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Looking around the entrance, Desiree sighed as she thought to herself for a moment that she may have shown up at just the wrong time- maybe Thomas was out running errands or something, or maybe he had more serious matters to be tending to. At least, until the mass of Audino and Eevee encompassed her body with kind and comforting demeanors. Smiling, she'd lower herself to rest in a squat and try to pet as many as she possibly could- and Arcanine would appear to be in pure bliss as Florges rubbed his belly, wiggling back and forth as its feet would mimic a run, though upside down.[break][break]

A fluffier-looking Audino in comparison to the others had approached Desiree and extended a feeler, which she would not hesitate to allow to feel her heartbeat. It would be beating just a tad over normal rates, as she was curious and excited amidst the friendly pokemon. They were all so cute! Her emotions additionally would read as longing for her acquaintance, as she had no idea if Thomas was home or not, but nevertheless, she was soaking up the moment just as much as the Arcanine.[break][break]

Noticing the fluffy Audino had extended its arms outward as if it wished for a hug, the pinkette would do the same with a big smile on her face. "You're so precious~! Come 'ere~" She'd encourage, wrapping her arms around the fluffy pink pokemon and resting there for a moment before withdrawing. The ranch's signs all pointed toward her being in the right place, but if for some reason there was a mimicry of Thomas's countryside abode, she hoped that the owner wouldn't be upset with her for loving all of their pokemon. But paranoid thoughts were paranoid thoughts, and she wasn't typically the one to get an address wrong. Giving all the pokemon little pets if they were to accept, she'd now be sitting within their circle crisscrossed and would giggle in joy due to the cuteness factor.

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Snuggled up with all of the pokemon that had presented themselves at the ranch, Desiree would smile, trying to pet each and every one of them back and forth while they would all sit. All of them were the epitome of precious, but the group of Eevee stood out to her in particular, letting out little happy cries and butting their heads on her crossed legs. Beanbean the Arcanine was in pure bliss accompanied by the Florges; at the little peck that the fairy type would give him, he would begin to wag his tail more and more, attempting to nuzzle affectionately in response.[break][break]

While her blinged-out hands would stroke one of the Eevee's soft fur, almost all of the attention would soon shift toward a voice- a familiar voice to the trainer of pink, which would result in her quickly standing up once it came closer. Like the Audino Desiree had met and hugged moments prior, the pinkette would run up towards Thomas and attempt to wrap her arms around him in a hug, not even thinking about how she'd had yet to show him this amount of physical welcoming during their time knowing each other.[break][break]

"Thomas~! ♡" Excitement would manifest in her surprise, her silver and golden chains shimmying about as she would depart from the attempted hug. It wasn't too long since the pair had met on the forest-ridden route, but she was quite excited to see him; feeling a lot better since the last time mentally, it definitely helped. "I hope today wasn't a bad day to stop by the ranch, sorry for showing up without notice~! Do you like weed brownies? I brought a few extras just in case, but no peer pressure."[break][break]

Pulling a little package from the dispensary, she'd hold it out towards him if he would like to partake. But there would be no harm in refusal, as she was more than willing to eat them all on her own. As for Beanbean, he was utterly fascinated by the Florges in his entirety, not wanting to leave the fairy's side.

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Noticing that Thomas was a bit awkward in his acceptance of her offered hug, which he still indulged, Desiree would smile and plop one of the brownies in her mouth when they departed from the embrace. He was an enigma in her eyes, but his kindness fascinated her- she wondered why he seemed estranged from physical affection with her, perhaps if there was a bit more to him than she had uncovered when they first met. But maybe she was also reading into things a bit more than she should have; this was their second time acquainting, after all. Some people didn't vibe with hugs from people other than their closest of friends and family.[break][break]

But the affectionate nature of his pokemon gave her the idea that he was anything but estranged from the affection of those that lived on his ranch. "Sit with me? ♡" She'd ask him enthusiastically, lowering herself to sit on the edge of the porch-like architecture. She had a lot of things to talk to him about when it came to her newer interactions and adventures in Hoenn, but she wanted to hear more about his than anything. That was, if there were any in the first place- she'd been being quite the busybee.[break][break]

"What have you been up to since we saw each other last? I've been sooo busy~♡." She'd chuckle a bit, picking up one of the Eevee that still remained by her side and plopping them into her lap for all the pets in the world. Meanwhile, the Arcanine could only relish in the snuggle buddy that he had met; he was savoring every minute of cuddles with the Florges, nuzzling the fairy-type's head with a loving nature.[break][break]

Beanbean had a lil' crush, even if flora and fire typically didn't mix.

