[ Anabel has a large, cotton bag attached to her shoulder as she shuffles ahead of Nanu with a hum. She's lured by the sweet smell of ripe fruit, nearly all unfamiliar to her. The shapes are similar to berries in some cases, but often the colors are different and the interior flesh will have a different texture and taste. She can never gauge if she's meant to eat the outside, whether it is thick or thin. She's stopped before guava; small, green spheres that remind her of Lum berries. Anabel has had them before, having bought a few when she saw them on sale previously. The exterior doesn't seem edible, but it is. It's a little more sour than the interior, which has an almost custard-texture and hard but edible tiny seeds. She likes it a lot (and so did Weavile, which was why she hadn't returned home with any) and they're fragrantly ripe without bordering rotten.
Scooping one up, she can't help but breathe it in before filling her hands and putting them in the bag. She leaves one out, which she holds out to Nanu. ]
I think you'll like this. It's a bit sour and sweet -- a little like you, come to think of it. [ Her face is dusted the faintest pink as she laughs at her tease with pursed lips. ] I wish it was easier to decide what to buy. I do like strawberries, at least... hm.
[He's always hated grocery shopping. Well—not hate. It's just high on his Hassle List of activities, and unfortunately something essential to living properly. But as with most things, Anabel is the exception to the rule.]
[Nanu's not exactly much help, though. Answering her questions, do you need this or that, are we low on something; grabbing an item off the shelf as they pass by and depositing it in her bag. Today's not necessarily essentials, otherwise they'd need a cart for various pokémon-pet items. It's been a slow-paced day in general, and right now Nanu is content to shuffle along behind or beside her, aimlessly glancing over fruits and vegetables and other fresh produce.]
[He takes the guava, turning it over in one hand. To him, it's like an Aguav berry...and to be honest, he's starting to see a pattern with the scrambled names. He can smell the sweetness without bringing it close to his face, though; certainly less bitter than the berries he's thinking of.]
In that case, it needs to be drier.
[Ba-dum-tshh. The guava gets dumped in her bag with the rest as Anabel thinks on her next decision. Without being big on fruit in general, Nanu doesn't have any suggestions... other than aiming toward fruit that won't make big bold stains if Sableye and Weavile get their hands on them.]
You'd buy them out of fruit stock entirely if you had the chance.
[ Anabel tends to do it back home in the odd hours so it's rarely busy and is often quiet. Almost soothing, even. It's a pleasant quiet time to shuffle through a store and let the soft lights carry her from aisle to aisle. She imagines even at Nanu's stranger hours that it can be a hassle considering his dual occupation and the fact he lives somewhere that tourists relish. Perhaps this will change in time, here. He hadn't complained (much) about it this time, after all.
His presence is more than enough for her, no real "help" needed beyond company and mild discussion. If they left without something they could come back tomorrow or the next day and there was nothing that was particularly important beyond a few little snacks for their teams -- and themselves. She does laugh at his response overall, more focused on him for the moment than the lines of fruits she can only identify by signs. ]
We've always had a disconnect with how you see yourself and how I see you, haven't we. [ But she thought it was funny, still. What qualified as berries here typically were the ones she avoided (blueberries, especially) due to either staining fur, feather, scale, or their home but she still gathers a carton of strawberries a little to the side of Nanu for herself. It's a moment before she recalls what she wanted. ] Oh, yes, Lucario wanted something sour. He's been so stressed lately and fretting over our teams I think it would be nice to pick something special up for him.
[ She shoots him a look while considering. ]
It's quite tempting, but I'm not sure I could eat that much.
[It's also something he never really imagined doing with someone else. But by now, with how long they've been together, he doesn't mind how teeth-rottingly, sweetly domestic it is. Or maybe he's matured a blind eye to that sort of thing when it's just between them.]
[His usual stream of complaints seems to stem off faster with her, too. Imagine that.]
[Nanu absent-mindedly watches her pick up the box of strawberries, making a mental note about how much Anabel seems to love them. The pause she makes afterwards gives his mind enough time to catch up to her words.]
He has been wrangling the troublemakers more often, hasn't he. [All of Anabel's pokémon fit her personality, but Lucario is probably the one who fits her most. Nanu would say that the fighting-type shouldn't worry himself over the household's antics, but it's probably the most responsible one out of the group. Just like his trainer.]
[Still, Nanu has no idea what half of these fruits and things are to contribute to Lucario's gift.] How ridiculous do you think we'd look asking the grocers what each one tastes like?
[ It's normal. Comfortable and nice to be here in someone's company, to not have to walk in silence. Opinions and banter, however as simple as it might be is something she doesn't scoff at. His presence is always welcome.
She hasn't noticed him watching her, though she normally would catch a small shift in his expression or the way he holds himself. Right now, she's more focused on where they are in relation to other items. She's not familiar enough to rush through all this quickly. ]
He seems to feel as if it is his duty. Not that I do not appreciate it, of course. I can only imagine what they might get up to if he didn't stop them from tossing things at Persian or cursing our neighbors in the distance.
[ They're not that bad, but they occasionally can't help but indulge. It's in their nature, after all. The rest of her team tends to avoid much like his own might prefer to simply enjoy peace and quiet... which is the opposite of what Sableye, Weavile, and Mismagus tend to prefer. ]
I think you'd relish in the discomfort of it, Nanu. [ But she obviously thinks it is funny, if not charming and delightful. ] Otherwise, we can just grab a few different things and see.
takes out list from pocket, unravels all over the floor
[It's certainly a hell of a lot better than trudging through a too-bright convenience store, dragging his feet while picking out the barest of essentials for himself as the lights flicker above his head and the tinny sound of the top 20 shitty hits of yesteryear plays from the radio.]
