[attr="class","illie i"]cold nips at her skin and leaves her rosy. that, however, is nothing on the way his compliment hits her ears and spreads warmth throughout her body. she grins widely, bashfully unashamed as she presses into his side. "and you're the best," she chirps. her fingers curl a little tighter around his with a light squeeze, a giggle escaping soon after.

she still hasn't quite gotten used to this feeling if she's being honest. sure, she's more comfortable with him now, even at home if she really thinks about it, but the compliments still catch her off guard and leave her a little breathless. the fuzzy feeling from their first meeting still lingers, even increases in moments like these. "i think you're spoiling me just a little," she laughs at the eagerness of his nod. of course, she should've known he would've agreed wholeheartedly in the end.

thoughts of hot cocoa have her adding a little extra pep in her step, boots lightly crunching against snow as she is already beginning to tug him forward. "yes, of course!" she's beaming. a ray of sunshine against the snow, really, but it's hard not to be with this trip and her favorite company. "although, i might end up getting iced coffee instead." born and raised in the cold, she's unbothered by the addition of a cold drink in her hand. although, in her defense, this corner of sinnoh happens to have the best drinks anyway. totally biased opinion, though, but her nod of agreement is bubbly all the same. "there's a few more that have really good drinks, too! although, they might have changed since i've been home." things always change but so far, snowpoint seems to be just as she remembers. perhaps it's a comfort she has been needing in these past few months. strife and chaos have slowly been bubbling to a boiling point in hoenn and retreating to the cold of sinnoh feels like a breath of fresh air. her head tips slightly to lean on his shoulder, a soft sigh escaping in the process. "what else would you like to see? besides the temple, i mean."

[attr="class","illie i"]"not at all," she giggles, tugging on his fingers in an almost teasing manner. if anything, it's actually a little dizzying. to think that this would have been the outcome of a chance encounter, of a simple mission leading to so much more. her cheeks flush further at the thought and she's probably softer than she's ever been in this moment. maybe it's the fact that she's returning home or that she's more excited than she thought possible, but it definitely has more to do with her hand in his and the way it supplies her with endless warmth against the cold. originally, returning to snowpoint city had always left her with dread but with him, she could go anywhere and feel content, safe, happy.

her cheeks puff out when he repeats her choice of drink back to her. yes, iced coffee. cold drinks and snow do go well together, thank you very much. "don't judge," she pouts. most people think of warming themselves with hot cocoa or tea when they're faced with the cold but, well, the cold hasn't bothered her much before. what's a little more? she's distracted from picking at his reaction to her choice of drinks by the buildings they pass. each one brings with it a childhood memory of passing them as a small girl. of course, she hadn't really had the chance to explore much when she was young but the nostalgia is still there nonetheless. "right! how long are we staying, again?" she asks, purely for curious reasons and definitely not because she's trying to effectively plan just how many places she can drag him to before the trip ends. their bubble is in full effect and time seems to pass differently within it. slower, lending itself to allow them to enjoy each other and the experiences around them.

illeana shifts to get closer to him and the warmth his side brings. it's safe here, she's come to understand. as if the world can't harm her so long as he's with her. somehow, her heart swells at the thought and she's happily sighing out her comfort. lazily she watches the puff of air swirl around the space in front of her before dissipating. the grin that follows is perhaps too childish for her but she's missed this place, this cold atmosphere, and it shows.

"oh, lake acuity!" she doesn't bother to hide the way her voice climbs an octave in her excitement. the lake is close to her old home, just on the outskirts of snowpoint. "the lakefront is so soothing. of course, most go to see if the legend surrounding it is real but it's nice to just sit at the edge of the water and take in the view." briefly, memories of playing by the lakeside as a child surface. at her heels, nix coos and she knows the ninetales remembers the place well enough to match his trainer's excitement. "cafe, temple, then the lake?" she tilts her head to peer up at him from her spot on his shoulder, flashing an affectionate smile. it might be a busy day for them but each moment will be one she'll cherish.

[attr="class","illie i"]her cheeks almost deflate until she hears his laugh, his mild excuse. "uh-huh, sure," she counters, looking perhaps a little too much like a quilfish. "totally interesting." she can't keep it up for long, however, and soon she's dissolving into giggles. her head turns to take another look at the familiar buildings while he speaks. as long as she'd like, huh? the smile that rises is both fond and a little playful, curling further into her cheeks when she turns back to him. "don't tempt me," she coos. "i'd stay here forever if i could." she can't, they can't, but it's nice to think about anyway. it keeps her silent for a moment as if memories play like a movie trailer that keeps her occupied for longer than she'd like to admit. his voice shoos them away in the end and she's matching his amused expression with a delighted one. "three nights? we can do a lot in that amount of time!" at least, she believes so. it'll pass them by too quickly and usher them back to the real world without warning. but, for now, they're happy and content in this corner of the world, in their bubble as it always should be.

her head tilts a little further into his shoulder as he nods. a hum escapes as if she's processing his words a little more carefully than she normally would. and then, a giggle follows and she's not bothering to hold back any teasing. "you know, i'm not surprised you went for the legend first." it's perhaps too fitting for him now that she thinks about it but he's curious and eager to learn, something she finds adorable. another hum follows, her hand squeezing his in the process. "the lake has that effect on people. there's really nothing else quite like it. well, except the other lakes but acuity feels different from the rest." really, she's just biased. this is her home, her origin. how could she not be?

okay, it might be super soft and cliche but she really melts a little every time he hits her with that affectionate smile. something about it just makes her knees weak. add the brush of lips against her forehead into the mix and she's literal putty in his hands. "yay," she meekly adds, torn between flushing a bright red and giggling. in the end, she does both and shifts closer at the squeeze of her hands.

while she had thought that it would have been a little difficult to relearn the paths of the city, it proves to be easier than she knew. only once does she lead them in the wrong direction, only to realize a moment later and let out an embarrassed laugh before tugging him the right way. along the snow covered paths, they stop by the cafe and grab their drinks. the look she gives him when they slide her iced coffee in her direction is almost smug, as if it's superior to his hot cocoa. and then, they're wandering back on the streets of the city and the temple's structure slowly comes into view.

as soon as she sees it, she's leaving his side to dart forward once more. with the snow falling around her, she's a bundle of scarves and warm clothing and complete joy. "look!" she whips around to face him for a moment before rotating back to the face of the temple, hair flying in the process. it still looks the same, still feels the same, and she doesn't know if she should laugh or cry over such a thing? she decides on giggling but tears still pepper the corners of her eyes.

