[attr="class","header"]REUNION: ☃️

[attr="class","setting"]

It's cold. Not something that cuts to the bone but more so, tickles the flesh. Numb it from pain, flushes it pink. There's no breeze, and the snow is only a light dusting, to constant to be relegated to snow blown off the trees. [break][break]

Lake Acuity is frozen solid, and reflects a soft grey sky. You stand straight, gazing at the little spot in the middle with a mysterious cavern inside it. It's the dead of winter, and you're sure you could walk across the ice to it, possibly even skate it- but you don't. You don't feel that burning in your feet- that's desire to run. In your thin leather gloves is a liner brush. Warm enough to keep your fingers form hurting but thin enough to maneuver. Besides you on the shore, is a canvas, under a clear, iridescent umbrella. Puffs of air float away from you and your work. [break][break]

On the canvas is the lake- the little island, the forest the sky. All there's in strucutre but painted with an odd assortment of colors. One could say it clashes, but you don't care. You see beyond just recreating what you see. You play with the thin liner brush, smiling idly as you dash quick strokes on the verey top layer of your canvas. A shining, pearlescent paint freezing onto the painting. [break][break]

luciano fisk may not love it. He may criticize your technique. Your lack of commitment in the brush strokes. But it's fine. This painting is for you. Ciprina Fisk would lvoe it either way. Nerezza would try to play wiht the flective shiny bits. Vidalia would offer a poem for the description of the piece. It's not your best, but it isn't a show piece. [break][break]

You're alone. And you're not. Something's there. Something's missing. [break][break]

Your homecoming is incomplete. Sinnoh's get together lacks. [break][break]

Your true REUNION has yet to come to pass. [break][break]

And as you think that- you remember what's missing. Right as blizzard howls, and rips through the peaceful lake front. A pained screaming- no- crying. Pathetic in its wails and with every sob the winds fluctuate before blasting out around further and further. Your canvas goes flying. The stands it's on falls and gets stuck in the snow. And you? [break][break]

You close up your paints and shove the paintbrush in your kit. Common sense dictates you find cover, but the only place liek that was invisible in this white out, and you dare not cross the ice alone. [break][break]

And when you orient yourself towards Snowpoint, and begin your walk, the screaming gets worse and you find yourself veering towards it. Despite being defenseless. Despite carrying anything of power on you. No knives, no pokemon. [break][break]

Sirened closer and closer to the origin, you reach a whimpering clump buried in the snow. And you rmemeber as soon as you reach it. And you speak something you can't beleive you've forgotten. [break][break]

Your voice cracks from emotion you don't knwo the source of. Still, you clear your throat, and reach out your hand. [break][break]

"Gelatto, did you get lost?"

[break][break]

Miraculously your words cut through the screaming winds and the Ninetails' screaming. The bundle of white fur unfurls. He allows himself to outstretch, crystalline blue eyes meet your own soft green ones. There's a whimper and he doesn't move. [break][break]

You step forward, smiling, crying even. He matches you, carefully nuzzling into your hand. And that first touch is all it takes. [break][break]

You drop to your knees, arms around your friend's neck and hold him tight. Gelatto presses to your chest, shaking and sniffling but relieved to have found you. [break][break]

And you stay like that. You don't remember how long you stay like that. [break][break]

But you wake up to that memory, crystal clear. [break][break]

His warmth is burned into your memory as sticky tears leak down your face. [break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + msut edit more sob sob

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]FAMILY: ☕

[attr="class","setting"]

You carry Gelatto home. Or well, the blizzard subsides and he feels well enough to walk back with you. Your canvas had long since blown and away but at least your supplies are still firmly planted in the snow where you once stood. Gelatto whimpers, but you pet him and whisper its alright. [break][break]

When you get back, the wall of warmth that greets you is a relief to the blustery cold outside. A maid helps you out of your layers and as you amble, sniffly into the common room, past the foyer. [break][break]

