niko's going to get hurt eventually. this is an inevitability that he's long come to terms with. it could be in a fight, on a job, or even at the bar, but it'll happen.[break][break]

until then, however, he leans in and kisses her.[break][break]

"good. i'm all yours."

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

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

niko has always been protective. for a while, he thought that it was in his blood, that his desire to protect was something he was born with. in reality, it was something he picked up from the gang.[break][break]

the old man always watched out for them so niko makes sure to do the same even now.[break][break]

bad and tough niko manner. typical.[break][break]

he laughs as well, then gestures up at the other corner of his mouth.[break][break]

"should i get another one on this side, then?"

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

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

it's not a story he minds telling. he's not private about his past, especially not with jessie.[break][break]

"yeah, her name's CALLISTA MOON. we dated for a while when we were younger."[break][break]

obviously when they were younger.[break][break]

"girl had a jealous ex who kept tryna' start shit with me. so i started shit with him and this was what i got from it."[break][break]

he gestures up at the scar.[break][break]

"i fucked him up real good, though."

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

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

his ego is mostly comprised of false confidence and jokes because in truth, niko isn't nearly as vain as he may seem to be. he sure acts like it at times, though.[break][break]

"i know."[break][break]

he huffs, but soon raises a hand to trace against the scar over his lips.[break][break]

"oh. uh. i got it from an ex."[break][break]

well, there's more to the story, but he gets distracted with plucking another flower.

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

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

oh, trubbish definitely looks awkward with the flower in its hands but the juxtaposition is adorable.[break][break]

never one to mind public displays of affection, niko leans back only to grin up at jessie as she moves onto his lap.[break][break]

"um, i'm always handsome, thank you."[break][break]

he plucks a flower and raises it to place behind her ear.[break][break]

"this suits you. bright and beautiful."

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

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

"try it..."[break][break]

they probably shouldn't be going around touching flowers they know nothing about. what if it shoots out spores like in the movies? puts them asleep? poisons them? that would be wild.[break][break]

but he pokes it as well, watching it glow slightly more with every poke.[break][break]

"aw! he's a cutie. and i think baby niko would appreciate that."[break][break]

he calls out dirt bag, his trubbish, realizing the poison-type might also appreciate the pretty flowers.[break][break]

niko plucks one then offers it to dirt bag.[break][break]

"here you go, sir."

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

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

text to nina larson: WHO?[break][break]

jk. niko knows who Melody Miro is just because he's seen her on the telly before. she's a famous singer and gym leader, right? wait, he needs to be sure, so he decides to ask Jessica Manner while they're in the taxi on their way over to lilycove.[break][break]

"Melody Miro is that singer, right?"

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

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

niko didn't have the heart to tell jessie that he'd seen crystablooms back in verdanturf. so, because of that, he finds himself at mauville today to look at flowers he could've seen after a twenty-minute walk.[break][break]

oh, well! best make the most of this trip, then.[break][break]

"oh. em. gee."[break][break]

to be fair, the patch in verdanturf is much smaller compared to this. he casts a sweeping glance around them as well, admiring.[break][break]

"they're so pretty!"

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

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

they have each other now.[break][break]

"say no more."[break][break]

so he holds her as though he has the power in him to fend off anything and everything from ever hurting her. but he knows he doesn't. he knows he can only do so much.[break][break]

but his thoughts drift away as he falls back to sleep.

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

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

"i'm alright."[break][break]

it's not often where niko downplays what he does or the value he brings but, for whatever reason, he seems to do just that with jessie and their relationship. he hasn't realized it either.[break][break]

"i'm just treating you how you deserve to be treated, that's all."[break][break]

he shifts up to kiss her cheek.[break][break]

"love you."

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

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

"AYO!?"[break][break]

two against one? that hardly seems fair. but niko doesn't bother going for another pokeball because he trusts in his dirt bag. if anyone's able to best their opponent, it's dirt bag.[break][break]

if nina's using two pokemon, then niko can use two moves in one round. it only seems fair.[break][break]

"STAND YOUR GROUND, DIRT BAG!"[break][break]

after a PAIN SPLIT with the fresh vulpix, dirt bag continues to vomit out SLUDGE BOMBS, sending globs of poison over their way.

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

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

"yeah! why wouldn't i be?"[break][break]

he leans his head over, nuzzling closer.[break][break]

"i don't care if you can't have your own biological kids, jessie. as long as you want a future with me and baby niko, that's more than good enough for me."[break][break]

it's more than i deserve.

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

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