This time of year was always the worst for the pâtissier. On top of the usual bustle the city's gym brought in, orders for chocolates and custom pastries for the upcoming holiday were unending. Sure, Oliver loved his job, and he couldn't complain about the extra income, but he'd be up for the next week just trying to get everything done in time.

Not that he'd ever let any of that show of course.

It was with his usual smile that he waved out the final of the day's patrons out the door. The rose haired man was stuck closing the shop alone as Mally had . . . something going on tonight, he really couldn't recall. He was just grateful for his team who were already helping with the clean-up process. . . . Though some were definitely proving to be of more help than others.

He'd just been about to make his way around the counter and head for the door himself to lock up, when Oliver noticed a silhouette approaching the door. Fuck. So much for closing on time.

Returning the key's to his pocket, Oliver leaned against the glass of the display case, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as the familiar chime of a bell ushered in the latest arrival, one he'd seen many times on the screens that littered the walls of the shop.

❝Welcome to Sweet Mistakes~! It's always an honor to have our very own gym leader stop by.❞

As if to accentuate his greeting, the man's shiny floette twirled in the air above his shoulder in greeting.

Ever since he'd awoken in this strange place, Fidelio wanted nothing more than to find his way back home, even as uncertain as his world's current situation had been when he'd left it. All that mattered was that Basilio and Lady Junah were still there and could need him still.

First thing was first though, Fidelio would need to figure out where he was, and try to understand the strange magla of this place that likely brought him here before he could use it to get home.

That was the thing though, nothing in this world made sense. The only race he had seen so far as he slunk through the forest and into a village were elda, and every one seemed to possess those strange orbs that summoned those creatures. Was this a village of summoners? Not to mention the village itself seemed rather strange, the focal point being a massive arena of sorts.

Fidelio had been watching the strange arena for some time now, many entering to challenge the same foe it seemed. Was this pink and blue clad elda the villages leader? Either way, the paripus decided this lead would be his best option to start.

Awaiting a chance to catch the man alone, Fidelio lie in wait outside the unusual structure for what felt like ages, until finally he spotted the elda he sought. Golden eyes stared him down for a moment, sizing him up before finally approaching. Now that he got a closer look, the elda seemed much younger than he'd anticipated.

For most children, school trips were an exciting chance to catch a glimpse of a potential future for them to pursue in one way or another. To meat and learn from esteemed trainers. For Allister though, it was exciting for an entirely different reason.

Trips like today's visit to Ballonlea's gym were a chance for the shy boy to see his colleagues shine. Not many of them would recognize him without his mask and uniform, especially considering he tended to blend in among the sea of children, and his quiet nature didn't exactly draw attention. Though that didn't bother him any.

Today's trip though, Allister did intend to treat a little differently. After convincing his teacher his guardian would be meeting him in the neighboring city, the boy remained behind as the rest of his class took their leave. Perhaps it wasn't entirely a lie, as he did plan to meet with someone here.

Be it due to their closer age than most of the other gym leaders, or their close proximity, the ghostly boy had taken a liking to the new fairy-type gym leader. He was a lot less scary than the previous one at least. Because of this, Allister decided to take the opportunity and try and spend some time with the fairy-type specialist.

Swaying his feet idly as he waited in the gym's lobby for the older male to appear, still maskless and adorning his school uniform, Allister hoped he wouldn't be putting the other out with his request.

He was always the one to seek out Bede after all, partially due to his own insistence. He wasn't sure how the other would react to the boy's current situation, and he'd kept the secret this long.

Upon spotting the fairy-type specialist, Allister slipped off of the bench and rushed over, grasping the sleeve of Bede's coat to catch his attention with a soft smile.

Were people still talking about that stuff? Seems like he made quite the impression.

@eliteicisms has come to bother them:

"So you're the newest champion everyone's been going on about, are you? I must say, you're not what I expected at all."

Ree makes a face.

They … vaguely remember one of the board members telling them that they’d have a visitor from Galar today. Ree had half expected it to be Rose, the meddling asshole, but instead it’s this… guy? Maybe the same age as them, maybe older. Ree has a hard time with determining ages.

And he’s … he’s coming out swinging. ‘Not what I expected’? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Instead of arguing, Ree leans back in their wheelchair. Their aipom, perched atop their head, squeaks a hello.