Avery follows not far behind, slipping into the seat across from him. She takes care to set her purse down in the corner, folding the strap over itself to take up less space.

"Five or six right now, I think. Not including my own, though. I have almost too many to count at this point."

She smiles, though she is clearly relaxed and happy. Avery was describing a ton of work as if it were nothing.

CIAN MAHER

She pauses, thinking. Her brows come together and she hums, trying to count in her head.

"Umm.. maybe 30 or so? Some of them are big now, but most of them are small."

Like her little garden of Budew in the backyard. She smiles fondly when she thinks of them.

"Maybe more, I'm not really sure. They aren't really a handful, so I don't really think about it!"

CIAN MAHER

"I suppose I don't really think about it, much! I've been surrounded by dozens of Pokemon- especially babies- my entire life, practically. I'm used to it, I guess."

For a moment she worries that she's bragging. But she also doesn't have the courage to tell him about the time she'd had a terrible, horrifying go with a pair of baby Tyrunt. Nearly a bloodbath, with her buried beneath the bookcases and side-tables and couch stuffing.

No, she definitely wasn't going to tell him about that.

"Hm? Really? You would?"

CIAN MAHER

"It has!"

She smiles, oblivious to whatever demon shifts beneath the mask he wears. Nothing is amiss, nothing is out of the ordinary, nothing is wrong.

The woman plays idly with one of the napkins, folding back and forth one corner of the paper.

"You're more than welcome to stop by the daycare anytime, Cian! It's always nice to see a friendly face."

CIAN MAHER

His half-lie does not really trigger any sort of unexplainable nausea in her. Perhaps Shaymin can see the boys genuine spirit, for now.

Avery ooes at the sight of their salads. Both are identical, and both--

"Oh dear.."

Her thought interrupts his question, and the woman takes a second to peel her eyes up from the bowls.

"Sometimes, yes! I love to watch the Mantine and Mantyke from time to time."

CIAN MAHER

Avery nods along with his suggestion, but ultimately her attention remains on the salad in front of her. Her face is pale, and when he brings attention to her uncomfortable reaction, she swallows hard, shaking her head.

"It's okay. I'll just.. eat around it!"

But she doesn't move to do that, either.

There are perfectly good, seasoned strips of meat scattered on top of the salad. It makes sense in a power bowl, but the thought to request it without any real protein had slipped her mind.

Evidently, the thought of eating like this made her nauseous.

avery jones

"N-no, wait!"

But her voice is too soft and Cian is too fast. The bowl is removed, plucked from the table with ease to be replaced. Avery sits back in her seat, awkward and embarrassed.

Eventually, she leans around the chair to peek at him. Warmth fills her cheeks for the hundredth time today and she catches herself thinking about how nice he's been when he didn't have to be.

CIAN MAHER