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Perhaps. I think there may be some truth in what I've said, though. He expects attention and kindness and understanding without making himself available for those things.

[ But she smiles softly at the compliment Nanu offers. It's kind of him to give her a little boost even now. ]

Ah. I see. Many people do seem to have found... romantic companions here, so they might just be curious. [ She doesn't want to sound curious, but it's there, in her voice. Like she wants to know what his answer was. ] ...ah. That's what happened.

[ Her lips are pursed, but faintly tugged upward. Almost sympathetic, in a way. ]

Well, I am glad tonight is over. Perhaps we should have a drink once we've made it home? If anything calls for it, I think tonight certainly has.

Edited (?small) 2018-09-17 19:47 (UTC)

I'll give you that he expects attention, but kindness? [He scoffs, shaking his head.] He only wants that when he's about to pull one over on somebody.

[Almost rolling his eyes, Nanu tries to put away the thought of Guzma heckling them both. Especially the subject matter. Unbeknownst to him, he's equally curious about how Anabel reacted - more specifically than she'd already outlined - but keeps his mouth shut. She seemed embarrassed for a reason, and he's not about to go digging.]

[Her nonchalance at his description of how his night went earns a hearty snort and an amused look in her direction.]

Someone almost threw me into the drink and you take that as just part of the night, huh? [He thinks about it (and past...assignments) for a minute, and chuckles.] Fair enough.

Yeah, I think tonight has warranted as much. [You don't have to ask him twice. And he'd much rather what they have at home than the drinks they offered at the festival...]

...Didn't start off bad, though.

I suppose you'd know better than I would. I can't say it's something I care to know the reality of any longer. I have given it effort and he has chosen to take advantage of it.

[ She's admittedly willing to drop this line of conversation entirely at this point for fear of him asking her about it all more specifically. She's not quite sure how she feels in earnest so she can't possibly give an answer that is honest, either.

(That's a lie and she knows it. Bold-faced, straight on and true.) ]

Well... at this point it seems the stranger something it is the more common it is. And you're well enough, aren't you? [ Her eyes flutter and she ducks her head, glancing sidelong at him. He really did clean up nice (so to speak) even after all the events of the night. She'd always thought he was an attractive man, but when had he become so handsome? It was just the attitude right now. The playfulness. That's all. Surely... ] I do not think it's ending too bad, either. But I suppose you'll need more proof before you make your decision.

[It's already forgotten.]

[For now. If Anabel brings it up ever again, he'll be sure the planned payback will be twice as punishing. But they're both eager to let this go for good reason, and so the subject is silenced.]

[He doesn't notice her - checking him out? - mostly because he's still amused, and the thought wouldn't cross his mind that she's doing so. He feels like hell and looks like hell. Man, he hopes he can clean up this suit enough to return it.]

Sure. Sableye did save the day when Electrode almost extended its self-destruct to all of us.

[Now he's just offering more details for the sake of it—Anabel talked about her night, and Nanu knows she appreciates it when he reciprocates. Also, it was fucking ridiculous. Irritated at Archie as he may be, the only person he can laugh at it with is right next to him. Holding his hand tight.]

We're leaving alone. That's already a plus. [He spares a half-joking glance behind them, as if to check for unwanted drunken followers.] But I'm willing to see how this ends up.

[ She laughs, albeit a little softly -- the kind of soft, awkward laugh that indicates she's not sure if it's alright to be laughing or not, even if Nanu seems to think it's fine and dandy. ]

It's nice that she's helping this time instead of making a mess. [ But it's said jokingly, like she knows just how loyal the gremlin can be as well as the rest of his team. ] Although I have to wonder how that almost happened, somehow I suspect it must tie in with the rest of your unfortunate evening... but I suppose you're right.

[ His phrasing has her flush, however. Had he thought she might end up returning home with someone? She can't imagine anyone being interested in her like that, but more specifically... even she can figure out her own thoughts are ludicrous. If he wasn't teasing her about that -- which was possible -- she knows it's just her mind running too fast. Perhaps it was the champagne? No, surely it was the champagne.

At least they're closer to home now. ]

Are you suggesting I might make this evening turn around? Or are you suggesting that I may make it worse?

[Yeah. That's a valid response. It's nice to hear all the same, though.]

Archie got drunk.

[That's probably still not sufficient enough, but the more confusing it is, the more amused he gets. Either way the walk home is pleasant and a thousand times better than how the night ended up. He really wasn't kidding when he said he should never have split up from her, but hindsight is always 20/20.]

