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It had been a rough last month. Work had ramped up. He was splitting his time between contests and the occasional stream into Area Zero. And the echoes of Galarian Articuno haunted his dreams. Unintentionally. He hoped anyway. Since then, the bird had gone dormant, probably out of lack of interest or, as Mint thought more hopefully, to allow its avatar time for rest. [break][break]

And rest, Mint had. When he could. Happily, he'd taken a few slower days leading into a long, long weekend where he could sleep in, clean up a couple week's worth of chores around the apartment, and get in some cozy game streaming. [break][break]

At least, that had been the plan. Standing amidst a messy hall full of piles of clothes he needed to sort through hand wash, he heard the door knock. Idly he wondered if that was food delivery. Then he remembered he hadn't ordered anything. Nor was he expecting a package. He creeps quietly towards the door, only for Zabaglione to throw himself towards the front door barking excitedly. [break][break]

Gelato followed, idly stretching his body and all 9 tails before settling down to watch the door and howl for Mint's attention. "So much for checking the peephole first." he muttered as he retied the ponytail and tugged on a loose fitting crew neck over his crop top. Billowy cotton swallows him up, having purposefully bought it 2 or 3 sizes too large. Who needed a snuggie when you could just buy XL. He tries to tug down his yoga shows down his thighs for decency before moving to calm down his dogs. "Coming!" he yelled, snapping his fingers for Zaba to move back and for Gelato to shut up. [break][break]

He opens the door a crack squinting before quickly craning his neck up. His frown widened into an immediate smile as he greeted the visitor. "Raph- hi!" There's a pause and then he shuts the door a little bit more trying to hide the state of his living room. "W-what brings you here? And- hiiii~" he said smiling once more once he saw the Snivy. [break][break]

He doesn't want to turn him away, but he doesn't want him inside either. Not when his place was so messy. He tugs the falling crewneck up his shoulder. "Uhh, if you come in just- you know- close your eyes for a minute ok?" he said as he turned back to the mess, shooing off his dogs who ignored him, and immediately moved forward to sniff and bark at Raphael. Mint trusts Raph won't peek as he makes a mad dash for a laundry basket and begins simply picking things off the ground and tossing it in to put in a corner and deal with later. "Kitchen's clear! Have anything you like." While his fridge was nearly empty, Mint's kitchen and pantry often had a rather nice selection of snacks and airplane bottles of liquor. For fun.


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The purple Zigzagoon has no concerns for the Snivy and races straight to Raphael, familiar with his scent. The pudgy boy had clocked the man's scent ages ago, having been the one to proudly steal a shirt of his and squirreling it away for Mint. A joke that had gone on far too long. Mint still had it... [break][break]

Gelato on the other hand gave Raphael a proper sniff, as guarded as Mint was, but making it more obvious. The Alolan Ninetails is quick to put distance between them, moving to sniff and herd the Snivy and the egg.

Mint is still rushing, clearing the laundry and setting the machines into their cycles before shoving everything to the side in his room. He comes back only slightly flushed with color and moves to greet Raphael properly. "Hehe, another tithe? What's the occasion this time?" he asked as he helped pick up the groceries and began digging in to organize them. He knew why. He'd been avoidant, full of excuses. Hiding bruises and gashes the man might find if Mint wasn't careful. Raphael, after all, was a dangerous man. Not because of his fists or his strength, but because he had a way about him that made Mint vulnerable. [break][break]

And he hated that. The vulnerable part, not-...not him. [break][break]

So he was careful because maybe Raph didn't get what exactly was on his mind, but sometimes he looked at him in a way that felt like he sensed more than Mint let on. But then again, maybe Mint was being paranoid. Maybe it was nothing. He wants to ignore it. He'd missed him too, after all. [break][break]

"Huh? Late birthday present?" he asked, trying to remember if Raphael even knew it. Gods, what had he even done on his birthday this year? Definitely celebrated it late.


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"I suppose that's the least I can offer in exchange for this fine meal." Mint returned with dramatic flair. He didn't worry too much about the why in the end. He just makes a mental note to ask him out later. Soon. By phone call. After all, he wasn't uninterested, just...busy. And hopefully a lot less busy now without a legendary bird wreaking havoc on his mental psyche.[break][break]

As the Snivy waddled up, with Gelato and Zabaglione watching curiously ( Gelato has a paw on Zabaglione so the excitable pup wouldn't bump into the grass type ), Mint stopped his work. His eyes briefly move over to Raphael before replying with a quick, "Gummy bear, all the way baby." [break][break]

He crouched down towards the serpent like pokemon. "Whatcha got there, sweetie?" he said, looking over the egg in his grasp and carefully offering to take it from his hands. He waits for affirmation before carefully picking it up and hugging the egg gently. "You been to the daycare recently?" e asked, looking over the shell. Some scuff marks, maybe a stain that he could polish off easily. No warmth. Not that it's a bad thing. "It's not that far along." he noted, hefting it up once or twice to judge the weight. [break][break]

"Kind of big...species is probably large too." he noted. "Where'd you find this?" he asked, looking down at Herbie.



