[attr="class","karma"]

the smile hits him directly in the chest, past all the walls that he's spent the better part of a decade building up. vic has always been able to do that to him, even when they were kids. ask anyone in mistralton — Victor Wexler had a way of making any situation better with his smile.

[break][break] but was this a situation that vic could make better? was this something vic could fix?

[break][break] no.

[break][break] the officer swallows, thick. he reaches back to rub his neck awkwardly, feeling uncomfortable. "oh — i, uh." he feels, suddenly, bare. raw. open. what the fuck? "i work here, vic."

[break][break] flynn still hasn't moved from where he stands.

[attr="class","ooc"] Victor Wexler [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

of all the ghosts that flynn expects to see from his past coming from the dead to haunt him, Victor Wexler is not one of them.

[break][break] "eh — " he says, blinking once he hears someone headed in his direction. he is half-dozing by the time the flash of pink hair accosts him, but he stands up immediately when he realizes who it is.

[break][break] his chest feels hollow.

[break][break] "... vic."

[break][break] his expression steels, unsure how to feel.

[break][break] it's been years.

[attr="class","ooc"] Victor Wexler [break]

[attr="class","shadowfall"]

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[attr="class","karma"]

it wasn't supposed to take long. just a quick visit to the city to fill out some paperwork but of course - of fucking course - he had shit luck.

[break][break] slateport's sergeant mentioned to him that they were low on staff, something about people being sent to investigate some sort of poaching situation, and that he would really appreciate it if officer edwards stuck around.

[break][break] and flynn was terrible at saying no. especially when extra shifts meant extra money.

[break][break] flynn sighed, tapping his pen against the desk. ugh. when was the night staff gonna come by to relieve him?

[attr="class","ooc"] Victor Wexler [break]

[attr="class","flynn"]

"muuudkip mud," the mudkip babbles at him, tiny paws waving as it's suspended in air.

[break][break] flynn watches the two, bemused, before watching as theo reaches down and grabs his own recommendation. it's another food option, this time an unlabeled bag with a magikarp atop of it. it's cute.

[break][break] "i'll try it." flynn tucks it under his arm, along with the rest of the supplies that he'd needed, before making his way to the register. "did you need something too, or were you just accompanying me?" he tilts his head back at theo, a question in his eyes.

[break][break]

[attr="class","tag"] THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","flynnsq"]

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[attr="class","karma"]

he places the two ice coffees down beside her, just as the wind ruffles his hair. he runs his hand through it, nervous.

[break][break] many of the students have already gone home or to their after-school activities. luckily, this is one of the days when they were off from soccer practice, which meant that he could spend time with thea.

[break][break] kris slides into the seat next to her - rather than the one across from her, which might have been the normal thing to do. however, he wants to sit next to her - and kris isn't the kind of guy that would let a thing like social etiquette stop him.

[break][break] "i wasn't sure what you'd like, but i got one with whipcream and one without." he glances down at her notes. her handwriting is adorable, just like the rest of her, and he feels something stir in his chest when he looks at the curved letters on the page. "what're you studying?"

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

her friends are not the only ones who give her a hard time. his friends rib him goodnaturedly about it too — the only one who's nice about it is Victor Wexler, but vic is always nice. he's supportive in the only way that the pink-haired boy can be, but kris appreciates it nevertheless.

[break][break] all his friend beg him for thea's number — but he refuses. he won't give it up for anything, no matter how many steaks or signed soccer balls they throw his way. this is special. thea is precious.

[break][break] she is his whole world, and he's determined to keep it that way.

[break][break] when he receives the first text, he is thrilled — only dampened slightly by the realization that it is probably not from her but her friends, who tease and joke too. kris isn't surprised. he knew word would get around soon enough, and he's not upset that thea shared his number. it only makes it all that much better when she eventually does start talking to him through text, and the two are able to set up a time for their date.

