Rena a bit embarrassed waved To Marcus as she faded into the distance behind him. The glaring cobblestone consuming the vision of her as he headed north to Aquacorde Town. It was not a far walk down the rest of Route 1, and it was quite uneventful with only a few figures of little note passing Marcus going the opposite direction. As he neared the outskirts of the city however, some more life would return to his ears as the bustle of the small riverside town became apparent.
Aquacorde itself was a humble but attractive riverside town featuring older more antique stone buildings of various sizes. A few modern buildings such as apartments, stores, and a newly built pokemon center stood out of place but in line with the town. At the center of it all a large square with a beautiful hand carved fountain was the favorite gatherin place of locals and the bridge leading to route 2 was at the north crossing the river.
Activity was average, few older folks strolled about, children played tag amongst the stone streets, and residents went on about their daily lives. Aquacorde certainly had most things an average sized town would, should Marcus need something it wouldn’t be hard to find. Near the entrance of the town there were large multi-family structures that seemed older and patched up over the years
Alleyways between these townhomes were frequented by the residents to get from street to street quickly without a major intersection. In such a small town crime was of little concern to most, but under the noses of the older residents some more eager and bold younger residents took advantage of their peers complacency. In an alleyway near by to where Marcus entered the town two school girls stood tense at the mouth of the alleyway, pocketbooks in hand as they took out some bills and handed them over to a much more
unsavory looking girl.
“Don’t let me catch you holding out on me again.” The silver haired girl with piercings and fishnet stockings muttered to her victims as she wagged her finger. On her shoulder a Spearow cawed aggressively as the girls frantically handed over whatever protection or illicit toll money they owed, anything to get the bully off their back before they scurried away. After they disappeared into the ally the girl would lean against the wall waiting for her next target, returning her pokemon to the ball.
Crime in the small town was not the only thing happening that day. There was a more wholesome side to Aquacorde as well. In a small courtyard amongst several townhomes a few children laughed and played with an Eevee, kicking ball around in circles as the Pokemon happily panted and chased it. Several of these children had stopped to speak to a
woman who sat on a bench near to the giggling gang of kids, eagerly asking her questions about the baby in her tummy.
“Miss! Is it going to be a boy or a girl?” One boy eagerly asked.
“Oh I don’t know... we want it to be a surprise when it comes.” She happily answered, though she shifted with discomfort in her seat.
“Where is the daddy?” A girl tugged on her blouse.
“Oh he is on a business trip right now.” Her fAce while smiling exhibited some anxiousness and regret as she shifted under the weight of her belly and their questions.