[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]ooh, a bath actually does sound really nice. she perks up a little at the mention, stepping closer in the process.

"yeah."

his smile is returned with ease, oblivious to his plotting.

"bubble bath or regular bath?"

actually...

"should we bring wine in?"

the ultimate relaxation combination: wine and a bubble bath.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]does she feel bad about it?

a little... if only because his shirt and jacket are now soaked down the back from melted snow. oops.

he enters with a smile regardless as she's shedding her jacket and mittens, laying them gently over the back of the couch.

"are you warm enough?"

an innocent question - mostly, anyway.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]she nods, more than happy to begin making the trek inside...

well, she would have been, at least, if he didn't lob a half-formed snowball at her.

naturally, she has to retaliate - who would she be if she didn't?

a handful of snow is scooped up in a gloved hand as he turns his back to her. she doesn't bother to mold it, though. instead... she simply jogs up behind him until he's within arms reach.

her free hand reaches to tug at the back of his jacket and she doesn't wait for him to turn before shoving the handful of snow down the back of his jacket, giggling.

"payback."

with that, she hurries ahead of him to reach to door with enough time to avoid further snow damage.

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]deep in the woods of route 119, the rest of the world seems to fade away. it's quiet, the earth blanketed by fresh snow...

somehow, she almost doesn't miss busy city streets. it's odd, in a way, but the calmness settles like a warmth she didn't know she could miss until now.

and while she'd like to keep playing in the snow, her limbs have started to feel numb and the chattering of her teeth is growing bothersome.

"ready to go inside?"

she rubs glove covered hands together and flashes a small grin.

"i'm freezing."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]a week is nothing in the grand scheme of it all, but she's already restless enough to want to crawl up the walls... oh well.

"ummmm..."

is she craving anything? a few things, perhaps, but they might not all be food.

"maybe pasta?"

cheesy pasta sounds good right now - definitely better than the jello they've been serving her.

"you don't have to, though, if it'll cause trouble."

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]champion, huh? a lofty dream, though she can't say she doesn't respect the way he's aiming for the top. it's impressive, really, to place your hope in a simple title. she's almost envious, in a way, that he has a clear goal in mind. could she say the same?

a hum escapes at the thought.

"hm, i dunno... you could still be the best man for that without needing the title, you know?"

it takes more strength to remain kind in the face of the cold cruelty the world contains. at least, she thinks so... though, is she really that great at judging character? considering her background and the skeletons she hides in her closets, she doubts it.

a hand rises to idly wave the apology out of the air as if it's nothing more than lingering smoke.

"no worries! i don't mind listening."

her smile spreads, warming at the edges.

"it's nice to hear other people's dreams sometimes - helps you understand people more, kind of."

Noel Parker
pokemon home mission.

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]tch. annoying.

"does it matter?"

no, she doesn't think so. ranger or rocket... it's all the same flesh and bone in the end. all human, all fragile, all hope.

only the goals change and even then, are they really so different?

"can't i just ask as myself?"

do titles and jobs and whatever matter anyway? she finds no point in caging herself into one specific entity for she's more than that... isn't she?

doubt flickers like a candle's flame struggling to stay alive against a blowing breeze. she tries- and fails - to shove it down.

Roy Aker
doubt mission.

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]”who’d joke about that?” she scoffs, nose turned up in the air as if she’s above such a thing. she isn’t, really, but she’ll act like it all the same.

she used to be the cat in this game, you know…

now she’s a little rodent scurrying around his questions. too close and she risks claws, yet too far means giving up to cowardice. annoying.

”wanted a better life and all that shit, just like everyone else.”

her eye narrows slightly.

”got a problem with that or something?”

Roy Aker
doubt mission.

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]”oh, did you win them?”

truthfully, she doesn’t understand what’s the difference between regular battles and those matches but that’s neither here nor there.

her head turns slightly to stare at the machines for a moment. they beep back and her eye retreats.

”a week, i think?”

sounds kind of right, doesn’t it?

”they wanted to make sure there’s no infection before i can leave.”

CIAN MAHER

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]satisfied, and proud, of the correct gathering of food and drink for their small patient, she relinquishes the moo moo milk container and some poffins to noel. she can’t help the small, fond smile that rises as noel begins to assist the riolu through drinking and eating. it’s cute, she notes, definitely cute.

”no problem, happy to help!”

her smile widens, flashing friendly teeth. a moment later, one hand extends toward him.

”it’s a pleasure to meet you too, noel.”

following his lead, she moves to settle into the open space on the bench beside him as the riolu continues to munch of the assortment of snacks she brought over. her eye keeps drifting back toward the puppy every few minutes as if checking to ensure it’s still in good spirits.

”oh, um, i actually just started working with the rangers so this is kinda my first assignment.”

too honest? maybe… oh well.

”how about you?”

Noel Parker
pokemon home mission.

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]annoyance flattens her expression until she flashes teeth.

”that obvious?”

clearly, but that’s neither here nor there. so what if she’s new? at least she’s doing something better, something more…

isn’t she?

hesitation comes, then, in the face of his question. will he judge? will he understand? does she even care how he takes it?

the admittance is soft when it comes.

”team rocket.”

Roy Aker
doubt mission.

[attr="class","giada"]

[attr="class","giada b"]

[attr="class","giada i”]right, she didn’t think that far ahead…

and her mind is scattered, reeling and exhausted. conversation feels more difficult than usual between them now.

”ummmm…”

the beeps of machines chug steadily along.

”how’s the gym? anything exciting happen lately?”

awkward.

CIAN MAHER