skin-deep // mei

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

His body is still stiff from the flight from Kanto to Unova, much less making the entire journey in short time. It could have been back-to-back day trips, he muses, running a hand against the back of his neck to was the last remains of soap from his shoulders and the top of his spine. Regardless, the whole experience had left Zephyr tired - Kanto was much further from Unova than Sinnoh. "I suppose I should give him a heads-up next time..." Hugh murmurs, rolling his shoulders forward. "...he won't thank me if I ask that of him again without a bit of warning."

The trainer smirks, turning around to douse himself with water once more before his hand reaches behind him, pressing the faucet head into the wall. The sound of water streaming through the pipes increases in volume momentarily before falling silent, leaving Hugh with only the sound of dripping water. He pulls back the curtain and quickly dries himself off, leaving his hair wet before pulling on his pants, shoes, and gloves, looking around briefly before rolling his eyes silently and muttering to himself, "Way to forget both your shirt and jacket." The Dex Holder sighs before wringing the towel around his neck and leaving it draped over his shoulders.

He turns to the mirror and runs a hand briefly through his hair. It's probably the flattest now as it will ever be - though still relatively gravity-defying compared to most others. It looks as though a Pidove nested in it. he thinks, mildly annoyed that no matter what he's tried it still won't fall to "normal" standards. Hugh runs his hand through his hair vigorously, in an attempt to loosen it up before realizing he only appears to be making it worse. He snorts, rolling his eyes a second time before pulling open the bathroom door, striding down the hall and down the stairs.

His sister and parents are conveniently away, meaning he won't be bothered anytime soon. The teen makes his way to the kitchen and snatches an apple from the bowl upon the table before heading into the entryway once again, stopping when he sees his sister's Liepard at the top of the stairs, staring down at him as though she's judging the trainer for walking around with just pants, shoes, gloves, and a towel. "What?" he asks a bit sharply, giving her a mockingly stern stare back, cocking his head slightly before taking a bite out of the apple. "Not going to tell anyone, are you?"

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei was in one of those moods. And not just a cry out "I need to do something!" mood either, because those were generally fairly easily conquered using movies, manga and other fun things that on a normal day she would have loved to do. Today she was being driven mad by cabin fever and needed to get out of her house. For the most part it had been easy to do as she'd promised her closest friend. She didn't get out of the bed unnecessarily or strain herself in an attempt to train - okay, well, she had trained a few times with Black, but as soon as she had so much as squeaked he had made her sit down and rest - but today she had begun to feel the urge to get out and stretch her legs. Since her talk with Kalula (which had gone much better than she had expected, if she was honest!) Mei had been resting and recuperating - occasionally scribbling in her diary and thinking fiercely about the conversation as a whole. The young brunette sincerely doubted that anything would come of it, more inclined to believe she would simply be allowed to continue hoping for more without fear of retribution. And it meant that she would not have to worry about accidentally letting any information about her little crush slip to her best friend. Well, best female friend, anyways. Her best friend was also the object of her affections. Mei, now absolutely driven bonkers by cabin fever and the need to get out of her house made the proper decision - though it had not been so very long since Hugh had visited her before going away for a short while - that she would rather like to see the object of her absolute affections. Rather would like to see him quite a lot. After all, a certain hug continued to play drastically on her mind, even after an amount of time had passed. Mei's stride was somewhat interrupted by her hobbling about, and she was mildly annoyed by the occasional twangs of pain in her knee and ribs but other than when she took a particularly jarring step, it was clear that the brunette was on the road to recovery. Or had at least taken a few mending steps along it. Her footsteps made slightly erratic sounds on the pavement as she moved between the people working to recover their city. She smiled at a few of the workers - people who she saw often as she made the short trip between her house and that of her lifelong friend - making the turn or two between their homes almost unconsciously. Pink lips were no longer chapped and aching with dehydration curled up at the edges in a genuinely excited smile as she stood proudly before Hugh's front door. She hadn't even tripped or stumbled on her way over! That was a feat in itself, considering the ordeal she had been through during her capture. In a way that was very characteristically Mei, she opened the front door without knocking to let herself in. It was second nature to her, it didn't require thought. After all, she and Hugh had been friends for life, she considered his family as much her own as anything else. Without second thought she waltzed in, heading towards their sitting room, expecting to see the spiky haired boy of her dreams lounging there but coming up short of one dream boy. With a frown, she decided he must be elsewhere in the house, or perhaps speaking with Kalula (were she home) and she made her way back towards the kitchen of the house, for once not calling out to alert him. She would surprise him with her wellness, he would never even figure out that she had managed to make it there on her own! Mei didn't even stop to consider the fact that Hugh might be home on his own and relaxing - with no real need to put clothes on. She briefly wondered if he would be in his room, but decided she wanted a drink first. The room could come later. But it wasn't in the kitcheb that she found him, oh no, because that would have probably been a little less astounding. She blinked as she stared forward and her eyes connected with her friend's figure as it made it's way into the entrace hall and into her line of vision. Though he was dry, the cleanliness of his body left her breathless and she found herself blushing rather hard as she let her eyes wander for a few short moments. He had developed in his time away, muscle had formed and created lines on his body that she did not remember and couldn't generally feel when all she was doing was hugging him. And damn, was he fine! Mei's cheeks flared red and she stuttered out a soft, "Hugh!" in mild alarm, but she couldn't draw her eyes away from the muscles of his chest and arms. She could hardly draw her mind away from reaching out and touching. Quickly she snapped herself back into line, scolding herself with a Mei! You'd freak him out if you out and admitted that to him aloud, think about Lillipup or Purrloin! Though she instantly thought about the romantic anime she and Kalula had watched involving Purrloin and decided those were not the best thoughts to be having while she wanted to touch him. Though his skin was marred by scarring, she did not find it unappealing in the least. The marks where the Arbok's venom had struck him definitely concerned her, remembering how much pain he'd been in while he was healing, but she was not in the least disgusted. If anything it made the definition of his muscles all the more prominent and-- seriously, Mei, look up! She forced her pale blue gaze up and away from his still damp torso, giggling once as she tried to decide whether she was going to faint or manage to play it cool. Neither, much to her gladness and chagrin. She stumbled forward a few steps, covering her hands with her cheeks as she realised that she probably should learn to knock - though knew she'd probably never break the habit - and dropped her hands to her sides, looking down at her shoes. "S-sorry, the door was open.. I let myself in." Like usual "I didn't mean to interrupt, I just.." She gulped a little not entirely sure what to say. Yes, a shirtless Hugh was enough to make the usually chatty Mei speechless, and she pulled on the hem of the bright yellow skirt she was so well known for. "Hi." She mumbled sheepishly, glancing up briefly - following those well-defined lines on his stomach almost unconsciously to meet his gaze.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

