it's not too far.[break][break]

which is good, it means less time that he needs to carry the boxes. so when she arrives, she lets out a soft grunt as the containers are set down. an arm raises and wipes the sweat off her brow - (specific types of) physical activity is not her forte.[break][break]

mielle perks up, reaching to try and keep her hands in range of the boxes as they're brought over by her unexpected helper. "oh! you mean the pastries?" the chime raises, though her eyes are kept on the boxes to make sure that everything was okay. it's not that she doesn't trust him, she's just careful. [break][break]

"thank you! i made them myself, yes~" there's some pride. she should be proud "i'm a honey gatherer, see, and i usually end up with too much honey~"

Leonidas Stone

☉

doesn't that sound familiar, mielle? [break][break]

frighteningly so, with enough silence to fill in the gaps of her own thought. he's similar, to her. two people who've no where else to go; where the man can no longer remember what paths would be open to who he is, - who he was, - and the woman is caught doing what's familiar, and secure to her. yes, mielle is kind, and dumb, and not the smartest or sharpest knife on the drawer - but with age does come some degree of wisdom. [break][break]

the wisdom to understand and sympathize, and the patience that comes with it. [break][break]

"i see~.." the hum and chime dull near the end of her words, and there was a time where she knew that she'd be disgusted with the deeds of rocket (and maybe, somewhere deep in her heart, she is). how surprised would sweet, innocent mielle be if she knew that this is where she would end up?[break][break]

amnesia, perhaps? it's the inkling that she has when he speaks, even if it's vaguely. what she lacks in awareness and intelligence she makes up for in cues, and noticing the minute details of someone she focuses on. the vagueness won't save him from her prying, but her sympathy will restrain her. [break][break]

instead, she hums, softly, her hold loosening but never leaving "perhaps i'm in no position to say this," mielle's gaze lowers, and her grip upon his arm loosens but never falls. she can't judge him for what he's done, or what he will do. it'll make her a hypocrite "but if you love them, and don't remember why you love them," she starts again, taking in a deep breath of air ".. then you can develop a new love for them.

Dante Telos

☉

"ah yes, of course." there's a smile on the woman's lips when the breeze blows through viridian locks. "we have plenty of time to set a date," golden-green eyes narrow, glancing out at the wooloo, then up to a large, steel dragon who waddled and stomped to leave footprints in the ground. [break][break]

".. oh, i see~" her arms push her away from the fence, gaze fixated on the dragon for a short amount of time before whistling to call her own, small pokemon over to her side. she crouches down to pick up all three in her arms, the small pokemon chirping in unison. [break][break]

"hush, hush now~" her voice lowers as she cradles the three pokemon "lead the way~.. hopefully there's nothing amiss~." there will be.

Dante Telos

☉

there was a part of her that thought it would be; the possibility that he was a horrible man, the possibility that he was forced into rocket work, the possibility that he was here for his own, "nefarious" reasons. there were many people in rocket who came from different walks of life, although the one thing they shared (since the new and changed leadership in rocket) was their loyalty to the crime, to the organization, in order to rule hoenn to spread fear. [break][break]

the thought churned her heart, a little. [break][break]

when she's asked, she only hums, tilting her head back, though not without nestling the side of her face against his arm. it was warmer this way, after all "perhaps~" she responds, with a chime and a smile. "after all, people of all walks of life find their way into rocket, and crime." she's no different in that crowd, although she has to wonder what portion of the crowd is she to return to the place she desperately once wished to leave. [break][break]

but there's a nagging question in the back of her mind, something that she's always been curious, about criminals who do their work (she has to wonder where the compassion goes, what drives them, what makes it click). "it's just that.." she hums, quieting down. he's too kind, and too much of a sweetheart, from what she's seen. and there's something in the back of her mind that asks "... why do you stay with it?"

Dante Telos

☉

hookay, mielle, you can do this. [break][break]

put your back into it! and.. [break][break]

HEAAAAAVE--[break][break]

it was probably one, or two, or four boxes a bit much than she could handle, but it's better to make one trip, no? it's not like she was a stick, either! she's plenty of skin on her bones, and so carrying! this amount! was.. nothing! perhaps she's baked a few too many confectionaries, one or two or three dozen more than she should have, but when honey calls, she can't do such a disservice and not supply! especially when it's fresh honey. [break][break]

though, maybe it would have been a good idea to call someone to help her with these boxes. they're all of trays, and trays, and.. trays of honey pastries, and she wants to be careful before she inevitably drops them, and creates such a sticky mess. how dare she ruin the combees' hard work? the beedrill will have her head for this transgression. [break][break]

the mind says one thing, and the body unfortunately doesn't agree. and with the weight of the boxes, she feels a stumble, and the slightest misplaced pebble could spell disaster. five in total, actually, still towering as she's very carefully suffering from balance and weight. thankfully, there's someone kind enough to lift some of the load, and her arms are light again. [break][break]

"ah! thank you!" the woman chimes, giving a bright smile on her face "i think i may have.. brought out one or two more boxes than i could handle. i'm so sorry for the trouble~."

