The brunette's breath hitches a moment, both from apprehension and the little squeeze. “...I don't usually remember my dreams. Not the good ones, anyway...” It was a rough admission. It felt like she was cursed in that way sometimes, even if she didn't believe in such things. “...you?”

“...good!” She didn't actually remember... but what she did remember, at least vaguely, was a feeling of reassurance knowing Yukina was nearby. “Definitely a good weird. Probably.” ... “...I think it was the best dream I've had in awhile thanks to you.” ...did she say that last part out loud?

“Like a log.” She would admit, helping Axolotl up onto the bed with a gloved hand before noticing Yuki's, peeling the glove from her right hand to take her up on that offer. It was warm. Soft. Comfortable. “I had this weird dream. But I don't remember it, now... I think you were there, though.”

“Y- yeah, of course. That's the best course of action I think. A plan. One that involves sticking together.” Lachie almost... whines when Yuki goes to sit up. But the greenette was right- they had to get up for the day and figure out what to do with it. So she gets up alongside Yuki, arms 》

But of course, things can't stay like this forever. Eventually, there's a little noise, an attempt to wake them up in the form of a Pokémon's cry: “Woo-pah~.” Lachie groans, almost like an automatic response, before rolling the both of them over to the opposite side of the bed. “Five more...” 》

《 @timelessjade.bsky.social 》 After what felt like months of rest after the events of the other day, Lachie finally begins to stir from rest. But she'll be darned if it wasn't some of the best rest she's gotten in the last while. ...maybe just a few more minutes? Whatever she was holding onto 》

jamcat I'm normal about these two, I swear.

She wouldn't admit it (again), but the shorter woman, once again, felt perfect in her arms, which curled protectively around the greenette with a contented sigh. Axolotl manages to nudge the door open, waddling on over to faceplant next to the bed, falling asleep instantly. “It'll be alright.” 》

Lachie looks over, hair half-tousled over her face from landing on the bed. She'd move it out of the way with a brush of her thumb before responding with a tired smile. “I'll just have to take your word for it.” She mutters, before letting her arm fall open to the side. Almost like an invitation.

Lachie isn't going to think about anything but that possibility as she removes her grimy expedition attire. The actual leathers were fine. Everything else would need a thorough washing... ...yeah, these didn't fit right. Well, the shirt didn't. It rode up a little more than desired, but that was 》

That could happen later. Very soon, actually. But first- Lachie thrusts a set of the clothes given to them by Maizie into her hands. “Get changed, you... Oddish. I'll go to the washroom to give you some privacy.” She still hadn't answered. She might not, until she comes back in those jammies.

A hopelessly defeated wheeze of air slips out of Lachie, cheeks burning brighter than an angry Chimchar. Though, thankfully, autopilot took over where words failed. She stood up, averting eye contact as she gently tugged Yuki to her feet, and towards the guest room.

A whole-body shiver runs through her body at the renewed contact, a shy, though genuine smile cracking crooked on her lips. “Uh- thank you... you feel... really good in my arms.” Zekrom help her, she wasn't thinking again... “Let's get to bed.” SHE WAS THINKING EVEN LESS THEN-

“Y- yeah! What she said-” Lachie sputters out, ending the embrace, but keeping Yuki's hand clutched tight in her own. “Th- thanks. I can get the clothes from here, Teddiursa...” The little bear waddles on over to deliver the clothes, resulting in a weak, nervous smile from Lachie. “Thanks...” 》

There's another defeated sigh, before pulling the greenette into a hesitant, though gentle embrace. “...thank you, too. I'd be scared if you weren't here. Scared and alone...” Maizie seems to be taking her time with the room. Perhaps she knew the two were having a moment. But after a few 》

There were many, many moments of deliberation from the brunette. After looking around the room for some sort of escape, or something to change the subject... she sighs, defeatedly. “You're... you're not wrong. Guess that really does leave only one option, huh..?” Lachie looks over, hardly aware 》

jamcat I swear I'll throw my goober here at other muses soon. Just gotta get her and her future girlfriend's introduction out of the way. 💕