[The best time to look at her is when she's focused on something else, honestly. It means she won't be dissecting either of their actions or expressions. And it gives him a chance to relax and really mull over how lucky he is.]
I'm pretty sure they'd step it up to ruining Persian's coat and cursing everyone within a ten-foot radius. If they lived that long.
[The troublemakers, he means. Persian would absolutely sentence them to death if they ruined her perfect coat of fur. There always has to be at least one outlier in every team, and for them they match together like the puzzle pieces to a diabolical jigsaw. Nanu thinks it's hilarious. When he's not their target.]
Only if I made them go into excruciating, unnecessary detail. [And stare intently at them while they did so. Yeah, he'd relish it.] Lucario gets to taste-test them, though. I'm not biting into on the equivalent of a Nomel berry just for him.
[ Honestly, if this place were a little more on par with their era, it might be a little closer to that. Of course, she could zone it out (perhaps better than him) and focus on what's important overall. ]
Oh, I think Persian would have them in their place within a few seconds. Although it might be a good thing if we let them do it... they might behave for quite some time after doing that. Hm.
[ She clasps her chin as she laughs, tilting her head down while trying not to let it get out of hand in a public place. It's hard not to, when visualizing it. Although she'd be sad for Persian (and for them, having to clean her up better), it might be good long-term. ]
Yet you have not suggested you will avoid it, hm. [ Ah, how cute. It's hard not to think he's wonderful despite the situation. It's nearly a whisper, but surely he'll catch the thought: I really do love him when it comes nearly intrusive, in and out. ] Ah, but it may not be. That's the whole point of taste-testing.
[ She's scooping a few things up that they haven't tried before. Some with softer skins, some harder. ]
You underestimate her proficiency in revenge. Hard to hold her back if they splash paint on her fur. [Several Team Skull grunts learned that the hard way. It was not pretty. Washing the paint out was the worst.]
[But the idea does tickle him, and he chuckles at the same time she does. It might actually be a good idea in a controlled situation. Something less permanent than paint. The idea is pushed to the back of his mind as a note for later; refocusing on their surroundings and the slow-paced task they'd chosen to do together.]
[Anabel's looking over and picking out a few different fruits, probably as experiments for them to try and expand their culinary tastes. In the lull, he leans against one of the sturdier displays, hands in his pockets and watching her with a lazy gaze. It's hard not to smile; he does it subconsciously just looking at her. Is this what people love about domesticity?]
[She picks up a fruit in one hand. Turns it over, studying the shape. Texture. Skin. The label of the fruit's name. Maybe pausing under her nose to take in its scent. Then, delicately placing it in her bag once she finds it satisfactory. Slowly meandering to the next display, thin hand held out before she even decides on a sample... All of her little mannerisms, slight and unnoticeable to anyone who wasn't looking. The same thought slips out, like a mutual game of telephone, infiltrating their thoughts with each others' whispers. God, I love her.]
[And it's then that her reply falls by the wayside, when her errant thought registers. Just barely yet still clear as day, as if she'd said it out loud. Nanu goes still, attempting to determine whether he imagined it, or heard her wrong. His own voice sounds far-off in comparison.]
Oh, no. I'm sure she's much like her trainer in how calculating she might be.
[ Anabel can only imagine how terrible it had to have been. Then again, surely those that learned their lessons (perhaps by way of Black Hole Eclipse) would not make the same mistake again. That's the only thing you can ask of a "lesson" being taught.
Nanu doesn't seem too interested in picking anything else out for now, but she won't push him now. Another time, maybe. She lifts and shows him anything that seems familiar -- like something marked a "peach," which is perhaps too clearly like a Pecha berry. She just wonders if it tastes similar to one? She's not sure what is near to ripe here, not beyond the flesh being a little softer than harder. She'll have to do some more research on this sometime soon. She goes between a few of them, feeling more comfortable with something that seems like it may be familiar, swapping one for another, thumb delicately swirling in a circle to see if it is too soft. They're fragrant, but not cloyingly so. They must be good to go?
Anabel thinks she hears him reply to her and turns toward him with lips parted and a confused look spread across her features. As if his affection being that deep has never occurred to her and wasn't possible. ]
I said that it is the whole point of taste-testing. What... did you say?
[ Her heart feels seized. And she holds a fist over her chest, gently clasping at her blouse. ]
[The Meowth with dirtied coins settled the score with Fury Swipes, usually. Persian? Could murder with a Mean Look. She could probably trigger a Black Hole Eclipse without needing him there at all. And he really doesn't want to destroy their farm house via payback.]
[Of course, all of that is shoved to the backburner in the wary confusion.]
[Nanu had looked over the peach, finding the fuzzy exterior peculiar but otherwise much like a Pecha. A few more here and there, watching her face, then her hands... But they both seem to stop at the same time, expressions similar. Baffled. He knows what he said, and it wasn't much. Had he misheard? Did he imagine it?]
[He probably screwed up again.]
I...just asked what you said. [Slowly, tentatively, his own confusion evident. Clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck.] I, ah-- think I might have misheard... someone else, or something...
[ The fruit is lost in what she heard -- thought she heard? She's not sure anymore. Had she heard him say what she thought she heard? Or is it just wishful thinking? It sounded like him, like no one else. Anabel recognized him and... hands free, she stares up at him even though she struggles to keep her eyes on him. ]
That... is what I said. [ She feels like she's swallowing nothing, her mouth too dry to even really derive anything but discomfort from it. ] I'm... Nanu, did you just say...
[ She's flustered because she didn't expect anything from him like that. The closeness they've had over time, especially more recently, has been something she isn't sure how to parse. It's not as if it has been faster than expected so much as... love. Right?
