[attr="class","danny"]it doesn't appear to be as fair of a matchup as he originally thought.

grimmsnarl's bigger, stonger, and likely more experienced. it makes danny feel a bit guilty but he pushes the feeling aside for later. right now, he needs to focus up.

"keep going!"

grimmsnarl throws another POWER-UP PUNCH, muscles growing bigger after.

[attr="class","noodles"]Eris Halla

[attr="class","danny"]two for two so far, danny looks to further his wins to prove to himself that maybe it's not just a fluke.

briefly, he wonders how Greyson Connors's doing this tournament.

stopping a random person on the beach, he asks:

"hey! are you participating in the tournament?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Evette Moreau

[attr="class","danny"]stretching his shoulders out, danny approaches the center of the battlefield with a bright smile on his face. he's doing good so far — too good, maybe — and he's looking to extend his winning streak.

"afternoon! i'm danny. it's great to meet you."

[attr="class","noodles"]Martín del Mar

[attr="class","danny"]danny lifts the box and places it off to the side, freeing up space on the bed for them to sit. it feels uncomfortable as he settles on it; perhaps it always will feel this way.

"i did, but..."

foolishly, he says:

"this is a bit more difficult than i thought it'd be."

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm

[attr="class","danny"]"stay close to them, grimster!"

nodding, grimmsnarl continues his approach, bracing through the DISARMING VOICE to throw a POWER-UP PUNCH right at espurr's tiny body.

[attr="class","noodles"]Eris Halla

[attr="class","danny"]can't believe tapu bulu's tryna murder danny's poor exeggutor.

"hold on, eggheads!"

the grass-type's eyes pulse in a HYPNOSIS in an attempt to calm the legendary down.

[attr="class","noodles"]Zac Ramsay

[attr="class","danny"]"you sure about that? i mean we don't mind..."

grimmsnarl nods, eager to start the battle.

"sure! we'll take it."

not needing an order from his trainer, grimmsnarl jumps forward and bows, FALSE SURRENDERING as a spike of his hair shoots out at the espurr.

[attr="class","noodles"]Eris Halla

[attr="class","danny"]"could always stay on the sub."

with me.

though he doesn't say it; he isn't sure why he doesn't and that worries him.

he steps over to the two boxes and flips the top one open. inside are articles of clothing; nothing special, really. he left most of the important things in oldale where they belong.

"i don't think they separate by gender either."

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm

[attr="class","danny"]still, despite the situation, she's able to coax a genuine laugh out of him. for moments, no matter how brief, he forgets.

"love it much more already."

but he nods, reality sinking back in.

"it's pretty ass but i'm sure it has its merits. could be rooming next to a really cool dude for all i know."

a few doors down is jayden cross's room. perhaps they'll meet someday.

"yeah, i'm sure i'll be out of here in a couple of weeks."

he also has plans on buying their penthouse back. first, he'd need help with creating a new identity. maybe someone from intel could help? Killian Decker.

"where will you be staying?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm

[attr="class","danny"]he chuckles at her tease, nodding and shrugging at the same time.

"that's one way to look at it."

turning to look at her, he nods.

"yeah, that sounds good."

his room's bare, lacking in decoration and personality. it's literally a steel box, maybe a coffin, and it makes him both sad and uncomfortable as he steps in.

"it's...nice."

a lie.

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm

[attr="class","danny"]maybe his battle against Zac Ramsay wouldn't be his only battle this tournament after all. perhaps hooked on the thrill of winning, danny finds himself stood across another opponent.

"sunny day is an amazing name! so cute."

smiling, danny calls out his grimmsnarl.

"this here is grimster!"

[attr="class","noodles"]Eris Halla

[attr="class","danny"]danny already knows what's coming even before she says it. she's said it a lot; too much now that anymore just makes him feel guilty. so he shakes his head, interjecting:

"it's fine, sera. i didn't do anything. i chose this."

even now there's a distinct lack of danny in his voice.

"and this isn't too bad so far. the sub's actually quite nice."

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm

[attr="class","danny"]it isn't as easy as danny thought it would've been; but then again, he wasn't really thinking when he made the decision, at least not in the way he should've.

it all feels overwhelming, to say the least, and by the end of the tour he's quiet, silent as they approach the baths and dining hall.

"it's pretty big."

far bigger than he expected it to be.

with a faint smile, he tilts his head over to her.

"thanks for doing this, sera."

[attr="class","noodles"]Serena Malcolm