starry nights

Unknown to them, they were being watched. From a distance, a lone Pokemon observed them intently, Cesare in particular. A soft glow emanated from the flames atop their head, but it wasn’t enough to catch the two Gothitelle’s attention.

"He-" Madeleine started, then sighed as she ran a hand through her bangs. "You really don't wanna know. You have no idea how lucky you are to not have been there to even see it. Remembering it alone gives me chills."

"Put simply," Perseus waved a hand. "He opened his Dusknoir jaw, and there were countless rows of sharp teeth. End of story. Overall, I advise you stay away from him. He's deadly, and I bet he won't hesitate to kill even you."

Elizabeth let this sink in. Even if she never saw it for herself, it sure sounded terrifying. It was a side to Eudai she never knew, and it kind of scared her. But she was grateful for her friends being able to escape and inform her of it, nonetheless.

The petite Gothitelle shook her head at Cesare's question and released a sigh. "I'm afraid that's it. It's all I know about him, but even then, I'm just glad you guys made it out of there. And I appreciate you guys coming for me. It really means a lot."

Madeleine offered a half-hearted, friendly smile, but it faded as soon as it came. Her blue gaze flitted to Perseus, then to Cesare and Harry. "Do you two want us to help you get home? If you're heading out?" "No need," Harry got up and gave Madeleine a wave of his hand. "But it's very kind of you! When it's just the two of us, I can get us outta here nice and easy like. Speaking of which, I suppose we ought to go." The cloak that he had forgotten on their trek to retrieve Elizabeth was now draped around him again. He adjusted it.

With his gaze turning to Cesare, Harry gestured to the door. "Shall we?"

Cesare hesitated a moment. He looked at all the other Pokemon in the room. After a minute of thought though, he nodded. He'd need to check up on his mother and sister. "Now is as good a time as any, I suppose."

On their way out the door, Harry called out to the others. "Thank you for havin' us! Maybe we can hang out again on better circumstances soon!" Cesare waved to them all, and for a moment his gaze turned to Elizabeth. He gave her a thumbs up, and then they were off. Elizabeth waved to the two of them with a smile as they walked out, as did Madeleine. "Likewise!" the latter called back, "Be careful!"

Perseus slowly rose to his feet, stretching his limbs. "Well. I think it's time we left, too. You ready to go?" He asked Madeleine, who nodded and turned to Elizabeth. "Will you be coming with us?"

"Uh..." Elizabeth thought for a moment, then smiled once more as she replied. "I'll probably stay here a little while longer. I'd like to talk to Nysa again, if she'll let me." She looked towards the aforementioned Umbretelle, who gave her a nod and returned her smile.

She continued. "But I'll be okay, don't let that stop you from going home. You guys look really tired, I wouldn't want to hold you back."

"Well," Perseus sighed, putting on the winter coat he had previously shed and heading towards the door. "Be safe on your way home, then. It was good talking with you, Elizabeth."

"Same to you," Elizabeth replied. After she and Madeleine departed from a brief hug, she watched the two head out and waved one last time, till the door was shut. From there, she turned around as Nysa stood up from her workspace.

"Now then, Elizabeth. What was it you wanted to speak with me about?"

There was a pause, before the young Gothitelle spoke again.

"... I'd... like your advice on where to go from here. With Eudai and his sisters."

“...We keep reaching for the stars. Together.”

Elizabeth slowly inched closer to Cesare after she spoke, falling silent. Raising a tentative hand, she gently coiled her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck. And, after another quiet pause, she drew his lips to hers.

Reaching for the stars together? Cesare repeated the phrase in his head. It seemed rather poetic, but it was interesting. Plus, stars fit, considering their species.

Elizabeth's next action did not catch Cesare off guard as much. Indeed, given how they felt about one another, it would have happened eventually. Still, he felt a rush of excitement. This was definitely not how he expected to be spending his hours after just waking up, but he certainty didn't mind either. He closed his eyes, allowing her to press her lips to him.  

His own lips softened not long after contact. Hesitantly, he moved one hand to the side of her face. He hoped she would not mind. In truth, he felt like he was shivering a little, from a bit of an emotional overload. They were good emotions though.

He had to break contact with Elizabeth so he could speak, though. "I ought to check on the others soon. Have you seen them yet? Sorry for the sudden halt."

His hand was still on her face. He wanted to kiss her more, but he also worried about going overboard -- they'd just "gotten together", and they’d just woken up, so that would be far too much. There was no need for rushing. And, most importantly, he needed to know how the others were doing.

Cesare wasn’t alone on those feelings he experienced. Small shivers crawled under Elizabeth’s skin as his fingers grazed her cheek, and a soft, muffled sound was drawn out. It was very brief, however.

When their lips parted, the Gothitelle focused on on the other’s words. She smiled rather sheepishly at the mention of their friends downstairs, realizing that she had yet to see them.

“Not yet, no.” came her reply, a soft chuckle in her voice. “I guess I ought to go down there too, and see how they’re doing.”

