A towel was welcome, even if it certainly wasn’t enough. Violet had absolutely no illusions. She was not going to get dry just with that, not after being so completely submerged in water. Then again, she didn’t have to. Not really. Instead, she simply used the cloth to get any water out of the vicinity of her eyes, as well as dry her hands a bit. That way, she could at least grab things without them slipping through them, or even some of the food on offer without immediately giving it a nice dose of salt.

Speaking of, she found herself slightly surprised by the amount of effort and care that the other had clearly put into all of this. Some others would have probably just pre-made some sandwiches or something, but this clearly was going to be a proper date of sorts. “Some people would have their datee choose between the beach and a picknick. Few would simply combine the two in such a way,” she announced with a brief chuckle. This was more care than most people had put into entertaining her for quite a while. The least she could do was acknowledge it.
Naturally, she swiftly joined the other. Not needing to make too much of a fuss, she sat down in a very proper manner, yet went for a sandwich anyway. Just because she liked to be a bit of a lady did not mean that her tastes had completely kept up with that perception of self.

“To be clear. I quite appreciate your efforts and am grateful. This has been a rather fun endeavour so far.” Her eyes briefly caught some Pokemon skidding over the wave, but Cloyster was busy inspecting the foodstuffs, while she made a salad and meat sandwich. Food always took priority over catching things.


- passes

“Hmm,” she hummed, thinking. Naturally, Vio took a bit longer to eat her sandwich in this more proper and measured way, so she gave herself some more time to think while nibbling on it once more. In fact, she did finish what she had for the time being, before really attempting to answer that question. It was a bit of a tough one, after all. Truth be told, she did not want to lie too much to this girl. Seemed unfair, really. But at this point, she couldn’t exactly just give the full truth either. Not without making it seem like she’d lied before, at least.

As such, she took care with this, even deciding to first take her seat next to the other proper. Despite her attitude, she was being a bit forward about this, even leaning against Skyler somewhat to join in on the drowsiness. “Well, you asked for it. Can’t say it is not your fault~.” A bit teasing, maybe, but she figured that the other would not be too thrilled with the story she had in mind. Not her problem, though.
During the brief pause, she noticed a Ralts riding a Piplup in the distance. But she already had one of each, so she did not pay too much heed to that. “Growing up, I had this brother who was always better than I was. At just about anything my family valued. But he did not like the right disposition and attitude. A real trainer, but also someone who was quite unbecoming towards father. So, everyone wanted me, the more agreeable one, to instead become the hope of the family. But I was terrible at it. One day, I tried to prove myself and headed out at night to some ruins to show that I am strong and fearless. Had me crying and about to give up a bit after midnight, really. But that was when I met my Dreepy. It scared me at least but it came to me anyway, trying to console me. It probably allowed itself to be captured more than I really did much. But together we did get Golett and the two of them were with me ever since. Though, admittedly, I let the whole catching business slide until I came to port, years later. It is actually surprisingly fun, I have to admit.”

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Heh. That was a nice reaction. She could feel the light shudder she’d caused with her actions, but there was also approval and appreciation. Some had called her needy in these kinds of regards. Though honestly, she just enjoyed companionship in general. She did not exactly regret running away from home. This way, she had finally freed herself from the suffocation of expectation. Yet, she did miss being close to others sometimes. It was actually best like this. Kind of knowing the person you were with, but not to the point where things got super serious all of the sudden. An embrace at arm’s length was something she deeply enjoyed, really.

“I can never become who others want me to be. I realized that by now.” Her voice sounded a bit more serious than normal as she said that, though she soon broke that up with a chuckle. “Though I like to think that I don’t want or need to become anyone, anyway. I already am who I am. If you ask me, it is never about ‘becoming’ one thing or another. It’s about how you live your life. And in my case, I am happy to live my life how I want to, really.” It was still surprisingly deep, really. But unlike talk of the past, this talk of the present and future came easily to her lips. Somehow, this felt different. It wasn’t quite clear how, though.

In the meantime, her Cloyster had watched what the Starmie had been doing and gotten rather competitive with the toned down violence. Not wanting to be shown up by some Pokemon it did not know, the Cloyster sought to fight something too. Though, somehow, it ended up punting a non-water Pokemon from the water. Violet was not sure whether or not her protector had knocked it out as much as it had been dragged here by the current, but she threw a Pokeball at the Igglpuff anyway. It was kind of cure, after all.
“Though, who said that I followed you ‘blindly’, dear? Maybe I just got a good enough look at you last time to know all is well with you around.”


- tries to ccatch the Igly

No answer was needed, sure. But it was a good question regardless. Who was she, really? Violet had taken so many shifts to who she was and who she wanted to be, it was hard to tell. The closest to an answer she could be, in that regard, was ironically the one that Skyler had already offered indirectly. In the end, she was Vi. That was who she wanted to be. The person she had constructed to be and enjoy. It wasn’t all perfect yet, but she was still happy with who she had become, really.
Plus, this girl whose warmth she was enjoying now was making it a lot better, too. Violet felt cosy and content for the first time in a long time. Sure, this technically was a bit of a scam still regardless, but at this point, it really took no effort to keep it up. Heck, she was mostly honest at this point, only minding a few minor details. There really was no reason to lie, so aside from what came to her naturally, she simply remained truthful to a point.

“Hmm, I guess I do, really. Besides, I might not know you too well, but I can gauge a few things about you at least.” Just what those were, she left a secret for a few more moments. Inwardly, that was because she chose not to line out why she was so certain of that. After all, that would be something she herself might have done in the other’s shoes to a hapless victim. Yet, if she had been, she would have done this whole thing a bit differently to ensure her success and safety. No, this definitely wouldn’t be the smart way to do this ploy.
Before she could reply though, Cloyster threw yet another Pokemon on board, though once more a half drowned one from the looks of it. Looked very cute, but most definitely not the kind that could and would swim freely out here on the open ocean. Was there some kind of capsized boat somewhere that these guys came from?

She couldn’t tell. And honestly, in Skyler’s arms like this, she didn’t much care, either. It just was what it was. Vi flicked another ball at it, in the hopes to catch it without that much distraction, and instead turned towards her current girl once more. “You aren’t the kind to just leave people stranded like that. At least people you care about in some way. If you are a pirate, Sky, you’d be the kind who’d want to steal my heart and have me, not steal my things and leave me.”



- tries to catch the Togepi

She chuckled, briefly. It was a more muted, ladylike reaction, yes. But even displaying it like that was technically bad form. A true person of grand repute would have enjoyed this quietly or not at all. But Violet was letting that particular mask slip, if only a little. She was quite bemused by Skyler’s reaction and made no secret of that at all. And then she chuckled again when the so-called pirate of hearts took the whole concept and ran with it. “Nice recovery, captain,” she noted, playfully. They both knew that this was all in good fun. At least in her opinion, they also both knew what kind of, well, relationship this was. Violet had not come here today thinking they would cement something that would last for decades. If she would have, then she would probably leave disappointed in the end.

At the end of the day, Skyler was right when she said hearts were not safe with her. That was the estimate Vi made on the fly here. She nettled a bit more against the other’s side. “I know it wouldn’t be. But don’t worry, my heart is capable of taking this. I wouldn’t be here at all if I didn’t understand about sailors and the sea at least a little bit.” Namely, how someone like Skyler probably loved the sea first and foremost. No human could compare to that. Vi was well aware that Sky had just been looking for a fling, a summer romance in that club. And that was fine. She was pretty much the same. Though, admittedly, this was nice too.
“You should guard yours too, though. I mean, I already got you to treat me to all this. I do have my ways, too~.”



- passes