'This is more comfortable than I expected...' thought Jason, relaxing with his eyes closed beneath a moist towel as a pair of Sandshrew buried him from the neck down in warm sand.
Unlike how they were depicted in the anime and video games, the Sandshrew attending Jason resembled pangolins, with round bodies, hard, cat-like ears, tapered, conical tails, and stubby limbs tipped with flexible, rock-carving claws. Their eyes were large, convex lenses tinted a dark shade of blue that made them appear relatively adorable before you realized they were compound like those of an insect. And though they would periodically rub their eyes as if grooming themselves, the true reason was that they lacked eyelids. Instead, they used soft, anti-static, velcro-like padding along the insides of their forearms to keep their eyes clean and polished.
vrrrrrrrrrrr
Following the Sandshrew compacting the sand around him like a cocoon, Jason was made even more comfortable by a pleasant vibration through the metal plate the sand was piled atop. The source of the vibration was a Pokémon resembling a meter-long dragonfly, with a sand-colored body, bright green eyes, four wings, and matching tail fins that resembled green kites with black trim. Regrettably, Jason wasn't yet a Trainer, as, despite resembling an insect, the Pokémon, a Vibrava, was a Ground/Dragon-type that evolved into the same aerial powerhouse that had dominated Nessa's Mega Lapras: Flygon.
"A-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-h~"
Ostensibly enjoying the sand bath just as much as he was, Ren opened her mouth and issued a low, trembling ah that echoed off the spa room's earthen-hued ceramic tiling and high ceiling. He had his doubts when she insisted on being buried alongside him, so he was happy to hear she was enjoying herself...
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After spending half an hour buried beneath sand, Jason and Ren rinsed off in a shower before being fitted with bath towels and blow-dried by a pair of Rotom fans. The shower was a little awkward due to Ren entering the same stall as him. But since they bathed together regularly, he didn't have a good excuse for her to use a separate one.
"There you two are. Did you enjoy your sand bath~?" Lillie asked, waiting for Jason and Ren in the lounge area with Runa seated atop her lap. Like them, she was also wearing a comfy-looking bathrobe. Runa, on the other hand, was wearing a white smock, which, with her large, seldom-blinking eyes, made her resemble a very expensive doll.
"It was great," Jason affirmed, prompting Ren to throw her paws up and repeat, "Great~!" with markedly greater vigor.
Plopping his left hand down on Ren's head, Jason gently tousled her fur as he reminded, "This isn't a place where we raise our voices..." in a calm, guiding tone.
Turning his attention to Lillie, Jason smiled and asked, "How was your and Runa's meditation session?"
"It went really well~" Lillie chimed, raising Runa, enveloped in her arms, a bit higher as she revealed, "The Guide said that Runa's Psychic potential is among the best they've seen. She likely has a Modest or Quiet nature."
"An exceptional Pokémon for an exceptional lady..." Jason teased, unable to prevent a smile from adorning his face as he extended his right hand to tickle the underside of Runa's chin.
"Mn~"
Clearly approving of Jason's actions, Runa issued a faint hum, closed her eyes, and raised her chin. She ordinarily didn't make so much as a peep, supporting the notion that she had a Quiet nature. But even if she hadn't, Jason could sense her feelings through her Synchronize Ability, projected to him via her Telepathy.
"Save some of your flattery for this evening~" Lillie countered, winking playfully.
"On that note...are you ready to head back...?" Jason asked, suppressing his urge to exhale a wry chuckle behind an appreciative smile.
"I suppose..." Lillie sighed, closing her eyes and feigning exasperation on Jason's behalf. She knew he was doing his best to conceal his unease, so she acted as if the impending gala were an inconvenience, not something they should be overly concerned with.
Vaguely aware of Lillie's intentions, Jason's smile grew even more appreciative before he led the way to the changing room, where their spare clothes, his grey backpack, and her white leather satchel awaited. He was a little caught off guard when she asked him to help Runa change, but as he had finished changing quickly and had nothing better to do than gawk, he accepted the responsibility without protest...
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'Is this really me...?' Jason asked himself, checking himself in front of a full-length mirror in tailored, cobalt-blue slacks, a fitted, cream-colored waistcoat, and a cobalt-blue, long-sleeved shirt with white-gold lapels and cufflinks that matched the sheen of his tie. The colors were clearly patterned after a Lucario, but they worked well together, almost making him appear like a prince.
'What a farce...' Jason sighed internally.
Though he had never been particularly fat, Jason couldn't help but notice his waist was thin to the point of appearing tapered. His shoulders looked wide and dependable, and, thanks to the time he spent basking under the Alola sun, he had a thorough tan and thin but noticeable streaks of beige-blonde in his previously dark, almost black hair. Even his eyes appeared to have lightened, morphing from amber-brown to a richer, more vibrant hue bordering on gold.
'If I produced a before-and-after picture and presented these changes as a consequence of bathing in my hot spring, it might increase our chances of securing the Devon Corporation's investment...' Jason considered. It was more likely that his transformation was due to his body acclimating to the presence of Mana. But that was ultimately a theory, and theories invite questions, scrutiny, and doubt—doubts that could very easily spur investors to pull out of a project.
tok tok
Freeing Jason from his introspection, a soft knock sounded at the door, followed by Lillie entering with a poised smile, stating, "Jason, Mother is ready for us."
