[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]"Oh, this?" Aurelie blurted out, opening her eye and gazing up toward the beautiful woman with dark skin and catlike golden eyes that was lounging in the opposite side in the sauna. Then the red-haired smith glanced down bemusedly at the fluffy towel she'd wrapped about herself like a robe. It didn't seem that different from the towel arranged around the other woman—Nenet, she said her name was—in a passing nod to modesty.

Still, Aurelie smiled and nodded, acknowledging her own lack of spa experience compared to the utter confidence and self-assurance in Nenet's voice and bearing. "This is my first time here, so thank you for the tip!" she replied, shrugging off the towel. Underneath, Aurelie wore a simple black bikini, a sharp contrast against her fair skin.

She leaned back against the bench indolently with a sigh of pleasure, letting the pervasive heat seep into her bones and filling her limbs and muscles with a sweet, soothing lassitude. It felt similar to being in her workshop with the forge turned on, except that here she could revel in the heat, rather than enduring it while working. At this moment, Aurelie very much appreciated that small but crucial difference.

"This does feel pretty wonderful," she agreed with a chuckle. "If it were possible to live in here forever, I think I'd join you! Rather than the hour or so that I'm booked in here, unfortunately."

She glanced down at the schedule she'd been given at the front desk. There was a Swedish massage after the sauna, followed by sessions for an orange blossom butter body wrap, full-body dry brush exfoliation, warm cocoa butter hand hydration, mint scalp treatment... Whatever all that was.

Aurelie shook her head and grinned. "But even for my day in spa paradise, I ended up with a pretty busy schedule. I doubt the staff would appreciate it if I skipped out on all this, even to luxuriate in here all day." She waved the sheet of paper in her hand airily.

"My name's Aurelie, by the way," she offered belatedly, returning the other woman's introduction. "It's good to meet you too. Do you...come here often?" She tilted her head in Nenet's direction and looked up at the stunning woman from under her lashes with a playful smile, adding a tinge of flirtatiousness to the friendly question.

[attr="class","cred"]VEL OF PIXEL PERFECT

[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Though her playful smile didn't waver, Aurelie did give a little sigh of disappointment when her new spa companion didn't respond to her flirtation with anything but a polite, pleasant smile. Oh well, 'twas ever thus, the red-haired smith told herself. The beautiful ones are always straight, taken, or just uninterested—or all three.

She couldn't help feeling especially regretful when Nenet slid off her towel to reveal she was entirely nude underneath. That toned, shapely figure was worthy of a fashion model! Aurelie couldn't help eyeing Nenet up and down admiringly and a little sadly.

But the sadness was fleeting, as always, especially when the other woman remained so friendly and charming. Aurelie winced and chuckled ruefully at Nenet's vivid description of hot cupping. "I never would've guessed that something called hot cupping could be so uncomfortable! So much for hoping it had something to do with tea or hot chocolate!" she laughed.

"But otherwise, aside from that one, I kind of want to do as many of the spa activities as I can," Aurelie went on. "I like trying new things! And I'd love to get the whole spa experience while I'm here and have the chance, up to and including stuff like putting cucumber slices on your eyes or getting all wrapped up in seaweed."

Listening to Nenet's explanation for why she was here, Aurelie shook her head enviously. "You're lucky your work gives you appreciation packages like spa days! I imagine it's the kind of benefit you hardly have to twist people's arms to accept, usually.

"So, you work at the Observatory here? That must be fascinating!" she commented sincerely. "I went on a tour of it this morning and..."

She trailed off in mid-sentence, her brow furrowing in sudden recollection. Seemingly out of nowhere, Aurelie recalled a shopping trip several months ago, a memory laced with the sweet smell of perfume and a bemused-sounding man's voice. What are the odds? she thought, sitting up straighter and staring wide-eyed at the other woman in a way that had nothing to do with sensual interest.

"Wait a moment," she said slowly. "Nenet...at the Observatory... Are you an astrobiologist, by any chance? Have you, umm, ever been to the Howling at the Moon bar in Slateport City?"

It has to be the same woman, Aurelie thought. How many Nenets could work at the Observatory, after all? Even as she waited for Nenet's answer, she was already grumbling a little under her breath in amusement. Goddamn that Zev Harcourt, lucky bastard. How'd he ever snag a woman like this?

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[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]As soon as the second question was out of her mouth, Aurelie reflected that it might not have been the best way to ascertain whether this was the same Nenet that Zev had mentioned when they'd run into each other at Slateport City's mall. It probably would've been better to ask directly if this woman knew Zev and go from there. But no, you had to try to be cute and roundabout about it, Aurelie chided herself, giving herself a mental thwap on the back of the head.

