[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/eZlRqQa.png[/img][/center][@Crimson Flame] [@Eveekitten]

Despite Vertex's reaction, Grace didn't plan on softening her attitude. She had every reason to be annoyed at Andre. Before she could call him out, he kissed her on the cheek and stuck a rose behind her ear as he had with the others - leaving her unexpectedly tongue-tied. Her glasses steamed up. Hastily, she turned away, taking them off and rubbing them on her sleeve, hoping he hadn't noticed that or the slight blush that warmed her cheeks. That charmer attitude of his most certainly wouldn't work on her! 

[color=80FFAA]"Hmph..."[/color] She put her glasses back on and glared. [color=80FFAA]"Y'know, the occasional message wouldn't have gone amiss."[/color] Nonetheless, some part of her - some [i]stupid[/i] part - wanted to believe his words. That they were truly all reunited. That he'd show his former kindness and generosity, without running off and abandoning them again. [i]Yeah right,[/i] she thought, [i]that's the epitome of wishful thinking.[/i]

As she stepped back and looked around, she could tell things really weren't the same. Kairi didn't even seem to connect with them any more. Speaking in bored monotone? Smoking? This wasn't like her. What had happened?

A voice piped up, pulling Grace from her thoughts. "Wow, I've never actually seen one up close!" Ember seemed rather taken with Vertex, kneeling next to them as they greeted her with a soft shoulder boop. A tiny smile tugged at Grace's lips. From the look of it, this was still the Ember she knew.

[color=80FFAA]"This is Vertex, they're pretty friendly,"[/color] she told Ember, as the Porygon did a flip in the air, visibly excited to be around all these people. Her eyes flicked to the happy-looking Eevee on Ember's shoulder. [color=80FFAA]"I haven't seen an Eevee up until now. Well, except in pictures of course, way too many people treat them like accessories for social media, but I can tell you really care for yours."[/color]