[attr="class","danny"]he's struggling to eat his one takoyaki as is due to the intense heat it releases after he bites into it, but the nail in the coffin is when he hears the mention of the elite four. he chokes, quicky swallowing, then coughs.

"the elite four? ruby? THE ELITE FOUR?"

he drops his stick, leans forward, thoroughly engaged.

"did you win? tell me everything."

[attr="class","noodles"]Ruby Walker

[attr="class","danny"]she finds connection — he nods, smiles, agreeing.

"you're too kind, vivi." he accepts one of the glasses, holding it for moments as he finds her gaze. "your date's loss, then."

it's from their brief connection that makes him stay, still oblivious to her intentions. it's familiar in a way, comfortable, and he'd rather continue talking to her than wander around, lost.

her voice pulls him back.

"oh, i'm actually here with serena."

naturally, he tears his gaze away to glance around the room. he doesn't find her again.

"she's off mingling somewhere, doing what she does best. i thought i'd do the same but i guess i'm still not as comfortable here."

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

[attr="class","danny"]danny claps his hands together.

"the dynamic trio it is."

like his two friends, he pops open a pokeball, calling out his whiscash. it bobs in the water, barely staying afloat. maybe he could swim instead...

likely the least elegant of them, he falls into the water and drags an arm across whiscash's body. he taps on the water-type's fat, then points down.

"let's go cash cash. can't fall behind now."

[attr="class","noodles"]@chloe + Greyson Connors

[attr="class","danny"]"don't think i'm creative enough to ever join a pokemon contest..."

the thought of him up on stage has him preemtively cringing. he'd likely freeze and mess up his routine — but then again, he thought he'd freeze during the shoot, too. he'll consider it.

"...but i am dating someone famous, i think. i'm still not too acquainted with hoenn's pop culture and stuff."

he shrugs.

"but i joined the shoot to sort of get a taste of what that life was like, you know?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Casey Fincher

[attr="class","danny"]ruby's belief in him flusters him a little. he quickly laughs it off, brushing over it. again, his eyes widen in surprise — the realization's only hitting him now of just how little he actually knows ruby. he'll have to change that.

"you could always go down the trainer route! i hear they're making quite good money now, given how popular streams are nowadays."

he jabs into a takoyaki, raising it to his mouth.

"have you challenged any of the gyms here yet?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Ruby Walker

[attr="class","danny"]now that chloe points it out, he can't help but see pinchurchin as his hair and vice versa. he glances up, raises a hand to swipe at the spikes on his head, then laughs.

"yeah! they do look really similar. maybe i can just get one and save me the trouble of having to style this. not sure how dee would feel, though."

at her question, he nods.

"i'll send you her calendar and you can book through that. yeah i had to make one for her..."

[attr="class","noodles"]@chloe

[attr="class","danny"]his phone? oh! fishing into his pocket, he pulls out one of the newer smartphones, walks over to her, then extends it over.

"fishing sounds fun. or we can just hang out as well. either way — i'm down!"

he looks back to grimmsnarl, offering it a small wave.

"thanks so much, robbin. for the grimmsnarl."

[attr="class","noodles"]@robbin

[attr="class","danny"]danny assumes this interaction to be nothing more than innocent, so he shows no hesitation in the way his hand reaches out for hers, gently shaking.

"danny."

he gives an involuntary glance around, eyes glossing over the large hall. he doesn't find serena, which does little to ease his nerves. he exhales, focusing on the person in front of him.

"it's certainly an experience. a new one for myself."

he laughs, mirroring her sweet smile with one of his own.

"are you here alone, vivienne?"

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

[attr="class","danny"]the DOUBLE-EDGE comes crashing, though it doesn't crumple the grimmsnarl. it cries out in pain but brings both arms to wrap around steelix's tail, making sure not to get sent flying.

"again!"

they use their close proximity to their advantage. grimmsnarl keeps one arm tight then brings the other for a POWER-UP PUNCH.

and then another.

"hell yeah!"

[attr="class","noodles"]Greyson Connors

[attr="class","danny"]i've got you, babe.

it's more than enough to calm his nerves. he exhales, nods, then leans in for a quick kiss, smiling after.

"let's."

danny lingers near the elevator and simply watches serena disappear into the crowd, admiring for moments before breaking into a grin. he laughs to himself, tearing his gaze away.

right.

he steels himself, then enters the reception hall. he strolls through, making decent amount of eye contact with people, offering them smiles, nods, but he keeps mostly to himself. he reaches for a glass of champagne, picks it off a tray, and sips for liquid courage.

just in time for someone to approach him. he turns to face them, oblivious as he flashes her a smile.

"hey there."

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

[attr="class","danny"]he chuckles at the mention of a wedding, entertaining the idea while serena responds. he has always wanted to get married. he dreamed of it since he was young: married by thirty, kids a few years after that. he dreams of settling down, but for now it remains just that: a dream.

he offers the interviewer a wave, then flashes a smile into the camera before he's pulled away towards the building. when they're clear of any press, he exhales, nerves escaping.

"i'm like a natural at this, it's pretty crazy."

though he jests, it is suspiciously odd that he's yet to crack. perhaps he's enjoying this much more than he lets on.

"sounds like a plan. maybe stay close to me when we get up there. they'll eat it up even more."

he's using it as an excuse to be with her, really. the elevator dings open and they step in, doors closing behind them.

"oh. anyone i should be aware of in particular? crazy journalists or whatever?"

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

[attr="class","danny"]if only his best friends Greyson Connors and leo del río could see him now — they'd be ecstatic, maybe slightly envious of all the attention? the possible fame? he's actually not too sure but he likes to imagine the envy if only to feed into what little ego he has.

surprisingly, danny stays calm, cool, and even confident to an extent, through the entirety of the photoshoot all the way to the mini interview. the situation looks to be overwhelming, and though he feels the pressure of it, his desire to do this for her and to be the perfect fake boyfriend trumps all else.

plus, he'd be lying if he said this isn't the least bit fun.

he's smiling and listening when the interviewer turns to ask him a question. his name? how they'd get together? he opens his mouth to speak the truth but quickly remembers their many practices. he clears his throat, flashes a smile, then says:

"danny hall. pleasure. how did we meet?"

he pulls serena close, then leans into her as he speaks.

"we were both at a mutual friend's wedding. i remember sitting on one end of the room, and during the bride and groom's dance just looking up to see serena across the room. our eyes met and something just...sparked, you know? so i approached her, asked her to dance, and, well..."

beaming, he kisses her forehead and keeps his gaze on her, not the interviewer.

"we've been together ever since."

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

[attr="class","danny"]her words reassure him enough. he knows he'll be fine as long as she's there with him. it's when she's inevitably pulled away and he's left to fend for himself that worries him. he pushes the thought away, saving it for later.

"right. let's get going, then."

he buckles up, brings a hand to the stick, then shifts it, starting their quick drive to the event.

soon, they arrive at the entrance. he hands over the keys to the valet, quickly worrying if they'd try and steal his car, but the flashing of cameras pull him away. he quickly circles the car, then stands by serena as she, without a doubt, takes up all the attention.

finding a moment to lean over, he whispers:

"this is new, too."

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