The lights were out as the two moved through foyer, into the expansive, domed ceilinged area were people came to be entertained and to challenge for cascade badges. The room itself was quiet except for the gentle lapping of water against the edges of the Olympic sized swimming pool at the center, and the gentle hum from down the hall. This was also where a pale light that barely illuminated the calm water issued forth, marking the site of the enormous aquarium the gym held. "This place doesn't seem to have changed," commented Misty, her feet padding quietly along the waterproof tiled floor as she led Miranda by the hand through the quiet twilight. "Home never should," the courier mused, pushing up her glasses and rubbing her wary eyes, "It should always be safe and comforting." "I wish," sighed Misty, leading Miranda towards the pale light, down a short hall, and into the long, circular corridor that surrounded the expansive aquarium, "but at least I could come here to relax sometimes, when things were bad. I used to just stand her for hours watching the fish and water pokemon." Miranda nodded, placing her hands upon her lover's shoulders and staring past their mutual reflection into the clear water. "It's very nice," she agreed, looking out at the hundreds of lazily floating sea creatures who moved about the artificial reef, "And your pokemon must like it." "They do," replied Misty, leaning back as she crossed her arms and laid her hands gently over Miranda's, "Infact, I think that's my starmie over there." Miranda stood a little taller to see past a large clump of seaweed that swayed in the artificial current. Once her eyes had adjusted to the dim lighting, she could just make out an odd shape half buried in the sand. A large red crystal that glowed with its own inner light, surrounded by a ten-pointed star resting quietly after a long day of doing whatever it was that starmie did in their spare time. "See your anything else anywhere?" Miranda inquired, keeping her voice low as not to break the spell the quiet dimness seemed to cast over the area. Misty shook her head, leaning forward and taking a few steps away from Miranda as she searched along the reef for any sign of her other pokemon. "I'm sure he's in here somewhere," she replied in a tone that held a hint of worry. "Are they nocturnal?" asked Miranda, walking in the opposite direction, her gaze sifting through the swarms of fish for any sign of pokemon. "No," called Misty, her voice sounding distant. "The he shouldn't be too hard to find," Miranda whispered to herself, glancing at a sleeping shellder and wondering both why and how it was snoring. For several minutes, she walked along the arcing corridor, taking careful steps across the thinly carpeted floor, paying more attention to the aquarium than where she was going. After a short time, however, Miranda noticed a large, dark shape descending towards her through the water. Looking up, the woman could just make out a wide circular form with eight long, dark tentacles. With a smile, she watched it slowly descend, moving carefully through the water and adjusting its angle of descent with subtle movements of its tendrils. "Curious creature," Miranda commented as the octopod angled itself forward and stared out at her with small curious eyes. "They're beautiful, aren't they?" commented Misty, walking up beside Miranda as the woman stared back at the tentacruel. "They have a certain appeal," she agreed, giving the creature a mysterious smile that caused it to back away a bit, a look of alarm showing in its gleaming amber eyes, "Is it yours?" Misty sighed sadly, shaking her head. "No," she replied wistfully, "She belongs to Lily. But she still listens to me though." Miranda smiled, putting an arm around Misty. "I guess the tentacruel can just tell who better trainer is," she teased as her lover waved to the pokemon. "You bet," chuckled Misty, finally catching the tentacruel's eye, "Hey! Over here," she called with a wide smile, her eyes full of affection, "I need a favor." The tentacruel moved closer, extending her tentacles and placing two against the glass even as she gave Miranda a suspicious glance. The woman smiled, shaking her head in amusement as Misty placed her hands against the glass across from where the tendrils touched it. "I'm not sure she likes me," commented Miranda mirthfully, glancing at Misty and catching her eye. "She's just cautious," the water trainer assured, leaning forward and raising her voice a bit to be heard. "I'm looking for the pokemon I left here!" Misty explained, her mouth close to the glass, "Have you seen them?" The tentacruel bobbed up and down in an affirmative gesture before extending a tentacle meaningfully. "In there with you?" inquired Misty hopefully, to which the tentacruel replied by detaching from the wall of glass and darting