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Frankly, Luka isn't sure what to expect out here.[break][break]

A post-METENO Hoenn could hold anything, really. Giant dragons, fearsome leviathans, some kind of abominable snowman...of course if she'd actually done her research, she'd have known that there's not much of that to be found amongst the new Pokemon in the region. But where's the fun in that?[break][break]

Icing scampers on ahead, unincumbered by any of her trainer's trepidation. And her boldness pays off very quickly. There's a rustling in the bushes ahead, and the icy dinosaur brays her excitement as snowflakes go flying. Luka braces herself, certain that something dangerous is about to leap out at them—[break][break]

But instead it's...a little mouse?[break][break]

No wait, two of them! Or like, is it meeses? Mices?[break][break]

Whatever. The point is, they're adorable![break][break]

Luka bites back a squeal so she doesn't upset the little cuties, but it doesn't matter much anyways. The pair is actually rather bold as they approach Icing, and are soon clambering all over the little dino, chittering excitedly. Perhaps the ice type is as much a novelty to them as they are to her?[break][break]

Regardless, what had started as a very serious affair quickly becomes playtime for the whole bunch. And after a while, Luka has a precious pair of pokemon to add to her team.[break][break]

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Isaac Merlo locks eyes with her. And for a moment, Luka stares back.[break][break]

She inclines her glass towards the masked man as well, and discreetly steps to the side to conceal the already drained ones from sight. Is the damage already done? Yes. Does it really matter? Of course not. Everyone else is drinking and having a good time, so why shouldn't she?[break][break]

But it's the principle of the thing, or something like that. It is rather embarrassing to be caught drinking alone at an event like this, after all.[break][break]

Though it seems that this self-inflicted isolation isn't doomed to last long. The awkward smile she grants Isaac quickly turns to a gasp of surprise as someone bumps into her. Just as kepler brueshaber jolts away Luka is quick to stagger backwards, though her frantic imbibement of the masquerade's delicious cocktails makes her a might less graceful than she'd like. In fact, some of her own champagne splashes out of her flute as well![break][break]

But Ashley Shepard needn't worry about any fights breaking out. As soon as Luka rights herself she frantically checks her dress, thanking the stars that her assailant hadn't been carrying red wine.[break][break] "I'm so sorry!" she exclaims, which is pathetic really since all she did was simply exist. "It's okay, um..." There's a few drops of champagne dotting the tulle of her gown, but they blend well with the gold lining the hem of each delicate layer. "It's my fault anyways! I should have been paying attention."[break][break]

Apologies come as easily as breathing, and warm and sweet as honey. Luka laughs the faux-pas off as merrily as she's able, and with her own gentle brand of reassurance. "I'm just glad you're okay! Take care not to stumble again...these floors must be pretty slippery."[break][break]

She doesn't chat with the pair for too long, not wanting to interrupt what's obviously a date. And besides, her attention is quickly stolen away by yet another masked stranger.[break][break]

Hadn't she just been lamenting her own solitude? Where are all these people coming from?![break][break]

His words strike a chord with her, however. Ever the romantic, she can't help but be instantly ensnared.[break][break]

"Oh goodness, there is?"[break][break]

Her summer-green gaze cants upwards and lingers on bright green foliage and plump berries. Mistletoe is her favorite tradition, and it's almost funny to be caught under it now, when the trajectory of her life has been far from romantic.[break][break]

Luka follows Zev Harcourt's advice— almost. Rather than taking a step back she tiptoes forwards, a shyly smug smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. There's suddenly something alluring about being completely anonymous; she can be anyone, do anything. Luka Chêne would never be so brazen towards a stranger, but she doesn't like that girl anyways. So why doesn't she take a break for a while?[break][break]

And if she's going to pretend to be someone else for the night, the least she can do is have some fun with it.[break][break]

A cashmere kiss is planted on the stranger's cheek, as fleeting as a snowflake and twice as sweet.[break][break]

"Thank you for the warning," she says, coquettishness dripping like holiday tinsel from her tongue, "I'll be sure not to make the same mistake again."[break][break]

Enjoy the show Elisabeth Fiorelli uwu

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- lowkey tipsy post lets go [break]
- open to interaction![break]
- dress & mask

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"Let's go, Icing!"[break][break]

Luka's Amaura races on ahead of her, her fins rippling like the aurora borealis underneath Hoenn's afternoon sun. It's been a long time since she's done this; catching Pokemon has never really been her prerogative. Even training tends to fall by the wayside, though she's tried to be more vigilent as of late.[break][break]