You find some of your siblings, the ones that had arrived so far, relaxing in different nooks and crannies. [break][break]

luciano fisk for once isn't hidden away in your room or behind the garden maze with some new muse. Instead he smiles kindly, eyes soft for once as he beckons you over wanting to show you something he'd found. Gelatto goes to him, knowing that Luci would be the more meticulous and thorough when it came to scratching him. [break][break]

You see Ciprina Fisk in a fisherman's sweater curled up under a weighted blanket, highlighting a script for her next performance. She grins, tapping her watch. A small reminder of the movie date the Fisk's would have later tonight. [break][break]

Nerezza sits quietly with Vidalia, gossiping about something or other going on in her dance troupe. Performances were on hiatus, if only because they'd made more than enough to afford long holidays. [break][break]

There are echoes of your parents, who's kind smiles reach you wherever you may sit in that living room. They don't stay for long and seem to be in and out but you watch as Noemi and Antain both smile and murmur to each of their children. [break][break]

And when it's your turn, peering over luciano fisk 's sketches and telling him of your lost painting, you don't flinch. The hands of your mother are warm, but her smile is warm, and your father's touch is gentle as he ruffles your hair. [break][break]

Long locks, slightly damp from the snow curl a little in the warmth of the heart. [break][break]

"You should towel off more, Micha." Antain murmurs as he hands you a small handkerchief. [break][break]

"I'll send for a warm one." Noemi adds, concern pulling at her face before the pair of them leave. [break][break]

The interaction leaves you smiling shyly, the assurance that you were fine dying on your tongue. But it's not a bad feeling to be loved, cared for. [break][break]

Your family is big, and their love for you is unconditional. Your art grows and blossoms out of this garden. Your creativity never falters.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + msut edit more sob sob

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]REMINSCENCE: 🎨

[attr="class","setting"]

As you join your brother in a comfy nook, Gelatto takes his spot by your feet. He's particularly clingy this time. Something must've spooked him back in the forest. Still, he stops whining once you pull out a particularly cozy looking blanket for him. The Alolan Ninetails settles and lets his guard down. [break][break]

You do much of the same, curling up in a large warm and plush towel. You wrap your head in it, and pulling on plush Swanna-feathered pillows and faux fur throws over yourself. Perhaps you'd read, and maybe even take a nap. [break][break]

It is quiet time and for once, you don't have anything pressing at all. No paintings, no errands, not even the odd message to respond to. [break][break]

You don't feel frantic or stressed. You don't shake and feel thirsty constantly. [break][break]

You look around the room, taking in the vast variety of art work all over the walls. You recognize some of Luci's pieces, some of Noemi's. And then finally, you land on one of yours. [break][break]

A complete, perfect recreation of your favorite, your original sunflowers. [break][break]

A vast field painted with bright colors. Splashes of green and pink and blue all meld together and a surrealist looking field of flowers. [break][break]

You stare, for a brief moment, imagining it dripping. The paint, not dried well enough, sloughing off the canvas and darkening in color. [break][break]

You feel a jolt. Something pinching the inside of your chest before you blink and realize. It's just your painting. Its just the way you envisioned it. It's beautiful. What's more you don't feel any sense of dread. You don't remember struggling putting pigment to the surface. You don't recall taking particularly long. [break][break]

No, no. This had been your comeback's title piece. And the only one you didn't sell off. [break][break]

And you loved it. From the concept to the sketch to the colors and strokes. [break][break]

You love it. You loved your work. Callous or not. Pain or not.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + msut edit more sob sob

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]LOVE: 💌

[attr="class","setting"]

You don't find love like your siblings do. As you stay in the Fisk family's embrace, there's glances of it. Phases that don't quite end the way you hope for. It doesn't break you, not when so many hands in this world are holding your fragile figure together. Maybe its ironic that this is the one think your name can't get you. Some would call it the price you pay. In abundance of storge, you find little eros. [break][break]