Hugh hadn't even heard the door open while he was in the kitchen, nor had he sensed anybody else in the house when he walked through. Otherwise, he would have felt as though he wasn't alone. Instead, Hugh himself doesn't even notice Mei immediately. He stared at the Liepard perched at the top of the stairs as it appears to roll its eyes. The teen laughs quietly to himself before realizing its gaze is now elsewhere - pinned over his shoulder behind him. Only then does he realize the familiar sensation indicating he's not alone.

He looks back, not turning around and only trying to take a guess as to who it is. Probably Mei, he hears himself reason. The girl had been waltzing in to something that's practically a second home to her since they were younger, though it did seem to become a more common trend since they'd become teenagers. Then again... he feels the slight paranoia - which exists for good reason - dwelling inside him growing for a moment before it quiets as Mei speaks, her voice merely a stutter.

He's unconsciously turned sideways to look at her more easily, facing her slightly moreso than he's not, and only afterward he realizes her gaze hasn't moved for a few seconds, and that she's staring intently at him. Oh Arceus... Hugh flushes a healthy shade of maroon, managing to keep himself still (despite the occasional twitch of his hands) after she pulls her gaze away.

Hugh swallows thickly before pulling his arms up as she approaches, his movements jerky as he crosses his arms high on his chest, accidentally-on-purpose pulling the towel from around his neck to fall in a lump on the cross of his arms, hiding the scarring that stretches across each of his pectoral muscles and down in a rough triangle shape to the top of his abs. He shifts his arms slightly, knowing it's not entirely covered as it is now while she speaks, stilling after she awkwardly greets him, realizing that there's no way he can cover the whole scar subtly.

"Hi." he says, his tone awkward and short from the embarrassment he feels as though he's practically drowning in. "It's...uh..." he wants to say "okay", but finds himself more than painfully uncomfortable with the overall situation. "Kn-knocking still escapes y-you, I guess...?" he asks, attempting to put a failed spin of humor on his words. The spiky-haired teen swallows thickly and attempts to turn away subtly. "I...uh..."

He feels the blush persisting, and looks away from her. "Er...hi, yeah..."

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei barely registered his blush, her own flaring through her cheeks up to the tips of her ears. Though he moved to cover his scar - something that she felt bad for, but was clearly not as concerned about as he was - her eyes sunk lower to his abs once more and she forced herself to try and think of other things. Other things that weren't going to make her into a raging bundle of teenage girl hormones. Well, she was already that, considering the young man standing in front of her, but she didn't want to be. She didn't want to be ruled by the fact that she found him so.. damn.. sexy.. No, bad Mei! She shook her head and wrung her hands together as she forced her eyes upward to his very red face. Oh right, he was probably embarrassed. That must be why he was blushing. She quickly registered that he probably had very little experience with girls seeing him topless. Especially his best friend. Who wanted so desperately to reach out and-- NO! MEI! She quickly flicked her head from side to side, practically whipping her chest with her pigtails. She forced herself to take a breath and stare at his eyes even as he looked anywhere but at her. "I--right, I'm really sorry, I didn't think--" She chuckled nervously, amused by his blush. "I came to show you that I'm doing better... that I'm resting and healing like you told me to." She bit the inside of her lip, kicking the floor beneath where she stood and resisting her normal urge to hug her friend due to the uncomfortable nature of his lack of clothes. "I just.. I got bored and I wanted to see you.. seeing you was always more fun than sitting inside, and I know you were coming home today.. did your visit in Kanto go okay? Is everyone going to work together?" She asked, trying desperately to make conversation whilst her eyes attempted to wander downwards once more. Fingers wrapped around the hem of her skirt, flicking at it and breathing out. She hadn't really thought about how attractive Hugh was before. Her affection for him had always laid deeper than skin. Had been drawn to him because of their long-lasting friendship that had lasted through childhood to adolescence through their teens - even when he was away, she maintained her want for him, her longing to see him again. But this, this was more about the fact that he was physically appealing. The mountain had done him some serious good. She couldn't even comprehend it. Her fingers reached up to curl ingo her hair and she looked sheepishly up at him and batted her eyelashes. "I didn't even trip up once getting over here, aren't you proud?" That would take away the awkwardness for sure!

