[attr="class","lance"]like a moth to flame, he trails after her, drawn by desires not lost on either of them. his eyes drift down, admiring, before they flick back up as the dress

"same as the rest."

a step closer.

"off."

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"we could."

his hand leaves hers only for a moment to shrug his jacket off. it falls to the floor, discarded and lost.

"where would you like to start?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]a short cab ride later, they arrive at a large house on a hill that sits on a cliff, overlooking out into the ocean. a flight of stairs descend behind, likely leading to the beach, but it doesn't matter. they couldn't see much this late at night.

and all that matters is how the door clicks open, how it closes behind him, and how he can't help but peer out at the emptiness of his supposed home.

but it isn't. not really.

"don't mind the mess."

what mess? the place looks barely lived in.

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"good choice."

not that there's much difference between liquor; to him, anyway. they all worked the same in the end.

"is that where you're from? i heard it's lovely."

it doesn't take long for someone to get to them. a waitress approaches, menus in hand; lance politely declines them.

"it's fine. just a whiskey neat for us, thanks."

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah

[attr="class","lance"]home.

if only.

"i do."

he leans in as well, past her hair and to her neck to leave a gentle kiss, grazing against skin.

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]it's incredibly difficult not to reminisce at the mention of kids. memories flutter back, invading and overwhelming, and each brings with it unresolved guilt, hurt, and love.

he thinks of what could've been.

of lives lost.

in the end, all he can do is feign a smile, a facade, and drown the rest with another sip.

"kids are great."

the glass sets back down, empty.

"another?"

but his eyes drift over to the exit.

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]she's done most of the groundwork, laid out the foundations to ensure the success of the mission, and so there's little else for him to do but nod and follow.

"sounds like you don't even need me here."

despite the chuckle, he's quite sure she doesn't.

"ready to fly, then?"

his gaze drifts past her, landing on her salamence with the odd contraption bound to its body. it's unlike anything he's ever seen, and so the question that escapes is only natural:

"what happened to her?"

[attr="class","noodles"]freya morningstar

[attr="class","lance"]"i'm a ranger. it keeps me moving around a lot, so i'm usually out there somewhere."

there — the routes, the mountains, basically anywhere not lilycove. he had sold his house here for a reason and yet he still finds himself coming back. why exactly?

he inches closer, knee grazing against hers.

"and yourself?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]the accent is close to perfect; nothing suspect in the slightest.

"sinnoh. i moved here about a year ago but i haven't had much time to explore lilycove."

that's understating it. he's barely had time for himself, but that's just how things should be.

how he needs things to be.

"maybe you could show me around."

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"hm."

another sip burns his throat; warmth staying.

"i trust you."

likely another good sign for her.

he tilts his body towards her as well, subtle, but enough.

"are you from around here, annie?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]he falls a little too easily, driven by a longing and a need to find distractions from the inevitable void that he never seems to be able to escape. it always comes by the end of the night, fading every now and then, but always lingering, everlasting.

"just thought you'd prefer something a little stronger."

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]much like his partner, lance has no need for another, but perhaps the league thought it best to pair two broken souls together in hopes it'd make one functioning unit.

unlikely, but he doesn't voice his complaints.

he simply ventures through the darkening twilight, approaching the flickering light in the near distance.

"freya."

[attr="class","noodles"]freya morningstar

[attr="class","lance"]"i'm glad, too."

his hand finds hers not long before their drinks arrive.

a cosmopolitan definitely isn't his favorite. he eyes it with something akin to curiosity, chuckling as he reaches for his.

he sips.

"didn't think sweet was your thing."

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]