By the time the gym leaders made it to the Pokemon Center the both of them were soaked to the bone. The chilly air and rain made for a sour combination if you asked Cilan and Clemont would have pitched you an idea on a pocket-sized retractable umbrella. Even with their somewhat differing views, the two of them could agree on one thing: the warm blast of air as they walked through the door was much appreciated.

"Welcome to the Pokemon Center!" Nurse Joy greeted them as they stepped in. It didn't take her long to conclude they'd been caught in the rain. They were even leaving puddles around their feet where they stood! "Oh my- You wait there, I'll get you both some towels." And with the last chimes of her melodic voice, she leaves behind a door to fetch the softest towels she could find.

"Thank you!" Cilan calls after her, really appreciating the gesture. He takes a seat on the sectional sofa against the wall, Clemont quick to join him. There was a Wigglytuff across the room from them rushing a box of potion to storage. Otherwise the area was still.

Cilan sighs to himself, wringing out the longer clumps of his hair while Clemont attempted to dry his glasses. After a time, Cilan broke the silence."It's a shame we couldn't make it to the galette stand. I doubt they'll be open now with weather like this."

"Yeah, but it's not like you couldn't make them. Come to think of it, I live here and I've never even tried to. Maybe we can borrow the kitchen and make them for Bonnie. Wouldn't she be surprised?"

"Speaking of Bonnie, isn't she almost old enough to start a journey of her own?" The connoisseur mulled it over, surprised at how young Bonnie still acted given her age.

"Yeah… She is. She's been old enough actually. Our dad Meyer just hasn't wanted to mention it around her. You see, I've been talking about the science convention for months. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but it was the quickest way I could think of to find a job opportunity as a full time inventor and move out. I can take care of myself but my father's been really emotional about it. And since I've been talking about leaving to start my adult life and Bonnie's old enough to go out on her own, he's worried he'll lose us both. He was happy we'd made friends when we were kids and gone on adventures and lived our lives, but I guess he kind of expected that to be it. Especially with him getting older now. He wasn't the youngest dad in the world, you know-" Clemont hangs his head slightly as he spoke, propping himself up with his arm. "I mean… I see where he's coming from. Maybe he'd be more comfortable if I went with her but I have other plans. I want to work and buy an apartment and fund my own projects. Allowance and prize money isn't exactly great when everything you make is produced with budget parts. That's like you making ice cream with imitation vanilla flavor. It has an aftertaste. And now that I really look at it, my budget projects are probably why everything exploded so often."

Cilan listens devotedly. He had no idea all of this was going on. "Growing up can be a difficult thing for parents to accept in their children… It's like spending your entire life on one dish only to find out that you have to give it away someday. This must be very hard on everyone."

The blond decided he didn't want to discuss it further, leaning into Cilan's side and resting his head on his arm since he was too short to reach his shoulder. It hadn't even been five seconds of peace before Nurse Joy burst through the door with the towels in tow. Her cheery face was so sunny that it seemed to raise the temperature of the room by a few degrees. The smile was quick to fade however, when she noticed how solemn Clemont looked. "For an Electric-Type gym leader, you sure are looking anything but energetic."

She passes off the towels, reapplying her signature smile in hopes it would rub off on them. "Can I get you boys anything to drink? We have hot cocoa in the staff room if you're interested."

Since Clemont seemed like he could use a moment, Cilan took over for him. "Yes please, ma'am! That would be delightful." He remembers his considerate disposition, "If it isn't any trouble, that is."

"No trouble at all! That's what it's there for." Joy was quick to leave, a pep in her step despite the gloom outside.

With the stillness in the room returning, Cilan feels uncomfortable, quick to stir up the settling dust to spare himself from the awkward tension. "Hey, Clemont?"

"Hm?"

"I'll be back soon. I'm going to call my brothers. You're welcome to join me if you like though."

Clem smiled a little, drying himself off better before handing Cilan's vest back to him. "You might want this back. I know it didn't help much in the end, but thank you for lending it to me anyway."

