following after the crashing absol is a howling hawlucha who KARATE CHOPS through branches before finally emerging at the other end. the absol slides, bumping into toni which stops it only to turn back to throw a NIGHT SLASH at the hawlucha.[break][break][break]


"kel!"[break][break]

slower than usual, lance enters the scene as well, panting as if he's just been running a marathon where in reality it'd been a relatively short chase so far.[break][break]

the NIGHT SLASH connects, sending hawlucha back into the bushes. the absol turns then to lance, to toni, as it considers its options.[break][break]

"it's fine! it's fine. everything is just fine, absol."

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina[break]


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

All the woman can do it watch helplessly as the flowers tumble towards the ground, quickly followed by herself. She’s quick enough to brace her fall so she only lands on her ass but a sharp pain spikes in her wrist as a consequence. Toni hisses in distaste, quick to withdraw the limb to her chest protectively.

The Shinx has never been one for combat, but the surprising appearance of the Hawlucha now has the feline on edge. With her hair standing she curls her back, hissing angrily at the two new pokemon and trainer.

Toni finds her purchase and stands, brows inched together in both annoyance and anger, “Is this thing yours?” there’s a bitterness to her tone as she glances down at her now filthy white dress.

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

"no. gods, no. i like to think i'm a better trainer than that."[break][break]

as much as he would like to turn and look at her, he knows better than to take his eyes off absol. still, he steals a quick glance at her only to smile as he looks back.[break][break]

"screw it."[break][break]

it's enough of an order to send his hawlucha screaming down towards the absol for a HIGH JUMP KICK just in time to stop it from sending a NIGHT SLASH at the shinx.

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina[break]


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

There’s a sense of relief to know that the Absol wasn’t the result of incompetent training, but also disturbing to know that it is likely a rampaging wild pokemon. They are unpredictable, and this one seemed extras pissed off.

Toni catches a flash of a smile and finds some sort of familiarity in it but she doesn’t swell on the subtle thought. Instead, she turns her attention to her white dress, frowning as her attempt to brush ff the dirt only resulted in it smearing across the front.

“Lovely,” she sighs, the word drenched with sarcasm.

For all the hissing Williow does, she’s not a fighter. The moment the Absol turn to face her, the kitten dashes away in fear, hiding behind Toni’s ankles and peering around to see the Hawlucha dispatching the dark-type with ease, “Seriously, Willow?” she shakes her head in disappointment.

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

the sight of her cowering shinx has him chuckling free of judgment. not everyone's a fighter, though from her reaction it seems she might be expecting her shinx to be one.[break][break]

"don't worry, willow! we got you."[break][break]

how heroic of him when he's the one who steered the absol towards them in the first place.[break][break]

but after a final HIGH JUMP KICK, the absol stills enough to be captured by a pokeball. the hawlucha picks it up and drops it over lance as it flies by.[break][break]

finally, he turns his full attention to her, frowning at the smear across her dress.[break][break]

"sorry about that. it's not a bad look, though."

[attr="class","ooc"] Antoinette Spina[break]


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

Toni doesn’t expect the Shinx to be a fighter – she was never trained that way, after all. She was meant to be a house cat, a companion pokemon. She’s been nothing short of pampered her whole life.

Willow doesn’t seem comforted by the stranger’s promise. She still curls her back up and hisses from around Toni’s legs. The woman’s eye roll only grows more exaggerated.

The Ranger easily seems to capture the Absol and end the violent encounter. As he shifts his attention to her, Toni looks towards her broken and trampled flowers, sighing at the other loss, “It’s not your fault,” it’s the Absol’s, “Could have been worse,” Much worse.

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

"yes, it could've."[break][break]

in a way, lance had dodged a bullet. the paperwork he'd have to deal with should someone have gotten hurt? a dreadful amount. more than a ranger captain should ever have to deal with.[break][break]

but that's most of his responsibilities now, isn't it? paperwork. confined to his office in the ranger hq.[break][break]

"let me make it up to you?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Antoinette Spina[break]

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

Paperwork. Ew. Toni couldn’t stand such a menial task. She doesn’t envy those with a job that requires it. She wouldn’t expect a Ranger to have to deal with such things. They’re meant to be out in the wild, hunting for poachers? Right?

Toni can’t help but smile at the thought, a predatory instinct creeping through that she just can’t help. Hunter becoming the hunted.

“I’d rather not think about what may have happened,” she sighs, leaning down to scoop up the Shinx at her feet, “Willow here has never been a fighter. What do you think made that Absol so wild, anyhow?”

Her gaze briefly glances towards the pokeball, it would make a fine addition to her team, “Perhaps you can explain your theories while we walk? I’d like to head back to pick up some more flowers . . . my apartment is looking quite dull without them . . . And I could use the muscle, I guess,” her lips twitch into a rather innocent smile.

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

as much as lance hates admitting as much, he has to this time.[break][break]

"i don't know. the weather, maybe."[break][break]

though he cracks a joke, he makes it his mission to investigate further. later, anyway, as his focus is elsewhere at the moment.[break][break]

not suspecting a thing, lance agrees with a nod and a smile.[break][break]

"lead the way."

[attr="class","ooc"]Antoinette Spina[break]

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

The weather?

Toni quirks a brow, she doubts that but soon realizes he knows about just as much as she does about the situation. He probably knows much more than he lets on though.

“What a gentleman!” she smiles, leaving the trampled flowers behind and turning back to head towards Oldale. She shifts the Shinx in her arms to use the other to brush some dirt off the white linen of her dress, “Do you have any tricks to get stains out? Or should I consider this dress ruined?”

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

finally, an opportunity presents itself for lance to utilize all the knowledge he's gained since becoming a ranger.[break][break]

"nah, it definitely isn't ruined."[break][break]

he scans the plant life around them for a moment before reaching out for a particular leaf. he plucks it, then stops to gesture down at the stain on her dress.[break][break]

"here, hold still for a sec."[break][break]

if she lets him, he'd grind the leaf against the stain, reducing it into smaller particles only for it to seep through the material to remove the stain.

[attr="class","ooc"]Antoinette Spina[break]

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

Toni watches with genuine curiosity s she moves towards the foliage at the edge of the path. In all honesty, she’s skeptical about a leaf fixing the white cotton dress. So much so, she has to see if it works or not. He seems quite confident about it.

Lance proves her wrong. She remains still as his finger work the leaf into the linen. To her surprise, the brown stain begins to fade as the leaf crumples away, “Whoa,” she whispers, “I’m very impressed,” she compliments, and that may be the first genuine thing she has said to him, “How did you know that?” she asks, gently running her fingers over where the stain once was . . . now she just has the stain on the back of the dress from falling on her ass, “I’ll have to take some of these with me, which plant is it?” she shifts to inspect the local flora.

---

LANCE VOLLANS
Outfit

"from my many years as a ranger."[break][break]

one of the best, actually, but he doesn't feel like boasting just yet.[break][break]

he reaches for more and breaks free a branch with many leaves on it, ready to be smashed up to remove stains. he offers it to her.[break][break]

"charales. they're quite common near water."[break][break]

a quick gesture and a smile follow.[break][break]

"let me know if you need help getting the rest of the stains out."

[attr="class","ooc"]Antoinette Spina[break]

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