[attr="class","beck"]he can tell.

at her words that could easily be interpreted as ominous for people in their profession, he nods, then follows.

"alright."

they don't have to walk very far.

"that's..."

an aquarium. he steps to it, unable to keep a smile from spreading across his features.

"wow."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

It's huge, covering the entire wall. At first, she had mistaken it for a bizarrely placed window into the kitchen. Apparently, the previous owners had installed a massive aquarium for their water-type Pokémon instead.

After countless hours searching the web for tips and answers, she had successfully (she hopes) filled the tank and made it hospitable.

A tiny Skrelp swims around inside, drawing close to peer up at Theo.

Emma sips at her wine, one arm crossed over her chest. His smile brings warmth and relief, and she pulls her gaze away to settle on her Pokémon for fear she be caught staring.

"Thought you might appreciate it- looks like I was right."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]a tiny skrelp draws close, approaching the glass. like usual, theo raises a hand, hovers it close as if to invite the water-type over, and when it eventually does venture over, he places his hand against the glass, feeling the warmth of it.

his smile is warm, genuine.

"i do."

curiosity gets the better of him. he tilts his head towards her, wondering.

"but why?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma watches the interaction quietly behind the lip of her glass. Her breath fogs it, and she lifts her mouth away and averts her gaze when the man looks back at her. His question forces her to think, but stubbornness prevents her from being completely honest.

Frankly, she isn't even sure what the truth is.

"In case Rabbit ever wants to visit."

It is not entirely a lie. But to say that he inspired her or put the idea in her head felt too.. real to say out loud. It was a line she would not cross.

"Did I do it right?"

Emma approaches to stand next to him, reaching out one hand, one finger, to draw back and forth against the glass. The Skrelp clumsily attempts to follow her, though it appears to be a very weak swimmer.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]even if it's not the whole truth, the thought is still nice.

"mostly."

he watches her interact with the skrelp, chuckling every now and then.

"it's quite difficult to care for skrelps. they're weak swimmers, so they need seaweed to help them swim."

everything else looks perfect otherwise.

"but it's great. thank you, emma."

he still feels the need to express his gratitude even if the aquarium isn't entirely meant for him. for whatever reason, words don't seem to be enough, and so he steps close, reaches a hand to her face, and pulls her in for a kiss.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Ah. So I've chosen a weakling. Wonderful.

Emma's expression is virtually unreadable, the only hint of her agitation shown in the way her eyes dart around the aquarium to glance over the sheer emptiness of it. Decorating had never been her strong suit, clearly.

She is enrapt by the tiny purple seahorse desperately chasing her finger that she quietly nods in response to his gratitude. But just as she leans back to pull her hand from the glass, she catches Theo's advance in her peripheral.

Like a deer caught in headlights, drawn to the road by curiosity and rooted with anticipation, she doesn't evade. She could have. She should have. But she doesn't.

Instead, where his lips press to hers, she realizes she had already been waiting for him. There is something fiercer in this one, something more sincere and more thoughtful. It was the man's gratitude expressed physically, louder than words could ever hope to explain.

Emma is the first to pull away, however, though her face is hot and her expression conflicted.

"You're.. welcome."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]theo lingers close even after she pulls away; he'll keep chasing this feeling she provides him: warmth, intimacy, security.

it's foolish to get attached and yet so easy to.

"i'll bring seaweed next time i'm around."

and there it is — next time.

it's foolish.

but it's what he wants.

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma wants to walk away, but loneliness, familiarity, and the taste of his lips linger against her own and she can't bring herself to turn it down.

She should though.

Don't get attached.

He already was- and she was lying to herself if she said she wasn't, too.

And there it was again, a promise followed by guilt.

"Just call next time."

Emma glances away from him, through the aquarium glass and into the kitchen. She hesitates, reaches to squeeze his hand briefly, and then walks back into the kitchen to refill her glass.

"If you want to stay... you can. Maybe the pan is salvagable."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]he'll call.

returning the brief gesture, he stays by the aquarium as she walks back into the kitchen. his hand hovers near the glass and a finger draws back and forth against it, playing with the skrelp the same way she had.

about a minute passes before he returns to the kitchen, glass of wine now empty. the thought of leaving hadn't even occurred to him.

"i'll cook."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Discreetly, Emma watches the sweet interaction between him and the Skrelp. The Pokémon blows bubbles at him, wiggling its tiny body in glee.

She watches as she pours her glass, filling it a bit more than anticipated. The bottle thus against the counter when she sets it down.

"Do whatever you want."

She gestures indifferently to the kitchen as a whole.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]even if theo were to have access to the world's largest kitchen and pantry, he'd still make the same dish he always makes; not because there's particularly anything special about it, but because it's the only thing he knows how to make.

thankfully, all it takes is some chicken, seasoning, and a pan; all of which emma seems to have stocked in her kitchen.

"sure."

setting the empty glass down beside her, he approaches the kitchen, ready to begin.

he starts with seasoning the chicken: salt, pepper, and a healthy amount of spices. though the conventional thing would be to wait for it to marinade a bit, he wastes little time in turning on the stove. placing the other pan onto it, he pours oil in, waits a bit, then starts frying the chicken.

"can you toast some bread?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe

Emma was a woman of many talents, but the art of cooking oft eluded her.

She had lived nearly her entire life on the run, or having food prepared for her and seldom crafted with her own two hands.

And she'd never stayed in one place long enough to warrant learning. Pots and pans, eating utensils, even cups or plates weren't objects she had ever possessed. Borrowed, maybe, but never kept.

Living with and loving Gavin had been a window into a normal life.

Losing him had been devastating.

Evidently so given she had nearly burned her brand new house down in less than a week.

Emma frowns, watching him as he works. At some point while he prepares the food, she refills his glass and waits to offer it to him until he turns to ask her something. His ask interrupts her train of thought and she blinks at him.

"Sure."

She sets both glasses down delicately before searching the countertops for the bread. The toaster is nearby to drop the slices in one after the other. Carefully, she turns the knobs farther than she should.

Black toast, anyone?

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]a mixture of being cautious and perceptive has him noticing the knobs on the toaster. he reaches a hand over to dial them to the correct setting, but says nothing before he returns to the chicken.

it doesn't take long until the chicken's finished cooking. he finishes plating with relative ease because there's not much to plate: just a slice of chicken each and however much bread they end up toasting.

setting the plates down onto the table, he shrugs.

"we didn't have much growing up."

chicken with bread could hold him for a while. Victoria Beckett's had this dish plenty of times as well; perhaps more than either of them ever should.

"it's basic."

[attr="class","noodles"]Emma Wolfe