But still, you don't give up the search so easily and take the matching into your hands. You hope for Prince Charming. But you can't quite find him. Amongst many myths and meetings you find: [break][break]

1) Duke Calem Pollet - Charming, almost overtly so. Gentle, kind, handsome. Everything you could ever hope for. He seems as fond of you as you are of him. And while the last sweet kiss still lingers on your lips, the memories are destined to turn bittersweet. He was not the ideal because he disappeared. Like mist in the morning sun. Perhaps too good to be true. [break][break]

And of course you're disappointed. Who wouldn't be when their happy ending is snatched away? What you think would've been one anyway. But marilee beaufort , one of your best friends, is there to help you out of it. She holds your hand gently. You don't cry. There's nothing to cry about. No deep betrayal, no cutting wound. [break][break]

Just disappointment. [break][break]

But maybe that's better, you would learn. [break][break]

2) Baron Jack Magnus - "Stupid." Your sisters would say. "Straightforward." you'd reply, giggling all the way home. It's as fun as it is vulgar and perhaps you fall into it a little too hard. But you know what you're getting into. You think you know what you're getting into. [break][break]

You don't, and you cut your hands on rough edges. Scars on scars on scars. And maybe that's your own naivety. But when you reminisce, when you think about how much of an idiot he is- you know, or well realize, it was meant to happen. That's his nature. But it doesn't soothe the hurt. Becuase you jsut htink yourself an idiot to have fallen so hard for nothing. fern delaney takes you in, combing your hair, hugging you close, giving you tea. He reads to you a bit, and he talks you through the worst of it. Your bruised knees heal, and your hands scar over. Healed, but not entirely gone. [break][break]

And while it's not the ending you'd hoped for, it's still an ending you accept. And you cherish those memories, appreciating a less exhaustive, and more fun moments. It had been different. And there's value in little moments like that. [break][break]

You're siblings wait the appropriate time of mourning before laughing at your expense. Some jokes annoy you, some make you laugh. They assure you, amongst snorts and cackles as they hug you and hold you, that everyone has a shitty ex from time to time. [break][break]

3) Count bryan delarosa - Wild, flirtatious, dangerous. A bastard. He pushes your boundaries, lets you feel like you can take a risk him. 'Just this once' goes from reason to excuse to mantra. How many times had you heard that phrase? But the entanglement never straightens out. It only gets worse and worse. He's got his claws in you and they seep a toxin that sedates you. Makes you pliant, makes you loving, makes you fall in love. [break][break]

And then the novella you'd been reading out abruptly ends. The pages at the end ripped to shreds from the main characters own fury. And everything swirls together in your head and you're here and not here. Haunted, almost. It's something that chills you to the bone, and jayden cross does his best to comfort you. He gets to you before fern delaney and he means well, truly, but the realization he gives you is earth shattering. And eventually you forget about the little novella full of agony and pining. [break][break]

But even in a dream within a dream, a pinprick of hurt lingers. And maybe you learn something about yourself. About men. About love. You hope you do. You hope there's something to make this worth it. A silver lining you can barely grasp at. [break][break]

4) Knight raphael dos plumas - Casual. Gentle. A slow simmer in the dead of summer. There's not much to glean here because not much has happened yet. It's fun in a different way the Baron had been. You surmise it's friendly enough. Vidalia muses all great romances start from friendships but you're not thinking about that. [break][break]

You like the way things are now. Just barely there, just barely seen. Just barely touching. Maybe you're afraid, not of him, but of yourself. Maybe you fall too easily. [break][break]

Maybe devotion isn't want you want anymore. Or maybe you don't want to ascribe meaning to the simplest of pleasures in your life, like looking into soft eyes while grinning into ice cream. [break][break]

As just like that, hunt for Prince Charming approaches it's end. No longer as easily beguiled as you once were. Perhaps you're tired. Perhaps something else captures your interest. [break][break]

Yourself.

