A/N: It's April! That's good news for you guys, because that means Camp NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which means that I will spend as much time as possible working on this story! So, in short, a lot of updates :D Thanks a lot for your support and I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the picture used as cover, though I did edit it.

Days

The day at the Connoisseurs' Café

Cilan

Sunday, November 17th

"Thank you, sir," the bespectacled man said, shaking Cilan's hand enthusiastically. "I appreciate your help. And if you ever feel lost in this huge universe, please do not hesitate to contact me. Ghosts will rule the Earth after we have gone."

Cilan resisted the utterly impolite urge to roll his eyes and instead smiled politely and inclined his head slightly. "It's my job, sir. Good luck with your Duskull."

The man beamed and then turned and left Cilan's spacious office. As soon as the door was closed behind his client, Cilan sagged in his seat and let out a sigh. Well, at least that was another client down for the day. Mister Omode had not been so bad, except for his tendency to go on about the end of the world and all that.

Iris would have thought the man funny, too, Cilan thought, before smiling and shaking his head at his own lovesickness. He supposed that he was a prime example of the adage that people in love only think of that one person, though he had to admit that it had gotten significantly worse ever since their strange little date between Iris's moving boxes. Cilan's smile widened. At first it had been a bit awkward, but it had soon faded into a comfortableness that he had always known from their friendship, only this time with a giddy nervousness that made them sit closer and grin at each other like maniacs.

Cilan didn't need a mirror to know that he was grinning in a similar way right now.

And while it had been wonderful, next time he would make sure their date wouldn't consist of drinking Iris's leftover tea while sitting on cardboard boxes. Going out for dinner was a classic one-

His eye fell on the clock and he realized that he should be working, not daydreaming. He quickly straightened in his seat and made some quick notes about the client, their plan of action with the goal to strengthen the relationship between the man and his Duskull, and the homework he had given them. If he had time to spare at the end of the day, he could work it out further, but for now he pushed the laptop aside. There was another client waiting on him.

Cilan worked as a Connoisseur at Jack Studee's Connoisseurs' Café, though it hardly resembled a café in any sense. The Connoisseurs' Café was a successful business enterprise, located in a big building at the edge of the city, with offices, several big Pokémon practice halls, and it had a great outside area. Several B and A-class Connoisseurs worked here under the guidance of the successful S-class Connoisseur Jack Studee. And while Cilan – after many hours of studying and hard work – had been promoted to S-class recently, he had continued to work here. It was not easy for Connoisseurs to find a paid job, and he did not feel ready to set up his own business, though he hoped he would be able to do that someday. If he was able to combine it with the Gym and the restaurant, which was already difficult enough. Even now, it was only because Mister Studee was so flexible and allowed Cilan much freedom that he was able to combine the Gym with his Connoisseur work.

And while Cilan was very happy to have a job, he couldn't say that this was truly his dream job. Certainly, he loved being a Connoisseur, but the Connoisseurs' Café was rather expensive, and that resulted in a selected group of customers.

Not that Cilan disliked the people of a higher socioeconomic class, but some of them had a peculiar and sometimes even narrow-minded opinion on their treatment of Pokémon, though Cilan did his best to politely straighten them out.

Just as Cilan got up to call in his next client, there was a knock on his door and his boss entered without waiting for answer.

"Ah, so good to see you, Cilan," Mister Studee greeted him, his big smile making his round cheeks seem even rounder. "I hope you don't mind letting your client wait a minute, I've been meaning to talk to you. It'll be just a moment."

One could hardly refuse a talk with their boss, but Cilan didn't even get the chance, because Mister Studee had already moved into his office and had sat down in the chair in front of his desk. With a jovial gesture he invited Cilan to sit down as well, and with mixed feelings Cilan did so.

"Now, don't look so scared, m'boy, it's not that bad." Mister Studee let out a roaring laugh, and Cilan smiled along weakly, though questions about this impromptu talk raced through his mind. Just as suddenly as Mister Studee had started laughing, he stopped again, and there was nothing but utmost seriousness on his round face.