[Really, Nanu had just meant in general; being able to break away from the festival pack as just them, instead of along with a steady stream of party-goers. The thought of Anabel bringing someone home doesn't even cross his mind. Of course, he's oblivious to his phrasing, as well as the flush on her face.]

Why, are you planning on making it worse? [still in a joking tone of course] I think I can trust you.

That somehow explains a great deal with so few words. He wasn't that way when I had met with him, so it seems you must be somewhat unfortunate...

[ Still confusing as it lacks a true answer, but... it still feels perfectly valid considering the man in question. At least he seems to be in a better mood, both of them with a touch of pep in their step.

Maybe she's imagining it from him. ]

Hm... perhaps I could? But I'm afraid I'd need some planning were I to do something so heinous. Please allow me a raincheque on this one and I will do it some other time. [ It's not missed and it quells whatever nerves she'd had starting to create an uprising. If anything, she's perfectly content in this moment, so near to him. ] I do hope it wasn't too bad, though. I know that you wouldn't have gone if not for me.

Uh-huh. Somewhat.

[You know, that kind of 'somewhat unfortunate' where a drunk-off-his-ass pirate scoops you up unwillingly into his arms bridal-style to drop you in a freezing cold fountain. The uzhe'.]

[Still, Nanu is much better when it's just him and Anabel. He may not be as peppy as she is right now, but they're walking hand-in-hand without a peep from him about it, and he's got a smile on his face; all that counts for something.]

Alright, alright. But I expect it to be real nefarious in that case. [He's actually. A little curious to see what she can cook up. But given that they're joking with each other, he's not entirely serious, so he doesn't think she is, either. (famous last words)]

[There is a pause after her last comment, though. He ends it with a little shrug.] Well, it was my own fault for breaking off like that.

Well... perhaps a little more than that, but you are alright, aren't you?

[ Alright, so it could be worse or much weirder, sure. Sure, but Nanu was comfortable and safe so that's what is most important, right?

It definitely counts for something. She swings his hand ever-so slightly, relishing in the way his hand feels against hers, fingers splayed and dragged, tips against tips then tightened back over his knuckles. Strong hands, she thinks. They'd held her up for so long. ]

I'll do my best to meet your high expectations, I promise. [ Perhaps for now it's all a joke, but if there's one thing she did it was put everything into whatever it was she did. ] Hm, well neither of us could have expected the evening to be as strange as it was, could we? Perhaps it is worth making a note of for next time.

[ Already planning another time? You bet.

She leans into him slightly as trees surrounding them thicken and the lights of the city fade more and more. They aren't too far from home now and it's perfectly safe, but it feels like a good time to do this. ]

I'm standing.

[Even if he had been dunked—even if he had gotten into a bar fight and met back up with Anabel bruised and bleeding, Nanu still would have written it off as no big deal. Partly to downplay a bad situation to her, but also because that's just who he is.]

[He almost cracks a comment when she swings their hands, but manages to hold back. She's almost giddy; or, at least, the closest he's seen her get to it. It doesn't take much for him to bet she's had some of the special drinks available at the festival. (And yet she wants to drink more?)]

Yeah, well, "next time" we won't be singled out.

[Whether or not that would make it easier for someone like Guzma, though... Well, at this point, they may as well have their pokémon as backup baring their teeth.]

[He doesn't mind when she leans into him. Briefly, the thought of separating their hands so he could put his arm around her shoulders goes through his mind... but ultimately, he doesn't. Their home coming into plain sight is the excuse he uses for himself.]

[When they finally arrive, he reaches out to hold the door open for her. Silently, but with a quirk of his mouth, like he knows what she might be thinking of the gesture despite his usual nature. And as they both officially come back home, he lets out a big sigh.]

I'd say that's quite lucky.

[ In a more literal sense, even. Although she thinks Nanu could hold himself in a genuine fight, including against Archie, but she might not make a point of... really saying that out loud. She supposes at the very least both men would know what side she'd be on.

His attitude is a little surprising for her, too, in that he is... well, he seems comfortable. Soothed? It's a new thing, but not something that's entirely rare. She's seen him like this before and he's been sweet in his own way, which she takes note of as he doesn't push her away or force them to part. It's encouraging in a way. His hands are softer than she expected and warmer still than she'd thought they might be. It's difficult for her to not inch closer and lean against him. ]

Oh, I'd hope that next time will be quite a bit different. Preferably, we'll avoid the run-ins we both have. [ It hovers in her eyes, soft and inviting, speaking volumes that she's been incapable of verbally. It's starting to hang lower, headier, more obvious to even her. It's feels like he might be too aware -- more than even she is. The gesture itself doesn't feel rare when he does it and isn't even noteworthy beyond the acknowledgement that he's done it in the past for her. ] Thank you, I think we can relax now. If you'd like to change, I can pour us drinks?

