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"Mm! That makes sense...but I'm glad you decided to come out! It's really nice to see you!"[break][break]

Her smile is as genuine and bright as always, though there's something behind her eyes that's a bit more tired than usual. It could just be from the hour, or the drink, or both— and she'd certainly be faster to admit to that than any world weariness to a stranger.[break][break]

But Lux is Lux, and it's easier to be a bit more vulnerable around them.[break][break]

"Another drink," she answers immediately. "Please."[break][break]

Her cocktail is only half-finished, but it'll be far from her last for the night. Luka shrugs, a bit sheepishly, and hopes Lux doesn't notice that the empty glass beside them is hers as well.[break][break]

"Ehe, sorry. I guess it's just been a rough..." Week? Day?[break][break]

"Year? And looking forward at the next is...hmm."[break][break]

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So this is a good lesson into precisely why Luka doesn't often go on the offensive.[break][break]

The force of the attack sends Sakeru reeling, both Pokemon and trainer blasted back by the force of the recoil. It's more power than Luka is used to wielding, and that shows in just how uncontrolled it is. She can only thank the stars that she's managed to stay clinging to the dragon's back, and that no one on the surface seems to be hurt by her carelessness.[break][break]

"Are you okay?" she asks her Dragonair, who nods— a little battered, but not all that worse for wear. The timely assistance of Shalin Nariya has kept the recoil damage to a minimum. Just in case others are in the same boat, she instructs her Primarina to assist with an aqua ring, spreading currents of healing water throughout the entire party.[break][break]

And now that it seems the danger is truly out of the way, she finally has a chance to marvel at the shrine! There's plenty of ooh-ing and aah-ing, and she manages to sneak a few photos of the excavation. How exciting...this may make for good promotional material for the rangers![break][break]

Once everything of note has been cleared away, she even claims a small prize for herself. As she watches one of the cute Zigzagoon swimming away, Luka notices something glimmering in the sand nearby. She plucks it out to discover...a pearl! How lovely! Deciding that she deserves a little treat for all her hard work, Luka tucks it into the front of her swimsuit for safekeeping, then begins her ascent with the rest of the divers.[break][break]

---

[break]
- primarina uses aqua ring[break]
- taking a few piccies!

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Pretty cocktails are right up there with sweet in terms of Luka's tastes. And Casino Starlight's signature of the night is checking both boxes![break][break]

Although at this time of night, and with more than a few drinks in her, she's admittedly spacing out a bit. Or like, a lot. A few people have tried to chat her up only to receive vacant, dreamlike answers as she sits and stirs her glass around and around and around, watching the blues and purples of her cocktail swirl about like a nebula.[break][break]

She does turn around, however, when someone sits right beside her. For a moment she just stares at them, but green eyes brighten with recognition a moment later.[break][break]

"Eh...?" Now there's a face she hasn't seen in a while. The corners of her mouth turn up into the beginnings of a smile.[break][break]

"Lux? What're you doing here?"[break][break]

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It's just her luck, or perhaps a cruel twist of fate, that her attempts to flee mere memories of heartbreak would lead right to the man himself. Luka doesn't notice him at first, half shrouded by the gardens and shadow. But a cloud shifts overhead and moonlight streams into the Insectarium, illuminating a figure in a gleaming mask and well-tailored suit.[break][break]

Her breath catches in her throat and Luka stumbles again, nearly tripping over her powder-blue heels. At least the universe is being just as unkind to Remiel Calcifet, though it would bring her no satisfaction to learn about it.[break][break]

She has half a mind to simply turn around and find a place to be truly alone, but something keeps her rooted in place. Maybe it's the champagne, or maybe it's a yearning tug on her heartstrings— or both. Whatever the reason, she lets him speak, though her eyes flit from garden blooms to buzzing insects, never able to properly land on him.[break][break]

"My— oh. She's lovely. She's perfect, really." Soft laughter tries to float between them, but is weighed down by melancholy. "So I messed it up, naturally."[break][break]

It'd be easy to turn the blame around and say it's his fault, but she knows that this time it falls squarely on her shoulders. A sigh flutters past her lips as she thinks of @geneveive again— her lovely dress, her pretty smile, and how much simpler and sweeter things would be if she wasn't still such a mess.[break][break]

"It's...it's fine though. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be bothering a stranger with my problems." Even though the spark of familiarity is there she dons a mask of ignorance just like the one tied around her head. It's easier this way.[break][break]

"Are you...enjoying the party?"

