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It seems as though her newest performers are struggling to keep the audience enraptured. But rather than blame her Pokemon, Luka puts the fault on herself. Perhaps she should have tried a different approach for this contest...cute has always been right within her wheelhouse, but cool has a totally different kind of vibe.[break][break]

What it means is that, even though she's managed to break into the world of contest idols and sparkling stars, she still has a long way to go before she can consider herself a good coordinator.[break][break]

It's a bit disheartening, but she doesn't allow that to show on her face, nor to affect the way she interacts with her Pokemon. Kit-kat are given the widest of smiles and nothing but encouraging words as they head into the final round, their last chance to make a positive impact with the judges.[break][break]

Discarding the flashiness that seems to have only hindered them so far (but keeping the costumes, because she worked hard on them dang it!), Kit and Kat enter the stage together, scampering right towards the edge.[break][break]

"Thank you so much for all your support, Hoenn! Everyone's done an amazing job tonight, don't you think?" Luka beams out at the audience, then turns to her Pokemon with a little nod. "Of course, the show's not over yet! Come on guys, let's finish this off with a bang!"[break][break]

It's their last chance to leave a good impression, so they'd better make this count! Kit and Kat hold paws and nod to each other before releasing a multi-strike attack. Each little explosion comes with a burst of color for flair, like a show of miniature indoor fireworks! Red, gold, aquamarine...brilliant colors fizzle and sparkle like stars, raining down on the audience in a harmless shower of sparks.[break][break]


[break]
notes: tandemaus uses population bomb

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"Incomplete? Maybe..."[break][break]

It certainly seems that way— as though one last piece might have this mechanical kingdom spinning properly again. Or maybe...[break][break]

"W-what if it's not just a gear that's missing," she suggests, "What if it's a key? Like a wind-up music box, y-you know?" While she doesn't see any evidence of keyholes, it feels like the kind of thing they might need to search for. One last piece once all the rest come together.[break][break]

For her part, she continues the trek in relative silence, though keeps her eyes open for any mechanical parts. Drawing closer to the towers really does feel like walking into a slumbering beast, and she's careful to keep her steps quiet and unobtrusive lest they wake it.[break][break]

Levy Alinsky notices the Volcanion first, but they're thankfully inactive. Still, Luka takes note to give them a wide berth. And when paxton concordas's Klink opens the wall, more music spills forth like blood from an open wound. She glances over at wren rourke, the only other to have heard the song so far— at least to her knowledge. The look on his face tells her that he can still sense it too.[break][break]

The melody washes over her, and with it comes a sudden melancholy so strong it makes her teeth ache. Each poignant note trikes a chord deep within her soul, dredging up memories that she'd long since locked behind her ribs.[break][break]

"Eh..."[break][break]

Pastel fingertips brush her cheeks and when they draw away again, they're wet.[break][break]

"Ehh?"[break][break]

Luka wipes at her face as discreetly as she can, but that isn't enough to stem the sudden flow of tears. "S-sorry, I just..." The music is louder now, and doesn't seem to have any particular source. It hangs in the air around them like a shroud, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.[break][break]

"I-I can keep going, I think. Sorry."[break][break]

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Perhaps they had gone a little to hard for the opening act. But no matter! Every contest is a new learning experience after all, and half the fun in being a coordinator is adapting to new Pokemon, new judges, and different kinds of pressure.[break][break]

All that to say— they've got this! And even though Luka tends to specialize in cuter performances, she's hopeful that she can still blend her usual style with a cool streak that'll delight the audience and judges both.[break][break]

The flashiness of their introduction is toned down a bit in their first actual appeal, but the costumes are still the same. Although at first, it's only one Tandemaus that appears onstage. Dressed as the ever iconic Sailor Moon (Sailor Mouse?), she's up on a small balcony at stage right, and seems to be searching for something. A few questioning squeaks echo around the otherwise empty stage: where is her partner?[break][break]

"Eh? What's the matter, Kat? Are you looking for- oh no, watch out!"[break][break]

The dramatic shout comes too late. A collective gasp echoes throughout the audience as the little mouse, already teetering at the edge of the platform, leans over too far and begins to fall. But moments later, her partner comes swooping in to save the day! Black cloak fluttering behind him, the other Tandemaus bursts onto the stage with almost impossible speed, moving so quickly that he's all but a black and white blur to those looking on with bated breath.[break][break]

