jayden cross, of all the people in Hoenn, Chu-e had been fairly convinced of being dead.

After the semi-letdown of the Vital Spirit Festival date (had it been a date? or had Chu-e only thought it was a date in his own mind), he had been surprised to learn the other had gotten so sick so quickly. He had visited him, of course, but seeing as the other man was unconscious and Chu-e had, since then, almost died a handful of times he had been quiet busy.

It is just before 11 AM, Chu-e always liked to be a few minutes early, and he's tired- it was too early for him to leave the infirmary after his latest brush with death. But, he had been tired of being poked and pricked. Lethargy would just have to rest in his bones for a few days.

"Jayden?" He speaks up, brow raised, eyes the cones before glancing up to try and meet the other's gaze.

Chu-e wasn't sure how to react.

Firstly, to the ice cream. Being as it would absolutely ruin his stomach, to start, if he ate one of these. Second, because of what jayden cross said about them.

"You've never had chocolate ice cream?" It was almost startled out of him to ask. Yet- well, wasn't Jayden... Jayden? One of the sadder stories on the sub. His hand reached out for the caramel cone, his fingertips brushing the other's as he took.

But, it lingered.

"Here, you can try this one, too." It was held up to his face in some offering, for him to take a taste. Chu-e wouldn't mind eating after him.

Yet, that wasn't the important part here, was it?

"I'm glad you're okay."

"You remember that?" He laughs softly, an almost-flush of pink rising on warming cheeks. Yes, Chu-e did prefer caramel. It was decadent and sweet without being too overpowering. It was also one of the simpler things to make, if one knew how and had some water, sugar, and a heating element.

"I like to go down to the infirmary sometimes, check on the people there." Was explained almost softly. It was a shame- Chu-e had big plans for the two of them before that. Heists and operations. Time spent together. Plus, Chu-e had just been worried. He hadn't liked knowing that jayden cross was wounded and he hadn't been able to do... anything about it.

"A lot of stuff has happened. You'll need to be caught up."

There is something soft, for a moment, in Chu-e's expression.

Gently, like jayden cross was an easily frightened deer, he reaches out in an attempt to take his arm- Chu-e has always been a very physical person, after all.

"Your ice cream is melting."

It's gentle. The months has worn down some of those soft edges. Or maybe, delicate and raw skin has been allowed to scab over somewhat. The edges still there, under the surface, but less visible.

Maybe Chu-e was just weaker in heart and mind than Jayden thought he was (that he thought himself was, too).

Chu-e gives a quick nod in answer at the walk, allowing jayden cross to lead him down the beach.

While outside he is calm, a placid half-smile on his face, inside Chu-e was... kind of freaking out.

Was this when he had to turn someone down? Chu-e could admit that... a few months ago, when he was seeing Jayden more routinely, there had been something there. It would be stupid for him to not be able to examine his feelings for the under. Jayden had made him feel light and bubbly in some ways, which Chu-e not realized was the heady start of infatuation. Not love, it had been too soon for that, but there had been a potential. It was cut off, however, by his own reluctance to admit what it was, Jayden's obliviousness, and then later Jayden's illness.

Since then, while Chu-e still thought Jayden was handsome and did vaguely wonder what it could have been like if things had developed, someone else had entered the picture. Leon Vercetti wasn't anything like Jayden. He was confident and bold, the blond able to keep up with Chu-e's antics and smart mouth. It had been purely physical, turned more familiar, and then Leon had said he loved him. It wasn't something Chu-e could return but... maybe eventually. Even with Chu-e wringing his feelings out, he had agreed to be exclusive with Leon.

"Oh thank the Flames." Was breathed out first.

Good old oblivious Jayden. They could save this conversation for another day.

"My husband bought that place before he died. I don't know shit, sadly. Why? You looking?"

A small huff of a laugh. jayden cross was adorable. No wonder his dumb ass had gotten a crush so quickly when they finally met properly.

"I could always try to help. I'm sure between you, me, and Poogle we can figure out what makes a good home." As he says it, Chu-e takes out his cellphone as if to empathize. He's got a new case, Skitty ears sticking up off the pink device; a small key-chain looking like a Sylveon dangles from it like an earring.

"I agree with Gav, though. Slateport is kind of a shithole with all the rebuilding. I'm partial to Mossadeep but I'm pretty biased. Sootopolis would be a good choice, too. Or even Lilycove. I'm assuming you want access to the beach, though."

The search engine is pulled up. Instead of typing in any of the stuff that Chu-e had just mentioned- he types in 'Housing in Fortree Hoenn' and gives it a search.

"You are! We match." His own charm is a little worn, too, just not as much as jayden cross's.

"Did you like Ballonea?" He wants.... he wants Jayden to be happy.

To not be... a slave to his own mind. To Rocket.

"What do you think you would like in a house? Six bathrooms, two bedrooms, a stoop to stand on... just, when you imagine yourself living somewhere, what do you picture?"

Talking to Jayden could be like pulling teeth. Chu-e was more than happy to pull them if it helped.