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[sycamour]

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Professor Augustine Sycamore ⬤ Pokemon XY
residential district ⬤ LEVEL 2
moonblessing ⬤ Iris

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[sycamour]

[Oh dear....he's certainly been getting a lot of messages from vaguely-upset friends, lately....]

{Of course - is everything alright, my friend?}

[surexpose]

{I am just having--I...would like your company.}

[sycamour]

[Hmm. Fortunately, Sycamore is already out and about, and not too busy - it will be easy for him to get to Joseph quickly.]

{I'll be there soon. Did something happen? You don't sound yourself.}

[surexpose]

{No... nothing like that. Just... just a bad night. A bad outing. I’m in...in a foul mood.}

[And he’s been drinking.]

[sycamour]

{Ah, we all have those nights...}

[His voice will have a slight breathlessness, as he picks up his pace.]

{Did you want to talk about it, once I get to you? I'm happy to listen.}

[surexpose]

{I would love that, thank you. The door is unlocked.}

[He struggles a moment with the next words, but they are sincere once he says them: ]

I am...sorru for the trouble again.

[sycamour]

[Sycamore quickly sheds his coat, smiling as he does so.]

It's no trouble. My partner is busy tonight, so I was just wandering around anyway. I can stay as long as you like.

[Speaking of which-]

Are you okay, mon ami?

[surexpose]

Mmm.

[That's the huffy reply Sycamore gets, pressing his face into the other man's chest hard, wrapping his arms around his waist.]

I am glad you're here.

[sycamour]

[Oh....oh, this is...adorable? Sycamore stifles a soft laugh, instead placing one hand on Joseph's back, and the other on his head.]

That bad, huh?

[He's content to stay like this as long as Joseph wants; chroma production aside (very much a lovely bonus), he's always been a huggy sort of person.]

Did you want to talk about it....?

[surexpose]

[Joseph stays against him, shoulders hunched, but his voice grows flat when he pulls back.]

Absolutely not.

[He's already turning, grabbing Sycamore's hand and tugging him toward the couch.]

Come, come. I have wine. Good wine. [Wine that Sycamore can appreciate, because he's not an ornery bastard.]

[sycamour]

[Well! That was crystal clear and very much noted; discussions of that particular topic are off! There's no resistance as Joseph pulls him toward the couch - look, wine is always going to work on him, particularly if it's good wine...]

Noted, mon ami! We can talk about anything but that, then.

[He might end up wanting to chat about it after a few drinks, anyway. So! He'll settle himself on the couch.]

Are you a red or a white fan? Tell me about your favourite kinds.

[surexpose]

[Sycamore can probably tell how put off Joseph is by the fact that he drops his weight hard into the couch instead of folding himself in his usual fancy way, but...the question immediately puts him at ease. This is a man who knows how to talk.]

I like dry reds. A good Malbec, or a Cabernet Sauvignon... This one is a Merlot, though.

[He starts to offer his glass to Sycamore, and then pauses, his brows furrowing, setting it down and standing up to get another from the cabinet.]

[sycamour]

[The inelegant way Joseph lands on the couch definitely isn't missed, but Sycamore is smart enough not to comment on it; he's arranged himself casually, with an arm resting on the back and his legs crossed. Perhaps if he gives off a relaxed vibe, it'll help Joseph calm down as well.]

Ah, lovely taste! I'm more of a Pinot man myself, but I can never turn down a decent Merlot. It's lovely of you to treat me like this.

[As Joseph rises to fetch another glass, Sycamore can't hide a smile. Ah, there's that fastidious nature coming back...]

The glass not up to your standards, mon ami?

[surexpose]

I am getting one for you. Are you not drinking with me?

[He gives him a withering frown over his shoulder as he reaches up to get another glass (his glasses are perfect, after all)]

[sycamour]

[A different person might find that reaction intimidating or worrying, but Sycamore just continues to smile - if anything, he's trying not to laugh. Joseph has such a strong personality....he's always enjoyed these sorts of people. The intense ones are always so fun!]

Ah, my mistake! Forgive me. I definitely don't want to miss out on a wine you've selected.

[...

that's not just flattery, he genuinely doesn't]

[surexpose]

[Still, Joseph gives him a long look. His confidence is, as much as he hates to say, shaken from the night. But at least Augustine is smiling instead of making that infernal couldn't-care-less expression some other men tend to wear.

