Ruslan would worry baout his frined anyway, but Calvin's reassurance net the ranger a small smile. "Ok." he backed off. For now. And then immediatly struggled to smile at thethoguth of all of Calvin's meals being procured form foraging. "U-Umm, if y-you say so." Maybe...maybe he'd take Calvin to a buffet place for lunch. [break][break]

"Y-Yeah! Those!" Lana said nodding shyly. He hadn't done many, but the few he'd participated in had been pretty fun. "I-I made a couple o-of friends like t-that too." he said immediately thinking of August Gallagher and his older brother Felix Gallagher . He'd count that guy, despite how intimidating he was. "Uh...y-you have a cell r-right? I c-can text you about stuff like t-that." He nodded even faster at the idea of Calvin coming to watch him. "I think...I c-can get you a ticket for free? May-maybe?" He could try to finesse it. Backstage assistant or something. [break][break]

Mikey, seeing as the pair were ready to leave, takes the lead. The ghost is seemingly the only one focused on completing their task for the today. Garbage Baby is too happy to trot along at Calvin's side, fat tail wagging happily behind him as he waddled forward. "O-Of course! I-I want to heard h-how you started d-doing ranger stuff! And w-where you live? And um-..." he paused hoping he wasn't babbling too much to his friend. "Y'know. C-Catch up."

[break][break]

+ calvin brenner | mission prompt: eggs in one basket
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]


[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana does his best not to swipe Nagi's phone like a feral creature, not wanting to seem desperate. But he's excited. More than excited really. This is good progress for him, and he'd done it all by himself. Or, well, thanks to Garbage Baby. "I-It's good t-to meet you." Lana began before introducing his own name. "Ruslan." He practiced enough to get it out in one go. "Y-You can c-c-call me L-Lana though." he added. [break][break]

He then turned his attention back to the phone, carefully inputting his number. He didn't want to mess this up by fucking up his own contact info. There's an option for a photo, and for a moment Lana wondered if he should take one before backing out immediately. No, instead he enabled it to take a photo of Garbage Baby chasing after Watson. It's blurry but he figured it was a good enough reminder of who he was. [break][break]

"T-Text me anytime." he said, sounding a little bit confident before backpedaling hard. "G-G-Garbaby B-Baby is a-always u-u-up for p-playdates! So-" he cut himself off, carefully handing back Nagi's phone. "Um. Yeah."

[break][break]

+ nagi miwa | mission prompt: sunset selfie
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

While a parade and large crowds WOULD FEEL overwhelming, Ruslan had eagerly asked his two only friends to join him to walk the event. He'd thought of it as a good way to catch up and...well, selfishly, he'd hoped for the moral support. [break][break]

He felt awkward, despite living in the city, to step out of his own home and join such a large celebration. But...it'd be fun! He had to just hope for the best. And for a while, it kind of was! As he followed the crowds he kept checking his texts with nagi miwa and calvin brenner to see where they were at before eventually parking himself on a street light facing towards Melody Miro 's parade float. [break][break]

The storm of flowers that filled the air was entrancing, and Garbage Baby found himself quiet as he clung to Lana's shoulder looking up. Despite the weight, the youth didn't seem all too bothered. After a moment he decided it was probably best to call Calvin and check to see where he was at. Nagi seemed more used to the city. Calvin might be just as lost and awestruck as he was. He dialed with his other phone waiting for him to pick up. As soon as it did he'd say, "Hey! The float is passing right by me! I'm standing on a lamp post on the corner as it turns."

