Maxwell's Musebox

Life in the Pokemon World had gotten easier since Varian starting traveling with the Mirabel sisters, but it would be a lie to say he didn't still long for the familiar: His friends, his village... And perhaps most of all, his dad. Varian and Mirabel had gone off shopping on their own while Luisa trained with her Mudbray, but the young alchemist just felt distracted. His heart wasn't in it.

Usually, they shopped at Pokemarts, but this town had a little open air market for more niche things, especially naturally-produced goods like berries. Varian was never one to be comforted by fresh air, and that was as true today as ever. It wasn't clearing his head, but rather, being able to see the rest of the town's goings-on was just making him feel worse. A parent playing with their child was hardly ever out of sight, and he couldn't help but look on sadly every time...

...Which eventually had him walking right into his shopping companion. Varian stumbled backwards quickly, awkwardly, with a murmured, "Sorry, Mirabel."