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[ She's never surprised that he takes better care of his team than he does himself. She's offered the argument before of taking care of himself -- better, of course -- is showing his team that he cares about them just as well, but she's attempted every angle. Anabel only considers that he might not be interested out of his own stubbornness... or, more specifically, she feels that way even more because of it. If he wouldn't make himself more comfortable for himself or his pokemon, would he do it for her?

Oh, she hoped so. She hoped so, so very much. ]

Am I ever uncertain in regard to something that is important to me?

[ She doesn't mean to be so... proper right now. It's not easy to talk like this, though. Anabel smiles warmly, unable to cease with her bright and widespread grin even as she tries to ease it into something more manageable. She feels so strongly for him and only a single word really can describe it, though she hesitates to let it in just yet. Not quite now. ]

It's alright. Haven't you heard Raikou? Sometimes it sounds like a strike of thunder. If you find you're uncomfortable, I won't hold it against you for coming back into here, but... in the meantime, I would be delighted to lay beside you.

[ Just like her to push it as far as she does, embarrassing to an extent of utter devotion with her. Anabel squeezes his hand back, poking her fingers through his, flexing them playfully. ]

[Anabel's one of a few people in the pool above him in his hierarchy, shared by his pokémon. Of course he'd do it for her. But, just like her other attempts to get him to realize he's more than what he thinks, she's also taught him that it can't be the basis of a decision. At least, not in their relationship, and not a decision like this. If he says he'll agree just because it'll make her happy, she'll want it to mean something to him too.]

[And it does. Nanu's still just pitiful at representing it.]

Maybe. [Teasingly. Though if she wasn't her usual perpetually proper self, he'd wonder if something was wrong.] But I guess if you can sleep through that overgrown Luxray, I'm no contest.

[It's the first hint of a "yes". But he knows that she likes direct answers, and this is too brittle a subject to goof on it like he usually does.]

Oh, is that all? Anyone can do that. [he goofs anyway, the only way he can try and dissolve the weird emotional tension. It's lighthearted, but what he says next is framed a little more seriously.] And I guess I don't mind, either.

I know you're certain, but, uh... why don't we keep it on a...trial basis at first. In case you come to...regret it.

[ Anabel notices. She always notices, even if it is the smallest thing and she's patient, she doesn't need anything pronounced and grand. Frankly, the carefulness of his affection and admittance was more her pace and truthfully, she couldn't be more content. The thrill of this was a delight and perhaps the idea of it being sooner comes to her, but what was the point of worrying over wasted time? They were getting there now, at their own speed.

Whatever there was between them, it was good enough for her as-is and perhaps better in the future. She wasn't sure that she could be happier than now, but she's willing to have an open mind for it. ]

I would suggest you keep that commentary to yourself, he might not be thrilled if he heard such a comparison.

[ He was a prideful pokemon at times and Nanu knew that, of course. Anabel laughs at his little joke, but it's the rest of what he says that has her hold onto his hand and dip in to kiss him again. The corner of his mouth quickly, then her cheek against his, then lips to his cheekbone. ]

Of course. I don't think that I will, but it needn't be a trial if either of us find it's... not for us. Thank you for entertaining my request.

[It's still a tentative sort of hopeful, or looking-forward-to. He thinks again on how it's been a stretch since the last time he was ever this serious with someone to warrant using the same bedroom—and even then, it still wasn't as serious as things between him and Anabel are now. Theirs is a different kind of seriousness, deeper than just the attachment to each other when they first met, as Nanu first erroneously thought.]

[He likes it now. That's good enough for him too.]

I'd never say it within earshot. I don't want to mess up our rep. [His window is shut. He is safe...for now.]

[Anabel's little kisses are a force to be reckoned with, just like she is. Sometimes Nanu can barely keep up mentally, usually making his attempt to prolong the kiss at the very last second. Somehow, he's not used to it yet, and every little thing gets him.]

'Entertaining your request' makes it sound like I'm just humoring you. [He's not accusing her of anything, though, just pointing out how it was worded.] But you're right. I don't know if I can handle the switch to a bed actually made for sleeping.

[Persian yowls. She can.]

[ She's shared her space with others, but never in anything of a sense of permanency; not even another room of her home or a trial basis. It was only fitting that it was him that she'd experience this sort of settled-in with. The person she has always cared for most, amplified by their time alone with one another. She could pick through the little things that frustrated her and made her laugh -- often at the same time. She wanted more of that. Closer. Closer, still.

Impossibly close. ]

You are, after all, the only human he seems to genuinely like other than Looker -- although he often will give Looker a difficult time just for the sake of it...

[ Of course he would. He's a little too much like Nanu at times, she quietly muses. She hadn't started with intent for a response, but she's more than happy to let it linger, to cherish each moment they have like this. Of all people, she knows how fleeting things can be. How quickly you may forget and lose what you have grown to adore or even treat as commonplace. She didn't want to have any regrets if one of them disappeared tomorrow or if they both went home and forgot.

Anabel wants to believe that naturally she and Nanu would end up here again, someday, but she wonders how long it would take for the variables to slip into place again? Not as long as she thinks -- that's what she hopes. ]

Hardly, were you humoring me you'd stay put or make excuses. [ He'd been the one to say "trial" first, after all. ] Oh no, whatever will you do if you actually sleep? Right?

[ She naturally is asking the last part of Persian, smiling at her with the same fondness she holds for her trainer. ]

[If anyone told him a year ago that he would be in a serious relationship with anyone—let alone Anabel—and soon moving into the same bed together, he would have laughed one of his lungs out. Then again, if anyone told him he would be in this exact situation and in a completely different world with them, it might be very different...]

Oh yeah? Remind me to give him some extra poké beans later.

[Sounds like him! Ah, that mutual respect; he knew he loved Raikou for a damn good reason. And not just because of the way Anabel's trained him. He also makes a note to himself to ask her later about specific stories of that nature.]

[Nowadays, he tries not to think about what will happen when they inevitably return home. How neither of them will remember; how they'll blink out of existence here and back into the UB fiasco. How Anabel and Looker will end up returning to HQ and their jobs and their lives, and Nanu will return to...being Nanu. He used to want to go back home. Now, the scales have changed weight.]

[He tries to knock those thoughts out of his skull. A little quirk of the corner of his mouth, a chuckle at Anabel's comment to Persian. The latter of which gives another pleased yarl, stretching in place. Her head rubs against Anabel's leg, while her own legs intentionally get in Nanu's way.]

Hey, it might be too much. Remember when we first moved in? Going from a couch to an actual mattress? Almost died from the shock.

[When we first moved in. Just the reminder warms his heart.]

[ She wouldn't necessarily disagree with his sentiment were someone to approach her with a claim that is similar, but to agree to it would seem just as odd to her. Perhaps not if suggesting it would be Nanu -- she could logic herself into believing the possibility of it -- but the idea of being like this, together, was something she never thought she'd have. Settling down with someone else, in one place... she loved her job, but if she could have this back home, she might be willing to resign and do something more localized.

It's difficult to think about "back home," because to her knowledge they'd lose all of this. She has to wonder how much were highly specific variables and wouldn't lead them to the same place in their relationship unless they were like this...

Her attention falls more on Persian, her fingers pressing for a soft pet around her ears and her gaze is on her, absolutely delighted. ]

Hm, perhaps only for you. I think she's been wanting something a little more solid for a while. [ She doesn't quite realize that her phrasing falls to their entire situation, not just a bed. ] One might think you'd stop slouching sometime soon, perhaps.

[ Nearly a year now like this together. ]

[ continued here ]

[ really ]

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now you understand my life

do you regret this

never surrender

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