[attr="class","textwtw"]

"Finch." An eyebrow is raised when seeing his coworkers sitting in the dunk tank, Percy's tone when addressing BARNABY FINCH being ever so lacking in any fondness. And yet, there is the slightest of smirks, and of course he ends up reaching for a ball to toss anyway.
[break][break]
"No hard feelings, right?"
[break][break]
Aren't there always, though?
[break][break]
That's like their whole work relationship.
[break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","textwtw"]

The truth of the matter is that while Percy will have no reservations in guiding people towards telling him what he wishes to know when it comes to his journalist pursuits, when it comes to his freetime, he’d much rather spend it on his own. Rarely does he find someone whose company he truly enjoys, and much to his surprise, Elisabeth Fiorelli is proving to be one of those rare people.
[break][break]
That may just be why he smiles faintly when she offers him the handkerchief, ever so carefully cleaning the cheri remnants off Kayt’s snout.
[break][break]
”Thank you. You’re very kind, Elisabeth.”
[break][break]
A mental note is made to bring her some of his roselle tea blend when visiting the shop, and to return the handkerchief when doing so. It would be rude to give it back without washing first, after all. Especially when it belongs to someone who seems as horrified as he had been by the threats BARNABY FINCH had made to the life of his flowers.
[break][break]
”Don’t worry, the flowers were fine in the end.” He reassures her as he puts Kayt back down and takes the offered card. ”However… I will take you up on that and visit the flower shop soon. That way I can also return the favour. It’s been good to meet you, Elisabeth, and you too, Daffodil.”
[break][break]
In the end, it would seem as if going to the berry fields had being an even better idea than what he had expected.

[attr="class","textwtw"]

Percy does not, in fact, know anyone called ’Lauren’.
[break][break]
Not off the top of his head, at least. Perhaps there’s some acquaintance he had met once, maybe someone he has not seen in years, but most definitely not anyone who would come to his place of work and ask to see him while giving only their first name in return. With that in mind, he responds accordingly.
[break][break]
”Lauren? And you’re sure she asked to see me?” Dark brows furrow while trying to make sense out of all of this. A gesture that only deepens when told that yes, she had indeed insisted on being here to see him, and that she also seemed like barely more than a kid – maybe even a teenager.
[break][break]
At this point, Percy’s mind spins with thoughts of how harshly his coworker must be judging him over this, and of the terrible assumptions all those who overhear must be making. Logic dictates that in actuality they’re probably too busy with their work to give a damn about his problems, but alas, social anxiety seldom functions logically.
[break][break]
He has to take a deep breath, checking his calendar only to ensure what he’s already certain of: there’s no meeting scheduled for this time of the day. Then, and only then, does he step away from his desk, heading down towards the front desk where this supposed acquaintance of his awaits.
[break][break]
Maybe this is some sort of mistake. Maybe she gave the name of the wrong person, got confused, or something along those lines. Maybe it was the receptionist that heard the wrong name. Maybe this is a strange joke at his expense; a prank, a cruel trick. Maybe it’s–…
[break][break]
”...Ronnie?” The possibility hadn’t crossed his mind until seeing his sister, and yet here she is: far from Johto, in Hoenn, waiting for him by the front desk of the HNN building. Why is she here? Why hadn’t she told him she’d come? Why didn’t she give her actual name?
[break][break]
Percy, for once, looks surprised, and that surprise quickly gives way to an equal mixture of happiness and concern. There’s a slight smile, even. He has missed her.
[break][break]
”Hey… Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

[break][break]

[attr="class","textwtw"]

