By now, Nanette knew better than to argue with someone this deep in substances for the night. After Milo had burst into a fit of overemotional tears because he had once again realized she was a grown woman (“You grow up so fast! Too fast! Toni, make it stop!”), Nanette had learned to be agreeable and gentle. So when Thaddeus called her Cigarenettie, she just nodded. Yes, that was her. Cigarnettie for the evening, or whatever nickname Thaddeus would call her tonight.

“I bought you another pack. And I can buy you more,” she said, her tone soothing. “How much did you drink tonight?”

Because it certainly seemed like too much, but, well, not her circus so certainly not her monkey. At the very least, she could make sure he slept it off safely. If she was going to buy him cigarettes, Nanette thought she might as well load him up with medicine for the subsequent hangover, too. Maybe a pair of sunglasses for the morning? The sunlight would not be kind to Thaddeus.

“Are you staying nearby?” Nanette ventured. “Maybe it’s time to get you back.”

@kane

☉

If Nanette had a nickel for every time someone had asked her if they were real…well, she’d have about twenty-five cents. Which wasn’t a lot in the grand scope of things, but it was still odd and a little disturbing it had even happened to begin with. And she was never one for acts of violence (not with Antoni and her own gallade being more than willing when they perceived her honor being slighted), so she could only really fix Thaddeus with her most withering expression possible…which, he probably didn’t even notice considering where he was looking. At least he wasn’t adverse to staying close. If Thaddeus ran off in this state, Nanette was worried she’d be hearing news tomorrow morning about a man sleeping in the park, arrested for public indecency, or worse.

“Yes,” she answered, sighing. And that was where she would leave that topic.

“Maybe we can get some fresh air. And then you can rest while I get your cigarettes,” Nanette suggested gently. It was like trying to coax a child. So far, it was a strategy that seemed to work well…on family and friends. But she didn’t know Thaddeus beyond a bad attitude and a foul mouth.

“Can you walk? You can lean on me…for now.”

@kane

☉

At least he could walk without assistance. That was good. Still, Nanette would be mindful of every other factor. She wasn’t Thaddeus’ babysitter, but when people were drunk, it was just better to be safe than sorry. The last time her cousin had gotten drunk, they had found him asleep in a soccer field and tangled up in the net. And then Milo had been across the city that very same day with unfinished paperwork to change his name to Jamiroquai. Their hangovers had been terrible, and Nanette had been the one to look at them sternly from beyond the rim of her coffee cup. Thankfully, both of them – five years older, the two of them – had seemed contrite through the pain.

Nanette vacillated for only a moment before trailing after Thaddeus. The air in Lilycove was salty from the sea, but still faintly sweet, too. The city’s name was apt. The cool night wind was a welcome change from the damp heat of the club. A shower at the hotel, and then another spritz of Kirsch, and she would be very content with the evening. Maybe she'd even top it off with a rom-com. One on her laptop, not the television if one wasn't already playing on local cable. She wasn't going to pay for a film unless it was being projected on a gigantic screen.

“I’m staying close by. I can get you your cigarettes while you rest for a bit…I might as well get something for you to drink, too.”

The light of her phone was harsh outside the gloom of the club. Nanette squinted at her screen. Not even a five-minute walk away, that was good. And if Thaddeus could traipse out of the booming club so confidently, then she was hopeful that he could make it that far.

“You didn’t strike me as the club type,” Nanette said. She was already turning to walk were the directions dictated. “How have you been? That day at the school was nice. I had fun, then.”

Despite Thaddeus’ sharp words, she had been content to play and let a bevy of children braid her long, long hair. It had left her feeling…happy. Light, even. d'Artagnan and Mila had been pleased as punch after that afternoon, too. Given the way Thaddeus looked and acted, though, she had a feeling he had not gotten the same sense of accomplishment from the endeavor.

@kane

☉

Well, fair enough. She should have known that attempting small talk of that caliber would have fallen flat. It was fine. Nanette was content with quiet. Her heels clacked on concrete, a sharp staccato that contrasted with the lulling not-quite-quiet of Lilycove City. There was the distant roar of the ocean, the skittering paws of some stray alley Pokémon, and distant sounds of traffic (there was one loud shout about a fender. Nanette hoped someone had insurance). She was aware of the warmth of another body looming. She angled her phone just so – there was nothing incriminating. Just the navigation application in the corner and her wallpaper (a very cute, social-media worthy photo of some giant pink drink complete with vanilla ice cream).

There was the marked convenience store up ahead complete with a bored looking worker at the window.

