cian's almost gone by this point in the night — far beyond the point of tipsy but not quite uncontrollably drunk. it shows in how equally boisterious he's being when he barks out a laugh.[break][break]

"babe, you're like super wasted right now. so am i, oh, definitely so am i, but still..."[break][break]

he tips back the glass, downing the rest of his beer before waving at the bartender.[break][break]

"one more round please, bobby!"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"Thank you bobby!!"
[Break][BREAK]
She waved toward the bar tender, smiley as hell, with only her other hand left to anchor her body still.
[Break][BREAK]
This was definitely the drunkest she has gotten in a while. Shackled to work, lately there were very few moments of reprieve left for her to enjoy. It wasn't until Cian reminder that there was a literal meteor looking to knock out their region that she finally agreed to go out and dick around for a night.
[Break][BREAK]
"God, bobs just the absolute best. Where would we even be without him?" She shook her head, still smiling. A brief pause was granted before she continued.
[Break][BREAK]
"Anywayssss," her gaze drew itself back to him, magnetic in nature, and she pointed straight at him. "You. You never gave me a straight answer!! I wanna knowwww-- what is the stupidest thing you've ever done, huh? Huh??"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

he's stuck in an infectious laugh as he stares at her pointed finger.[break][break]

"me? fuck, way too much."[break][break]

the stupidest thing he's ever done? well, the obvious one is joining team rocket, but he imagines that's not something either of them need to hear right now so he quickly thinks of something else.[break][break]

"i cooked chili once and didn't boil the beans before because i thought it would just cook when i simmered it."[break][break]

his eyes flutter shut as he recalls the incident.[break][break]

"did you know uncooked beans are, like, dangerous for you?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"No, you didn't!!"
[break][break]


His infectious laugh carried over to her, like a disease prowling for its next victim. Hers rose from her chest, hearty and loud, and her smile continued to grow until pain pricked her cheeks.
[break][break]

"Arceus, that's too funny."

[break][break]


The sound of their glasses clanging against one another sounded off to their left as the bartender set their round of drinks on the edge of their table. She lazily reached out toward the handle of her drink before pulling it to her lips, ready to take a greedy gulp of its golden goodness.
[break][break]


"You should hear some of my kitchen horror stories," she sighed, leaning back, hand still tightly coiled around the handle of her mug, "Like, one time I was trying to bake cupcakes, right? Wanted to be cute and shit for this guy I had a crush on." Pink pinched her cheeks as she continued. "I followed the recipe EX-ACT-LY, right right? But, the entire time I was rolling the batter into those small little circles -- God, I still can't believe I was this stupid -- I thought, something's off about this. It doesn't look right."

She paused, taking in a breath.

"I forgot to mix in the fucking flour. The fucking FLOUR."

She shook her head.

"Those cupcakes were the worst things I've ever eaten. Not cute at all."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"i could've died..."[break][break]

which would've made the story even funnier, probably. rustboro's minor league gym leader dead by bean poisoning. what a twist that would be.[break][break]

when it's her turn to share, he's leaning in real close, fully invested as he nods his head every now and then. by the end of it, he's caught up laughing that it's hard to catch his breath.[break][break]

"not the flour...okay, yeah. i'll never cook chili again if you promise not to ever bake cupcakes."[break][break]

their new round of drinks are served. he swiftly reaches for his drink.[break][break]

"actually, we can swap! you make the chili and i will try and bake the cupcakes."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

The implication Cian's uncooked chili becoming the final nail to his coffin made the story so much funnier than it already was. Roaring out another laugh, the woman had to force herself to breathe, slow and steady breaths, until air seared her lungs and her veins sang back to life.
[break][break]

"Cupcakes and Chili, what could beat that?"
[break][break]

Another hour swung by just like that. Between the beer, the laughter, and the stories, time had become a concept worthy of ignoring. That is until, of course, final call got announced.
[break][break]

The rest of the other drunk bastards began to wobble their way out from their booths and to the exit.
[break][break]

"Oh no!" Penelope looked to CIan, eyes widening in legitimate surprise. "Is it already that late?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"bobby!!!! let us stay, come on man, pleeeeeeeeaaaaaaseeeeeeeee—"[break][break]

but bobby has had enough of them, apparently, as he is quick to shake his head and stand his ground. the two league officials must leave shortly or risk being thrown out (literally).[break][break]

"you're soooo fuckin' lame, booby."[break][break]

he groans, but concedes and pulls out his credit card to take care of their tab.[break][break]

"whereeee to next, babe?"