Anabel takes a breath in through her nose and finally speaks again, determined to actually talk to him about it. ]
Did you say that you love me?
claim blindness all you want, the written list remains
[Nanu, too, didn't expect anything like this. From either of them. Sure, it was obvious how much Anabel cared about him, but for some reason the thought of love didn't come into play. Maybe because it was too serious to think about, despite their evolving relationship. Maybe because Nanu still has misgivings about not being good enough for her; about Anabel deserving a better partner. Maybe because he doesn't think he's deserving of love.]
[She looks at him with an expression he can't place, besides the confusion. Fear? Embarrassment? Mortification? He doesn't know which is worse. He doesn't know which of those is currently on his face.]
[Until, that is, she asks him point blank. And he realizes the stray thought he'd had; a passing feeling otherwise gone unnoticed as he watched her doing something as mundane as browsing produce. And he thinks of the random intrusions he's received here and there as of late, unintentional and uncontrollable...]
[ Love isn't casual, which is what they feel like now. Day-in and day-out, it's just passing by comfortably. This, though, is something deeper and more sincere. It's a thought she can't quite solidify because she's never really let it linger, never really let it take hold of her. It simply was and perhaps had been longer than she'd even known, though in a very different way previously. It all was natural progression to end up at this point.
Well, maybe not this specific point. Standing in the fruit aisle staring at one another with mirrored looks of confusion. Did he need her to say it first, admit to it directly? She's sure he might just refute it as he had any new signs of affection at first whether it be "trial basis" or "we'll see" situations, but she accepts that about him and she's more than willing to put in the work and extra effort.
Her mind flutters the same way her stomach and chest does, draping like torn cobwebs throughout her insides. ]
I did, yes. Well, I didn't say it.
[ But she's almost impatient now, waiting for him to carry on. She asked him first and she wants to know now and her impatience stems from the fact she's certain, absolutely positive, that he must. Right? ]
[The concept didn't really need to come up. What they have is technically as casual as it can get; admitting their feelings and the initial commitment was all they needed, and it evolved subtly as time passed. More and more little displays of affection. Becoming content to be in public as well as private. A bigger display, here or there, when comfortably alone with each other. The bigger steps were almost always initiated by Anabel (moving into one bedroom the most recent...), but he did his part, consciously or otherwise. If it didn't need words, they weren't used. Casual. Normal. Honestly, how the hell Nanu didn't expect this to be the next stage of evolution is beyond him. It's so painfully obvious.]
[And then, she admits it. With that caveat he figured had to be at play, screwing with their own thoughts like they'd been put near a microphone. She'd thought it. They'd both thought it.]
[The icy streak that had gone through him unnoticed, settling heavy in his heart, is suddenly, instantly relieved. Nanu can't refute it or play it off. Not this time. Not when it's something this serious and real, and with Anabel surely feeling that fear he was just relieved of.]
[He swallows, voice low.]
I, uh-- didn't exactly say it...out loud, either...
[ It just is what it is. As long as they're happy, all that matters is how they personally define it. They've become more open with each other and honest -- and genuine in their own way, a way that only mattered to the two of them.
It strikes her somewhere inside, like an electric undercurrent that she can't quite explain. Shopping is forgotten, even right down to Lucario. It's a haze around them, just between them. Nothing but the two of them, together right now. It's enough to even ripen fruit around them, the bright green bananas beside her shifting to a warm, bright yellow. The fruit around them is fragrant, like flowers.
Her eyes fall on his, brows dipped like she's still waiting. ]
[Unlike most changes in the environment when their feelings manipulate the atmosphere, Nanu notices. Instead of having tunnel vision, he's hyper-aware of their surroundings; too focused. Anabel's front and center, of course, but the fact that he can't trust his own private thoughts all of a sudden has him on guard. Or at least, even more so than usual. He's very glad they chose to go grocery shopping at an odd time, when there are barely any customers in the rest of the store.]
[But on his guard as he may be, he knows he shouldn't. Not with Anabel, and not about this. Prodding him further is something he expects, yet somehow he still confesses only the bare minimum at first glance. It's not fair to her; it never is. More so after she's confessed one of the hardest things to confess, in public, without any preparation.]
[So he forces himself to stop avoiding her gaze, looking her straight in the eye, and nods. Hesitantly, at first. Then again to make sure.]
[ For Anabel, it's almost as if she forgot she didn't choose to say it at this point. All she's thinking about is the two of them and what he'd said or... well, thought. He's not vulnerable with her; she'll always be an anchor and a rock or even a wall when need be. He's safe with her.
...but she wants to know so terribly now and those thoughts of her own are transmitted. Her worries, maybe. I hope so. Small and simple, but lacking fears of him not feeling that way and in hand, non-verbally admitting that if he doesn't, that she can live with that, too.
She doesn't want to push, but she's not thinking of that. Of being here or how this city is playing games with them. All she's thinking of is him and hearing that she matters just as much to him.
He doesn't repeat himself nor did she expect him to and it clearly upsets her internally with the oh present to some degree, but the rest of her features quickly betray that. She knows the kind of person he is and if she's lucky he'll say it again sometime. So, she quickly looks around them to make certain they're alone before dipping in to kiss his cheek. ]
Thank you. [ Not for saying that, but for what he feels. There's a certain gratitude she feels for that, but more because of the opportunity he has given her. That he is telling her something intimate in public and that he's opening up for her, offering her the very real possibility of wounding him by doing so. ] ...ah, so. Oranges, perhaps?
