His voice failed to carry over. All she could hear was this sharp static in her ears. It filled the gap of space between them, diverting them further and further apart, as negative thoughts continued pool her brain.
[Break][break]
What should she do?
[Break][break]
Was she a bad person for agreeing, despite know the consequences?
[Break][break]
Should she say something? Anything?
[Break][break]
This all came to an abrupt hush when his finger tips brushed against her skin, pulling her chin back upward. For the first time since they've met, goosebumps crawled up her arms, and, when her eyes met his, her heart came to a stop.
[Break][break]
"Greyson, I---"
[Break][break]
Before she could finish, his lips drew themselves to hers, stopping both her words and thoughts, all at once.
[Break][break]
His lips felt rough against hers -- something she hadn't expected from him. It...felt nice. Different.
[Break][break]
When she pulled away, her lips curl to a close, and her eyes slowly searched his face, curious. There was more to him, to this, than she had originally thought.
[Break][break]
Fuck.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

greyson was noticeably tense at first, but slowly relaxes and loses himself in the motion. wh[break]
[break]
en they finally pull away and his fingers slowly release from her chin, he's for a moment, entranced.

not even the surplus of thoughts that come racing in afterwards, no longer stifled by the mental wall he'd erected before the kiss, is enough to break his stride.
[break][break]

"wow."
[break]
[break]

greyson leans back mystified, releasing a small breathe. finally he catches her expression, and a moment of conscious thought pushes through. was that okay?
[break]
[break]

"sorry," he says with a nervous chuckle.
[break]
[break]

he was still greyson, after all.

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"For what," She murmured, eyes still searching his face, desperate for an answer to the questions he tugged out.
[break][break]
It was hard to describe what she felt during the kiss and after. Like a hit story slowly budding from the soil, there was no telling what it could be, or where it could lead to. All she knew for sure was that there was something there.
[break][break]
"...What are you apologizing for?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"i—"
[break][break]
what was he apologizing for? it felt natural; an automatic response he leaned on in most aspects of his life. the kiss had been great, but he couldn't help but feel like he'd crossed a line, regardless of whether or not it was true.
[break][break]
and there was also the matter of...
[break][break]
"—i'm not too sure." it's difficult to admit, and his face scrunches up in something that resembles... concern? "you just... you look like you're upset. i figured that was me who caused it."
[break][break]
he'd be right, of course. but he'd never expect just how right he was.

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

His kiss was just as natural as the feelings it had brought up. They weren't strong, or perfect in a movie-kinda way, but there was something to it.
[break][break]

Whether it was worth pursuing was another question entirely.
[break][break]

"No, I--"
[break][break]

The words got caught in her throat, crumpled up, and smooshed together like a sheet of newspaper. Her eyes, still lit from the kiss, fluttered back down to the ground, unsure where to go, or what to do. Because, at the end of the day, he was right. Greyson was the cause of her inner conflict.
[break][break]

"I'm just worried."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

concerned, greyson stops the submersible. he shifts halfway in his seat and turns to face her best he can, brow furrowed.
[Break][break]
"what's wrong, penny?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

She felt weak, shriveled.
[break][break]
Greyson was just so...sweet. Like a dollop of honey mixed into her morning brew of coffee. Where she had originally thought to have found a story, she had found a friend -- someone she can let loose around, and enjoy the shit no one else seemed to care about.
[break][break]
It made complications all the worse
[break][break]
"Nothing, I'm just overthinking things..."
[break][break]
Like always.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

women were confusing. always had been, always would be. but right now, tonight, he'd reached the apex of that confusion.
[Break][break]
"penny." his voice is calm, comforting, but direct. "talk to me. what's going on?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

"penny."
[break][break]

Calm, yet direct, the voice urged her to lift her chin. Look at him.
[break][break]

She sighed, and for once, her gaze doesn't falter.
[break][break]

"If this continued," She gestured at the space between them. The inching closeness they recently shared. "I...I don't know what I would do."
[break][break]

That doesn't say much, now does it? Say something, she thought, at least explain.
[break][break]

"You're a gym leader. My job is to keep you-- and everyone else in the league-- in check. I, I don't know how I would do that if this..." She paused. Hesitation lingered in her words. "I can't be biased. I can't."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

greysons brow furrows and he breaks his gaze to look out into the endless blue ahead of him.
[Break][break]
"that still doesn't make sense. keep me in check? from doing what?"
[Break][break]
after a moment it returns, something behind his eyes that hint at an emotion he himself can't name.
[Break][break]
"do you not want to... do this?"

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

Of course, it didn't make sense.
[break][break]
It wouldn't be to anyone but herself -- the person who made the promise. The person who saw the aftereffects of neglect.
[break][break]
"I..."
[break][break]
This wasn't fair. She knew this wasn't fair; not to him, not to anyone. But, no matter how much she wrangled her heart open, its jaws kept clenched tight. Scared at the thought of breaking that long remembered promise etched in her memory.
[break][break]
"I don't know," She relented, for once being honest, with both herself and Greyson. "...I'm sorry."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors[break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

greyson sits there for a moment, eyes locked onto the controls of the submersible. his heart pounded like war drums in his chest, and his face felt hot.
[Break][break]
he deserved this. this is what happened when he opened himself to others. when he made himself vulnerable. it was a lesson in keeping his walls up.
[Break][break]
a lesson he'd soon not forget.
[Break][break]
"it's okay." he says with a forced smile. "thank you for telling me." his fingers grip the joystick as he reels them back around.
[Break][break]
"ill take us back."

[attr="class","notes"]PENELOPE LIVY

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

Penelope opened her mouth, as if to reply to the wounded words of a hurt man, but nothing came out.

No apologies.

No explainations.

Because, no mattered what she said, there wasn't a remedy for this.

"Okay."


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Greyson Connors [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]