CJ swallows the nerves threatening to bubble up through their throat like a bad case of acid reflux. Actually, this whole thing has given them heartburn.

Last words.

It’s a painful reminder of everything they’ve sought to avoid thinking about since coming to Hoenn. The death of their best friend-- the death of their old life-- and all the dark roads they’d traveled to get where they were-- standing on that stage next to Fen. The crowd is huge and Temp seems a natural in their presence, a veritable charisma magnet.

Then there’s CJ.

Fen is excited to beat the band, her eyes all a-glimmer. Their Excadrill has a streak of passion in her that CJ can’t exactly put words to, which is why they’ve chosen her as their partner for this endeavor. That, and it seemed like the Ground-type crew was sorely under-represented amongst the cast of characters for this contest. But the earth was the home on which they walked and the land nourished them, gave them a home. There would be no sea or sky without earth.

That was the main theme of their performance-- a reminder that all who resided on this planet that they should be thankful, eternally.

CJ’s hair was washed and brushed to a golden shine, threaded through with green ribbon, stretched long down their back, and adorned with clasps of gems and polished rock. A flower crown of golden daffodils, purple violets, and a woven string of fairy lights sat atop their head, with sprigs of lavender unevenly framing their fine face. Their bare feet had been stained mossy green and brown, as though they’d just been running through the forest; they wore a simple, brown tunic, loose about their shoulders, with flowing bell sleeves, and a deeply laced v opening across the front of their chest; slashes of red-orange paint mimicked the pattern over Fen’s stomach and under her arms. Silver paint and glimmer covered their hands, an ode to their Excadrill’s blades.

They had fixed the GEMSTONE BANGLE around Fen’s head blade, so that the light reflecting off the steel there caught the gems and sparkled. CJ’s ensemble was purposefully drab, so that the metallic parts of Fen could shimmer and attract the most attention.

Last words.

The voice in CJ’s head sounded like a villain saying that phrase.

They refused to be made a victim of their own suffering. Not again.

The curtain spread, and CJ walked confidently onto the stage, Fen at their side. Together they took their position at the center of the stage. The spotlight dimmed onto the two of them, each with their eyes closed, shoulders back, arms by their sides, palms facing outwards, in a traditional tadasana, or mountain, pose.

CJ’s eyes peel open.

“People of Hoenn,” they begin, voice melodious, carrying around the stadium. “My name is CJ, and this is my partner, Fen, and together, we have conspired to move heaven and earth.” CJ’s head fell back, their arms reached up, and Fen mirrored the motion, in synch. “For what is heaven, without earth?” CJ’s voice was somber and deep. “What are sea and sky, with nothing to transpose them? Eternal as the sand and stone, unyielding as the rock. Love as strong, not as the mountain, but as that which carries it. This is what it means to be a partner! To be the ground upon which the other walks!”

Then, when CJ’s hands clasped together above their head and they pulled their palms down to heart center, Fen honed her claws against each other, sending a cascade of sparks to the stage floor. As CJ lifted one foot and pressed it into their opposite thigh- vrikshaana, tree pose-- Fen jumped directly in front of them, the GEMSTONE BANGLE glittering and clattering around her head blade.

Again, Pokemon and human moved in sync. CJ wavered one way, then the other, Fen shifting the opposite direction-- then, CJ struck foot and arm out to the left. Whirling like a machine, Fen pitched her body up and out, spinning into a drill run; pirouetting faster than the eye could see, she spun a half moon around CJ, the light flashing against the steel points of her like a beacon; eventually, she spins to a stop exactly opposite her trainer, mirroring their form: legs in a triangle, left knee bent, arms in a straight line across their shoulders, coming together as both halves of a mountain peak.

Like figures in a music box, fixed to the earth by a single point, both CJ and Fen pulled back to their standing leg, and bowed to each other.

CJ peeks up at Fen and cracks a smile. Then, the two of them come together for a hug, and the crowd, drawn in by the somber and precise performance, erupts in a chorus of ‘awwwws’ as they skip off the stage.

fen uses hone claws & drill run !

