Just a Face in the Crowd {Annie and Amy}

[Amanda Dupomme]

Despite this Amanda giggled, immensely overjoyed that Annie was interested in the topic. Usually, she didn't try so hard to impress others, but for this one particular girl, something was off. A smile on her lips, She leaned back and crossed her arms: contemplating the best way to answer.

''It was fun! Although it varied quite a bit...'' was the answer she finally stated, although mentally, she couldn't help but feel as it if it was a bit of a silly one. ''To clarify... it was still very much a tourism project, so often you didn't quite get the roles you wanted rather than what was assigned by a committee that would hold auditions and assign parts!''

Still not quite answering the question, but getting there. Amanda sighed, clearing her head. ''I was one of the frequent contributors, so it did reach a point for me in which I got assigned roles without needing to audition. Actually: I have to say I rather progressed through the years...''

Flipping through her notebook, Amanda showed the other girl one particular page showcasing a Kalosian role hierarchy. ''It started with some of the easier parts for a little girl, flower girl, or tea server. Something that a young child could play. As I got older and they got used to my performance, I was upgraded to some of the fancier parts, courtiers, in my last year I even got to play a Princess!'' The girl beamed at the pleasant memories, rather lost in thought. ''They were all fun in their own way, just being a part of it. Although my favorite were the roles of Nobility, it was just so nice and fancy!''

A question dawned on the young blonde. ''What about you? I mean, I know you didn't play any roles, but if you could take part in it, what would you be?''

[Annie Prince]

Amanda's description of the roles she had played brought a genuine smile to Annie's face. It sounded like they took their historical reenactments so seriously! The idea of doing something like that frequently sounded even more fun.

The helpful demonstration using the notebook was interesting. "It sounds so exciting!" Annie exclaimed. The details caught her attention: the entire town being involved, down to young children; the idea of taking on historical roles; and Annie had to admit that she was a little bit jealous just thinking about playing the role of Princess.

Amanda asked what role Annie would play, were she to have the chance, and the silver-haired girl smiled. "If I could? I'd love to play a lady of some degree." She thought, but did not say, that she would just as likely be cast as an old lady.

[Amanda Dupomme]

Amanda giggled softly, nodding in agreement to what the other girl preferred. ''I do actually think that sort of role would suit you, you are certainement one of the more ladylike people I have had the pleasure of meeting.'' Thoughtfully, the blonde flipped through the pages, smiling fondly as she considered what each design meant, what each depiction reminded her of. They were all very pleasant memories, a few unpleasant parts as well, but the good far made up for the bad.

Sighing wistfully, Amanada looked back up, studying the expression of the other girl with some measure of understanding. ''I think you would have been quite excellent at the role of princess, even. I can honestly say few girls were quite as elegant or as regal as you, even when put in the part!''

The thought brought a memory to her mind, and she giggled as she recalled it, perhaps she was touching the nail a bit more squarely than she had originally thought. Not to seem the fool for laughing by herself, Amanda clarified. ''Actually, the royal family of Kalos that resided in the Parfum palace was known for some of their members having striking white hair, much like yours. Perhaps there is some distant relation, even?''

[Annie Prince]

Annie watched Amanda page through her notebook further with some interest. The pictures inside were lovely, and there was something about them that appealed to her very much...

"...you are certainement one of the more ladylike people I have had the pleasure of meeting. I think you would have been quite excellent at the role of princess, even."

What a surprising thing to say. Did Amanda really mean it? It was a very pleasant idea, to be sure, but Annie had certainly not expected such a compliment.

Amanda began giggling, and added that Annie looked a bit like the royal family of Kalos. "Perhaps there is some distant relation, even?"

"It isn't likely," Annie demurred automatically. It was true. The idea wasn't entirely impossible, but certainly it wasn't likely. "Though it's nice to imagine." She would have liked to think that she was somehow important, if only by loose association.

((I apologize for any typos or bizarre formatting errors which may have appeared when I first put up this post. The fire alarm went off right as I finished it.))

[Amanda Dupomme]

Her face decorated by a faint smile, Amanda nodded softly in agreement with the words of the other girl. Allowing a soft sigh to vocalize, the young blonde slowly clasped the notebook closed, her eyes closed as she briefly daydreamed the idea of a Gray Garden Court, all the students taking the place of nobility and royalty, it was indeed a fun idea.

Opening her eyes, Amanda smoothly placed the notebook away, thoughtfully biting her lower lip as she turned once more to face Annie, a question readied.

''I do agree, but if I might ask something, as I've been talking on and on about my own hometown, I would quite like to hear more about yours? Do you remember anything about Snowbelle? Or, where did you live after you migrated? I'm sure you must have some interesting stories to tell!''

Amanda smiled sincerely, bringing her arms up to slowly rub her shoulders, a slight chill taking over her, now that she was no longer so excited she could ignore it.

[Annie Prince]

"Do you remember anything about Snowbelle?"

"Not much."

Annie remembered very little about her birthplace, but the few memories she did have were some of her most treasured. "Most of what I remember about Snowbelle is how cold and clean it was. The snow was always fresh and white, because there was always more of it. So nothing ever looked dirty for long... and it was always cold outside." She looked at Amanda, and noticed that the other girl was rubbing her shoulders as if she was cold now. Annie hadn't noticed any particular chill in here, but then again, she liked the cold; the temperature being a little low excited her, rather than being a bother.

[Amanda Dupomme]

It was almost ironic, something that was not lost on Amanda: a conversation initiated on a famously cold place, and now she herself felt cold. Her smile fading, Amanda continued to rub her arms. ''I can't stand the cold, actually...'' she explained. ''Snowbelle sounds beautiful, but my town was very warm, so cold and myself ne sont pas de bons amis...''