He catches his partner mid-air, with a suave smirk typical of any action hero. To add a further flourish, the two turn a somersault while they descent, launching a swipe of air together that bursts with a loud boom.[break][break]

[break][break]

They both land unscathed, with Kat cradled safely in Kit's arms and gazing adoringly up at him. The other mouse grins as he sets her down, then bows with another cool flourish of his cape. Are those rose petals in the air? Perhaps...[break][break]

[break]
notes: tandemaus uses aerial ace

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And just like that, it's gone.[break][break]
Faster than she can think, and certainly before she can react at all. Luka simply blinks, and the creature has vanished into thin air.[break][break]

PENELOPE LIVY takes her leave just as quickly, but now at least she can stammer out a flustered, "H-hey!" when she's left in the flooded cave. Without the means to teleport herself to safety, Luka grumbles and sloshes her way towards the entrance, with her Pokemon on high alert should any further danger arise.[break][break]

"I-I'll call someone," she mumbles to herself, giving a nervous glance backwards to the shocked and frozen cultists. "It doesn't seem right to just leave them here..."[break][break]

Having a member of Hoenn's PD for a neighbor is certainly convenient. paxton concordas's number is on speed dial and she can hear it ringing as she starts to sprint towards the mouth of the cave. She makes a note to tell him about the weird Pokemon she'd seen as well— whatever they are is beyond her comprehension, but perhaps he might know something more.[break][break]

There's a good chance she'll never see them again. But regardless, her curiosity has been thoroughly piqued.[break][break]

---

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"Okay guys! You ready?"[break][break]

These cute little mice, in fitting with the contest's theme, are Luka's very latest addition to her team. But they fall more staunchly under the cute category than cool...not that that's ever stopped her before![break][break]

Working with a team of two is another change of pace for the seasoned coordinator, though she'd had a blast with it during Martín del Mar's contest last year. And it had certainly given her lots of ideas for this contest! Luka hums as she applies the finishing touch to her Tandemaus' costumes, then steps back with a little grin and a nod of approval.[break][break]

"Perfect. Let's go!"[break][break]

A shroud of mist covers the stage when Luka and her team make their entrance. There's an air of mystery about her two contestants, who remain unseen by the crowd. Though suddenly, from above, two small shapes leap down from the rafters, scattering the fog as they land in tandem and immediately strike a dramatic pose.[break][break]

[break][break]

"No, you're not seeing double!" Her Tandemaus spin around in their cosplay (is it cool? Luka certainly thinks so), and a clever trick of the light makes it appear as though they really are unleashing the power of the moon onto the crowd.[break][break]

"In the name of the moon...Kit and Kat are here to show you a dazzlingly good time!"[break][break]

[break]

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The reassurance from her teammates (teammates? is that the right word) certainly helps. The corners of her mouth relax into a more casual smile as Luka nods, and even offers a little thumbs up. "You're right!" she replies to wren rourke, "W-we've got this!"[break][break]

It's easier said than done of course, but isn't everything? Luka takes another moment to check her things while paxton concordas muses about the nature of the ruins, something that she honestly hasn't given much thought to. High concept stuff like this always goes right over her head.[break][break]

"Do you really think humans built a place like this?" She hadn't considered that. It could really just be an old, abandoned ruin...and yet there's still something nagging at the back of her mind. "It doesn't feel like anything has ever lived here."[break][break]

Nothing alive in a conventional sense, anyways. Nothing with flesh. Luka shakes her head and tries to push the feeling to the side, making a poor effort to convince herself that this is all in her head.[break][break]

She takes a few apprehensive steps forward, and then freezes again. The hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as her Lopunny's ears twitch and her beady eyes dart around.[break][break]

"D-do you guys hear that?"[break][break]

It's so faint that were it not for Bonbon, she'd think she was imagining it. But from somewhere within the depths of this vast mechanical kingdom the softest strains of music can be heard, as though someone had just wound up a far-off music box.[break][break]

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After so many impressive performances from such tough contenders, it would be normal for anyone to feel a little nervous. But Luka herself is surprisingly calm— in fact, there’s a certain kind of comfort that comes with pre-show jitters by now.[break][break]

The same can’t quite be said for her contestant. It’s her first contest performance, and the nerves are understandable. But Luka has nothing but confidence in her partner, and after a little pep talk Taffy seems far more sure of herself.[break][break]