[ The smile she wears isn't overpowering, but there's something soft and secret to it. A hidden joy that's just for them. Her face still flushed and her heart racing. I wish my heart would slow down a little, though her confession falls on his ears, too, as she goes for not an orange but a grapefruit. It's different and she figures maybe it's like an orange? It's large enough that it can be shared.
And her mind keeps running as she gazes back at him, slowly shuffling away from the aisle. They should get champagne or something right? Or would that be too strange? ]
the glass part of the glasses that do the seeing thing
[Another thought let loose, clear as day to her but unnoticed by him. Nanu had just been on alert with his thoughts, but it was instantly forgotten in the wake of how Anabel reacted. That little 'oh' gave him a pang of regret and guilt in his heart, even if she's covered it up as though he really did say what she wanted him to.]
[It's not just that he didn't repeat his thought word-by-word—she didn't, either, after all—but he knows the way he went about it was far less caring and enthusiastic as she. Nanu swallows again when Anabel leans in to kiss him on the cheek, brief but no less emotionally charged. He doesn't think he deserves the thanks she gives him afterwards, nor does he think he's earned the kind- and sweetness Anabel's giving to him.]
[Her thought comes clear to him, too, and it makes him realize his own heart is racing as well. Again, like they're teenagers instead of grown adults. The pungent smells and the over-saturation of the fruits still linger, and though he hasn't said anything in return yet, his eyes betray the silence as he looks into hers. Regret, sure, but there's a softness backed by that love he just couldn't spit out as he watches her pick up what is very probably not an orange at all.]
[(The way she keeps looking back at him as they slowly move helps that feeling, too.)]
[Something more than just the regret pushes him forward this time, though. Unlike Anabel, Nanu doesn't even bother looking around them for potential witnesses when he steps toward her, gently wraps his hand around her free arm, and leans down for a proper, much deeper kiss.]
[ She looks at him still, not unhappy with this although she relishes the thought that in the future he may say it more directly -- and perhaps with some frequency. That is enough for her and something surely worth waiting for. She may have wanted something direct and solid in response, but her own mind is quick to ignore that and be content with what he offers her. Anything he's willing to give her is more than enough.
There's a little spark to her kiss; like when you rub a Pikachu's cheeks. Static, but warm and pleasant. She supposes he's probably thinking something absurd right now instead of enjoying the moment and feeling as light as a Swanna's feather the way she is, but she never wants to push him or force him to be something he isn't. Even if she wishes he could shut that brain down of his for just a moment or two.
She doesn't compare the two of them to love-struck, infatuated teens because to her, this is just the way affection like this should feel. The realization and confession of it should be something special.
--and apparently, he might actually agree with that. Though he's not lifting her, she certainly feels swept off her feet when he sneaks past her guard. Almost ready to question if he'd like to look elsewhere, the words don't even start to form before he's initiating a kiss; it's warm and eases throughout her body, down to her fingertips. Like a gentle humming of skin to skin. Before he's able to part she's quick to hold on. First to his arm, then to his cheek, slipping over his jawline when she makes a muffled sound into his mouth.
[It's a powerful feeling, to be the instigator. When the two had first started working things out between them, Nanu felt uncomfortable; as if he was taking advantage of Anabel by being older than her, and an ex-mentor to boot. But it's a little like the old saying, "practice makes perfect". And in the case, 'perfect' is the sweet spot of feeling the rush of love from a simple gesture instead of guilt.]
[One lucky part of being in this world, he supposes. The rush of love takes on an atmospheric affect; the comfort of wearing a blanket, fresh out of the dryer, around yourself. Or the both of them, so close together, as it were.]
[As she moves her hand from one place to the next, settling along the side of his face, Nanu moves his other hand to her hip. While he hadn't looked around beforehand because, to him, it meant more than if he were being conscious about that sort of thing—well, he doesn't want to evolve into a(nother teenage-like) 'make-out' in the middle of the produce aisle. His first attempt to gently draw back is delayed by that delightful sound Anabel makes, instinctively prolonging the lock between them. He doesn't know it yet, but when she does that, he's too weak to deny reciprocation.]
[The second try is a few moments later, after the kiss has lingered just long enough to be far more than the ones peppered around their household. Still holding her hip and the crook of one arm, Nanu pulls back slowly, holding his face a little closer still, dusted pink. He doesn't look embarrassed, though. And he's not.]
Sorry, [HE SAYS AS THOUGH HE HAS ANYTHING TO BE SORRY ABOUT] I'm no good with words.
[ He's the instigator of most other things, why not this, as well? She is a patient woman and doesn't mind waiting, still, even now. They both have their hang-ups, some of which she still thinks on and surely he does, too. The loss she'd once experienced in addition to being here, in Verens. The idea that they may lose this and never regain it upon going back where they came from or that one of them may stay here much longer than the other to boot. It's a worrisome thought, but not one that's so overpowering that she'd be willing to reject this for what it is.
She feels warm, but not just that anxious rush of being flushed or worried about a reaction. It's pleasant beyond just touch -- although further touch surely cements that feeling. The hand on her hip is something she settles into and would be delighted to have carry on for any length of time, anywhere.
Parting, she sighs. Her shoulders lower, lacking the tension that she naturally has any other time. For all intents and purposes, it's easily a swoon. Nearly light-headed, she almost automatically ducks her head with chin to chest, tips of her fingers curved onto her neck. ]
I-Is that so? I will be expecting more of that in the future, in that case.
[ She tilts her head as she turns away and starts to shuffle when gently hooking her arm to his to carry on. It's easier to just drop it because it isn't as if they'll never be together again. There's plenty of time for smoocharoos. ]
[Oh, how his opinions have changed since their initial arrival to Empatheias. Wanting to go back home, versus wanting to stay here. Forgetting everything about this world, versus the memories they have and still are creating. Nanu doesn't like to think about it. He doesn't even know how he stands on the decision anymore.]
