by land or by sea | m

i used to dream in the dark of palisades park

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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 6, 2024 1:40:50 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

the league has a vice grip on every route out of slateport. while business booms in the underworld, absinthe is not the kind of woman to settle for 'good' when she can chase 'perfect'. if her distributors could get out of the damn city with her product, she would rake in more cash than ever before.[break][break]

now, while the woman is no fan of the league, and would sooner gas a government official than get along with them, she's capable of playing nice so long as she can get something out of it. this is the case as she strikes a suspicious figure in front of mauville racing grounds, her eyes raking across the massive facility with fascination. she had heard of it, but hadn't expected such grandeur. perhaps, though, after weeks of seeing only the lab and her bar, anything bigger than a few hundred square feet stands to make her feel like she's getting out of her comfort zone.[break][break]

she has it on good information that there is a man inside who is, perhaps, hoenn's expert on riding pokemon. where wagons and cars don't make it out of slateport unseen, pokemon certainly do, and they have the ability to walk paths unseen by league officials. if she can just get some tips, it would be easy to distill it for her distributors. maybe then she won't lose so much product to regular traffic stops and the like. that is, if she can stand the energy of this place.[break][break]

absinthe cradles her head in her hands. god, it will be tough, that's for sure. she can already feel a migraine coming on.[break][break]

nonetheless, the masked woman enters, eyes flashing. she can only hope this will be useful.



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 6, 2024 2:16:23 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
There was nothing inherently wrong with wearing a mask. There was a time a few years ago where Josh had to wear a mask to protect himself, and his family, from a disease running rampant through Goldenrod City. Health concerns were one valid reason to wear one. As such, Josh's female receptionist, SHELLY SPIEL, didn't so much as bat at eye when the masked woman entered the Gym's office space.

From the reception desk, would be able to see many saddled Pokémon running, swimming, and flying across the vast Racing Grounds. Many of them were much larger than the average for their kind, some of the most fascinating ones being an entire rainbow of Eeveelutions. The Sylveon in particular looked adorable, adorned with brightly-colored riding tack much like a Galarian Rapidash. "Good morning!" Shelly greeted her. "What's the name on the appointment?"








{PC: 1}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 8, 2024 21:39:04 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

absinthe can't help but let her eyes wander. the rainbow of pokemon running in the arena, visible from even the front office, is enough to distract her. it seemed to her that anything that was even remotely quadrupedal was present on the grounds, drawn from the ground up in racing tack and saddles.[break][break]

being here makes her skin crawl. a long time ago, this was the kind of place she went to on the weekends. she can't help but feel completely out of place in a world that must be... fun. god, when was the last time she had fun? for many years, the only places she went to beyond her lab and bar was the grocery store and the wild to get ingredients. but this world...[break][break]

it reminds her of a time she refuses to remember. it reminds her of a time that makes her heart ache.[break][break]

looking at shelly, absinthe puts on her sweetest voice. she's so out of practice with interacting with normal people that it comes out sickly sweet and raspy. it doesn't fit with her eyes, which refuse to crinkle or even take on any kind of mirth or happiness. "abby should be the name," she answers, allowing the name to comb over her barbed tongue.[break][break]

abby. a very old nickname.



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 10, 2024 6:36:35 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
"Just a moment, Abby," Shelly responded, keyboard clacking filling the mostly silent air as a teenage trainer slid off a Thievul's back just outside the sliding-glass doors, he and the blue-haired ARAVAN ESCHER heading toward the first-floor locker room. "Found you. Right through the doors to my left. Follow the signs to Sector 1. You'll see the Gym Leader near the Twist Road starting line."

Provided was able to follow the ample signage to her destination, she would find Josh atop a Boltund that looked positively enormous for its species, the electric dog greeting her with a singular bark. "Abby?" Josh asked. "Gym Leader Devlin or Champion Devlin, but please, call me Josh. Excited to learn some saddle basics?"








