The crackling of a mic announces the next fight, and the crowd gets a little rowdier, rougher. Andres finds it's almost controlling but he manages to push through, find a seat- or well spot, to watch the cage match. The opponent comes first and Andres watches, half nervous, half excited because he still only has a vague idea as to what kind of fight this is. And then-
[break][break]

Onyx??
[break][break]

He hears his name and it sends his heart beating faster. So he hadn't read wrong- bet wrong. Onyx was fighting. It's not farfetched to think he'd do this, but Andres can't help feel a tinge of worry. Until he turns to see the one eyed bastard himself and the man's as cool as cucumber. Deadly almost, but not quite. Not yet. Not like in Mauville all those months ago.
[break][break]

He slinks through, more aura than anything else. The Bisharp that stands next to him is unfamiliar, but she matched his vibe all the same. He's cheers are delayed as the crowd gets ready for the fight. Andres swallowed, before putting his hands around his mouth. "KICK HIS ASS STRAUB!"
[break][break]

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Andres doesn't like this line of questioning. He doesn't like talking about others in front of Onyx. He doesn't enjoy sharing something that he so easily laughs about with other friends. It's different here. More...shameful. A context that has yet to code any other interaction with his group of friends. Besides, Onyx doesn't need to know- probably doesn't want to know how he spends his time when they aren't talking. Hos sometimes, his mind spirals and he finds it harder sometimes to think clearly. [break][break]

That's not fun and frankly he doubted Onyx cared to know. So acts casual, nonchalant. He shrugs at Onyx's disbelief. "Yeah, I never cared to remember." Why else were most of his contacts half blurry photos with names like 'DANNY FROM CARDIO' or 'BABS AT REDBOX ON FRIDAYS'. Just enough information for him to make the connections in his head but not enough to care about what happens afterwards. That's how much his text messages went. A few flirty lines, a saucy photo, and a date and time. [break][break]

"Uhhh...like a week? Not many...I just meet people and then I don't see them anymore." A pump and dump as it were. A nail and bail. A slam and ran. A smash and dash. A screw and withdrew. A fuck and duck. As opposed to the more serious and opposite intent of a bang and hang. [break][break]

He doesn't talk about the length of time all this crap has been around. How affected he'd become by their last interaction and their last of interaction following it. Onyx, after all, was never meant to see his momentary lapses in character. He'd changed after all. He wasn't like that kid in Galar anymore. He was better, more confident, more sure of himself. [break][break]

He didn't get sad. He didn't ruminate and spiral and overthink. That's just not him. [break][break]

"Nice!" his overly cheerful tone a little feigned as he shook off the last subject like water off a dog. "I'll order pizza, we can watch something. Oh- I guess I'll clean up and wash up first though..." he said looking around. Better toss everything than let Onyx stay near it.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Their pace slows as they enter the clearing, and Chuchi keeps her distance, trying to calm down. Andres' students knew Chuchi, knew how competitive she was from the occasional clip he pulled form his older battles- but none of them had ever seen her angry, aggressive. She didn't want to scare them anymore than they already were so she waits patiently. Andres steps to Onyx, pausing at his side before stepping forward. The urge to grab his student and leave winning out against his usual cowardice.
[break][break]

His hand is on Onyx's shoulders, tight and trembling before he lets go. "Rodric? ...Rodric, it's Mr. Buenaventura- Your mom and I have been looking for you." he called out, as he identified the dark haired child. About the same age and height maybe. But what is that thing... a Ditto trying to take shape?
[break][break]

"C'mere, it's getting late." he added taking a couple more steps forward, hand out for the kid. "You sleep?" he added waiting for the child to look up at him despite a growing sense of dread.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Andres is liberal with his WOO'S! and his laughs. He's done this dozens of times, with friends and dates. But he forgets those faces in the moment, all too excited as the wheel spins and twirls. The only thing keeping them from getting flung into the sky, the seatbelts and bars strapping them in. [break][break]

But then he looks at Onyx all floppy limbed and grinning and his smile widens so much it hurts and the laughter that bubbles up out of him is so loud, and so genuine. No, this didn't feel like Onyx's usual haunts, and no he hadn't seemed super happy when they first made it through the bustling crowd- but he's happy now. And he hopes this little moment is just the first of many Andres can help him find. He hopes this wasn't a bad idea. He hopes its not a waste of his time. [break][break]

He lets out one last WOO, as the ride slows down before gravity takes over and he's standing on his feet again, shaking slightly from the rush. "Again?" he asked, turning to Onyx, only half kidding. "Maybe later?" he added, looking for compromise. "Right before we eat...so you don't puke on me." he added as the safety bars release, and he's already unbuckling his straps, buzzing with energy.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

It's that laugh that invigorates him, makes his cheeks warm and makes him want to get so close to Onyx. He doesn't resist, letting Onyx paw at his face with his sleeve. He laughs too, low and soft before pushing a hand on the ground and slowly beginning to shift onto his knees. "Don't get excited-" punctuates the quiet before he lifts himself up. He finds his pants, sliding them up over his dirty briefs and buckling up. Idly, he turns the faucet on, running a hand through cold water and running it through his hair and then once more over his face. "I think...I'll be fine out of here." he said. His legs feeling stiff as he stood straight. "We can- we can deep clean later at my place."

