[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]If you don't know what's going on, fake it till you make it. Though Lilith has heard this saying many times before, she's sure that it doesn't necessarily apply in the context of sneaking into a bar, much less getting yourself wrapped up in a pool tournament. For someone who's rarely gotten the chance to step into such establishments - or rather, rarely attempted to sneak in - surprise is the only emotion that she's capable of processing, the forged ID tucked deep into the inner pockets of her jackets as she attempts to stick closer to the walls. Security must have been pretty lax or perhaps, they hadn't exactly been expecting kids like her to be waltzing in undetected.

"Well, we're in anyways..." She sighs, brushing a loose strand of hair out of her face as she spares her companion for the night a knowing gaze - Hex is no stranger to odd parties, a soft bobbing of his head indicating his readiness to dive into mischief at any given moment. Might as well have fun with it, his actions read, the Mimikyu closely eyeing the bar counter across the room. Just as he's tempted to hop off Lilith's shoulder and wander over to sneak a peek at the collection of fine wines, Hex is interrupted with a small flick to his forehead, a wordless glare crushing his will as he shelves those plans for now.

The name hendrix emmerson rings no bells for her, countless thoughts fluttering by as she finds herself hugging the walls. Unfamiliarity is both a blessing and a curse, anxiety in interaction often making any sense of relief too bitter to savour. Almost like those drinks they used to serve at parties, Lilith muses, her gaze fixated on the comings and goings of the crowd as acquaintances and buddies treat each other to drinks before their game. Offering Hex an outstretched palm, she can't help but smile as the Mimikyu gently nuzzles against her touch.

For now, she's fine with waiting, always happy to simply sit and observe the people that surround her. Who knows? Maybe she'll be able to snag a few pieces of information regarding the situation in Hoenn or any other useful tidbits.

---

Tl;dr - Rolling for a break while Lilith waits in the sidelines

---

A4AirZAV

[attr="class","hanatags"]hendrix emmerson || chilling out

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]After a storm comes a rainbow - Though fragile and wavering in the lingering heat haze, Lilith senses the calm that begins to settle over the festival. And with a lull in the madness comes a moment of unease and a fleeting suspicion, her gaze never once breaking from Angelo as he shuffles around the abandoned store.

People don't just help for no reason, Rubia's flickering gaze is more than enough to communicate her thoughts, a wary bleat sounding as the Togekiss nuzzles into her wool. But Lilith can only comfort her with a pat on the head, apologies quietly muttered as she watches Ankaa get to work. The price never matters as long as her pokemon are safe and healthy, she's long established that rule amongst her companions and oh, does she plan on keeping it.

Her attention quickly flutters back to the unnamed stranger, her hands outstretched as she gingerly takes the soaked bandanas from him. For something that doesn't involves actual drugs or a medical kit, its actually a substitute that she can work with - Less time and money spent buying first-aid supplies means more for the journey ahead of them. But before her mind can wander onto those topics, Lilith is pulled back to reality by a familiar voice, her attention scattered as it trickles towards the rainbow-coloured equine.

She learns a new fact almost every day, curiosity filling her as she watches the wounds heal under the Ponyta's touch. Reading her heart? Having innate healing abilities? There's a lot about pokemon that she really has yet to learn, though a part of her fears how accurately Wonder can read her heart. Perhaps, not quite far enough... Regardless, she takes the opportunity to make full use of the bandages, nimbly wrapping them around the settled burns and covering them up for now.

"T- thank you..." Her words almost fail her, a teen so out of touch with that emotion named gratitude that the phrase nearly slips her mind. Rowan isn't exactly her brother and she doesn't know what a brother is meant to be like, but something tells her that he remains someone that she can trust. And so can the stranger apparently, his leaving message striking deep into her heart as she watches Rubia attempt to snap at the hand. "I'll try..."

Her promise remains an open note but she's sincere nonetheless - Only in desperate times does she commit such acts, recklessness never meaning a lack of will to survive. With a sigh, Lilith staggers back to her feet, her backpack secured once more as she carries Rubia in her arms again.

"Well... festivals here are... definitely more than what you're used to, aren't they?"

