little did he know, the rock pokemon loved the meal. [break][break]

little did she know, too. apparently being a pokemon from the distant past, and being brought via rock, does something to your tastebuds. but that asides, daphne was left looking at the meatloaf, just pouting slightly, and it's barely noticeable unless you're close enough to her - it just so happens that this man here is her brother. so he will notice. wonderful. [break][break]

certainly something.. was putting it lightly. so she sighs, but at least.. the part that wasn't gobbled up by the pokemon was still alright, and still fresh. but, for the sake of being sanitary, she pulls out a plastic knife to slice off the bit where the fangs and lips met the loaf. [break][break]

"hm..? ah, yes--" she perks up again, back on topic. "we're actually working together on a seasonal collection" the pout fades, and there's a smile to her lips "a palette specifically made for a collection, and a collection made specifically for a palette. the design and such is still in the works, but it's been fun planning~"[break][break]

daphne was always so indulged in the academics in the past; being able to touch into creativity has added a spark to her eye when she talks.

Leonidas Stone [break]
skipping

☉

he's doing his best. [break][break]

not that she would know, but if she did, please know that he appreciates your valiant effort, and your noble sacrifice, taste buds. after all, she was getting a little insecure, and was starting to get a bit worried about being able to get the recipe right. she's grateful that she was able to, in the end. [break][break]

"business has been good~" she chimes, taking a breath of the fresh air, mixed with the sea salt that wafted through the breeze. "i was able to secure a collaboration with a make up company not too long ago, so we've been a little busy.." [break][break]

she's about to continue on, but an aerodactyl passes by, and it's.. rare to see a fossil pokemon roaming around. maybe it was one who was released. regardless, it was certainly hungry, so it comes by to the two during their picnic, lowering its snout to so rudely interrupt their picnic. before she can shoo it away, it takes a bite of the meatloaf she painstakingly made for her brother, taking a good.. half of a chunk out with its maw. [break][break]

"ah, wait--" she's trying to say, but the damage has already been done, and.. it seems to enjoy it? it's humming and letting out groans of satisfaction, and they're just about to take another bite - before a red glow envelops them, and they're confined in a pokeball. [break][break]

"phew.." the woman sighs, eyeing the remainder of.. the meat loaf. it still.. looks alright.

Leonidas Stone [break]
catching aerodactyl

☉

it's comforting being able to talk to him. [break][break]

even if she was being reserved, and though she was reserved for a good amount of time. his hold is still firm, and still somehow gentle around her figure as she feels herself curling up a little more. though now she's aged, physically, she still doesn't feel the same mentally. she thought that when she was in her thirties, she'd mature a bit more. she'd get wiser, and time would heal all wounds. [break][break]

feels more like she's lost her time in the distortion. [break][break]

there's not much to say when she's processing the scene, gory and bloody as it was. the sea wasn't kind to her brother when he died, falling out of the sky. she still remembers the last conversation she had with him, too, just a short time before the war, and only shortly after he came back from overseas to take the company back from her, as she was standing in (as she failed him, and the family's legacy, and she'll never forgive herself for the humiliation). [break][break]

".. i was." she's nestling closer, and if she casts a net over it she'll be able to capture more of the comfort. at least, that's what she tells herself. "i don't remember much about what happened during the war." they're memories she's blocked out, though the distinct sounds of bugs and a flash of red still flash through, and she'll leave out how it wakes her in the middle of night in cold sweat. ".. and i keep thinking of what i could have done.. different to help him" she pauses, and the words claw at her throat. "i wonder if i could have saved him." and the words come out as a whimper, her fingers gently curling around the fabric of his shirt as she gently clutches on.[break][break]

daphne stone was not made for war.

Calix Nikolau

☉

do you see that, leo? that's the smile of your sister as you lie to her face. [break][break]

it's rare, even around family, but there's nothing that makes her happier than knowing that a family member likes her cooking. she did her best with the ingredients, and the meats, and she's starting to feel more confident in the cooking. even moreso since calix hadn't helped her. [break][break]

confidence is truly a terrifying thing. not for her, of course. [break][break]

she doesn't pay the flying pokemon who pass by any mind, because she's so happy and proud of herself. "i'm really glad that you liked it~" her attempts to hide it are mediocre at best. "i made plenty of it, too, so feel free to eat it up~. i had a good feeling after the lasagna last time."

Leonidas Stone [break]
skipping

☉

her brother was always good at hiding his distaste for her food. hell, she never would hav known how bad her cooking was, if she hadn't tried it herself shortly afterwards (which was rarely, because he insists that she shouldn't be eating the food she prepared for someone else). [break][break]

though she didn't do a great job in their childhood, she'll insist that she's doing much better! especially after that success of a lasagna, maybe she has a better chance at the meatloaf? after all, she's practiced so much. there was no way it would turn out horrible, no? [break][break]

so the blonde woman wears a smile as she expectantly watches a man take the fork, and move some of the food between his lips. when he takes a bite, she's instinctively (and eagerly) leaning forwards. the anticipation was killing her. "so?" she asks, a glimmer in her eye "how does it taste?"

