[attr="class","orion"]


"Yeah, it is kind of spooky up here." Orion's not afraid of the dark, or of ghosts, but even he can appreciate the chilling atmosphere at the top of the mountain. "I think it's all the fog."

It certainly limits visibility, if nothing else. Orion squints at the mist and tries to discern if anything's approaching, but he gets nothing apart from a ridiculous look on his face for his efforts. Staying out of sight is what ghosts do best, after all.

Kyle's certainly developed a reputation for owning a lot of dogs; even Orion's aware of it. They'll be useful in fending off the angered spirits, and they're adorable besides. There's something fond in Orion's expression as he notices one of the dogs staring at him. He's always wanted a Mightyena, but he'd had no luck in catching one thus far.

He notices the Switch in Kyle's grasp, tilting his head curiously. He's never been much of a gamer himself, but he's not utterly clueless when it comes to the console, at least.

"What game're you playing?"

He opens his mouth as if to say something else, then suddenly closes it and shudders as a sudden icy, crawling sensation wends down his spine.

"Fucking — g-ghosts!" he hisses through teeth chattering with the chill.

His Litwick is the first to spur itself to action, one of his oldest companions. Its wick flares to life with a purplish flame that coalesces into a shadowy ball and launches toward the offending specter. It turns out to be a Shuppet, the ghostly creature letting out a wail before vanishing into the air.

---

notes:
new year, time to die

[attr="class","orion"]


After a residual shiver to shake off the chill, Orion composes himself enough to return to conversation as if he hadn't been nearly possessed by a ghost.

"That does sound like something you'd do," he admits, amused, because he might not know Kyle personally, but who would be surprised to hear that the 'dog boy' wanted to collect them even in a video game?

"Yeah, I don't carry repel." It's mildly apologetic, though he doesn't feel all that bad. Really, he feels worse for the Pokemon whenever their environment is coated in the stuff. It's not harmful to them, but Orion sees it as the equivalent of someone throwing a stink bomb through his window. "We should be all right between my ghosts and your dogs, though."

The offer of a multiplayer game sounds like a decent way to pass the time until dawn, so he nods.

"Let's go with Kart," he decides. "Never played Smash."

He hasn't played much Mario Kart, either, but he'd been persuaded to go a few rounds with his fellow Rangers before, so he at least know how that game operated, more or less.

His gaze flicks to the horizon, to the fog that obscures the oncoming threat, but just like Kyle, he appears unperturbed.

---

notes:
something very precious about playing mario kart during a ghost invasion

[attr="class","orion"]


It takes an embarrassing moment for Orion to figure out which way to hold the joy con, turning the small object around in his hands before he remembers.

Kyle's blunt comment startles a laugh out of him, and then a smile that's almost shy.

"Thanks." It feels like a compliment, at least, and he chooses to take it as one. Normal. Perhaps someone else might be offended by such a bland descriptor, but Orion's appreciative of the acceptance that comes with the word. "I do my best."

He watches the Gastly engage in fruitless combat against Kyle's dogs as the other sets up the game, then glances at him and draws a finger across his lips as if sealing them. It's a playful gesture.

"I get what you mean," he assures him. "They can be very, uh... intense?"

He's not sure if that's the right word, but he lets it stand. Hell, he doesn't even know how to act around them half the time. They make him nervous, and he hopes that feeling will fade with time.

He shrugs his shoulders, watches as his Marowak captivates an approaching Duskull with her fiery dance before taking it down with ease.

"I want people to feel like they can approach me, yknow? They certainly never had any problem with that when I was just a ranger." A hint of amusement colours his tone. "The way some people are, you'd think we caused their problems."

---

notes:
orion is flattered uwu

[attr="class","orion"]


Perhaps noah faber 's mention of Kyle when they'd first met had set him up to expect someone approachable, but Orion's surprised to hear that some find the man so intimidating.

"Maybe it's the title?" he guesses. Elite Four were revered across the region, and just like Orion with his new title of Councilman, the position alone could be enough to scare someone off. "You seem pretty relaxed to me, though."

After all, they're sitting and playing video games while watching their Pokemon fight off ghosts. Orion's met rangers more intimidating than this. His boss, for one.

"Beats doing nothing," he says, by way of agreement with the prospect.

Orion's Dhelmise seems to have taken charge of his little band of Pokemon alongside the Marowak, the two of them taking point. Orion glances up every so often to make sure that his team are doing all right, but allots most of his focus to the game. He picks Shy Guy and manages to stay on track for less than a minute before missing a turn and going careening off the edge. His competitive nature, thankfully, does not extend to video games, so he laughs it off as he respawns.

"Was it like this last year?" he wonders aloud, watching his Haunter disappear to avoid a shadowy ball of energy. "You said you did something similar, yeah?"

---

notes:
~

[attr="class","orion"]


The sounds of the game and the music of the track counteract the ghostly wails all around them. It's a strange experience, to say the least.

Orion chuckles at the response.

"Yeah, I feel that. Last year I was probably stuck at HQ doing the paperwork for the rangers that actually did the real job." He shakes his head, a little smile curling on his lips at the thought. He'd come a long ways from the awkward desk-jockey he'd started as, hadn't he? "I think they asked me out this year 'cause they knew I liked ghosts."

He winces sympathetically as his Duskull faints and a Pokeball at his hip flashes in response.

"Celeste, take point."

The ghostly anchor, larger than Orion's others, drifts to the front of their disorganized pack.

---

notes:
~

[attr="class","orion"]


Orion flashes a grin, but shakes his head.

"Not planning on it," he promises, a light laugh half-drowned by the music from the game. "I got enough of that as a ranger to know how it feels. You've only got so much time on your hands and still people want you for everything."

It's calmed down a bit as he's clawed his way up the ranks, earning his recognition through a combination of bravery and what some might call reckless abandon, but he doesn't expect it'll ever stop.

He'd watched as Kyle sent out another one of his dogs, registered the command in his head, but he still cants his head in confusion at the apology.

"Sorry for wh—?"

He breaks off abruptly, wincing as the roar reverberates in his eardrums.

Much as the sound had rattled his hearing, he doesn't look annoyed in the aftermath. He laughs, instead.

"For that, I assume. Arceus, he's got some lungs on him."

It's effective in scaring off several of the ghosts, at least. Orion watches a Chandelure drift backward to be obscured by the fog, considering it a relief. Their line were notorious for their power of allure, and that was the last thing they needed.

---

notes:
~