the ICY WIND causes droplets of water still on trubbish's skin to freeze. the poison-type tenses as a result, health draining to zero, and faints still with two fingers up in the air.[break][break]

the battle music stops.[break][break]

"congrats, young nina and co."[break][break]

niko approaches, nodding his head in approval before recalling his fallen trubbish.[break][break]

"a job well done! dirt bag stood no chance."

[attr="class","ooc"]nina larson[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

"bird brain?"[break][break]

his corviknight's missing. or at least he thinks it's missing before he finally looks up to see it circling overhead. it refuses to swoop down to join the fight, however, so niko is left having to dodge the FOCUS PUNCH from the primeape.[break][break]

"you little shit."[break][break]

maybe that's what he gets for naming his pokemon insults.[break][break]

but a pokeball soon bursts open, and from it comes a bumbling dragonite who crashes into the primeape.

[attr="class","ooc"]caspian evergreen[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-dragonite"]

rocket or not, niko would not have cared anyway. he tips his chin up in greeting at Rico Bassanello, an unfamiliar face with a bright head of hair that niko saw from a mile away.[break][break]

"you guys siblings, or something? same hair and all."[break][break]

he's mostly teasing as he flashes a grin at nina larson.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner nina larson[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

"what? i'm just making sure you're clean."[break][break]

after her chest, his hands slide down the curves of her body, finding her waist and the inside of her thighs only to stop there. his fingers dance across her skin, teasing.[break][break]

"should i stop?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

"DON'T DROWN!"[break][break]

as if the obvious needed to be said.[break][break]

the SURF comes once again, washing over trubbish as it tries its best not to swallow the salty water. when the water eventually subsides, trubbish cannot help but feel annoyed.[break][break]

so it flips both of them off, being TOXIC.[break][break]

"damn. i've never seen dirt bag this upset."[break][break]

he laughs.[break][break]

"FINISH HIM OFF, NINA!"

[attr="class","ooc"]nina larson[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

"only the ones i like."[break][break]

inside, the sounds of the many arcade machines all come to life, mingling in an odd cacophony of different soundtracks and sound effects.[break][break]

"so!"[break][break]

he looks around them.[break][break]

"where to first?"

[attr="class","ooc"]CALLISTA MOON[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

the shower twists on, cool water pouring for moments as it slowly becomes warmer and warmer until finally hot.[break][break]

he hums in delight as the now-hot water runs down his shoulders, washing away his worries for the day.[break][break]

"mmm yes."[break][break]

after another kiss, he reaches for the soap and spreads it across her chest, lathering against her smooth skin.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

it's a cute little cottage that definitely makes niko feel much bigger than he is. he takes a moment to discard his belongings onto the bedside table before looking over at her.[break][break]

"shoot me if i ever say no."[break][break]

with a grin, he closes the space between them to kiss her cheek before wrapping his arms around her waist to lead her further into the bathroom.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

there are quite a number of things callie doesn't know about him. the bike is likely just the tip of the iceberg. but he flashes a similar grin as he stows away the helmets.[break][break]

"oh, yeah. it's a real chick magnet."[break][break]

after a playful nudge on her shoulder, he gestures over to the entrance.[break][break]

"come on. i'll go get us a buncha coins for the evening."

[attr="class","ooc"]CALLISTA MOON[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"yes."[break][break]

his phone pings with a text confirming that everything is okay with baby kai. this gives them the night and tomorrow to do whatever they want.[break][break]

smiling, he reaches for her hand.[break][break]

"let's."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

it's a bit of both, really, but niko wouldn't consider himself an idiot even if it may appear that way at times.[break][break]

"not many of 'em frequent my bar but the ones that do, i know."[break][break]

"but if you are one...then good luck."[break][break]

a few have tried — young, ambitious ones who either joined the force in verdanturf or were moved here and didn't know any better — but they all ended the same way.[break][break]

his hold over verdanturf may be lowkey but it is there. present.[break][break]

"you need another drink?"

[attr="class","ooc"]@ari[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-mightyena"]

what's stopping them, then?[break][break]

nothing, in all honesty, but niko has certain issues and worries that he will need to get over before he takes the plunge into actually asking her. but should she ask him...who knows?[break][break]

"samesies."[break][break]

he kisses her, lips still stuck in a smile.[break][break]

"i love you, jessica manner."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-trubbish"]

her voice calls over the rush of wind. his head tilts back briefly to answer:[break][break]

"somewhere fun! you're gonna love it!"[break][break]

and after a good ten minutes, they arrive at their destination: the only arcade in verdanturf which explains why it might be quite crowded. it's not peak hour but there's still a decent amount of people, judging by the vehicles parked outside.[break][break]

the bike rolls to a stop before he pulls his helmet off.[break][break]

"how was the ride?"

[attr="class","ooc"]CALLISTA MOON[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]