But there's a lot more to explore after the METENO incident, and she's been growing rather restless besides. Perhaps a jaunt outside the city will do her and her partners some good...[break][break]

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Oh, thank goodness.[break][break]

Luka makes a beeline for the bar as soon as it opens. Perhaps some liquid courage is exactly what she needs to get this evening off to a better start! She hums softly as she surveys the menu— everything looks wonderful but it's the starlight champagne that catches her eye. Sweet and elegant...a perfect drink to start off the night.[break][break]

She hovers near the bar while it's prepared and catches snippets of chatter and gossip, though still feels a little too awkward to interject herself. For a while she's fine simply listening, until a lilting Galarian accent catches her ears, and she freezes. She daren't look for the source, nor listen further and confirm her fears. Instead she keeps a measured smile on her face, thanks the staff handing her her drink, and immediately turns on her heel and heads in the opposite direction.[break][break]

Her first glass is drained in minutes, the bubbly champagne cool against her lips. Thankfully, one of the passing Bulbasaur quickly provide another. As her heartbeat returns to normal she stares out at the crowd again, tapping her fingers against the glass in time to the orchestra.[break][break]

It's a lovely melody, and she can't help but be swept up in it. Standing at the edge of the dance floor, champagne in hand, Luka sways gently in time the the music, gazing out at the other partygoers and wishing her hand was held too.

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[break]
- open to interaction![break]
- prompt 7: music appreciation[break]
- dress & mask

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And just like that, class warfare is solved. Good job, Martín del Mar! You did it![break][break]

It's a good thing too, because Luka is freezing and the constant barrage of snow doesn't help. She sneezes and shakes powder out of her hair, but still ends up looking like a glazed donut.[break][break]

"I think we still won," she whispers over to Locke Jamison. "I mean, free cocoa is totally a victory, right?"[break][break]

She giggles and returns to her snowboy, her small parade of ice types following happily. Frankly, it's astounding that it'd managed to stay standing in all this chaos! "I'll join you guys in a minute!" she calls. "I just gotta finish this little man first—"[break][break]

"Bleeeh," she interjects, sticking her tongue out at the two lovers. "Get a room!" It's all in jest, as the sing-songey trill of her laugher indicates. If only they had some mistletoe to really perfect the scene...[break][break]

But that's very cute and romantic and she's feeling very single again, so Luka turns back to her project. "What do you think?" she asks no-one in particular, surveying her snowboy with a careful eye. "Carrot nose? Fuzzy scarf? Hmmm..."[break][break]

She could give her little boy a cherry nose, but he might look too much like Rudolph then. "What do you think, Audie? Oh— oh, wait!"[break][break]

Luka interrupts herself, frantically waving down the pretty blonde lady she'd hunted down Mareep with once.[break][break]

"Hey, hey! Mademoiselle!" she calls out to Fae Madden. "We're getting hot chocolate soon! With marshmallows! Wanna come?"

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Sabotaging Locke Jamison with 1x snowboy bottom![break]

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If one is to arrive late, they'd best be arriving in style.[break][break]

Luka isn't trying to make a grand entrance, but her arrival at the masquerade manages to turn a few heads regardless. As it should! For she'd truly pulled out all the stops tonight (and it doesn't hurt that her bodice is cut dangerously low).[break][break]

Icy blue tones and gleaming gold cascade down her body in a stylistic reference to Aurorus. The jewels at her throat and adorning her dress gleam under the light, and shimmering layers of organza trail behind her in large, undulating ruffles. Her hair is set with tiny pearls that almost resemble snowflakes, completing the look of a true ice queen.[break][break]

It's a gorgeous gown, a gorgeous venue...all the ingredients to create a simply magical evening! And yet—[break][break]

Honestly she'd rather be in bed, curled up with a drink and her new favorite manga. If only she could spend the whole season hibernating like an Ursaring...[break][break]

But she's here now. And she'd really better get into the spirit of things! There must be something wrong with her— normally she loves events like this. It's the elephant in the room, she reasons, that keeps her from fully enjoying herself.[break][break]

Her eyes scan the crowd, searching for someone she both wants to see and fears to be noticed by. It's silly, but this time of year always has her feeling particularity sentimental. And if things hadn't gone so terribly wrong, they'd be coming up on their first anniversary...[break][break]