”Oh, it’s mostly a tea garden.” Percy wouldn’t often discuss such things with people, because while he has always been fond of flora of all kinds and while caring for the garden is something he enjoys deeply, he’s well aware that it’s not something many find interesting. Elisabeth Fiorelli, however, claims to be delighted to hear it, and her tone matches this claim, making it so his anxieties about such things are pacified if only for a moment. ”Variants of mint, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, and all those things you’d expect. My roselles has really been thriving as of late.”
[break][break]
Roselle blooming season had come and gone, and as should only be expected, the flowers of his own had been collected – so very carefully gathering the calyces and drying them. It’s something Percy is quite happy with, because carcade tea is delightful indeed.
[break][break]
Just as his mind wanders to thoughts of the red-coloured tea, he glances at Kayt, chuckling when noticing that the Eevee’s snout is now marked in a much similar shade thanks to the cheri berry he had devoured. Percy picks him up then, Kayt offering no resistance and gladly being cradled in the man’s arms.
[break][break]
”You made a mess of yourself, Kayt.” A faint and fond smile finds his lips, long and slender fingers digging through the pokémon’s mane to scratch its favourite spot on its neck. The Eevee, of course, wags its tail.
[break][break]
Somehow, he always seems to have that effect on Percy: relaxing him, calming him, and distracting him. The journalist is far from oblivious to it, and he appreciates it too, because when the topic of conversation is one as distasteful as BARNABY FINCH, he sure would much rather be petting his adorable vulpine companion.
[break][break]
”I’m sorry to hear Finch has painted HNN in a bad light for you. It does have its flaws, yes, like any news outlet out there. But… some of us really do want to report on things of importance over just what will catch people’s attention and cause a stir.” Things that are relevant, unlike BARNABY FINCH’s apparently ceaseless pursuit of scandal and drama. Truth be told, knowing that people think poorly of HNN because of his colleague annoys Percy, and the thought crosses his mind to offer some mild payback. Elisabeth did ask, didn’t she?
[break][break]
”Believe me, you don’t want to get me started on the things Finch does.” There’s a sigh and there’s also annoyance in his tone, but these things come paired with the slight smirk that is to be expected when speaking of someone whose terrible behaviour they both seem more than acquainted with. ”He did threaten to throw that bouquet from your flower shop, for one.”
[break][break]
To be fair, it had accidentally been placed on Barnaby’s desk, but was that really such an offence when their desks were next to each other? To this day, Percy can’t understand why Barnaby felt such a need to escalate things and couldn’t just move the flowers.

[attr="class","textwtw"]

When Percy had been no more than a teenager, he had spent much of his time at Ecruteak City’s gym, having been one of the trainers selected by the gym leader. There, he had learned much about both training pokémon and the way people interacted with their own, and although those days often feel as if they happened a lifetime ago, the truth is that much of what he learned back then became part of who he is today.
[break][break]
It’s the reason why the behaviour of Elisabeth Fiorelli’s Bellossom is of such notice to him, why he does not hesitate to praise it, and also part of why the florist comment on pokémon being easier to be with than people results in him chuckling quietly.
[break][break]
”Oh, that’s definitely something we can agree on. I have always been fond of the company of pokémon.” And yet, his profession is one that leads him to interact with all sorts of people, and in a less than amicable manner more often than not. Percy will always be someone who does his job without a complaint, and there’s no questioning how passionate he is about journalism, but he also would never spend his free time at social gatherings or anything of the sort. He’d much rather do something like this: go berry-picking with his Eevee.
[break][break]
”Ha. I did hear of your flower shop because of a Palentine’s Day delivery, I imagine it was an incredibly busy time for you.… Truthfully, I’m rather fond of gardening, so I’ve been meaning to have a look at your shop’s selection of seeds.”
[break][break]
If Percy had known how familiar Elisabeth herself was with the person who had sent him said bouquet of flowers, he wouldn’t have spoken so calmly of it. But, alas, their mutual acquaintanceship with one Pace Mahmoud would remain unknown of for now, since the mention of BARNABY FINCH drives Percy’s thoughts away from fond memories of the gift and towards less-than-fond ones of Barnaby throwing a fit because of it.
[break][break]
If only for a second, Percy slips, and distaste shows itself in his expression all too clearly. Then, remembering himself, he sights, noting on the way Elisabeth had pursed her lips before giving him a neutral reply. Not fond of reporters, then? Is it because BARNABY FINCH? That wouldn’t be a surprise.
[break][break]
”If you know Finch, then I suppose I may have to extend you an apology on HNN’s behalf. I hope he didn’t bother you in his pursuit of idle gossip.”
[break][break]
Polite as Percy may often act, some people don’t deserve that benefit in his eyes. More often than not, Barnaby is one.