[Despite the issue being tied directly to her, looking at Anabel tends to make most problems melt away. Especially when she looks so happy, yet relaxed; and even more so when he knows she's feeling this way because of him. It's an ouroboros he doesn't want to be broken, the feedback cycle of feeling warmth and happiness (and love) that spreads to each other and prolongs for as long as they have the opportunity to react.]
[Anabel's little sigh and the way she curls in on herself... Nanu definitely wants to experience that again. You know...if he has to.]
[He takes her arm just as soon as she links it with his, and doesn't protest to moving on with the conversation. They're doing the exact same before, except now it's even more tooth-rottingly domestic. And he's happy with that.]
...Ehh... You want to pick out anything special for Latios? [god they're both blushing, it's so damn obvious] For reuniting, and all.
[ It's something better to not think on. There's no answers they can acquire until they're there, at that point. Things might be different for them, they might be gone permanently or they might come back here for a week or two weeks or months. There were no answers, whether they be estimated or certain. It's better to enjoy what they have now.
It's something that Anabel has learned long ago. Taking time for granted is something she tries not to do, even if she won't remember and will lose it all over again.
What they share now is an extension of what she's always felt for him, a different thing than before but she's always been content in his company. It must be the same for him, though perhaps with more relief now that he is able to breathe more easily. The lack of secrets and her acceptance and understanding she hopes has helped to lead him down that path.
She doesn't think about holding his arm at all; it feels natural. There are other couples (and even friends) doing the same all throughout Verens, so she thinks nothing of it being particularly meaningful beyond the way it makes her feel safer and more comfortable. ]
Hm, I suppose I should! [ Blushing, but acting as if it isn't there. ] He still likes overly sweet things. I could just make some pokepuffs later for the lot of them. The only question is if you're up for the task of aiding me.
[That's something Anabel can compartmentalize nicely. The King of Pessimism, not so much. But he tries. For both their sakes.]
[She's right about him being able to breathe easier, though; despite the major changes to their dynamic recently...one as recently as about two whole minutes ago. Nanu wouldn't say it's perfect, but he's hardly like he used to be with the idea, let alone the physical intimacy. The fact that he locks arms without a second thought is a testament to that.]
You remember the last time I tried to help you make poképuffs?
[ At least if anything, Nanu can be predictable. When it doesn't involve her. She doesn't think the worst of him or thinks he believes negative things about her so much as... sometimes she just doesn't believe she's worth it. It feels like a dream some days.
This might be the closest thing she's ever had to "perfect". At least in her memories. She looks forward to each day in a very different way than she did back home and is filled with a different kind of joy and hope. She'd never really experienced it before, so she hadn't known just how good it was. ]
I still enjoyed myself. If you're afraid of a little flour, though, you needn't join me. [ Of course she appeals to it with a tease, but Nanu's the only one who would choose to take the bait with an agreement rather than fight against it. She liked that, though. ] Or is it that you're afraid Latios might follow you around like he's in love with you?
forward-dated HERE WE GO
Scooping one up, she can't help but breathe it in before filling her hands and putting them in the bag. She leaves one out, which she holds out to Nanu. ]
I think you'll like this. It's a bit sour and sweet -- a little like you, come to think of it. [ Her face is dusted the faintest pink as she laughs at her tease with pursed lips. ] I wish it was easier to decide what to buy. I do like strawberries, at least... hm.
hehehehuehu :3c
[Nanu's not exactly much help, though. Answering her questions, do you need this or that, are we low on something; grabbing an item off the shelf as they pass by and depositing it in her bag. Today's not necessarily essentials, otherwise they'd need a cart for various pokémon-pet items. It's been a slow-paced day in general, and right now Nanu is content to shuffle along behind or beside her, aimlessly glancing over fruits and vegetables and other fresh produce.]
[He takes the guava, turning it over in one hand. To him, it's like an Aguav berry...and to be honest, he's starting to see a pattern with the scrambled names. He can smell the sweetness without bringing it close to his face, though; certainly less bitter than the berries he's thinking of.]
In that case, it needs to be drier.
[Ba-dum-tshh. The guava gets dumped in her bag with the rest as Anabel thinks on her next decision. Without being big on fruit in general, Nanu doesn't have any suggestions... other than aiming toward fruit that won't make big bold stains if Sableye and Weavile get their hands on them.]
You'd buy them out of fruit stock entirely if you had the chance.
HOO HA HA HA HOOOAHHAHA
His presence is more than enough for her, no real "help" needed beyond company and mild discussion. If they left without something they could come back tomorrow or the next day and there was nothing that was particularly important beyond a few little snacks for their teams -- and themselves. She does laugh at his response overall, more focused on him for the moment than the lines of fruits she can only identify by signs. ]
We've always had a disconnect with how you see yourself and how I see you, haven't we. [ But she thought it was funny, still. What qualified as berries here typically were the ones she avoided (blueberries, especially) due to either staining fur, feather, scale, or their home but she still gathers a carton of strawberries a little to the side of Nanu for herself. It's a moment before she recalls what she wanted. ] Oh, yes, Lucario wanted something sour. He's been so stressed lately and fretting over our teams I think it would be nice to pick something special up for him.
[ She shoots him a look while considering. ]
It's quite tempting, but I'm not sure I could eat that much.
ah yes, very innocent
[His usual stream of complaints seems to stem off faster with her, too. Imagine that.]
[Nanu absent-mindedly watches her pick up the box of strawberries, making a mental note about how much Anabel seems to love them. The pause she makes afterwards gives his mind enough time to catch up to her words.]
