“Not far, I’ve got a spot set up to camp later.” Angelo gestures away from where the group of avid fliers convened, some of them taking off in their own races or battling in the skies. Last few times he ventured out here to compete he’d ended up staying until it was past dark, so this time he’d pre-emptively set up a campsite further into the trees; far enough to be out of sight of the group but close enough to walk. [break][break]

“C'mon. It's this way.” He beckons for Razz and his team to follow him, his Pidgeot gliding ahead and looking a lot less ruffled after her little communication with the others. [break][break]

At the sight of them walking into the clearing, Regulus draws himself up into a sitting position, large tail waving back and forth in clear eagerness. Angelo had left him in charge of looking after his belongings, mainly his bicycle and his backpack, while they were away on flight business. “Hey, Reg. We’re back.” Whereas his other canine pokemon - Orion - would have sprinted over, the Arcanine dutifully sits and waits until Angelo gets close, large tongue slobbering over his palm when he reaches out to give his cheek fur a ruffle. He wipes it off on his jeans with an amused grimace.[break][break]

After greeting the Arcanine, who then stands to meet Razz and his team with polite sniffs, the courier moves towards his backpack where he had some pokefood stored, rummaging until he pulls out a container and some plastic bowls. “It’s nothing fancy, just some stuff I picked up cheap at the mart ‘cus it was close to expiring. You wouldn’t believe the stuff that they throw away that’s still useable…” He may have been tempted to take some of the ‘unsellable’ items out back, once or twice.[break][break]

Aquila and Regulus lean a little closer to Angelo then, looking interested in the food. He instead turns to Razz, waving a hand towards a log which he'd already set up - start of a campfire already gathered. It was a clear indication for him to sit. “So was this your first time at the meet? I don't think I've seen you here before.” He'd only been a handful of times himself but still, he was curious as he makes conversation with the teenager.


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Angelo’s back had been turned at the time, too busy digging through his backpack to spot the moment when his campsite guest had met his Arcanine. Or rather the moment when Razz had did his best to avoid him. [break][break]

Thankfully, Regulus was the polite sort and while he sniffed the air towards where the other trainer lingered, he didn’t approach him. Maybe he can smell the anxiety in the air thanks to his sharp canine senses or his eyes were keen to the placement of Razz’s pokemon but the Arcanine opted not to approach the teenager. That or he was more interested in the food. [break][break]

“What? No!” Angelo explains as he’s asked whether the pokemon food in his grip is trash, stepping over towards Razz to show him the expiration date – it goes off tomorrow – along with a big red sticker over the barcode with its discounted price. “See. All fine. This stuff usually costs about uh, around eight or nine dollars but I got it for two. No way I could leave it, that price is a steal.” He sounds quite pleased with himself for getting hold of this little bargain, mouth pulled into a lopsided smirk as he crouches down to place the plastic bowls on the grass. [break][break]

Shaking the food into four dishes, Angelo peers up at Razz out of the corner of his eye as the teenager answers his question, quietly taking in his participation for todays race. He may have given Shamrock a little extra in her portion. [break][break]

“If it’s any consolation,” he says, scooping up the two bowls for the Flygon and Meowstic, picking himself back up to his feet so he can put the portions of discount food in front of them. “She did a great job out there. No way I would've guessed that she hadn’t been herself before now.” Angelo smiles kindly, honestly, as he gives the dragon a once over – remembering how she flew with tenacity and strength, like she hadn’t been recovering from the cruel clutches of war. [break][break]

He decides not to resort to words of solace or apologies for Razz’s participation in the war; it wasn’t like it would change what had happened. [break][break]

After putting some food down for Regulus and Aquila – away from Razz’s team on the other side of the camp – Angelo flops down on the log besides the teenager. “And?” He reaches for his backpack, pulling it close in search of some drinks and returning with a bottle of water in one hand while he clutched an uncooled can of beer in the other. Angelo holds them both out to Razz, giving him the choice. [break][break]

“What did you think of it?” [break][break]

Did you enjoy the race?



