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POSTED ON Oct 13, 2022 11:41:20 GMT

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By the time Marshall returned to his studio apartment at Mauville Hills, twilight had descended upon Hoenn. He flipped on all the lights, revealing a far more modest residence than what one might usually find at the luxury apartment complex. The space would have been roomy if it wasn't a kitchen, dining room, living room, and bedroom all at once.[break][break]

"Sorry it's a mess in here," Marshall apologized to his companion, who entered behind him.[break][break]

Amelia Livy had returned with him to Mauville Hills after they'd delivered the injured Cranidos to the nearest Pokémon Center. The nurses there set its leg and gave it some painkillers before putting it in a Poké Ball Lia had provided, but advised her and Marshall that Cranidos would still need some special care. If one of them could tend to it overnight, ensuring that it stayed hydrated and took its medicine, then the prospect of a full recovery was high.[break][break]

Marshall had recommended staying the night at his place without thinking, and much to his delight, Lia had agreed. It was only after they'd left the Pokémon Center did he remember he hadn't folded his laundry or washed his dishes yet. Frankly, the life of a bachelor in his late-twenties meant he did the absolute minimum in terms of chores, and his studio apartment reflected that, to his embarrassment.[break][break]

"Let me, uh, clean up a little," he said before dashing to his bed to tidy up the pillows and covers.

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Oct 18, 2022 22:14:57 GMT

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This is not how she had expected this day to go.
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To be entirely honest, Lia had also agreed to Marshall’s suggestion without thinking. It had been late, she had been tired, and her mind had been focused on worrying about the Cranidos’ condition. All of those things still ring true by the time they make it to Mauville Hills, of course, but above all else, the overwhelming fact that they’re going to Marshall’s apartment hangs over her – filling her mind with an infinite amount of thoughts, ideas, and concerns.
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”Ah, don’t worry about it. It’s fine.” Is it really fine, though? Marshall is right: the apartment is a mess, but she doesn’t have the heart to agree with him. Were it someone else, sure, but this is Marshall, and Lia likes him too much to jokingly make fun of him about something like this – especially considering the reason she’s here to begin with.
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She can’t help but smile when looking around, though. She even quietly stifles a giggle. ”It’s exactly what you’d expect from a single guy,” she thinks, and when Marshall looks at her again, she smiles warmly at him.
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”Marshall… It’s fine. Really.”
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The fact that he wants to tidy up is sweet, though. Then again, she thinks that about just about everything Marshall does, doesn't she?

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POSTED ON Oct 19, 2022 0:29:37 GMT

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Lia's insistence fell on deaf ears. Marshall fluffed up his pillow and gestured to the bed he had neatened. "Cranidos can rest here if you want to take it out of its Poké Ball," he suggested.[break][break]

Then he moved to another part of the space, picking up empty soda cans and tossing them into the recycling bin. He cleaned at random, collecting things as he went and putting them away or throwing them out. When he reached the kitchen area, he opened his fridge and peered inside, as if he were about to clean that out, too.[break][break]

"Want anything to drink? I have milk, soda, water…" In the back of Marshall's mind, he recounted his mother's lessons in her musical, gentle voice. Always be a good host: offer drinks, a snack, the most comfortable chair. "We could order takeout, too. Get something delivered."[break][break]

He looked back over his shoulder at Lia, suddenly nervous, wondering if he was coming off hospitable or just pathetic.

[attr="class","marshallpostooc"]

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Oct 21, 2022 14:30:51 GMT

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She finds it endearing, and maybe that says more about her than what it does about him. Lia can’t really recall the last time a guy had been this obviously worried about making a good impression on her, even going as far as trying to make sure she’s comfortable in his home. It makes her feel special. Marshall always makes her feel special.
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A smile lingers at her lips with the thought, and following his suggestion, she takes a seat by the pillows that had been set up for the Cranidos. The pokémon looks confused when she releases it, but between the medication it has been given and the long day it has had, it’s too tired to act up.
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”Here… Are you feeling better?” Lia speaks in a soft tone, allowing the Cranidos to rest its head on her lap and gently petting it. It’s then that she turns to look at Marshall, her gaze meeting his.
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”Water is fine, thanks. Wanna come here? He’s really sweet.”
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After all, it had been Marshall who had found the Cranidos to begin with.

