in a rare instance, noah is stationed in lilycove for a couple of days. although the city is home to Selena Desmarais, the local gym leader, he has been called to help assist with training the lilycove branch of cadets. odd tremors have been reported off the coast, prompting squads of rangers and cadets to engage in increased patrols in the nearby area.

with his primeape, noah begins to jog back toward his hotel. the sun shines brighter now compared to its pale dawn yawn. but a sound, similar to that of a prematurely launched anchor hitting a sandbar, draws his attention.

"you okay?!" noah calls out as he navigates a small set of stone stairs. his primeape jogs down with him. "you didn't do this, did you?" he asks the mienfoo before extending a hand to his fallen company.

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

the primeape does not relinquish the unfriendly shape of its face, but noah laughs. the mienfoo's theatrics tickle him like the sand getting in his shoes.

"kick? learning some self-defense?" noah's face brightens. "if you want, i can give you some pointers... if miyagi doesn't mind."

his primeape huffs. the interruption of their jog forces the bundle of fur to resume in its own way. as its nostrils flare, the primeape begins to run circles around them, pressing prints into the sand.

"i'm noah," he says, "and i can teach you thing or two about not falling on your ass."

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

as he shakes skyler's hand, the mention of her latter title elicits a raised brow. he strokes his chin, "treasure hunter, huh? like a pirate? heard we've been having problems with those lately."

noah claps his hands together. with the mienfoo's approval, he dives into their spontaenous trial.

"how about now? i've got a little bit." noah says. "why do you wanna learn how to kick anyway? your mienfoo looks like a strong enough bodyguard, yeah?" shooting a wink at the pokemon, he begins to stretch.

noah loosens his limbs as his primeape finally stops to breathe.

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

"hoenn's been... insane, dude." noah rubs the back of his neck as if to shed something away. "even though rocket's gone, there's still some shitty people out there... sorry about the boat."

a brief sigh escapes him- and his primeape huffs. the contemplative moment passes, and noah cracks his knuckles to announce the beginning of their trial.

"aight! so you wanna pull your fists up even though we're kicking." noah raises his fists. "it'll leave them second guessing and give you balance too."

his primeape stands beside the mienfoo and assumes the same stance.

"letting you know though. this is basic stuff. unless you think you can jump to something more advanced?" noah grins.

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

the offer for a dive is taken with a smile. although he's been anchored in the heart of hoenn for months, lilycove's coast may be visited again under less than official terms.

noah nods, affirming skyler's pose. his primeape huffs— and stares down at the mienfoo, its gaze entirely condescending.

"so, the basic kick is this." he demonstrates, raising his leg and flicking his leg out. "but if you can to this—!" noah pivots his heel, knee reaching close toward skyler before his leg flicks outward. his foot stops before he jaw, "a roundhouse."

he retracts his leg.

"all about the bringing the knee past the target before you extend your leg." noah demonstrates again. "try it! you can hit me, if you want." he pats his own head, beckoning for a strike.

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

"yeah, it looks cool doesn't it?" a boyish confidence fills the shape of his lips.

he beckons for her with his eyes. noah's smirk is not one of condescension— but one that is self-serving. for a kick to the face is nothing. he has faced worse before.

noah scrutinizes her form, analysis masked by his cocky air. however, the kick lands much harder than expected. he stumbles a little bit, jaw stinging with the fresh red of a successful strike.

he readjusts his jaw and rubs it with one hand while the other shoots her a thumbs up.

"you're stronger than you look." noah laughs.

his primeape mimics miyagi. a childish mirror of ignorance.

"actually, you're not half-bad. your stance was real tight, like, you got a good core on you." noah thinks, "you're not bluffing me are you?"

skyler dross / egf thread ♥

his face stings. stings good. noah's hand falls from his jaw, heavy with heat stolen from red skin. still, the short gym leader is still standing firm. in the background, lilycove waves caress the sands. in the distance, a seashore house begins to stir awake.

noah beams. "diving and sailing, huh? about that. i'm actually here on some official league duty. weird rumblings happening off the coast. thunder storms when it's sunny, man." he rubs his neck, "i'm not too good at playing detective though."

posing once more, noah brings his knee to his chest. exhaling audibly as he releases his leg backwards, he drives his heel back into an invisible target.

"back kick. in case a pirate comes from behind." noah's primeape fumes, offended that the mienfoo has ignored him for this long. condescendingly, the primeape pats miyagi on the head with its meaty palm. "trick is in the toes for balance.

skyler dross / egf thread ♥ / seashore house bingo prompt