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And so, the queen led the would-be mourner deeper into her kingdom. She didn’t seem to be judging him, or paying special attention to his request. That helped, in its own way. Made him remember that everyone else suffered, too. Gabe was far from the only person to die in the past four years. Some people had it way worse than he did. Remembering that helped.

[break][break]

He joined the royal procession. The lady’s Roselia even threw flower petals in her wake. It made for a dignified entrance, even if the woman leading the way seemed oblivious to what her Pokemon was doing. Navy smirked, like a kid watching someone fool around behind a teacher’s back.

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The smile faded when they got to the flowers. They were all white. There was a purity to that color, an unblemished quality. Red was the color of love. Whirlwind passions. Deep romance, all the stuff you read about in terrible novels and never understood until you felt it, until you saw red. White was a much calmer color. Just looking at the white flowers soothed Navy.

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He listened. Some people were terrible at listening, even when they wanted a professional’s help on a matter. They’d second guess you, assert incorrect opinions, and forget that they asked for your help. So, one professional to another, he did her the courtesy of shutting up and letting her do her job. The Queen’s insight was helpful. The Navidson family had been in Hoenn for generations. They’d never been anyone special. Before industrialization kicked off, they’d been simple farmers. How did the song go?

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Cotton on the roadside, cotton in the ditch. We all picked the cotton but we never got rich.[break][break]

That was the one. All that to say, the Navidsons didn’t have any fancy traditions, nor did the Chrysanthemums appeal overmuch. It wasn’t really about him though, was it? Gabe told him that if he could beat the champion in this region, he’d head off to the next, and the next, until he’d conquered all the Leagues. Oh the silly dreams of children.

[break][break]

What did he want to express? The blunt answer was ‘I miss the hell out of you. I wish it had been me instead of you’. That wasn’t the sort of thing you said to a stranger. Best case scenario, they thought you were grieving and it turned into a hug session. Worst case, she’d think he was unhinged.

[break][break]

“I…miss him. I miss him, and I’m not gonna let him down. That’s what I’d like to say.” Navy turned his gray eyes to the peace lilies. “Those ones are pretty, really pretty. Rebirth and transcendence, huh? Those are pretty sentiments.”

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Magnolias and dahlias, huh? Those were some pretty sentiments that were attached to those flowers. Navy could get behind them. He looked at the woman, whose name the net had mentioned but presently eluded him (some detective he was), and his smile was one born of gratitude. Navy wouldn’t have been able to pick a magnolia or dahlia out of a flower lineup without consulting the ‘net on his smartphone first, but he trusted her judgement.[break][break]
Gotta let the professionals do their jobs, after all.[break][break]
“Yeah, that really is a pretty thought.” Navy agreed, nodding along with her words. Rebirth. Beginning again. It all sounded very religious. Navy didn’t go in much for religion. He prayed to Arceus when he thought his life was on the line like most people did, but organized religion and him didn’t really mix – not even the spiritual religions of Johto.[break][break]
“I don’t think I could get behind rebirth or transcending stuff. At least not personally. The world put me in this place, and part of me wants to show it exactly what I think about that. My brother was the same way. Haha, we’re just two dumb kids, I guess.” Navy coughed into his hand awkwardly, realizing that might be crossing a boundary or two.[break][break]
“Eh, sorry. Got carried away there for a sec. Magnolias and dahlias sound nice. I made that kid a promise I’d become champion since he can’t. I hope that promise can endure even when times get chilly and the money gets tight. Which ones are magnolias and dahlias?” Navy looked around, thinking with no small amount of dark amusement that a day would probably come where a case would hinge on his knowledge of floristry.

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This lady was kind. If she kept this up, Navy wouldn’t even feel awkward about this whole thing. It was nice. He really felt like he rolled well on the gacha by choosing this florist. He guessed most of them would know a thing or two about the language of flowers, but this one really, really knew her stuff. One professional to another, that was nice to see. He hoped people thought he was as good at investigating as Queen Elisabeth over there was at being a kind, upstanding member of the community.[break][break]

“Navy.” He said after she offered her name. “Well. Michael Navidson on the dotted line. Michael if you’re my doctor or lawyer. Navy to everyone else. Silly little nickname my brother gave me, kinda stuck.” He followed with a sad, somber laughter. “All the best trainers have color names. Silly kid. That was his dream, not mine…” [break][break]

Hold it together, Navy. Almost there. Just gotta buy the flowers, go put them on the grave, then this silly exercise will be done. He put on his best smile, trying to bury those feelings. She seemed willing to listen, but talking about it was still tough.[break][break]

“I’m a private investigator by trade. I’m sure that a lady like yourself wouldn’t ever require such services, but, well, you know. If you ever do…” He took out a business card and offered it to her. “So, Dahlias. Like the commissioner. I think, given the options you presented, I’ll go with pink. Died in Sootopolis. Trying to help. Guess us Navidsons are born stupid.” Navy rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a dry chuckle.[break][break]

“Think you could fix me up a nice bouquet of dahlias and magnolias? I’ve got the money to pay, so I’ll ask the real hard question. What’s the damage gonna be for that?” A man had to think about his finances, after all.

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Elisabeth Fiorelli

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She was just going to...give him the flowers for free? That was unexpected. Not because of any low opinion about the woman before him. She was running a business. Human kindness always took him off guard. Gabe told him people were kind, and they looked out for each other. Navy went out of his way to hide the messier details of his jobs from his kid brother. No one ever went their whole life without being the bad guy in someone's story. But that was besides the point. She was giving him flowers for free.[break][break]

Navy smiled.[break][break]

The smile turned into a smirk at that final teasing note. He almost laughed, but he held the instinct in enough for it to merely be a small 'heh' tacked on as he spoke.[break][break]

"Glad someone else appreciates it's a political position. I used to tell Gabe that all the time when he showed off his badges. Told him that just 'cause he beat Lopez, they wouldn't necessarily just let him be champion. Heh, that used to get him so mad. 'By that point I'll have earned it!'. Kids sure can be silly." Talking about this helped. It was more natural than sitting on a couch and talking to a shrink about his feelings.[break][break]

"Thanks, Elisa. Pretty name, by the way. Can't say any of my friends would probably interest ya, but if you're ever in need of a drinking buddy when you're in Slateport, I know some people. Of course, if you're in town, I'd rather take you out for drinks myself." Wait. That sounded like---[break][break]

Navy coughed into his hand, his cheeks rosy.[break][break]

"Uh, platonic drinks, of course. I know all the best spots 'round the city. One of the benefits of my job." Smooth, Navy. Real smooth.

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Elisabeth Fiorelli