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

Oh Arceus, kill him now and spare him the most uncomfortable of situations. Had Hugh sent that prayer upward to the heavens, he doubts it would have been answered in the time needed. The proof of his lack of praying conviction is in the bright, beet-like color that seems to have made a home in his cheeks. He forces himself to focus on nothing but her eyes, simply to watch her in desperate hopes of neutralizing how rapidly his thoughts were churning in ways he can possibly slip out of this situation without Mei noticing and re-appearing before her fully clothed and continue on as though nothing has happened.

Yeah right. Good luck, Scar-loser.

He hears his mental voice snark at him ill-temperedly as ever, and he bites down on his tongue to avoid speaking to Mei like that at all costs. She's one person he hopes will never feel the barbed side of his tongue. He reminds himself of this fact and attempts to force himself into a state of calm by simply watching her, though it grows more difficult as he remains aware she's still staring at him, then forcing her gaze away.

Hugh feels as though his voice has evaporated in his throat, and he only manages to nod jerkily and force a crooked half-grin of happiness at the fact she's come so far in her road to recovery. She does look stronger. He manages to look away from simply her eyes, noticing that there's the familiar, happy light in her eyes he's so used to seeing, It had dimmed while she was captive, but now it has returned to normal.

At long last, he manages to choke out a few words. "Y-yes." he chuckles some, and though it's slightly forced, he's genuinely glad to hear her Mei-like clumsiness hadn't caused her trouble. Today, at least.

"I'm glad you're doing better...seriously." His gaze hardens slightly as he thinks back to her previous, deplorable state. "And it's good to see you feeling more yourself." He considers her question, trying to decide how to answer. "I don't know anything for sure yet, but my trip wasn't in vain."

The apple he'd been holding slips out of his hand, as the teen had forgotten about it entirely in the time he'd felt as though he could just melt from embarrassment. "Er..!" the sound of it crunching on the floor jerks him back to his self-conscious state. "I uh..." If his hair fluffed out when he shuddered, it's grown about two times its normal size at the moment. The Dex Holder turns his back to Mei, almost letting out a breath of relief and allowing his arms to fall to his sides, the towel in his right hand. "Make yourself at home. I need to throw some clothes on really quick."

Hugh glances at the Liepard, which appears to roll its eyes at him and trot down the stairs, brushing against Mei before taking its seat in one of the chairs of the sitting area. He slowly begins up the stairs, clutching the towel tightly in his fist as though to drain his embarrassment into it now that his back is turned.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei's attention was somewhat diverted with Hugh standing the way he was looking so fine and sexy and shirtless. It was very unusual for him to be so exposed, making it very difficult for her to concentrate on anything at all. Especially on making herself look upwards. But really, what sane heterosexual girl could think of anything even mildly normal when he was standing there like that and -- darnit to Reshiram, she was staring again! She didn't mean to be so entirely hormonal, not at all, it was just happening against her will and against her control. The brunette was glad none-the-less, even with her urges runing wild beneath the surface, because she was back to her happy self indeed. Mei couldn't honestly say that she wasn't feeling better all around. Physically, mentally and emotionally, she was on the road to recovery and was making progress every day. Stronger, less likely to have horrifying nightmares or wake up in the dark to whimper and just generally finding herself feeling like the champion she was once more. "It's really good that your trip wasn't a waste though, it would have been awful if nothing had come from it," She found herself saying in response, glad that at least on some level she was able to elicit human reactions that weren't "You. Me. Wall." Her eyes flashed in happiness for a few moments and she nodded, suddenly excited by the fact that Hugh's trip was worth the time she'd had to spend away from him again. "Even if all you'd done was get to meet another Pokedex holder, that would have been worth your while! You'd have a connection in Kanto that way.. I guess you do now, technically, but it's a good thing, that's all!" Her eyes flicked over her friend once more as he started edging away and the colour of beetroot had lodged itself in his cheeks and face. Mei couldn't help but keep grinning, for once feeling like she had the upper hand in the situation. He was her friend, and she didn't particularly like to have things over him - that wasn't very nice, after all! - but so often she felt second to Hugh and Kyouhei, affected by her emotions and desperate need to be liked by them and to feel accepted when they spoke to her. She wasn't quite as bright as they, even if she could generally match them in a battle did it come to it, and when he was shirtless, well, that just made him.. A little weaker. A little more defenseless. A lot hotter, but that was another matter entirely. Having shown her enthusiasm for the trip, she had the sudden and inexplicably sinking feeling as she watched her friend starting to edge away. She was frozen on the spot, realising that he was probably quite uncomfortable with her looking at him - after all, it was not a mutual life-shattering crush that probably everyone except Hugh realised she had on him - and he wouldn't want to go around showing off that body to just anyone. She also didn't think that he might not want her to see the scar. She didn't figure he would be at all self conscious about it. The Liepard gave her a few moment's pause, and she mumbled a quick, "Hey, Cleo," as she carressed the leopard Pokemon's head and then watched her move over into the lounge to curl up. She could get attention after, Mei decided. She didn't want to be away from Hugh, nosiree, she was drawn quite firmly to the young man and she took a few steps forward, reaching for him from behind him on the steps. Her lips fell around the word, "Wait!" As her hand fell on the skin of his shoulder. And her whole body froze as heat spread through her face and down to her shoulders. Okay, so she probably shouldn't have done that. "N-Nevermind! S-sorry!" She squeaked out in her most embarrassed, horrified Mei voice. High pitched and worried, she covered her face with both of her hands as she broke the contact and stumbled back down the stairs to the bottom, looking anywhere but at him. "I mean.. Go ahead. I-I'll.. Just be in here.." Dying of horror, you know, no biggie. She somehow limp-stumbled her way back into the sitting room, hands still over her face as she slumped down onto the couch beside Cleo, careful at least not to disturb the cat pokemon from her perch as she flopped, her head resting on the back of the couch with a groan. Where she stayed. "Why did you do that, Mei? Why did you? He's going to think you're some creeper fetishist or something you stupid girl, why didn't you just let him go!" She mumbled under her breath as she dragged her hands over her very red, very embarrassed face. Maybe she should just go home and leave him to his own devices for the day so he didn't think she was some crazy person who just wanted to take advantage of him. What if he never wanted to speak to her again cause he thought she might like.. Take advantage? Who knew, all she knew was that she was suddenly very embarrassed and she was rooted to her spot on the couch. No lap cuddles today.. Or maybe ever again, stupid! Mei grumpily scolded herself in her brain. How could she have done that to herself? How could she have completely eradicated her chances to get some kind of sweet contact in. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