{PC: 2}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 10, 2024 20:21:41 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

absinthe does as she is told, absconding from the lobby with only a wave of her hand and a look over her shoulder. "thanks."[break][break]

and so the woman goes ahead, plodding through the winding hallways and stands of the arena, until she arrives at sector one, greeted with the sight of the champion atop a positively massive boltund. what the hell are they feeding these things?[break][break]

absinthe glazes her eyes over with a mask of complacency and simple excitement. today, she plays the role of someone she once was, and not the twisted mass she has become. the only blessing in disguise is that her mask remains: she's safe to crinkle the corners of her eyes and mask friendliness without bothering to reign in her mouth as well.[break][break]

"that's me," absinthe answers josh. "nice to meet you."[break][break]

she glances around the starting line, eyes raking over posts, saddles, and tack. "i've never done anything like this before," she admits. "but i'm sure you're used to teaching complete beginners."



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 13, 2024 1:08:37 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
It wasn't just the Boltund; there were other enormous Pokémon wandering the Sector, let alone the entire outdoor complex. Several Cyclizar weaved around one another, a screech from one making a sharp turn catching the Gym Leader's attention briefly. "I am!" Josh answered. "The two types of students I enjoy teaching most are beginners, then experts looking to become masters."

Nearby would be several Pokémon that looked quite beginner friendly. The golden, fanning tails of a Ninetales waved in the light breeze, the fox standing as tall as Josh would on the ground. The calming feelers of a Shiny Sylveon would reach out toward Absinthe, touching her and attempting to calm her if she allowed it. A female Pyroar approached, as well, the Mauville Rangers' emblem emblazoned upon her tack. Finally, Braver the Kantonian Arcanine approached, standing taller than the other Pokémon present. He looked to be the most traditional of the four ride Pokémon, though the speed his species was known for may have made them look intimidating.








{PC: 2}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 13, 2024 3:35:36 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

absinthe watches the pokemon that have approached her carefully, though flinches away from the sylveon's roaming ribbons. it is instinct, for the snake has rarely been touched so gently in recent years, and the sensation would certainly run a shiver down her spine. with a steadying sigh, absinthe reigns in her emotions, and her false expression of apathy returns in full force. venturing out from the lab is always a damn mistake. absinthe doesn't belong in this world.[break][break]

nonetheless, the woman approaches the arcanine, her hand gently reaching out for the beast to get acquainted with her scent. it is a good pokemon. it seems kind, strong, and honorable.[break][break]

breathing deep, absinthe circles around to the mighty dog's side, where she grabs at its saddle and pulls herself into it, although not without some struggle. the chemist's brows furrow as her muscles struggle to even pull her weight: she used to be so strong, but many months of eating very little and sleeping about the same have rendered her fragile. given some time, though, she gets atop the thing, and now sits tall. she casts her gaze to josh.[break][break]

"i don't think i know quite how to sit in the saddle."



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 15, 2024 5:48:33 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh didn't notice anything immediately wrong with the way Absinthe was sitting. Perhaps it was a lack of confidence in herself, or even a fear of the Arcanine's speed. After all, the giant dog was one of the fastest Pokémon species on land, nearly capable of challenging race cars when giving it their all.

"Your posture looks good for a walk or a trot!" he reassured her. "The reins are not just for steering. They're for your stability, too. If you grab them with both hands and hold them in a neutral position, it takes a lot of tension off your back." Braver let out a howl that may have startled the guest if she wasn't expecting it. "Once you get up to speed, you'll want to lean forward, into the wind. Before we get to that, though, I'll show you the basics of controlling a Pokémon mount."

Josh set Crash's reins down and gently pat at his knees. "Leg pressure is how you speed up and slow down. The more you squeeze your mount's sides, the faster they'll accelerate. Reduce that pressure, and they'll slow down. Want to give it a try? I'll keep pace with you."








{PC: 3}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 16, 2024 0:45:48 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

the howl from the arcanine sends a jolt through absinthe's body, her grip tightening on the reins instinctively. she's quick to mask her reaction, her face returning to its practiced calm, though her heart hammers in her chest. this was a mistake, she thinks to herself again, but there's no turning back now. she's already committed to the act, and turning tail would only raise suspicions. besides, this is for the good of her business. it’s just another experiment, she tells herself. just another set of variables to control.[break][break]

“okay,” she replies, voice steady despite the unease churning in her stomach. she adjusts her grip on the reins, feeling the rough leather beneath her fingers, and nods at josh’s instructions. the idea of using her legs to control such a powerful creature feels foreign and unsettling, but she has no choice but to try. “let’s see if i can get the hang of this.”[break][break]

with a tentative squeeze of her legs, she signals the arcanine to move forward, feeling the shift in the powerful muscles beneath her as the massive beast responds. the sensation is both exhilarating and terrifying, but absinthe forces herself to focus, to remember the point of all this.[break][break]

as they begin to move, absinthe leans forward slightly, as josh instructed, trying to find a balance between maintaining control and not looking like a complete novice. her eyes flick to josh, gauging his reaction, hoping she’s not making a fool of herself. “how am i doing?” she asks, her tone lighter than before, though there's a sharp edge to it—a defense mechanism to hide her discomfort.