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POSTED ON Oct 21, 2022 17:24:44 GMT

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Once Lia confirmed her preference, Marshall poured water into two vessels: a plain glass for Lia and a sports water bottle with a straw for the Cranidos. He carried them over to his bed and handed Lia her glass. Then, lowering himself onto the mattress next to her, he offered the water bottle to the Cranidos, the straw pointed at its mouth so it could sip if it was thirsty.[break][break]

"Here you go, little guy. It's just some water," Marshall said in as gentle and encouraging a tone as he could muster. Eventually, the Cranidos accepted the proffered drink, grabbing onto Marshall's hand with its little claws to hold the bottle steady.[break][break]

It was only then that Marshall realized his extreme proximity to Lia. A blush burned his cheeks and ears at the revelation, but with the thirsty Cranidos drinking its fill, he couldn't exactly pull away just yet.[break][break]

So Marshall cleared his throat and turned to Lia, noting for the hundredth time just how pretty she looked, even after a long day of the wind whipping her hair, sun, and sand. He wanted nothing more than to lean in and kiss her soft lips.[break][break]

"Did you get the flowers I sent you, by the way?" he asked instead, recalling a mental image of the bouquet of pink carnations, irises, and dahlias interspersed with baby's breath, buckwheat, and willow shoots. The accompanying vase had been white ceramic with gold running through it.

[attr="class","marshallpostooc"]

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Oct 23, 2022 20:56:55 GMT

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He sits next to her. Right next to her. Lia is painfully aware of Marshall’s proximity, and when taking her glass of water from him, she does her best not to focus on this fact. Instead, she silently thanks him, taking a sip while watching the way he offers the Cranidos a drink.
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”Cute.”
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”Look at you, I’d almost mistake you for a ranger.” She teases, setting the glass down before turning to look at him. ”Ah…”
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Right. The flowers. The thought of them makes her smile, and inevitably so, a strand of platinum hair is gently tucked behind her ear while looking into those crimson eyes she has grown to like so much.
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”Oh, yeah, I’ve been meaning to thank you for those. They were beautiful… My coworkers kept asking me about them.” There’s a light laugh, rosy hues overtaking her cheeks. It would have been much worse if Marshall had sent the flowers to Lilycove Ranger HQ, but thankfully her museum coworkers are mostly older than her and less prone to teasing. ”I really liked them, Marshall.”
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She still has them at her place, and she had even made sure to carefully press some of them so that they won’t waste away, but of course she won’t tell Marshall as much.

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POSTED ON Oct 23, 2022 21:27:04 GMT

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The Cranidos turned away from the water bottle once it had its fill and nestled into the pillows of Marshall's bed, seemingly ready to fall asleep after its long, arduous day. Marshall set down the bottle, blushing slightly at Lia's attentiveness.[break][break]

"You think so? I guess I have been helping a lot with Pokémon lately, between Axle getting beached over the summer, the Snorlax blocking my bike path…" He blew air from his cheeks, then chuckled. "And now this, huh?"[break][break]

Unbeknownst to Lia, thoughts about joining the Rangers had been stirring in Marshall's mind for a couple of weeks. The aforementioned events, as well as others, were adding up; it felt like the universe was steering him in that general direction. After hearing Lia's words that night, Marshall resolved to speak with Tam Fawley about the possibility. Marshall had zero idea what the process of joining the Rangers even entailed.[break][break]

"I'm really glad," he replied as the conversation turned to the flowers he'd bought Lia. "Can you believe I had no clue what I was doing? Probably pretty easily, right?" This time, he laughed more loudly. "But the lady at the flower shop was really helpful."[break][break]

Cranidos shifted on the pillows, trying to find the most comfortable position. Marshall smiled softly at the Pokémon, then glanced back at Lia.[break][break]

"Should we leave him until he falls asleep? We can chill on my balcony and talk without disturbing him. Let's order some food, too." He stood and took out his phone, pulling up the food delivery app he always used. A part of him knew he was stalling, tiptoeing around a topic he wanted to bring up but couldn't find the right words for — not yet, anyway. But if Lia was going to stay the night, he would be a total coward if he didn't bring up the topic at all. "What do you want to eat?"