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

"Boooooo, Bobby, BOOOOO!"
[break][break]
Cupping her hands around her mouth, the woman echoed off a similar anti-bobby sentiment. For a brief second, a single  coherent thought slipped through her tangled mind, questioning whether a COUNCILWOMAN should be out this late booing a bartender for kicking them out, but that very thought was quickly discarded as her one and only love turned back to her with eyes as bright as the moon.
[break][break]
"I dunno. Back home, mayhaps?"
[break][break]
She tilted her head, considering the options as carefully as one could when deeply inebriated.
[break][break]
"Let'ssss just, mm, feel the rest of the night out? Likeeeee, let the WORLD tell us where to go next?"
[break][break]
Slipping her arm around his, Penelope slowly tugged Cian toward the exit of the bar, her speech growing far worst than her wobbly movement. Had it not been for that small hot dog break between bars 2 and 3, she would've already been knocked out on the ground. So, thank god for that.
[break][break]
With her free hand, she pushed open the bar's doors, allowing a wave of cool air to pass over them, sending goosebumps across her exposed skin.
[break][break]
[break][break]
But, before they could take too many steps forward, a sharp buzz sliced through the sky as Minior whizzed by their side, crashing down right in front of them.
[break][break]
"Shit."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

unlike his significant other, cian does not make the mistake of not eating before a heavy night out. eating is cheating, as some would say. but not cian. he's a smart, strategic drinker.[break][break]

but he's quickly pulled out of his thoughts as something comes crashing down right in front of them. concrete and dirt scatter, splattering their legs.[break][break]

"is it the end of the world already?"[break][break]

though said as a joke, there may be some truth to that as he looks up to see dozens of falling minior, all of them headed straight towards the two.[break][break]

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

drunk but not stupid, cian fumbles for a pokeball that pops open when it's dropped. the noctowl that forms is immediately given an order.[break][break]

"try and slow them down, hibou!"[break][break]

asking for maybe the impossible, cian watches his noctowl take flight only to release an UPROAR. sound waves look to buffet the minior back.

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

If Cian wasn't going to be stupid, then Penelope couldn't be either.
[break][break]
"Mr Rime," She squeaked, sending forth her small gentleman to their side. "Use protect!! Hurry!!"
[break][break]
Grabbing one of his arms, Penelope dragged the poor Pokémon along with them as he did his best to angle his cane and send forth a protective barrier around them, in case any of those 'shooting stars' decided to slip through the Noctowl's ROAR.
[break][break][break]
"There!"
[break][break]
Jutting out her chin, she gestured toward a nearby Bus Stop they could possibly use to shield them from this upcoming storm. With Four sheets of metal surrounding them, and Mr Rime's protect to cover the gaping hole, it might be their best chance of finding asylum without begging some poor shop keeper to let them inside.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER [break]


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

"oh good HEAVENS—"[break][break]

cian doesn't realize that they might be in a lot of danger until it's spiraling right towards him. one of the miniors strays clear of noctowl's UPROAR and is about to smash into him. thankfully, mr. rime's PROTECT keeps him safe and alive.[break][break]

instead of dreading the situation, he simply laughs, letting the influence of alcohol carry him as he tugs her over towards the metal bus.[break][break]

"there! there! we'll be safe!"[break][break]

noctowl soars overhead, shielding them from stray minior as it continues its UPROAR that's bound to wake the whole street up.[break][break]

"but we have no driver..."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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

We're the driver.
[Break][Break]
Penelope shoved down the drunken suggestion with a mouthful of air as she pushed through the final stretch of ground and piled into the bus, close behind Cian.
[Break][Break]
"Maybe he's running late?"
[Break][Break]
The quarter of her brain twitched at the thought. It made sense, at the time, given that she'd had more than a few experiences of her bus drivers taking hour long breaks. Usually at the worst of times.
[Break][Break]
"We should just wait! Not like we're in a rush."
[Break][Break]
Hand tethered to his, Penelope led Cian further into the bus, where endless rows of worn out seats populated their vision. Every step they took matched the banging of Minior hitting the bus' sturdy top.
[Break][Break]
Once they settled into some seats, Penelope would immediately find herself leaning against Cian for support, seeking comfort in the crook of his arm.
[Break][Break]
"Mmm. What should we do to pass the time...?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] CIAN MAHER[break]


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

"no...bus drivers are never late."[break][break]

especially in slateport of all places. this coastal city is arguably one of hoenn's most developed places, so for the bus to run late would be a travesty.[break][break]

fits of laughter escape him as he's dragged further into the bus, soon falling into a seat that's awfully comfortable despite the apocalyptic sight right outside the window.[break][break]

"mmmmm there's so much we could do."[break][break]

he leans into her as well, head soon tilting to peer up at her.[break][break]

"we could drive the bus."

[attr="class","ooc"]PENELOPE LIVY[break]

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