[Nanu's rarely this out of it. He heard Absol's claws tapping in the kitchen and knew his pokémon was back, and that was about it. Anabel's shoes just didn't register. Resting with his eyes closed, neither does the rest of his pokémon leaving the room; except, as she'll surely notice, Persian, who leaves them be but settles just outside the room with a lurking gaze inside.]
[Of course, his lack of usual attentiveness makes Anabel's reappearance all the more jarring. Tired and drifting, the hold on his hand could be mistaken for one of his pokémon...if not for the eventual realization that it's human. His eyes shoot open at the same time she crouches down to his eye-level, but when he sees that it's her, he's hit with paralysis. It can't be, right? He fell asleep on the couch and this is just another shitty dream he'll end up waking up from and it'll all be the same as he left it.]
[As soon as her voice hits his ears, he knows it's real.]
[Even so, Nanu's too surprised to do or say anything. She's leaning on sadness but tender, without pity but genuine care. The anger and hurt that dominated their last encounter is nowhere to be found, and that only adds to his confusion and surprise. Before she pulls him in, he's already starting to sit up, trying to gain some sort of hold on the situation for himself. That's especially hard when her touch trails down the side of his face (only then does it matter that he hasn't shaved), leaving him numb enough for her to easily pull him forward into a hug.]
[With her arms around and body leaning into him and his face in her hair (he's rarely smelled a scent to comforting as her hair is now, in this moment) Nanu first remains slack, but soon finds that returning the gesture is worth it.]
[Still, as wonderful as the moment is, those rebellious thoughts remain. Without moving from their embrace, Nanu clears his throat - a couple times, his mouth is suddenly dry - and asks in a gruff, throaty voice that clearly hasn't been used much lately.]
thanks i was hoping for an existential crisis tonight
[Of course, his lack of usual attentiveness makes Anabel's reappearance all the more jarring. Tired and drifting, the hold on his hand could be mistaken for one of his pokémon...if not for the eventual realization that it's human. His eyes shoot open at the same time she crouches down to his eye-level, but when he sees that it's her, he's hit with paralysis. It can't be, right? He fell asleep on the couch and this is just another shitty dream he'll end up waking up from and it'll all be the same as he left it.]
[As soon as her voice hits his ears, he knows it's real.]
[Even so, Nanu's too surprised to do or say anything. She's leaning on sadness but tender, without pity but genuine care. The anger and hurt that dominated their last encounter is nowhere to be found, and that only adds to his confusion and surprise. Before she pulls him in, he's already starting to sit up, trying to gain some sort of hold on the situation for himself. That's especially hard when her touch trails down the side of his face (only then does it matter that he hasn't shaved), leaving him numb enough for her to easily pull him forward into a hug.]
[With her arms around and body leaning into him and his face in her hair (he's rarely smelled a scent to comforting as her hair is now, in this moment) Nanu first remains slack, but soon finds that returning the gesture is worth it.]
[Still, as wonderful as the moment is, those rebellious thoughts remain. Without moving from their embrace, Nanu clears his throat - a couple times, his mouth is suddenly dry - and asks in a gruff, throaty voice that clearly hasn't been used much lately.]
...What are you doing here?