Haven gave a nod to the man standing above her and reached up a hand to accept his cash in exchange for the painting she'd just completed. She was sitting cross-legged on Mauville City's indoor street, canvases of varying sizes sprawled out around her, each with fresh spray paint designs on them. Her tablet sat next to her, playing techno music from a playlist she always used when she worked in public to draw customers. 

Her hands were a mess of color as she stuffed the money in her bag haphazardly (she'd organize it when she got back to her room at the daycare… probably) and pushed herself to her feet after hours of sitting on the hard paneled floor. The old, ragged blanket she'd laid down to keep the white floor clean didn't do much for comfort.

[color=coral]"Okay people, art show's closing,"[/color] she announced to the small crowd that had gathered around to watch her work. A few people lowered phones that had been recording her. [color=coral]"If you see something you like grab it now. I might not be here tomorrow."[/color] Most of the people simply left, continuing whatever business they'd had before curiosity at the music and crowd had interrupted them. Some were sure to drop change in the plastic bowl she used as a tip jar. Three people bought paintings she'd done earlier in the day. One wanted a picture with both the painting and the artist. Haven obliged, thanked the girl for her purchase and stretched her arms up, locking her fingers together. Her spine gave a satisfying series of pops.

Doing live paintings like this was decent money and entertaining enough… but [i]jeeze[/i] hunching over like that on the hard ground for hours had its downsides. 

Haven turned back to her work station to see her Weepinbell, Blink, already starting to pack things up in her bag. Vines were curling around her blank canvases, finished paintings, spray cans, and the various tools she used for these – butterknives, a chisel, different sized cups, and a couple of spare pieces of paper – all messy and paint stained.

Really, that typically described [i]everything[/i] Haven owned. She didn't buy anything unless she was willing to let it get covered in paint. Even her clothes, a black hoody, a dark pair of jeans, and some canvas shoes, were covered in bright splotches of color. Heck, even her [i]bag[/i] wasn't safe.

As Blink cleaned up, Haven turned her head to look out at the courtyard entrance to see her Corsola, Lace, frolicking in the rainstorm. Lantern light reflected off of her pink coral horns, illuminating the otherwise dark night. Other water pokemon were with her, let out by their trainers to enjoy the weather. Haven let herself smile at the sight before giving a short whistle. Several pokemon stopped to look at her, but only Lace jumped up and scurried back over to Haven.

That was half her team accounted for… where were the other two? Hopefully they weren't doing anything too obnoxious. She wasn't really in the mood to run away from any angry authority figures. Then again, at least whoever it was probably wouldn't be angry enough to follow her all the way back to the daycare in this storm (rooms were cheaper there than at any Mauville hotels).

Haven glanced around, searching for her Scrafty and Granbull, Cloak and Dagger, as Blink finished packing up the bag and Lace helped by poking it with her horns. She heard the telltale sound of Dagger's snorting breaths and Cloak's chittering from around the corner and walked towards it.

She rounded the corner to see her two pokemon tossing something back and forth, looking for too pleased with themselves. They didn't seem to notice her.

[color=coral]"What's that?"[/color] she asked in a flat voice. Cloak and Dagger both froze, caught in the act. 

She could see very clearly what it was – a cream colored oval shape with green spots. Those two knuckleheads had somehow snagged a pokemon egg.

It didn't have the ability to freeze mid-flight, and continued its arc to collide with Cloak's face. He took a step back, his heel catching on the bottom of his 'pants' and fell to the floor. At least the Scrafty's body managed to soften the landing as they both went tumbling to the ground. Dagger snorted in alarm but then started doing her equivalent of a laugh. Cloak for his part at least had the grace to seem embarrassed as he pushed himself back to his feet.

Haven's concern though was the egg they'd been playing catch with. She hurried after it as it rolled in a drunken line and scooped it up. Her eyebrows scrunched together as she looked it over carefully for cracks.

