For what it's worth, I still think you're one of the realest to ever do it.

I'm not too frequent on Bluesky, but I'll always be around if you need someone totally cool to be pals with. 😤

Courtney was well aware that Silica seemed to harbor a bias towards humans, and it would only negatively affect the former trainer's perspective.

"I want. Nothing more than to. Reject my own human qualities.

You may despise me. But I am. Honored to be here."

Slowly, Courtney would stand, nervously clasping her hands together, nodding her head as she looked towards the ground.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I wanted to. Prove how I felt. I know my. Humanity is wrong.

It is wrong to be a human. I understand that..."
--

Apologizing is one thing, but maybe Courtney is starting to understand a key religious ideal: atonement.

So she'll be approaching the Gardevoir in the church. Kneeling down without a hint of regret.

"If it makes others abandon their thoughts of me.

I will serve as this land's only slave..."

...

Is that still what they see Courtney as? She's released all of her Pokémon months ago, refusing to catch any more Pokémon.

But, if they still see her as nothing more than a slave driver, then maybe there's only one thing left for her to do.
--

She's still trying her best to figure that out...

It isn't as though she isn't taking this seriously. It's just... Hard for her to get used to new things.

She'd like to think it means a lot that she's genuinely trying. Courtney really wants to get this!

Take them more seriously!?

She always takes everything she does seriously. Maybe a little too seriously.

Still, she's so bizarre her actions could be misinterpreted. She'd be glad to prove her devotion!

Well...

Showing off is fun. ♡

"Thank. Um. Thank you. You look. Amazing..."

She'd finish taking pictures after a few more snaps, eyes locked on the Pikachu's shaking ass!

And it only seemed to make her socially awkward behavior more noticeable.

"That was. Nice. You are. Very beautiful..."

If that was sarcasm, Courtney couldn't tell. Socially awkward to the point of taking everything at face value...

She'd take her phone out, in a red case with the emblem of Team Magma, taking a picture of her!

"Th-Thank you. I am not normally. Offered this."

"Oh. You can talk? Of course. Sorry to. Bother you."

Courtney would apologetically bow, looking back towards Ashlyn's body.

She wasn't a subtle woman.

"I just wanted to tell you. I think you are. Very pretty..."

Fidgeting with her hands, Courtney would slowly creep closer, finally within speaking distance.

"H-Hello. I do not know if you can. Understand me, but.

You look. Um. Very nice. I am. Courtney."

O-Oh! She must have.

Pardon her, when she thinks about Pikachus, her mind always seems to wander.

She's more klutzy when it comes to her passions...

Especially when she's looking right at Ashlyn. Too nervous to say anything-

Well, Courtney's certainly not shy when it comes to making her affections towards Pokémon abundantly clear.

They're so much better than humans.

And she has quite the soft spot for Pikachus. Showing up to Ashlyn's matches as much as possible..♡

It's not Courtney's fault that Ashlyn is so pretty...

Even a girl like Courtney knows that.

Hmm?

Did Courtney say something strange?

Seemed right to her...

Yes, she is.

Wait...

"Rival camp? We do not need. To concern ourselves with that. We can. Disengage from our work."

A rare sentiment from Courtney. She seems far more distracted talking to one of her favorite Pokémon...

"I was simply. Playing along. Were you. Not the one who. Started this?"