Huh? First said wh--- oh.
[Break][break]
Realization slapped her across the face like an incoming train.
[Break][break]
"Oh, um, yeah."
[Break][break]
Embarrassment flushed the tips of her cheeks as she glanced away, her hand nervously rubbing the back of her neck and her lips quirked up into a sheepish grin. Penelope had been contemplating saying it for a bit now, but the time never felt right. Even now, after blanatly declaring her feelings without a second thought, she felt lame for bringing it up in such a lackluster way.
[Break][break]
Slowly, her eyes returned to his and her shoulders lifted into a shrug.
[Break][break]
"Guess I couldn't keep it to myself anymore."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

honestly? it's about damn time. but he isn't going to sully the moment by pointing it up. he'll just continue to tease her about it with a single world, a grin, and a roll of his eyes.[break][break]

"finally."[break][break]

he closes the space between them to kiss her.[break][break]

"but i never had a doubt."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

As the space between them closed, her arms would find themselves wrapping around his neck, cozying herself against him.
[break][break]
"C'mon, give me a break," she mumbled just as she pulled away from the kiss, her face still hovering nearly inches from his. "I'm trying here."


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"i know, i know. and i appreciate it."[break][break]

his arms wrap around her waist, holding her close as he smiles down at her.[break][break]

their noses brush lightly as he sighs.[break][break]

"we'll be okay, penny. call it a feeling or whatever, but i trust everything will turn out okay.""

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

And that was it.
[break][break]


Those were exactly the right words she needed to hear, from exactly the right person she needed to hear them from. Lips curling into a smile of relief, the overly stressed, overworked woman could feel the weight of the world gingerly lift from her shoulders.
[break][break]


"You're right."
[break][break]


Her arms unraveled themselves from his neck and scaled up to the sides of his cheeks, cupping them between her delicate palms, and with a soft push from her tippy toes, she kissed him.
[break][break]


"Thank you. Really. I know I can get in my own head sometimes, and I know it can be a lot dealing with it, so I just..." For a moment, her voice trailed off, as her eyes stared back into his. There was a deep longing hidden beneath the amber sparks of affection. "Really appreciate you always being there for me."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"yeah, i'm usually always right."[break][break]

he's also usually unable to stop himself from gloating. teasing? whatever it is, he's grinning when she tiptoes up to kiss him. he returns it with ease, grin still fixed even after she pulls away.[break][break]

"i made you a promise, didn't i?"[break][break]

he genuinely cannot remember.[break][break]

"well, if i didn't, then i'll do it again now."[break][break]

holding her closer, he continues.[break][break]

"i promise to always be here for you, PENELOPE LIVY. whenever you need me."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

If she repeated those words back to herself a year ago, that Penelope would've laughed her ass off.

[break][break]
That's so cheesy, she'd say, hand waving to shoo away the secondhand embarrassment.

[break][break]
But that was back then; back when the idea of love was hilarious, and she'd thought to have already lost her chance of being with her soulmate.

[break][break]
Now? Her heart couldn't stop swooning over the only man that kept her breathing.

[break][break]
"Which is always," She rolled her eyes, a teasing chuckle following close behind, "But, you know, I'll always be there for you too. Whenever you need me." A short pause broke her words. "So never hold back."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

her words make him feel as though he's been stabbed by guilt only to be healed immediately after, coated by words of reassurance that by all means should feel lasting but to him feel temporary.[break][break]

but that is on him, not her. never her.[break][break]

"i won't."[break][break]

coming from the man who's held back in races, on the job, and probably in life. but she makes him want to be a better person.[break][break]

"now come on. there's only fifteen miles left on our hike."[break][break]

bet she thought she'd get out of it that easily, huh?

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

Swinging her had back, a groan let out from her lips.
[break][break]
"FIFTEEN," She repeated, eyes widening at the thought. Who did he think she was? That one glasses-wearing guy from his superhero anime? Ripping herself from him, her fingers naturally found themselves coiling pieces of her bang around them. They'd curl all the way up to the root, then get released, only to curl back up again. "You sure that's a good idea? What if we don't...do... that?" Her lips quirked up into a pleading smile.
[break][break]
In the chaos of their conversation, she had all but forgotten the worries that initially plagued her that morning. A natural side effect from being around Cian.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

"something like that, yup."[break][break]

in truth, they only have about six miles or less to go, but that doesn't take into account the distance they have to travel to get back. still, it's definitely not as high as fifteen.[break][break]

he would've been fine continuing on but her pleading smile gets to him as it always does. he shrugs his backpack on, then pauses to look at her. a small grin meets her.[break][break]

"what else could we do?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

Victory!
[break][break]
A silent cheer sent her hand to his, lacing their fingers together, as they'd always done, like it was instinctual.
[break][break]
"Hm, maybe there's a spring nearby."
[break][break]
It would be nice to freshen up, maybe lose some clothes along the way? An impish smile accompanied her suggestion.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"there is."[break][break]

cian knows this because he's done his research. not to mention he's done this particular route a few times as well. not recently, however, so he's not entirely sure if it's still there but springs don't just disappear, right?[break][break]

it's a good thing he ran well because that made up for his absolute poo grades in school.[break][break]

"come on. i could really use a dip."[break][break]

the spring is located so deep into the route that it's a wonder people even know about it at all. it's quiet, empty apart from the two of them. he imagines it will stay that way.[break][break]

"it looks like we have it to ourselves."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"Just the way I like it," Penelope beamed.

[break][break]

Quickly, she cast out a few of her Pokémon from their balls; Pelipper, Dragonite, Garchomp, Delphox. It might've been a bit of an overkill, but she was a councilwoman now. One bad leak and her boobs would forever be on the internet, all for the entertainment of the many sickos living here. Yeah, better safe than sorry.

[break][break]

With her little gang of Pokémon now dispersed into the surrounding forest, her fingers were free to seamlessly pluck off her shirt and pants, leaving them folded up over a hanging branch. Turning, she gave her boyfriend an impish grin before pinching her nose and running toward the spring. It called out to her, and frankly, she wasn't one to let keep someone waiting.

[break][break]

Jumping off the edge, she plunged straight into the clear blue pool, splashing water all around, and sending a trail of glitter behind her. Seconds after her big splash, she'd bob her head back up, keeping everything from beneath her nose downward underwater, like Hippopotas lurking in the sand.

[break][break]

'What are you waiting for,' her eyes read.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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