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While Abraxas goes looking for trouble, it's already found Luka.[break][break]

She'd stumbled across the rampaging Absol quite by accident, a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time (isn't it always?). And as always Luka had blindly run in to help, not considering that she might once again be out of her depth.[break][break]

They've been at a standoff for at least a minute now. Her pink hair has lost it's shine under a thin veneer of ash, turning it a dusty rose. Luka wipes the soot out of her eyes as she backs away from the snarling Pokemon, one arm outstretched in an attempt to soothe.[break][break]

"Shh, shh...h-hey, it's okay! What's the matter? I'm not going to hurt you..."[break][break]

Whatever's troubling the pokemon is not whisked away by a few cooed assurances. And though Luka could easily summon one of her pokemon to deal with the trouble, she doesn't want to take an unnecessary offensive or scare the poor thing away. She can see it in the Absol's eyes: they're aggressive, yes, but frightened all the same.[break][break]

She does her best to appear calm, cool, and collected, even as her heart races. If she overreacts, she might just anger the Absol more. But she can't help the shriek that escapes her when the Absol lunges at her with hackles raised and fangs bared—[break][break]

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Her tiny catch wiggles on the line and Luka chuckles faintly when she pulls the poor thing up. It's a welcome distraction from the awkwardness that still enshrouds her. Unfortunately though, she really has no idea what she's doing, and the small Milotic wriggles frantically while she tries to pull the lure out of their mouth.[break][break]

Eventually they go free and Luka sighs, leaning back while her line once again dips languidly into the water. Her gaze falls on DEREK HOFFMAN, lounging on his Gyarados a little ways off from their yacht. She wishes she could ask to join him, but can't think of a way to do so without being too obvious...

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Honestly, Luka can't believe she's made it this far.[break][break]
Does she believe in Helios? Absolutely! It's her own skills that she finds lacking. Unable to command him properly, Luka has simply let her Blaziken do as he likes...and he's doing fantastically, of course.[break][break]
Her father had trained him well.[break][break]
Admittedly, however, she's learned a lot just by watching him battle. His quick thinking, impeccable judgement and lethal timing is all committed to memory. Helios strikes hard and fast and with a blunt decisiveness— and that has carried him into the semi-finals.[break][break]
He opens much the same. Almost evenly matched in size, Helios takes advantage of his slimmer form to go low rather than high. When his opponent rushes him with all their might, he skids towards the ground and throws his leg out to trip up the Incineroar with a low, sweeping kick.[break][break]

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Can Luka knock GABRIEL BLACK off his throne...
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She has to. She has no choice! Sorry sir!!!

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She hasn't been keeping very good track of what she's gotten lately, oops![break][break]

The crown is nice, though! It sits jauntily on Luka's head while she fishes around in the shallows for something else that's nice and glittery.

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This is...this is what it's like to be on a roll, right?[break][break]

Best not break the streak while it's still going! Luka and Mantine try for another Primarina Twist!

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For some reason, the look on jayden cross's face makes her want to cry.[break][break]

But Remiel Calcifet beckons for her and there's no reason for her not to heed his call. Luka reaches up to seek out his hand once again, searching for some kind of comfort amongst all this chaos. This place might have taken memories and body parts, seeking to strip them down to bits of data, but they can't take what makes them human.[break][break]

Love. Kindness. The warmth of another's hand in your own. Even though some might have lose the ability to feel them they're still there, beating like a second heart.[break][break]

Luka takes Remiel's hand and, for a moment, thinks that maybe everything will still turn out all right.[break][break]

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[break][break]
- this sucks man[break]
- going to terminal 4: past

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She should have guessed that when mint frost invited her to 'some rich guy's yacht' it would belong to Remiel Calcifet.[break][break]

Her smile freezes in place as soon as she spots a familiar head of raven hair, and the vibes go rancid. Immediately, she wonders if there's any discreet way to jump off the side and let the sea finally claim her.[break][break]

Instead she mumbles some brief hellos to everyone else on the ship and quickly scurries off to an isolated spot near the bow. She doesn't cast a line so much as simply letting it fall into the water, counting on gravity to do the work for her.[break][break]

A pink pendant dangles from her neck, catching the afternoon sunlight. She'd forgotten to take it off.

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Fish is speedrunning daily posts before a concert let's GOOOO[break][break]

They're doing the Primarina Twist again!!!

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Fish is speedrunning daily posts before a concert let's GOOOO[break][break]

And she's coming right for you Locke Jamison!! Sorry!!