[break][break] it's a friday. a cool fall afternoon, just outside the school's entrance where a few tables lay underneath some autumn trees. kris walks towards the table where Alethea Ivanova sits, two ice coffees in hand. "hey, i got us drinks."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

her book goes untouched, lingering in the space between them, but neither seem to notice. from an outsider's perspective, they would see the two: flynn, grinning, bashful, leaning over her; thea giggling, nervous, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. it would be the talk of the town - surely. in a town as small as mistralton, news tended to travel fast.

[break][break] but kris at least - doesn't seem to notice.

[break][break] he is drawn to her like a moth to a flame, unable to look away from her soft eyes and beautiful face. he adores her, and that much is clear in his expression.

[break][break] "sounds good," he agrees, and it's only then that he realizes that her book still floats between them. a thought occurring to him, he flips open the first page and writes his name and number with a mechanical pencil, before handing it back to her. "here you go." he winks, glancing only then up at the gaggle of girls that seem to be behind her. when he does look up, they disappear. kris chuckles, an embarrassed laugh.

[break][break] "i'll let you get back to your friends, thea."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

"hey!"

[break][break] he pauses, then laughs. "okay, fine, you're not wrong."

[break][break] playing soccer was great, and he loved it, but there were shortcomings to it too. he knew she was joking, but she would be surprised about the amount of times he'd felt aches all over from headbutting the ball so many times during the game! though... nana said it was because he was trying to show-off. she... wasn't wrong.

[break][break] it was all because of who he was trying to show off for. the game he'd felt most aches after was when he'd noticed a familiar head of platinum blond hair in the crowd.

[break][break] his heart beat a little bit faster.

[break][break] "of course i do!" he grins. "it's a date." the little boy inside of him does a little dance on his heart — he tries to stamp it down. can't look too eager, then.

[break][break] he smirks. "i can teach you how to play ball too, if you want. some time."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

"well. you're certainly smarter than me."

[break][break] kris chuckles, not at all bothered by the implication. he's confident in his own skills — he knows that school isn't really his strong suit, but it's not like he's a complete idiot either. he manages.

[break][break] he hands the book back to her, eyes twinkling as he does, "you should tutor me sometime, thea."

[break][break] a pause, before a flush crosses his own face, and he reaches back, rubbing the back of his neck anxiously. "i-i mean, if you want to."

[break][break] why's he so nervous? he's talked to girls before.

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

he may not act like it, but he's grateful for the relationship that he shares with Rory Faust . the two of them have known each other by virtue of their jobs, but their friendship is comfortable. flynn is glad for it, if for nothing than the fact that he doesn't have to go rigmarole of going through the public system. he'd rather not have to spend hours in the er waiting room if he could help it, thank you very much.

[break][break] as he's let into the room, he meets the gaze of the doctor.

[break][break] he grunts, as he seats himself on the exam table. "aight." he shifts, pulling his arm a little bit more into view. "think i sprained something, when i was wrestling a perp today."

[break][break] he glances around the room. "quiet today, huh?"

[break][break] blue walks into the room alongside him, waving her tail in greeting. she noses against rory's leg.

[attr="class","ooc"] Rory Faust [break]



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

[attr="class","karma"]

their fingers touch and there is a spark that flies through him. his heart stutters, but kris forces himself to ignore it. he has to remain cool, calm, collected...

[break][break] that's what girls liked, right?

[break][break] he turns over the book in his hands, flipping through the pages briefly, before closing it again and looking at the cover. it depicts a strong boy and girl, both with dark-blond hair as they hold sword between them. he grins, looking back up at thea. "just like you. you're smart, aren't you?" they're not always in the same classes — in fact, probably never. thea is always in the honors classes, hanging out with her own group of friends. kris tends to stay with the jocks.

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]

[attr="class","karma"]

kris is not much of a reader. in his defense, it's not his default — not between soccer practice, school, and cooking dinner for he and mom both. or, that was just an excuse, 'cause most of the time he couldn't be bothered to read. that sounded like schoolwork.

[break][break] but this is for thea, so he pretends to be interested.

[break][break] he look at her, making eye-contact. can i? before attempting to pluck the book from her grasp, turning it around in his hands. "so who's your favorite character?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Alethea Ivanova [break]