All he could do is nod to anything she said before he turned his back to her. He stays still for a moment, partially out of the sheer disbelief that he’s been rendered to a stuttering, red-faced state by her sudden appearance. Stop acting like a whiny little girl. Truly, ‘girl’ should be replaced by another word but at the time his mind could only think of the simpler, less offensive term. He manages to get away a few steps, slowly moving up one, two…four, five stairs before Mei took notice of the suddenly greater distance between the two of them. He jumps slightly when she calls him to wait and shivers as though an electric shock passed through his body at her touch. He turns his head just briefly to look at her over his shoulder out of instinctive worry that something was wrong.

She seems to freeze, recoiling immediately and sinking into a pit of embarrassment herself. Damnit Hugh. he snarks at himself, You’re altering Mei’s mood with your own. Stop. The best way to alleviate his presence (and further, influence) from the area would be to run up the stairs and vanish into his room as soon as possible. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to leave Mei and instead reassure her that she has no need to be sorry. Oh Mei don’t feel bad, I’m just an idiot. He knows that’s not entirely true, but it’s the best answer he can come up with.

Instead of speaking or standing there for another few seconds, he tenses his jaw and nods before he practically jumps up the stairs and runs to his room. He slips into it and closes the door halfway, as though he thinks she’d follow him into his room before stopping his arm and shaking head. ”Don’t be more of a moron…” he tells himself, ”She looked pretty mortified there. I doubt she’d run up the stairs after that…” The teenager balls up the towel in his grip before throwing it across his room, sighing with mild satisfaction as it hits the wall with a whump and dropping into the clothes-bin beneath it.

He walks across his room and scoops his black t-shirt off the floor, pulling it over his head in a swift motion before he turns to look for his jacket. Hugh spots it hanging on the railing of one of his bedposts, and plucks it off and shrugs it on, not bothering to zip it up as he half-flies out of the door, back down the hall and to the stairs. He slows for the stairs, though, not wanting to appear as though he’d been practically running to get back to her in hopes to rid her of her embarrassment….not that the event that had just transpired would be out of their memories any time soon.

He found himself at the bottom of the stairs in a flash and looked over to the main room, noticing Mei lying across the couch. He pauses before approaching her, clearing his throat in an attempt to get her attention before walking into the sitting area and looking at her. Rather than taking a chair (or a couch), he stands in the middle, hands in his pockets as he looks down at her. ”H-hey.” he says, tensing slightly and forcing air trapped in his lungs out of his nose to relax a little. ”Sorry about a few minutes ago…” the Dex Holder tries to smile reassuringly, ”…you kind of caught me by surprise.”

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei couldn’t believe what she'd done. He had said he wanted to put clothes on - not an unreasonable request considering she'd burst into his house without so much as a word, and she was pretty certain that he wasn't comfortable hanging around in his pants alone in front of her. She tried to consider her own awkwardness, then realised she had no real issue walking around in bikinis or in her pajamas, but if she was shirtless.. Well, she had a few assests that she would have wanted to hide. Though Hugh should not-- No, Mei, quit thinking that way! She mentally cursed herself with another soft groan, worried that she might have dislodged the Liepard with her humiliated face-dragging, she breathed out and looked up at the sound of footsteps headed back across the floor. Her ankles crossed easily, she forced an awkward smile onto her own lips as he walked back in looking a little like he'd come back down the stairs faster than necessary. Her humiliation gave her one last moment to face-palm as he cleared his throat, almost a mention of the awkwardness that now resided in the space between them. Not that she was going to mention it any time soon. She wasn’t going to bring it back up at all, likely. Her mind ticked over and over about all the things that could have humiliated her and of course she'd had to touch him. Of course that was the only way she could have reacted. Not with a wave of the hand and letting him go like a normal person would, oh no, that would be too ordinary for her. She had to go and embarrass herself and make it ten times harder to ever confess that she-- nope, there was no reason to even think it, now. She'd well and truly ruined everything for herself and now she'd have to deal with the consequences. She looked up at him sheepishly as she shifted on the couch, tucking her legs up underneath herself as she shook her head. "No, no, don't be sorry. I was just.. I don't know, something must have taken over my brain. Nothing to be sorry for, I don't know what came over me. I was probably surprised too." Mei tried to sound casual, forcing her blue gaze to keep upwards of his neck. To start peering downwards would imply she was still thinking about it. Which she was, but Hugh didn't need to know that. "I should really learn to call.. I guess I just forget the basic things sometimes.. Sorry, really. I didn't mean to.." To stare? To ogle? To intrude? The brunette didn't really know where she'd been going with her apology, so she let her words trail off as she thought of all the things she could have done while he was getting dressed. You know, like bolting out of the door and waiting until the whole event could be forgotten to come back. Which she doubted would be ever, the more she thought about it, and bit her lower lip as she prayed their entire friendship hadn't collapsed just cause she'd felt the need to do more than look. Just once. "I guess I just wanted to show you how much better I was doing.. I was really bored in bed. Lazing around in your PJs is only fun for a few days, and I ran out of movies that were really exciting." She wrinkled her nose, trying to make excuses. That was all she could do. "Nothing hurts as much anymore, so you really are a hero. I should tell the Mayor to give you a medal or something, then you can wear it on that jacket of yours. Make your look a little different." She tried to tease, awkwardly giggling and casting her eyes down at her hands, no longer able to keep up the facade that everything was not awkward. Ugh, Mei, you're the stupidest of stupids there ever was! She cursed herself, slumping back into the couch - and trying to look as if she was just cuddling up. Which was awkward enough with ribs as sore as hers were.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