The mask, at least, helps to alleviate some of her anxiety. If Remiel Calcifet is here, perhaps he'll simply stride on by without noticing her.[break][break]

She reaches back to tighten the ribbon holding her mask in place, ice-blue fingertips brushing against gold filigree. Certain now that it's secure, Luka strides further into the foyer with the steady click of heels against marble accompanying her.[break][break]

It truly is a breathtaking affair. But the marvelous décor is overshadowed by even lovelier guests; a garden of colorful gowns and finely tailored suits. The masks draw attention to the most sensual features on every human face: their eyes and their lips, and Luka finds herself flushing as she slips through the sea of attendees, flitting daintily about like a snowflake on a breeze.[break][break]

Given her work with promotion and outreach, she knows there are several high-profile figures here tonight. A glance around can help her distinguish some— MATIAS SILPH and his lovely date Eva Morales stand out in particular. But maybe that's just because she'd seen his suit beforehand. Others aren't as easy to single out from the crowd, but that doesn't really matter anyways.[break][break]

For now, at least, Luka is simply content to be a pretty, silent wallflower.[break][break]

Like one of the myriad of ice sculptures that adorn the room she stands still at the edge of the room, glittering in her ice-dripped gown. She wishes for a glass of champagne or some way to occupy her hands that isn't just smoothing her dress for the hundredth time. But for now at least she simply becomes a pair of eyes, watching the guests and trying to soak up their secondhand cheer.

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[break]
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- dress & mask

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Thank goodness for Ashley Shepard! Another comrade to aid against the army of people and Delibird she and Audric Black are facing. That is, at least, until Locke Jamison rallies the troops against a far more lucrative enemy.[break][break]

Aw...that really doesn't seem fair! Martín del Mar and BARNABY FINCH are simply having a nice time together. And yet...[break][break]

Out of the corner of her eye, she notices the Darmanitan eyeing them warily. It certainly won't do for their snowball war to escalate and interrupt the entire event...[break][break]

But also, maybe Locke is right. Eat the rich! Just as a lark, anyways.[break][break]

And maybe she's also fine with ruining Mars and Barnaby's cute romantic moment. Heaven forbid...could she be single and bitter about it? Haha, no way...[break][break]

"Okay, deal!" she shouts in agreement (because honestly, it's a good way to avoid being pelted by snowballs from more Delibird). She grins over at Eris Halla and Isaac Merlo as well, her new comrades in arms![break][break] "Hey, hey! You guys'll pay for your crimes against us commoners!"[break][break]

Not that they've done anything wrong (lol lol lmao), but it's the spirit of the thing! And because they're bringing out the big guns, Luka releases more of her ice types into the field: a Glaceon, Amaura, and Snom enter the fray along with Vanilla.[break][break]

Ice beam, powder snow, blizzard...honestly, Luka's just letting them do their own thing! But the amount of snow and projectiles from both sides is reaching ridiculous heights, so she finds herself ducking behind Audric once again...the poor guy!

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Sabotaging Locke Jamison with 1x snowboy bottom![break]

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Everything feels so futile.[break][break]

Even though they'd succeeded in preventing yet another catastrophe, Luka can't help but feel like this is simply a precursor to more danger, more strife, more turmoil. The optimist in her protests, insists that after rain comes the rainbow. But it's hard to see the world the way it could be anymore— right now, the way it is is all she sees.[break][break]

She shares Eva Morales's sentiment, the fear that all they've done is made things worse in the long run. But unlike the scientist, Luka feels powerless to do anything about it. She isn't brilliant or talented or powerful in any way that really matters. The enormity of everything they're facing now seems so vast and heavy that she feels crushed under the weight of it.[break][break]

But she picks herself up, dusts herself off and turns her back on the frigid wastes in front of them; colder and more desolate than even icefall cave. No matter how she might feel, it won't do to break down here— even as doubt and fear and anxiety tumble around in her head like wet clothes in a dryer.[break][break]

Helios returns, his pride wounded but otherwise unharmed. And Luka knows she should count herself lucky that all her Pokemon have survived this. Her Blaziken grunts in surprise as she runs in to hug him, burying her face into soft feathers just as she had done as a child. After a moment of hesitation, clawed arms return the gesture. Luka sniffles once as she lets his radiating heat envelop her, and the small comfort does wonders.[break][break]

One by one she releases the rest of her team to join them. A small pile of warm bodies helps to stave off her fear and the cold that surrounds them. Even though Luka has little faith in herself, it's them that she can count on— a small family she'd built with her own two hands.[break][break]

Her Musharna is still wounded, but Eva's life dew revives her well enough to attempt a heal bell of her own. Even though Luka knows it'll likely be futile in saving the frozen Pokemon, she'd be remiss if she doesn't at least try.

