”...Oh? You think it’d look good on me~?”[break][break]

Spitballed as it was, after all things said and considered, there was a sense of relief that he felt in the midst of her reception— but it was really the latter of all the words she’d spoken that had caught his attention. While the thoughtfulness of it all had cast the majority of his smile away in favor of taking the question seriously, his lips were quick to tug upward in amusement once more upon hearing her speak.[break][break]

”I mean,” he started off again, chuckling, ”some part of me thinks you’re giving me a little too much credit, but if you ever need a model once you start putting the ideas into practice, we could see if that’ll really be the case~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

”I mean, I’m talkin’ to you, aren’t I~?”[break][break]

A comment of genuine, yet teasing intent, spoken only as the sounds of screaming and a frantic Arm Thrust in retaliation were made in the background of it all. While his little one seemed to be more than focused upon his sparring partner (having found absolutely no joy in being literally bitten, even if it hadn’t hurt nearly as much as it looked to— bless Arceus for type matchings), his trainer merely gave a shrug while eying the woman by him. His smile broadened upon seeing the flush upon her skin settle in, and he tilted his head in amusement all the while.[break][break]

”Don’t see anyone else here I know,” he began in addition, ”so I don’t really know who else I could be referring to when saying that~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: down for the count

☉

”No, yeah. That’s still what comes to mind first, is the thing~...”[break][break]

A response laced with a slight chuckle of awkwardness. With no way to see into her thoughts for himself (it may have been nothing but beneficial to her, for reasons), he’d been left only with the response that he was given, as well as the attempt to wrap his way around a better phrasing.[break][break]

His brows furrowed slightly in thought as he crossed his arms. Idly.[break][break]

”Those two words still come to mind first, since, like—... Well, I dunno about you, but I’ve honestly always loved the greaser look~,” he started off, laughing. ”Leather jackets and all that’s always been nice in my opinion~. As for Pokemon, though? I dunno…”[break][break]

A hum escaped his lips in further thought, but before long, his eyes widened just faintly with a faint spark of curiosity. He eyed her once more.[break][break]

”...You said Unfezant, though, yeah? They look different based on gender, don’t they?” he mused lowly, almost skeptical of himself as he continued on. ”It could both be, like…a couple outfit kinda deal? Maybe with a central color between the two of them and different accents depending on who’s supposed to wear what?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

…It was always such a pleasant relief to see her express herself.[break][break]

Even if it was in slight amounts, he noticed that it tended to happen a bit more frequently compared to the first times they’d met; her smile ingrained within his mind not only as a consistent memory, though recurring within his present as a more than welcomed recurrence. His lips pursed upon hearing the words leave her lips so leisurely and jokingly.[break][break]

So lively, and happy, and…free.[break]
For a moment, he wondered how he’d managed to stumble upon this second chance.[break][break]

”No rush~! Take your time,” he chuckled, watching as she made her ascent. His head tilted faintly as he gazed upon her in departure— though only for a moment, lest he caught himself dwindling upon the sight before him.[break][break]

She always did look good in his clothes, however simple they may have been on her.[break][break]

He made his way towards the living room in order to gather the necessities— keys, phone, wallet, what have you. A small trip to the closet soon after seemed to be all that was needed before started her way back, and upon hearing her voice, he leaned over to glance in her direction.[break][break]

”Nah, I should be fine~!” he called out, giving her another smile as she walked along. ”Perks of modern fashion, and all. You sure you got everything, though?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

”Nothing too—...”[break][break]

….’Complicated,’ had been what he’d intended to say, but as the words left his lips, his head turned in attempt to catch a better, momentary glimpse of her, all the while. It seemed to be just in the nick of time to catch her shying away for reasons unbeknownst to him right away, but as the sudden, crackling sensation of flickering heat touched upon his hands and arms (only annoying at best, really) he gave a soft click of the tongue before idling upon the feeling.[break][break]

The realization clicked as he shifted his gaze over the other shoulder, grinning a bit with a raised brow.[break][break]

”...You good, there~?”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

With raising cheeks in the midst of a broadening smile, he leaned in faintly and gently upon noting her doing so first, gladly relishing and returning the touch of her lips against his own, regardless of how short lived it may have been. His eyes closed as swiftly as it had begun and ended, and as she began to speak once more, he opened his eyes, vaguely, in order to gaze narrowly upon her.[break][break]

”...Not only do I have you away from your desk, but you’re actually offering to go out somewhere~? Arceus really must be smiling down on me tonight~...” A laugh escaped his lips as they quirked to a side in what could only be loving amusement. His gaze remained trained upon her for a moment’s worth of thought before he shrugged, nodding. ”Night market or whatever else, it’d be a date, anyways. If that’s what you wanna do, I’m game~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

Although shrinking faintly, an affectionate touch lingered (and even amplified, within the sizable absence) upon his lips within the smile that he wore. He hummed whilst listening to the words and insistence that she had to offer him, and while he truly felt slightly skeptical about whether or not his own preferences and opinions could and would be done any sort of justice, there had been something about the confidence she bore that tugged upon the strings of his heart.[break][break]

He couldn’t turn her down when she was like that, even if it was jokingly.[break][break]

His lips pursed softly as he gazed upon her for a while more, quietly tracing the lines and form of her face in idle thought before moving his thumb along her chin, grazing it lightly against her lip as a small, clinging piece of their meal caught his attention. ”I mean, I guess…? I’m still not really the best at wording things related to fashion sense, though…”[break][break]

He hummed once more, pulling his hand away and placing it into his lap in thought.[break][break]

”...Weirdly enough, the…first words that come to mind are, ‘leather,’ and, ‘pockets.’ Again, not exactly the best at describing things~...”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