...But he ultimately returns to set the glass down in front of him, pouring the wine before sitting down again and picking his own glass back up.]

[sycamour]

[Well, if it's any kind of consolation for Joseph's confidence, Sycamore quickly picks that glass up, swirling the wine around gently so that the colours catch the light and he can get a hint of the aroma.]

It smells divine.

[Ah, but it would be impolite to go ahead and drink it without the appropriate ritual!]

Santé?

[He'll hold his glass out towards Joseph, still with a smile on his face; perhaps a more inquisitive look in his eye than before. Nevertheless, he doesn't force the gesture, and leaves it up to Joseph to clink their glasses together should he wish to do so.]

[surexpose]

[He blinks, for a moment staring at the glass as if he doesn't understand the gesture. That entire mess with Yashiro--stupid as it was, silly, the man just couldn't do as he was told, or at least couldn't even properly refuse, going ahead and saying unnecessary things--has made him briefly forget that there are other people with proper manners...

The ice that had built up around him seems to crack slightly, and though he doesn't smile, his lips pull ever so subtly.]

...À ta santé, mon ami.

[That clink seems to settle something in his heart.]

[sycamour]

[Ah, and what a satisfying clink it is...the sound of wineglasses coming together is one of the most comforting sounds around, as far as Sycamore is concerned! Particularly when the wine within them is excellent, as this one is.]

Parfait! I usually find Merlots overpowering, at times, but this is delightful! It goes down far too easily and I mean that as a compliment.

[He takes another sip before settling back against the couch, resting his wineglass on a knee and giving Joseph a warm look.]

A nice glass of wine can always make ones troubles feel a little smaller, no?

[surexpose]

It can...If shared with the right company.

[That is an extremely poisonous tone of voice he just used!
But a moment later, it goes back to normal as Joseph sighs.]

I am glad you like it. What kind do you prefer? Perhaps I have it...

[sycamour]

[Hmm...Sycamore is definitely starting to get a sense that an evening with someone definitely didn't go as Joseph planned tonight...bad date, maybe? But this level of anger feels more personal...

...well. Thoughts to be filed away.]

I do like Pinot Noir, but I'm not fussy. I love trying new things, so whatever you would like to have, I would love to have! That way I expand my horizons, no? Just like with this lovely Merlot.

[And it really is lovely! Dangerously so, really. He'll have to make sure he doesn't drink it too fast...]

As for the company, I think it's rather top-notch. I hope it is for you, now, as well.

[Since that seemed to be a bit of a sore point...]

[surexpose]

I don't have a Pinot Noir...though--you asked about whites too, didn't you? I've a vin jaune I found in the store...It's labeled differently, but it's absolutely a vin jaune. I have a few others from that store that I haven't tried yet... so we can try them together, mm?

[He doesn't smile as easily when Augustine mentions company (he's not a fool, he knows that Augustine knows that he's upset over something like that), but he sighs heavily.]

It is, now. I am...glad you are here. This place, it is unbearably lonely sometimes.

[sycamour]

[So many wines, so little time...he'd be lying if he said he wasn't excited by the prospect...]

At this rate, I won't be walking out of here! But that doesn't bother me; it's not often I get my own personal wine tasting session. Whatever you'd like to try, Joseph.

[Sycamore takes another sip of wine after that last comment, keeping his eyes on Joseph as he does. Lonely, was it...definitely a bad encounter with more than just an acquaintance.]

I do know what you mean, though. It's hard, having to completely rebuild your social circle! Sometimes we find a winner, other times we end up hurt.

[No prizes as to which scenario Sycamore believes Joseph has experienced...]

It's hard to want to keep trying, after that, but we must. What do you think...?

[surexpose]

So many people are just...not worthwhile! You try to be nice to them, and they just throw it in your face!

[Joseph throws his head back against the couch, glaring up at the ceiling, pouting as he remembers Yashiro's mulish expression at the restaurant. Though...the way Sycamore says it...]

I did not have much of a social circle back where I am from, I admit.

[sycamour]

[Ah...that's a quite the clue, isn't it? Seems like his intuition was right (as it usually is). Now, how to gently press the topic without upsetting Joseph...an interesting problem...]

Ah, but the size of the original is irrelevant, no? When we're all returned to zero, once we arrive. Other than the lucky few who end up with many people from home, of course.

[Seriously, how does that work? Anyway.]

Do you prefer to just have a few close friends, mon ami?

[That could explain the level of hurt...]