"we wouldn't need a bunker in mossdeep."[break][break]

while he's not actually settled on mossdeep, it is one of his top three choices. its relative isolation provides peace and quiet which is much needed for people in their line of work. it also has lovely fishing and diving spots which is good for him, and the space center which he assumes could be good for her.[break][break]

he exhales, starting to compromise.[break][break]

"do you really want to stay at the lighthouse?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

mossdeep. she hadn’t lived there in a while. the thought of it had her genuinely smiling again, no longer just hiding a mischievous smirk.[break][break]

did she want to stay at the lighthouse?[break][break]

”of course not. it’s too drafty.” because there was a giant hole in the wall.[break][break]

”i would love to live in mossdeep again. but also, i beg to differ: a nice bunker is very beneficial wherever it is...”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

a sigh of relief escapes him. he returns her smile with ease, leaning into the comforting feeling of planning their future together. it's nice; it's something he never expected to have.[break][break]

"we can build a bunker in mossdeep, i'm sure."[break][break]

he remarks over a final sip of his tequila before setting the tumbler down empty.[break][break]

"for the record, i would've agreed to the lighthouse. reluctantly."

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

a future was something she figured they might not have. only a small bit of it, anyways. this was to ensure that, between their work, they might be able to spend more than a few days together before the world ended.[break][break]
it still felt romantic. and if the world didn’t end? well…[break][break]
”i’m sure it’s possible,” she agreed with a smile.[break][break]
to hear that he would have put up with living in her sootopolis dungeon of a lighthouse was amusing—even heartwarming. she wasn’t sure what to say at first, so eventually she just said, ”i love you.”[break][break]
the first time she’d said it in months. her fingers squeezed his lightly again.[break][break]
”i’ve been wanting to move for a while, anyways.”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

"i love you."[break][break]

it feels good to say it. right, even.[break][break]

his fingers return the squeeze briefly before reaching for the bottle of tequila to pour them a refill. golden-brown liquor finds his tumbler, then hers.[break][break]

"let's go look at houses soon."

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

her smile didn’t stop growing until he grabbed for the bottle. she promptly finished off the rest of what was in her cup, as though it were necessary to do so before he poured more.[break][break]

the idea of looking for houses with theo was surreal. luckily, they were probably rich enough to overcome any oddities of the housing market in a war-torn region suddenly cut off from the rest of the world. maybe they could even have a pool.[break][break]

”okay.”[break][break]

she took a sip of tequila, still smiling to herself. how could she feel like this during the end of the world?[break][break]

when her cup came down again, her gaze hadn’t left him. her voice became softer with warm relief as she said, ”thank you.”

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

theo had already done the research on hoenn's abysmal housing market when he moved over last year. he doubts it's improved much since; it's likely gotten far worse.[break][break]

but from his research, he knows there are a number of new properties in mossdeep that are still vacant. new because they had to rebuild after the celesteela incident. so he imagines they won't have many problems finding a place and even less paying for one.[break][break]

his gaze falls back on her, smile equally as warm.[break][break]

"what for?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

“for getting a house with me of course.”[break][break]

but there was so much more than that. though there was the bad, there was also the good. she leaned into it.[break][break]

“and for having faith in me.” she would try her best to believe it.[break][break]

“and for being here.” here on the beach, and here alive.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

her sweet words serve as a reminder of everything he has at the moment. everything he values and appreciates. he'll try his best to never take them for granted.[break][break]

"always."[break][break]

he squeezes her hand gently before leaning forward to kiss her.

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

she leaned in to kiss him back, lingering there for a long moment despite the crowd. she had never been one for public affection, but as the world neared its potential end, she found she didn’t care so much. everyone else could fuck themselves, honestly.[break][break]

when she pulled away, fingers still sitting loosely in his own, she felt happy. in a moment of quiet peacefulness, her eyes cast over the waves, where surfers seemed to be enjoying themselves. they couldn’t be heard screaming in frustration from such a far distance.[break][break]

“have you done any mantine surfing yet?”[break][break]

she sipped her tequila.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

mantine surfing.[break][break]

theo cringes.[break][break]

"i have."[break][break]

he sips his tequila, drowning whatever shame and embarrassment he may feel when thinking back to all the hours spent out on the water.[break][break]

"not well, though. i participated in the tournament and scored zero points."

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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

lulu laughed lightly at his cringing, because she did not know hell. at his confession, her cheeks only swelled with more laughter she was trying to hold back.[break][break]

”what?”[break][break]

and then it finally burst from her chest, before she stopped it with a heavy drink of tequila.[break][break]

she did not yet know.[break][break]

but she would find out.[break][break]

”i want to try. let's go.”[break][break]

filling her cup to the tippy top for the walk over, she stood and offered a hand.

[attr="class","ooc"]THEO BECKETT [break][break]

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

the red on his burned cheeks only deepens.[break][break]

oh, how he thought he could not ever have to reveal his participation in the surfing tournament. while it's sweet to hear her laughter, it only piles on his shame.[break][break]

with a defeated sigh, he finishes the rest of his tequila and accepts her hand.[break][break]

"good luck to us."[break][break]

they'll definitely need it.

[attr="class","ooc"]Lulu Flint[break]

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