She paused, looking towards her own daughter,"..is there anything I can do to help? I want to be there for you."

Shauntal was silent for a moment. She knew all too well about the 'legally dead' part. According to the records in Sinnoh, she was dead. Obviously she wasn't, but she could relate.

"I'm sorry you find yourself in a complicated situation. I can't exactly travel to Galar at the moment but.."+

A soft gasp leaves her lips.

"Oh, Reina! Are you okay?! You're not hurt, are you?"

"Hello Reina. I..Hm..I called to wish you a happy birthday but..you don't quite sound like yourself.

Are you doing okay, sweetie?"

Worried mother hen mode was now activated.

"Awe..why thank you! I'm so happy to hear that you've enjoyed my writing. Do you happen to have a favorite?"

After cleaning up Marie from her bath, Shauntal remembered that it was a special someone's birthday. She felt bad that she didn't call sooner, but now was better than never!

Taking out her Rotom, she dialed @queenlytrainer.bsky.social 's number.

Um..what about me..?

❓️

"I think that can be arranged. We will need to head off to my place, though. It really isn't a good idea to lurk around here.

Follow me, please! Oh, I hope you don't mind kids. I have a daughter, Marie. She's four and an absolute cutie!"

"The one and only! Pleasure to meet you!"

Shauntal was practically beaming from ear to ear.

"You know, it isn't safe to be out here on your own - and before you ask, I'm not here alone. I'm with Grimsley. He had some business to handle."

"Belina, Incinerate.."

Blue and black flames engulfed the jeans of all three dealers, quickly moving away from Holly.

As they ran off, Shauntal stepped out of the shadows, giggling softly.

"Aw, you don't want to play. What a shame.."

She then looks to Holly,"Are you okay..?"

She was hesitant but gave him a nod. Taking one last breath, she led him through a shadow walk with Grimsley and Marie.

As they arrived at the front of the building, they were greeted by Caitlin.

@unovapsychic.bsky.social

"Yeah..I really wish this happened sooner. I guess I was just too much of a coward to do it back then. I was too focused on the few good things and made excuses for the red flags."

She looks down to their hands.

"We aren't going to have that problem too, right..?"

(Awe shit.

We got Lenora! She was always one of my favorite Unova gym leaders. ♡

┗━━━━━━⊱ 𝐼𝑓 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑢𝑛. ⊰━━━━━━┛

bsky.app/profile/himb...

(I had a bit of curiosity, and Google did not disappoint. 😂

I was just trying to find works for Lucian and Shauntal, and this is what I got.

I can't stop giggling because I have had people ask me what the appeal is to bookshelf shipping, and I'm over here like... how much time do you have??

He used to be a kind soul, doting on her.

But now he was a self-absorbed jerk. A part of her missed that scholar she fell in love with. As far as she was concerned, the Lucian she loved died a long while ago.

Shauntal took a deep breath.

"Are you ready to do this?"

[ @grimmfates.bsky.social ]

Shauntal held Marie's hand and reached out to Grimsley’s. Today was the big day that she would retrieve her freedom.

She honestly hated how much Lucian has changed over the years.

+

"In that case, let's confirm things with Caitlin, and I can help you get settled in bed."

She gives him a nod.

"She said in two days, right? Will that be enough time for you to talk to your lawyers about things?"

Shauntal placed a hand over his.

"But on the other hand, if we go through with the divorce, I can be free again. We..can officially be together."

Her lips twisted as she leaned into his hand.

"It sounds like a wonderful idea, but I worry how this might affect Marie. I know she misses her father, but he isn't exactly a nice guy to be around..not since I gave birth to her, and my health declined."

+