Lachie wasn't worried about coming off as rude now, she was more worried about the potential implications this could have... she never even shared bunks or tents with others at camp. 🎸 : “O- oh, alright, then... I'll get on cleaning the room out, then! Come on Teddi.” Maizie and Teddiurrsa go 》

Oh, right- guess Lachie should do that too. It's a little stiff, eyes darting between Yuki and the floor just to make sure she's doing it right. Maizie giggles, shaking her head. 🎸 : “Really, it's no trouble at all! If you'd like, I could clear out the guest bedroom until tomorrow?” 》

🎸 : “O- oh, no, it's okay, really! I actually enjoyed having visitors! Especially without having to worry about specialty Pokeballs for once...” Maizie pours both girls a cup of tea, hands the steadiest they'd been the whole interaction. 🎸 : “But... are you both really going back out there?” 》

“Exactly.” Lachie mutters, before guiding the two over to the table to join Maizie. It was a lot lower set than she was used to. Maybe this was a Johtonian thing... “Thank you, Maizie. We won't be here long. I think, anyway...” Petilil tea? Well, at least it was something familiar...

Forest Guardian..? That just screamed legendary, maybe even mythical Pokémon. You can't be in the scientific community of the Pokémon world without knowing of certain powerful, individual Pokémon. “A guardian..? Maybe what happened to me was-” Oh! Teddiursa calls out to Maizie from the 》

“I'm in... a similar boat.” Lachie scratches her cheek, giving Yuki's hand a reassuring squeeze. “I was helping with an expedition back in my home region of Unova. We were trying to recover a pure mineral sample of Terastium, if you know what that is.” Lachie looks over at the hulking TEC Unit 》

Gosh, this was a lot more... formal? Than Lachie was used to. But she follows suit. It WAS the polite thing to do, no matter where one lived. Once them and their Pokémon have all gotten inside, Teddiursa slides the door shut behind them, before rushing over to the younger girl's side. 》

“I second that. Neither of us recognize the area. Well- sort of...” It really wasn't that easy to explain. Not without the risk of sounding mad, or confused. 🎸 : “Uh... no Pokeballs..?” The girl finally looks over the two, properly. Neither of them were local, clearly, but their clothes... 》

Guest Muse(s) :

'Wielder?' The girl was speaking more terms she just didn't understand. Wasn't that something from... history? Wait- she's read about those before... “Y- yeah. Please, little one. Uh... Teddiursa.” ‘Teddi!’ The bear cub waves them over with an arm, still licking at its paws. Adorable... 》

Lachie doesn't pay it much mind, calling Axolotl so he doesn't wander off. An 'Apricorn' tree? She'd heard of berry trees, but, seems like that was a question that could wait. “Ax, c'mon bud!” “Woo? Woopah!” ...if she was lucky, maybe the residents would be willing to answer a few questions. 》

“I wouldn't know. I'm not from around here, so-” Oh- well, that was a step in the right direction. She would begin leading the way toward the house, acting as casually as she possibly can. Thankfully, Axolotl doesn't need to try, parading about like it always lived here. 》

Lachie breathes a sigh of relief, immediately tensing up slightly at Yuki's question. Now, she's back to being slightly incredulous. “Uh... really? It's a place where you can rest your Pokémon up. They also carry supplies nowadays, unless you're a town like this, apparently...” 》

Even Lachie knew something was off. This was a LOT less developed than she was used to, even for a more rural region like Johto. She swallows this... lump in her throat, a mix of fear and apprehension, before looking to Yuki. “Let's... ask someone for directions. I'm sure a local can help.” 》

“Exact-... ly...” She'd only now realized exactly how bold that might come across. Well, it was too late, now. Through the gates in hand it is. There's a woman wearing casual clothing at the gate. A denim skirt and an off-shoulder sweater from the looks of it. She looks up from her book, 》

“It wasn't? It's just a checkpoint building. They put these in tons of places. I remember reading on how more rural areas setting them up to keep excess wild Pokémon from roaming into town.” This was just getting more and more strange by the second... Axolotl seems to sense the tension, 》

“You're bang on. It's a Fighting AND Dark type, actually. It can be a bit of a rascal, but it's a fun Pokémon to have around.” Oh- there's a checkpoint. Looks... a bit dated. Rustic, even. But that must mean Azalea town is just ahead. “Hey- town's ahead. At least, I hope...”