[break][break]

+ onyx straub | GOD ITS SO NASTY ON THE BATHROOM FLOOR? [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He didn't know how to tell Onyx, so he didn't. But Andres didn't really carry anything for protection. What? Pepper spray? Knifes? He didn't bring out Chuchi. She'd too fat, and perhaps a little too valuable. He's not willing to risk it, So he just, keeps his head down. Keeps his eyes on the prize- or well- his date. [break][break]

The address is strange, but he follows the instructions to a tee and gets in. He's not meek, not outwardly. And at least one thing his growth spurt gave him was height, an intimidation factor. He's not an easy target. Not yet. He had to be careful to keep it that way until he could link up with Onyx, the one more familiar with this. [break][break]

It's like a sports bar on crack. Yelling and laughing. Beer bottles clinking and the smell- it made him hungry. Another reason to keep Chuchi out of this. It's easy pickings here. He's surprised, and also not when he sees a betting section. Live entertainment? Absolutely. [break][break]

But the easy smile as he approaches disappears as he reads the fighters about to go in. "Holy shit-" he murmured before he's jostled by the book keeper. Andres isn't one for cold feet either. And even if he doesn't know, hasn't see the competition, he puts a fat stack on Onyx. "250 easy." he said, flashing the cash and signing himself up. [break][break]

Despite his confidence, he turns away with his little ticket and begins looking for Onyx in earnest. "Whattheufkcwhatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatfuck-" he rushes

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"I mean- it's not like I'm gonna call anyone back to come pick it up." Andres said with a shrug. He cleaned up to keep his pokemon from choking on garbage, not much else. OR well, to keep himself busy and from thinking about Onyx. Which sometimes, unfortunately, too up 70% to 90% of his brain power on any given day. [break][break]

"I guess. I don't track it." he said with a shrug, not really getting at what Onyx was getting at. A lot of things got left behind under his furniture, He just hadn't checked exactly what. Same with the corners of his closet or a cabinet under his sink in the bathroom. He had a habit of just shoving shit into a place and forgetting about it. Lately anyway, he's been pretty spacey. [break][break]

"I like cookies." he added, focusing on something easy. "I can help if you need...Or just lick the spoon." Chuchi barked and he dismissed her, sending her scurrying into his bedroom and huffing on her bed.


[break][break]

+ onyx straub || affections confections (ee) [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"You should be." Andres gaze is alert- almost desperately so. More than just the stress of losing a student, or that this area could be dangerous. There was no could be. It was. Something familiar holds both trainer and pokemon on edge, with Andres ready to run at the drop of a hat and Chuchi baring her fangs at anything and everything. She's drooling, hackles raised and pupils stretched so thing. [break][break]

It's not just a fight she's looking for. It's an end. [break][break]

His head snaps back to Onyx, lips pulled in a permanent grimace before Vatin takes off, Chuchi follows, sprinting through the foliage with the Nidoran. There's a small hesitation in Andres before he obliges, as if mentally fighting the urge to run forward and run away yet again. [break][break]

Chuchi is relentless, pushing through underbrush and foliage after the little poison type furious. Many times she simply bite through whatever was in front of her, angrily ripping it apart as well as leaving a tangible trail for Onyx and Andres to follow.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Maybe my luck will balance it out." he suggested Not that he considered himself particularly lucky. But then again, he'd never thought he'd see Onyx again. And that had been pretty lucky. As the ride begins setting up, Andres trembled in anticipation waiting for the spinning and the wobbling to start. [break][break]

The grin he wears plastered on his face as he turned to Onyx. "Yeah." The sound of air rushing through machinery and the sudden stop of everything cues him in that they're about to start. "But you already know I was, right?" He lets out a bark of laughter before the wheel they're inside of begins to spin, faster and faster and he wiggles in place as the g forces start to hit. And just as he'd promised, he's screaming at the top of his lungs as the wheel began to tilt from side to side.

[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Andres is too relaxed to really think, still spilling cotton out of his ears as he tries to come back from the brink of euphoria. When Onyx pulls away to look at him, Andres can only stare back, lips half parted as the thought of something gets lost. [break][break]

As Onyx holds him in place, he settles on the ground. They'd need a shower as soon as they stepped back into his apartment. For reasons other than the remnants of Onyx's load still on his face. His eyes are on Onyx, following him when he's in view and closing when he steps away. His eyes blink away a sudden grogginess as Onyx speaks up. "Yeah." there's a small pause and the ghost of a grin. "Spent...too much energy just now." And he shakes with silent laughter. "I want a milkshake..." there's a pause. "A real one."

[break][break]

+ onyx straub | THEY FUCKED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"Sorta…" he said back, remembering not so pleasant days of running throughout to catch a ponyta for his team comp. Chuchi had been well adapted to it, but she didn't like it either. He'd had his suspicions she may have originated from here or the city housed near the Tangle. After all, this wasn't the creepiest pf place in Galar, and she'd risen to the challenge beforehand. [break][break]

The laughing gets louder, more agitated and there's a gust of wind that carried the sounds of someone crying. "Rodric?!" He shouted, panicked as he tried to attempt the source. [break][break]

Chuchi tensed as something rushed through the bushes. When her trainer turns to look at the swirling path formed before them. "At least this way isn't terribly dangerous. The most you had to worry about was the people." He said, eyes forward instead of Onyx. He looked like he wanted to bolt. The question was towards his student or away to safety.


[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He barely catches his breath before Onyx steals it again, forcing his mouth shut and quieting a sudden moan. His head is tilted back from the force of the kiss. And when Onyx pulls back he can't help but stare dreamily while his hands tighten to keep him from moving too far back. [break][break]

Not that he has to worry too much about that since Onyx only readjusts to leave small bruises around his jaw and neck. He lets out a shaky breath before he he hears him closer. "Shit-" he hissed, his hips jerking forward suddenly as he felt a flash of heat run through him. Andres is a goner when Onyx is within touching distance, but when he says things in his ear with that voice, trying to hold back something, Andres melts. His brain goes blank. He'd follow that voice anywhere. [break][break]

"I'm sorry…it jus' doesn't feel real-"




[break][break]

+ onyx straub [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]