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Fish is speedrunning daily posts before a concert lets GOOOO[break][break]
Luka is sticking her hand in the water to get a thing yes yes
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Bit by bit, the reality Luka had always taken for granted is taken apart like a jigsaw puzzle. It's dismantled with such cool indifference that she's almost not surprised. Instead it's a slow, cold dread that seeps up from her toes and through her veins.[break][break]

And yet, the answer it provides is exceedingly simple. It's just the trolley problem. To her there's no question; their universe will die to save all the rest. And though it's not comforting, Luka takes some pride in the thought that their sacrifice might save countless lives.[break][break]

But that doesn't stave off the heartbreak that comes along with it. Galar isn't her home country, but her heart still breaks when she hears the news and sees the look on Remiel Calcifet's face. She clings to his hand for as long as she's able, but when he pulls it away she lets him go. That's right, he isn't hers anymore—[break][break]

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The front of Luka's blouse sags suddenly, like a balloon with all the air let out. In a way, that's a very accurate description. Her back feels lighter than it has in years.[break][break]

And when she looks down at Remiel Calcifet again, there's no feeling of loss or regret or sadness. There's only a warm fluttering behind an empty chest and an overwhelming sense of adoration. But these feelings quickly give way to concern as she joins him on the ground, arms enveloping him in a quiet sort of comfort. She presses kisses against the remaining half of his head as though her lips might heal him; and perhaps they could, should he allow it.[break][break]

When he rises she does as well, just in time for chaos to erupt all around them. A well timed Protect from Cupcake keeps the pair of them safe from a tide of sludge, but although their safe it's the principle of the thing that infuriates her. A sharp glare is cast towards the instigators; FERNANDO SILPH most of all, but Cillian Quinn and Lulu Flint and MATIAS SILPH as well. To be faced with the end of the world and still resort to infighting seems so stupid and childish that it makes her want to scream.[break][break]

(It's an errant thought but vaguely, she wonders about Katherine Fairburne's transformation, so similar to what she had experienced months ago with Martín del Mar. She might enquire about it were she not so furious.)[break][break]

"What the fuck is wrong with all of you?!"[break][break]

Her goodness might not be lost but her filter is. Cursing sounds so alien in her fluttering soprano. But it hurts to watch people fighting when circumstances dictate that the best way to survive is to work together. It's frustrating— no, it's infuriating. And it's about time Luka let herself be honest with her feelings and scathing reproach.[break][break]

"No wonder this universe is going to end all the others! Look at yourselves! Selfish, egotistical...can't you think of anything other than your petty grudges for more than five minutes? The meteor might as well smash into Hoenn now and spare us all from having to listen to you squabble!"[break][break]

Her breathing is ragged after her little outburst and her eyes shine with frustration. It's cathartic but leaves a sour taste in her mouth, an inherent sense of wrongness. This isn't her...why is she acting this way?[break][break]

Luka instead tries to seek comfort in her lover, but finds him overhead instead, retracting his hand. She frowns, then finally notices jayden cross with an arm outstretched.[break][break]

For some reason she finds herself conflicted. But why should she be? The choice is obvious. "I'm sorry," she says with a bittersweet smile, "But I want to go with mon coeur. I... Lips purse as she mulls it over. "I was thinking...the sixth terminal might give us some hint at how to solve this without any lives lost. But I'll go wherever you want, darling."[break][break]

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[break][break]
- this sucks man[break]
- deleting the dd cups :sadge:[break]
- forgets that she and Remiel Calcifet broke up[break]
- loses her filter[break]
- clefable uses protect against the sludge wave[break]
- rejects jayden cross :pensiveass:

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Go figure, right? Just as she's wallowing in thoughts of one ex, another appears right at her elbow.[break][break]

It's like she's being haunted by the ghosts of lovers past. But Luka smiles at DANNY HALL regardless and finds that despite everything, she's still happy to see him.[break][break]

"Mm! They're pretty g-" Her answer is drowned out by Danny screaming right in her ear. She squeaks and shouts back, though the inflection is all wrong—[break][break]

"Adrian?"[break][break]

Oh. Oh! Like the singer, right...[break][break]

Another shout diverts her attention, drawing a summer green gaze towards jayden cross and his entourage. He's surrounded by familiar faces, save one knox prescott. Luka waves back, a little awkwardly, and chews on her bottom lip.[break][break]

"What do you think?" she asks Danny, face close and voice raised so he can hear her over the music. "Do you want a drink?"

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