The other girl didn't seem to have that problem, perhaps she was simply judging appearances: Amanda felt like Annie wouldn't have too much of a problem. Remembering the Pokemon she had seen Miss Prince use, Amanda reasoned that wasn't the most far-fetched of ideas.

Momentarily lost in thought, Amanda realized something odd about how Annie had described Snowbelle. ''Is consistent fresh snow always the best of things? Sometimes, being able to see what happened, all those traces of dirt and prints: those can be beautiful in their own way? Remnants of the past, those aren't always bad, sometimes they can be a good reminder, sometimes they can be good for us, even if they don't seem to be so at first.''

Amanda wasn't sure what exactly she was trying to say, she felt philosophical, though she knew in all regards that she wasn't.

[Annie Prince]

The Wave Dorm was said to be noticeably cooler than the other dorms, but now that Annie thought about it, she could see—well, feel—what Amanda meant about it being a bit chilly in here. It was hardly an unpleasant feeling to the girl from Snowbelle, but it was certainly present and the room almost seemed to be slowly getting cooler. Annie shrugged and put the thought aside.

"I get along well with the cold," Annie commented, aware that this was probably not news. She had secrets, but her fondness for ice and cold was certainly not among them.

When Amanda mused aloud about reminders, Annie thought seriously about the subject for several moments. "I was very young when I lived there," she admitted. "To a small child, it's magical, knowing that all the dirt and mess of life can just go away. Perhaps I'd think of it differently if I could have stayed there..."

She trailed off, just about lost in thought, before realizing two things at once: that she had lost track of her Sneasel, and that there was a suspiciously cold wind emanating from behind a table a short distance away. Annie turned quickly to see a flash of pink ear feather...

"That's enough, Senka," she snapped. The Sneasel emerged, looking altogether far too pleased with herself.

[Amanda Dupomme]

''Perhaps so... I wonder what my life would have been, if my family had not moved from Lumiose, it's always interesting, je pense, to consider all of these potential what-ifs.''



Amanda shivered once more, feeling rather confused about the increasingly cold temperature. At first she had considered it to simply be from the river, yet: she was feeling almost frozen! Softly, the girl sneezed, blushing in embarrassment as she brought her hand to her mouth. ''Oh my... excuse me, I don't know why it's so cold in he...'' The Kalosian trailed off, feeling as if that it felt far more windy than before. This seemed to be noted by her companion, as well: with the culprit: a mischievous Sneasel, being discovered.

The young blonde frowned. ''I would imagine that's why it was so cold here... perhaps the Sneasel would require some degree of discipline, else who knows what sort of chilly havoc it may bring upon our dorm?''

[Annie Prince]

Though she tried not to show it, Annie found Amanda's reaction to the cold to be rather worrying. The blonde girl was clearly unaccustomed to low temperatures, but that didn't normally make people sneeze. Did it?

The white-haired girl got up to grab her Sneasel, then sat back down next to Amanda with Senka held firmly in her lap. "My apologies for the interruption," she said formally. "She's a prankster. Normally I keep her under much better control, but I am afraid that your conversation was so interesting that I neglected to keep an eye on her when I should have." With that, she returned Senka to her Poké Ball.

---

((OOC Note: Yes, I did intend for Senka to do something mischievous, ever since I realized I'd stopped mentioning Annie keeping an eye on her. My thanks for the remarkably convenient opening.))

[Amanda Dupomme]

A soft giggle at the apology, Amanda raised a hand, shaking her head dismissively. ''It's perfectly understandable, certain Pokemon are simply a bit more fun-loving than others, even if that's not always the ideal thing for present company...'' The blonde smiled wistfully, still rubbing her shoulders in a weak attempt to warm up. ''Most of my Pokemon are very well behaved, or at least rather calm, in a way: I think it would be nice to have a little trouble-make of my own, it could be an interesting challenge to have as a trainer, I'm certain...''

She paused, cautiously withdrawing one of her own Pokeballs: idly observing the device: ''Pokemon are certainly wonderful creatures, I think it's a great privilege to be able to have them as friends, and train them...'' Her finger popped the small button on the container: releasing a rather neutral-seeming Lunatone, one looking very Moony about being in the open.

''They just make me... happy~''

[Annie Prince]

At Amanda's reassurance, Annie relaxed slightly. "The troublemakers are interesting," she agreed mildly. For the most part, Senka had not made trouble in a way that had helped Annie out any, but the white-haired Trainer had a certain suspicion that it would be possible to change that. Certainly having a minor wild card on her side could give rise to interesting possibilities.

The moon-faced Lunatone that Amanda released did not appear to have much capacity for expression, but the girl who had released it seemed to be entirely unbothered by this. Annie smiled, running her fingers over her Poké Balls, and she could not help but agree.

Annie realized all of a sudden what time it was. "It was lovely to meet you, Mademoiselle Dupomme, but I am afraid I have to go now," she explained regretfully, taking her feet. "I hope to see you again sometime."

[Amanda Dupomme]

''Oh! O-of course!'' Amanda stammered, forgetting all about the low temperature as she mirrored the other girl, jumping to her feet. ''It was very nice meeting you, Mademoiselle Prince~'' She chirped, smoothing down her dress as she checked on her Pokemon. The Lunatone seemed as Moony as usual, so nothing had changed there. ''I hope you have a good day, then, and I do suppose I will see you around, as we live in the same building and all!''

Waving goodbye, Amanda gestured to her Pokemon to follow, as she set off. She felt rather pleased at having met a fellow Kalosian, Annie was quite different from most of the people she had met, but there was nothing wrong with that, certainly they could potentially become good friends!