Her fingers gradually slipped from Cesare’s hair, albeit with some reluctance. She leaned into his hand for just a moment, then lifted her face away. In truth, she longed for a little more of his touch, not wanting to part from him. She very much wanted to kiss him more. But her thoughts prodded her from the back of her mind, reminding her: one step at a time.

Plus, everybody was waiting downstairs. Couldn’t keep them waiting for too long, right? Giving Cesare’s other hand a gentle squeeze, Elizabeth smiled once more and carefully eased herself out of bed. She was quickly reminded of how long it had been since she had last walked on her own, when her legs suddenly started to cave in from under her. Startled hands flew out, and she stumbled forward, latching onto the wall nearby. “Hhhhh....” Elizabeth inhaled through her teeth, then flashed an embarrassed smile at Cesare. “I’ll follow you. Just... give me a moment.”

Cesare's eyes widened as Elizabeth fell, and he lurched forward, holding out an arm somewhat. However, upon her telling him to give her a moment, he nodded, and backed away. "I'll wait outside," he said, "That way they can address us at once. Might be easier for them."

She stared at him.

Her mouth opened to speak, then closed. She almost looked as if she would cry a little. There were so many things she wanted to say. But what to say first?

He was asking questions, there was a start. She ought to answer them before saying anything else.

“I’m alright,” she spoke quietly, “and yeah, it’s... it’s just me now. Nysa told me everyone else was fine downstairs. I just hope she’s right...” She winced at Cesare, pausing for a moment. “But... what about you? Are you alright? I...” she hesitated. Only to hide her face as her voice grew emotional. “I thought you might’ve died... I saw what happened to you, and I’m so sorry.”

Cesare noticed Elizabeth's change in expression. Was she sure she was fine? Given what they'd all just dealt with, though, he figured it was only natural. Emotionally, he wasn't in the best of places either. But mostly he was confused. 

"I'm glad to hear," Cesare said. He hesitated, pursing his lips. "I was pretty sure he was going to kill you."

Cesare continued, "But I'm also pretty sure I'm alright. My head hurts a bit, but I'm not sure if that's from being knocked out or falling onto the floor." his face flushed slightly; he felt a bit embarrassed remembering how he fell face first almost as soon as he woke up.

When he heard the last words she said though, as well as her change in tone, his shoulders drooped. "Oh ..." he faltered again for a moment. "I'm sorry. It was pretty rash of me, wasn't it? To just go at him like that. Maybe I shouldn't have, but I was just..." he struggled to put exactly what he was thinking into words. "I was really worried. I didn't want anything bad to happen, but I guess in doing so I kinda started a fight?"

He folded his arms and sighed. "I don't know if I forgive him, though." 

Elizabeth shook her head at that first statement about Eudai.

“No... he had no intention of doing that. He was... actually going to let me go. But things started happening, and he suddenly had to go to White Forest, I...” she moved her hands from her face, and sighed, taking a steady breath. She looked back up at him with a softened gaze moments after. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” 

She gave him an understanding look when he explained his rationale for lashing out at Eudai. Though she did nod a little at the fact that what he did was a rash decision. Sure, it was reckless and all, but... he really cared. And that hit home for her.

Speaking of which, there was something else the Gothitelle had been waiting to say. She nearly forgot about it, but now that it crossed her mind, she ought to say it now before she lost the courage to say it later.

“Cesare,” Elizabeth started. ”There’s... something I’ve been wanting to tell you.” 

Now came the hard part. She wasn’t the best at saying such things. But, there was no turning back now.

“I never quite realized my feelings back then, but...” She paused for a second, struggling to find her words. “While things did get hairy at the end of it... The fact that you traveled so far just to find me, it speaks volumes to me. You wanted me to be safe, and I truly appreciated that.”

She drew a breath. Oh, this was hard.

But she had to say it. “And, to be honest, you mean so much to me.” She was looking directly at him now, her soft gaze unwavering. “Cesare...” Her voice faltered, dropping to just a murmur. But even then, the words tumbled out.

“I love you.”

"Stupidity," Harry confirmed Haos’s first question, not even hesitating to throw Cesare under the bus. Under other circumstances he might have praised him, but they nearly died thanks to his rash actions. But ... now Harry was thinking ... at the same time, would Elizabeth had been alive otherwise? But then he shrugged that off. He raised an amused eyebrow at Herald's snoring though. 

Harry looked to the other two when Haos asked about Elizabeth. "You all know her better 'n me. I don't see why not, but whaddabout you two?"

“Neither do I,” Madeleine replied, rubbing her temples to help soothe her lingering headache. “I’m sure she’d be willing to talk about it once she’s awake and all.” 

Perseus offered a low grunt in agreement to this, not uttering a word. Moments later, he lifted his head and gazed forward, towards the staircase. 

A door creaked open from upstairs, then there was a soft click. Quiet footsteps followed, until Nysa appeared once more. Tired eyes watched her as she approached. 

“She’s awake now.” The Umbretelle said, “I have informed her of everything she needed to know, so she could relax. She told me she wanted to see Cesare, but... he has yet to wake up.” Turning to Haos, she gestured to the stairs behind her with a subtle smile. “If you’d like to speak to her, she’s right this way.”