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When Desiree moved to Hoenn, she had not imagined a harsh winter such as this one would ever have a chance to befell the land; it was a shame to think so many unprepared souls would be cold in a place already kissed by otherworldly cataclysms, but she did not mind in the slightest, having grown accustomed to the quirks of Snowbelle City in her youth. It helped that her body was so warmed up by the training, her heavy breathing of the workouts manifesting in front of her in the form of vapors. Just as it did being here with one of the people she cherished the most, especially after the events that transpired in the swamp.[break][break]

If only she had brought a coat, for the snowfall outside was seemingly creeping in with its frigid chills, bringing the feeling of cold upon her tattooed skin. "I'm holding up, ah," she said softly, her breaths labored in exhaustion, ".. I haven't worked out like this in forever, it's like my body is screaming from the inside out! ♡ It'll all be worth it down the line though, I just know it." She was optimistic about the indulgence of the training, and forever grateful that Thomas was so willing to do so. Determined, as she had nothing to lose yet everything to gain in such innocent practice. And being able to spend more time with him was something she wanted to do more than anything, as she trusted him more than any other man.[break][break]

"Has it.. ever snowed this much here?" She asked curiously, moving closer to him to take a little break from the push-ups and sit-ups. She chose to ignore being stuck in Verdanturf under the shelter-in-place orders, as it was all the better of an excuse to be here for longer- and she wouldn't want it to be any other way, allowing time to finally be on her side.

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Smiling at his kind words and his offering of the water bottle, Desiree gently took it from him and took a couple of deep, full gulps of the refreshment. The water brought the hydration she needed, but the gradual decrease of the warmth emanating from her skin allowed the cold from outside to creep in; damn was it cold! And to think that this had indeed happened before, that was indeed something. She didn't quite understand the want or the need for artificial snow, but everyone had their hobbies and desires for a white pokeyule, so she wouldn't be quick in judging Hoennian traditions.[break][break]

"I haven't seen snow like this in years, I hope it doesn't last like the frost in Snowbelle City," she said softly, moving to hug his arm with hopes of generating a bit more body heat within her shivers, ".. my family and I used to go there every other winter to go snowboarding and skiing, I always sat out though. ♡ Did you ever go there during your time in Kalos?" Giving him a lighthearted chuckle in return, a blush manifested on her cheeks as she stood next to him, feeling the emotional whirlwind she had been processing since the night of the blood moon. With each day she spent with him training, her feelings became stronger and stronger with the respect she had for him.[break][break]

Though she worried that her feelings would not be enough, or rather, were too much; dropping subtle hints was her forte, but confessing what she felt deep down was something of another realm. At least, for now. Even though she wished to retain heat and give it back to him tenfold, there was a bit of a wish to show affection to him in the name of love.[break][break]

Guided by Thomas's words, her eyes looked out the window and brought even more of a blissful feeling. "Awe~! ♡ It's so crazy to think some creatures adore being in the snow," she chuckled, releasing Beanbean the Arcanine from his pokeball and guiding him outside with a point of the finger. As the door opened for a moment the chilly winds crept in even more, bringing her to close her eyes and tremble against his side. "Do you have any blankets? We could make a big pile, ahh it's so cold!"

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"My parents were the same, I couldn't imagine it either," she chuckled, holding to his arm within her reminiscence and chilly trembles. Though the snow was quite beautiful to witness, living in it was something unfathomable. Just how did people bring themselves to get used to the cold and the chill of the ice, especially those back home? Desiree could barely stand a few hours in it, even if the photoshoots called for much longer.[break][break]

The thought of being next to him and witnessing the pups roll around, despite how frosty she felt on the inside, brought a feeling of warmth in her heart unlike any other. "That would be so amazing Thomas, I'd love all of that. ♡" She said softly, leaving him to his own retrieval devices as she led herself to the hearth. If only she had the pokeball belonging to her snow fox of a Ninetales, she would have found the chill to be exquisitely endearing.[break][break]

But a spur of the moment to spend time with him was enough to keep her warm on the inside as is, despite the stubborn trembles upon her bodily confines; she was excited for the unintentionally festive nature and the ability to bask in his presence during a moment of calm. Just like all the other times but better, without the influence of her mind's chain of grief.[break][break]

"Do you think the Megalopolans are used to the cold?" She called out to him curiously, a bit of a light-hearted tone cloaking what could be a serious topic. Not acknowledging that space was said to be cold, as their existence felt way too real.

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