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“Off the shelves and into my waiting arms,” there’s a grin on his face despite Razz’s comments, not seeming to take the scepticism to heart. He’s used to picking up food on discount or close to their expiration date – for himself and his pokemon – so Angelo is pretty confident that it’ll be fine. Besides, he’s long ago learned to not be fussy about quality; so long as they all get fed, then what more could he ask for. Beggars can’t be choosers, or something. [break][break]

Placing the bottle of water down on the log bench in between himself and Razz, just in case the teenager decides he wants it, Angelo cracks open the can of lukewarm beer. He’s not too picky about that, either. [break][break]

“It was fun,” Angelo adds in, smiling against his can and doing his best not to scrunch his nose as he finds the beer is flat along with being warm. Their race had been a close one, he can still feel the flutter of his pulse quickening at the thought and how his feet hold a lightness to them, like he’s still amongst the clouds. He wants to cling to the thrill of exhilaration of the competition and the freedom of flight to him as long as possible. [break][break]

Razz’s next words draw his attention though, blue eyes slipping over towards the teenager, alight with a glow of genuine curiosity and his mouth quirked up at the corners. “Oh yeah? We used to have water races back home, too. Maybe I'll have to challenge you to one of those next. Reclaim my honour.” Alto Mare flashes up in his mind, crystalline waters of the canals glittering in the summer sun as competitors on floats created frothing waves in their wake, crowds cheering. “I bet ours are a bit different, though.”




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Razz’s tone may have bordered on serious but Angelo’s lips crack into a smile anyway, something competitive sparking in him. Angelo hadn’t been kidding when he said he wanted a rematch. Ocean or sky; one an old familiar battleground while the other fresh and exciting. He wants to push the boundaries, hold tightly onto the rush of the moment, for as long as possible. “Those are fighting words, Razz.” There’s a twinkle in blue eyes, his voice hummed on steady, sure tones. “We have to make it a best of three, now you’ve said that. Those are the rules.” [break][break]

While the champion of Aerial Race Number One explains his own experiences of water races, Angelo sips at his cheap warm beer, trying to envision what the Tour de Alto Mare would look like if the pokemon were allowed to intercept the other racers with attacks. In the small water lanes? Probably carnage. [break][break]

A laugh tumbles past his lips as the young man beside him reflects on past, uncompleted races. “That sounds kinda fun, actually. Not a big deal if you’re just landing in the water; what’s the worst that could happen? You get more wet?” You could probably hit a rock, Angelo thinks after the fact but doesn’t bother to add it in. Razz might not find it funny. [break][break]

“In Alto Mare we have a race every year – The Tour de Alto Mare – don’t know if you’ve heard of it… Anyway, it’s a race through the city canals but you have to stay on a float while the pokemon pulls you along. Bit different but, trust me, plenty of racers don’t make the finish line either.” Angelo smiles fondly, on his own memories participating and watching others. It didn’t sound quite as aggressive as Razz’s version of a water race but some competitors could be quite… brash. It wasn’t uncommon for chariots and pokemon to purposefully – or accidently – collide into one another in the narrow waterways. [break][break]


“If you're used to water races, I bet you'd pick it up quick. Maybe we could combine the two for our next competition. If I can find some floats to rent.”

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Angelo almost has beer snorting out his nose at Razz’s Hydro Pump quip, shoulders shaking as he swallows before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand; thankfully managing to keep it down. Something tells him that his companion has experience. “Hydro Pump? Yes. That fast? The concussion makes it difficult to remember.” He responds with a playful edge to his voice, lips curled; not confirming or denying whether he was telling the truth of not. Growing up in an aquatic city, with a Feraligatr as his very first pokemon, it was safe to say that it’s very possible that he’s not lying. Angelo leaves the mystery in the air. [break][break]

“Yeah, I bet –” He trails off, blue eyes darting over towards Razz as a familiar name is brought into the conversation, his original train of thought lost. He’d definitely said Miss Dross. skyler dross . Angelo instantly grins and if it isn’t obvious to the teenager that the mention strikes a familiar chord in him, his ocean blues brightening, then his next words certainly would.[break][break]

“Miss Dross? Please tell me you call her that to her face.” He laughs, imagining her expression as he turns his attention skyward; smiling to himself like he holds a secret as he takes another sip of his beer, before placing it on the grass near his feet. His thoughts suddenly drifting to the ocean. “And if not, you should. Just make sure I’m there to see it.”[break][break]

Angelo slips off the log bench then to sit on the grass, leaning back against the trunk so that his legs can stretch out. “But I bet she would. Just need to stick 'competition' in front of anything and she'll go for it.” His smile, although mischievous is certainly not unkind. The opposite, in fact.


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