He nods awkwardly with her words, glancing all around the room and attempts not to make it too obvious that he’s struggling to not pace back and forth while they talk. ”I-it’s fine.” he says hurriedly, forcing himself to exhale roughly and let all the oxygen leave his lungs, as though attempting to deflate himself and relax. He’d had it – for about three seconds. Then the calm had left him relatively quickly. ”I mean…I guess I just didn’t expect someone to show up.” He runs a hand back and forth through his hair vigorously, flushing slightly. ”Probably explains why I didn’t bother to put a shirt on.”

He manages to laugh some, partially at his own foolishness, and out of relief to hear that she was doing better. Clearly she was, though – after all, she’d moved quickly enough to grab him when he turned to go up the stairs, and she hadn’t collapsed as soon as she got through the door. ”I’m glad you’re better…so glad.” He steps forward, crouching in front of her perch-style, forearms lying across his raised knees as he balances on the balls of his feet. ”And I’m no hero.” He corrects her with a serious tone, but a smile to lighten his suddenly heavier words. ”Anybody with some shred of a moral compass would have done the same thing.” He pauses, before adding. ”They would have gotten there faster, too.”

Instantly, he regrets his words and punches himself in the thigh, hoping to pass it off as his arm slipping from where it had rest against his knee. He curls his lip in self-disappointment and glances to the side, fishing for something to say to her. Out of any good idea of what he can say to her, he makes a desperate jump back to their previous topic, ”Y-y’know,” he stammers, forcing himself to get back on topic and hoping to breeze by his tongue-slip as though it’s nothing so she doesn’t dwell on it, ”…I should be the one apologizing to you for earlier. I was really un-presentable then.” He sheepishly scratches his head, ”What if you’d been Kalula or someone else?”

Heh… he manages to feign a laugh in his mind, …great, you’re more awkward than you were three seconds ago.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei was utterly embarrassed by the fact that he had managed to be flustered too. The most flustered she had seen Hugh, after all, was when he was angry and "raging" at something or other. She nodded as he spoke however, finally letting a small smile and a laugh out in one exhale. The motion of her friend fluffing his already enormous hair was enough to make her chuckle, and she collected herself up onto the sofa, cuddling her legs against her chest as she watched him move. "Next time we'll both know better." She said simply, as if that would cure the fact that now she had the image of his bare chest burned into her mind. Unlikely it was that she'd be forgetting that soon - not that she minded. Well, she supposed it might haunt those dreams that plagued her now and then. The ones she didn't like to repeat. She gave him a smile as she looked down at him, watching his motions and wondering about what he was doing. He didn't really just punish himself, did he? "You know I was just glad to see you, right?" She finally mumbled at him, tilting her head and making her curled ponytails bounce a little with the motion, "Someone was keeping me alive there, and I mean.. I wish I'd been able to do something to get out sooner, but you did your best, and you rescued me, Huey." The nickname slid out again, and she half-chewed on her bottom lip as she nodded, "You saved me. You didn't have to do it, but you did. How fast doesn't matter, okay? You'll never know how grateful I was when I saw you." The jump made her blink a few times, wondering why he would want to go back to a topic that had been uncomfortable. She flushed darkly at his stammer, glancing away from him and attempting to bite back the words that still managed to slip out from her lips, "I wouldn't call it unpresentable." Instantly her ears flared darker red. She didn't know how she had managed to release such a statement, especially considering the fact that she'd been trying to keep it in, but there it was. "Y-yeah, I mean, I don't think she'd have enjoyed it-- not that I enjoyed it! I mean.. Oh, Arceus." Attempting to look somewhere other than his adorable quilfish-haired head, she found herself staring at a little stain on the floor. Yes, that was perfectly entertaining. Entertaining indeed.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

He nods, unable to force words out of his mouth in response to Mei. It's almost a first, not being able to find something to say to the girl who's perhaps the most important person in his life. Even though they've hardly argued this point, he sees that no matter what he says, there's little he will be able to do to change her opinion on the matter of her kidnapping.

To her, he's her hero. Something like an angel for her, maybe. I'm glad you can think of me like that, Mei... he hears his own voice in his head as he shifts, his arms draped between his knees and his hand interlocked, ...even when I don't see myself as something.

"Alright."

His voice is little more than a breath of air, and it's a tone that indicates clear defeat - a rare submission for him. "If your gratitude in seeing me is even a portion of what my relief seeing you is, I'll be surprised." He smiles gently and blinks once, the final portion to the admittance of his defeat.

Next thing he knows, he's kicking himself mentally for making such an erratic jump back to their last topic - which simply made the air the words were breathed into smell awkward - in a desperate grab for something to continue the conversation. Clearly his tact and skills in small-talk need refinement.

