the ongoings and events of ever grande have always been unknown to him which makes sense considering how he's not a native here. rustboro has their own fair share, some of which he's helped organize this year, but today he finds himself in ever grande with someone he had thought he'd lost for a moment.[break][break]

how lucky he is that she's still here. that they're both still here.[break][break]

it isn't until she asks him a question that he finally snaps out of his thoughts. he'd been basically gazing at her for a while.[break][break]

"oh! sorry, babe. i was just thinking about us."[break][break]

he closes the distance and plants a kiss on her cheek.[break][break]

"thanks for inviting me. let's do..." a quick look around, "ice skating?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

Arceus, he's so cute, she sighed to herself, eyes lighting up as he gave her a peck on the cheek.
[break][break]
"Sounds good."
[break][break]
Hand squeezing his bicep, she nodded and began leading them toward the left, where the ice rink sat between two large food stands. One for hot cocoa, the other for smores.
[break][break]
Pressed up against the rink was a long desk with a series of wooden cubies behind it, each one holding a pair of skates. It was there the couple swiftly ordered and paid for their respective sizes before taking them over to the benches, where they could swap out their shoes.
[break][break]
"Fair warning, I might need you to help me out a bit. It's been a while."
[break][break]
And even back then she wasn't the best.
[break][break]

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


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

"i got you, babe. ice skating is just like running except you don't lift your feet."[break][break]

he's not a natural by any means but he's decent enough that he won't slip and fall every few seconds. he finishes switching over to the ice skates and stands up, offering his hand to help her after.[break][break]

"if that sounds confusing, just waddle."[break][break]

with a gentle tug and a smile, he leads them onto the ice.

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

Sometimes Penelope adored her boyfriend's simple nature and sometimes, particularly when he was trying to explain something to her, she absolutely hated it.
[break][break]

"Uh-huh."
[break][break]

Clumsy hands lazily traded her pair of brown boots for some skates. Once they were on tight, she would give them one last stomp to secure her feet in place before reaching out to accept Cian's hand, using it to push herself up from the bench.
[break][break]

Slowly, they'd have to make their way over to the ice, because even the tiniest jolt of movement would've sent Penelope flying. When her skates eventually hit the ice, it came as a surprise that she didn't immediately find herself crashing to the ground.
[break][break]

"Okay, so far so good," She smiled, grip tight and expression focused. "...Maybe it is as easy as running."

[break][break]

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


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

"yup! it is!"[break][break]

which is why cian lets go and slides away from her, making sure to do so backwards to show off his amazing ice skating skills. he loses his balance for a brief moment and falters but is otherwise quick to recover.[break][break]

"see? now your turn. run run run!"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

Arceus.
[break][break]

Even if Cian made it look easy, from the very moment he let go of her, Penelope could feel her legs begin to wobble and her knees drift into a buckle.
[break][break]

"Okay..."
[break][break]

Frost nipped at her nose as she first pushed herself forward, 'running' just as he said. For a second, it felt like the movement clicked, and she was flying across the ice.
[break][break]

"I'm doing it!"
[break][break]

Then disaster.
[break][break]

With one slip of her right foot, the woman was sent tumbling to the ground, landing down on her hands, then her ass. Grunting, she threw her head back into a sigh.
[break][break]

"Ah, I thought I had it there," She mused, her eyebrows furrowing together into one singular line across her forehead. But, despite the redness of her knees and nose, a smile had begun to take shape across her face.

[break][break]

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


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

is he a bad partner for laughing? perhaps. but even with that concern in mind, he laughs regardless, unable to stop himself when she slips and falls onto the ice.[break][break]

"you almost had it!"[break][break]

he slides over, drifting close before offering her his hand.[break][break]

"don't pull me down please."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

Was he a bad partner for laughing? Nah, because Penelope was laughing too.
[break][break]

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."
[break][break]

For a second she contemplates pulling him down with her, as a little payback for laughing at her failure, but ultimately decided against it when he spoke up.
[break][break]

"Fine, but only because I like you."
[break][break]

Reaching up, she used his arm to leverage herself back to her feet. It took a second for her to regain her footing, and every time she did, she'd lose it immediately after.
[break][break]

"God, I don't know if I'll ever get it."

[break][break]

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


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

"i wish i was a better teacher."[break][break]

sadly, he's not, so she's stuck having to listen to him ramble.[break][break]

"but, like, it shouldn't be too hard, i think! maybe try imagining you're an eiscue. most kids start learning by waddling, then transitioning into sliding."[break][break]

he makes a waddling gesture though doesn't actually do it yet.[break][break]

"maybe waddle?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

"Riiight. An eiscue."
[break][break]
Taking a steady indrawn breath, the woman known for her passion and fiery personality did her best to cool herself down, allowing the shuddering cold to kiss her outspan fingertips and widening shoulders. One step forward, then the other, the councilwoman was reduced to a baby eiscue looking to cross the ice.
[break][break]
"Like this?"
[break][break]

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


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

"yup! exactly like that."[break][break]

it'll probably take her about a minute before she reaches him given how slow she's waddling, so he crosses his arms over his chest and watches in amusement. the grin that appears on his face should be telling enough.[break][break]

"you look so cute right now."

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]

"Shut up...!"
[break][break]

Even while laughing at herself, Penelope sought to finish closing the gap between them. Sure, she probably looked dumb as hell. Sure, this probably wouldn't translate into the ice skating skills she desired. But she'd be damned before being considered some shitty quitter.
[break][break]

All it took was one final push for her to reach Cian, to which she immediately raised both of her hand above her head to cheer out a loud, singular, "Woohoo!"
[break][break]

Bright eyes looked up at Cian as she continued her celebrations.
[break][break]

"Okay, step one: completed. What's next?"

[break][break]

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


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

"what! i called you cute! ugh."[break][break]

he laughs as well before reaching out to catch her, making sure she reaches him without even a single scratch on her like the good boyfriend he is.[break][break]

"woo! alright, alright, good job, babe."[break][break]

what's next?[break][break]

"i guess we could just link arms and romantically slide around."[break][break]

he hums in thought.[break][break]

"or do you wanna try a twirl?"

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

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-cubchoo color-shiny"]