Laughing, he shook his head in amused dismissal.[break][break]

”Don’t mind it, really~,” he hummed, sparing a glance towards the ghost before it phased into the capsule thrown at it. ”Honestly, I’m glad it was me. If it wasn’t, it could’ve ended up a bit worse…”[break][break]

He would’ve said more, if not for the ongoing rustling beneath his palm.[break]
He grinned in equal parts wryness and amusement, snapping his gaze down towards the Pokeball.[break][break]

Then, with a sigh, he began to shift a few paces towards the path closest to them, lifting his gaze and offering a quick, ”Happy to help, though~!” in what he intended to be passing as he started his way away.[break][break]

He eyed her for a moment longer before broadening his smile slightly, nodding towards her before fully turning around.[break][break]

”...If you ever change your mind, though, you know where my number’s at~.”[break][break]

Unless she already trashed it.[break]
He hoped she didn’t.[break][break]

(tl;dr: skipping + thread end)

DAPHNE STONE

☉

He gave her a look and smile of reassurance as she walked off.[break][break]

His gaze trailed after her for a while longer as she did so, though before long could pass, he turned heel and towards the unmade platters he’d allowed to wait and rest throughout the conversation. After a moment’s worth of time, however, he lifted his eyes and glanced around, giving a soft whistle to garner the attention of the very same beast that greeted their guest.[break][break]

He nodded down the hallway, gesturing to the closet residing at the end before beginning to walk out with the prepared plates.[break][break]

With the slabs of food and ceramic rested carefully along his hands and arms, he began to set them atop the coffee table stationed between the television and couches as the dark hued feline strode along as per his directions. His trainer sat down all the while, giving a soft sigh on impact against the cushions while shifting the various dishes around.[break][break]

He paused in thought after looking at her again.[break][break]

”...Still need a bit?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

”Yeaaah… If only the looks backed the words up, kid~.”[break][break]

A jab in equal parts jest and seriousness, alike. He eyed her as she continued her examination in the wake of her own words, eventually shifting a gaze down towards the selfsame wounds she’d found herself so meticulously scrying.[break][break]

With his free hand, however, he reached over to give her a soft, yet swift flick upon the forehead, smirking.[break][break]

”...Just take care of yourself as much as you take care of everyone else,” he hummed, chuckling. ”Seriously~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

As if embracing a statue of utmost fragility, he held and beheld the glass dove of a woman within his arms for a while longer.[break][break]

”It’s not like this can stop us from still doing that…” he chuckled with a touch of amused softness amidst the rare fronts of concern and seriousness donned upon his guise, shaking his head within such a careful, slight manner that only served to further promote a sense of delicacy. ”Not like I mind it, either~...”[break][break]

A gaze of sapphire drifted down to dwell upon the locks of gold that resided atop her head for several moments before he leaned away, broadening the smile upon his lips the faintest bit as he cupped her chin betwixt thumb and and finger, offering her a lightened shrug as his eyes met hers.[break][break]

”...How about you wait to the living room actually?” he suggested with a quiet thoughtfulness, moving his thumb up to rub against her cheek within a gingerly manner. ”Dinner’s pretty much done. I’ll just plate it up, bring it over…”[break][break]

He paused in a brief bout of thought.[break][break]

”...Maybe we can talk about it more, too, over dinner and a show?” he questioned on. ”You don’t have to if it’s still tough, but I wouldn’t mind listening a bit more…”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

Though lingering altogether, the smile upon his lips softened at her touch; his arms remaining held firmly around her for all of several moments prior to lifting a hand to further press her fingers against his face. His head tilted faintly into her caress, and as she spoke her part, hues of azure veiled over softly as he brushed his lips against her knuckles with a continuous theme of gentleness.[break][break]

”I’m expressive, is what I am,” he chuckled quietly, following his hand alongside hers and meeting the twine of hers as they rested idly.[break][break]

...Something I’m glad to see you’ve been being more often, too.[break][break]

His eyes opened once more within a narrow gaze upon noting the embrace of her lips against his skin, brows creasing lightly as they rose with further touches of amusement all the while. The look upon his own shrunk further, only to inherit a wave of affection both subtle and not within its display as he eyed her.[break][break]

”...Sounds like a good of a plan as any, though~...” he mused on, quietly, while squeezing her hand within a delicate, loving manner.

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

He knew full well what would likely happen.[break]
It hadn’t stopped him from fully burying his face against her hair when it did.[break][break]

In spite of the fact that it diminished mere moments beforehand, however, the smile crept upon his lips yet again within an absentminded, soothing manner; a gesture equal parts for the both of them, regardless of whether or not the other half would’ve been able to see as such. As hues of azure lingered upon the wall beforehand, he’d simply allowed himself the degree of calmness to know her; to see her; to feel her.[break][break]

…To feel her in all the vulnerability he’d been so lucky to experience every single time.[break][break]

The newfound warmth upon his chest hadn’t been minded in the slightest as it bled through the cloth of his shirt; rather, in response to it, the man merely shifted his hand further along her head to softly comb its fingers through her hair. They rubbed her scalp with the same tenderness that had always been intuitive, and had always been instinctive, all while he lifted his own head just enough to plant a gentle kiss atop hers with a hum.[break][break]

