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TAG WITH @xiura

POSTED ON Jul 24, 2022 16:31:20 GMT

[attr="class","ig"]

[attr="class","ninety"]

[attr="class","joker"]

[attr="class","game"]MISSION: POKE PHOTOBOMBING

[attr="class","kikan"]

“

Xiura snapped a few test photos of the trees' outline against the very blue sky using her new digital camera. And then she took a few of her Poliwrath, Bufo. It couldn't be too difficult to take photos of Pokemon, right?

Well. She scrolled through the digital reel, wincing a little at the results. The pictures weren't bad, per se, but it was clear she had never taken a class on the subject of professional photography before.

Bufo, looking over her shoulder, waved his hands in the air excitedly. "They're all right, Bufo, and you look great as always, of course. But they're not good enough for a prestigious wildlife magazine."

Xiura sighed, sitting down on the grassy ground. They were near Route 124, outside Lilycove City, in search of opportune moments to catch wild Woopers in their natural habitat. A famous Pokemon wildlife photographer had announced a photography contest that went viral on social media, aiming to curate a "transcendent menagerie of the greatest wildlife photographs ever, encompassing the life, love, and laughter of the underappreciated Wooper."

Xiura normally wouldn't look twice at such a silly contest, but the rewards were too eye-catching to ignore. A year's supply of Pokemon poffins... And from a really nice bakery too! Her Pokemon would love them.

Xiura sighed, wistfully this time. Her years of flower-arranging and tea-making lessons in traditional Ecruteak felt like they fell far short of preparing her for the wide range of popular aesthetics in social media nowadays. She said to Bufo with some disheartenment, "Maybe I should have looked for someone to team up with. Someone with a vibrant sense of style and trendiness. Someone unafraid of the unorthodox."

for @marshall

ℳ𝒾𝓏𝑜.☽

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[googlefont=Muli]
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i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.

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TAG WITH @Deleted

POSTED ON Jul 24, 2022 19:23:42 GMT

Fortunately for Xiura, someone stylish, trendy, and unorthodox was on his way, heralded by the roaring engine of his dirt bike as he zoomed down the sandy coast of Route 124. To his right, the ocean stretched before him; to his left, the dunes gave way to grassy fields and trees. He wore a biking jacket, gloves, and helmet, as well as a backpack containing essentials.

Despite the high speed, however, he caught sight of a purple-haired girl ahead, near the tree line. He slowed down immediately. As fun as it was to zip around, it would be a disaster if she accidentally stepped into the path of his bike and he couldn't swerve around her in time.

As he neared, he saw she was… taking photos? By her body language, too, she seemed distraught. Marshall gently pulled on the front brake lever, slowing to a stop a few feet away from the girl so not to scare her. She probably heard his approach, though. A dirt bike was not exactly a quiet vehicle.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked without taking his helmet off. Thankfully, it didn't have a visor, so she could see his expression of genuine concern.

Xiura Balfaltin

NOTES
+ Mission: Poke Photobombing

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lucina

She / Her

June 10

Ecruteak City, Johto

Ace / ?-romantic

Boba Cafe Barista

Elite

107 height

May you always know pain as temporary and laughter better.

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340 posts

DOLLARS

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TAG WITH @xiura

POSTED ON Jul 24, 2022 20:37:58 GMT

[attr="class","ig"]

[attr="class","ninety"]

[attr="class","joker"]

[attr="class","game"]MISSION: POKE PHOTOBOMBING

[attr="class","kikan"]

“

Xiura looked up, flustered. Standing near her on a dirt bike was another person with a helmet on. She had been too caught up in her thoughts to even notice his arrival. "Oh! Hello, I'm fine. Just, er, a little frustrated." She stood up, dusting at her leggings and politely walking over to the dirt path so that they could converse in closer quarters.

She looked down at her digital camera reel again, explaining, "I've been looking for Woopers to take photos of, for that one contest that's been advertised all over the place. With the famous wildlife photographer and the famous wildlife magazine and the famous year's supply of poffins? I think I've just realized I'm way in over my head." She laughed a little, removing the camera from the lanyard around her neck and showing him the photos she had taken so far. Too much sun exposure, too much background, not enough... life for a wildlife photo.