"Sorry if that was a bit of a strange question," Aurelie apologized lightly, briefly ducking her head. "I've actually never been to Howling at the Moon. But I am acquainted with its owner, Zev, through my work.

"I'm a blacksmith and bladesmith by trade," she hastened to explain, belatedly answering a question that Nenet had asked a few minutes ago. "Zev sometimes commissions custom-made kitchen cutlery from me. And he mentioned once he was seeing a lady named Nenet, who works as an astrobiologist at the Observatory."

Aurelie shrugged and gave a self-deprecating smile. "So, that was my attempt at subtly trying to figure out if that lady happened to be you. No friendly connections at the Observatory, no secret ties to your father—although..."

The red-haired smith couldn't resist the opportunity to slip in one last flirtatious little compliment, even if this really did seem to be the Nenet that Zev was talking about. Perhaps it was the enveloping heat of the sauna making Aurelie feel a little reckless, and even sillier than she usually did. "If he's the source of either your brains or your looks, I'm sure I'd admire him if I ever did meet him."

Closing her eye briefly, she raised her legs onto the empty bench and stretched them out comfortably along its length, wiggling her bare toes with a contented sigh. "Anyway, I hope I'm not prying too much! It's lovely to meet you, Nenet. And if you do happen to be the same Nenet, then it's just a funny coincidence that we happened to meet like this by chance, perfect strangers in a sauna.

"And even if you're not the same Nenet..." Aurelie grinned and opened her eye again, looking back toward the other woman. "Zev never could tell me, but I somehow imagine you can: What do you study, as an astrobiologist? What is it you do?"

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[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Aurelie shook her head dismissively when Nenet seemed uncertain about Zev ever mentioning her before. "Oh, I wouldn't have expected Zev to bring me up in conversation with anyone," she replied lightly, looking unconcerned, "let alone with you. So, don't worry about it."

She tilted her head to one side and spread her hands wide in a playful gesture. "I mean, there's about a million things more interesting to talk about during a date or a..." The red-haired smith paused and gave a sly little smirk before continuing, "...romantic rendezvous, than one random vendor among the many he probably works with to supply his bar." Or the maker of the combat knives that he brings along when he assassinates someone on a job.

"If nothing else, I'm sure he'd much rather focus on you." Aurelie was tempted to add, "I know I would" but managed to catch herself just in time. As enjoyable as it was to flirt with a beautiful woman, she could tell Nenet was barely paying any attention to her compliments. At that point, stubbornly persisting just felt creepy.

Besides, the other woman's discussion of her work actually proved quite fascinating. Aurelie leaned forward and propped her chin in her hands to listen attentively as Nenet talked about studying Pokemon with extraterrestrial origins. "That's really fascinating," she commented softly, picturing the Miniors, Solrocks, and Lunatones that Nenet described.

"I have to admit I've never thought much about the idea of Pokemon from outer space or other planets," the red-haired smith admitted, ladling another cupful of water atop the sauna's pile of heated rocks. A puff of hot air wafted upward, making her sigh contentedly. "What other extraterrestrial Pokemon are there? There's Deoxys, right? Or is it Necrozma? I can never keep the Legendaries straight."

She smiled slightly in amusement at Nenet's purposefully simplified description of her work as a Senior Astronomical Observer as "watching space for anything interesting and doing a lot of physics and math." "I can tell you must talk to a lot of laymen about your work, to have such a glib explanation ready," Aurelie chuckled.

"So, what interesting things do you specifically watch for, yourself?" she inquired. "Are you observing specific stars or galaxies? Watching for collisions, supernovas, changes in movement or color, things like that? Or do you watch things closer to Hoenn, like military or civilian satellites?"

A movement in the corner of Aurelie's eye caught her attention for a moment. It was the clock mounted high on the wall, marking the half-hour. She snuck a quick glance at the spa schedule printed out for her and saw her Swedish massage was planned in about ten minutes. I wonder if I should stay, though, and chat with Nenet some more, she thought. Or maybe she'd come with me and get a massage too? We'll see.

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[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Aurelie arched an eyebrow quizzically when Nenet gave her an appraising look after she'd already stopped making what she at least considered flirtatious comments. Clearly, I just can't seem to stop myself, even when I'm trying to, the red-haired smith thought, one corner of her mouth curling upward in amusement. What did I even say out loud this time that sounded flirty?

