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[attr="class","flori"]


Well, he can't argue with that.

"They... they do," he agrees, blinking. He's starting to get the feeling that she's a little out-of-touch with common customs and the like. That's all right, he tells himself. Everyone had their quirks. "But it's not like that. A little confusing, I know, but hot tubs like this," he gestures around at the array of outdoor tubs, "are public, and so..."

Gosh, this was embarrassing. He didn't want to shame her by saying something as crass as 'you're meant to keep your clothes on in public', as she clearly didn't know any better, but how else to word it?

Thank goodness she gets the idea in her head to go inside, and Florian nods. He respectfully averts his gaze as she rises from the water and he decides to get out as well, hearing the music swell from the interior. He bends down to retrieve his towel and notices hers, as well.

"Oh! Don't forget your towel, Nicole!" he says quickly, still not looking at her. "I'm sorry for this whole mix-up! Enjoy the rest of your night, miss."

---

Florian heads down from his own room some time later, clad in a white, flower-patterned suit. It screams of spring more than winter, but it's the nicest suit he owns.

Besides, he matches the Sylveon that trots happily at his side.

He spots a familiar face or two, but everyone seems embroiled in their own conversations and he doesn't want to interrupt. Instead, he meanders over to the refreshments and grabs a glass of red wine, sipping at it while admiring the decor.

tl;dr
- florian bids an awkward farewell to nicole and reminds her about the towel
- heads inside to join the main event
- currently hanging out near the refreshments with a glass of wine

[attr="class","flori"]

He'd stumbled upon the garden near Fortree while he'd been exploring; well-tended, clearly cared for, but with a little sign hammered into the dirt that had declared: 'Help Welcomed'.

It was for this reason that he'd found himself visiting the little berry garden more and more often, making friends with the Vileplume that seemed to be its matron. He had yet to catch a glimpse of her trainer, nor any other garden-helpers there might have been, but he finds peace in watering the trees and stripping them of dead-and-dying branches.

This time, he's not the only one here.

Perhaps he should have been angry that the Exeggcutor thought it all right to drain the plants of their life-force, but Florian's only reaction is pity upon seeing the quivering leaves. It's colder than usual in Hoenn, a light dusting of snow on the ground, and he can't imagine how such a tropical species might suffer in this rare shift of climate.

"Excuse me," he calls softly, as if he's approaching some human stranger. Its dopey expressions shift to eye him warily. "You must be awfully cold. Draining the trees like that won't help you, but I can."

He pulls out a pokeball and offers it up.

"It's warm in here, no snow at all! And I can keep a look out for someone who'll bring you somewhere much warmer than this."

notes:

- friend-capture on the exeggcutor

[attr="class","flori"]



Florian hears the ripple of water and instinctively glances to see Nicole leaning closer to him.

Oh dear.

See, here's the thing — that she's not clothed isn't a problem for him. He plays for the other team, not at all interested in girls. But surely Nicole should be embarrassed to be indecent in such a public place, where just about anyone could walk up on them?

Pale cheeks glow red as a Pikachu's as he ducks his head, second-hand embarrassment washing over him.

"W-Well, no," he stammers out, "not to take a bath, but hot tubs aren't meant for that. They're for relaxing, for warming up."

It's working wonders for his sore and tired muscles, yet Florian can't help but wish he were anywhere else right now. Apparently, the hotel staff had taken her clothes — he didn't realise they had a laundry service! — and she had just... just..

"Why didn't you warm up in your room while you waited?" He's utterly nonplussed. "Surely that would be better than standing in the snow!"

tl;dr
- florian's not sure what to do about nicole
- tries to explain what hot tubs are

[attr="class","flori"]



This was not at all what he'd been expecting.

Florian's cheeks flush with colour as he quickly looks away from Nicole and mutters a Kalosian curse word under his breath.

"Oh, goodness," he sputters, not sure where to direct his gaze and settling for the distant terrain opposite the girl. "Pardon, miss, I did not —"

How was he to know she wasn't wearing anything beneath her towel? What kind of person went out into the snow with only a towel on?!

Florian thinks that Joli is laughing at him, the Sylveon's trill earning a reproachful look from his trainer. Music starts up from inside, and it's quite lovely; if only Florian could recover enough to enjoy it.

"I did not know — where are your clothes?"

tl;dr
- florian.exe has stopped responding
- nicole broke him
- at least the music is nice

[attr="class","viva"][break]
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[attr="class","flori"]



Florian lets out a contented sigh as he lowers himself into the steaming water; his muscles ache from their earlier exertion and the heat is just the thing they needed.

His eyes slip close for a second, but open at the girl's question.

"Hm?" Blue eyes blink uncomprehending at her as Florian glances around for whom she might be referring to. It registers when he notes her insistent tug open the towel that she's indicating herself. Was it some sort of Hoennian custom to refer to oneself in the third person? Alexei hadn't done that, nor had Annie or the ranger he'd met on a job.

He dismisses the thought.

"Not if you don't want to!" Not knowing the circumstances under which she'd come to be standing here, Florian assumes that she likely has a bathing suit or similar undergarments on beneath the towel. Perhaps she's self-conscious. "Might be a little hard to dry off if you get it all wet, though."

Joli pads up to the tub and perches himself upon the edge, letting the heat rising from the water melt the scattered flakes from his fur.

tl;dr
- florian is still interacting with nicole
- tells her she doesn't have to take the towel off

[attr="class","flori"]




A ball!

Florian's thrilled at the prospect; there were plenty of fancy events back home in Kalos, but he'd strayed away from attending most of those he was invited to in fear that he would run into someone he'd rather not deal with. Here, in Hoenn, he was new to the region and ecstatic at the prospect of dressing up, showing off, and meeting some of the other outgoing residents.

He'd tried his hand at skiing first, getting the hang of it after a while but taking numerous spills. He stumbles toward the hot tubs half an icicle, with snow in his hair and cheeks flushed red, but he's grinning from ear to ear.

A Sylveon bounds through the snow behind him in equally high spirits, snowflakes dusting his pink-and-white fur.

There's a girl standing by one of the tubs, and Florian tilts his head as he strips off his bulky winter jacket and kicks off his boots. "Allo," he greets her, offering a friendly smile. "Are you not getting in? It must be cold standing there like that!"

He's already feeling the chill as he steps out of his outer layers, goosebumps prickling at his skin.

tl;dr: florian gets off the ski slopes and makes for the hot tubs, greets nicole. sylveon is with him.