[attr="class","hanatags"]Rowan Wrynn || @dakota || aftermath || post #9

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]Not all who wander are lost - Squinting at the sight before her, Lilith can't help but be reminded of this saying. From trash-filled beaches to Haxorus hordes walking around a construction site, Slateport really doesn't seem to run out of surprises for her to wrap her brain around. She's never quite seen pokemon hijack urban areas without reason, nor has she heard of them swarming in such large numbers… Perhaps, it's just a cultural difference in regions?

Regardless, she's drawn to the crowd of dragons like a moth to a light, curiosity piqued by the lumbering behemoths as they amble about and headbutt piles of metal supports with their axe-like tusks. With all the rumours she's heard about the sharpness of those blades, it's almost a wonder as to how nothing has fallen just yet. And Eclipse shares the same sentiment with a sharp bark, his body carefully balanced on her shoulder as he dives right into her backpack with ease, popping right back out with a pokeball in maw.

A small frown crosses her features, uncertainty pooling in her chest as she gingerly takes the item from his grasp. She's never really liked the idea of catching pokemon against their own will, never able to shake that quiet dread that lurks amidst suppressed memories. Tilting his head, the Zorua climbs back onto her shoulder and gently nuzzles her cheek, his paws kneading the fabric of her jacket as he lets out a soft growl.

This is nothing like what they did. Even if she catches one here, she can still release them back to the wild where it's safer... Right, this is to ensure that the Haxorus and the Axews are kept well out of danger, that none of them will get hurt if any of them unwittingly cause the construction site to begin raining down upon them. Her steps are featherlight, a graceful poise unforgotten over the years even as her body trembles at the lingering thoughts. Then with a quick step forwards, she tosses the pokeball right towards the mess, a throw so crude that it can almost be likened to an axe being haphazardly swung.

Arceus... she's really out of touch, isn't she?

---

57UrqPrw

[attr="class","hanatags"]haxorus swarm || here we go?

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]Life goes on with or without her influence, time never failing to slip by as she indulges in this sliver of peace that she rarely has. Rubia is safe and so are all her other pokemon, each probably fast asleep and oblivious to the fate that almost befell her - Thankfully so, or she may have been getting a few more bite marks and bruises to add to her collection of wounds to tend to. But that moment of bliss doesn't last for long, her attention abruptly dragged back to reality as her gaze shifts up towards the approaching figure.

Anger. Though she's fallen out of touch with that particular emotion herself, Lilith knows better than to ignore that tight-lipped glare or that raised voice, her eyes widening ever so slightly as she grips Rubia closer to her chest. Her breath quickens, her eyes shutting tight and her body trembling as she attempts to scoot backwards and instinctively curls up to protect her Wooloo.

But nothing happens. At least, nothing along the lines of what she expects. Instead, she's gently lifted to her feet, supported by steady hands as Rubia leaps from her arms to reduce her load. But the Wooloo isn't done just yet, an unnatural snarl crossing her features as she manages something akin to a bark towards the stranger, her eyes narrowing into slits even as she follows close behind.

"I- I'm fine..." Slow to process the happenings, Lilith doesn't possess enough confidence to trust the man just yet, her gaze very clearly flicking about to seek a way out. And yet, her body fails to follow up on the thought, her legs still shaky as they recover from the sudden break in an extended dash. The dying down of adrenaline means that pain is quick to sink in once more, the flaring up of her senses stifled as she bites her tongue for now.

Fortunately, the walk isn't long and she's settled down in the safety of cover, a silent but long exhale taken if only to allow herself to forget the agonising chill that crawls upon her skin. "It'll heal up by itself." She insists with a subdued tone, pushing Rubia closer to the Togekiss as she untangles the Wooloo from her backpack straps. "Please... heal her first."

To a regular person, Lilith is probably someone who's gone mad but nothing matters more to her than the wellbeing of her companions. "Rubia... was in danger... There wasn't enough time..." A lack of time or a lack of trust in the people who surrounded her? With a newfound breathing space far from the commotion, her mind clears just about enough to provide the man with a flimsy reasoning. Pulling her jacket closer to herself, she finds herself increasingly self-conscious about her injuries as it sits amidst an endless web of fading scars, numerous deep cuts and unidentifiable wounds long healed by the passage of time. "I'm fine... things like these... don't really hurt."

But she's only kidding herself, her mind already thinking of the cost of painkillers and other medical supplies she has to purchase for the next few days. As if sensing her discomfort, Rubia puffs up and steps between Lilith and Angelo, gifting the man a mean glare as if warning him to take even one step closer. His offer to look for an actual medical expert is tempting but she's already shaking her head as she pulls her legs closer to her chest to hide her injuries from view.