He has been wrangling the troublemakers more often, hasn't he. [All of Anabel's pokémon fit her personality, but Lucario is probably the one who fits her most. Nanu would say that the fighting-type shouldn't worry himself over the household's antics, but it's probably the most responsible one out of the group. Just like his trainer.]
[Still, Nanu has no idea what half of these fruits and things are to contribute to Lucario's gift.] How ridiculous do you think we'd look asking the grocers what each one tastes like?
when am i not
She hasn't noticed him watching her, though she normally would catch a small shift in his expression or the way he holds himself. Right now, she's more focused on where they are in relation to other items. She's not familiar enough to rush through all this quickly. ]
He seems to feel as if it is his duty. Not that I do not appreciate it, of course. I can only imagine what they might get up to if he didn't stop them from tossing things at Persian or cursing our neighbors in the distance.
[ They're not that bad, but they occasionally can't help but indulge. It's in their nature, after all. The rest of her team tends to avoid much like his own might prefer to simply enjoy peace and quiet... which is the opposite of what Sableye, Weavile, and Mismagus tend to prefer. ]
I think you'd relish in the discomfort of it, Nanu. [ But she obviously thinks it is funny, if not charming and delightful. ] Otherwise, we can just grab a few different things and see.
takes out list from pocket, unravels all over the floor
[The best time to look at her is when she's focused on something else, honestly. It means she won't be dissecting either of their actions or expressions. And it gives him a chance to relax and really mull over how lucky he is.]
I'm pretty sure they'd step it up to ruining Persian's coat and cursing everyone within a ten-foot radius. If they lived that long.
[The troublemakers, he means. Persian would absolutely sentence them to death if they ruined her perfect coat of fur. There always has to be at least one outlier in every team, and for them they match together like the puzzle pieces to a diabolical jigsaw. Nanu thinks it's hilarious. When he's not their target.]
Only if I made them go into excruciating, unnecessary detail. [And stare intently at them while they did so. Yeah, he'd relish it.] Lucario gets to taste-test them, though. I'm not biting into on the equivalent of a Nomel berry just for him.
the list has nothing written on it
Oh, I think Persian would have them in their place within a few seconds. Although it might be a good thing if we let them do it... they might behave for quite some time after doing that. Hm.
[ She clasps her chin as she laughs, tilting her head down while trying not to let it get out of hand in a public place. It's hard not to, when visualizing it. Although she'd be sad for Persian (and for them, having to clean her up better), it might be good long-term. ]
Yet you have not suggested you will avoid it, hm. [ Ah, how cute. It's hard not to think he's wonderful despite the situation. It's nearly a whisper, but surely he'll catch the thought: I really do love him when it comes nearly intrusive, in and out. ] Ah, but it may not be. That's the whole point of taste-testing.
[ She's scooping a few things up that they haven't tried before. Some with softer skins, some harder. ]
sorry that was the wrong side
[But the idea does tickle him, and he chuckles at the same time she does. It might actually be a good idea in a controlled situation. Something less permanent than paint. The idea is pushed to the back of his mind as a note for later; refocusing on their surroundings and the slow-paced task they'd chosen to do together.]
[Anabel's looking over and picking out a few different fruits, probably as experiments for them to try and expand their culinary tastes. In the lull, he leans against one of the sturdier displays, hands in his pockets and watching her with a lazy gaze. It's hard not to smile; he does it subconsciously just looking at her. Is this what people love about domesticity?]
[She picks up a fruit in one hand. Turns it over, studying the shape. Texture. Skin. The label of the fruit's name. Maybe pausing under her nose to take in its scent. Then, delicately placing it in her bag once she finds it satisfactory. Slowly meandering to the next display, thin hand held out before she even decides on a sample... All of her little mannerisms, slight and unnoticeable to anyone who wasn't looking. The same thought slips out, like a mutual game of telephone, infiltrating their thoughts with each others' whispers. God, I love her.]
[And it's then that her reply falls by the wayside, when her errant thought registers. Just barely yet still clear as day, as if she'd said it out loud. Nanu goes still, attempting to determine whether he imagined it, or heard her wrong. His own voice sounds far-off in comparison.]
...What...did you say?
also blank!!!
[ Anabel can only imagine how terrible it had to have been. Then again, surely those that learned their lessons (perhaps by way of Black Hole Eclipse) would not make the same mistake again. That's the only thing you can ask of a "lesson" being taught.
Nanu doesn't seem too interested in picking anything else out for now, but she won't push him now. Another time, maybe. She lifts and shows him anything that seems familiar -- like something marked a "peach," which is perhaps too clearly like a Pecha berry. She just wonders if it tastes similar to one? She's not sure what is near to ripe here, not beyond the flesh being a little softer than harder. She'll have to do some more research on this sometime soon. She goes between a few of them, feeling more comfortable with something that seems like it may be familiar, swapping one for another, thumb delicately swirling in a circle to see if it is too soft. They're fragrant, but not cloyingly so. They must be good to go?
Anabel thinks she hears him reply to her and turns toward him with lips parted and a confused look spread across her features. As if his affection being that deep has never occurred to her and wasn't possible. ]
I said that it is the whole point of taste-testing. What... did you say?
[ Her heart feels seized. And she holds a fist over her chest, gently clasping at her blouse. ]
incorrect!!!
[Of course, all of that is shoved to the backburner in the wary confusion.]
[Nanu had looked over the peach, finding the fuzzy exterior peculiar but otherwise much like a Pecha. A few more here and there, watching her face, then her hands... But they both seem to stop at the same time, expressions similar. Baffled. He knows what he said, and it wasn't much. Had he misheard? Did he imagine it?]