[break][break]

+ calvin brenner nagi miwa
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]


[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The second Garbage Baby is touched, the badger flopped onto the ground panting excitedly and letting Calvin have access to his belly. He was sure Calvin remembered how to do it just right. He'd known the ranger for so long. Ruslan for his part made sure he was out of anyone's way before diverting all his attention to his old friend. He nodded excitedly as the boy spoke, grinning bright and so hard his cheeks hurt. [break][break]

"Congrats!" Lana chimed, genuinely happy for his friend. He hadn't left Littleroot in the best of circumstances but Calvin hadn't even had the option. He's happy he's out now though. "Ranger? I-Is the pay goo-good?" He frowned slightly at the career choice, It was perfect for him! But he also knew how chronically terrible it was to make a living as one ,especially starting out. But...as long as he wasn't homeless it was ok right? "Y-You eating ok?" he added. [break][break]

He perked up as Calvin turned it back to him and shuffled awkwardly. "I-I'm ok! Safe! Uhh...ha-happier..." he trailed off before looking back at his friend. "E-Even more s-s-since you-you're here." he said, smiling again before continuing. "I've been-..uh...I-I've been do-doing contests with G-Garbage Baby. It's fun." he said falling more and more back into that comfort Calvin and him had. "I-I get by...um...b-by the way-" he gestured at their address slips. "L-LEt's do these a-and get lunch?" Ruslan suggested.

[break][break]

+ calvin brenner | mission prompt: eggs in one basket
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]


[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana managed a grin at his tentative new friend. "I-I can see t-t-that..." The Shinx was certainly full to the brim with energy, but he was cute...so Ruslan would cut him some slack. He hadn't realized that much time had passed until Nagi gave his ultimatum to his partner. He looked over at him in surprise before stumbling over himself to give out the same warning to Garbage Baby. "Y-You heard h-h-him! Sun-Sunset!!" Lana called out. The badger pokemon barked twice to show he'd heard his trainer before turning back to Watson.
[break][break]

Garbage Baby, while heavy and lazy, put all his effort into chasing the Shinx. Sand is kicked up, and Garbage Baby is barking and huffing with exertion, pouncing and scrambling through the dunes for the chase. Lana caught another little video of the pair before accidentally turning he camera to Nagi. "Oh- um!" he put the phone down to stop the video and swallowed hard.
[break][break]

"R-R-Really?" Red eyes went wide for a moment before darting to the ground, to their pokemon and back. "Y-Yeah, I think G-Garbage Baby w-w-would like tha- that." he said, eyes on his phone as he unlocked it and set up the contact screen for Nagi. "I'm...I'm n-not too f-far either." he added, peeking under his bangs at Nagi, trying hard not to smile at the idea of making a new friend. Even if this was more so just a mutually beneficial thing for their pokemon. It was an in- a start.

[break][break]

+ nagi miwa | mission prompt: sunset selfie
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The Linoone calmed down slightly as he felt his trainer's shaky hands, but especially when Lana hefted the over weight badger into his arms. Closer to a face, Garbage Baby was quick to lick Lana's cheek before his tongue hung out his jaws and he turned back to Calvin. Mikey hummed at Calvin, letting go once it seemed the ranger was steady again. Lana is still frowning when Calvin finally turned back to him. [break][break]

Even if he was alright with it, he trembled nervously under the stares and grumbles his partner had attracted towards them. He's busy glancing from other volunteers to the ground and back at Mikey when Calvin called him name. At first he thought this was just an attempt at reading the sticker name tag on his chest, but then again, Garbage Baby was covering it up. The dark type on the other hand was rapt in attention, tail wagging excitedly as Calvin called the coordinator's name. [break][break]


"M-Me?! Uh...y-yes." he stuttered out before fully processing. Wait a second- The hair was a little longer than he remembered, and maybe he was an inch taller but- "Calvin?" he asked, surprised to see him after so long. He'd really thought he'd never get the chance again as he refused to go back home and slept on the ground more times than he cared to admit. "Y-You're right! It's m-me- i-it's us!" he replied, slowing but surely matching his friend's energy. As he did, Garbage baby squirmed in his arms, demanding to be set back down on the ground. Once his paws touch linoleum again, the Linoone is back to harassing Calvin, circling his legs slowly and waiting for the tithing of pets and scritches. [break][break]

Ruslan beamed at the rookie, before gesturing for the two of them to move outside so they could stop being a nuisance. "H-How've you- you been?" It'd been a while since they'd spoken, but he was still far more comfortable with him than most.

