Lana dropped it as Victor rebuffed him with ease. He bubbled in the water for a moment before siting up again. Even if he wasn’t submerged his exposed skin wasn’t too cold. Even with the open-air bath, the thick steam sort of held back the cooler air. Making a small note to wait for Victor to escort him on their dates, that was the extent that he understood he’d done wrong, he didn’t push any further. “I will, then.”[break][break]

Talk of a day pass excited him, but a part of him instinctually wants to rebuff the offer. But there’s showers here…and complimentary shampoo and soaps. He could do with a pit stop here every other week. Travel was fairly cheap anyway. “T-That’d be n-…nice.” And with that the coordinator crawled closer to his patron, sitting on the other side of Garbage Baby, eyes on the man. “Just…for me?” He can’t help but ask if he really would pay for Lana to come here…by himself. What did he like about that? It made it easier for Lana, he could be as silent as he liked but… He may have been a rookie at this, but even he didn’t see the appeal for Victor. It’s odd...but not terrible. “Your…I-Is your skincare routine…extensive?” He may have been soft spoken, and a little nervous, but there’s still a wry smile that tugged at his lips as he crafted a flirtier reply. He was trying. “I mean…they- they do other s-spa treatments…mud baths…mani pedis…you know.” Lana did not know, but he’d had ample time to read the deals and offers.

yb3OCodT [break][break]


915 - 98 = 817

[break][break]

+ victor evans [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

This isn’t like him. He doesn’t try this. He scrounged, he starved. He would dig through the trash than try this. But sometimes, a person got a little fed up with being hungry and relying on the kindness of others. He had money! Just…not enough. All he needed was a dollar and some change. No one would miss that right. Just a bill…ANY BILL! With those explicit instructions he’s sat by a dumpster and waited for his companions to come back with their prices. He figured if anyone could swipe cash from a purse or register, ghost pokemon would be the most adept at it. Garbage Baby kept him company, laying on his lap and nuzzling into his growling stomach. The Linoone had already gorged himself on food form the dumpster, and he was a little rank. Lana didn’t care though impatient at the thought of walking into a fast-food join and getting something that was actual warm and relatively clean. [break][break]

Tat’s not what greets him. As he heard the noises of a struggle, Lana’s face seemed to get paler and paler. “No…They….t-they didn’t….” he murmured as he gently pushed off Garbage Baby and stood up to greet his ghosts. As if on cue, the mysterious forces that had been pulling at Elliott appeared. A Drifloon had wrapped her arms around one of Elliott’s arms, while his Dusknoir grabbed the other. A cheerful Mismagius led the crew to their trainer, revealing the blonde proudly. “Guys! I just need the money!” he hissed trying to keep his voice down. He didn’t want to yell at the well meaning pokemon. [break][break]

The trio looked at each other for a moment, confused before Mike the Drifloon lowers her tin limbs down to Elliott’s waist and patted him down. In moments, she’s found the wallet and chucked it at Lana, who fumbled with it confused, and horrified. He’s about to tell them to let him go and apologize when a deep growl rang out in the alleyway. This one with a cramp in his stomach that made him grimace. His Linoone is up and leaning on his left leg, keeping watch to make sure Lana didn’t get vertigo and fall. The group of ghosts complain as they saw their owner struggle with his morality, encouraging him to do the thing that would better his survival not soothe his guilty conscience. [break][break]

“A-At least let him go!” he argued, though the pokemon didn’t budge. He gave the blonde an embarrassed look before averting his eyes. “S-..Sorry guy, I-” He didn’t have a good excuse. Lana ripped open the wallet quickly, thumbing through to find the cash and ripped out a few bills. “Ok, that’s more than e-enough for d-diner guys.” He said, though he sounded firmer than before. He moved towards the guy trying really hard to shove the wallet back into his pants, but after a bit of awkwardly fumbling, was content with just sliding it into the boy’s shirt. “N-No hard feelings r-right?” It doesn’t occur to him he’s put himself entirely too close to Elliott.