[attr="class","illie i"]"no," she supplies almost immediately. "it wouldn't." of course, they can't abandon the region they call home but... sometimes, it's nice to think of other possibilities. away from the stress of duty, of bubbling tension, of things that lurk in the dark and monsters with exploding heads. it certainly wouldn't be a bad thing to stay here forever but eventually, they have to leave their bubble. eventually, they have to go back to the real world.

but for now, she's content with picturing this trip as what life could be like here, with him, forever in their bubble.

she grins widely at the mention of the other lakes. perhaps there's little truth in the words but she latches onto them anyway with a giggle and the idea that he has all the time in the world to disclose all the little details. "oh, do tell!" she raises an eyebrow just for effect, eyes bordering on amused. "i wanna hear everything." and really, she does, but the jury's still out on if he really did venture to the rest of the lakes within the region. if he did, she's curious to hear his opinion on them. they're familiar to her, enough for her to still recall memories of each one.

and then, she's positively beaming when his response hits her ears. beautiful. it really is. snowpoint's temple feels like something out of a different realm, both ethereal and unnerving. and yet, that's the whole charm of it. something this incredible, this enchanting really exists in the same space as them. she doesn't offer him an answer at first. no, she's absorbed into the way the falling snow almost seems to frame the sealed entrance and how snow capped pillars draw in the eye. recommitting this sight to memory leaves her silent for a little too long and she's flushing slightly when she finally snaps back to attention when he murmurs again.

does it look the same? she drifts back to his side but her eyes never leave the face of the temple. she's too enamored. with him, with the temple, with the city. and perhaps it shows when she finally turns back to him, flushed and utterly blissful. "it does but," her hand snakes its way into his as she speaks. "it's better this time around." as if for added effect, she gives his fingers a squeeze and resumes settling her head back into its spot on his shoulder. a content sigh escapes, then, and she's drawn back into simply observing the sheer masterpiece that is snowpoint's temple.

[attr="class","illie i"]she hums as if chewing on the words, deciding whether or not she likes them before fully offering anything back. a giggle punctuates the hum and she's dissolving into amused laughter before she can decide on anything else. "hibernating, huh?" somehow, she likes that concept better than the idea that myths are myths and legends are nothing more than a child's dream. "better than not existing, i suppose. besides, the legends distract from how breathtaking the view really is." which, when she thinks about it, is fitting for their destination.

the lore and myths that surround the temple are no different. they draw in attention, gathering the masses that flock for the chance to uncover something worthy of fame. and yet, none have ever been successful. the legend stays as nothing more than a legend and the temple makes for a pretty view. still, she wonders if the stories she heard as a child hold some weight to them. another day, another trip perhaps.

the smile she flashes him at his agreement is affectionate, content. they're not strangers to the city but it still manages to feel as though all the previous times stepping into snow with a light crunch beneath your boots can't hold a candle to now. in a way, it's the company and not the city but she has an inkling that he might already understand that. and so, instead of touching upon it or bringing light to all the ways she's over the moon with this single trip alone, she settles into a comfortable silence. content to take in the sights, the comforting feel of home, commit it all to memory until eventually it'll be used as a grounding tool in worse times.

time flows around them but for how long, she isn't sure. it's only when he speaks that she comes back to reality. mind drawn away from whatever daydreams she had floating around in her head while getting her fill of the temple and toward his face. her gaze drifts up toward him and she nods into his shoulder. "sounds good to me," she murmurs. realistically, he could suggest anything and she'd probably follow like a puppy dog. whoops.

[attr="class","illie i"]the journey is half of the experience. between the crunching of snow beneath boots and snowflakes that pepper her hair until the strands are damp, each one merely lends itself to her happiness. and yet, neither have anything on just his presence beside her, on their bubble. the path breaks away into the lakefront and it shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise that she's excitedly tugging at their hands.

"it's beautiful," she murmurs in response. and really, it is. the quiet ambiance and the stillness of the water, the way snow covers every inch and leaves a pristine view. untouched, untainted, pure. it fills her with awe and leaves her settling into silence moments later. subconsciously, she tucks a little further into his side.

he releases his pokemon and she can't help the way her lips curl into a fond smile. they're cute, although the way one is holding the other is perhaps more precious than anything. she offers a coo and a soft wave of her hand toward them before he sends them off, their forms heading toward the lakeside. and then, one of her own pokeballs is tapped until light gives way to another furry form. another ninetales, this one more familiar to him than the pale one at her heels.

flammae shakes her fur out but even with the effort, she still manages to have more snowflakes peppered into tan than before. nix yips from behind the couple before bouncing forward, all tails and excitement. "go on," she giggles. "we're home." the pair of foxes give her one last glance and then they, too, head for the lake to join alexander's pokemon in the snow.

and then, her head is tilting to glance up at him and the smile she wears is bordering mischievous. "so," she whispers. "wanna have a snowball fight?"