Coordinator and pokemon both whisper-argue behind backstage as they began replotting their next move. To what exactly? No clue. He doesn’t exactly know what he’s doing and neither does Yukina. At this point they might as well go what they know and wing it. Yukina could improvise a pose or a dance. She was good at that. And Lana didn’t need much to pull from the ghost stories floating around in his head. Hopefully, no one cared what he said and instead focused on the ghost type. The curtain closed and Lana jogged into place, a hand on his little microphone while the Froslass took to center stage. [break][break]

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The music began to play, and the Froslass would move her little arms outwards to the beat of the bells. Every movement staged in time with the beat created. For a moment it’s just her and the music and then the music began to swell. The tips of Yukina’s hand glowed gently, and the temperature began to drop. Lana’s breath is more and more apparent as she continued along. Fog crept at people’s feet and seemed to circle around the ghost. It almost looked like a dance for two. [break][break]

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She slowed down, almost as if distracted before there’s another burst of music. The mist twists in her wake, bits of ice begin to fall. Lana wracks his brain for something, anything. Especially when the performance is coming to an end. “Beware in y-your travels. Beware of her calls. Beware the mist hides the falls. For a lady like her, is as fickle as the gods that cursed her. Should you see a figure in the mists, in the snow, stay away.” Was that good enough? Yukina doesn’t react too busy doing her best to match the music as HAIL began to pound the stage once more. He’s not sure how he felt about the performance, but its one she’d wanted to put on and by the gods, he’d support her through it. [break][break]

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+ scrambling to hit that combo bby forgot to add music shout out to pmmm for forever making a great ost [break][break]

Hail | Beauty | ♥| ♥♥♥ | Badly startles those that have made appeals.

[break][break]

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

The heartwarming display of comfort is interrupted suddenly by one, fat, loud, and rather friendly Linoone. Sniffing loudly the black and white badger trotted up towards the trio without a care in the world, his investigative sniffs getting louder and louder as he approached. First the Lycanroc, then the Espeon and finally scooting all the way around to shove his snout into the trainer’s lap, tongue out and lolling as usual. Garbage Baby’s eyes were bright, and his thick tail thumped faster than one might except something so large to move. [break][break]

All the while, the silence is broken further by the sharp cries of Ruslan as he shuffled and tromped around in the underbrush, a thick looking folded piece of cardboard tucked under his arm. “Garbage Baby!? C’mon out, boy! Ugh, I said I just needed to pee!” he shouted, red eyes darting wildly to try to find his partner. While the dark type occasionally perked up at the sound of his name and even looked in the ghost specialist’s direction a couple of time, the badger stayed put offering a lick to Otto the second a hand or face got near him. Perhaps he was simply attuned to sad humans, having been raised by one. He understood that Lana wasn’t distressed distressed and so he stayed put. Though as the calls got louder, he did offer a couple of barks so his trainer could locate him.


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+ @otto
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Another stage, another whack at this contest business. He’d been hoping to sign up with August Gallagher but it seemed it hadn’t been meant to be. Nevertheless, he hoped his little friend would be around to at least see Garbage Baby in action. Him Felix Gallagher , hopefully, maybe. He flushed a little at the thought unsure if he’d left a good impression on them. But maybe, he could get the man to come around. [break][break]

Lana wished he was confident as his pokemon, trembling at the sight of luka chêne and Lux Defort , other coordinators that had shown their prowess in another contest. His eyes move to the next performance, swallowing hard when he realized he would be sharing the stage with BARNABY FINCH . Fuck. The competition was stiff as hell. A woman ( Remi Cassel ) with her baby bear and kitten combo?? Adorable incarnate. Alexei Ivanov and the Wooloo? He wanted to pet the black one so badly…but it looked a little temperamental. Not to mention, how do you beat ‘mated for life’, Tempest Quinn ?? Garbage Baby barked as their turn came up. He stepped onto the stage, bracing for performance. [break][break]

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Light blinked on dramatically, one after the other, giving what little effect it could on the small stage. Ruslan swallowed, steadying his voice. No stuttering. Please don’t laugh, victor evans . Be brief, be clear. “To my right, poised beauty, unflinching confidence, and the coldest glare this side of Hoenn!” His words are as controlled as the smile on his face. Yukina stared to the side of the stage before casually tilting her head to the crowd and narrowing her eyes as she LEERed them. “To my left, dumpster menace, unstoppable energy, and infectious rowdiness!” Garbage Baby flailed around using TACKLE, his cape fluttering. [break][break]

