slumbering.

A flushed marquess-apparent would enter the room, swiftly but quietly closing the door behind her. The click of the lock was audible in the awkward silence that followed.

“Thank you. I will try to be quick.” Better if she first stopped staring at Pascale as if the contents of the manuscript were about to play out. Ria bit her lower lip, free hand playing with the hem of the sleeve of her other arm, trying to find the words to explain her sudden visit.

“Um... pardon me, but what are you burning, Lady Pascale?” Not the reason for her presence, but she had to break the strange air around them. Also, she had no reason to believe that the other received the manuscript. She assumed that, had that been true, either Pascale could have gotten to her first, or would not have allowed her into the chambers. Old love letters, it seemed, were more likely than a copy of the detailed and filthy manuscript they had in their possession (or in Pascale’s case, soon to be former possession).

Speaking of which, why hadn’t she burned the papers? Ah, yes, she wished to inquire about its origins. “... mind if I join you? Oh, but I wish to confirm something first.”

Ria would show Pascale her copy, blue eyes averted so as not to lose composure by making eye contact with the other. “I found this earlier, and... it is about you and I committing... acts. Um... that would be considered... could cause a scandal.”

As Pascale had feared, the other noblewoman had a copy of the filthy manuscript. It would have been one thing, to find a sheaf of papers on her bed and return it to its rightful owner, but in trying to locate the name of the writer, she had found her own name written multiple times across paragraphs. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her, and before she knew it, she was sitting on her bed, going through the all of the papers.

There was a saying about paying the price for a curious mind for a reason.

Somehow, she managed to finish the entire manuscript before her face combusted on its own. What she just read... was this what the people believed occurred between Pascale and herself behind closed doors? That she, and her... under the light of the moon, stretched across rumpled sheets... no! She ought to scold herself for imagining that again. Even if the visual wasn’t displeasing... no, stop!

Wanting answers, and possibly wondering how the other would react to what she had just read, Ria would visit Pascale unannounced, dismissing the servants left and right as she strode forward to knock on the entrance to the chambers herself. A breach of protocol, she knew, but this counted as an emergency of sorts. Most likely. She would explain herself properly in a short while. Now, if only she could cease her messed thoughts and mask her flustered countenance with a more composed expression... “Lady... Lady Pascale, may I enter you... your chambers?”

“Mm, and that means Touka-chan should be going to sleep soon,” she reminded the one on her lap, much to the latter’s mild protests. Of course, having just eaten a warm dish - plus about half of Tanya’s own plate - her resistance was tempered with a yawn. Stomach filled and getting sleepy... it was cute, and Tanya said as much while cuddling the tuckered out Pokemon.

"Touka-chan, take care. I... mom loves you a lot. I love you, be good to your dad...” She was hugging the Applin tight, for the last time. Sensing the feeling of urgency, Touka would sound quite confused, that Tanya refused to address. Petting and kissing and cuddling with an apple must have been an odd sight, but it was happening. “Now, you’ll be returned to the Love Ball soon. Greet your dad a good night first, please.”

Last opportunity for her to tease him in this form, so she was going to make the most out of it. Cue Tanya giving him a playful smile from above Touka’s sight, for only him to see. Shark bait wuhaha.

“She reminds me of someone...” Not Kyuu, since as a Palkia, he denied needing food. “A certain someone who chose to eat cold leftovers instead of joining me on the table for a few weeks until I caught them.”

He said it had been a Chimecho, right? Anyway, speaking of the food... “Mm. Tomorrow. You should heat it up before serving it to her again, alright? This pie isn’t too tasty when it’s cold.”

Thank you for not crying onto the pie slices. Their taste buds are immensely grateful.

“We should be giving you that warning, you know,” she teased back. Very much aware of how clumsy Kyuu could be sometimes. Tanya would sit up, their daughter on her lap as she reaches for the floating plates. Setting them on the nearby table.

If Touka could, she would be giving them the most unimpressed look right now. She was doing it. It just wasn’t obvious because of the apple, but it was there!

Meanwhile, Tanya would be watching her fiance serve the pie for a brief moment before putting all her attention to Touka. Giving the Applin all the love and affection she was unsure she would be able to give come morning. “I love you, my darling girl... you be good to your dad, okay? He doesn’t have the easiest job, and it gets hard sometimes... he can get pretty mad, too, but never doubt that he loves you... remember that I love you, always...”

Her lower lip was trembling, but she pressed on, giving whatever advice she felt applied and would be useful to the Pokemon. Not to eat too much too fast, don’t pick fights recklessly, the snow can be cold so you can’t stay out too long in the winter months... things she would have wanted to teach her daughter, in a more moderate pace than quick stutters.

"That was her favourite part, though, and that’s what matters.” You would be surprised with how bad food can turn out when the ingredients aren’t mixed properly. Bites of pure salt, for example. “Here, if you don’t mind. I don’t really want to move... might be getting lazy...”

Was her soul really safe with the reckless duo of the universe? While the company would be appreciated, and for sure they wouldn’t let her feel lonely, the chaos that would unfold... something to think about if or when it happened. Not a moment before. Her imagination ran too wild for her not to be worried for her future.

Floating knives were, indeed, a bad idea. So she would accept that he had to leave the cuddle pile. Of course, she would not let him do so before she pulled him down for a kiss. Much to the whining of the Pokemon in her arms. Gross parents.

They could finish it once they put their daughter to bed. To keep her from worrying, Tanya had changed the topic for that reason. She understood that they needed to clear the air on the matter. Who knows, perhaps he could share his own insecurities as well. “... later, dear.”

“Are you suggesting someone plans to steal my soul just before midnight strikes?” It ought to be concerning that the chances of it happening weren’t low, but more importantly— would that count to the rest of the Creation Trio as her existence being taken away? Did the separation of her body and soul fulfill their agreement? That was what mattered, since failure to do so could end with Kyuu losing his life as well.

"Mm, you’re right.” If they wanted to go anywhere, they needed to feed Touka and get her to sleep. Too young to be traumatized, and she wanted better for her daughter than what unlucky cards were dealt to the rest of the family. “Hear that, Touka-chan? Your dad is telling you that you’re sleeping after dinner. As a growing child, you need your rest. We want you to grow into a strong and lovely Pokemon.”