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He’s in dire need of a caffeine boost. Early mornings have never been his favorite time of day. Not that it’s really morning anymore, but he’s definitely still feeling the lingering effect of having had to get up earlier than usual to be at the gallery for a new exhibit installation. Maybe he had some coffee then, but it’s not enough! The question is – is it ever enough? Probably not.[break][break]



What he’d actually like to do instead is drag himself home to the lower district and throw himself in bed. Maybe drag Ikarus Rook with him if he’s home and force his boyfriend to cuddle up with him until he’s wholly and truly unconscious for the foreseeable future. Not that that would really be much of an inhibition if Rook was busy – Lam would fall asleep within minutes. Really, he could fall asleep just about anywhere without an issue.[break][break]



But alas, he can’t go home to his comfy bed and cozy clothes and sleep yet. There’s still work to be done, and he’s not fully off the hook at the gallery yet. He’s only been given a break before he has to go back to finish helping to set things up. Not to mention the other planning that he has to assist with for the actual show opening. It’s such a joy being an intern, isn’t it? He’s been delegated to probably way too many tasks.[break][break]



Lam is determined to not think about any of that right then, though. Not when he’s got the down time to step into a nearby coffee shop for a pep up. And also a sandwich. This is one of his favored places (apart from the cheaper one nearer to his apartment.) It’s not until he has his things in hand, and he’s turning to find a seat with Noodle, his shiny shinx, stuck to his ankles that he notices that unmistakably familiar red hair.[break][break]



No way. “Genny?” he asks, green eyes narrowing in surprise. Since when was she in Hoenn?? Is everybody out here in Hoenn these days?



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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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Yeah, this was definitely the Genny from his memory. It was evident in her reaction and expression before she even began to speak. Lam couldn’t help but mirror the wide smile that had slipped across her face. Lammy. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been called that. Probably the last time he’d seen her, actually.[break][break]

He couldn’t recall when that was. They’d both been sorta young, though they were still generally young now. He didn’t really consider twenty-three the pinnacle of seniority. “Hey! I thought it was you.” He pointed at his own head to indicate her hair. He’d recognize the shade of it anywhere.[break][break]

Lam observed the darmantian eyeballing him, then laughed. “Mr. Business is the same as always, I see.”[break][break]

Color dusted across his face, and he rubbed at the back of his neck– always bad at responding to praise, even from an old, old friend like Genevieve. “Thanks! I mean, you’ve grown too, obviously,” he eventually responded with another laugh. It had always been easy to fall into laughter around her–it was the simple combination of her energy and his easygoingness.[break][break]

“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” He noticed the uniform she was decked out in, head tilting. “I just wanted to explore somewhere new, but you look, like, all…official.”

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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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[attr="class","star2"]Genny’s energy is just like he remembered. Bright and zippy and contagious. Despite his mellower personality, Lam can’t help but match that enthusiasm to some extent. Though he’s not quite bouncing in place the same way she is. A thumbs up is definitely returned to Mr. Business, though, along with a bright peel of laughter.[break][break]

“You’re welcome,” he answers with another laugh, nose wrinkling in his amusement, “It makes you look so official, I almost didn’t recognize you.” That was sarcasm, of course. She’d be hard to miss no matter what she was wearing. “That’s way more accomplished than me, and I’ve been here months!” That was okay, though. He’d not been looking to take on ranger duties when he’d moved over from Hau’oli.[break][break]

He shook his head, “Oh, no. I definitely get it. It’s a lot, starting out all new and fresh.” A little overwhelming at times, even. But he’s glad to see that she seems to be handling it all pretty well.[break][break]

“Yeah! I try to go here and there when I’m not working. Sometimes my, um, boyfriend comes along, but he’s not always available, obviously.” Within moments, he nods along enthusiastically. “I’m free, yeah. It’d be cool to go somewhere together! And I’m sure it’d help with, like, ranger-y stuff?”[break][break]

He sips at his coffee, smile stuck on his face. “This is really nice. I’ve been sort of homesick, so this is some good kismet at play here.” Like a piece of home falling right in front of his nose. He’d even started to miss the more annoying antics of his younger brother by that point. Which was to say he missed home a lot, no matter how much he’d come to enjoy the life he was building there in Slateport.
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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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[attr="class","star2"]He doesn’t intend to strike a nerve in calling her unofficial or something– that’s definitely not what he means. As she squints at him skeptically, Lam’s ready to offer that explanation. And the fact that he’s drawing comparison from when they were younger, so obviously she’s way more official and stuff now. They’re not kids anymore, obviously. But then Genny perks up, and Lam puffs a sigh of relief that he’s not on the receiving end of a scolding.[break][break]

Lam has no idea of the state of her affairs, but if he did– he could definitely commiserate. His own place is on the lower side of town, equally as crummy and low-quality, but it was the only affordable thing he could find when he landed in Slateport and…well, yeah. It’s still probably the only thing he can afford. But at least Ikarus Rook helps with the rent now.[break][break]

And at the mention of Rook, minimal as it is, there’s no missing his old friend’s reaction. Despite his comfortability in his relationship, and the fact that he’s known her for years and years on end, Lam still goes red in the face as she expresses her enthusiasm. “Yeh, about time, right?” His nose wrinkles as he laughs. Always sort of chronically single when he was younger. “Thanks Gen,” he pauses, snapping his fingers before shooting her a finger gun, “that just means you’re next!”[break][break]

Lammy. He wasn’t aware he could miss that old nickname, but it stirs up old nostalgia, tinged with a sort of rosy softness. And true to her declaration, he can feel some of that homesickness ebb. Simply because that’s who Genny is. She’s like a part of home, tucked in a bottle and carried all the way across the ocean to the Slateport beach. [break][break]

“Do you have a lot of weekend duties? Usually where I work is closed, so I’ll be good to go whenever!” His head tilts in thought, and Lam chews at his lip in consideration. But at her suggestion, he’s quick to perk, green eyes brightening. “Ooh, yes. I haven’t been to Lavaridge yet, but I’ve heard good things, and you know I have no problem with relaxing.” Laziness is sort of trademarked to him, after all, isn’t it? Setting him down in the middle of somewhere warm and soothing sounds like a recipe for the most sluggish version of him possible.[break][break]

“I’ll ask him, and see if he’s interested! If you want to meet him, that is!” Yeah, she offered, but he doesn’t want to impose, either. Or for her to feel like it’s an obligation. The last thing he wants is for her to feel like a third wheel on a trip they planned for the sake of catching up.

