Burning

"I'm Calem, a loyal member of Team Flare. Hero of Kalos? No, I'm afraid you have me confused with someone else." [indie team flare!calem]

[inflamedserenity]

     ”I suppose that could work, so long as you pay for it.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"...Right. Well, I'll... I'll see what I can do."

[inflamedserenity]

     ”I don’t know. You’re the one in charge of that.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"...What about dinner?"

[inflamedserenity]

     ”Well, I… I said that I wouldn’t mind it. So I thought that was an agreement.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"...Okay."

"What should we do on this... date, then?"

[inflamedserenity]

     ”Weren’t you supposed to treat me to some sort of date, though?”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"...Was I? I don't know. We never actually agreed on anything like that."

[inflamedserenity]

    “These people are completely hopeless. I don’t know why they’re so insistent on the subject…”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"I don't know either. I'm trying to ignore it though. It's not like what they have to say matters, after all."

[inflamedserenity]

calmbeforethefirestorm replied to your post:     ”Th-that’s absurd…!”

"What?"

     ”I think you know what.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"Uh... you liking me?"

"Yeah, I know it is. That's why I said what I did."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

I think Serena likes you

"You're probably right. In the way that a lion likes whatever prey it's hunting."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

But isn't she stressed out? Don't you want to make her happy?

"I think that would end up annoying her more than anything. Serena isn't really the kind of person you want to annoy..."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

I don't think she'd kill you. Just one little date? She's free right now. She said she's bored, even.

"Even if I was going to ask her on a date, I'd never do it just because she was bored. I'd want her to want to go on a date with me."

"Even if we did both want to, though, neither of us have time for that kind of thing. Team Flare is busy trying to make a comeback."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

Man up and ask Serena on a date! Do it!

"What? Not only would that be unprofessional, but she would kill me for even suggesting anything like that."

[inflamedserenity]

     ”I wasn’t offering. Lysandre is counting on us to get things done around here, and I won’t have you slacking off after just a little bit of work. I can fire you just as easily as I hired you, got it?”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"I'm not slacking, I promise. I was only... reporting on my current situation. But I promise you that it won't affect my work. Er... ma'am."

[inflamedserenity]

     ”What, do you want somewhere to rest your tired little feet? Maybe a pillow so you can take a nap, too?”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"...No, I'll be fine. Thank you, though."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"Being a grunt is hard work. I don't think I've ever been this tired before."

[inflamedserenity]

     ”I agree. I’m completely drained. Sometimes my job is pretty hard… but at least I know you aren’t an idiot like the rest of my grunts. …Well, for the most part, anyway.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"I'm sure you're good at it, though. Otherwise you wouldn't be such a high-ranking member."

"Wait, hey."

[inflamedserenity]

     ”I know! Isn’t it great?”

     ”I’m glad that you made the right decision. With you out of the way, we won’t fail this time.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"It definitely lifted a weight from my shoulders, if nothing else."

"Although, today has been pretty exhausting."

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

"It's still sort of hard to believe that I'm actually here now."

"Well... in Team Flare's headquarters and not trying to stop them. Us. Uh..."

[inflamedserenity]

     So, he’s still having doubts. Okay, that’s fine. Serena stuffs her uniform back into her bag and smiles at him with a broadening grin. She has other ways of ‘convincing’ him.

     ”If you don’t, I’m going to have to keep close tabs on you to make sure you don’t blab any of this.” Her gaze takes a darker, sinister gleam. “I may even have to keep you in AZ’s old holding cell. But I wouldn’t want to have to do that to my best friend.”

[calmbeforethefirestorm-blog]

Oh. Well, it's hard not to agree with that. Her threat is only made more unnerving by the huge smile on her face. Calem looks away, scratching the back of his head. Even if he refuses, he knows spending time in a jail cell will make him sure of his decision anyway.

"...Okay," he says. "I'll do it."