Their introductory round begins with a dimming of the lights, with one spot focused on Luka. "Ladies and gentlemen," she begins, adopting a far more serious tone than her usual contest persona, "It's my pleasure to introduce you to the toughest creature in all of Hoenn! Ferocious, powerful...a Pokemon that can part the seas, and cleave mountains in two! Watch out...I think I can hear them coming now!"[break][break]

There comes a dull thud, then another. Each low boom echoes like a drumbeat, and it soon becomes clear that these are footsteps. Stones and earth rise to cover the stage only to crack and fissure underneath the might of whatever approaches, a being still hidden in the darkness of the stage.[break][break]

Energy runs like fault lines underneath the stone, an earth power erupting as small pockets of stone explode on cue. Steam hisses, and the earth quakes beneath every trembling step. From within the cloud of swirling earth and fog a huge and menacing silhouette can be seen, looming over the anticipatory crowd.[break][break]

What monstrous being might lurk within? A beast? A leviathan? The audience waits with bated breath as the steam begins to clear, and Hoenn’s toughest contender makes herself known. It’s…it’s…![break][break]

It’s a mudkip.[break][break]


The trembling stage finally stills as Taffy reaches the end of the walkway and poses dramatically. There’s a moment of silence before the humor in such juxtaposition hits the crowd, and good-natured laugher trills from the audience while Luka beams at them all, and Taffy lets out her toughest little cry.[break][break]

“Little things,” she says with a grin, “Can still come in tough packages. And as we’ve all just seen, you should never judge a book by it’s cover. The last thing you want to do is underestimate the little guys!”[break][break]

Taffy stomps her foot again, and a rattling boom echoes over the stage. In keeping with the theme, Luka flexes as well, though her noodle arms are nothing to shake a stick at. In that sense, perhaps she's perfectly paired with her partner![break][break]

---

[break][break]

notes: mudkip uses earth power

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It's just one thing after another, isn't it?[break][break]

At this point, it's almost par for the course. But as always, Hoenn has ways of surprising her. Even though she'd anticipated the arrival of another threat, the giant sea serpent that looms underneath them is enough to have Luka reeling back in surprise. A trail of bubbles is the only indication of her silent exclamation, however— the sound itself swallowed up by the sea.[break][break]

Is it really possible to bring down such a leviathan? There's strength in numbers, sure, but only a fool would charge right into the fray with nary more than a dream and a prayer.[break][break]

But luckily, Luka is exactly that kind of fool.[break][break]

Emboldened by her teammates and with a brazen belief in the power of friendship, she decides that the best way to deal with this beast is just to face is head on! It's perhaps a bit out of character for a support unit like her, but everyone should be allowed their shonen anime power fantasy at least once, right?[break][break]

"Let's make this one count, Sakeru! Use hyper beam!"[break][break]

With a loud cry, her serpentine mount fires off an immensely powerful blast of energy. The force of the attack sends them both reeling back in the water, but Luka manages to cling to her Dragonair's back for dear life as the beam strikes their Huntail opponent almost head-on.[break][break]

---

[break]
- team 2 pog[break]
- uses blizzard to form an ice barrier around the team/freeze the attacking pkmn[break]

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"Oh, you're an angel!"[break][break]

Not just in appearance, but in spirit— though all the white certainly helps. If Genevieve Cromwell told her she'd descended from heaven just to help her, Luka would absolutely believe it.[break][break]

And how nice it would be, to have a guardian angel! What a romantic notion...[break][break]

She beams, returning the curtsey with a saccharine smile to match. Giggles float up between the two women like soap bubbles as Luka leads Genevieve out onto the dance floor, and doesn't particularly mind that it's emptied out as other partygoers wander off to visit the exhibits. It means they have more room to themselves, a bit more privacy...and there's less people around that'll notice if she accidentality steps on the poor girl's toes![break][break]

Their dance is lovely (I'm assuming, because Fish is busy and hasn't been able to write anything waah sorry!!), though it ends perhaps a bit more quickly than she'd like. Still, Luka steps back with a gracious smile, though her hand hasn't left Genevieve's just yet.[break][break]

"I'm not sure, um, if you'd like to stick together...I was thinking I might look at some of the exhibits," she says, her gaze flickering over to the Hall of Geology. The inclusion of the Galarian crown on display has caught her eye— is it a bad idea to check it out, when Remiel Calcifet is likely to be nearby? Yes.[break][break]

Is she just full of bad ideas lately, though? Also yes.

[break][break]

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[break]
- bruh[break]
- open to interaction![break]
- dress & mask

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