Leonidas Stone [break]
skipping

☉

she did. [break][break]

maybe a little, but he's being so patient and so gentle with her. she follows to the couch after getting up from the dining room, since.. maybe it was better to have this conversation in a more comfortable room. he did suggest it, after all. maybe she was just too emotionally drained for it to fully process. her and her forgetfulness. so she seats herself on the cushion next to him, bright green eyes fixated on the food that's so carefully laid out in front of her. [break][break]

it's silent as hesitation hangs in the air around her; she wonders if she should say anything, then wonders if she should have started with anything to begin with. and, given a few moments, she opts to sheepishly lean her body against his, nestling the side of her face to the pit of his arm and his chest. he always did make a good pillow. [break][break]

".. no." she so softly sighs, beginning tot tent her fingers in her lap. "no, i should be alright.." she'll repeat, for herself that time. it's affirmation. where does she start?[break][break]

".. during the ultra beast war," yes, there, that's where everything started going down hill "... i saw it when alex died, and i was one of the people who found him when he--... he washed up ashore." there's a hitch in her voice when she speaks, a small bump in her words. her body didn't want her to say it, or recall it, either, when it trembles.

Calix Nikolau

☉

he's right to assume that. [break][break]

"she's always been a little.. judgemental." she sighs, gently rubbing her face. "the amount of times she's judged apatite for his attempts to fly.." she can almost laugh at how sassy she was, and how you could hear the noivern noises and screeching from the balcony when he was learning. [break][break]

learning, being the aggressive flap of his arms as he jumped off the ledge to no avail.[break][break]

from the basket, daphne pulls out a glass container, sealed air tight for some nice, warm meatloaf cooked by yours truly. it looks edible enough, though still clumsily made. a hoppip passes by, initially curious about the food - before a gallade moves over to try and push the hoppip away. it's to spare the poor thing's taste buds. [break][break]

"in any case, shall we try eating?" she asks, opening up the lid before placing it down on the cloth laid out for the two of them to sit on. then she turns and reaches for utensils "after last time's success, i tried to make mother's meatloaf again~" she says this with such a smile on her face, turning back to pass a man a fork.

Leonidas Stone [break]
skipping

☉

and when things couldn't get worse, she finds another flying pokemon. the bagon at her side starts to aggressively wave his stubby arms, as though trying to grab the dragon pokemon's attention. though daphne's quick to scoop him up, giving him a quick (and stern) "no." before returning him to his pokeball. and she sighs. [break][break]

he has too much energy.[break][break]

though she glances up to the dragon pokemon with slight intrigue. at least.. she could always use more dragon friends for her pokemon. so, quickly, before it can notice, she throws a pokeball. when it locks, she walks to retrieve it, and makes her way back home. [break][break]

she has someone she'll be seeing, so she can't be late.

catching noivern

☉

she worked hard today. [break][break]

after the first time back with lasagna, she thinks that it's about time to go back to the basics. in this case, a meatloaf, the first thing that their mother taught her how to make. though, luckily for him, most of the food that was packed was cooked by calix (and her, though they'll certainly be delicious because of the help). [break][break]

just as he was eyeing the cub and the wyvern, she found her eyes tracing to a black sheep that rolled around, along with the golden altaria that floats, suspended in the air. the two fluffiest pokemon in her roster. [break][break]

"that's one way to put it.." she sighs, watching as the black wooloo continues to roll around with a bright chime. daphne reaches over into the basket, however, with a smile on her lips. "although it's nice, being able to come outside." she hums. "i'm happy to see orion grow up so well. flourite would be proud."

Leonidas Stone [break]
C:

☉

it seems as though their grave defiling has caught the attention of a few ghost pokemon, who rise from the shadows with their morbid curiosity. daphne doesn't notice at first, as her bagon is more occupied with trying to.. probably compete with the tyrunt to see who could do the most damage. it's what it looks like, at least. [break][break]

she intends to pull out her pokeball, until she spot the swirling figure of a SPIRITOMB in the corner of her eye. while she doesn't intend to pay it too much attention, the swirls of green in it's purple body were.. oddly alluring. like she could just stare at it, all d--[break][break]

a brief HYPNOSIS is broken at the voice of a man, which prompts a quick "o-oh, yes..!" from her, as she collect herself, and quickly throws a pokeball at the ghost pokemon. it might cause trouble in the future. "goodness, i--" she stammers, slightly. it thankfully doesn't extend to her bagon's pokeball when she reaches to recall him. "i apologize for taking your time and.." a hue of rose red rises to her cheeks ".. th-thank you very much, again, for helping me at the bar that night."

Calix Nikolau [break]
catching spiritomb

☉

"expressive".[break][break]

what a way to put it, even if it's nothing but the truth. she still asks herself: what has she done to deserve this person? deserve the person who holds her so tenderly, who looks at her so affectionately? if you told her that she'd meet someone who was too good for her, on a night where she had a bit too much to drink, she'd be baffled. of all the people, and in all the situations. [break][break]

if he was lucky, then she was blessed. [break][break]

"mhm.." she's careful with the food as she nestles further against him. her lips are curled into a broader smile as her fingers tighten around his, to return the gesture. sometimes, she gets so involved with work that she forgets how warm and tender the caressing and simple dinners could be. [break][break]

maybe she'll set some more time to eat together more often.

Calix Nikolau

☉