off through the water. "Come on, she's going to show us," said Misty, grabbing Miranda's hand impulsively and leading the courier off down the hall, suppressing a laugh as she ran. "I don't think she means in the tank," replied Miranda thoughtfully, tracking the pokemon as they hurried along, "I think she's headed for the entrance." "I think you're right," replied Misty glumly, slowing as the tentacruel floated before the short exit hall and pointed with a tentacle out into the main gym area, "I guess my sister's took the other one to the pokecenter or something." "That's alright," assured Miranda, waving goodbye as the tentacruel began a rapid accent when she glanced at her, "He'd be asleep anyway. Which reminds me, should there be this much light in the aquarium?" "No," responded Misty, warily shaking her head as she looked up at the light source far above them, "the timer must be broken again. I'll just shut it off up stairs." "Is that where your kitchen is?" asked Miranda, her voice changing to a slightly playful tone, "I'm really hungry after looking at all these yummy fish!" "Don't you dare!" laughed Misty, making her way back towards the pool, "And yes, our living quarters is on the second floor along with the top of the aquarium. My parents always said that it was so we could keep our personal lives separate from our social responsibilities." "Makes sense," Miranda agreed as they walked through the near darkness until they came to a locked door with a 'No Entry' sign on it located at the far end of the pool, "That's sorta what my family does as well. My parent's house is attached to the company buildings, but it's kept separate just the same. Oh, and it's near the ocean as well-" "So I'd like it," finished Misty with a smile as she opened a second door and lead Miranda into a comfortable living room, "Ah! Welcome to my parlor!" "I thought you hated bugs," commented Miranda with a smile, squinting as Misty hit the wall switch and several lamps illuminated. "Just making sure you don't have a monopoly on melodrama," Misty assured her, glancing over one shoulder and heading towards a dimly lit hall, "Now just make yourself at home and I'll be right back." "Sure!" called Miranda, chuckling to herself as she took it all in, "I'll just hog the remote, sit on the couch with no pants, eat everything in the fridge and yell at your kids..." "You say something?" came Misty's echoing voice from down the hall, followed by several loud clicking sounds. "Nothing!" laughed Miranda, sitting down on an overstuffed couch and grabbing a handful of cashews from a small crystal bowl on the coffee table, "Just quoting my mom!" "Nice place, though," she commented, only half paying attention to the sound Misty made as she went from the aquarium room to the kitchen, "And then I'll leave my under-things all over the place, run up a huge long distance bill, and- Oh my!" As Miranda's eyes scanned the room with it's thick plush carpeting, simulated wooden walls, a shelf filled with books that seemed untouched, and a wall unit filled with family mementos. She then spotted a large a painting that gave her reason to pause. "Wow," she commented, suddenly feeling guilty as she slid to her feet and stepped out from around the coffee table. Against one wall was a large fireplace that was probably only used for special occasions, its mantle filled with pictures of Misty and her sisters, but above it was a large, expensive looking painting. A small light fixture set innocuously into the ceiling illuminated the large portrait of a man and woman. They both seemed to be in their late twenties, with clothing that was in fashion at least three decades out of date. The woman had long dark hair, curled loosely and tumbling over the shoulders of her comfortably fitting dress, her emerald green eyes seeming to smile knowingly down at Miranda. The man at her side, who lovingly held her hand, was much taller, with long reddish hair that he tied tightly back, his icy blue eyes almost laughing with amusement as he gave Miranda a toothy, but benevolent grin. "Those are my parents," said Misty, startling Miranda as she quietly stepped up behind her, "About a year or so after they were married. I'm just glad my sisters haven't done anything strange with it." "I like it," replied Miranda, letting go of the shiver that crept down her spine and put her arm around Misty, "It's better than some of the stern looking, grim portraits of some of my relatives. They look so happy, so alive. So in love." "They were," agreed Misty sadly as she leaned closer, "And for a time they shared that love and happiness with us. But when they left, that's when things changed, and this place rapidly began to feel less and less like home." Miranda turned to her, and carefully wiped a tear from Misty's eye with her index finger. "And eventually you just