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 16, 2024 20:37:58 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Josh could tell from both Absinthe's posture and her tone that she was filled with mixed emotions: excitement yet also discomfort. "You're doing well!" he answered, noticing the female's posture shift forward as Braver got up to speed, approaching what could have felt like a swift canter or even a gallop to her. Arcanine were cooperative, but they were among the fastest Pokémon commonly ridden by trainers. They were commonly employed as police dogs for a reason!

"Next is steering! If you pull on the reins with just one hand, he'll turn in the same direction you pull," Josh taught Absinthe the second part of the basics. "The more agile your mount, the tighter they'll turn. With an Arcanine, it can take a bit of muscle power for them to make anything but shallow turns. Think of it like tilting their head in the direction you want to go. Give it a try! And if you ever feel uncomfortable with tactile controls like these, many Pokémon will respond to verbal commands, too."

As if to guide her, Josh would lead the Arcanine off the main concourse and onto Twist Road, the easiest track on the property. It had several turns that would be perfect for the novice rider to get used to steering with!








{PC: 4}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 17, 2024 4:11:59 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

absinthe's grip on the reins tighten as josh's words filtered through her mind. she has always been a woman of control, priding herself on the precision of her work, the careful manipulation of every variable in her experiments. this—riding a living, breathing creature—is an entirely different kind of control. it is one she had little experience with. in fact, she is often far more experienced with being controlled. it is something completely new.[break][break]

nontheless, the chemist takes a deep breath, steadying herself as she guides the arcanine onto the twist road behind josh. the track ahead is winding, and she can already feel the tension in her shoulders as she prepares to make her first turn. pulling gently on the reins, she tries to steer the massive beast to the right. the arcanine responds, though not without some resistance, requiring more strength than she anticipated.[break][break]

the woman is silent as she focuses on the task at hand. every once in a while, she glances at josh in an effort to gauge his reaction. it is a skill she learned from many years of doing little more than surviving: to determine the emotions of a man solely based on the crease of his brow is an art-form that absinthe has summarily mastered. as such, she seeks his gaze, in search of any indication that she is doing this wrong, so that she may correct herself, much as a lab experiment might be iterated on until it reaches perfection.[break][break]

there is, of course, always a part of her that wants to push the boundaries.[break][break]

"how fast can this thing go?"



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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[newclass=".absinthe .credit a"]font-size:10px;[/newclass]
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played by

raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
awards
7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
part of
TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 18, 2024 8:08:34 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar

Being in control of a Pokémon mount was one of the most liberating things Josh could imagine. There was something simply magical about working with a living creature capable of moving at dizzying speeds, blasting across the land, sea, or sky as one. Something magical about feeling a beast's powerful strides. It gave one the sensation of disappearing on the wind. After rounding each turn, Josh gave Absinthe a thumbs-up, letting her concentrate on steering the giant dog.

The words our of Absinthe's mouth made Josh smile... and yet, his face had a hint of worry about it, too. Braver was one of his fastest Pokémon, capable of going faster than a race car when invoking his fastest attacking moves. "Braver is an Arcanine. They're some of the fastest land Pokémon on the planet," he warned. "If you give him enough room to invoke his Extreme Speed... he'll go as fast as a Raikou."

That remark wasn't far from the truth, either; as hard to believe as it may have been, Josh had personal experience with both.








