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"Umm.. sure!"[break][break]

It doesn't occur to her at all that he might mean anything else- and she makes that clear in her puzzled, slightly apprehensive smile. What else had he been thinking? Why was he being so anxious?[break][break]

"Okay then, just cook. Sounds like a plan to me."[break][break]

Gwen chuckles, glancing to the side to idly sightsee and walk. It's only for a moment, though, before she's brought right back.[break][break]

"I do! Steak is a very, very good source of protein."[break][break]

The bus stop comes into view, and fortunately it appears they've arrived right on time to board. Gwen steps up first before looking back to wait for Greyson.

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He insists she'd love her and Gwen responds with an easy smile. Somehow, she had a feeling that she would, and that she would very likely be seeing a lot more of the young man at the end of her fingertips. There was something in his smile, in his energy, in the gentleness in his tone. [break][break]

"Ooo, Wailord!"[break][break]

She is breathless as he pulls her along, giddy with excitement and amusement at his eagerness. With him, she felt less like a shadow and more like.. more like the spotlight that Greyson kept his attention trained on happily.[break][break]

The rest of their afternoon is spent exploring the remainder of the museum, winding down to a short walk through the twinkly lights leading out the back. Likely toward a butterfly conservatory or similar, but decorated with soft glowing lights to illuminate the path back out to the main street. [break][break]

Eventually, however, the pair are picking their way through Slateport, heading back towards the train station.[break][break]

"Dinner?"[break][break]

She blushes, surprised that he'd even offered. It hadn't been part of the original plan, and she surprises herself with how eager she felt to accept. Even though it was already getting late and she'd still likely have to make her way back to Lilycove.[break][break]

"Dinner sounds lovely."

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His ever constant attention not to the details of the exhibits, but to her continues to leave her breathless. [break][break]

This wasn't the same attention to detail that Amor had given her. Frankly, even drawing on that fact suddenly made her uncomfortable. Heat rises in her face at the comparison, and she finds that she's been staring at him while he speaks. [break][break]

"Hm? You have an Aurorus? That's.. that's amazing."[break][break]

It didn't surprise her that such a Pokemon would be a sweetheart. From her studies on their makeup, they seemed like such gentle creatures. [break][break]

"I'd love to meet her."

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"Mm.."[break][break]

She remains thoughtful and reserved, following the line of his finger and down to the information board. There were not many specimens left from this era, and they move on quickly. [break][break]

Greyson once again tugs her along by her fingertips, and she instinctively flexes to hold on. Once she settles at his side, he gestures up to the enormous Tyrantrum. It towers above them, unmoving, but it sends a shiver down her spine. Those razor-sharp teeth, the beady eyes, the sheer immensity.[break][break]

"A Tyrantrum. They still exist as a result of scientists and their experiments."[break][break]

She whispers breathlessly, gesturing to the Aurorus exhibit not far away.[break][break]

"Those ones too. They're from Kalos, both of them."

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He's cute when he smiles.[break][break]

For a moment, she can't help but stare while he looks around. She can see the cogs turning, see his decision-making. She'd left the decision-making to him as she felt it was only fair; this was a trip he had wanted to go on originally, she was merely along for the ride.[break][break]

It didn't occur to her that there might be any other motive behind it, that this might just have been an excuse(albeit a fun one) to just see her.[break][break]

But then he's looking back at her and his lips are moving. Gwen blinks, tugged along. She smiles, refocusing on him, their surroundings, the promise of an exciting trip.[break][break]

"The Stegasaurus is my favourite, I think. What's yours?"

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Guinevere glances around, craning her head left and right. People pass by but they hardly deter her. She seems to see right through them, or accept them as part of the whole. There is a small, subtle smile on her face and she hardly notices that Greyson has fit her hand in his. [break][break]

"You are very sweet, Greyson."[break][break]

She smiles wider, glancing back up to gaze at his face for a moment. Her attention is fleeting, however, excitement to explore and learn overcoming whatever fluttery feelings were trapped in her chest.[break][break]

"Where should we go first? You pick a direction and I'll follow."

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"No, no, not at all. I've just never.. heard anyone say that it's pretty."[break][break]

He covers her hand in his and she tugs him along eagerly. Any discomfort from before is forgotten in favor of the museum. It is much larger up close, naturally, and abuzz with activity. From the looks of it, however, there isn't a proper ticketing area - it's open to the public.[break][break]

"Just hold onto me."[break][break]

Gwen winks, turning away as they reach the top step entering the building.