[break][break]

And while your siblings couple off, you are content to spend time with them and their branching off families. Their love is enough to stave off any loneliness you may have felt. [break][break]

And amongst so many people that cared so deeply for you, how could you ever be lonely? [break][break]

So for now, you leave a blank space and see what happens.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + i've got long list of ex lovers they'll tell you im insaaaane

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]ASPIRATIONS: ✨

[attr="class","setting"]

You can do no wrong in your family's eyes. There's no pressure to create, or to perform. You sketch as you like, idle as you like. The family has more than enough family to sustain a comfortable lifestyle for you after all. And you've done so well for yourself. [break][break]

Your paintings travel world wide for display at different galleries. Some are sold, with the most expensive one having its funds donated for charity. You keep up appearances for the cameras, not that it's very hard. [break][break]

The reigns on your yolk are rarely tugged except for the family get togethers where Noemi and Antain plead for their children to congregate together, schedules be damned. [break][break]

And for a few years you float away. You keep up public relations for the family, accompany various siblings to different showcases. Happily sign their praises, enthusiastically cheering on your big sister from backstage or clapping as hard as you can when Vidalia finishes her solo concert. [break][break]

And occasionally you paint. Much like luciano fisk , you chase your muse wherever it may go. [break][break]

You fall somehow, into social media. More specifically the mundaneness of it all. It leads you to taking pictures of your food, and your pokemon. Cute moments at your events. [break][break]

And that itself leads you into photography. You're curious and you have all the time in the world to perfect your craft. [break][break]

You don't expect it to be more than a hobby. But it captures your interest in a way only painting ever had. You fiddle with lenses and composition. You trek for hours and stage shot after shot in multiple ways before you're satisfied. [break][break]

You don't expect photography to take hold of your creative muse. [break][break]

Same with cooking. Your interest blooms again off a post on social media. Amidst sharing your stills of Gelatto out in the wild, you find cute but simple recipes to try. [break][break]

And you do. After all, never had you had to make your own food or snacks. [break][break]

But you start for the first time and realize...cooking- particularly baking- takes foreverrrrrrr. [break][break]

But the end result? Well, it feels satisfying much more than tastes it. And you like it well enough. [break][break]

You don't progress rapidly. They're just hobbies. But slowly, you build a reputation. You go from posting once a week to once a day. You put hours of work into either project. And soon enough, your cooking becomes the subject of your photography.[break][break]

Talk of trying your hand as a patisserie spreads amongst your family after you give an interview with a magazine on your online profiles. [break][break]

You laugh...and then you sort of take it seriously. Maybe. [break][break]

Maybe you'd get serious about this. You loved it enough anyway.


[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + baking influencer era

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"] NIGHT ONE: HELLO WORLD

[attr="class","setting"]

He takes up the challenge excitedly, diving into this strange video game experience. Though his pokemon, who he'd allowed, just this once, to sleep in his lap as he drifted off, wasn't around, he's not too concerned. Even as they rush off, heeding some mysterious call of the void. The Snubbull king is adorable and Mint wished he could screenshot this. [break][break]

"Thanks." he says breezily, though he doubted he'd hear a response. The timer starts ticking down and he wanders off. [break][break]

It's not a good first night, jump scared by an UMBREON (riley maddox ) and pushed into a rabid ALCREAMIE (Mirabella Fontaine ) waiting to drown him in sweets. [break][break]

He dies, and its terrifying how realistic these feel. But he wakes up with a start on his bed and figures out- Oh, you can't go back in. [break][break]

So the ritual began. With Mint trying multiple nights in a row to figure out what the hell his abilities were and how to use them effectively. [break][break]

THE COWERING CREATIVE [break]
ABILITY: MAGNUM OPUS [break]
A beautifully carved wooden paintbrush that never seems to run out of gouache. Destroy the brush to unleash it's hidden CREATIVITY which manifests as a MUSE which will fight and devour an enemy in exchange for THE COWERING CREATIVE'S SACRIFICE. The MUSE will become an EXP giving enemy that takes on certain characteristic and power of whatever it devours.