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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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[attr="class","star2"]The bright flush that reaches her face makes Lam grin teasingly. He can’t help but goad her a little further, though it’s only playful. “Oh, pft! Are you kidding me?” Lam waves a hand as he puffs out an amused breath. “There’s gotta be. Cute as you are, anybody would be missing out.”[break][break]

That bit is genuine— it would be a loss on anyone’s part if they failed to see what a gem she is.[break][break]

Of course, he’s sure it’s all in due time. As far as he’s aware, Benny’s never been shy a day in her life. Unlike himself, who was easygoing and generally friendly enough, but typically had to be coaxed out of his shell to grow fully comfortable with others. Gen had always helped with that, when they were kids.[break][break]

He gives her a big thumbs up in lieu of a verbal response as he sips from his coffee cup. Once she swallows, he’s quick to pipe up again. “Awesome! You might even get me up and at ‘em early in the day with that enthusiasm.” No late day sleeping for him, as was typical of his Saturdays and Sundays…and any day of the week that he can get away with it.[break][break]

When she clasps his hand earnestly, Lam grins and turns his hand to hold hers back. “I’ll ask, then! He’s been working a lot lately, but hopefully he can manage.” His smile turns a bit sheepish then, cheeks reddening. “He does, though. It’s been nice. Really nice.”[break][break]

His worry quells somewhat, in light of her suggestion, and he perks a bit again. “Oh! That would be fun! Do you know of anyone who might want to come? Any cute squad-mates?” He adds the last bit with a slight snicker.
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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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[attr="class","star2"] When they were little, any crush she’d had on him, he’d been woefully oblivious to. Lam was bad at things like that– dense and immune to most things labeled ‘affectionate’ unless there was no conceivable way to not notice.[break][break]

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t quick to compliment her, even so. In his mind, it’s no more than friendly affection, and honest statements at that. Why shouldn’t he boost his friend? “Oh, I think I was more embarrassing than flattering with him, so I’m lucky he stuck with me,” he shook his head with a sheepish laugh, still smiling.[break][break]

Lam slumps back in his seat dramatically. “How early is bright and early? Before 9?” His tone takes on a playfully whiny edge. But he really is bad at waking up much earlier than that. He supposes the exception being made for hanging out with Genny, though, is worth it. There’s a ton of time to make up. “Oh, I wouldn’t want you to pay all by yourself, obviously.” Not that he’s exactly…flush with cash. Actually, that’s sort of a hiccup for him. But that doesn’t matter, he can save up.[break][break]

“That sounds great, though. The whole cucumbers on our eyes thing.” Really that’s about all he knows about spa days, but he’s not going to protest the opportunity for extended relaxation. That’s, like, his whole state of being.[break][break]

As she continues to tease him, his hands lift to press against his reddened cheeks comedically. “You’re gonna put him in the hot seat, huh?” Well…he sort of wonders how she might react to finding out that they initially met because he’d caught Ikarus Rook trying to rob the art gallery he worked at. That didn’t mean Rook wasn’t good to him, though. He was just…unconventional in his wooing tactics.[break][break]

Just as quickly, though, he’s able to flip the embarrassment back on her. It’s all in good fun, though. He huffs out a sigh, “Aw, that’s kinda lame. Just think – it could be like a whole hallmark Christmas movie… bonding over saving cute pokemon, just in time for the holidays..” He sticks out his tongue at her, then grins. “Well, there’s no real pressure. Like I said, I don’t want you to feel awkward or anything.” Whether that was as a third wheel, or because she felt obligated to bring someone else.



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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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“Your commitment to effort is impressive,” he retorts with a laugh, a hand lifting to push through the messy tangle of his hair. Then he puffs out a breath angled upward so that it blows those green locks up off his forehead. “I’m lucky Rook doesn’t mind the bedhead.” Lam makes the I just rolled out of bed style kinda work though. Maybe, hopefully. “How far even is Lavaridge?” he asks as he rubs his chin. “Though I guess it doesn’t matter, I’ve got some flying-types fast enough to make it a quick trip.”[break][break]

Saves on transportation costs too![break][break]

Lam finds himself slumping in his seat as she goes on, though more out of relaxation rather than disappointment. “Ahhh, that all sounds so nice. It might put me back to sleep.”[break][break]

As she slips into a sneaky expression, his own brows lift skeptically, and Lam laughs then shakes his head. “Uh uh, no way I’m falling for that. You look mad mischievous right now.”[break][break]

Leaning forward, his elbow props on the table so that he can drop his chin into his hand as he watches her brighten up the space with her energy. “Can’t say I don’t love being an inspiration,” he teases with a grin, nose wrinkling when she hops up and flexes. “With that enthusiasm, I’m sure it’ll take no time.”[break][break]

He laughs with her– again, because it’s always been an easy thing to do around her.[break][break]

“You got this, Genny. For sure, for sure!”

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Genevieve Cromwell | cuties! | 'fit

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