’Just for you.’

It’s silly, because she knows there’s no way it’s something she’d do just for her. He’d probably get in the water no matter who his partner was, and those are also words used way too often when flirting.

She's aware of all this, but she still smiles when he says it, and once he emerges to the surface, she laughs with him.

”Yes! Much better.”

Her grin is bright, radiant and warm as the sunlight, and if only for a few seconds, she holds his gaze.

Then, she turns to look at the Corsola, perhaps because of the ever so slight blush that colours her cheeks in soft shades of pink.

”So… Do we just stay near them?”

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

their gaze met for a brief moment, and in that short span of time, it felt as though everything around them slowed to a still. it was as though nothing else mattered but them, but her and the warm smile that graced her features, but it soon passed.

"close enough to them, yep. you might want to call out wabbit now."

his mantyke circled in the water, surfacing if only to offer him some assistance. his hand latched on to the water-type, and she dragged him with relative ease through the water.

"or you could hold onto me."

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

She could call out his Azumarill. Honestly, she probably should. But, the suggestion makes her pause, and she finds herself watching him as the Mantyke drags him through the water. It’s cute.


The Corsola will be fine, so why not?

He’s the one who said it, after all.

Yet, this is still a mission…

”Is that what you want me to do, captain?”

She settles for meeting his gaze, a slight smirk tugging at her lips with just a bit of playfulness. Through the water, she moves closer.

”It could decrease our mobility and impair our ability to act, you know?”

Obvious things to point out, and yet they come with a pout, even if she doesn’t move from where she is.

Of course she wants to hold onto him.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

mantyke were surprisingly strong considering their size. the water-type didn't seem to be struggling at all as she continued to pull lance along, going in a small circle around lia now.

"how will it impair our ability to act, cadet?"

at his command, mantyke slowed to a halt, allowing them to drift closer.

"are you saying you'll be too distracted?"

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

Of course her words are thrown right back at her, she shouldn’t have expected any less.

With a sigh, Lia looks ahead towards the group of Corsola, catching Lance’s gaze as the Mantyke goes around her.

”Do I really need to answer that, captain?”

She holds her ground (although not literally, considering that they’re in the water) and she still looks at him in the eyes, even when the next question makes those pink shades at her cheeks deepen.

She’d definitely be distracted. They both know as much.

”...I didn’t say that.”

Despite her words, she offers him a gentle smile, a hand then being extended towards him – leaving it for him to decide.

It seems like a simple and casual gesture, but all actions have consequences, and this time, Lance will choose of which kind.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

and so, the decision is bequeathed to him. he stares at her hand in consideration, silent for moments even though his decision had been made the moment it had been his to choose.

he reaches for her hand, pulling her close to him as their fingers interlace. this is nice: here, with her by his side, he could definitely get used to this.

but should he?

"stay alert, cadet."

even with the added person, mantyke has no issues following the group of corsola.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

Did he make the right choice?

Truly, Lia doesn’t know, but at those moment, she also doesn’t bother with considering things like those.

There’s just the way she smiles when he takes her hand; the feeling of their fingers interlacing coming with memories attached to it even if things are different now – it makes her happy, and she easily realizes as much.

Being close to him like this… Having him holding her even while they’re in the cold water… It’s nice, and it makes her feel warm inside.

Maybe those feelings are wrong. Maybe they shouldn’t be there. But, for now, she’ll ignore thoughts like those.

There’s Lance, and there’s also the mission…

”Of course, captain.”

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

things are different now, and they will continue to be different. whether that's a good or a bad thing, they'll simply have to wait and find out.

until then, he's more than content with enjoying the journey.

he leans, slipping his hand out of hers to find her waist to pull her closer to him. his voice drops to a whisper.

"and stay close, lia."

with that, they're off, trailing delicately behind the group of corsola.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

Enjoying the journey.

That’s all they can really do, isn’t it?

At least it comes easily enough, especially when she can feel the way his hand rests at her waist, pulling her close to him. It really is a nice feeling, one that she could get used to, just like the whispered words that come with it…

’And stay close, Lia.’

So, that’s what he wants from her?

”I’m not going anywhere, Lance.”

Her words are also no more than a whisper, but with them comes a decision that has been made together...

Why does her heart race?

She takes a breath to steady herself, her attention falling on the group of Corsola, even if the situation is all too distracting.

Still, distracting or not, it makes Lia smile to herself.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

why does his heart race?

with his decision comes a promise, one that tethers them together.

lighter shades of blue start to pulse in front of them — the corsola release AQUA RINGS that quickly spread, encapsulating the area around them. they sparkle, glistening under the sun.

what is there to say?

for once, he's speechless.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

Truth be told, Lia has never cared much about most pokémon. She loves her own, and she loves some species, but not all of them.

The well-being of pokémon is not why she chose to become a ranger, but that of people who are threatened by some of them.

And yet, as she watches the way the Corsola’s AQUA RINGS illuminate the water, a new appreciation is perhaps earned for them.

She allows herself to lean just so slightly against Lance, simply enjoying the moment…

”...That’s beautiful…”

The whispered words are nothing but a thought spoken out loud – ever honest.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉

lance has a thorough understanding of pokemon and nature, as to be expected of a ranger captain. but it is from his love and appreciation of them that stems knowledge and a desire to learn more.

he's a ranger to protect not only people, but life in general.

it's why moments like these mean so much to him.

"it is."

his own mantyke releases her own AQUA RING that washes over them. he chuckles, leaning against lia more.

and then, his gaze falls to her.

Amelia Livy // [x]

☉

When the Mantyke releases an AQUA RING too, there’s a chuckle of her own, watching the way the water is illuminated and sparkles under the sun. This would all probably look even better at night, but even if it’s in the middle of the day, it’s still wonderful…

That’s partly because of Lance’s company, and Lia knows as much.

So, it’s no surprise that soon enough she finds herself turning to look at him, only to then meet his gaze.

Has he been looking at her?

”...Hi.”

She chuckles once more, a sound soft and light, and the word is no more than a whisper between them.

LANCE VOLLANS

☉