[break][break]

+ @elliott [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The dark type is satiated the minute he felt the hand gently rub his head. The pokemon sank a little further into the water, while his owner imitated him, practically hiding himself in the warm waters as Victor spoke. He understood in theory what they were doing and what this arrangement was to be but…they hadn’t really discussed it. As far as he could tell, Victor hadn’t done anything untoward to him either. But that didn’t keep him from letting Garbage Baby wander between the two. He got the feeling something about this had bothered Victor, but he dind’t want to push the subject. “…Next time I’ll wait then…S-save me from getting- uh- lost.” He spoke up, words slow as he reigned back that terrible stutter. [break][break]

If only he could speak his thoughts clearly. “Mhmm. M-More than I thought I would.” He said before submerging himself completely and letting the warm soft boil his head again before resurfacing with a small gasp. “I’ve..uh.. I’ve never b-been to one of these before.” There’s a pause as he glanced away. Conversation wasn’t his forte, but this was part of his job now, right? “Have y-you?”

bSUqzxqb [break][break]


937 - 22 = 915

[break][break]

+ victor evans [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

A day at the spa seemed nice, and he was grateful to victor evans for bringing him. He wasn’t exactly sure what the man did aside form win big in casinos, but he knew the guy was busy. But at least he was generous. With the rest of the day to himself after their little soak together, Lana had gone about exploring the rest of the hot springs. And while he’d already soaked a bit once, he hydrated with some juice from a vending machine and set out again if only to look at how cool the other baths were. They all had different décor, right? There’s no way they were all the same. He stripped down his meager belongings and rinsed, flushing a bit at the sight of other people naked. [break][break]

Every person he saw made him feel awkward...inadequate. Garbage Baby pawed at his leg, and he promptly shook away the thoughts. Right, relaxing. Hot springs. Focus on the good. Lana forced back down his insecurities before stumbling out to the bath in nothing but a towel to over up his privates. Though it barely did that well. He missed his swim trunks… He noted another bather and quickly looked away, eyes already staring at well-toned arms and pecs. He half wanted to turb back, that insecurity coming back up. UGH. Maybe he’d ask Victor to join a gym…or get a personal trainer. He felt embarrassed to be naked and…well scrawny looking. He caught the other bath goer smirking and grimaced. Not with the condescension too! And then the purple haired stranger spoke as he slid into the water, trying not to flash him. Garbage Baby tumbled seamlessly into the water after him. [break][break]

Sitting across from Casey, he had been staring a bit earlier in envy but now he was staring at his face dumbstruck. “…w-….what….?” his voice is barely louder than a whisper and his Linoone splashed out of the water, jumping and splashing down as he attempted to imitate a Buizel. “Does…d-does he put bees in the tubes?? I-…” Lana, one who didn’t even own a lip balm, was vaguely familiar with the brand but not all too sure what gross ingredients in carried. “Really???” He’s clearly grossed out, but so curious at the same time.

zqb09BAb [break][break]


1000 - 18 = 982

[break][break]

+ Casey Fincher [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

His partner opened his mouth happily, tongue lolling out as the muscles in his body relaxed and Lana spoiled him. Before Garbage Baby can even reply, he got his answer. Lana flinched, shoulders tensing up as he clamped his mouth shut. His partner, however, is quick to snap attention to their beloved patron and began to paddle over, eager to great the generous man. Lana didn’t want to disappoint, or more so, he couldn’t disappoint him. He was paying after all. [break][break]

Lana waited for the other man to settle in, listening for any other intruders to the peace before opening his mouth to speak. “I-…Sorry.” No excuse. Garbage Baby is less apologetic barging into the older man’s personal bubble like the rudest safety blanket ever. He doesn’t bark or cry, but clawed paws reach up to pat the man’s side as he offered his sopping wet head for a pat. “I-Isn’t it nicer if-…if I welcome you in?” he asked moving a bit closer to his date. [break][break]

QUl_coPj [break][break]


953 - 16 = 937

[break][break]

+ victor evans [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana had never been to a sauna before, much less as a first date. He hadn’t been sure what to expect, but the hustle and bustle around the hot springs hadn’t been quite it. Most people went to a movie or somewhere to eat. This…felt more like a thing older women did as a Girl’s Night. Still, he wouldn’t complain about it considering he wasn’t even paying for this. He just had to show up, check in, and go where they told him too. The arrangement hadn’t been discussed too much, with Lana understanding he got to hang out and get paid for it. The end. He occupied time and silence which was hard since he wasn’t the best conversationalist, but it was good enough for someone. Probably because his partner was even worse at conversation than he was. His linoone accompanied him dutifully, waddling with him as he changed and rinsed himself of whatever grime he may have accumulated since the last time he’d borrowed a shower at the Pokemon Center. [break][break]

GB sat under the shower head with him, content at the coolness of the water as his fluffy, greasy fur began to dampen. Lana grimaced a little, dousing the dirty pokemon in soap and scrubbing him clean before the little monster threw himself into the hot springs. Satisfied, GB wouldn’t immediately muddy the water as soon as he plopped in, Lana nodded over at the dual type and walked over. The steam was thick, and the warmth of it all immediately dampened his swim trunks. GB pressed on, and Lana could tell he’d found the water by the loud splash he heard and the bubbling that followed. He carefully set aside his slides, making sure no one would trip over there before making his way to the water’s edge. [break][break]