“Yukina, and Garbage Baby were fated to never meet. She hates his grubby paws. He doesn’t understand boundaries. But they both helped me tremendously!” The Froslass seemed to pout in an exaggerated kind of way and cross her arms, while Garbage Baby ran circles around her. Whether this was performance or distraction was anyone’s guess. “She’s Beauty. And he’s Beast!” [break][break]

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“Despite their differences there’s one thing that’ll always bind them. They’re Double The Trouble for me.” At that, the two pokemon break form their poses tackling and clinging to their trainer. The actual, ending pose before the lights go dark, ad the mic cuts.


[break][break][break][break] [break][break]

+ [break][break]
Yukina the Froslass [break]

Leer | Cool | ♥♥♥ | Temporarily stops the crowd from growing excited.[break][break]

Garbage Baby the G!Linoone [break]
Tackle | Tough | ♥♥♥♥ | A highly appealing move.

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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

“Oh.” His reply is soft, not exactly expecting as blunt a response as he got. Red eyes dip back down to his skates as he went quiet for a moment, a mixture of thinking of something to say and following instructions. He pushed forward a little, actively focusing on not lifting the skate off the ice. “Y-Yeah, sure.” He murmured leaning forward to follow Victor’s lead. [break][break]

He knees wobbled slightly as he tried to keep them from locking but also find his balance. Forward he kept upright, though his progress forward was slow. To be expected of someone who’d never touched ice. “I…um…I-I never picked up a-a sport as a kid.” He said, feeling the need to share something about himself even if he was being vague about it. He didn’t have it in him to be at honest as Victor. Not for lack of trust, but simply because he didn’t want to think about them anymore than he had to. To say they’d been dysfunctional raising him was an understatement. “I was m-more of a…a bookworm.” He added. He liked libraries. They were peaceful, and quiet. Something that was rare in his household.

[break][break]

+ victor evans mission prompt: break the ice
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Lana was shaking form the excitement, a cheesy smile plastered on his face as he got led to the skating rink. “Yeah?” he said as he felt the cold get a little stronger. Skaters of all types glided by, and he hoped he wouldn’t get in their way. “D-Did you ever…y-you know, compete?” he asked, affording him a look as he clung to his arm.
[break][break]

He set a toe on the ice first, before settling the skate into it fully and then moving to put in the other. He moved slightly, enough for Victor to feel Lana’s hand tense up around his arm before he relaxed again, standing on the ice. “I…I’ve never done this. Or, uh, roller bl-bladed.” He wasn’t sure how to proceed. “I…just walk forward o-or?”

[break][break]

+ victor evans mission prompt: break the ice
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Things seemed to settle after that, and Lana once again swallowed nervously. Even agreeing, it still felt weird. Like he shouldn’t be here. He stared at his plate for a while before finally looking back at Victor. “You…you wanna shake on it then? For now, I mean.” He said, peeking up at the man next to him. [break][break]

Maybe if they shook on it, it’d feel realer. Maybe he just needed time to adjust. That was probably it. He held out his hand to the other man, giving him a slight smile as he tucked some bangs behind his ear. “I-…um….T-Thanks for ha-having me…”


[break][break]

+ victor evans we-cant-unpack-all-this-right-now-john-mulaney.gif
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"O-Of course! Y-You have a r-routine and e-e-everything already. A-all you'd- you'd need is costumes." he said with a quick nod to assure the other trainer he could do it. Compared to him, Lana was still in the planning stages, if any. He hadn't even really seen a contest that many times up close before. But, it seemed like fun. He liked the idea of dressing up. Sure, it was an expensive endeavor but...he could pull some strings. [break][break]

Once again, he nodded quickly to show he was serious. He wouldn't offer if he wasn't. Maybe it was a little selfish, but it felt better to have some as loud stand next to him. Took the attention off him at least. "Y-Yes. Just s-s-say w-when. I h-have a p-p-pretty clear sche-schedule." Maybe it was a little sad he was befriending a teenager of all people, but baby steps. They might become future contestants together. It'd be nice to share thoughts on performances. As they talked, Garbage Baby barked when the music finally stopped, sitting down next to Taga and panting loudly before turning to the pokemon and giving them a friendly lick. There's a bit of excitable clapping form the manager and the coordinator, but the Linoone didn't seem to pay attention, running back to Lana to jump at him for a job well done. He let out a small laugh before looking over at the coordinator. "Ah, h-hope he we u-u-useful!" he said as he picked up the fat pokemon for a hug. Turning to August he added, "I-I can g-g-give you m-my phone nu-number and y-you can text m-me."