The teen turns as red as his eyes and turns his gaze to the side. He can't bear to face her longer with his face the shade it is, so he quickly spins around and sits down on the ground, legs pulled up in front of him, head leaning against the couch in front of her stomach. Whew...

He can feel his heart racing, and inhales slowly in an attempt to slow it down.

"W-well..." he exhales, calming his voice, "I guess we're uh...both tripping over our words today, huh?" Hugh laughs weakly.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei couldn't help but smile. They had both been relieved, and she held no one but her kidnappers accountable for the fact that she'd been taken and held for as long as she had. If she had been faster or smarter, she wouldn't have been taken in the first place, and that was what she needed to work on for now. She gave her companion another quick grin as he allowed a defeat. He wouldn't readily concede in a battle, but in this he let her have her win and she was grateful. In every sense of the word. Tugging gently on one of her pigtails, she watched him turn and lean against the couch with a slight sense of amusement. At least she wasn't the only one embarrassed by their awkward moment. Certainly it wasn't the worst that could have happened, but she didn't like thinking that she had been the only one who felt like things were being silly. Well.. it was her fault, really, but she couldn't just keep thinking about it that way. "At least we're not tripping over physically. That would hurt and I don't think I could ask you to carry me home again." She teased back gently, reaching over to pat a portion of his hair ever-so-gently, tempted to sink her whole hand into the rather fluffy head covering of her best friend. Only allowing herself a little more, she giggled softly as the hairs moved between her fingers and she relaxed a little. At least she didn't have to look at his face after she'd made those horrible tongue-slips, letting him know that she'd enjoyed looking at his body. Then again, he had obviously been working on it. Sure it wasn't for her, but it was something she liked regardless. She just wished she hadn't told him that. "I didn't mean to interrupt your alone time, if you wanted the house to yourself. I mean, I did.. because I wanted to see you, but I didn't realise you'd have been here on your own." She sunk her fingers a little lowering into his hair, pausing as she tried to consider whether or not he'd really want someone playing with it, and slowly withdrew her hands to rest them on the edge of the couch, staring instead at the cloud of spiky blue strands. "Have you been training while your parents and Kalu have been out? I mean, I know you like to when you're on your own.. or is today a Hugh-gets-to-relax kind of day?" Well, relax in the sense of not doing much. Not so much on the lack-of-tension and awkward-obsession relaxation.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

Hugh laughs quietly in response to her initial words, ”You wouldn’t even need to ask.” he murmurs quietly, though not looking back at her. ”I’d carry you home even if you didn’t get the chance to see if I would.” The teenager stiffens slightly when he feels her fingers twine in his hair, simply from the gut instinct to do so. He hardly even allows his younger sister to touch his hair. However, after only a few seconds he relaxes with a quiet, content sigh. He tilts his head back slightly toward her hand. In spite of his dislike of allowing others to “pet” his hair as it would likely be compared to, he had to admit that the sensation of Mei running her fingers through the spiky blue bush that posed for his hair is…

…

It’s “nice”, in a word.

The feeling dulls him to the fact she’s speaking again – and that her words more than likely require a response from him. They register in his mind, but he doesn’t say anything, practically entranced by her hands against his head. He unconsciously tilts his head back slightly when she pulls her hands away, as though silently asking that she not. His expression is the very beginnings of a pout, but only for a moment before he remembers she’s spoken to him – and that he was too distracted to reply. Quickly, he adjusts his expression to normal, hoping she hadn’t seen it. That would be embarrassing.

”Oh, yeah I’ve been keeping up with my training.” The Dex Holder gives himself a shake, as though in attempt to remind himself to hold conversation. ”Especially now that I can be back at full activity, y’know? It’s like I’m trying to make up for everything I couldn’t do while I was recovering.” He chuckles slightly, ”But today…I didn’t really have anything planned.” Hugh tilts his head back again, this time to look at her though rather than to impersonate a begging Lillipup for another head-pat, ”If you want to spend some time here, that’d be great.”

As if to confirm his words, he offers her one of his rare smiles.

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises It was times like that very moment that Mei knew she had the best of friends in the world. His quiet words were a reassurance even when she wouldn't have needed one. Hugh had always had her back when she needed it, and when she had been in the most dire of circumstances it had been he who had rescued her. "You're silly, Hugh." She had to mumble back softly, but the gratitude was in her voice - a smile that was very Mei and had spread from just being on her lips to being part of her entire attitude. Maybe she'd fall over more often. No, of course she wouldn't. Even if it would be nice to know he worried. She had put him through enough panic. His stiffening beneath her hands was enough clue that she was probably doing something unwelcome. Sometimes the teenager couldn't resist her own urges and poor Hyu would be on the receiving end of her prying, tempted fingers. She almost, almost could have sworn that her closest friend leant back as her hands slid away. Was she imagining it? She must be, of course, because he wouldn't want her to sit there petting him. He did get quite agitated when it came to his hair, after all. People teased him about being a qwilfish-head. Obviously they hadn't the opportunity to play with it. She was one of those lucky few. Luckily for Hugh, Mei was slow on the uptake. She didn't notice the pout, so distracted she'd been by the possibility of he leaning back into her hands. She flexed her fingers where they rested, fighting herself before she ended up playing for a much more extended amount of time. He really did allow her too many priveleges, she knew, and he was probably just not telling her off for it because she'd been unwell for so long. "Really?" When it came to concealing emotions, Mei was terrible. She couldn't hide her feelings well at the best of times, and her excitement and gladness that he didn't want to leave quickly shone through. She chuckled softly as she looked down at him, sitting there with one of those lovely rare smiles on his face, and nodded. "I'd love to, really. I know I've been pestering you and always around lately. Since I've been home I've just wanted to be around you and the others. I wish Cheren and Kyouhei would be around more too... Then I'd get lots of cuddles and company." Mei mused, leaning forward to press her nose against Hugh's forehead, eyes locked on his. "Don't worry, I won't force cuddles on you, though. You're my hero so you get the choice." She grinned. [whoa so out of practice. sorrysorry my love D: ]

