whether intentional or not, she's pretty grateful that the clumsy behavior and gone unnoticed.

able to clean up and act as if nothing happened.

well..

the positivity comes and goes. but that clumsiness was still there for sure.

Riley's on her hands and knees, picking up metal cans that she had knocked over, looking worriedly around the room for her manager.

a nod that was almost imperceptibly returned.

although her focus on the rabbit shows itself when Riley almost knocks over the display.

well if that is the case, then Riley is only going to speak when spoken to. she'll look up and only offer a small glance in the direction of the rabbit.

she is?

what for??

either way, she'll find the Lucario by the front, stocking the display shelves.

not lately!

the Poké Shop she works at frowns on nudity..

" It's time for some blatant nudity.

Don't you think?"

She's back at the gym.

..once again.

shaini.

It's kind of hard to remember to be here when my notice keep fucking up.

I keep coming back to like 17 notifs and my phone never tells me about them T.T

Her face nuzzles up against his chest.

She's holding him like her life depended on it.. like she'd die the moment she released him. Because that's how it feels.

" So I'm NOT crazy.."

" you're.. real.."

and what follows is the biggest bear hug he's likely ever received.

Riley takes a tentative step forward.

Distrust in her eyes. Her hands start to shake as she reaches out and places that familiar, fluffy palm up against his chest. Her heart is beating a million miles a second.

And then her paw makes contact. Her eyes widen and tear up and her ears fold..

+

there's an odd feeling, when Riley laid her hands on Kiana.

almost pulling away in shock..

" I can't believe you're real.."

she said after a minute. and then, remembering how her old friend hated hugs, quickly backs away.

The look on her face is..

Difficult to read.

" You must be a figment of my imagination.."

as if that's something she's experienced before..

" so it IS you.."

her hands ball up into fists. for a moment, she thought her first impulse would be to swing at her.

to her own surprise.. she didn't.

all she does is rush forward and wrap the rabbit in a hug that's tighter than a vice.

hate her or not.. Riley missed her.

she's in a weird headspace..

angry that her best friend left her.. and desperate to have her back.

" don't. turn away from me."

her voice is ice cold.

the Cinderace being early meant that Riley had time to.. deal with this.

" ..take off your helmet and look at me. Please."

she doesn't know what she wants. all she knows, is that she needs to see her face.

and for most of the time they're working.. Riley doesn't say anything.

effortlessly moving box after box into the storage bay until the sidecar was empty. but on the last box.. those deep crimson eyes of hers shine a familiar blue. her aura at work.

" I know it's you."

was all she said.

shaini.

Driving, will be back soon!

it was all form fitting.

it fit perfectly, if one were trying to show themselves off. Riley never did so intentionally.. but usually enjoyed it when it happened.

for the moment, she'll act as if she doesn't realize it's the same Cinderace.

" you got the delivery??"

it was the biggest convenience.

there's nothing off about the encounter. Many deliveries to convenience stores have happened before.. and like all of them, the manager told her to pull up to the backdoor to get things unloaded.

what he doesn't tell her.. is that Riley is the one waiting.

It did it again what the FUCK

it shows Riley's profile but sends it from Eryn's..

it seems rather fucked up to have that train of thought while pulling up to the place where Riley, the one thing she doesn't want to face, is working.

shaini.

Why in the hell does it log me into my OTHER ACCOUNTS

most of it was normal shipments to fill the shelves by the registers.

candy and the like. and one box in particular was Riley's, although she didn't have it marked as such.

and yet, she'd likely have to face it sooner.. rather than later.

an order came in. intended for the Pokemart next door to the gym. it had multiple boxes, but nothing too large or heavy to be carried by motorbike.

which is absolutely odd to her.

because her friend was braver than anyone she's ever known, when they lived together.

Riley is afraid.

afraid of Kiana. also afraid of confrontation, if she had done something so wrong that it would result in .. physical harm.

but she HAS to..

.. it's worth it.

she needs the closure that an interaction like that would give her. even if she doesn't know what she'd do or say.

that's not something she would have known in the slightest! she had no idea who this Vera even was, so there'd be no chance of Riley recognizing the bun.

but if Riley had stuff ordered to her work, while she was there..