He dipped a toe in before his foot followed and then his legs. His face and skin were already flushed form the heat, and despite his hesitation, Lana moved his entire lower half in before sinking down to his shoulders. Locks of hair touched the surface, floating aimlessly before he dunked his whole head. The warmth enveloped him fully and he stayed under until his face began to burn. “How’re you holding up Garbage Baby?” he asked as he heard light doggy paddling as the fat dark type moved towards him. Now that he was in it, he could kind of get why Victor had wanted to come here. Poor old man probably needed it for his back or something… “You sniff him out yet?” he added as he lifted a hand to pat the Linoone. [break][break]

WoFsHr0u

[break][break]

+ victor evans [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana felt a small yank forward and let out a small grunt as he stumbled forward before catching himself. He checked the sand immediately for a wild pokemon before his eyebrows knit together as he looked down at the little Pumpkaboo. “Isn’t it a little early for you…?” he asked as he lifted his bag away from the dual type. [break][break]

When Ciel approached he can’t help but take a step backwards nervous at how easily he greeted him. Mike, however, seemed enthusiastic that the trainer asked for her. Most sort of assumed she was a balloon…or hid their kids. She floated forwards, circling Ciel slowly, inflating a bit as she did before ruffling one side of his head in greeting. “Ah- Mike! You can’t be so touchy with s-strangers!” Lana hissed, trying wave off the flying ghost away from the brunette. “Y-Yeah, she’s with m-me.” He added, frowning at his pokemon’s behavior. He didn’t want her giving the other and excuse to stay. Lana nodded in the direction he’d seen the Pumpkaboo from. “Yours?” he echoed, though far more blunt and with far less eye contact than Ciel had. “They’re cute.” He added, his compliment much more quieter than he’d meant it to be.

[break][break]

+ @ciel [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He took a bite out of his snowcone as the Litten slowed it pace and turned to make sure he was following. It had gotten into a habit of doing that every 10 feet or so after the boy had gotten distracted thinking he’d seen his companion somewhere. Finally, he more less understood what the little cat was doing as they rounded a corner and he could see his Dusclops harassing another person. He could see the bulbous, red eyes bulging out behind him in a shadow while ghostly hands occasionally reached to poke and pinch the poor blonde. “Hey!” he called out, as he got closer before offering a nod in greeting. [break][break]

“Fuck off them.” He said frowning slightly at the Dusclops as it froze in its mischief before retreating form Wren’s shadows. Though, not before rudely ruffling Wren’s head with both his hands and letting out the strange echoes of a laugh. He circled Wren once revealing his true form rather proudly before reaching towards the second snowcone in Lana’s hands. The boy however quickly pulled away the sweet treat. “No, I know you’ve been picking on them and I have to scold you for it since you got caught.” He said. He quite didn’t care what his ghosts did to others. They were ghosts…sometimes they got bored. Didn’t everyone. But he understood the social expectations of scolding a naughty pokemon. He forgot about keeping that understanding quiet so he could appear more genuine. His eyes run over the other figure, dressed oddly even in this heat. “Actually…maybe you were right to.” He said earning him another happy laugh from his partner. The Litten meowed in protest looking up at Lana almost annoyed at the moment. Desptie the odd clothing choices and the mused hair…he could tell the fair skinned stranger was still looking a little…overheated. Glistening with sweat and flushed. [break][break]

“Hey….do you want this?” he asked offering up his Dusclops’ snowcone.


[break][break]

+ wren rourke [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

As the strange blonde struggled forward, something like a shadow followed it. The shadows on the ground occasionally twisted and flickered as if circling Wren like a vulture. This unnatural phenomenon seemed to have gone unnoticed for a few minutes. A single, red eye trailing his prey as they trudged forward, in the terrible heat. As Wren slows down the temperature began to drop as a rather large creature manifested out of her shadows before placing a single hand on her shoulder, only disappear the minute she turned to look. [break][break]

Lana does not see this. He does not see his missing friend at all. Instead, what great him and his pair of snow cones is a mewling litten, cuddling around his legs before pawing at his feet and rushing off. While Lana watched it ran back towards him, pawing at his shoes before rushing off again. By the third time Lana began to follow wondering if someone had thought their cat tag. Oddly dedicate, the little stray tugs him farther away from the snow cone stand and he vaguely hoped his Dusclops wouldn’t have too much trouble tracking him down. "I hope you're not gonna get me jumped...." he muttered as the cat continued to lead him while his ghost poked and prodded Wren from his own shadow.

[break][break]

+ wren rourke [break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]