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

His raised eyebrows betray the momentary curiosity he feels as Mei leans over, before a light flush warms his cheeks when her nose presses against his forehead, and he finds himself staring into her bright, blue eyes. For a moment he almost feels incapable of moving from his slight surprise and remains pinned beneath her gaze, like a cool splash of water to his usually intense, angry, red one. ”I don’t blame you.” Hugh murmurs, finding his voice again. ”I’m sure Cheren would take a weekend off if you asked nicely. You’re good for him – he’s too tense all the time.” As though Hugh is one to talk.

”You’ve…always been the kind of person that thrives in the company of others.” A great contrast to him, who usually stood in a corner glaring at the people around him.

Aside from a blink and moving his mouth to talk, he remains entirely still. ”I…don’t really…mind whenever you cuddle me, you know…” the Dex Holder says awkwardly, unsure if she questioned how well he took to her cuddling with her latter statement. ”I know it’s something that makes you happy so…” His mouth pulled into a smirk although she couldn’t see it, ”…your hero is happy if that’s the case.”

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises "You all work too hard. Sometimes I think I should take you all somewhere far away where all you can do is have fun." She mused quietly, eyes explaining the amusement she had in her tone as true happiness to be able to keep them all as friends. "Maybe I will ask everyone to take a weekend off and spend it with me. You'd come too right? If I can make Cheren less tense and be good for him, I can definitely be good for you too." She reached a hand up and around, draping it over his shoulder to give him a slightly awkward squeeze. If anyone walked in, their current state would have been quite hilarious. And awkward. But that was Mei for you, invading personal boundaries for as long as she'd been alive. She had to pause when he mentioned her ability to thrive in company, and she flushed darkly, heat moving up to her nose where it was pressed against his forehead. "It's probably just because I don't like being alone.. and because I worry about you all. I'm happy being with people because it means I know where they are and don't have to think they might be in trouble. It's one of the reasons I'm gladdest you're home." His smirk may have been hidden by their proximity, but either way it didn't do anything to stop the blush that was already keeping Mei warm from spreading to her ears and over the entirety of her cheeks. Faster than she'd leant down, she quickly sat back up and looked in another direction. Well, he didn't mind her cuddles. It wasn't adoring them, but it meant she could definitely get away with it now and then. Mentally the brunette was kicking herself. Getting over her crush on her friend wasn't going to easy if she kept putting herself in situations that made her heart pound but she just couldn't resist the idea of being able to cuddle him. "You can be too good to me sometimes, Hugh. You know.. You're just.." Her sentence left hanging, knowing that the words she wanted to say weren't going to come out, she flopped back in the chair and looked at the ceiling, fighting to push the blush away.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

He chuckles lightly at her innocent, hopeful inquiry. "Of course I'd come." At least, he would do his best to go. "I promised you I wouldn't leave you if I could help it, right?" The teen swallows when he feels her arm rest over his shoulder and raises his hand - with the healing knuckle from when he'd broken it - and lightly taps her wrist to acknowledge her action. "I know I haven't been able to prove it too often but...I keep my promises."

Hugh swallows and blinks once, unable to look away from her eyes for any longer. Once more, they captivate the Qwilfish-haired boy without his knowing, the multiple colors mixing with the innocence in her gaze in a way he simply can't bring himself to ignore. The closeness, too, is something that holds him in.

That is, until she looked away. He quickly straightens his neck and gives his head a shake, draining the red coloration from his face as quickly as it had risen up. The curiousity that grows in him with her words quickly drains the remainder of the color, and he turns to look at her. "Huh?" A single eyebrow twitches upward. "I'm just what?"

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises "Good," The brunette cooed softly in reply, happy that her friend would at least make the effort to avoid the hard work for her day of happy and fun. She would plan it and all of the important people in her life would be there. She just had to work out how to round them up in the way she wanted them. She could bat her eyelids at Hugh to get him to join her, it would be the others that might be some work. The soft touch on her wrist got her smile going, and she nodded to herself quietly. "You do keep your promises. You stayed when I asked, and you've protected me since.. even if you don't need to. Since I'm getting better." It was only as she sat back looking up at the ceiling and walls that he happened to ask what she had been going to say and Mei froze. How would she continue? It wasn't like she coud sit there telling the blunette that he was perfect and wonderful and just entirely Hugh and that was what he was 'just' so her mind searched for words to explain what she might have meant. "I-um.." Quickly Mei was getting flustered and she shifted somewhat uncomfortably on the couch, meeting his gaze and turning a furious shade of pink. "You're just.. Special. I mean.. you do things that other people don't do and you make promises when you don't need to and.. you're just.. special. I'm really lucky to be your friend. " And you know, just perfect. But again, that wasn't going to come out. She bit down on her lip and ran her fingers idly along the fabric of her shirt. Hopefully that itself wasn't too much for him.

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

Temperamental? Mood-swing-y? Odd? Asocial? Blunt? …angry?