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+ August Gallagher mission prompt: coordinator choreography [break]


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The Delibird didn't seem to like either of them, but at least it's attention was on the new guy. He watched the gears turn in the other guy's head before swallowing hard they finally acknowledged him. "I-I'm R-R-Ruslan! But, L-Lana is f-fine!" he said, not really ready for the introduction but still cracking his best shot at it anyway. He wasn't used to the amount of energy coming off him, but he didn't hate it. He just wished he was more sure of his words. [break][break]

The Delibird looked at the both of them, one shaking in his spot the other more than happy to help. Slowly the dual type retrieved the last of his lost presents eyes the pair as he did before pulling something out and carefully handing it to Toshi. It seemed to be a sheet of paper with instructions to get to a post office. "Y-You'll let us h-h-help t-then?" he asked before the Delibird hissed and then proceeded to cut themsleves off. There's a small nod. They were on thin ice.

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+ Toshiaki Macallan delibird delivery
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

Unfortunately for Yukina, she hadn’t exactly been able to execute like in practice. He wasn’t sure if it was the nerves finally settling in or staring too intently at the judges, but she’d fumble. They regrouped behind the curtain, with Ruslan trying to calm his girl down as he lightly fanned her wile other contestants went their turns. “Ready?” he asked, smiling gently at the Froslass. She’d wanted this way more than him, and he’d do his best to at least make it enjoyable for her. [break][break]

The pair got into position once more. When the lights returned it was no longer the warm orange of the previous simulated bonfire, but something eerily blue. The same distorted music played, just barely above the sound of fierce winds. Yukina acted out the yukionna’s possible fate. Ruslan’s voice cut above it, clear despite the bit of stutter he couldn’t shake. He made a mental note that perhaps for the next contest go around, he would lip sync to parts like this. [break][break]

“A-A clear sky gave way to rolling clouds. A silent night b-broken by h-howling winds.” To illustrate his point the Froslass’ dance moves became even more sluggish, and at time she seemed to bumble forward as if stumbling around. The lights began to dim as she moved closer to the edge of the stage, wisps of cold air come out of her mouth in struggled puffs. They glittered under the colored spotlights. “Over t-time, the mountain overtook her, a-and the cold consumed her.” Cue the pokemon slowly floating to the stage as if struggling not to fall asleep. By now, clothes of ice sparkled as thick and thicker clouds escaped her mouth. She went still. “Her beauty, h-her life had faded, taken by uncaring gods.” [break][break] [break]

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The lights receded, leaving the stage in almost total darkness except for the Froslass. The music had long since stopped leaving only the ambience of wind. Then the sudden, harsh beat of a drum hit. Once. A last heartbeat. FROST BREATH began to once more leak out of her mouth in soft tendrils as she slowly got up. “Her humanity gone; she came back as something d-different. But so much more dazzling than before.” Yukina’s eyes flashed as she unhinged her jaw, letting loose a thick cloud of FROST BREATH. It seemed to sink to the ground, spreading through the floor and chilling the audience’s feet.


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+ i wanna play pla....... [break][break]

Frost Breath | Beauty | ♥♥♥♥ | Makes the audience quickly grow bored when an appeal move has little effect.

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[attr="class","pokeclass"]

He had zero idea how he was going to ice skate without dragging himself against the wall or clinging to Victor. Maybe that was the whole point. Whatever the case, despite looming humiliation amongst a semi-crowded ice rink, he looked forward to it. Even the chill didn’t bother him for once, simply looking forward to the new experience. And after all, that’s what dates were right? Should he call it a date? Were they not just…hanging out? [break][break]

Maybe that was willfully ignorant. He tightened the laces on the rented skates, tying knots quickly. He was eager to get on the ice. “H-how long have y-y-you ice skated t-then?”


[break][break]

+ victor evans mission prompt: break the ice
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[attr="class","pokeclass"]