[break][break]




What the fuck was he supposed to do with that? And his ability?? [break][break]

Ugh, how frustrating. What's worse is he'd caught a glimpse of his partner, nearly captured him on a surprise attack.[break][break]

His timer is slowly running down the days, and Mint gets more and more desperate. He wants to continue playing but he has to figure out how to get his Glaceon back first. [break][break]

And he finds it, savagely trying to eat a shadow MUSHARNA (Alba Evovae ). The Musharna escapes and the Glaceon begins to move away. Mint throws his dream ball, hoping it'd catch in it's weakened state. It misses, and Semifreddo turns on him eager to rip his throat out. Again. [break][break]

In desperation, Mint pulls pulls at his avatar for something- anything- and grabs the little paintbrush holstered on his hip. The conduit to his ability. He stabs it into the Glaceon and it snaps. [break][break]

The Glaceon pulls back and Mint crawls to his feet, panting and shaking. The adrenaline pulsing through him intense- but- no. It's a pulse. A shaking, panicked beacon inside every fiber of his being. The source isn't his own, enhanced fear but the brush. When he turns around it grows dark and and black and out of it starts dripping and then gushing out a black, iridescent gunk. [break][break]

True panic grips his heart as tendrils snap towards his ankle and the Glaceon's tail, dragging them both closer and smashing them together. [break][break]

"Fuck! Fuckfuckfuck are you kidding me?!" he screamed, tears beginning to stream as he was put back into that horrible place he always went when stuck in the dream mist. [break][break]

His Glaceon snarls snapping and biting at the tar as Mint scrambles away. Maybe if he can run far enough the tether will snap. And then- he sees it: his dream ball. [break][break]

He changes course. Even if he died, he thought as his Glaceon is lifted and slammed down into the ground a second time, he'd at least capture his shadow back. He snatches up the pink pokeball just as he's yanked back by the sentient pool of tar and slaps the ball onto his partner. Light shoots out, as they're both lifted by the tar as if begins to wrap around and consume them both- [break][break]

And then everything stops. [break][break]

There's a soft click and a low pink from the ball for a successful capture. [break][break]

The world stops. He looks at his options. [break][break]

"True...potential??" he's not sure what he wants, but maybe the Glaceon would stop trying to kill him. [break][break]

He PURIFIES. [break][break]

A screen pops up and he watches as the SHADOW CHILL is changed to BATON PASS. [break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + baking influencer era

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"] NIGHT TWO: FROZEN FRIGHTS

[attr="class","setting"]

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/716039518305779782/1178552278458843186/Blizzeta_Battle_First_Half_-_The_Legend_of_Zelda_-_Twilight_Princess.mp3?ex=65768f57&is=65641a57&hm=30844e6084441248a71b08e234041c4c1429a70c776925eee14ffb333625dfe8&[/player]

[break]

Blizzeta Battle First Half - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

[break][break]

Mint has a little bit of time to admire his new, strange avatar on the next night. As he listens to the Snubbull King, his eyes wander before landing squarely on one of his best friends. After the pink noble stops talking, he rushes jayden cross , grabbing him by the arm and chatting excitedly. It doesn't take long before he spots fern delaney as well and pulls him into his party. He looks for Felix Gallagher , but after the crowd splits and begins heading out, he has to cut his loses. [break][break]

But a party of three should be good enough, especially when they have all bases covered. Fern and him could switch defense while Jayden pushes the offensive. [break][break]

The dungeon they find is at the edges of the small kingdom they'd ended up in, far up into mountains Mint didn't expect to be snowy. But, then again, weird weather was normal in a video game, right? The scenery changes to something both familiar and not at all. Like a weird, pieced together amalgamation of the forests near Snowpoint. At some point, he even swears he can see Lake Acuity. [break][break]