left," she replied, causing Misty to nod sadly in agreement. "When I was old enough I told Violet that I couldn't take it anymore," continued Misty, allowing herself to be taken in by Miranda's warm embrace, "I told her that our parents would never approve of the way she ran our household, and that I wasn't going to stand by and be used and mistreated anymore. I said I was leaving and never coming back." Misty laughed, shaking her head at the thought before glancing up at Miranda with a wary smile. "The things we say as children, eh?" she said rhetorically, making Miranda hold her closer for a moment, "But, as you know, I came back a few years later. And I've visited once or twice since then. I just don't think that I could ever stay for good." "That's alright," assured Miranda with a small smile, feeling strangely fulfilled as she held her lover in a time of need, "I kinda know what that's like." "But you visit home more often," added Misty, laying her head upon Miranda's shoulder and looking contemplatively up at the painting of her parents, "Once a year in October." "Since I caught Wraith," Miranda agreed, giving Misty a soft kiss atop the head, and breathing in the subtle scent of her hair, "But I just use Hallowe'en as an excuse. It still hurts to go back, but I can't just abandon my Mother, even if she has Bob and my Aunt Laurna. But tell my something, my love. Would they approve of me?" Misty tilted her head back and gave the portrait a serious look. "I'd like to think so," she replied thoughtfully as Miranda turned her gaze towards the couple as well, "They were very easy going people. That's probably why my sisters became such brats, though. But what about your parents? What would your Father have thought of me? And what does your Mother think of me?" Miranda chuckled, shaking her head slowly as Misty gave her a questioning look. "My Mother has yet to voice a strong opinion on the topic. But she never completely formulates and opinion of someone until she meets them face to face. So far we have her approval, though. So that's something." "And as for my Father," said Miranda, sighing heavily and smiling sadly as she turned back to Misty and caught her gaze, "He'd say that if can you make me happy, then you're a welcome addition to the family." Misty smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed as Miranda leaned closer and gave her a small kiss. "And what about your stepfather?" she inquired with a hint of amusement. "He thinks you're cute," chuckled Miranda, giving another quick kiss and trying not to laugh. "That must drive your Mom crazy," Misty laughed in reply, leaning back and guiding Miranda back towards the couch. "Naw, Mom's a lot more easy going than she let's on," Miranda replied with a mischievous smile, "She only pretends to act like a real mom. She's actually not even half as serious as people think she is. But I'm sure she'll just love you to pieces!" "Ow! That could be painful!" laughed Misty, letting herself fall backwards, pulling Miranda down awkwardly over the arm of the couch and laughing as her lover struggled to regain equilibrium. "So's this," agreed Miranda with a laugh before rearranged herself so that she was straddling Misty, who's legs were bent over the arm of the couch. "Sorry," Misty chuckled, reaching up to push Miranda's glasses back up her nose as they threatened to slid off, "You just bring this out in me." "And you bring out my laughter," her lover added, giving Misty yet another gentle kiss, "And for that, I thank you. By the way, are you cooking something?" "Oh crap!" Misty exclaimed, squirming out from beneath Miranda before hopping off the couch and pulling her shirt back down, "I almost forgot!" "I thought I was the one who was no good in the kitchen!" laughed Miranda, leaning on the back of the couch, watching Misty as she fled into the gloom. "It's your curse rubbing off on me!" replied Misty, chuckling before cursing loudly and making a bit of a commotion in the kitchen. "Need any help?" inquired Miranda with concern as the clattering of dishes issued forth, followed by the sound of a glass breaking. "No, I'm fine," assured Misty, her voice seeming unconvinced, "I traveled with an unofficial chef for nearly five years remember. I had time to learn a trick or two!" "Unofficial?" inquired Miranda with amusement as Misty staggered from the kitchen with a huge platter held at least one quietly sizzling dish. Misty nodded as she came around the couch and set the platter down on the coffee table. "Brock was a natural at cooking," she explained, taking a seat next to Miranda and turning to face her, "But pokemon were his obsession, so to my knowledge he never went for his red seal and became a real chef. Just his breeder license." "He chose to bring new pokemon into the world instead of cooking them, I guess," chuckled