the sight of sherlock being sent flying is not a pleasant one for danny either. he flinches, almost wincing as the small fire-type splats into the sand. thankfully, it seems alright.[break][break]

"sorry, buddy!"[break][break]

the BURN that licks away at heracross' shell is suddenly amplified by the HEX. after a squeal, heracross drops to the sand, rolling around in an attempt to put the flames out.[break][break]

"don't give up! send another AERIAL ACE!"[break][break]

still on the ground, heracross swipes its horn across to send an AERIAL ACE traveling across the beach.

[attr="class","ooc"]nagi miwa[break]

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

their moment of triumph is short-lived. the aerial ace strikes home again; sherlock is batted backwards, flame sputtering as their tiny body somersaults across the dirt. each roll has nagi wincing harder, arms drawing up and in towards his torso, fists clenched. [break][break]

"you good? sherlock—"[break][break]

his tongue snarls, tugged between calling his next command and calling it quits. [break][break]

before he can stumble his way through the next syllable, though, sherlock is up on their feet. listing to one side, scuffed up and coated with sand, a small orange EMBER flares out from their wick.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL [break]


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

hurting sherlock is the last thing danny wants, really, but he understands the importance of training and how it'll only strengthen and help sherlock grow as a pokemon.[break][break]

perhaps too focused on sherlock, danny doesn't notice how much the BURN has affected buggy. the heracross stumbles back to its feet just in time to meet the EMBER.[break][break]

"oh, shit."[break][break]

though buggy has GUTS, danny knows better than to push especially when this isn't a real fight. it's just training.[break][break]

recalling buggy, danny sighs, looking over at sherlock and nagi before clapping.[break][break]

"great job, friends!"

[attr="class","ooc"]nagi miwa[break]

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

it's a great thing that danny is making all these considerations about sherlock's strength and growth, because nagi's foremost thought is awa. awawawawa. [break][break]

sherlock stands, arms akimbo, radiating smugness in lieu of candlelight. every inch marinated in sand. nagi hurries forward, bending to pick sherlock up, silently fussing until sherlock bats his anxious fingers away. [break][break]

he returns them back to pokeball with a sigh. [break][break]

“great job,” he echoes, sincere. “buggy really toughed it out.” [break][break]

with the adrenaline of the battle wearing off and his neural circuits finally connecting beyond the spiralling loop of a single repeating syllable, he realises at last that the typings had been stacked against the heracross. had danny been going easy on him? [break][break]

gratitude blooms; a small, bright flower of warmth. sensei, indeed.[break][break]

“thanks. i owe you both.”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL [break]


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

in truth, danny hadn't been holding back, but it never hurts to stack the cards in his student's favor. call it a teaching lesson. or kindness.[break][break]

"no problem. you can make it up to us by taking us to hai di lao."[break][break]

danny wasn't always big on it but ever since coming back from galar, he's picked up the craving since.[break][break]

"later this friday, maybe?"

[attr="class","ooc"]nagi miwa[break]

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

he doesn't hesitate with his answer — [break][break]

"'course." [break][break]

— even if it treads closer to his deadline than he would typically be comfortable with.[break][break]

still, if he starts as soon as he gets back to the motel and taktaktaks nonstop till the chapter is done, he should pull through with time to spare. like a knot unfurled, his writer's block has been shaken loose; he’s already itching to get back to his laptop.[break][break]

and, even if he couldn’t — he’d make time. he owes them, after all. [break][break]

"it'll be my first time. i'll be relying on your expertise, sensei." [break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] DANNY HALL [break]


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

danny likes being called sensei. he could definitely get used to this.[break][break]

"i'll teach you the noodle dance so you don't embarrass yourself on the day."[break][break]

swinging his arm around his friend's shoulder, he sighs, then looks up at the stars above.[break][break]

"now let's get out of here before the cops show up from noise complaints."

[attr="class","ooc"]nagi miwa[break]

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