The icy cave they find just SCREAMS dungeon. Them mouth is huge for one, resembled an open maw with sharp fangs of stone and ice. The strange whistling that came out of the cavern. The trio marched on, with Mint chattering the whole way. [break][break]

Until eventually he starts to poke his nose in where it doesn't belong, and instead of the usual flustered reactions or quiet pouts he gets- well- nothing. It's strange. [break][break]

Insecurity grips at him and for a moment he's sure his friends are mad at him. But after gentle prodding, it becomes clear. They have no idea what he's talking about. These aren't his friends. He desperately checks the UI for some sort of chatting feature but gives up as another glowing, swarm of ice bats or whatever come out to turn them into frozen statues for eternity. [break][break]

He decided it's best to best to continue as normal. After all, things are safe and nice when you're not aware you're dreaming. Once you go lucid, that's when shit hits the fan. [break][break]

They rest up before what feels like the final boss, if the giant key and matching lock on the ice door are any indication. Mint likes it. He felt smart having gotten through mostly on his own. In any case, he can spin this to his fans. A weird meet and greet without the sunk time and effort! He looks over his move cards as he lets out Semifreddo who...seems tamed, for now. [break][break]

the cowering creative - mint frost
substitute / sketch / ice spinner

[break][break]

"On theme...I guess..." he said, unimpressed, and increasingly annoyed with his allotted title. Nevertheless, rested up and ready to end their expedition. It all plays out like a scene he's seen before. Something grips his body, his actions as he steps forward and he slows to a halt. A curly hairs Alolan Vulpix sat on the icy ground, shivering. "Gelatto?" [break][break]

That single word snaps it awake, and what was about to be a heart warming, misty eyed reunion turns terrifying. The little Vulpix doesn't recognize him. In fact, his stands when Mint approached, snarling angrily and glowing something horrible. And then it grows in size and blasts the floor with ice. Mint is too slow but Semifreddo's BATON PASS easily pushes him into the fray. [break][break]

He screams under the nonstop blast before AI Fern and AI Jayden rush through to help deflect the damage. Min meanwhile rushes backwards to hide as he scans through his move cards again. "Uhhh! Um! One second-!" he shouts as a giant Vulpix bears down on everyone, smashing stalactites off the ceiling and crashing them onto their party and Mint hides. The temptation to use his paintbrush is there, but then he'd instantly die after it ate somethign like Gelatto. [break][break]

"Ok, this should hold you off for now." he said as he ripped in half the SUBSTITUTE card while Semifreddo jumped out of the way of a giant paw smashing down on the frozen terrain. An adorable Glaceon POKEDOLL appeared in his place, somehow taking aggro. [break][break]

"Hurry! While it's aiming for us!" he shouted as Semifreddo launched itself at the Gelatto look alike from hell. The Vulpix wailed, summoning a familiar BLIZZARD, but his Glaceon seems to cut through powerful winds to smash a DOUBLE KICK into Gelatto's snout. [break][break]

Mint grips his weapon- the paintbrush- before shouting from the side lines, "If you don't stop you'll be devoured!" He's not sure if the warning will catch but amidst a white out, there's the echoing sounds of whimpering as his party blasts and throws more pain at the dynamaxed Vulpix. [break][break]

The winds stop, Semifreddo's copy disappears and he returns to Mint limping, an obvious show of his about 1/3 HP left status. The Vulpix is left crying, small and battered and face hidden in his little paws. Mint recalls finding him just like this so many years ago. Effectively abandoned. "Can...I?" he asked the simulation. [break][break]

If it was going to rip his life off, it may as well give him the courtesy to interact with the best part of it. Mangled and perverted as they may be. He managed to crouch next to the defeated Boss pokemon, stroking the top curls carefully to soothe it's crying. It licks your hand, then turns to leave and you find yourself held back. The game wont let you chase. [break][break]

It Gelatto's wake you find: [break][break]

GELLATO'S COLLAR [break]

An expensive looking collar for a small sized pokemon with a crystal, engraved with the name GELATTO, and a luxuriously soft tassel for decoration. The quality of the collar and tag denotes how expensive it must be.