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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POSTED ON Oct 30, 2022 14:48:31 GMT

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”Woah, you’re almost a specialist in pokémon rescue, rehabilitation, and relocation at this point.” Lia may be teasing him, but undeniably so, there’s a proud note in her tone. She will always be glad to hear people are interested in ranger work, after all, especially when it's someone like Marshall, and even more so when this is her own area of expertise that they’re discussing.
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He laughs when mentioning he had no idea what he was doing when getting her flowers, and the sound of her own laughter joins his – soft and gentle, as if not wanting to disturb the tired Cranidos.
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”I bet that was really awkward for you, hm? You really didn’t have to go through all that trouble for me, you know? I would have liked any flowers you got me.”
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She’s glad he did go through all that trouble, though. Just like she’s glad when he mentions they should go to the balcony and order some food. Marshall is thoughtful, and it’s one of the many things she likes about him.
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”Sure, that sounds great. Hmm…We can order pizza or something, if you want.” Lia responds when getting up to join him out on the balcony. It seems like the most obvious choice, plus… hadn’t she seen a pizza box or two lying around before he started cleaning up?

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POSTED ON Oct 30, 2022 18:59:23 GMT

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"It wasn't any trouble," Marshall insisted, inwardly pleased that Lia is so thoughtful and easygoing. She gave him that impression early on, but hearing her words at that moment reinforced those traits he liked about her. "I wanted to go through the effort."[break][break]

A cool breeze rustled Marshall's hair as he stepped onto the balcony, phone in hand. He quickly placed an order for one cheese and one everything pizza, for variety's sake. Then he gestured to the two chairs placed next to each other, a small table situated between them where Lia could place her glass of water.[break][break]

Taking one of the two chairs for himself, Marshall leaned back and allowed himself to fully relax. After a long and eventful day, it would feel good to eat something and get a good night's rest.[break][break]

But first…[break][break]

"Hey, Lia…" He took a deep, steadying breath. "You know I like spending time with you, right? I've told you that before, right?"

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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Lia

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POSTED ON Nov 8, 2022 5:21:20 GMT

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The breeze is cool and not at all strong, yet its presence brings reminders of the simple fact that after a long day of ruin exploration, bike rides, and hours at the pokémon centre, her hair probably looks like a total mess right about now. The truth is that it looks just fine, she had taken a moment to fix it at the pokémon centre while waiting for the Cranidos to be treated, but anxiety does as anxiety does – especially when alone with someone on whom she has an undeniably crush.
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It almost makes her want to excuse herself, run to the bathroom, and check her appearance in the mirror. The only thing stopping her is seeing how relaxed Marshall looks… and then what he says to her. Her cheeks feel like they’re burning.
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”Oh…” With a slight smile and a soft chuckle, the glass of water is placed on the table. She takes a seat on the spare chair, looking at him and once again tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. ”You do? I’m glad… I was honestly kinda worried you might get bored at the ruins, but I guess it was pretty eventful, right?”
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There’s a light laugh at that, nervous. His words still ring in her mind, and her gaze is still fixed on him and him alone…
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”I really like spending time with you too, Marshall.”

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POSTED ON Nov 8, 2022 11:40:34 GMT

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Marshall shook his head. "No way! I'd never seen ruins like that before, plus it was fun to ride in the desert. And anyway, I always have fun with you. Even a boring thing like fishing is fun when I'm with you."[break][break]

Despite how casually he tried to say those words, a nervousness swept through him. Lia's chair was close enough to his that he could reach out and touch her, if he wanted.[break][break]

And oh, how he wanted.[break][break]

Shifting in his chair so he leaned toward her, Marshall forged ahead before his courage evaporated. He locked eyes with her, crimson to gold. "Actually, I like you a lot, Lia. I think you're really pretty, and funny, and sweet. And uh, I really want to kiss you."[break][break]

Though his ears and cheeks burned with a blush, he did not look away. Instead, he extended a hand toward her, an invitation to meet him halfway. Only if she accepted him would he keep going.