At least, Nenet's up-and-down evaluation of her hadn't lingered overlong on the eyepatch, which her gaze had swept over with the same nonchalance as it had over the rest of Aurelie. Considering that, in the past, the eyepatch had at times been a non-starter for some people—and a little too uncomfortably interesting for others—this level of dispassion was quite welcome.

She nodded thoughtfully in response to Nenet's explanations and musings, murmuring, "Ohhh, Gothorita? And Clefairy? I had no idea. Beheeyem does make sense, though..." She did wince a little at the thought of equating herself to the children that Nenet taught in her classes. At least, Aurelie hoped she didn't come across as too childish.

Though it wouldn't be the first time, she thought ruefully, thinking of her enduring love of things like video games and tabletop roleplaying games—none of which she planned to mention aloud right now.

Aurelie's face brightened when Nenet suggested they get their massages together. The red-haired smith sprang to her feet enthusiastically, retrieving her towel from the bench beside her.

"I'd love to!" she replied eagerly. "I also have a massage scheduled next too, so the timing is perfect. Come on, let's go!"

Aurelie hurried over to the door, holding it open for Nenet in heedless disregard for the etiquette of leaving the entrance closed to keep as much heat as possible in the sauna room. Once outside, the red-haired smith wrapped the towel around herself, grateful for its fluffy warmth in comparison to the chilly feeling of the perfectly temperate hallway in comparison to the dry heat of the sauna. The peppermint scent imbued into the terry fabric was soothing and refreshing.

She checked her printed and schedule. "Okay, it says the massages take place in the..." Aurelie smirked a little at the name. "The Room of Resplendent Relaxation. Well, that sounds promising.

"So, that's..." She held up the small map on the schedule to eye level and squinted at it to see it clearer. They went down the end of the hallway, turned the corner, and saw the room on the first door to the left.

"I'm really looking forward to this," Aurelie confided in a low voice as she pushed open the door and looked across animatedly toward the masseuses and wooden massage tables waiting inside. "I have a feeling I've got so many tight spots and knots that I'd love to get worked on. Have you gotten a massage here before?"

Hopefully, I don't sound too childish now about this, she thought as she smiled first at Nenet and then at the masseuses. But then, it's a massage! Who wouldn't be excited about that?

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[attr="class","aurelie"]

[attr="class","aurelie_body"]Nenet's golden stare rested on Aurelie with almost unsettling clarity throughout their friendly chat, as if registering her every tiny gesture and reaction. It was enough to make the red-haired smith wonder if the other woman could actually see into her mind and understand every emotion and thought passing through her head. Or perhaps it was simply that her far-seeing gaze, so used to peering deep into the mysteries of the universe, just grew particularly keen and perceptive when watching something as relatively simple as a normal human being.

When Nenet explained her history and preferences in massages, Aurelie couldn't help doing a surprised double take. "Walking on your back? Huh, I've never heard of that!" She glanced sidelong at the waiting masseuses, all clearly full-grown adults. "Wouldn't that be...a little heavy?"

"Not necessarily," one of the masseuses broke in with a smile, having evidently overheard her curious question. "If the practitioner is small and lightweight enough, weight shouldn't be a problem, though of course we'd always be careful to check how much pressure or weight a particular client can bear."

Aurelie frowned in thought as she considered it, before shrugging lightly. "Sounds intense! Maybe I'll try it someday. But...to actually answer your question, this is my first time here too.

"So," she added with a laugh, turning to the masseuses, "treat us both gently, please, ladies!" The pair of women smiled politely back and nodded, gesturing for them both to climb atop the pristine, empty tables. Aurelie was all too happy to do so after sliding off her towel and plopping it onto the nearby chair.

Lying facedown on the table, she comfortably pillowed her forehead on her hands while answering the masseuse's soft questions. "No, no particular allergies or medical conditions. No, no skin conditions. Oh, sure, massage oil sounds nice. Umm, sweet almond's fine.

"Problem areas?" She laughed, the sound slightly muffled by her hands and the table. "Probably my entire back, plus my shoulders. My job involves a fair amount of regular physical exertion. Oh, I'm a blacksmith and bladesmith. Uh, kitchen and utility knives, mostly."

As the masseuse started to work on her back, Aurelie let out a long groan of pleasure and relief as the woman's thumbs pressed confidently and firmly into the small of her back, relieving several days' worth of accumulated tension. "Ohhhhh, that's so nice. Thank you." Then she tilted her head toward Nenet, slightly questioningly.

"Do you get this kind of treatment in Alola?" she inquired, her teasing smile audible in her voice. "I've heard that region is utterly beautiful...ooooh, yessss, right there...basically like paradise, no other word for it. Is that true? Do you...ahhh...miss it, Nenet?"

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