"ah, i'm independant! when i'm not selling honey, of course~" she's a combeekeeper first and foremost, not that the job needed any kind of criminal background check. no one wants to work with combee anyways, lest they be in danger of angering a festing beedrill nest by accident. or a vespiquen. those hives always looks similar--[break][break]

.. hold on. [break][break]

"excuse me?" she asks with some accentuation, this time pausing as she gives the man a bright, green gaze. "you mean to tell me that.. you aren't just.. an employee checking in with everything?" someone like this, was helping her carry some boxes? someone this important was at the actual event? she heard that the person who has arranged it was someone far higher up, that the sponsor was someone who even she caught wind of, but she didn't-- [break][break]

oh god. [break][break]

"you're so young!" is her first response as she lights up, seemingly forgetting where the conversation went for a moment. "i heard that someone important was arranging everything, but i didn't think you'd be so chipper!" she was half expecting someone older than her, at least, for someone with such a successful business. [break][break]

there's a glint in her eyes when she speaks, though it's more in admiration over anything else. "and that means you're leonidas stone, right?" though she's heard of the man, she's never actually seen him - and the handful of grey hairs she's seen in his silhouette might have landed the wrong impression on her.

Leonidas Stone

☉

"you seem a bit on edge." she hums, a smile on her lips as she shifts her weight to lean onto her back foot. his caution is cute, though maybe a bit warranted - it's more warranted than her cheerful, and calm demeanour. for all she knows, it could be someone's stray ghost pokemon looking for a midnight snack. or maybe they were trying to scare the rockets who lived down here, under the ea. something about imitating those who have drowned, morbid as it is. [break][break]

"if i'm going to be honest, it's a little cute, mon cheri~" out with the kalos tone and phrase of endearment, as the woman reraches up to gently pat the top of a wary man's head. "but if it would help put your nerves at ease, we can go take a look." it shouldn't be anything dangerous - because if it is, no one would be asleep. [break][break]

it surprises her to know that there's been work posted to patrol the submarine, and even more surprising to know that the people who take these jobs are those who are a little too wary or a little too keen. the darkness amplifying their ears and putting them in more suspense doesn't do them any favours, either. [break][break]

so she tugs at his arm, a sunny smile and a gleam in her eyes as she pulls him towards her without a care in the world. "come on~."

Dante Telos

☉

"aw~" [break][break]

she coos with a soft giggle, raising a hand to rest the back of her knuckles as the chuckle escapes her lips. "you're too sweet, mon cheri~" there's all the same affection, and all the same chime as golden eyes gaze upwards, and the side of her head rests against the arm she keeps a gentle hold on. [break][break]

then the gaze drifts down, this time to subtly eye at his fingers as her arms are wrapped around his in a light coil. the woman hums, softly, then opts to pull away slightly in favour of leaning out towards the view once again to say "your partner would be the luckiest, i'd think~" the smile turns into a beam.[break][break]

after all, he's so kind, and refreshing to be around. he's attentive, and can match playfulness, and considerate, and handsome - how could they not be lucky? she'd be jealous. she doesn't realize she'd be jealous.

Dante Telos

☉

is he worried? [break][break]

of course he is - he can't be after she's said that. though he's offering to be an ear to lend, she doesn't quite know about depending on him some more. mielle knows that they shouldn't be going out on a date like this, either (and she tells herself that it's not a date, for her own sake) when they glance out at the sun that's long since set. her lips press together, and she lets out a soft hum.[break][break]

she shouldn't be dumping her troubles onto him, not when the two of them are friends with benefits already; mielle knows the rule. she doesn't want to be that person who falls for her sleeping partner. still, she can't help it. [break][break]

not when he's being so warm and welcoming. [break][break]

so with a sigh of defeat, she leans back slightly, giving him a gaze in return to say "mm.. but it's nothing too important~" her head tilts, and she's humming with a smile "we just had.. some disagreements, that likely couldn't be fixed." she lies between her teeth, and the hesitation was never easy to mask "just a couple of disagreements, mmn~"

Dante Telos

☉

ah, he awaken. [break][break]

consciousness is a good sign, and he's been getting better with each passing visit. for the sake of her own mental wellbeing, and her own recovery, rocket has given her a little bit o time off (time off being subjective, however, as she imagines that the scientists are still baffled and engrossed in what experiments as they try and figure out how she was able to take on the attributes of a leafeon). it looks like they're still left guessing, and she hopes that something like that will never happen again. [break][break]

for he sake of humanity as it is.[break][break]

"you're awake?" she wears a warm smile as her fingers move to brush a lock of unruly, dark brunette from his face when he lifts himself into a seat. "mmn.. i'd say maybe a fourth time this week?" she lets out a soft chuckle, moving her hand away and lowering it to her side. of course, she didn't come here with only the intent to see a roused face. [break][break]

the warm scent of food wats through the air, and she decided to get something portable, and something easy to eat - more specifically, she brought broth that was packaged nicely, and warmly, with dried noodles, bean sprouts and leafy greens and thin slices of beef organized in a styrofoam box. "i want to make sure that you're eating properly, after all." she says with such a smile to her lips, pulling the bag up to rest against a nearby desk for the visitor. "i'm happy to see that you're doing much better, but hospital meals aren't exactly the most appetizing~"

Dante Telos

☉

talk? [break][break]

yes, maybe talking would be a good idea - if it weren't something that's made her feel so shameful. she's thrown out easily, after all, and pity doesn't exactly go well on his face. she knows pity will be felt, towards her and her situation, but never does mielle actually want it; not when it reminds her of the shortcomings. [break][break]

but when she looks to those azure eyes that gaze on her so intently, and when he asks so curiously, it's becoming more difficult to say no (not like rejection was ever a strong point of hers). so instead, she sighs, leaning her head against his shoulder a little more. it's for the comfort. [break][break]

it's for the loneliness. [break][break]

"even if it has something to do with un ancien béguin?~" she giggles softly at her own words, then tacks on "an old flame" for translation sake. he's since moved on, and she has, too. yes. [break][break]

she has, too.