[ She seems eager, at least, to keep their conversation going. ]

[To him, Anabel's not acting out of sorts; most likely because he's factoring in the likelihood of a few drinks on her end. But her mannerisms that might seem forward even to her are going over his head. Way over his head. So over his head that Nanu would normally be uncomfortable by this point. If he knew the difference, he'd chalk it up to the exhaustion of the night. Because he doesn't, he's actually enjoying himself.]

[He shucks the dress jacket off and preemptively stops himself from going to kick off his flip-flops, because he's not wearing them. After walking back home in his bare feet, though, he at least has the forethought to wipe them on the little rug they have by the door before going further into the house.]

[The first thing he does after that, however, is make a combeeline for a chair.]

If I go upstairs now, I'm probably not coming back down.

[And when he goes up later, he's probably still not coming back down for another day. A couple days. A week. Two weeks, tops.]

[Either way, that's as much a cue as she'll get that he'd rather stay near her than go off to the comfort of being alone in his room. The same sort of cue he gives as he sits down, but conversationally keeps his eye on her. While he waits, though, he finds and releases his pokémon to do as they please, and promises Sableye a big treat for saving his ass earlier.]

[ She's more aware of herself than him right now, so it doesn't factor in that he might be more intimately aware of his own actions in the same manner. She's still unable to be anything but bright, particularly since her evening was, perhaps, not nearly as eventful as his. Although there had been reasons that unnerved her and crept into into her thoughts every so often -- not the exact accusations -- she's content otherwise and it won't spoil their evening.

What she has to silence aren't exactly what was said by Guzma, but in a similar vein. He had looked particularly handsome tonight and while she'd have said that to nearly any man who indeed looked so as a compliment... there was so much more behind it. ]

Then shouldn't you? If you're tired, don't stay awake on my account. [ She doesn't repeat herself on how his evening differed from hers. Her eyes follow him to a chair and though she wanted him to take care of himself she can't help but feel that guilty Togedemaru quill-prick of elation that he's choosing to spend more time with her. It feels special. ] I hope you know I won't wake you if you drift off.

[ But he can probably catch the little smile as she dips off toward the kitchen and releases her pokemon from their Ultra Balls since she'd been carrying them with her. Lucario, Salamence, Weavile, and Mismagius take off in different directions and Raikou sticks to her side seemingly aware of the tension from earlier despite only having been out and about for Archie's company (of which he wasn't terribly fond; too noisy). After pulling out two glasses from a cabinet, she stops to press her cheek to his head and tell him to go relax. After some hesitation, she assumes he's padding off for the company of Persian or Absol.

The drinks are nothing special, though she's never really seen Nanu as a wine person. It's a sweet dessert white she'd picked up in Verens after being recommended it alongside a more bitter Beaujolais that she favored (perhaps they'd break into that, too?) and she was told that they made the white "sparkling" with emotion. The fizzy bubbles might be just what they need right about now. Between the two glasses it is nearly empty so she leaves it on the counter top for any refills. Each in hand, delicately, she shuffles back to the living area and holds out a glass to him.

Silently, she's a little disappointed she can't sit beside him. It's a stronger desire than previously and it gives her a little tickle that she's come to a point where she's not even ashamed to admit it to herself.

She sits across from him, gently lifting the length of her dress while settling in after he takes his glass from her. She normally kept her shoes on, but she lifts her heel out from each and pries them from one foot than the other with the tip of the opposite one then pushes them to the side with a nudge. ]

It's really been quite a night, hasn't it? I'm glad I was able to spend most of it with you, but I think you know that already. We so rarely have had time together that hasn't been about work so it's... nice. [ She holds the glass with care, twisting it in her fingers. ] There's supposed to be an emotional effect with this, some kind of contentedness and relaxation. When I inquired I was told it would take several full bottles for it to make a grand, noticeable difference so I think we'll be safe.

Ha-ha.

[At least she's accepting his decision. Even if, despite his spotty sleeping record, he'd probably get a few hours in from exhaustion alone.]

[But for now he wants to stay, and is glad that she doesn't try to push him further. And if he was being honest, he's enjoying the fact that she's enjoying herself so much. It's not as though he never sees her happy, of course; but this is a different kind of happiness. One that he can tell is because of his willingness to participate, and with a good mood to boot. Nanu figures he'll ride this wave as long as he can tonight, just for her.]

