Mel blushed at that. "Well, it's not like I'm going to refuse people," she mumbled. "And anyway, I'm nothing special. Ithica's the one who should be getting all the attention."

"Not every trainer knows what you seem to know on instinct," Steven said, shaking his head a little. "It's more special than you know. And people appreciate it when you help them with it, because it helps their pokemon."

"I'm really not that special," Mel protested weakly, still too surprised to offer up much more of a defense than that.

"I think you are," Steven said quietly, watching for her reaction.

Mel blushed, opened her mouth to protest, and then closed it again when she couldn't find the words. "Yes, well," she blustered, still distinctly pink.

Steven just smiled a little at her and let the subject drop. When Nurse Joy brought his pokemon back out to him, he turned to collect them, giving Mel some time to collect herself again.

Mel collected herself after a few moments and shook herself a bit. She did, however, let Vulpix out so she could occupy her hands with something.

"So, where are you off to now?" she asked once he had his pokemon all collected again.

"The awards ceremony," Steven said as he put his pokeballs back onto his belt. "I may still be the official Champion of the League, but I still have to confer all of the Champion's privileges unto Ithica." He grinned. "Unless, of course, she wants to become the official Champion, but I doubt she will. It's really rather boring, most of the time."

"Oh no, no chance that she'll become the Champion," Mel said with a bit of a grin. "She likes her adventuring and challenging other people too much for that. So you have no fear of losing your job to her." Her grin was definitely teasing now.

Steven grinned.

"I thought as much," he said.

Mel smiled. "I could walk with you, at least back to the stage?" she offered, almost shyly. Vulpix snorted at her.

Steven smiled.

"I'd like that," he said, holding out a hand to her.

Mel smiled and took his hand, letting him lead the way. She was just pleased to be spending a little more time with him, after all.

Steven tried to take his time walking with her. He was pleased to be spending the time with her, too. Finally, he reluctantly let go of her hand when he came time for him to head up onto the stage

"I'll try not to take long," he murmured to her.

"No rush," she assured him. "I'll be around here somewhere." She smiled at him and watched him go.

Steven smiled at her again and then went to handle the awards ceremony.

Two hours later, he was finally able to escape the celebration and look for Mel again.

By that time, somehow Mel had gotten pulled into a conversation with a group of people, all about raising pokemon. There were two experienced breeders there as well, and both of them were impressed with her answers and how strong the bonds were between her and her pokemon. Mel, naturally, didn't notice this and was just having a grand time talking.

Steven just smiled a bit and let them keep talking. No sense in interrupting her when she was clearly having a good time.

Ithica was nearby, neatly boxed in within another knot of trainers. Dragonair was out with her, and people were admiring the dragon-type and talking to Ithica about training and battle styles.

Mel spotted Steven after a minute and waved him over, grinning. A few eyebrows jumped up at the way she just kind of tried to accost a Champion.

Steven grinned a little when she waved him over.

"I would have waited until you were finished," he said.

"Nah, don't worry," Mel said with a grin. "I think I'm just about done here, and it might take two of us to pry Ithica away." Not that she actually had any intention of doing that, but still.

"Maybe not," Steven said with a bit of a grin. "She looks like she got cornered. Give her an out, she might take it. You weren't kidding about her being uncomfortable with fame."

Mel cackled a little bit at that, but did indeed go give her an out.

"Hey, Ithica, we have to get going," she called. "C'mon."

"Oh thank god," Ithica murmured as she squeezed through the crowd. Dragonair was right behind her as she gave a few hurried excuses.

Once she was free of the tangle of trainers, she sighed in relief.

"I swear I'm going to be on the first ferry out of the region that I can reasonably book," she said.

Mel snickered. "You're in luck, there's one tomorrow morning with room," she said cheerfully. "And, as long as you're not opposed, it won't just be the two of us." She nodded to Steven.