“Two packs of those cigarettes, please,” said Nanette, pointing through the glass. She was careful not to actually touch it. No need to smudge anything if she could help it. “Two sports drink, two bottles of water…oh! And a can of strawberry vanilla tonic, please.”

Even if Thaddeus had chosen his brand arbitrarily before, she remembered so she bought them. Everything else was just a sensible purchase – alcohol was a diuretic, so it was important to hydrate, and the tonic was just for her. Because she loved strawberry and vanilla as she apparently loved all things sweet and red. It was evident in her crimson dress, the lip gloss, and even to her perfume – cherry, oud, cinnamon, and rose. Even her eyes were red, a Sanguine trait. It just seemed to be kismet.

Nanette handed Thaddeus the plastic bag of his items without much preamble. When she spoke, it was very frank.

“I’m staying a few minutes from here. You’re free to rest for a bit if you want to. Though it seems like you’re doing better out here.”

What was going to happen, really? He was cute, but drunk. And men did not accost plain, mousy Nanette like that.

@kane

☉

“Yes, my very rented hotel room,” Nanette said.

He had…what? A foot on her? And at least a year or two on age if she had to hazard a guess. Yet Nanette had seen Thaddeus putting his whole mouth on glass like a child. A very overgrown child. Maybe there was an extra toothbrush the hotel had left for amenities. She hoped so. He was receptive to being led, at least. Nanette glanced over her shoulder every so often to make sure that Thaddeus was following. If d’Artagnan were here, he’d likely be forcing them to walk five feet apart. But no. He wasn’t. Instead, her Gallade was in Slateport – left overnight for a checkup and something she guessed to be tendonitis.

So there was no great, yawning distance between them. And Nanette waved cheerily to the staff at the concierge desk (they looked between her and Thaddeus with mild curiosity, but that was something Nanette did not notice). It was a nice boutique hotel in an art deco style – all gold and black. Even the buttons of the elevator had that polished look to them.

Her room was modest. A queen bed with one corner already undone (where she had curled up earlier with a saccharine sweet romance novel), the perfunctory television, and her suitcase laid out by a chaise.

“You can take the bed. I’ll sleep on the chair.”

Nanette slipped out of her high heels; the tile was cool beneath her feet. In her mind, Thaddeus would knock the hell out and her babysitting would be done for the evening. He was safe – far from traffic and random sharp objects he might pick off of the street. After all, alcohol usually made people sleepy. It made her sleepy after a certain point. So it just made sense – all evidence pointed to him dozing off.

“How are you feeling right now?” Nanette asked. She was perched on the end of the mattress, running her thumb over the indents of where her heels had dug in. (Alas, fashion had a price). When she raised her head, her expression was less exasperated now, and gentled. If not slightly weary.

@kane

☉

For a moment, Nanette could only look at him as her brain – just on the cusp of buzzed – processed the words, the intent. When a woman in a short dress brought a man back to her hotel room, it usually ended up in…well, fucking. And for however inexperienced Nanette was with romantic love, the physical aspect did not elude her. It was almost flattering in some strange, slightly messed up way. At least Thaddues found her attractive enough (and if not her entirety, then at least her chest) to follow her this far without complaint for physical company. So at least Nanette had one thing going for her even with her lack in charm and true interest.

“I’m twenty-three,” she said, and her smile was just as amused. “Funny enough, my intention was to make sure I could tuck you in.”

Was.And now, well, she wasn’t so sure, because Thaddeus seemed relatively sober and that just defeated the whole purpose. So, what then? He wasn’t unattractive by any means…but Nanette distinctly remembered he had put his entire mouth on the glass of the convenience store. And while she was sure it was sanitized (this was Lilycove City, after all, and it had built-in standards), one could never be sure of when it had been sanitized last.

“But you seem fine, now, which was faster than I expected.”

Thaddeus stood an entire foot over her, give or take. Nanette had to strain a bit on the tips of her toes to press a hand against his forehead. Not as incandescent as she knew others to get at his original level of “fucked up.” Good for him. Many weren’t so lucky (herself included).

She could have let her hand fall away completely…but her fingers were feather-light against his cheek. This was Hoenn – so she could either enjoy herself or let the next disaster (which Nanette was sure was looming menacingly along the horizon) could obliterate her. Nanette would be remiss if she missed some of life’s more mundane pleasures.

“You did follow me this far, and mostly behaved yourself,” Nanette acquiesced. She was still smiling, but it was less amused now and more teasing than anything.

Maybe she could get him to brush his teeth twice – no, thrice – after the fact.

@kane

☉