"No doctors or medics... please..."

The last thing she wants is to be questioned by more unfamiliar people.

---

Tl;dr - Lilith wants Rubia to be looked over and tries to hide her wounds. She's trying to avoid further medical attention.

[attr="class","hanatags"]Rowan Wrynn || angelo vestri || @dakota || post #8

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]No matter how grand the legend is or how sacred they may be, spirit deities are ultimately still wild beasts - She remembers this saying from a time long past, a memory lost amidst hand-stitched quilts and beautifully life-like pokemon plushies. They held emotions like the rest of the pokemon and most certainly weren't ones to think twice about using their powers when upset. She had heard of the ruined Tapu Village, dared to step upon the forsaken land and bore witness to what Tapu Bulu was capable of but not once had she thought she'd be standing before the angered guardian itself.

She finds herself paralysed in the wake of it all, her legs rooted to the spot as she watches Rubia run straight for Tapu Bulu and slam head first into the beast. Time almost seems to slow around her, a frantic gaze darting across the scene as she silently picks up on the madness that unfurls soon after - An impending Magma Storm that swirls, a Flamethrower coming in from the side, a Pyro Ball being launched... In the midst of everything, the lone Wooloo is still recoiling from her charge, unsteady steps taken away from the rampaging Tapu Bulu as she tries to create some distance before she gets caught up the endless sea of attacks.

Lilith's heart sinks faster than her brain can possibly process, a sudden flare of emotions overwhelming her as she's almost taken by the urge to retch. Her breath is caught in her throat, a trembling step taken forwards as the world begins to dance with spots.

"RUBIA!"

Run - It's all she knows. Even as the barrage of attacks close in, her gaze is solely focused on the Wooloo standing too close to danger. Even as Zac Ramsay 's Zagrea prepares to roar, Lilith refuses to turn back towards safety. As she closes in, her arms are thrown wide open, her body ducking closer to the ground as she reaches out for Rubia. And perhaps, it is by pure luck that Tapu Bulu is restrained by Spirit Shackles before it can swing at the duo.

Nearly tripping over herself to turn back around, Lilith's whimper is quickly drowned out. Her heart is racing at uncomfortable speeds, her brain screaming for her to go faster even as her legs threaten to give out. Ignoring the protestant bleats Rubia gives her, her body moves before she can even finish her thoughts, a brave heave backwards providing her just enough momentum to swing the Wooloo and her backpack right up into the air and towards @dakota.

Just a little more. Just a little more and the nightmare will end. She's only a few steps more from getting back to safety, panic flaring in her chest as she swallows her whimpers and continues running. Moments after, the Magma Storm erupts, scorching heat slithering up her skin as globs of magma begin to shower down upon Tapu Bulu. With one final burst of adrenaline, the girl pushes her way through a gap in the Lightscreens and gracelessly tumbles to the ground, unfazed by the cloud of dust that she kicks up or the judgemental stares that are sent her way.

She's made it but the world is spinning, her lungs are burning as she gasps for air between raspy coughs. Her calves prickle with a sudden chill, a familiar red patch greeting her eyes as she struggles to push herself up into a sitting position. Though she's avoided the worst of it, recklessness has most likely earned her new scars to bear. And yet, Lilith's attention isn't going towards the burns that she's gotten. Instead, it flickers for the sight of a precious companion, the Wooloo already bounding towards her with backpack in tow as she viciously kicks her trainer in the arm.

Pain is easily forgotten in the wake of sheer relief, the girl bolting up to scoop Rubia into the tightest hug she can possibly manage. "No more." Her whisper is shaky, her voice tearing up as she buries her tears into ash-scented wool.

"I don't want to lose you."

---

|qw5SUf3

---

Tl;dr - Lilith runs in to save Rubia and gets burnt by Magma Storm

[attr="class","hanatags"]Rowan Wrynn || angelo vestri || reckless || post #7

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]There are always two sides to a coin, contrasting elements that will always work together to encompass the nature of the world itself. With nature comes beauty, bountiful and everlasting even as humans encroach on her space and trample upon her fragile blossoms. She isn't quite one to yield to their stubbornness nor their destructive tendencies but sometimes, her lack of a voice makes it hard for her to convey the harm that's been inflicted on her soul.