☉

Ruslan fidgeted awkwardly having stepped on stage more for the challenge of the contest than thinking through anything related to it. While this event was meant to celebrate the host's culture, Lana couldn't really call on much to speak with. But he liked performing, and victor evans had gone through the effort of helping him start, AND he had promised calvin brenner and nagi miwa he would show him a live performance, and this was the best opportunity for it. He nodded, adjusting the feather cloak onto the black pronged appendages that sprouted form their head. The colorful plumes already added to a wonderfully busy color palette that was his Pokémon's wings. "I'll follow your lead, s-sorry to tr-trouble you- you like this." he said with a small laugh as they stepped on staged next for their turn. [break][break]

[break][break]

"Go-Good Afternoon, I go by Lana a-a-and th-this is Erion. Like a-all of you, we're here because we're eager to immerse ourselves in a new culture di-different f-f-from our own. We-We're excited to see and hear new things, and-...and in exchange w-we hope we can entertain t-the people of Hoyeon for a li-little while." [break][break]

With that, he and his Sigilyph gave the audience a small bow, ready to begin their payment. Spotlight on them, maybe a little inspired by August Gallagher 's violin in his past performance, violin plays on the track and train and pokemon are hand in hand. The dance began simply as such, back and forth, side to side. The easiest way to learn a waltz. Each couple of steps, Erion's eyes glowed as they activated DOUBLE TEAM. Slowly but surely copies of himself and Lana dancing appeared, populating the stage. All moving in sync, and around the dance floor like a real ballroom. [break][break]

[break][break]

But at the music pitches ever higher, Lana lead his Sigilyph and ever more complex waltz. It's looser now, with big steps as his feet begin to glow underneath as the audience loses sight of the real pair. With big twirls and a bright grin, Ruslan began rising as each new step landed him on what pale blue glowing pane of glass as Erion used LIGHT SCREEN to help the pair distinguish themselves from. Moving ever higher, the dramatic spins help showcase Erion's FEATHER CLOAK which billowed dramatically before their crowd. [break][break]

There's no plane to stand on. The panels appearing and disappearing just as quickly as the coordinator moved, even with the dramatic forth between partner and Pokémon. The violins almost sound like they're struggling to keep up. They're still going higher until Ruslan spun to face the crowd breaking his form. [break][break]

[break][break]


Heels come together, and no light glows, there is only the crescendoing music as he fell straight down. Erion is only seconds behind, floating around his stupid trainer, feathers ( his own and the cloak's ) spiraling away. Either this works or he breaks his ankles and makes an idiot out of himself for the rest of his career. And right on cue, Erion blasts and upward GUST refusing to let up as he tried to slow Lana's fall. More feathers flutter away until right before he crashes, Erion grips him by the shoulders and allowed him to touch down on ground softly and safely just in time for the pair to do a bow with the music ending.


[break][break]

+ moves used | light screen, gust, double team.
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","credit"]milky

the stage lights, the brilliant showings, the crowd — alone they were daunting, but together, they woke the fear of inadequacy he fought so hard to suppress. greyson was by no means a show-man, but... a thought occurs to him. wasn't being a gym leader in act in and of itself? was his challenge not but one long and (mostly) unscripted show? he looks into his palm and at the decorated pokeball that housed his partner for this evening, the thin smile of his slowly softening.

"well, let's make it at least a good show."

then, without further delay, he peeks out onto the center of the stage. a thousand stares meet him, each pair like a small pinprick of light in resounding darkness. they reminded him of the night sky and the endless expanse above, which inevitably brought him back to earth, and to his goal for tonight — the fathomless depths below.

"good evening ladies and gentleman," he says with a brandished smile, despite the fact they couldn't see him. "my name is greyson connors and tonight my partner dawn and i hope to leave a last impression. please, enjoy the show." the voice over ends, and a song takes over.

a trickle of mist begins to curl in and gather onto the stage, obscuring vision. from beneath the lights, and hidden in the mist, a shadow moves. the creature is long and agile, moving swiftly, but with an obvious grace.

as the crowd watches, a TWISTER begins to form and collect the strange mist. it's slow moving and deliberate; made for show and not strength or speed. the great funnel of find only increases in size as the mist is absorbed in its wake, but from the depths of this great fog, the shadow moves once more. it glides straight up and into the twister.

the unseen pokemon spins, rotating with the twister in a dazzling display, until finally it reaches the crescendo of her act. a bubble (SAFEGUARD) of pure white glistening energy, like glitter, expands outwards from inside in an instant. the winds dispel and the glittering energy coalesces into the dispersing mist, giving it something of a shimmering effect. like the foam of a wave lapping against the beach, it suffuses itself over the crowd.

those that reach for the glittering fog will find it warm, and comforting, despite its origin. but the show was not done yet.

a milotic floats through the air in a graceful fashion, the air around her, and even her scales, shimmering with the safe effect of the mist. only it's more vibrant here beneath the stage lights, each one of them changing to a different shade of blue and white, until it looks as if the water-type is floating to the surface from below.

above dawn a SEASHELL CROWD floats gently down, carried by the last remaining, fleeting winds of the twister. with a haunting, but ultimately beautiful call she ascends upwards and places it on gently on her head. then, like an outstretched hand, calling for help, she descends back dwon in the same fashion.

then, the lights cut, the music fades, and the dispersing mist begins to fade.

@contest