[break][break]

---

[break]
- bruh[break]
- filling prompt 5 in a spin-off: dancing in the moonlight[break]
- dress & mask

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She'd never understood why that air of hostility had hovered between them. But whatever the cause, it seems to have faded with time. Luka's smile widens as she makes more room for Illeana next to her, happy to have some company for the night. Perhaps, if it's not to intrusive, she might even be able to get to the bottom of whatever made things so weird before.[break][break]

"Oh, great! You should totally try this one," she says, gesturing to the drink in front of her. "It's really good! It's like...uhm...berry? You can barely taste the alcohol."[break][break]

There's a pause, and she frowns. "I dunno why they're calling it a gravedigger when it's so sweet though...isn't that, like, kind of a weird name?"[break][break]

From the way she talks, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that this isn't her first round. But unfortunately, Luka is just kind of like this. She kicks her feet under the bar counter and smiles again, pastel pink nails clicking idly against the side of her glass.[break][break]

"It's, um...it's been a while though, gosh! Have things been, um...good?" That's a silly question, given the current state of Hoenn. But it's the holidays, so hopefully things at least feel a little more cheerful.

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"Why thank you, madame!" Luka slips on her own Galarian accent as easily as pulling on a coat. But hers is all artifice, the product of a talented mimic and amateur linguist. The act slips a notch, however, with the kiss on her hand— a sweet gesture that has her giggling like a schoolgirl. Twin dots of rouge are barely concealed by her mask.[break][break]

"You're really too sweet," she says, looping her arm through the other woman's and leading her forwards. The walk to the exhibits is a meandering one, and on the way Luka manages to snag another flute of champagne from a passing waiter. It's a blissful few minutes, at least until the crown jewels come into view.[break][break]

"Wow...it's really beautiful, isn't it?"[break][break]

Each sparkling gemstone on the crown reflects back into her wide-eyed gaze. It looks as beautiful as it does fragile— as all precious things are, she supposes. In her silly childhood fantasies, Luka had often imagined herself as a princess, adorned in jewels just like these. And isn't it funny to think that for a moment, those childish dreams had almost come true?[break][break]

The champagne has finally had it's way with her, and with a start Luka realizes that her eyes have gone misty under the mask. She sniffs once, flushed with embarrassment, and unwinds her arm from her companion to hastily wipe at her face.[break][break]

"Sorry, I..."[break][break]

This is silly. She's being ridiculous, and the poor woman at her side deserves so much better. A proper companion, not some heartbroken, lovesick swain. Luka knows she'd done this to herself— what else would coming to this exhibit do but dredge up old memories? And yet she'd willingly stuck her head inside the noose all the same.[break][break]

"I need, um, t-to get some air, I think. Just for a minute." Her apologies are stained with champagne from the half-filled glass, and she finds herself stumbling over the long train of her dress when she tries to move away. "Sorry, I...you're so lovely, really! I just, um...I-I've had one too many, I think. S-sorry...[break][break]

She stumbles again and almost reaches out for a hand to hold, but thinks better of it. With one last apologetic smile Luka turns and flits away, making a beeline (hah) for the Insectarium and the promise of moonlight and a moment to breathe.

[break][break]

---

[break]
- bruh[break]
- with @geneveive until she starts angsting over Remiel Calcifet[break]
- this girls a hot mess im so sorry[break]
- dress & mask

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