[Well...for himself, too. He won't deny that meeting back up with her was the cause of his mood effect. Even her enthusiastic hand-holding, or offering to have a drink before they crashed for the night. And in the back of his mind...the dance. Their dance, that sticks out as the golden moment of the evening despite his apprehension and denial. Their dance, where she let her guard down with him, and maybe destroyed some of the walls serving as his own as well.]

[He hadn't realized that he'd been thinking so deeply about it until Anabel comes to him with a glass of bubbly. Damn, and he was going to pretend to be asleep when she came back. He'd even missed her own pokémon being let out, now aware of them in his peripheral vision.]

Thanks. [he says as he takes the glass, giving her a nod.] Figures there'd be an effect. That was the reason I avoided the drinks at the shindig.

[Though he readily takes a sip anyway, fully trusting Anabel and what she says about its low effect. It's...awfully sweet—to him, at least. He doesn't dislike it; though definitely won't be drinking a lot of this particular wine.]

Yeah, well... work's not a conflict here. [Going back to what she said before describing the wine.] Hey, glad you had a good time...at first. Like I said, I kind of regret breaking off for so long.

[He scratches the back of his head, already knowing how she's going to reply.]

It is nice.

[ It's a carefree sort of happiness she's experiencing, an event with him and then some time together like this... she's not sure they'd ever be afforded this back home. It's sharing a living space with him and a more clear realization of their relationship. It's something she hadn't even known she'd wanted so badly until now. To spend time with him was one thing, but the intimacy of sharing her life with him like this was so vastly different. It wasn't like when she'd only just arrived in... this world. It wasn't like traveling with him or being mentored. This was entirely separate, even if some of the feelings twisted together like watercolor paint bleeding on porous paper. ]

It seems to be popular to do that, to cook or make drinks with feelings put into them. I can't complain if it means avoiding a hangover. [ She can sense there's some distaste for it and makes a note for something more dry next time, although for some reason she really pinned him as someone that would enjoy things on the sweeter side. ] Ah, I imagine your evening might have been a little nicer if you hadn't. I do wish your time had been better, but I hope the experience overall had been worthwhile?

[ But the addition has her smile wider over the rim of the glass while she sips from it. ]

[Nanu snorts.] I can't imagine you ever having a hangover.

[Prim and proper, hardworking Anabel, knocking back alcohol for a night of fun? Waking up with her head pounding and slumped over a toilet? Okay—maybe not that bad, but the thought is ridiculous enough.]

[He takes another small sip, actually beginning to relax. It would take way more than this to get him even the slightest bit buzzed, but the atmosphere alone is good enough for him. Quiet, sharing conversation with Anabel, pokémon roaming the house...... Nice.]

It would've been even better if I hadn't been accosted twice and almost blown to bits. [A pause; he knows she was accosted all the same, and worse than what Guzma gave him.] ...So I think I can toss out the whole night except the beginning.

I am not one to drink until that point, but there have been times.

[ Fun? Of course not. It would have to be for work. Sometimes you go to employee outings or, alternatively, you go on a mission or meet up for intel. If you don't drink, you don't look trustworthy. ]

I'd imagine that goes without saying. Perhaps it's fortunate that I wasn't there, I might have challenged both Archie and Guzma to a battle. Knowing them, however, their egos wouldn't come out of it bruised. [ She can't be honest about that, though. It's not untrue what he said about feelings for Nanu, but a kink? That suggests anyone handsome and of age would do. No, she's just... She's just, what? ] Let us remember the beginning and end then.

[ She gently lifts her glass, without intent to clink them together but just recognize the gesture. ]

[The idea still strikes him as amusing, and he grins wider.]

To have been a Cutiefly on those walls.... [Aside from his usual interest with her assignments over the last decade...]

[He chuckles.] Ah, but I'd like to think I hit 'em where it hurts. Nothing like what you'd do, though.

[The latter Nanu says with a smirk, a little hint hint. To see Guzma, especially, brought down by the person he's targeting is always a poetic justice. The fact that it'd be Anabel is just icing on the ego cake. He'd pay to see her decimate either of those two idiots.]

[He'll drop it, though; to follow her suggestion, which is fine by him. After raising his glass in return, he takes a bigger drink. While he doesn't want to feel the emotional effects nor get sloshed, it'd still be nice to get a little buzzed.]

Hard to regret the night when you put it like that.

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