"Not exactly the stuff of visionaries," she admitted freely. "I'm Xiura. You have a nice bike, by the way."

for @marshall

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POSTED ON Jul 24, 2022 21:04:44 GMT

As the girl stepped closer and turned her camera's screen toward him, Marshall took off his helmet so he could crane his head better and see. His mane of red hair tumbled out and fell around his shoulders. He also cut the engine of his bike and let down the kickstand. No use burning diesel if he was going to sit there for longer than two seconds.

"Yeah, these are definitely… they could be better," Marshall admitted with a laugh. Compared to the professional photos he often saw when doing modeling or advertising shoots, Xiura's were extremely novice. "I could give you some tips?" he offered.

And why not? She was cute, and he had nothing better to do.

"I'm Marshall, by the way." He quickly removed his gloves and, grinning, extended a hand for her to shake.

Xiura Balfaltin

NOTES
+ Mission: Poke Photobombing

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played by

lucina

She / Her

June 10

Ecruteak City, Johto

Ace / ?-romantic

Boba Cafe Barista

Elite

107 height

May you always know pain as temporary and laughter better.

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340 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @xiura

POSTED ON Jul 24, 2022 23:25:23 GMT

[attr="class","ig"]

[attr="class","ninety"]

[attr="class","joker"]

[attr="class","game"]MISSION: POKE PHOTOBOMBING

[attr="class","kikan"]

“

Xiura beamed gratefully, taking Marshall's grip in her right hand and shaking it firmly.

"Nice to meet you, Marshall! I'd be very thankful for some tips. Do you take photographs as a hobby?" She latched the camera back onto the lanyard to secure it, stepping back so he could dismount from his bike.

"The Wooper habitat is this way, if you would follow me. Maybe we'll find some good action shots. And this is Bufo, by the way. He found the Woopers so quickly!"

Xiura and her Poliwrath led Marshall down a small path into the forest, between bushes and shrubs. It was a route she had discovered earlier with Bufo when he was looking for some water to dip in to stay hydrated.

Soon they came upon a large, natural pond, fed by rivulets of water that ostensibly came from a larger body of freshwater. Crouching behind some shrubs, Xiura pointed out a family of Woopers that bobbed up and down in the water, doing backflips off some rocks edging the pond.

"That's a perfect shot, I think!" Xiura whispered to Marshall with excitement. She raised the camera and aimed the lens at the blue Pokemon.

"PSY-Y-Y."

A large, clumsy Psyduck came rushing into the clearing, a Shellder latched onto his tail. "PSYDUCK!" he bellowed, diving into the water and making the Woopers scatter briefly.

Click!

Xiura blinked at the shot that developed on her screen.

"I..." she trailed off. Rather than a picturesque scene of playful Woopers, only a blurry streak of yellow could be seen on her camera.

She looked up at Marshall, perplexed.

for @marshall

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POSTED ON Jul 25, 2022 8:52:55 GMT

As Marshall stepped off his bike and balanced his helmet on the seat, he said, "Oh, nah, I don't. But I'm in a lot of photos and get to see them sometimes. Here, lemme show you a few."

He took out his phone and flipped through its album until he found a recent one of him looking pensively to the horizon as the sun set behind him. He turned around his phone to show it to Xiura. "This one was for a magazine interview I did about coming to Hoenn to train," he continued, jerking his thumb back toward the bike as if that was explanation enough.

Marshall pocketed his phone again once they reached the pond. Xiura was right — the backflipping Woopers really did look cute and picture-perfect. But the rogue Psyduck was not helping.

"Maybe my Pokémon can help," he offered, releasing his Luxio from a Pokéball. "Turbine, go scare off the Psyduck! And patrol the pond area to make sure no other Pokémon but Woopers are around while Xiura and I take some shots."

Turbine nodded with a very catlike smirk before bounding off toward the Psyduck, tail sparking with electricity.

Marshall took out his phone again and opened the camera app. "So I don't know much about photography, but one thing I did learn is that composition is everything. Pretend your view is split into thirds and try to line up your subject based on those thirds."

He showed Xiura what he meant by lining up the faraway bank of the pond with the top third of his camera. A Wooper swam in the water in the lower third. In the space between was empty water of the pond.

