voice softens and a smile crosses her face, “I appreciate it. And thank you for giving Crow a chance both during your test and yesterday. He may be an ass and he definitely won’t admit it, but I know he appreciates you sticking around with him during the festival. And I hope you’ll be sticking around with us longer. I’ll leave you be now but you’re free to join us in my room again if you’re up to it.” With a quick shoulder pat, Cherry moves past the now silent riolu to return to her room and friends.