[break][break]

"Fuck me, dude...." Mint groans as he picks up the token, eyes beginning to water again. It looked just like the one he kept at home on his counter with a photo of his dead partner. [break][break]

[break][break]

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + DEPRESSION ERA IS BACK BABY!!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"] NIGHT TWO: FROZEN FRIGHTS

[attr="class","setting"]

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/716039518305779782/1178552278458843186/Blizzeta_Battle_First_Half_-_The_Legend_of_Zelda_-_Twilight_Princess.mp3?ex=65768f57&is=65641a57&hm=30844e6084441248a71b08e234041c4c1429a70c776925eee14ffb333625dfe8&[/player]

[break]

Blizzeta Battle First Half - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

[break][break]

The Snubbull King's dialogue is troublesome, but Mint accepts the task anyway. This seemed more like a solo quest. Good. "I didn't...like the AI players too much." he said to his Glaceon who trotted after him happily to follow. A far cry from his rabid Shadow phase from nights previous. The pair set off, Mint holding out his wrist with Gelatto’s delicate and beautiful collar. He’d adjusted it to be more of a bracelet now. The trinket glimmers but not abnormally. The first few patches don’t react but he does try to set up something to let people know they’re there. It’s mainly screaming into the void, if any real players were there, and drawing arrows pointing to offshoots of beaten paths. [break][break]

Eventually he explores further, diving deeper and deeper into a thick evergreen forest. The smell of pine is strong. They keep going eventually hitting sheer cliff rock. With care, Semifreddo sniffs out a path around it to reach and overhand. It’s a long trek, and the clouds get thick as they go further and further up but eventually. At the edge of the cliff, hidden in the clouds, his bracelet began to glow. GELATTO’S COLLAR reacts to the keyhole and amidst a wall of mist and fog, opens the gateway. His partner tests it out first before Mint follows along. [break][break]

The place is both from dreams and memory. More snow. More pine. More shadows. Night was falling fast. And the wind whistled through the forest around them. His Glaceon sniffs the air before beginning the move forward, on the hunt. For what? Mint isn’t sure.

He shivered a bit, the cold unnatural to him in this form. The strange costume he donned was not exactly cold proof. But he takes off in a run to stave it off anyway. They reach a lake’s edge, frozen solid. Semifreddo looked ahead but there were figures ice skating. It’s rare- so rare. The entire Fisk family gathered for a bit of time on the ice. Vidalia is looking bright and healthy, and Nerezza is showing off on the ice, leaping and racing around the heiress Serafina who isn’t as speedy, but is twice as graceful, if that’s even possible for someone going against a prima ballerina. [break][break]

Alonso and Amaretta are busy doting over their parents who watch on with baby Silvano in their arms. Ciprina Fisk is gliding around with a camera smiling and waving at others as she sings a christmas carol. The family smiles, pleasant and happy as Mint enters the scene. And luciano fisk? Luci is off circling the perimeter of the lake with one other figure. They cross out of the distant fog on the ice and grow closer. Holding hands, laughing, his older brother returns back with a young boy, with big fake eye glasses, and closely cropped blue hair. Semifreddo, who had been eyeing something beyond, looked back at his trainer. The family falters and fades away. Losing color first, then silencing despite still moving- still acting. [break][break]

