So, I'm not quite sure what happened, but I think this turned into a surprisingly dramatic drabble? Even though I meant it to be totally fluffy and benign? I'm so sorry I swear I don't do it on purpose the angst just follows me relentlessly everywhere I go like an attack dog

Well, anyway, let's get this show on the road.

IkebanaShipping: "Heard it on the grapevine."

Talking to Jasmine often equated to walking on eggshells simply due to the sheer level of politeness required. Sure, Erika endeavoured to be equally polite to everyone, but there was something about Jasmine—something in her meek, timid nature and soft voice—that made everyone around her subconsciously treat her as if she were fragile, and Erika was no exception. Logically, she knew that Jasmine was perfectly capable of handling herself, being a master of the stubborn Steel-type Pokemon, but Erika couldn't help but tiptoe around her.

So when Erika heard something on the rumor mill—something she initially wrote off as petty gossip, only to grow an insatiable curiosity rather quickly—bringing the subject up to Jasmine without feeling like humanity's greatest monster was no easy feat.

The first try didn't exactly go as planned. At first, Erika successfully struck up a pleasant conversation, easing into a discussion about Pokemon grooming. Then, ever-so-cautiously, she breached the subject with a tentative, "So, I heard on the grapevine that…"

Naturally, she immediately lost her nerve and finished with "...there's a new type of Potion going out on the market soon."

The second time she tried, she never even got that far. No sooner had she opened her mouth than she'd been struck with the sudden intense feeling that it really wasn't any of her business, and she had promptly dropped the subject without bothering to bring it up first.

But, even though she decided to forget the matter, it wasn't easy. After all, it wasn't every day that people accused others of being negligent or even abusive towards their Pokemon—it was a very serious claim. And, although it seemed ridiculous coming from sweet, tender Jasmine, Erika had to wonder why the rumor began spreading in the first place. After all, every story had an origin, so there had to be some reason why so many people seemed to think so little of her, right? Besides, it wasn't as if Erika knew her particularly well; perhaps her mild manner was merely a facade she showed people to make them underestimate her?

The third time it crossed her mind to just bluntly ask whether or not Jasmine treated her Pokemon like true partners, it was even more short-lived. She had decided to sit in on one of Jasmine's battles when a challenger arrived at the Gym in the middle of one of their chats. Erika watched as Jasmine's beloved Steelix crashed to the floor, barely awake. Erika thought, rather scathingly, that no sane Pokemon Trainer would force their beloved partners to keep fighting to the brink of passing out. And Erika saw, with wide eyes, when Jasmine cried "Stop! Stop!", throwing herself protectively in front of her Pokemon; taking a brutal blow to the chest from the challenger's Hitmonchan; flying back to hit the ground hard.

Vileplume didn't even question it; just hastened to restrain the overzealous Hitmonchan as Erika rushed to her friend's side. And, as she and Steelix helped Jasmine to the hospital, she couldn't help but wonder how she'd ever thought those rumors had even a hint of merit.

Mere weeks later, when Jasmine asked her, rosy-cheeked, if she wanted to go catch a movie, she thought about it for a second and found, to her surprise, that she really did want to go catch a movie. Even if she did fall asleep part-way through, Jasmine's hand clutched loosely in hers and her head on Jasmine's shoulder.

Again, feel free to shoot me a request in the comments box or in my PM box. I just need a pairing and a short prompt (or a pairing and a number 1-50). I also do OT3+, as long as it's reasonable, and a few other fandoms, which are all on my profile page.