[attr="class","marshallpostooc"]

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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Lia

She/Her

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Petalburg City, Hoenn

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POSTED ON Nov 9, 2022 0:49:29 GMT

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No matter how many times one may imagine a moment, reality is never exactly as it had been expected. Lia had fantasised about all this before; enamoured daydreams of Marshall complimenting her and telling her how much he likes her. She had never thought he would sound so nervous, blush so much, and stumble over his words. Much less that he would outright tell her he wants to kiss her.
[break][break]
She should have, though.
[break][break]
It’s sweet, and it’s just so very… him.
[break][break]
”You’re going to make me blush to death.” Lia teases, allowing herself a soft laugh. The warmth of a blush does indeed burn on her cheeks, and as she looks into those gorgeous crimson eyes, she finds herself feeling almost as if she’s floating.
[break][break]
Gently, Lia takes his hand, giving the slightest squeeze.
[break][break]
”I’d like that a lot.” She admits, smiling. And, after another nervous chuckle: ”...You kissing me, I mean.”

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POSTED ON Nov 9, 2022 1:02:44 GMT

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Lia's hand was so warm and soft and delicate in his that Marshall felt like he was dreaming. Resisting the urge to pinch himself to confirm reality, he leaned closer to her instead, careful to avoid knocking her glass of water from the table between the chairs. The space between him and Lia vanished rapidly as he let himself be reeled in by her gorgeous eyes and open, expectant stare. Only at the last second, as he felt her breath on his face, did he close his own eyes.[break][break]

Marshall's heart exploded in his chest as their lips touched in a chaste kiss. He desired more — way more than she was probably willing to give that night — but held back. Pushing the girl he liked out of her comfort zone was the last thing he wanted.[break][break]

After what felt like eternity and not enough time at all, Marshall withdrew a few inches to gauge Lia's reaction. Every fiber in his body begged him to kiss her again, but he only would if she wanted more.

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NOTES

♦ Mission: Slumber Party

BY GUNSMILE

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Lia

She/Her

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Petalburg City, Hoenn

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POSTED ON Nov 14, 2022 0:48:48 GMT

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He’s gentle. So much gentler than anyone she’s been with before. She smiles into the kiss when their lips meet, eyes closing. It’s chaste and sweet and nice, and if it were up to her, it would last an eternity. Instead there’s a few seconds that feel like a lifetime and like too short at the very same time, leaving her craving for more.
[break][break]
”Marshall…”
[break][break]
Their gazes meet once more, gold on crimson. That smile of hers remains, soft and faint, and at her cheeks, rosy hues also refuse to fade.
[break][break]
Since she craves more, Lia decides to take more.
[break][break]
There’s a quiet chuckle, and leaning in closer, their lips touch once more. The first kiss with someone always has a certain experimental nature to it; a kiss meant to decide if this is really what they both want and if they like the experience as much as they thought they would. The second kiss, however, is confirmation of the truth.
[break][break]
”I really like you.” Lia thinks at that exact second.

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POSTED ON Nov 14, 2022 11:58:07 GMT

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The first kiss was sweet, but the second was amazing, in no small part due to the fact that Lia initiated it. Marshall found himself wishing they weren't in separate chairs but back on his bed instead, so he could pull her closer and wrap his arms around her. Still, he managed, one hand cupping her cheek to tilt her head and deepen the kiss.[break][break]

After another eternity, he finally had to pull away for air. Panting slightly, Marshall gazed at Lia in a kind of daze. For a brief second, he wondered how he'd gotten so lucky. All of his troubles and frustrations faded away, even his exhaustion, as he beheld the girl of his dreams.[break][break]

Then he cleared his throat and grinned. "I want to take you out. On a proper date, I mean, and not tonight, but maybe next Saturday? We could do burgers."[break][break]

He was certain Lia would say yes; it was simply a matter of whether his suggestion fit in her schedule.

[attr="class","marshallpostooc"]