The connoisseur accepted it gratefully. "Of course. I would have brought a coat but I expected it to be warmer." Slipping on his vest and fixing his hair he finally felt ready to make the call. Activating the machine by the sofa he enters the extension for Unova and contacts the Striaton Gym. The faces of his two brothers greet him almost immediately.

"Well that was fast- If I didn't know any better I would have thought you two slept by the machine," he teased them.

"Yeah, nice to see you too, Cilan." Chili snapped back sarcastically.

Cress was quick to cut the formalities. "Yes yes. Good afternoon, hello, all that good stuff. What we're really interested in is meeting that Clemont fellow you ran off to Kalos for~!"

Cilan felt immediately embarrassed, rubbing his arm as he thought about how to respond. "Alright- You listen here, I didn't come here for that… Initially."

"OOOOOOOH~" His brothers echoed each other.

"Someone moves fast~!" Cress teased, winking at Cilan just to annoy him.

Chili was quick to chime in rather shamelessly, "So, uh… How official is official?" he coughed a few times, making an inappropriate gesture with his hands.

Their green-haired triplet brother was quick to falter, his usual eloquence replaced with bashful babbling. "I- I would never d- do… I wouldn't- But- I, you, them, h-he… We didn't- NEVER."

His two brothers could only laugh, Clemont quickly finding himself doing the same. "Your family's a riot! I can't believe my ears." He stands up to see the call for himself, being somehow unsurprised by the brothers' similar tastes in style.

"So this is the Clemont!? He's adorable! It's no wonder you flew all the way to Kalos on account of one letter. I would have too if I'd known that was waiting for me." Cress studies Clemont's outfit curiously, his attention quickly drawn to the large, round framed glasses perched on his nose. "So cute!" At this point he was practically squealing.

"OUR BROTHER'S FINALLY BECOMING A MAN." Chili yells excitedly, jumping up and down a little.

Cilan was anything but impressed with their antics, Clemont however was thoroughly amused. "Wow, am I glad I never had any brothers! I don't think I could get anything done."

"They're not usually like this. I mean- Not around others they're usually not." Cilan facepalmed, shaking his head gently as they continued their teasing.

In the middle of a less than appropriate comment, Nurse Joy entered the room with the mugs of hot cocoa: the perfect excuse Cilan needed.

"Oops- Looks like Nurse Joy is here. Can't stay and chat! She was so nice as to bring us hot cocoa, it would be rude to pass it up and not accept it immediately. See you later! Bye!" He hangs up on them with haste, wiping a nervous sweat from his brow.

"How are you boys?" Joy greeted them, handing them their mugs. "Seems like you're having fun. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

The duo accepted the cocoa gratefully, Clemont sipping his despite how hot it was. "Thank you. I don't think we'll be needing anything else. We're going to call a taxi back to the hotel and be on our way," the inventor replied between sips. "This is really good by the way- Did you make this yourself?"

"Why yes, I did! I'm thrilled you like it. If you need anything else, please let me know." By the fragments of the call she managed to overhear, she assumed the young men were a couple. The neighborhood wasn't used to such a thing so she made it her personal goal to give them something nice before they set back out. She wasn't sure that the rest of the world would do the same. "Oh- and one more thing," she stated in afterthought just before disappearing behind the service counter. "You're both welcome back here any time!"

Cilan and Clemont both were a little confused by her forward kindness but they weren't ones to complain.

The connoisseur was quick to thank her, even shaking her hand out of respect. "That's very kind. You're just like a peach. You're sweet and make our hearts fuzzy! You'll have to remind me to repay the favor sometime if I'm ever back in town."

Clemont winced, the thought of Cilan leaving makes his stomach churn. "Yeah… Thank you, Nurse Joy." Despite his head start, he never finished his cup of cocoa. Even by the time Cilan had gotten a hold of a cab he remained quiet and visibly upset. Cilan wasn't oblivious to the inventor's change in attitude, he just felt it better not to mention it in the car. He'd reassure him as soon as they were back within the privacy of their hotel room. For now all he can think to do is hold his hand and give it a gentle squeeze.