Any number of possibilities swim through his mind, all instantly leaping to the negative. He catches himself seconds later, almost infuriated that he thinks Mei would be able to say something like that. The girl he’d been friends with since they were both children…the girl who was as sweet and innocent as she had been years back, now sometimes too much so it was detrimental to her own good. She couldn’t say something like that…not to Kyouhei or her pokemon or I…or anybody in Aspertia. His face is relatively unchanged during the abrupt thought process he has, his single eyebrow remaining raised with subtle curiosity as he observes her.

…oh. The pink flash to her face makes him draw his neck back very slightly in surprise. Her fidgets, too, were enough to make even him see that his fellow Dex Holder was uncomfortable as she searched for an answer.

The words that leave her mouth leave him mute with embarrassment, and rather than the typical red that would spread over his face like dye were she to hug him tight or playfully tease him, instead only a faint color highlights his cheeks, making his strong jawline and high cheekbones more pronounced than usual. ‘Special’.

Lucky to be my friend.

In spite of all the loving compliments she’d given him over the years whenever he criticized himself, that (as well as anything she had said in the past that was along similar lines) is something that always meant more to him. He swallows and glances away, allowing his lips to twitch upward in a faint smile only once before looking back at her.

”I see.” He fights to keep a stoic expression, the effort not to smile visible in his occasionally twitching lips.

”Thank you.”

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Mei couldn't help but continue wriggling, moving herself back up further on the couch in order to fight the urge to keep touching. So very physical by nature, their earlier encounter kept her forcing her hands to remain still and not venture outwards to pet and hold and cuddle. She had to resist. She'd allowed herself a few moments of closeness and she had to remind herself that in itself was a luxury that very few were afforded. Hugh wasn't anywhere near as touchy as she, after all. Embarrassed by her inability to find words that were truly remarkable and weren't insanely adoring, she happened a quick glance back at her friend as his face returned to the steely, straight expression she was so used to him seeing. She however did not miss the twitching in his lips and instantly flung her hands up to her face in horror. "That sounded stupid didn't it? I'm sorry Huey, that's why I didn't want to say it.. it was so lame." She grumbled into her palms. The brunette's head lulled back to rest on the back of the sofa and she let out a quiet almost-groan. Not quite guttural enough but clearly horrified either way. "I'm not good with words. And I just.. Ack, I'm sorry." Eventually she let her fingers slide off her cheeks back into her lap as she dared another glance at him. "Is it really that funny that I think being your friend is a priveledge? You put up with a lot from me. I'm not smart like Cheren, or first at things like Kyouhei. I'm not balanced or--" The word ripped came to mind as Mei briefly let her brain drift back to his momentary shirtlessness, "Trained as you, so I'm just.. lucky. I mean I don't even remember to knock on doors, that's gotta mean something's wrong."

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[HUGH C. TREASACH]

SLUTTERZ as MEI

Momentary panic flashes in his vermilion eyes when Mei seemed to be abashed by her words, but only after his reaction. "N-no it didn't!" he says quickly, turning from how he sits on the ground to face the couch as she let her head fall back against it. "I- you-" Look who's better with words now. "Don't be sorry..." he says, swallowing and attempting to think of how to explain himself.

Crap. Did I do this?

He's silent for her small shpeel, eyes staring intently at her. He feels like a child staring intently at something that's captivated their interest. "So what if you're none of those things?" he asks, his voice falling back it its usual sharpness for only a moment, as though to attempt to drive his point home with her. "Doesn't mean it's a bad thing." Hands raise to the couch as he pushes himself up, the pressure on his splinted knuckle that had broken when he saved her making one of his eyes close in a small wince before he sits next to her.

Shoulders roll forward as he slouches slightly to be more at her eye-level. "I mean...as off as your timing might be for uh...bursting into my house..." Hugh laughs sheepishly, scratching the back of his head as his gaze trails to the side and away from her when he recalls the start of today's encounter, "...I'm always happy to see you. And the fact that you know me and like me well enough to do that..." The Dex holder pauses, looking back at her. "...well, it means a lot."

He raises his splinted hand to set gently on her head, thumb moving twice against her hair as though he were petting a pokemon. "And what you said to me just a minute ago means more to me than you know."

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE

[MEI MORIMOTO]

colors & promises Apparently she had made her friend as speechless as she had felt for a few moments. She hadn't meant to freak him out but clearly her slight concern had him on edge. He was worrying and she hadn't meant to cause him concern. But he soothed her own worries with his words and she relaxed a little as she felt less stupid for being so... Mei. She had strange reactions at the best of times, and she had been thankful that even though she hadn't quite managed to keep up with her friends, they still let her hang around. His wince was enough to force her to stop thinking horrid names about herself and she blinked at him as he climbed to sit on the couch beside her. "I just don't want to be a burden to you two, I guess. I always follow after and I feel like it must be difficult to have to wait for someone who can't keep up..." She shuffled a little closer as he moved. Pausing as his fingers brushed against her hair - to catch her breath and fully contemplate the fact that he had just done something incredibly sweet as she leant ever-so-gently to press her head against his hand. Faintly, she continued, "Or sometimes have to come and rescue me... But I'm really glad you do." Wiggling to close the gap and lean ever-so-gently against his arm, she smiled and closed her eyes. "Good. I know it wasn't the prettiest way I could have said it," And there was that Mei vocabulary, words that were hardly eloquent but clearly descriptive of what she meant, "The stuff you say means a lot too, Hugh. You never let me feel silly for very long, though." She chuckled softly as her head came to rest on his shoulder. "And it's true, too."

► kane

CODED BY ELECTRIC OF GANGNAM STYLE