“Column A and Column B, huh…?” he mused at first, his lips pursing with traces of a faint smile and a vague hum resonated from within. Azure hues drifted back towards the plates he’d prepared for them, and after pushing a small portion of each of the things he’d made onto one of the pieces of pita, he lifted it up to take another bite before beginning to gather similar portions on her plate. ”Sounds like a tall order, but ya some to be having a fun time with it. I’m glad~.”[break][break]

He carefully folded the bits of food between the slice of pita and held it up to her with a smile, gently tapping her chin with his free hand to garner more attention, all the while.[break][break]

”But,” he started off with a laugh, ”if you really want my honest opinion? I’d say you’d need to get feedback from anyone but me~.” Though pressed thinly for a moment after, the smile he wore remained continuous as he eyed her. ”Aesthetic’s never been my strong suit. I’d sooner burn your brand to the ground if I gave you my opinions~.”

DAPHNE STONE [break]

☉

”Ehhhhh… Not exactly that~...”[break][break]

He gave her a smile and a leisurely shrug in tandem with the words, as well as a laugh to see the bug sent out in preparation. Azure hues turned back towards the sighted wisps and the like before he glanced towards her and gave a nod in the aforementioned direction. ”The ghost’s here to help, after all,” he added on, his smile broadening as he began to walk along the paths. ”Trust me on this one.”[break][break]

Making his way along, he pushed the necessary amounts of foliage out of the way before quickly happening upon a particular Gastly hovering around what seemed to be a couple of holes in a nearby dirt patch. With the same smile stretched upon his lips, the man gave a soft whistle to catch the creature’s attention, holding his hand out and chuckling softly as it floated over swiftly.[break][break]

”This is Fantasma,” he hummed, glancing over his shoulder towards his mission partner. ”One of mine, obviously~. I had him search the area when I first entered.”

AYAME FUJIWARA [break]
mission: pesky pescetarian

☉

He glanced towards the young man at note of the question, his lips curling faintly upward in amusement.[break][break]

”We’re gonna give all you guys a run for your money~.”[break][break]

With a few more steps, he inhaled deeply and quickly before bringing himself to a stop— though not without setting down the makeshift equipment he’d brought with him and pointing out across the open terrain before them. ”It wasn’t my original plan, honestly— but when the other overseer over there gave me the idea, I figured it’d be a lot more fun to do it, instead,” he added on with a content grin, glancing back towards his company once more.[break][break]

”...We’re gonna be havin’ ourselves an impromptu Pokeathelon~.”[break][break]

The smile upon his lips broadened at the extensive confusion and surprise he seemed to get upon saying as such, though rather that allowing it to deter him, the man merely began to walk along with a couple of the contaminants and such held between his fingers. Giving those nearby a gentle nudge in gesture to follow him, he nodded towards the dirt and began to place the emptied boxes faintly spaced between one another.[break][break]

”You guys,” he started off, glancing over his shoulder, ”are gonna be helping me build a makeshift track~! Shouldn’t take too long, but I wanna get everyone started as soon as the first round of juice is done, so c’mon! C’mon, c’mon, let’s get movin’!”

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: how to train your dragon

☉

”Ehhh… Y’say that, but I honestly feel like I’d have a hunch~...”[break][break]

With words leaving exasperated lips, the man uttering then cast an obligatory glance towards the source of such a claim. Azure hues lingered upon the cantankerous little beast as he continued to frolick to and fro, only shifting away and towards the woman accompanying him as he sprung to life and sprinted off into the clearing once more.[break][break]

”Honestly? I trust Drakon way more in nature than anywhere else…” he mused with a murmur, quirking his lip and breathing a soft sigh as his gaze idly trailed after the two dragons once more. ”Hasn’t really his flying capabilities—thankfully—but he’s…had a few close calls in a few intersections.[break][break]

He clicked his tongue, furrowing his brows lightly.[break][break]

”You’d figure a stubby little guy couldn't possibly run too fast and too far. …You’d be veeeery wrong...”[break][break]

(tl;dr: skipping)

DAPHNE STONE

☉

Never had he seen Ares run off so quickly and eagerly.[break][break]

It left the former soldier laughing as the cub skittered off, and as he watched him immediately butt into the conversation that the two Pangoro had seemingly been in the middle of, he crossed his arms as the one that seemed to be trying to convince its parent immediately gave what seemed to be a roar at the sight of the tinier bear (a roar that he could only assume meant something akin to, ‘See? SEE? YOU COULD HAVE ONE OF THESE!’ as it immediately lifted his Pokemon up and began wildy gesturing at him).[break][break]

Honestly speaking, he was a bit shocked at how well the idea seemed to work on a whim.[break]
As he watched his little boy emphasize the Pangoro’s point, though, he couldn’t really fight it.[break][break]

So, as the Pancham’s sheer presence seemed to be doing wonders with the convincing process afar, the man, himself, briefly strode through the clearing. His eyes shifted between both Pokemon and neighboring trainer before gently tapping the shoulder of the latter.[break][break]

”Mama-to-be already sounds like she’s rubbing the idea of a grandkid in her parent’s face,” he chuckled, glancing slightly over his shoulder. ”I’d give it maybe, what… Four? Five minutes? Maybe somewhere around there before she manages to finally break through~.”[break][break]

Give or take a bit, of course.[break]
By that point, it really just seemed to depend on how long it’d take the elder Pangoro to recover from the whiplash of a Pancham seemingly appearing from nowhere and getting screamed at by its daughter with a violent second wind.

DAPHNE STONE [break]
mission: pwoduce pangowos pwease!

☉