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The smell of cinnamon fills the air as Raphael cooks. Mint snickers at the poor Snivy before Gelato lets Zabaglione free, and they rush to harass the little grass type. Careful with the egg, Mint takes a grateful sip of his drink before humming in approval. "It's good. You a bartender at your day job? Or- I guess- night job?" he asked with a laugh before carefully setting the glass back on the counter and going back to examining the egg.[break][break]

"Huh?!" A card game? How valuable a species was in this thing? Mint didn't recognize any of the markings so he couldn't be totally sure. Mint let out another laugh. "Not that smart." he huffed as he moved closer to look over Raphael's work, hungry as the bread fried.[break][break]

"Aww Raph," he said, the egg tucked safely against his side and one arm. The other arm reached up to drag his fingers down the man's spine. "You're plenty gentle with me." he said before moving to find something to swaddle the egg with. Though Gelato had already done that, bring him something to cushion and warm the egg. A colorful blanket he could easily tie around it. [break][break]

"I'm pretty good at breeding, you know?" he said as he adjusted the egg.



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Gelatto watches, barking once to call Zabaglione off the grass type now that it was smacking around its human. The little racoon darts back and past the Ninetails to retrieve its stuffy to share with Herbie. For now, he is free. "Getting paid to bring in customers?" Mint asked as he hoisted the egg up his chest, adding warmth to the mystery pokemon. [break][break]

The little vine smack earns a small snort from Mint as he looked down at the grass type. "What'd you expect if you're rude to him?" he asked before adding, "So, you want me to do all the work, then pick up the kid for fun weekends at dad's?"
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Mint is more than happy to share this part of his past with the man. "Used to be a full time breeder." he stated proudly. "When I first moved to Hoenn, I had a lot of part times until I eventually got a permanent gig at the daycares. I'd travel sometimes to cover other places but mostly Lilycove." he looked to Gelatto before the ice type brings him a pokeball. The door to his room opens revealing Zabaglione running around playing with a squeaky toy before Gelatto returned. He lets out a Centiskorch who curls elegantly to adjust to the cramps apartment. "Can you warm this little guy up?" he asked as he deposited the egg in the bug types care. The huge worm moves over to the balcony, curling up and deciding to take a nap while they helped the egg.

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Mint can only interpret Herbie's begrudging gesture as one thing: uppies. And who is he to deny him. Especially when Zabaglione finally scrambles back towards the kitchen, old toy in hand with rand new drool. He is careful not to startle the Snivy, taking a pause before turning his head to protect his face and scooping up the grass type. He hoists him up as easily as he could Zaba, and patted toe walking snape before setting him on the countertop, the one with all the barstools set up so Herbie could watch Raphael cook as a height his Zigzagoon couldn't reach him. "Here you go, kiddo." he said as he dropped him off before turning back to Raph. [break][break]

Gelatto grumbles, once again jealous of the smaller pokemon's size and casts a mixed glare at the grass type. Something between a 'i hate you' and 'don't you dare' which is hard for a fox that anxious. "Oooh, I was thinking promoted since you're always wearing the button ups. I guess bouncer works too." he said, smelling the bacon smoke and going to turn on the fan as Raphael laughed. His teasing is just that: teasing. He has no idea the domestic mental image he's given Raph. Even if their current moment in time was rather domestic. But Mint doesn't hold the thought, not ready to think about their time together like that. [break][break]

Mint takes his cocktail eagerly. The mixed drink is refreshing. The taste of liquor expertly hidden. And the overall citrus flavor is a nice company o the oncoming brunch. Better than bottomless mimosas. Though Raphael seemed like the type to take him to one. "Really? It could be a super rare pokemon~ Something that sells with the rich kids for looots~" he said in a sing song voice. "You won it after all." [break][break]

"Yeah, I love breeding. Not as much time for it now though." he said with a nod, looking over at his Centiskorch and the mystery egg before ack at his guest chef. "Oh- no, it was Hoenn exclusive. Before Hoenn-" he faltered, trying to think of something he actually enjoyed before the region came into play. "I didn't really have many hobbies before Hoenn. Loads more free time." he said bouncing right back.


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"I like how you look in suits too." Mint offered watching Herbie get comfortable just as Zabaglione whined and stared up at the grass type on the other side of the counter. Gelatto had converged onto a plush spot in the living, keeping watch of the two smaller pokemon in the form of one eye open, ready to go back to snoozing. "But let me know if you want something more comfortable than business wear." he said, always happy to provide. [break][break]

The smell of warm food fills the kitchen, and wafts up and out towards the balcony. Mint takes another sip of his cocktail before picking out a fork and knife from one of his drawers and beginning to eat. "If you insist, I'll keep it." he assured him, making a mental note to take him out somewhere nice if it really was rare. Maybe KASUMI'S EATERY. He'd gone to visit the place once or twice after the BOOTY BUMP Contest. He attacks the main course first, eagerly biting into fluffy, sweet toast. The smell of cinnamon and syrup kickstarting a bit of drooling he quickly hid by pulling out a paper towel to wipe his mouth with. [break][break]

"No, only some of them. A lot I just happened to find." he said with a laugh before nodding over at his Ninetails. "Gelatto I found in the middle of a blizzard, screaming and crying. Though he was lost but he was pretty tame for a wild pokemon. Must've been abandoned." he said with a shrug. "And you know Cacio, that guy found me too." Zabaglione barks, pleading with Herbie to come down. Mint grinned before taking another bite of the Kalosian toast and added, "Zabaglione I scooped out of the trash somewhere because he'd gotten stuck in some plastic bags." [break][break]

He cuts up another piece and holds it out to Raphael. "Want a taste? You made it after all."


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