"Breathtaking..." Jason muttered, his expression a look of genuine awe at the sight of Lillie. It wasn't his first time seeing her in her Pactio garb, but her hair was braided into a bun, leaving her shoulders exposed and giving her a more mature allure—accented by her relaxed, slightly narrow-eyed smile.
"You look rather dashing yourself~" Lillie hummed, stepping forward and making a few subtle adjustments to Jason's lapels and tie as she added, "I've met President Stone many times. He's a kind, reasonable man. And since you were able to confront my mother during your visit to the Aether Paradise, you should have no trouble engaging with him. Just be yourself."
"I will do my best to remain the man you chose to marry. So don't push yourself too hard on mine or anyone else's behalf..." Jason muttered, his expression softening into a natural smolder as he carefully grasped Lillie's waist and held her gaze.
"I will try..." Lillie responded softly, leading to a lengthy silence where she and Jason simply stared at one another. Both wanted to kiss, but as they were about to be presented before a crowd, and she had just spent thirty minutes having makeup applied, they restrained themselves.
"Well then, shall we go...?" Lillie asked, repositioning herself to Jason's left, her gloved hands naturally finding his arm as if it were their natural resting place. The faint, familiar warmth of her presence filled Jason with a confidence he didn't possess naturally. Thus, with a straight back and a practiced smile, he escorted her to the gala's venue, where Lusamine was ready and waiting to introduce them...
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"Ah, it appears the stars of tonight's show have arrived. Everyone, allow me to introduce Lillie, my beloved daughter and the extant heiress of the Ather Foundation. Alongside her is Jason, a capable young man I hold in high esteem—as well as Lillie's fiancé ~" Lusamine hummed, gesturing to Jason and Lillie as they descended a set of white marble, red-and-gold-carpeted stairs to where she waited at a midpoint landing.
"Oooooh~"
Though those closer to Lusamine had heard about Lillie's engagement, it was their first time seeing Jason in person. He was far more striking than many of them had anticipated, and he had an air of confidence about him that made it clear he wasn't there to accompany Lillie as an accessory. He was there to engage them alongside her.
Reinforcing this sentiment, it was Jason, after coming to a stop next to Lusamine and facing the crowd, who stated, "Good evening, everyone. I am greatly honored to be in the company of such an auspicious group of people. I personally find myself wanting, but my Mother-in-law has given me both her trust and her daughter's hand. As such, I shall do my utmost not to embarrass them."
"Oh, my..."
"He's quite the young man..."
"Very impressive, indeed..."
Amid a few appreciative remarks, the some seven hundred guests present afforded Jason a courteous round of applause. Then, as Lusamine gave him an approving nod, he led Lillie down the remaining steps, where they were expected to go around, introduce themselves, and mingle with those of a comparable social standing while she deal with people like President Stone herself...
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With Lillie whispering the identities of the guests to him, Jason took the lead in carrying out introductions and offering compliments before leaving her to comment on matters related to the Aether Foundation. He naturally answered questions directed at him, but since the spacious ballroom was as much her battleground as his, Jason consciously avoided giving those they spoke with the impression he had even a modicum of influence over the Foundation's future. That was entirely Lillie's wheelhouse.
"Well, look at you two. You clean up nicely~" remarked a familiar voice, prompting Jason and Lillie to slowly turn as Iris, wearing a bright pink, ribbon-adorned dress with a three-layered frilled skirt, approached them with a glass of champagne in hand.
"I am pleased to see you again, Champion Iris," Jason expressed, offering a slow, courteous nod.
"As you should be~" Iris hummed, beaming happily and briefly puffing out her chest before casually eyeing Jason up and noting, "Seriously, though. It's only been three days, but you seem like a completely different person. Did you evolve?"
"In a sense," Jason responded, his practiced smile gaining just a hint of mischievousness. Iris noticed this, but as she had other people to meet, she covered her mouth with a pink-gloved hand to stifile a giggle. Then, while walking past them, she softly muttered, "Chairman Rose has been eyeing the two of you closely. You should prepare."
"Thank you for your consideration," Lillie responded, closing her eyes without losing her composure or looking back in the direction Iris had departed. Jason tensed slightly at the warning, but as it didn't show on his face, the only person who noticed it was Lillie.
As if on cue, Jason and Lillie abruptly found themselves in a clearing that had naturally formed within the crowd. At the same time, a well-dressed man in a steel-grey suit and a red tie approached him, his face fixed in an unnatural smile, and his hair and beard styled in an immaculate, distinctly modern fashion.
"What a charmingly magnetic couple the two of you make. Why, I dare say that if you were to join Macro Cosmos as talents, you would quickly rise to the very pinnacle of the charts," hummed the man, Chairman Rose, his slanted, pale green eyes scrutinizing Jason and Lillie as if they were a product rather than people. And as the Chairman of the Galar League and the President of Macro Cosmos, the third most affluent corporation in the world, that was precisely what they were to him.
"Chairman Rose. It is a great honor," Jason responded calmly, presenting his right hand. For several seconds, Chairman Rose simply stared at it, his expression unchanging.
"I beg your pardon, but Chairman Rose is not in the habit of exchanging handshakes or allowing himself to be touched by others," interjected a tall woman with narrow, mint-green eyes, strawberry-blonde hair that flowed in wavy strands to her lower back, and an outfit that broadcast to all who saw her that she was someone's Secretary. More specifically, she was the Chief Secretary and de facto Second-in-Command of the Macro Cosmos Corporation, Oleana Gauthier...
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