He couldn't tell if it would actually make a good photo, but maybe it would help Xiura.

Xiura Balfaltin

NOTES
+ Mission: Poke Photobombing

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played by

lucina

She / Her

June 10

Ecruteak City, Johto

Ace / ?-romantic

Boba Cafe Barista

Elite

107 height

May you always know pain as temporary and laughter better.

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340 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @xiura

POSTED ON Aug 30, 2022 20:38:28 GMT

[attr="class","ig"]

[attr="class","ninety"]

[attr="class","joker"]

[attr="class","game"]MISSION: POKE PHOTOBOMBING

[attr="class","kikan"]

“

As the Luxio ran off to chase the rogue Psyduck, Xiura's jaw dropped at the easy way @marshall had improved on the original composition of her first photos. The lighting wasn't too bright, and the photo's composition, as Marshall put it, was great. His explanation logically sorted out a quantitative way to create a presentable, if not excellent photograph, which Xiura had been so sure was an outcome that required an inherent talent for the craft.

She took back the camera, aiming it at the pond and Wooper family.

Turbine had ensured that the Woopers were undisturbed, and as a result, the blue Pokemon started to filter back into the pond again, bobbing up and down in the water. In the distance, she could still hear the distressed cries of the wild Psyduck.

Concentrating on the photo and carefully aligning a larger rock in the left third of the screen, along with a trio of Woopers backflipping off the rock in the center. Additionally, she was able to capture a stray floating Wooper in the lower right third--ninth?--of the screen, just in the foreground.

Click!

She glanced at the screen, considering, then showed Marshall the photo. She asked, "How is this one? Not terrible?"

for @marshall

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POSTED ON Aug 31, 2022 11:05:31 GMT

Leaning closer to Xiura, Marshall peered at the camera's screen. The photo she'd taken was much better! Still not professional quality, but that was to be expected.

"It looks great!" he cheered, leaning back again. "Those Woopers look like they're having a blast." He pointed at the ones doing backflips into the water. "It's an awesome action shot."

Turbine padded back, meowing curiously, his job finished.

"Thanks a bunch, buddy," Marshall said to the Luxio. He crouched down to scratch the Pokémon behind the ears. Turbine responded immediately, lying down and rolling onto his back to demand belly rubs.

As he obliged his Pokémon, Marshall suggested to Xiura, "Why don't you take a few more photos? Then you can decide which one to submit to the contest."

Xiura Balfaltin

NOTES
+ Mission: Poke Photobombing

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played by

lucina

She / Her

June 10

Ecruteak City, Johto

Ace / ?-romantic

Boba Cafe Barista

Elite

107 height

May you always know pain as temporary and laughter better.

awards

340 posts

DOLLARS

part of

TAG WITH @xiura

POSTED ON Sept 13, 2022 19:29:58 GMT

[attr="class","ig"]

[attr="class","ninety"]

[attr="class","joker"]

[attr="class","game"]MISSION: POKE PHOTOBOMBING

[attr="class","kikan"]

“

Xiura clapped in response to Marshall's approval, cheering, "Hooray! I'm glad you like it!" Looking over the photo once again, she felt a veritable glow of pride at the scene she captured, backflipping Woopers and all. "The Woopers look like they're having a lot of fun."

She nodded at his suggestion as Turbine returned from his mission of diverting the Psyduck. "Thanks, Turbine!" she said, reaching out to pet the Luxio, slowly at first to telegraph her intent and give Turbine a moment to roll away if he didn't want her to touch him. When he didn't pull away, she gave him a firm belly rub and a few scratches for good measure. "Thanks to you and Marshall, we've got a great shot!" She looked over at her photography companion, adding, "But you're right, Marshall, I'll take a few more."

She crouched in the reeds, trying to get a little closer for some shots. She took several more from different angles, trying to keep Marshall's advice in mind.

When all was said and done, Xiura had at least twenty photos to choose from, and if she were to be honest with herself, she liked at least three in particular! Thus enheartened, she grinned at Marshall, scooting over to his side and turning the camera lens back on herself, adjusting to try and capture Marshall as well within the frame. "How about a selfie?" she said, voice filled with laughter.

for @marshall

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