{PC: 5}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
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351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 18, 2024 14:17:52 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

that fast, hmm?[break][break]

tempting, but not practical. impressive, at the very least. she's not here for thrills, though. she's honestly not certain her heart could take it, with how little she's been sleeping lately.[break][break]

"i had no idea," absinthe admits. "that's surprising."[break][break]

now that she knows she won't be breaking the thing, though, she feels more comfortable with picking up in speed. with a subtle squeeze of her legs, she encourages the arcanine to pick up the pace, just enough to feel the power beneath her, the raw energy that could be harnessed for her own purposes. the chemist keeps her gaze on the road ahead, her mind already racing with possibilities, calculations, and strategies.[break][break]

a bend approaches. absinthe leans into it, using her body weight to guide the arcanine around it, but she doesn't lean far enough. the turn is too wide, and absinthe leans further to compensate, only to slip entirely from the arcanine's back and topple to ground below in a puff of sand and dirt.[break][break]

grimacing, absinthe is quick to return to her feet and brush herself off, even despite the throbbing ache in her spine. her eyes trail uselessly after the mount she had once been atop.[break][break]

"i'll have to get used to that," she mutters to herself.



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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raikourider

Master of Faster
He/Him
25
December 12
Goldenrod, Johto
Straight
Mauville Gym Leader
Champion
Single; Not Looking
6'1" height
6'1" height
"With great speed comes great responsibility."
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7,248 posts
Josh Devlin DOLLARS
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TAG WITH @joshdevlin
Josh Devlin
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 19, 2024 0:32:18 GMT
Josh Devlin Avatar
Absinthe was doing well until she tried to turn the Arcanine too sharply, causing her to fall. Thankfully the grass surrounding the course was soft, absorbing what would have been a nasty impact if it had been on a harder surface. "You okay?" Josh asked his student, pulling Crash alongside her. "Arcanine can be fast. They're so fast that even I don't hesitate to zip up his cocoon when I really want to have Braver let loose."

Josh hopped off his Boltund and gestured for the Arcanine to crouch. Taking a seat on the giant dog, he put his feet through two loops, one on each side, before zipping the cocoon up. The saddle's zipped leathers now covered him up to his waist. He wasn't going anywhere, no matter how fast the Arcanine ran... or no matter how hard the Arcanine were to buck, were he so inclined. "Just like this," he said, turning toward Absinthe. "It's an excellent training tool, and it's important for safety if you want to go as fast as he can."

After giving the demonstration, he undid all the zippers keeping the cocoon in place, then slid down from the saddle. "If you've never been on a Pokémon before, then you've got a lot of natural instincts for it. With some practice, there's nowhere in Hoenn a Pokémon won't be able to take you!"








{PC: 6}

NOTE: All of the Pokémon in Josh's PC are present somewhere on the Racing Grounds.
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played by

sunny.html

abby, lady taipan
she/her
32 years old
November 4th
slateport
bisexual
bar owner, drug manufacturer
scientist
i used to dream in the dark of palisades park.
awards
351 posts
part of
TAG WITH @absinthe
Absinthe Blackwood
by land or by sea | m
POSTED ON Aug 19, 2024 17:59:16 GMT
Absinthe Blackwood Avatar
[nospaces]
[attr="class","absinthe"]
[attr="class","body"]

absinthe watches as the gym leader zips up a cocoon around himself atop the massive dog. her eyes trail across the leather straps, steel zippers, and other bits and bobs, and she nods. a useful contraption. she had no idea it was even there.[break][break]

"i'm alright," she says as she looks herself over. "just a small fall."[break][break]

as soon as josh is out of the saddle, absinthe is back in, this time strapping herself to the arcanine with the cocoon as she settles her feet in the loops. her hands linger on the leathers as she checks her work over. "it is a lot like an experiment," the chemist admits in a low tone in response to josh's praise. "you have a hypothesis going into it, and sometimes it is wrong. but getting it wrong may let you get it right in the future."[break][break]

with that, absinthe squeezes her feet against braver's sides and spurs him into a steady trot once more, albeit the slightest bit faster than she had been going before. when she sees a bend in the road ahead, she anticipates the turn, leaning into her mount before they even get to the bend. with this, she deftly navigates the course with only a few hiccups, and shortly returns to the beginning of the course. when she unstraps herself from the arcanine, a smile has reached her eyes.[break][break]

"i had thought it would be harder than it was," absinthe admits as she drops down from the saddle. "it helps to learn from somebody experienced."



[break][break]

NOTES


- n/a






[attr="class","pkmn"]






[attr="class","credit"]
MADE BY GUNSMILE




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img
The Shula Region
Hogwarts AU
RPG Unlimited
MR
The Enroi Region
N:FB
Vyrehaven
Celestial Guardians, AU Sailor Moon RP
EO GENESIS
Code and Crown: An advanced literate warriors cats RP, set in medieval times
Swords Clashing