Lachie's words catch in her throat, stammering out a response before the flush in her cheeks became noticeable. “Y- yeah. Yeah, sure.” This girl had wanderlust in spades. It was almost too much... but, something about it was endearing, even if it was coupled with a feeling unfamiliar to Lachie. 》

Jeez, it's like this girl had never left the countryside before... that would definitely be a better explanation than whatever Lachie was hypothesizing. “Well- let's start with the pictures. Maybe we can visit the places whenever we get help from town, okay?” She would pull up an image of home.

“Incredibly so, yeah...” Was this girl serious..? Well, maybe once they get back to civilization she'll have her memory jogged, or bluff called. Yeah. Surely that was it. Maybe she was in a fugue state, even. Lachie did find her passed out in the forest... though, then again, she found herself 》

“Uh-” Lachie can hardly articulate her response, suddenly having to shift the weight of the TEC Unit on her back just so she doesn't lose balance... “No, nothing like that... it's just a phone. A Rotom Phone. I thought just about everyone had one nowadays..?”

“Yeah. Maybe not for long, but while they were passing through the Region elsewhere.” She would smile, pulling out some strange, rectangular obelisk, that seems to have a Pokémon inside of it..? The obsidian screen lights up, displaying pictures all of a sudden. “Here. I have some pictures.”

“Uh, yeah. It's probably one of the biggest Regions on the planet, if I had to guess. Though, I might be a little biased...” She would respond, scratching her left cheek with her free hand. “There's tons of people. Back home, I even met people from Kalos and Galar.” 》

“Oh. Ssssuuure...” She felt... a little claustrophobic, all of a sudden. Or maybe crowded. It doesn't help that Lachesis wasn't a people person to begin with. But this stranger, Yuki, seemed oddly comfortable despite having just met her. “It's... kind of like a big city.” 》

“Yeah, I should be.” She mutters, adjusting the strap on the TEC Unit, a massive cylindrical thing she seems to haul with ease. “Axolotl! Come on. We can see your new friend if we come back, alright?” “Woo-paaaah~...” Axolotl sighs, before waddling back on over to the group.

“Well... whichever way you think is best. I'd suggest the nearest settlement, though. It's not safe being somewhere unfamiliar.” ...she isn't sure why she said that. Even if Yuki claims she knew the area, she seemed just about as lost as Lachie was. “...Azalea Town, then. Can you walk fine?”

Whoa- that made her jump a little... she is still not used to Pokémon, even if she frequented wild zones for research purposes. “Th- thanks little one...” Yuki's words sank in, only further cementing the dreadful conclusion Lachie had come to. “Well... where's the nearest town?” 》

“I'm from the Unova Region. I'd tell you where it is relative to here, but, I don't really know where 'here' is...” She sighs, pulling her glove back on to kneel down and pet Axolotl. “That said, you look like you're a lot more... at home here. Would you happen to know where we are..?”

She hadn't heard of VR? That was possible decades ago, but the statement just left Lachesis almost incredulous. “Uh... yeah. Guess that settles that much- oh-” The woman in the rural attire was right. Introductions were important, especially during circumstances like this one. 》

“What..? No- no, this isn't some 'game'. If by 'game' you mean practical joke.” The futuristic one holds her Wooper close, looking down at the Cyndaquil waddling forward. “Cyndaquil... they don't live in forest zones, though.” She shakes her head, placing Axolotl on the ground to meet the new 》

Lachesis was still in utter stun-lock, holding a hand up to her mouth, deep in thought. Her brows furrowed, creating an intense, though forlorn look, heel tapping against the forest soil below. It seems she hasn't noticed the other, yet... But her partner does. “Woopah!” 》

《 CLOSED STARTER FOR : @timelessjade.bsky.social 》

jamcat Buh. Okay, gonna write a thing here soon. Just need to eat and stuff, lol.