[He probably screwed up again.]
I...just asked what you said. [Slowly, tentatively, his own confusion evident. Clears his throat and rubs the back of his neck.] I, ah-- think I might have misheard... someone else, or something...
gosh where are the words??
That... is what I said. [ She feels like she's swallowing nothing, her mouth too dry to even really derive anything but discomfort from it. ] I'm... Nanu, did you just say...
[ She's flustered because she didn't expect anything from him like that. The closeness they've had over time, especially more recently, has been something she isn't sure how to parse. It's not as if it has been faster than expected so much as... love. Right?
Anabel takes a breath in through her nose and finally speaks again, determined to actually talk to him about it. ]
Did you say that you love me?
claim blindness all you want, the written list remains
[She looks at him with an expression he can't place, besides the confusion. Fear? Embarrassment? Mortification? He doesn't know which is worse. He doesn't know which of those is currently on his face.]
[Until, that is, she asks him point blank. And he realizes the stray thought he'd had; a passing feeling otherwise gone unnoticed as he watched her doing something as mundane as browsing produce. And he thinks of the random intrusions he's received here and there as of late, unintentional and uncontrollable...]
[...oh, god]
...Did...did you?
where is it tho
Well, maybe not this specific point. Standing in the fruit aisle staring at one another with mirrored looks of confusion. Did he need her to say it first, admit to it directly? She's sure he might just refute it as he had any new signs of affection at first whether it be "trial basis" or "we'll see" situations, but she accepts that about him and she's more than willing to put in the work and extra effort.
Her mind flutters the same way her stomach and chest does, draping like torn cobwebs throughout her insides. ]
I did, yes. Well, I didn't say it.
[ But she's almost impatient now, waiting for him to carry on. She asked him first and she wants to know now and her impatience stems from the fact she's certain, absolutely positive, that he must. Right? ]
put on your glasses
[And then, she admits it. With that caveat he figured had to be at play, screwing with their own thoughts like they'd been put near a microphone. She'd thought it. They'd both thought it.]
[The icy streak that had gone through him unnoticed, settling heavy in his heart, is suddenly, instantly relieved. Nanu can't refute it or play it off. Not this time. Not when it's something this serious and real, and with Anabel surely feeling that fear he was just relieved of.]
[He swallows, voice low.]
I, uh-- didn't exactly say it...out loud, either...
they've been on
It strikes her somewhere inside, like an electric undercurrent that she can't quite explain. Shopping is forgotten, even right down to Lucario. It's a haze around them, just between them. Nothing but the two of them, together right now. It's enough to even ripen fruit around them, the bright green bananas beside her shifting to a warm, bright yellow. The fruit around them is fragrant, like flowers.
Her eyes fall on his, brows dipped like she's still waiting. ]
But you... you do mean it, don't you?
no the ones with lenses in them
[But on his guard as he may be, he knows he shouldn't. Not with Anabel, and not about this. Prodding him further is something he expects, yet somehow he still confesses only the bare minimum at first glance. It's not fair to her; it never is. More so after she's confessed one of the hardest things to confess, in public, without any preparation.]
[So he forces himself to stop avoiding her gaze, looking her straight in the eye, and nods. Hesitantly, at first. Then again to make sure.]
...Wouldn't admit it if I didn't.
what are those
...but she wants to know so terribly now and those thoughts of her own are transmitted. Her worries, maybe. I hope so. Small and simple, but lacking fears of him not feeling that way and in hand, non-verbally admitting that if he doesn't, that she can live with that, too.
She doesn't want to push, but she's not thinking of that. Of being here or how this city is playing games with them. All she's thinking of is him and hearing that she matters just as much to him.
He doesn't repeat himself nor did she expect him to and it clearly upsets her internally with the oh present to some degree, but the rest of her features quickly betray that. She knows the kind of person he is and if she's lucky he'll say it again sometime. So, she quickly looks around them to make certain they're alone before dipping in to kiss his cheek. ]
Thank you. [ Not for saying that, but for what he feels. There's a certain gratitude she feels for that, but more because of the opportunity he has given her. That he is telling her something intimate in public and that he's opening up for her, offering her the very real possibility of wounding him by doing so. ] ...ah, so. Oranges, perhaps?
[ The smile she wears isn't overpowering, but there's something soft and secret to it. A hidden joy that's just for them. Her face still flushed and her heart racing. I wish my heart would slow down a little, though her confession falls on his ears, too, as she goes for not an orange but a grapefruit. It's different and she figures maybe it's like an orange? It's large enough that it can be shared.
And her mind keeps running as she gazes back at him, slowly shuffling away from the aisle. They should get champagne or something right? Or would that be too strange? ]
the glass part of the glasses that do the seeing thing
[Another thought let loose, clear as day to her but unnoticed by him. Nanu had just been on alert with his thoughts, but it was instantly forgotten in the wake of how Anabel reacted. That little 'oh' gave him a pang of regret and guilt in his heart, even if she's covered it up as though he really did say what she wanted him to.]
[It's not just that he didn't repeat his thought word-by-word—she didn't, either, after all—but he knows the way he went about it was far less caring and enthusiastic as she. Nanu swallows again when Anabel leans in to kiss him on the cheek, brief but no less emotionally charged. He doesn't think he deserves the thanks she gives him afterwards, nor does he think he's earned the kind- and sweetness Anabel's giving to him.]
[Her thought comes clear to him, too, and it makes him realize his own heart is racing as well. Again, like they're teenagers instead of grown adults. The pungent smells and the over-saturation of the fruits still linger, and though he hasn't said anything in return yet, his eyes betray the silence as he looks into hers. Regret, sure, but there's a softness backed by that love he just couldn't spit out as he watches her pick up what is very probably not an orange at all.]