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"You know Callan Young? ♡ That's so crazy, I've coincidentally been so busy because of an offer of his, I'm signed with Teravolt Records now. I wasn't expecting having to sign with anyone over here because of Trancewave, but I guess this Bernstein guy has much more of a sway in what gets released and what doesn't in Hoenn or something." Her eyes would glisten in curiosity, wondering just how far back Thomas and the Elite Four member went back and what they could be up to; she was still learning about Callan in all the right ways, but the bewilderment as to why he would need to work with a non-musician such as Thomas definitely was something she was nosy toward.[break][break]

Desiree was partially ignorant when it came to roles within the faction of the league, all she knew was that Elite Four members had a bit of sway and were involved in the final parts of the champion assessment. Petting the adorable lil' normal type in her lap, she'd break off another piece of one of her special brownies and plop it into her mouth, trying not to let any crumbs fall anywhere near the Eevee. "I love that though, going to summer camps like that when I was young was really fun- that's hella cool of you." She'd smile, a grin of delight marked beneath her white facial tattoos.[break][break]

The fire type loved the cuddles more than anything in the world; it was even better than all the treats that filled his bowl, his eyes encapsulated by the brilliant white and blue blooms spanning from the Florges' fairy mane. "How did you meet Callan?" Desiree would ask curiously, stroking the soft fur on the tip top of the Eevee's head.

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"I know right? ♡ Wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it has its charms~" She smiled, burying her palms into the soft fur of the Eevee and looking out into the horizon. With that grim article posted by the Hoenn News Network and the rumors dotting the landscape of glimmering portals into the lands of the unknown, it was certainly a shock- so much different than home, like a chapter torn out of a fictitious novel. But everyone here seemed to tight-nit, further confirmed by Thomas' relationship with the alluring guitarist. Like everything was connected here, in some way or another.[break][break]

That world grit was something that kept Desiree somewhat distracted from everything she left in Kalos, even if that veil was still cast over her mind. "Something like that- I met Callan at a charity mixer in Slateport, the same day I met Bernstein in person. He was able to scare the guy off, Bernstein was.. really touchy, not a respectable person in the slightest. But we talked over some drinks and got to the signage part shortly after, he's a blessing.♡" Her golden gaze returned to Thomas's, starting to slow down on the fluffing of the Eevee's fur.[break][break]

The last time she spoke about Bernstein with another, it felt as if there were a bundle of wandering eyes and listening ears. The feeling of peace that came with the ranch felt much more comfortable, even with her peeved blush that manifested on her cheeks. She was not angry at Thomas in the slightest, just at everything that rotten CEO had managed to accomplish in such a short interaction; that strong dislike, hatred, was there. Quite the difference in comparison to the Florges and Arcanine cuddled up on one another a couple of reaches away.[break][break]

"What have you heard of him?" Desiree asked, leaning her head on one of the edges of the ranch's structure. "That he's a lowballing shit that won't let talent release their music in Hoenn without giving him favors to satiate his lust? Because that's true; I just want to rip his sausage fingers off one by one and leave him with nothing but pathetic nubs. Fuck that guy." It felt good to let it all out, to overshare a bit- nothing to lose in such a peaceful environment, and hey, Thomas was asking for it. Even though she meant what she said, she laughed.[break][break]

It was all so obscure sounding. "But I'll answer any questions you've got about Brainrot Bernstein, go for it~"

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It was strange to Desiree to think that someone so grotesque, so renowned for being a sack of scum, was able to retain his power and position in the music industry. "Seriously fucked up shit," she chuckled, stroking the mane of the Eevee, ".. he had a bunch of his men with him when he approached me, they surrounded me like a wall of muscle. I wouldn't say he's tried to keep me silent, I'm sure he knows I'm not the type to go to the press anymore about those kinds of things.. but I did get this."[break][break]

Softly rummaging through her purse filled with fresh flowers, berries, and pokeballs, the pinkette was quick to pull out her phone and begin opening and closing applications. She hadn't given the ominous message much thought until Thomas had brought up the possibility of him trying to contact her, but with that came a resonance of ideology in her mind. Was Bernstein trying to threaten her for going off with Callan that day?[break][break]

"At first I thought it was just a message from a listener hiding their identity, but now that I think about it," she pondered the idea, becoming the tiniest bit unsettled, ".. the text reads; 'You have made a grave mistake signing onto Teravolt Records, dear. You're feisty, I give you that, but in the end I always get what I want.'" Letting out a big sigh, having read it mentally as if the sausage-fingered man was speaking directly into her mind, the resemblance was uncanny. And if it were true, it would mean she already created a big enemy in her first three weeks of living amongst the trees.[break][break]

But at least Beanbean was having fun, soaking up all the affection and trying to give it back to the Florges tenfold.

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