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- this sucks man[break]
- musharna uses heal bell despite it being futile[break]
- spacesuit[break]

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"Oh no! Not the cocoa!"[break][break]

Pour one out for Audric Black's poor hot chocolates. Or like...well, they're already poured out. In that case, the only option is revenge![break][break]

"You'll pay for your crimes against Audie's hot chocolate!" she shouts, still hiding behind him like a coward. In the few moments of cover he can provide her she hurries to make as many snowballs as she can— they're imperfect, but it's quantity over quality right now.[break][break]

With a deep breath Luka sprints forwards, attempting to rush Locke Jamison and catch them off guard. Instead, she ends up slipping on the snow and goes careening forwards, sliding like an amateur snowboarder right into part of Locke Jamison's unfinished snowboy.[break][break]

Her handful of snowballs goes flying, just like the powdery snow from Locke's poor snowboy. It's a massacre! A bloodbath! It's— well, it's probably not that bad, but still![break][break]

"Oh no! W-wait, sorry! That was an accident! I— wait, what?"[break][break]

Oh shoot! She'd totally forgotten about Isaac Merlo, the poor man she'd gotten caught in the crossfire. Luka quickly tries to scramble away, throwing loose fistfuls of snow behind her. Two against three (plus a billion Delibird) are rather poor odds!

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Sabotaging Locke Jamison with 1x snowboy bottom![break]

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She might have made a terrible mistake. [break][break]

Whatever snowballs she can dish out are returned tenfold by Locke Jamison and their small army of Delibird. Luka squeals as she ducks behind her half finished snowboy, giving an apologetic smile and shouted, ”Sorry!” to Gunner Graves, who’d been caught in the crossfire. [break][break]

But even her perfect snowy baby can’t protect her from a multi-angled assault! Eris Halla manages to catch her right upside the head, the snowball bouncing off it like a piece of stale fruitcake. Yewch! For such a young girl, she can sure hit hard! [break][break]

”Oh, come on!” she shouts back, preparing another snowball for a counterattack. ”I didn’t even kill you that time!” [break][break]

Two assailants (plus almost two dozen Delibird) are more than she can defend against. To make it worse Vanilla, instead of coming to her defense, yips happily and sprays her trainer with even more snow, just excited to be part of the game. At least this impromptu fight has worked as intended- Locke isn’t asking about Remiel Calcifet anymore. [break][break]

When Audric Black shows up with his hot chocolates in tow, Luka takes the opportunity to run behind him, using the poor man as a meat shield against all the incoming snowballs. His attempts to diffuse the situation are cute…but it’s too late now! [break][break]

”No truces, Audie!” she shouts, taking aim and letting another snowball fly. It misses wildly and ends up careening towards Isaac Merlo instead. Looks like all that target practice at the Splashfest hasn’t helped much. ”This is war now! Come on, you’ve got to help me out!”
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”Eh? Oh, um….” [break][break]

Luka’s smile remains, but now it seems almost pasted on. And even though she knows Locke Jamison hadn’t done so on purpose, they’d just twisted the knife into a very sore spot. [break][break]

”I’m not sure,” she answers vaguely. Would Remiel Calcifet dare to show his face here? She can’t be sure. ”Monsieur Calcifet must be very busy this time of year, so…” [break][break]

The flock of Delibird that suddenly descend upon them seem to be quite literally heaven sent. It’s a welcome distraction from her current discomfort- cooing over cute birds is far better than ruminating on ex-boyfriends. Vanilla joins the fun as well, her powder snow dousing the group in even more flurries and turning Luka’s hair into a field of frost covered primroses. [break][break]

And it’s more than just snowflakes in the air. Just like last year, mischief abounds as snowballs start to fly. With a giggle, Luka bends to make her own and lobs it over at Locke Jamison with a cheeky grin. ”Think fast!” [break][break]

She quickly ducks, preparing for retaliation. More snowballs come together and she lobs one over at Eva Morales, just for fun, but it goes wide and ends up in Gunner Graves’s direction instead. Oops!



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