[break][break]

+ calvin brenner | mission prompt: eggs in one basket
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]


[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The call to action was simple enough: show up, deliver a some eggs to relieve storage space at the nursery, report back and head home. With a few ghosts at his disposal, the task seemed like something manageable enough. What really drew Lana to it, however, was simply the number of people that would be around and the baby pokemon he might see. Babies were cute, but he wanted to try his luck at speaking with someone new again. [break][break]

It's gone fairly well with nagi miwa at the beach, he wanted to give it another try. And hopefully- hopefully he'd make an acquaintance. A friendly one. The lobby of the nursery is bustling with people and Lana quickly made his way to the counter to announce himself for the volunteering opportunity. His words, as usual, are clipped and short. The stutter that accompanied longer phrases was there, but the lady at the counter seemed understanding enough. That's what he thought anyway when he managed to look her in the eyes, another tiny goal of his. [break][break]

He's given his charges quickly enough, a full basket of eggs that his Dusclops Mikey held for him while Lana filled out some paperwork. Garbage Baby is sitting patiently next to the ghost guardian, having been promised walkies as soon as they left the nursery. But the hefty dark type can't really sit still, sniffing the air curiously for a moment before lazily turning his head. [break][break]

And then he locked in. Slowly at first, Garbage Baby quietly slipped away from Mikey waddling over closer and closer to the rookie ranger. And then, once he's close enough, another whiff leads to a memory. Back when he was a little smaller, but probably still as fat. "WOOF." There's a loud bark, before Garbage Baby beelined for Calvin's shins, forgetting about his precious cargo. He's too excited to see someone familiar. [break][break]

More barking followed, and Lana scribbled out the last of his info before nodding to the woman and turning to Mikey, who was already floating over to retrieve their companion, a lone red eye wide in concern. "Wait- Garbage Baby! Stop-" he's already babbling, knowing his excitable partner is harassing someone new. He pushed through quickly, trying to avoid anymore accidents as his ghost moved to help steady Calvin and Lana dove for Garbage Baby to try and calm him down. "Sorry! S-S-So sorry! H-He's friendly! R-Really." he blurted out.

[break][break]

+ calvin brenner | mission prompt: eggs in one basket
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]


[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana smiled at the novelist, letting out a small laugh as he spoke of his pokemon before turning to look at the pair. He waved at the electric type before looking at Garbage Baby and giving him a small nod. At that, the Linoone carefully booped the the Shinx, encouraging the pokemon to take off as Garbage Baby got ready to chase. [break][break]


As Nagi offered more photos, Lana is already doing just that, phone in hand as he zoomed in on the two pokemon. Occasionally when they veered too close to other beach goers or joggers he would tense up and let out a quick, "WATCH IT!". They cut it close, but Garbage Baby understood the command enough to slow down and avoid ramming into people. [break][break]

He looked back at Nagi after he'd taken a little video. Lana looked away for a moment, putting together carefully what he wanted to say before nodding. "I-If you i-i-insist." there's the hint of something cheeky in his tone, but he's not brave enough to look Nagi in the face to confirm it. He met their gaze for a second before chickening out. "I-It's lucky t-t-though. Gar-garbage Baby doesn't have p-playmates." His ghosts tended to wander more than stick to one place. It was rare the Linoone could actually play with someone other than Lana. "S-So...um...th-thank you too."

[break][break]

+ nagi miwa | mission prompt: sunset selfie
[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

[attr="class","header"]BROTHER, MY BROTHER

[attr="class","setting"]

Ruslan has a rather complicated relationship with his family. He's flat out cut off contact from his parents, and lost contact with his older, half brother. They've never been the perfect family, and just barely got along. As it stands, they're probably the only person left in his immediate family Lana is willing to speak to, if only to know he's alive at least. [break][break]

The bad times far outnumbered the good, with Lana being a younger sibling they'd never wanted. At best Lana was ignored, at worst berated. He can count on his fingers the number of times he said them laugh on one hand. While the relationship is strained, Lana still clings to some hope that he can actually make amends and move on. [break][break]

tld;r lana's older brother was shitty to him for complex reasons, and lana wants to see him again for equally complex reasons leggo. i have more notes but i am sneepy.

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + taken by @emil