Lilith hears her call all too clearly, feels her pain even if she doesn't understand what needs to be done and it haunts her like a waking nightmare. Broken plastics and empty glass bottles lay scattered amidst a field of ripped flyers, a sinful battleground of waste and litter lost to the sand as crystal waves crash upon the shores of Slateport City. She remembers having been here not too long ago, thrown into a conversation with a stranger as she tried to catch a breather before continuing her journey through Hoenn - The beach had been much cleaner then, free of any leftovers and signs of human activity. So how exactly had things devolved so quickly?

People are garbage. She can almost hear the contempt in Yule's thoughts as the Alolan Vulpix turns her nose up at yet another aluminium can, her tails bristling with indignance as she flips it out of the sand. Then with a sharp turn towards the outgoing tide, Yule gently puffs her cheeks, a light blue ball forming in front of her mouth as she exhales and freezes a small patch of water.

"Sometimes, people are just... people." Stepping closer to the water's edge, Lilith can only offer her companion a rather useless explanation as she picks up the chunk of ice and examines the trash caught within. "They don't... really think much about things that inconvenience them..." Carefully breaking pieces of litter from the ice, she collects what should not remain and tosses them into her trash bag, holding it wide enough for Yule to kick another bottle in. Dakota's words almost drift over her head, the girl way too focused on her task as she tosses yet another soggy flyer into the bag.

But perhaps it really is time to take a break, a strained squint and a short bark from the vulpine signalling a possible tantrum on the horizon. Dropping her own bag, Lilith kneels down to scoop the Vulpix into her arms, bouncing her gently as she comforts her with quiet murmurs.

"Do people here just... not care about the beach? Or its pokemon...?"

[attr="class","hanatags"]@dakota || ebb and flow

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]A name as soft as fallen snow, a familiar face that brings forth so many memories and a promised sight that has yet to be seen. Though Lilith isn't one for crowded spaces, something about this strange turn of events pulls her ever closer to the spirit of festivities and fills her with a child-like wonder she's never gotten the chance to keep.

You're still mean as ever, huh? Mistral probably thinks so too… Maybe if you were a little nicer, he'd listen…" Kindness begets kindness and karma goes around, or so is the belief she clings onto. Lilith is never one to torment or spite her pokemon without reason and even if she does, she never does it out of true malice. She's gentle as she heaves Rubia with one hand and frees Mistral with her other, placing the Piplup on her shoulder and ensuring he hangs on safely. Of course, he's still free to wander but for now, she does agree with the unspoken sentiment of not wanting to lose him to the crowd.

But perhaps, the focus of the teasing is all too quickly turned back onto her, a strange remark about dates practically flying over her head as she struggles to understand the meaning behind it. "Date…? You're dating someone…?" She's never had a crush nor gotten intimate with people before, but from the many books and couples she's seen, having a partner seems to be something to be happy about. "Congrats, Rowan…" She nods at her well-constructed wishes, giving the boy a thumbs up without ever having a change in expressions.

However, just as Rubia preps herself to headbutt Lilith for her ignorance, bells toll with a curse of madness, the world soon erupting in panic and fear as the ground shakes. Instincts tell her to clutch tight onto the Wooloo and Piplup, her feet already shifting towards pockets of safety as her eyes lock onto the cause of the issue: A herd of startled Tauros charging straight into various stores and festival goers. In this very instant, Lilith does what she knows best as she makes a break for it. It's a cowardly thing to do and she knows it from the bottom of her heart, but never once does she dare to turn back - She just can't bring herself to expose her pokemon to such danger.

Where chaos breeds, the roots of evil grow. With cowardice comes a helplessness that cannot be shaken, muffled apologies desperately muttered under her breath like a mantra. She isn't strong enough, she isn't brave enough, she isn't like the others who can simply smile and say that they'll fight to right the world. She lives for herself and the only family she has left, she fights only to keep the smiles that they've struggled to regain after so long. And yet, helplessness isn't always a dead end, a sharp bleat from Rubia momentarily tearing her away from dissolving into panic. She calls with such conviction, writhing and struggling so violently that Lilith loses her grip and lets her go.

Stop running. She can see the anger in Rubia's eyes that clamour for any shreds of empathy she has left. That declaration of war is made with a firm step towards conflict, her woolly coat seeming to bristle as she dares her trainer to continue her escape.

"Rubia, please..."