”I know you know~...” he murmured lowly, moving the remaining hand from her face as both of her own shifted to return the embrace. It hooked behind her neck to rest upon the opposing shoulder, going on to ever so gently and carefully massage it in a further attempt to comfort.[break][break]

”...I know you know…”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

Her requests were met by nothing more than a beam, all while he simply wrapped his arms further around her.[break][break]

”Huuuuuuh? Sorry, what was thaaaat~?” he called out in an overly loud, teasingly mocking tone as he leaned, immediately, after he within her attempt to shift away. Though careful as he could be, he shifted faintly onto a leg in order to properly move after her, continuing on with an additional, ”Sorry, Daph— I. Didn’t. Catch that~...!” as he cackled, shifting his hands just long enough to attain a better hold before pulling her back in.[break][break]

And on went the attack for however much longer, but before long could pass, he eventually found resting his face against her as he found a place against her head, and he merely maintained his grin as he maintained a lingering grin while holding on.[break][break]

”...If it isn’t already obvious, no,” he hummed softly. ”Pulling the ‘five more minutes’ card isn’t an option. Sorry~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

…It was always surprising to see her the way she was within those moments.[break][break]

Surprising. Relieving. In that specific case, heartbreaking. Far be it for him to be repulsed by the display, but there had been something in the way she’d leaned so eagerly and with a seeming neediness that resonated within him. The only, reasonable response that sparked within his mind had simply been to soothe her upon seeing her gestures, and upon hearing the words she spoke so softly and weakly.[break][break]

So, as he eyed her with a touch of concern, that had been what he’d sought to do.[break][break]

”...I promise you won’t lose me~...” he murmured softly, the smile upon his lips only lingering for several moments more prior to fully disappearing as he pulled her closer. While simply allowing her hand to remain upon his as it pressed so tenderly against her face, the remaining reached over to press against her shoulder towards him, and then against the back of her head as if encouraging her to rest against him.[break][break]

Though unseen, a touch of solemnity veiled upon a gaze otherwise driven with such brightness, all while those same azure hues narrowed idly towards the wall opposing him.[break][break]

”...I mean it, Daph,” he murmured softly—barely audibly— as he rested the bottom half of his face against her hair. ”You won’t lose me. …I promise~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

With a softened gaze and a defeated smile, he furrowed his brows and shook his head.[break][break]

”...Never is, no,” he hummed within a gentler, quieter tone, shrugging all the while. Within an instinctive manner, his eyes narrowed as the smile upon his lips ever so slightly further up to meet them, and though he sought to part one of his hands away, the remaining simply held on a tad tighter as the departed pressed its palm against her cheek.[break][break]

He eyed her in equal parts admiration and thought within the brief silence that followed.[break][break]

”...Honestly? So long as you stick around, I don’t really have any intention of leaving for whatever reason,” he spoke softly soon after, running a thumb along her cheek within a gingerly manner. ”Too much on the line to lose, after all~. Always been careful before, and I’ll keep being careful for you guys, too.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

She gave him a direction, so far be it for him to go against it.[break][break]

”Ehhh. I’d beg to differ, then,” he mused, idling holding the gauzed pack to the appointed and aforementioned area brought to his attention. Azure hues glanced towards it briefly in thought as he hummed. ”Humility is a virtue, yeah, but it’s good to own up to what you’re good at, kid.”[break][break]

He tapped his fingers against the chill of the gauze beneath his fingertips, raising his brows while casting a gaze towards his caretaker once more.[break][break]

”I gotta say, though— that aside, I hope you’re taking care of yourself.” He soft chuckle escaped his lips as he eyed her. ”Again, stuff’s way more competitive than it was back in my day. Even as a bystander, it’s kinda stressing to look at…”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉

”Aw, look at you, kid. You’re adorable.”[break][break]

He laughed at the display she had to offer, the smile accompanying it reaching his eyes easily from the sheer amusement he found within the situation. Though the creaks and the like hadn’t gone unnoticed to him, and although his own caution and wariness had been heightened as they trekked through (albeit for different reasons other than the superstitious), he continued on with a vigilant eye, peering upon the numerous doors flanking them.[break][break]

With an idle hum and whistle soon after, he glanced towards her from the corner of his eye, spinning the light within his hand a couple of times before shining it upon the path before them again. ”...As adorable as you are, though, do you really have to hold the little guy like that~?” he chuckled, raising a brow at her. ”I get it’s a coping mechanism, but are are on a patrol right now, y’know.”

FIORA HYE-JIN YUN [break]
mission: you're not the one

☉

He grinned, laughing (before promptly cutting it short with a soft hiss, remembering the sores that ailed him in a moment’s time). ”It’s ironic, yeah, but still pretty on brand…” the man sighed soon after, shaking his head. ”Especially with what you kids gotta go through, now… Bigger stakes, more competition— so much more pressure. I ain’t envious, but my heart goes out to you~...”[break][break]

A soft hum left his lips following the words, and as a means of attempting to relax himself within the midst of the various stings and the like with the efforts to sanitize the wounds upon him, he simply leaned slightly further back where he sat. shutting his eyes within a leisurely manner.”...But that aside, I believe you, kid~,” he added with a small, idling smile. ”Seen your work in the past, anyways. Definitely backs up the claims~.”

MARISOL SIMONE [break]
notes

☉