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Gwen sighs, reminiscing with closed eyes and a pleasant, wistful smile. [break][break]

"It was good.."[break][break]

But when she reopens her eyes, his pretty purple eyes are watching her with owlish intrigue. It catches her off-guard and she hesitates, laughing nervously with quiet exhales under her breath. Warmth floods her cheeks not long after as a result of his compliment.[break][break]

"It's my native language, French. I.. suppose it is sort of pretty."[break][break]

She hadn't really thought about it. [break][break]

"But I have studied other languages as well. Every region speaks differently, altogether or more subtly."[break][break]

The walk-signal turns and they hesitate. People shuffle past them and she squeaks in surprise as they are jostled forward. She reaches to hold his upper arm, tugging him forward to follow the flow of traffic.

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Gwen breathes in with a soft noise that pulls her back out of her heavy thoughts. Frankly, she wasn't sure why the thought had gotten her so down. She had been ecstatic to come to Hoenn and reunite with her family. [break][break]

So she smiles, glancing back up at him.[break][break]

"Hmm... the cinnabon place in Nimbasa city."[break][break]

She had shed tears the first time she had ever had one. [break][break]

Greyson points, and Gwen follows. She tilts her head closer to him to follow the line of his finger through the crowds of people. She's searching, pressing closer to him but without touching, and then she lets out a gasp in awe.[break][break]

"Ohh.. c'est étonnant! It's so big!"

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He looks away, and once again she feels a prickle of guilt. She's upset him, even indirectly. Pried into something sensitive that he evidently didn't wish to talk about, but for some reason felt obligated to share. It was an act of bravery, she realized; a strength she didn't possess, herself. [break][break]

She can hear that heartbreak in his laugh, in that desperate attempt to keep himself from drowning.[break][break]

It was the same self-control she felt in Amor, that unwillingness to be weak. But it wasn't a weakness to be honest with yourself and your emotions, it wasn't weak to shed one's armor and be vulnerable. She knew that even if she didn't practice it herself.[break][break]

So she lowers her head respectfully, glances away to take the pressure off of the man. It isn't her place to comfort him on something she didn't know about.[break][break]

"We.. wanted to see the world."[break][break]

It wasn't the entire truth, but it wasn't a lie. Traveling hadn't been her idea, it had been Amor's. No one had asked her to come with, however, there had been no obligation for her to match pace. She just had because she'd wanted to. She followed that man to the ends of the earth because he'd shown up on her doorstep, battered, bruised, burnt. [break][break]

So she'd stepped in to be his strength, and had been his shadow ever since.

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Gwen studies him a moment, desperately searching. Had she said something wrong? Her question seemed to draw sadness out of him, and although depicting emotions on anyone other than Amor was often difficult, Greyson's expression, his stress, was clear as day. It quieted her more than she already had been, curling her hands into her lap nervously.[break][break]

Should she say something? Should she apologize?[break][break]

But as quickly as that upset rises, it ebbs away as she exhales. He speaks, then, and she begins to understand. Empathy bleeds from her creased brows, warmth from her eyes.[break][break]

"Oh.. Greyson, I'm so sorry to hear that. But.. does that mean she's better now?"[break][break]

Her thought is interrupted and her chin lifts to the ceiling and to the LED lights announcing their upcoming stop. The voice over the intercom reaffirms, and Greyson stands up. She follows not far behind, carefully and politely picking her way around people until they both stand on the landing.[break][break]

Gwen smiles softly and glances up at him. She mirrors his movements, slipping past the ticket area and out of the station.[break][break]

"Perhaps one day you will."

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The truth was, she was used to wearing a suit, to stand alongside her father in a mirror image. But Walter had insisted that she wear something more casual 'so as to not intimidate the lad'. At the time it had confused her, but given the lack of formal attire on the train, she was slowly starting to understand what he meant.[break][break]

Gwen follows his gaze out the window and the train begins to slow down. She breathes out slowly through her nose, hand gripping her seat armrest.[break][break]

"Why is that?"[break][break]

His attention on her is, for some reason, dizzying. She reacts with bashful amusement, averting her eyes on occasion when the pressure of his intrigue makes her nervous.[break][break]

"I was born in Kalos, but I've done a lot of traveling since then. Sinnoh, Alola, Johto.. I just arrived here from Unova last week. Never in one place too long."