[(The way she keeps looking back at him as they slowly move helps that feeling, too.)]
[Something more than just the regret pushes him forward this time, though. Unlike Anabel, Nanu doesn't even bother looking around them for potential witnesses when he steps toward her, gently wraps his hand around her free arm, and leans down for a proper, much deeper kiss.]
yah i got that
There's a little spark to her kiss; like when you rub a Pikachu's cheeks. Static, but warm and pleasant. She supposes he's probably thinking something absurd right now instead of enjoying the moment and feeling as light as a Swanna's feather the way she is, but she never wants to push him or force him to be something he isn't. Even if she wishes he could shut that brain down of his for just a moment or two.
She doesn't compare the two of them to love-struck, infatuated teens because to her, this is just the way affection like this should feel. The realization and confession of it should be something special.
--and apparently, he might actually agree with that. Though he's not lifting her, she certainly feels swept off her feet when he sneaks past her guard. Almost ready to question if he'd like to look elsewhere, the words don't even start to form before he's initiating a kiss; it's warm and eases throughout her body, down to her fingertips. Like a gentle humming of skin to skin. Before he's able to part she's quick to hold on. First to his arm, then to his cheek, slipping over his jawline when she makes a muffled sound into his mouth.
She lets it linger as long as she can. ]
squints
[One lucky part of being in this world, he supposes. The rush of love takes on an atmospheric affect; the comfort of wearing a blanket, fresh out of the dryer, around yourself. Or the both of them, so close together, as it were.]
[As she moves her hand from one place to the next, settling along the side of his face, Nanu moves his other hand to her hip. While he hadn't looked around beforehand because, to him, it meant more than if he were being conscious about that sort of thing—well, he doesn't want to evolve into a(nother teenage-like) 'make-out' in the middle of the produce aisle. His first attempt to gently draw back is delayed by that delightful sound Anabel makes, instinctively prolonging the lock between them. He doesn't know it yet, but when she does that, he's too weak to deny reciprocation.]
[The second try is a few moments later, after the kiss has lingered just long enough to be far more than the ones peppered around their household. Still holding her hip and the crook of one arm, Nanu pulls back slowly, holding his face a little closer still, dusted pink. He doesn't look embarrassed, though. And he's not.]
Sorry, [HE SAYS AS THOUGH HE HAS ANYTHING TO BE SORRY ABOUT] I'm no good with words.
squats
She feels warm, but not just that anxious rush of being flushed or worried about a reaction. It's pleasant beyond just touch -- although further touch surely cements that feeling. The hand on her hip is something she settles into and would be delighted to have carry on for any length of time, anywhere.
Parting, she sighs. Her shoulders lower, lacking the tension that she naturally has any other time. For all intents and purposes, it's easily a swoon. Nearly light-headed, she almost automatically ducks her head with chin to chest, tips of her fingers curved onto her neck. ]
I-Is that so? I will be expecting more of that in the future, in that case.
[ She tilts her head as she turns away and starts to shuffle when gently hooking her arm to his to carry on. It's easier to just drop it because it isn't as if they'll never be together again. There's plenty of time for smoocharoos. ]
What else should we pick up?
s..q.u..awk..s....
[Despite the issue being tied directly to her, looking at Anabel tends to make most problems melt away. Especially when she looks so happy, yet relaxed; and even more so when he knows she's feeling this way because of him. It's an ouroboros he doesn't want to be broken, the feedback cycle of feeling warmth and happiness (and love) that spreads to each other and prolongs for as long as they have the opportunity to react.]
[Anabel's little sigh and the way she curls in on herself... Nanu definitely wants to experience that again. You know...if he has to.]
[He takes her arm just as soon as she links it with his, and doesn't protest to moving on with the conversation. They're doing the exact same before, except now it's even more tooth-rottingly domestic. And he's happy with that.]
...Ehh... You want to pick out anything special for Latios? [god they're both blushing, it's so damn obvious] For reuniting, and all.
hrm
It's something that Anabel has learned long ago. Taking time for granted is something she tries not to do, even if she won't remember and will lose it all over again.
What they share now is an extension of what she's always felt for him, a different thing than before but she's always been content in his company. It must be the same for him, though perhaps with more relief now that he is able to breathe more easily. The lack of secrets and her acceptance and understanding she hopes has helped to lead him down that path.
She doesn't think about holding his arm at all; it feels natural. There are other couples (and even friends) doing the same all throughout Verens, so she thinks nothing of it being particularly meaningful beyond the way it makes her feel safer and more comfortable. ]
Hm, I suppose I should! [ Blushing, but acting as if it isn't there. ] He still likes overly sweet things. I could just make some pokepuffs later for the lot of them. The only question is if you're up for the task of aiding me.
no subject
[She's right about him being able to breathe easier, though; despite the major changes to their dynamic recently...one as recently as about two whole minutes ago. Nanu wouldn't say it's perfect, but he's hardly like he used to be with the idea, let alone the physical intimacy. The fact that he locks arms without a second thought is a testament to that.]
You remember the last time I tried to help you make poképuffs?
no subject
This might be the closest thing she's ever had to "perfect". At least in her memories. She looks forward to each day in a very different way than she did back home and is filled with a different kind of joy and hope. She'd never really experienced it before, so she hadn't known just how good it was. ]
I still enjoyed myself. If you're afraid of a little flour, though, you needn't join me. [ Of course she appeals to it with a tease, but Nanu's the only one who would choose to take the bait with an agreement rather than fight against it. She liked that, though. ] Or is it that you're afraid Latios might follow you around like he's in love with you?
(no subject)