But that plea falls on deaf ears, the Wooloo already sprinting towards danger, a defiant bleat echoing through the air as it attempts to Take Down the approaching legendary pokemon.

---

ZwlTUX_s

---

Tl;dr - Lilith BOOKS IT and tries to get away from the TAUROS. Rubia rebels and attempts to use Take Down on Tapu Bulu

[attr="class","hanatags"]Rowan Wrynn || @dakota || strain || post #6

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]The more she thinks about it, the more vague memories fill her mind to the brim and soon overflow - Bright and beautiful, the sky had been illuminated with an indescribable cosmic vibrance, the remnants of gunpowder and ashes giving rise to endless blooms. For the briefest moment in an uncertain journey, Lilith had received the opportunity to watch those flowers dance through the vast moonlit sky, to truly step back and marvel at the miracles this world had to provide. And not once had she regretted the decision to chase such an ephemeral sight, the awed bleats of her Wooloo still echoing her very thoughts long after they left it behind.

With this, Lilith might just gain a new memory to be treasured, a fleeting miracle only shared between her and Rubia and one that surely brings them ever closer. But the night is still young and the festival beckons her forth with many more secrets to be uncovered, the duo diving once more into the crowd but with just a little less unease this time. She meanders along the crowded paths, her footsteps subconsciously matching the rhythm of life at times and diverging with a self-created beat at others. On the other hand, Rubia is more focused on the various snacks and prizes available at passing booths, her gaze shifting over the sea of lanterns that adorn the winding streets.

It isn't long before the world decides to intervene once more, sending yet another curious soul right down her path with a question in hand. Of course, her first instinct is to turn to face the stranger, to ready herself with an answer as her brain decides whether to stick around or run. But she's tripped up by the very sight, a name already dancing upon the tip of her tongue as she reaches out for the Piplup stuck in the jacket hood.

"You... shouldn't confine him like that... Rowan..."

[attr="class","hanatags"]Rowan Wrynn || surprise? || post #5

[attr="class","hanapoke"]

[attr="class","hanahold"]

[attr="class","hanaflavourtext"]❝呼べよ、花の名前を❞

[attr="class","hanatext"]Left without a name, huh? For most people, they might have considered that a pity or something that has to be changed immediately but Lilith reckons otherwise. Names are gifts bestowed upon others and should never be rushed without thought, neither is it something that should be forced upon another. Beyond the human reasons of sentimentality and bonds, names are also a person's way of remembering passing faces and conveying their object of reference to another.

"Hm... Lumi... Bianca... Skadi...? Just some off the top of my head... Yule chose her own name in the end too..." What a blessing it is to reminisce such a tiny moment, a winter's gift that had been chanced upon by two young travellers during a vicious snowstorm. "Sometimes, she's awake all night... sometimes, she burns out before dark... it... usually depends on how far we travel each day..." And there is solace found in the shared problem of gremlin Vulpixes, a small snicker given towards his joke as she gives the little one yet another scratch behind the ear. "Maybe next time, Yule can stay awake long enough to meet her."

However, 'next time' is but an empty promise of sorts, a phrase all too casually spoken for the sake of tiding a conversation over. If Lilith were truly to follow her gut instincts, she would have treated this meeting as a once-off and would vow to never cross paths with Dakota ever again. But the festivities must have been getting to her head, her guard lowering as his kindness and amicable nature slips through the cracks.

"Were the festivals always this pretty? I- I mean... even in the past? I've... never really gotten the chance to visit any..." Though she makes the gesture of returning the Rowlett plushy back to its rightful owner, there is a small hint of hesitance on her part. Perhaps, even a growing sense of attachment that is barely quelled by his reassurance of there being more to be won. "Fireworks...?" Thankfully, the next thing he mentions snatches her attention, curiosity brewing in her gaze as she tilts her head at the offer. When is the last time she has observed any firework display? Has she ever gotten a chance to watch one at all? The idea remains ever so familiar but just out of touch, foreign upon her tongue as she carefully scoops Rubia back into her arms.

"U- uhm... sure!" It takes all but two sets of puppy dog eyes from both pokemon to melt her frozen heart, a decision made with haste as she carefully takes his hand. For a brief moment, it reminds her of the many strangers she's met, the distance ever long, the places ever different but their hands always carrying the same warmth. "So... where to?"

[attr="class","hanatags"]@dakota || surprise? || post #4