"'Fraid you signed the contract when you grabbed that grass, m'dude." He said with a completely dry expression, keeping his smug satisfaction at the cat's startlement to himself.

As Angelo placed his leaves on Kumon's bubble however, a lot of things suddenly happened.

He somehow managed to grab a Grovyle's crest, for one. And gave it a firm tug, too.

When it's eyes flashed open, the bugcatcher and the Dewpider were among the many who jumped. One could almost hear the battle music cue in as trouble began.

"What in tarnation?!" He said as he leapt to he yoinked his Dewpider to his chest and scrambled away, just in time for the Rockruff and the Meowth to get the drop on the unfortunate gecko, its screeches filling the night air until it was summarily put to 'bed', getting knocked out in the middle of the camp.

One could almost hear the victory jingle rising through the night air... No wait, one could definitely hear it.

Glancing besides him, Doug noticed the Kricketune conveniently standing right there, still going through the tune while Angelo and his pokemon sorted out the mess with the Grovyle.

"... Oh." He said, getting its attention.

A net met its face as it turned to look at him questioningly.

"This one's a keeper." He said moments later as he pocketed a newly filled pokeball. Turning to Angelo, he nearly got a faceful of leaves- Kumon definitely got it-, and smirked.

"Never made a hat with a Grovyle's crest, either. Tonight's just full of new experiences."

---

TAG: @

Sitting back down on the ground after pocketing the newly caught pokemon, Dorado encircling the campfire with flames dancing in his eyes like he was patrolling in his post-battle high, Angelo dragged his backpack over to himself. “So, I’m going to be straight with you, Doug.” He starts, rummaging through his pack with a clear intent to locate something. “I’m not going to be able to pay that membership fee which, for the record, you really should have warned about before you duped me into signing the contract.”

“So I was thinking,” finally he pulls out two cheap looking plastic pots with ‘cup ramen’ printed on the side, wiggling the contents at the teenager as if he were attempting to lure bugs with a pot of pollen. “Would you be merciful and accept one of these instead as payment?” It wasn’t much in regards to a proper meal and, secretly, this was meant to last him for two nights worth of dinners but with the sun already set behind the trees and his stomach empty, Angelo figured some entertaining company would make up for the loss on both sides.

skip // John Sullivan

"No but I'll take it anyway." Said Doug as he yoinked the cup out of Angelo's hand, grinning wide. "Thanks for inviting, Angelo buddy! I see a bright future ahead of you in the bugcatcher gang- er, Association."

When the sun began sinking into the horizon, he had thought the day had been a dud- who would have thought he would literally trip into new friends, pokemon, free dinner AND Vitamin D?

"Arceus must love me, I tell ya." He said in delight, making Kumon snort as she soaked the leaves. "Shush you, the prophet is talking."

Putting the noodles to the fire, the youth laid on the ground with his fingers locked behind his head and casually crossed a leg over the other, humming.

"So. I never did ask, but what'cha doing out here, anyway? Just fixing for some stargazing?" He said.

They had a long night ahead of them. Might as well get to know each other beyond the eternal joke.

---

TAG: angelo vestri