Only his doppelganger remains, who stands tall despite how ugly he is. Mint feels a flash of heat, irritation pools in his gut, different to when he looks at bryan delarosa but nevertheless just as acidic. Mint glares as fake frames turn red and he can no longer see Michaelis’ pupils anymore. “Let’s go, Semifreddo.” he said, voice low as he looked to where his partner had been trying to go. He stepped onto the ice, a defiant smack of his foot on ice and the family disappeared entirely, becoming one with the fog. He makes a beeline for the center of the lake, where Michaelis blocks him. [break][break]

Mint refuses to acknowledge him, instead trying to side step. Only after a few tries does he realize that he’s benign shadowed, literally. [break][break]

“MOVE!” he yelled, shoving back the pathetic bastard in his way. The sniveling crybaby shoves back, though he isn’t crying now is he? The black and gray artist stands firm, lips pulling back into a snarl. [break][break]

“You move- better yet. Run.” [break][break]

A slow blink. “Huh?” [break][break]

“Why are you back here? Ruining everything again-” He jabs a finger into his chest. [break][break]

“I ruined it?!” The indignation rings out as his reflection slaps him, metaphorically speaking. [break][break]

“Yes! Because you can’t just play along. You can’t just do what you’re told, without question.” There’s another jab and Mint shakes, anger pulsing as he feels ready to pounce. But the berating doesn't stop. In fact, it echoes across the ice. Every insult is another finger jab. Jab after jab after jab until Mint is so red in the face and his fists are clenched so tight he finally punches the whining brat in front of him. “Shut UP already!” [break][break]

He doesn't expect the shadow to fall or even hit the ice like that. And for a moment, Michaelis doesn’t move, shaking in silent pain. And for a moment, Mint felt bad. Then the winds around him howl and twist and he’s blown back with a scream and cold and snow so far that he’s thrown into a nearby snowbank. Semifreddo drags him back on the ice by the shorts and Mint is back on his feet, charging at Michaelis. The wind cuts- literally, a manifested RAZOR WIND slicing through his thin costume. [break][break]

Mint runs forward but his Glaceon is faster, taking charge and slamming straight into Michaelis’ gut. The pair fly towards the center of the lake and Mint can only follow the sound of growls and the grunts and curses of Michaelis. He noted, Michaelis was only really insulting him, not his Glaceon. Prick. [break][break]

Semifreddo and Michaelis duke it out like a real pokemon battle. With him blasting and slapping the shadow with ice, and Michaelis responding with winds and screaming. As they duke it out, Mint realized they’re right outside the little island at the center. He’s about to tag in when he hears a soft whimper. Small, and sad. [break][break]

Immediately he turns to find it, feeling a pang in his chest. He can recognize it. The wind buffets around him, only tempered by the dark cave. Blindly, Mint padded forward calling out gently, voice shaking. “I’m here! I- I’m here! Please- just give me a second!” [break][break]

Mint pawed his way through the darkness before his hand felt fur and the whimpers turned to crying then a snarl and then more crying. “It’s ok…You’re ok.” he said, smoothing a hand over a small bundle of fur and carefully pulling it into his chest. He can’t see him, but he can feel the little Vulpix shaking, dejected. Abandoned. “You’re alright.” he murmured. It’s not quite the same, but it’s similar to his first meeting with Gelatto. In the darkness, he can hear the clashing between Semifreddo and Michaelis grow more and more turbulent. Mint hugged his Vulpix protectively before suddenly he’s just holding warmth. [break][break]

Gelato’s form is suddenly just fluff and light. The cave lights up, ice reflecting Mint, just Mint, and hundreds of silver balls of light. The fighting outside stops but he can’t notice, too distraught by this creation of his own dreams. Gelatto’s gone. For good. [break][break]

Eventually Semifreddo finds him, and eventually the Glaceon leads him back out. The world darkening every step Mint takes until they’re back at the cliffs. The pocket goes dark, before dealing itself off. Mint doesn’t look back, carrying his Glaceon in his arms quietly.


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[attr="class","oocnotes"] + DEPRESSION ERA IS BACK BABY!!!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]