Miranda, glancing at the fajitas Misty had thrown together with whatever she could find in the kitchen, "But it looks like you weren't wasting your time with him." "Yeah, only with Ash," agreed Misty, glancing distantly at the food, "But I hope you like it." Miranda took Misty's hand and held it close to her lips, causing her to glance back and smile a little at the mischief she saw in her lover's cloudy gray eyes. "Then before I taste that which you have wrought, my love," replied Miranda melodramatically before giving Misty's knuckles a gentle kiss, "I thank you for this delicious meal, so unlike any I've had before." "I'll call the hospital and tell them to expect two cases of salmonella," chuckled Misty, unable to take the gesture seriously. "You know me too well," said Miranda with a smile, kissing Misty on the cheek before reaching out and carefully picking up one of the strips of meat that lay upon the pile of still steaming vegetables. "I found it in the back of the fridge," said Misty, smiling at Miranda's concerned look, and laughing at the horrified expression the woman wore as she took a small, all too careful bite. "Hey, not bad!" replied Miranda with genuine appreciation; popping the rest into her mouth and quickly eating before speaking again. "Spearow, right?" Misty nodded. "One of the only pokemon I don't mind eating," she agreed with a touch of malice, "Those things are just vicious!" "So much for no pokemon being innately malevolent," Miranda chuckled, grabbing a plate and putting together and proper fajita, "Although I'd argue that that umbreon we saw tonight wasn't exactly Miss Congeniality." "The glowing red eyes threw me off," agreed Misty with a shudder, reaching for a plate as well, only to have Miranda hand her fajita one she'd been putting together, "Thanks." "Hey, you made it," replied Miranda with a loving smile as she went about fixing one for herself, "And anyway, I wouldn't let red eyes throw me off if I were you. Bulbasaurs have red eyes." "Yeah, that's true," agreed Misty as Miranda poked at the guacamole skeptically, "But bulbasaurs are cute. And they make flowers grow and stuff." Miranda chuckled at the thought. "Cute?" she inquired, giving Misty an amused look. "Mmm, hm!" assured Misty, nodding with a mouthful of fajita. "Well, I have heard that they're quite loyal, I can't argue with that," pondered Miranda, taking a bite of her food and chewing thoughtfully as Misty swallowed hard and reiterated her statement. "In a strange, lizard with a flower growing out of its back kinda way," she said thoughtfully before glancing mysteriously at her food, holding the fajita to her ear and whispering quietly out of the corner of her mouth, "Bulbasaur!" causing Miranda to cover her mouth laughing. "Last I checked, their on the 'No' list in cerulean as far as eating goes," she replied with a smile as Misty gave her fajita an alarmed look and took another bite, "Something about 'sufficient sentience' or something?" Misty nodded as she finished chewing and swallowed. "Yes," she agreed, suddenly remembering she'd forgotten to bring them anything to drink, "It's only legal to consume certain types of pokemon in most major cities. Even then they usually have to be only up to a certain evolution and can only be hunted for food at certain times of the year." "You planning on becoming a chef, dear?" inquired Miranda. "No," laughed Misty in amusement, shaking her head and looking reminiscent, "But as I said, Brock knew a lot about pokemon, and he occasionally talked about stuff like that. Although on the budget we had our meals were usually rather uninteresting." "Now you have a decent budget, but you lack a descent cook," chuckled Miranda. "That's true," agreed Misty, finishing her fajita and getting up to get a drink, "But don't make your credit card smoke on my account. "Nothing's too good for you, my dear," replied Miranda, leaning back her head back over the couch and looking at Misty with an upside down view. "There you go spoiling me again," her lover replied in amusement, giving Miranda a quick kiss before heading down the hall once again, "I just hope you don't mind my bedroom." "Why would I?" asked Miranda, settling back down. "I have a really small bed," responded Misty, leaning out of the kitchen, "But at least I don't have to share a room with Daisy since Violet claimed our parent's room." "That's okay," assured Miranda, "Even the most humble of cots would be the lap of luxury were I to spend the night there with you in my arms. Although I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable sleeping in my parent's room. It would just feel... Wrong somehow..." "Superstitious?" Misty teased, ducking back into the kitchen. "Hey!" laughed Miranda, "I'm from Lavender Town! What do you expect...?!"
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