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The sea air was meant to be soothing on his lungs. Or so it was suggested by his clinician the last time Hazel visited. Which wasn’t too long ago after his partner fretted himself into enough of a tizzy that Hazel couldn’t evade the subject any longer.[break][break]

Tired as he was, he’d been taking more walks in a weak bid to improve his constitution, though he felt the locale made little difference.[break][break]

“Scratchy,” the singular thought floated through Hazel’s mind in that stunted, disgruntled tone he’s long known to be Nicodemus’ PSYCHIC conversing. Though to this day, he didn’t speak in full sentence.[break][break]

“I know, I don’t care for sand, either.” he sighed, glancing down at the espeon as he awkwardly trotted—kicking up dainty feet and shaking them as he tried to dislodge the sand from his toe fur.

His cottonee, Héloïse, drifted behind them, content and quiet as she floated on the sea breeze.[break][break]

Given that the beach itself wasn’t too crowded, it didn’t take him long to spy a familiar figure in the short distance. It was…Frank, yes? His hand lifted in quiet greeting.

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A smile stretched across Hazel’s face when he was properly recognized. “Hey!” he chimed back, before a chirp at his side distracted him. Looking down, he noticed that the espeon’s attention had focused on a shy alcremie. “Go on then,” he advised, though Nicodemus seemed less than pleased to get his paws sandier.[break][break]

Rather than put the effort in, he sent out a PSYCHIC blast of energy to slow it from running off for Hazel to aim a pokeball in its direction.[break][break]

He wasn’t able to pick up his pace too much, but he still met Frank halfway. “Likewise, Frank. Something to that effect,” he replied with a laugh, “can’t really call myself a beach bum, but the sea air is always nice.”[break][break]

Beside him, Nico sat and curled his tail neatly around his paws before looking up toward their unexpected company with an even, slightly unnerving stare.[break][break]

“And you? Must be a change from Rustboro.”

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Perhaps he should’ve brought his primarina out for a swim. It was something he mulled over as his eyes followed Frank’s malamar, and he made a mental note to save for the future. The next time he found himself in need of a seashore walk.[break][break]

“I can’t say I’ve ever been used to so much urban sprawl,” he admitted with a laugh, “but beaches are just as unfamiliar too.” He shrugged loosely. There had been family vacations when he was younger, but not often.[break][break]

And many of those childhood holidays ended with him taking ill anyway. It was what it was.[break][break]

Hazel let out a low hum. His cottonee floated around his head, still pleased with the mild breeze. “Hmm…not much. My course load was a bit much this semester, so not much opportunity to do any of my own research.”[break][break]

He gave the other man a small smile. “All that boring academia stuff, you know? How’s your business taking off?”

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A soft laugh slipped loose. “Whoever said I’m not?” Though his tone was teasing, he did hold high expectations in his classes. Perhaps he didn’t treat his students quite so rigorously as he might’ve treated himself, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t a bit of a reputation on campus when it came to his classes.[break][break]

Not that Hazel was about to get into such details with Frank if they were found to be unfavorable. “I often miss school if I’m being quite honest. I much preferred being a student.”[break][break]

Briefly, he watched the jigglypuff be squeezed like a stress ball, and considered interceding as well, but Frank freed up the poor, marshmallowy creature just as quickly.[break][break]

“Oh, how wonderful!” His hands clapped together loosely as his attention returned to his company. “It sounds like you’ve settled into the Hoenn area quite nicely. I’m pleased to hear it.”[break][break]

It was true, he didn’t quite understand the finer tuning of business affairs, but it was just enough to keep up with. In some arenas, he was still a bit socially awkward. Not that he wouldn’t at least make an effort.[break][break]

“What of you, though? Are you settling in alright— work aside?”

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“Oh, excellent. You’ll feel like a local in no time at all then, I’m sure.” Well, no, he wasn’t because even he still had his moments of feeling terribly displaced. But that had always been preferable to returning to Galar. The sentiment was a nice enough one, though, he figured.[break][break]

Hazel’s hands clapped together as he brightened at the mention of the rifts that had been cropping up around the region.

“I haven’t been able to visit any of them yet, actually. But I’ve tried to read up on any information that comes up at my disposal on the subject. Would you be opposed to telling me about your visits?”[break][break]

Though his enthusiasm was not without the touch of something forlorn as he sighed after the fact. His shoulders slumped as something somewhat sullen (and maybe a touch petulant?) ghosted through his expression. “My health has been too poor as of late to allow me the opportunity to explore for myself.”[break][break]

Perhaps soon, though? One could hope.