A cool autumn breeze REFIGERATES the air with a flourish of red and orange leaves. The diplomats and representatives gathered around him continue to engage in their conversation as Remiel's eyes trail one of these airborne red leaves. Then he hears a familiar voice behind him, and turns over his shoulder to regard it.

"Lady Chêne?"

He smiles, slightly, and waves back. Her Pumpkaboo's greeting is met with a little wave from Remiel's butler Sinistea, Earl Grey. When she turns and wanders off alone down the bustling and dressed up main boulevard, however, the ambassador is compelled to step forward. He pardons himself from his group, jogging to catch up to her just as she reaches the front patio of a bakery.

"Lady Chêne! I wasn't expecting to see you here," He says, a tinge of pleasant surprise in his voice as he offers his hand. Should she take it, he would bow and peck the top of it— a very princely thing he did every now and again. Though he was ultimately embarrassed for doing so afterwards. Always.

"It's nice to see you back in Rustboro again." His Sinistea twirls around him with a ghostly chime, greeting her with a proper bow that nearly threatens to spill his gooey purple ectoplasm. "That's Earl Grey, my butler. He's charmed to meet you." Remiel informs with a tinge of brightness in his cobalt eyes.

---

— advent calendar prompt (DAY 13): use the word "refrigerator" or "refrigerate" in an ic-post. the word "refrigerate" can be used to reference the pkmn ability as well.

luka chêne

☉

Earl Grey and Remiel are both charmed by Luka's curtsy, and the former happily bounces in the air as a result. It redirects that cheer towards the Pumpkaboo as play is initiated, however, and welcomes the idea of trading stories in pokéspeak as their trainers converse.

"Yes, thank you," The royal responds brightly as she compliments him on the result of the festival. "The turnout wasn't as large as we expected, but we're working to change that for next year as Hoennians find some sense of familiarity with Galarian immigrants and traditions."

The issue was multi-faceted and went slightly deeper than that, but that was something he could explain to her further later if she cared to bring it up. For now, he simply found himself happy to be in her presence again. As if congratulating him, the clock tower nearby strikes 1PM, and its BELL rings out for all to hear this proclamation.

Turning over his shoulder to regard the structure, Remiel continues. "Ah, the pumpkin pie workshop is starting soon," He notes, turning back to her and offering his hand with a debonair smile. "Care to join me?"

---

— advent calendar prompt (DAY 21): reference or include an image of chimecho/chingling/bells (e.g. sleigh bells) in an ic-post.

luka chêne

☉

Her optimism brings a smile to his face, and the prince finds himself nodding in agreement. "Yes... I think so, too. I've quite tired myself of crowds this year anyway. Truth be told, you actually just saved me from a dreadfully boring conversation." He chuckles.

It's funny to him, sometimes, how he can get swept up in the moment, then find himself walking hand-in-hand with someone as endearing as Luka. His eyes gleam brightly when she does take his offer, however, even going as far as giving their conjoined fingers a slight swing.

"Is that so?" The royal remarks as their Ghost-type Pokémon float along in tow. "That's just splendid. I'm a rather shoddy baker myself, so now I won't feel outclassed." His admission comes with a laugh, and Earl Grey chimes in with a nod, recalling a time when his master had very nearly died in a baking accident. 

---

🎶 lazy afternoons — yoko shimomura

HARVEST FESTIVAL + luka chêne

☉

Crisp, autumn leaves descend in gentle pirouettes all around them as they follow the cobblestone path beneath the shade of a sugar maple tree. "Mademoiselle," He begins in response, mildly scolding her as his hand grips her own with a soft, reassuring squeeze. "The pleasure of your company is a rare and valuable thing. Never squander or make light of it."

Blue-grey eyes settle onto her with a soft Adonian smile for a moment before he returns his attention to the charming boulevard ahead. The bakery they're looking for, Cinnabar Buns, resides there. Its front patio has been converted into a sign-up station for the free workshop about to be held within.

Inhaling the rich scent of pumpkin spice for a moment, Remiel pleasantly sighs. "Oh, surely it can't be that bad," He chuckles. "Just make the pie as sweet as you are. You'll be fine." He smiles at her, looking both ways before tugging her along to cross the street.

Oh, how he'd come to eat those words.

Literally.

---

🎶 lazy afternoons — yoko shimomura

HARVEST FESTIVAL + luka chêne

☉

Remiel chuckles at her show of determination and faith, hoping they'll come to realize it as well as the gleam in her bright eyes seems to promise.

Without further ado, they sign-up at the front station before entering the bakery, awash with rich scents and warmth that lift their spirits even higher. After they're given aprons to wear— and a chef hat, in Remiel's case, thanks to his messy head of hair— the pair get to work studying, tasting, and practicing.

The royal's workstation is (mostly) clean and neat as he works. It's that desire for organization and cleanliness, however, that puts him a few steps behind Luka. As he's moving to put his pie crust in the oven, Remiel catches a small splatter of pumpkin puree right across his face and hat. He blinks, shocked and confused, for a moment before looking at Luka with the whisk in her hand and laughing.

Despite the tiny rivers of pumpkin puree tracing the contours of his nose and jawline, then meeting at his chin to form a single drop, the prince doesn't move to clean himself first. Instead, he sets his pie crust down on the table for the time being, before lifting the corner of his apron with one hand, and tenderly framing Luka's round face with the other.

"You're really getting into this, aren't you?" He smiles, his eyes focused on assessing every little splotch so that he can gently pat it clean with his cloth... until their gazes happen to meet again. Their closeness inspires a brief pause. Then, dropping his apron, he gently swipes a drop of puree of her bottom lip with his thumb.

"There. All clean."

He says, giving the puree on his thumb a little taste afterwards. It takes conscious effort to suppress the smirk on his face, even despite the splotches of orange adorning his expression.

---

🎶 lazy afternoons — yoko shimomura

HARVEST FESTIVAL + luka chêne

☉

Remiel has to lean down in order for her to properly clean his face, but he doesn't put up a fuss as she does. Perhaps that has something to do with the dainty, trembling fingers that do the cleaning. Or, perhaps, he's just too darn comfortable with their closeness.

Regardless of the reason, the ambassador thanks her when she's done, casting a curious (almost amorous) glance her way before resuming work on his own pie. Having to catch up quickly in the last ten minutes due to all his proclivities for cleanliness and organization, his station ends up looking like a mess anyway by the end of it.

Not only that, but he fails to notice the dangerous concoction of materials Luka has placed in her own.

As they turn in their aprons and wash theirs at the hand-washing station, the royal smiles at her. "That was quite fun, wasn't it? We'll come back later this evening to enjoy the fruit of our labor. What should we do until then?" He asks with a hint of eagerness in his voice— a trait surprisingly rare for him to express.

---

🎶 lazy afternoons — yoko shimomura

HARVEST FESTIVAL + luka chêne

☉