Leonidas Stone

☉

she raises her arms up instinctively as the rocks from ancient power for, and slam themselves into the blockage. nothing is hurt in the process - thank god - and all the luvdisc are left flying into the water above. she keeps herself close to dante, ensuring that the currents don't wash her away. [break][break]

with the pokemon freed and swimming off, the two of them take off back to the surface, though she's not doing that without plucking a luvdisc scale from a nearby rock. just for herself.

end

☉

they had a plan, time to put it into action. [break][break]

with the bamboo gathered after several minutes, and the cushions fluffed and such, and the pandas sitting, mielle was ready to run for it in the case they didn't click. surprisingly enough.. the two looked affectionate already, and after snacking on the bamboo (or rather, scarfing it down), it seemed like they had the energy to be more.. loving to one another. [break][break]

.. so the pandas were just.. hungry. mielle's at a bit of a loss of words, but that just makes the job easier, no? with their job done, she gently tugs at dante with her, leaving the daycare with a happy hum.

end

☉

"i would never~" she feigns offence, poorly, with a mile on her lips and a giggle escaping her. still, she take his hand onto the boat and leans against his chest and arm immediately, and the space is so cozy, like it was made specifically for her. shameless as she is, she would never. probably. maybe. [break][break]

.. mm.. no, for her, she'd definitely try something in the dark. but for the time being, she'll be good, and keep her fingers twined with his as the boat begins to float down the body of water, into the darkness of the tunnel. and though he tells her not to do anything, that doesn't stop her from tugging his sleeve, slightly, to pull him closer to her level in the dark, to lock their lips in a warm, innocuous kiss. [break][break]

just a kiss will be fine, for now.

end

☉

he's amused, which is good. honestly, she didn't know how he would take a date at a karaoke bar, especially considering that.. neither of them would be the type to go belting out in a room. still, there's some fun in listening to the other person sing, and even more fun when they can sing together - especially over a nice meal. [break][break]

"ah! just a moment!" the woman perks up, hastily tapping upon the screen to lock in their order before reaching to the other microphone, taking it in her hands, and looking up to the television as the lyrics began to count down.

end - bonus applied

☉

"indeed~" she smiles more, awaiting for the bug pokemon to snap a picture as she nestles herself against a man's arm. the picture doesn't take too long, though the queen pokemon was trying her best not to float - rather doing what she could to remain perfectly still while hovering - lest the picture turn out blurry. [break][break]

with that done, she moves away, but not without twining her fingers between a man's with a soft smile to her lips. the torterra lowers himself and slowly withdraws his stubby legs into the shell, hoping to assist the couple on hopping onto him. "we can look at the picture during the picnic~"

end - photo

☉

if you told her years ago that she'd be here with someone else, she wouldn't believe it. [break]
if you told her that she'd become a criminal one day, she'd believe it even less. [break][break]

it's funny how it works, funny how the unexpected comes around, and how fiction distorts the view of reality when you grow up so closely with it. she remembers, vividly, when the last time she saw the stars so clearly was. she remembers the smoke from the barbecue, remembers the family that gathers around, remembers the arm she holds at a later time, and remembers how it was only ever one arm she hung on to despite her now nightly ventures. [break][break]

when did she become so promiscuous? to a point where she almost forgot what the cloudless night sky looked like? when she almost forgot what the clutter of city lights looked like? (ah, mielle, you truly are a lost cause.) she knows how straight forward he is, and knows he isn't lying to her when he says he doesn't mind her holding on, and doesn't mind the affection she gives so sparingly, as though it's something to be tossed and about. [break][break]

she'll close her eyes, reflecting on what he says, focusing on his voice (and away from the voice in her own head; the voice of her doubts) and hums in response. "you know, i've always wanted to ask~.." she starts, then lifting her head to keep a soft, green gaze ".. what brought you into rocket?~"

Dante Telos [break]
mission: vacation time

☉