[color=coral]"Seriously, guys?"[/color] Taking some fruit or a trinket from a vendor was one thing… but an [i]egg[/i]? She looked back over her shoulder at the pair, an eyebrow raised. The Granbull was still looking at Cloak with a mocking look at her eye and a toothy grin. Cloak elbowed her back and shrugged his shoulders at Haven. [color=coral]"Where'd you even –"[/color] she cut herself off as realization came to her. They'd been playing in the daycare's field that morning, roughhousing with other pokemon. Had those two been playing with the egg since then? Haven sighed and looked to the ceiling. 

Moving the egg to one hand, she grabbed two familiar pokeballs in her jacket pocket and recalled Cloak and Dagger without more warning. Pocketing them again, she turned back around the corner to where Blink was patiently waiting and Lace was entertaining herself by blowing bubbles. They both looked up at her approach and eyed the egg curiously. 

[color=coral]"Cloak and Dagger,"[/color] she said. It was explanation enough it seemed, as understanding dawned in their eyes. 

Haven turned her head to look out at the entrance to Mauville City and see the ongoing downpour. It'd been overcast, but dry that morning, and the storm had started without her noticing during the day. She hadn't exactly planned for this, and preferred to [i]not[/i] get her canvases and art supplies soaking wet. Skewing her mouth to the side, she held the egg out for Blink to take with his vines and tugged her jacket over her head to reveal… a camisole. Fantastic. Haven draped the jacket over her bag and swung the strap over her shoulder. After digging out Blink's pokeball, she took the egg back and recalled him, too. Lace looked up expectantly, waiting for her own pokeball. But Haven just smirked in response, a conspiratorial light in her eyes. 

She nodded towards the city's exit and started walking. It was only a moment before Lace hurried behind her. They stopped at the edge of the city, just before the ceiling gave way to stormy skies. Haven looked down to see her Corsola practically bouncing on her feet, looking eagerly between Haven and the rain.

[color=coral]"Whaddya think?"[/color] she asked, looking down at Lace. The pokemon froze, all her attention trained on Haven. [color=coral]"You gonna keep me safe?"[/color] The little Corsola brightened and gave a chirp in response. Haven gave her a small smile. [color=coral]"Guess that settles it, then. C'mon."[/color] Her Corsola ran/waddled out into the rain. Haven took a moment to huff out a laugh at Lace's excitement to play longer in the puddles, then she stepped out into the downpour as well.

Heavy drops bombarded her, plastering her hair to her head, and her messy bangs flattened against her forehead and cheeks in stringy black clumps. She could feel the rain soaking through her loose hair bun, turning it into a heavy, sodden knot. Her camisole (well, at least it was dark…) was no defense against the rain and already she could feel the cold soaking into her bones.

She was [i]so[/i] getting sick after this. Lace was having a good time, at least.

It was an uneventful walk that seemed to take an eternity in the rain. Only a few wild Marill and Corphish were out, and were familiar enough with humans to have no interest in Haven as she made her way. The egg in her arms was growing heavy. 

Eventually she saw the lamplight shining above the door of the daycare. Haven tried to sigh, but couldn't between the rattling of her teeth.

Why exactly had she taken her jacket off? It was doing shit-all as a shield for her bag. It was probably soaked through by now, along with everything in it. 

Haven walked up to the door and maneuvered the egg to one hand to turn the knob with the other. 

The bell chimed above her head, signaling her entrance. Escaping the storm, she felt the warmth of the building wrap around her, though it did nothing to stop her violent shivering. 

The old woman sitting at the desk looked up with a warm expression on her face before she did a wide eyed double take  at Haven's half-drowned appearance. 

Haven walked forward as though it were the most normal thing in the world, leaving a trail of water in her wake. Lace trotted behind her. She placed the egg on the desk with a soft thud. 

[color=coral]"I ended up with this somehow,"[/color] she said, leaving out Cloak and Dagger. Her voice was composed if you ignored the way it quivered from the cold. [color=coral]"I think it belongs to you."[/color]