Dante Telos

☉

the events of the tree of life. [break][break]

it hasn't happened too long ago, and things still haven't recovered. one of those "things" being a good friend of hers, who had taken a heavier beating than she did. when she passes by the hospital rooms, they're filled with people who have suffered during the events leading up to the tree of life fiasco. there were people who have lost their lives, she heard, and people who were able to survive and tell the tale - and then there were people who had gone disabled from such a feat. [break][break]

mielle's here to visit one person; and one person only. it's a good friend who lays in the bed when she opens the room door, after the nurse on duty nonchalantly opens the door. the blonde woman gives her a smile, nodding her head as she walks into the room - quietly - quickly, as to not wake him up. when she enters the white room, she slowly closes the door, then walks to the bedside. her eyes wander and find a stool - certainly put there for visitors. [break][break]

mielle pulls the chair up next to the bed, quietly, eyeing a man who lays on the bed with bandages wrapped around his head, and where his eye is. she could pull out her phone to pass the time.. but she was too busy maintaining her gaze. against her better judgement, she reaches out, and gently brushes her fingertips along his forehead as to move his bangs out of the way. [break][break]

.. he looks like he's doing a little better.

Dante Telos

☉

she's getting lost in thought, lost in memories. they're memories she wished she could lose.[break][break]

his words snap her out of her wistful daze, and she only gives a bright smile. the smile is only slightly forced. "yes, i'm okay~" the kalosian lady nods. it's no lie; "i'm only.. remembering a few things. that's all~" things that didn't warrant his concern, she thinks. so she wears a smile. [break][break]

"ah, mainly stuff from before rocket~" the smile is starting to weaken "though.. i can't say they were good memories~"

Dante Telos

☉

how kind of him. [break][break]

mielle takes pride in her work, especially when she's careful with the boxes. they open up easily (easily for others, because she needed to take a moment to force the flaps of the boxes open, because they were lapped over one another to keep itself closed shut). so instead of taking her time to be gentle, she tries to force it open. it works, at least. [break][break]

"oh, of course~" she would never use processed honey in her work, no, especially not when honeycombs can also be used as a sweet meal, too. her smile brightens at the flattery and compliments as she reaches her hands into the box, pulling out trays of muffins, glazed donuts (with small baggies of donut holes being carefully placed next to them - the presentation is important) and.. what looked to be raw honeycombs, with small, sealed containers of chocolate next to them. [break][break]

when it's all pulled out, she raises an arm to her forehead, hoping to wipe the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. "my name is mielle, and i should be thanking you for all your hard work~" organizing events like this isn't easy, after all. or even making sure that everything is in shape. ".. oh! i'm sorry for keeping you when you're so busy, too--"

Leonidas Stone

☉

was she excited over honey? [break][break]

"i wouldn't go that far~" after all, fresh honey will never be comparable to the stuff bought in stores. or, honey straight from the honey comb. though it's often purified to remove any impurities, it's still safe enough to eat if the bees are kept in a nice environment. or, in this case, if the combee were happy enough with their hives. she'll have to assume that he's never eaten the chewy and waxy texture of the honeycombs, either. oh, the misery. [break][break]

she's so distracted by the thought of honey that she'll miss the bump in the night, only pausing in her track as she tilts her head, glancing up to a man who seems to pause, and who speaks up about.. a sound? how curious. "i didn't hear anything?" she hums; it's obvious that caution isn't on her mind. "if you heard something, it's likely some of the other rockets living in the dormitories." the dorm part of the underwater base. after all, they weren't the only ones up at this time. [break][break]

still, she smiles, and tilts her head "have you never been at the base late in the night?~"

Dante Telos [break]

☉

'so long as there's no regrets' hits a bit harder than it should have. [break][break]

so she falls silent, for a little while. just long enough for her to properly process it, but not long enough for him to be able to catch on, hopefully. instead, she hums, with a smile on her lips while taking in another breath of fresh air. "mhm.. i agree~" even if she still can't fully understand, or grasp, or wrap her head around it. [break][break]

still as affectionate is ever, even when there's no reason to be. though she doesn't lower her hand to slip her fingers between the gaps of his (she wants to), she does keep a firm hold as bright, golden eyes close. [break][break]

".. i think it's good to have a few regrets, though." because having none is unrealistic, and "because they're mistakes to learn from, and to grow with, mmn?" her smile doesn't leave, although her tone does lower, slightly, and when she opens her eyes halfway, there's the wistful longing that she hasn't experienced in a while "as long as you can learn and grow from them~."

Dante Telos

☉