"It's like this, Cilan. You're a good Connoisseur, a great one, the best one, I wouldn't want to lose you. Your work as a Gym Leader gives you an edge and you work extremely well with Pokémon, but I've been getting some complaints about you." Cilan's eyes widened and he felt his chest tighten, but before he could say anything Mister Studee already continued. "Our clients think you're rude."

Cilan felt his jaw drop just a little and he wanted to sputter in confusion, but he controlled himself and instead breathed in deeply. Mister Studee held up a hand to stop him from saying anything, and leaned forward with a fatherly smile.

"Now, Cilan, I'm sure you aren't, but some of our clients can be touchy. I know you're a honest man, but some of your words might sound too harsh, so to keep our clients you have to sugarcoat things a bit, y'know?"

Mister Studee smiled conspiringly, and while there were many questions whirling around in his head, Cilan kept silent and waited for his boss to finish.

"You just need to soften your criticism a bit. I'm sure that mister Sogo was spoiling his Servine, but he doesn't like to hear that. So you just keep in mind to be friendly and polite, and when you don't agree with the client… Well, you know what they say, the customer is king, so just… sugarcoat some things, alright?"

Mister Studee jumped up from his chair with a flexibility one wouldn't expect from a man his age and size. With another wide grin he leaned over the desk and clapped Cilan on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, boy, I'm sure you'll do fine. I'll send in your next client, alright?" Before Cilan could respond, the man was already at the door, and with another cheery smile he was gone.

Cilan gaped at the door, and just when he had recollected himself enough to go after his boss, the door opened again, and his next client presented herself. Cilan considered going after his boss for one more moment, but then he jumped in his professional mode and welcomed the woman, who confidently strode to the chair.

"Yes, yes, it's all such a disaster, my dear, really a disaster," the old woman started, who had introduced herself as Miss Matson. "It's such a beautiful specimen, truly graceful, but she just won't listen to me! I'm at my wits' end, sir, please, you have to help me!"

Miss Matson's dramatic manner irritated Cilan just a bit, but still he pasted on a smile and nodded. "Why don't you show me the Pokémon, ma'am?"

Unless he gathered from the story that the Pokémon were unusually aggressive, he always preferred to have the Pokémon out when he spoke with the clients, because he could gather a lot of information from their behavior.

"Oh yes, wonderful idea, I'm sure you'll know just what to do with it," Miss Matson continued to babble as she released a – beautiful indeed – Dratini. "You're such a beautiful thing, aren't you, m'dear." The woman started to coddle it, and the blue Pokémon carefully tried to wriggle out of its owner's grasp. "Really, it's so fussy, but oh my dear, why don't you listen to me?"

Cilan could already make a good guess what the problem was – Miss Matson wanted a Pokémon to coddle and to show off, but a Dratini needed much more than just that – but with his boss's conversation fresh in his mind, Cilan was hesitant how to go about it. He let out an imperceptible sigh, and then proceeded to carefully explain that the Pokémon was young and needed physical exercise to feel at home, but that he was certain that it would soon get used to its new owner.

The Dratini continued to wriggle while Miss Matson smiled.

A/N: Thank you very much for reading! I'm going to do my best to update as soon as possible :) Please review!

Thank you!

Recommendations:

Pokémon: And Have a Lovely Ending by ibuberu. FFN. Recommended by inklaced. A short but very horrifying story about Red, and how he stands alone on top of the mountain, and how Gold comes to face him… Creepy but well written!

Pokémon: Clarity by dinobot (add spaces). FFN. Thanks to PokeshipperByHeart for recommending this story to me. This is a really wonderful PokeShipping one-shot, in which Ash finally, finally grows up. Very lovely!

Star Wars: The Silent Song by Eirian Erisdar. FFN. A very interesting AU about Obi-Wan who's unable to speak since birth, and how he is taken as Qui-Gon's padawan while dark powers continue to grow stronger… A very cool multi-chapter in progress, definitely recommended!

Recommendations are welcome!