To say he was nervous was an understatement. He’d always thought about contests. But in a far away sense. Nothing ever like a goal, nothing concrete. That was someone else’s ambition, not his. And then he’d left home and he’d thought about it a little more, if only because of his proximity to the contest hall and how nice it was to sit inside in the ac and watch a performance. And then he’d met August Gallagher and everything had sort of…accelerated. Suddenly it was way closer. Suddenly, he had a goal. It wasn’t very lofty, but it was there. He watched quietly as the rookie went on, dazzled and amazed at their performance. And then he swallowed nervously as he was set to go. Yukina, all the while, floated next to him, rising up to stare him eye to eye, before lightly slapping him with her ice cold hands. He yelped a quick, “Yes m-ma’am. Stay focused!” before taking a deep breath and centering himself. With any luck the lights would be so blinding, he’d see no one. [break][break]

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Its curtains. The lights go dark, and Ruslan is taken over by adrenaline and he and his partner get into position center stage. There’s a FLASH of bright light, accompanied by the deep thud of a drum being hit, and the light flutter of small bells as a soft POWDER SNOW began to fall, bringing down the temperature a few degrees. The drumming continued, steady as a heartbeat. Ruslan steadied himself to speak. Amongst the sea of sparkling white, the coordinator stood out cloaked and blacks and reds in a tightly fit kimono. All thanks to victor evans ’s patronage. The lights are almost blinding, but in a way that made him feel better. “I-It is said on nights with full moon, when the snow still falls, Yukionna will appear.” [break][break]

The snow cleared its intensity, slowing down a bit, as his Froslass appeared, slowly moving towards the center of the stage to the beat, as Ruslan moved to the left to give her space to dance. After all, this was her show, and he would just be her support. “Yukionna, a woman s-so beautiful, men were paralyzed b-by the sight.” On cue, Yukina commanded an ICE SHARD. The snow that was previously falling now shards of ice. As she moved, the ice seemed to flutter after her reflecting light to make it seem like she was glittering. Each wave of her tiny hands was accompanied by a glittery flourish as she reflected the heavy lights the stage imposed on her. “Beautiful pale s-s-skin, and lips blue as the s-sky. And a voice,” The little ghost pokemon opened her mouth and began to sing with ROUND, as the tempo of the drums began to speed up. “Sweeter than any ho-honey.” [break][break][break][break]

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Yukina’s song is steady, with an ominous tone. But she does not stop dancing, only moving with grace to the music as it hurried to the climax. “Those who were f-fooled by her allure?” A CONFUSE RAY bumbled its way out of the crowd and onto stage, moving slowly closer and closer to the Froslass. As it did, Yukina turned towards the glowing ball of green and yellow light, opening her eyes fully and extending her arms in invitation. OMINOUS WIND blasted through the stage, creating a vortex around herself and the ball. “Trapped.” Lana said before Yukina stopped singing, moved in close and appeared to devour the attack, snuffing it out completely. “And devoured.” The music cut out as did the lights. And then, like before, steady as a heartbeat, the deep thud of a drum echoed through the hall. A single panel of LIGHT SCREEN underneath Yukina bathed the ghost pokemon in soft light as she giggled silently, and knowingly to the audience. [break][break]

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“R-Ruslan Skye stands before you, bringing you the tale of the- the bone chillingly, beautiful Yukina.” On the final thud of the taiko drum, trainer and pokemon alike bowed before the curtains hide them away. After he was fully hidden, Lana let out a very strained wheeze as his pokemon floated directly into his chest, clinging to him for a tight hug. [break][break][break][break]

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+ tl;dr yukina a little diva and she gave lana the smallest part possible becuase he's a nervous wreck. we stay true to theme we stay creepy [break][break]

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Lana kept close, but it seemed the fog was growing denser by the second. Had something brought this on? He'd picked a sunny day to visit, but maybe the energy on Mt. Pyre was just that weird. "Mikey?" he asked, bumping into the ghost as it stopped suddenly before looking up. The pokemon in front of him wasn't his. Instead of one, two glowing red eyes stared him down, the hands sliding out of the coffin hovering aorund him as if ready to snatch him. Ruslan trembled, his own dark eyes darting around for his partner before he let out a yelp and a subsequent laugh. The ghost...was tickling him? Unable to move away the trainer is set into a fit of giggles and snorts as the pokemon taunted him, while he slowly dropped to the ground coughing and laughing. Finally the Dusclops turned back around and found him, only to join in on the fun. After a few minutes, Ruslan found himself sputtering and coughing on the dirt while the pair of ghosts laughed at the menace they'd become together. After a moment, Mikey helped him up before pulling a stray pokeball form Lana's bag and shoving it into his trainers hand. Lana looked at it and then at the wild pokemon who gave a small thumbs up before he poked it with the pokeball. In a flash, the ghost is gone, before its let out once more. The fog subsequently seemed to lighten, revealing a path. "Should've known it was another one of you." he said to himself with a snort before the pair jogged off.
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CATCHING COFAGRIGUS


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+ sw ghost/psychic
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“Mikey? D-don’t go too f-far from me.” The trainer said as they moved through the fog trying to find their way back to the city. He’d wanted to take a little sight seeing tour of Mt. Pyre and the safari zone, preferring the oversized cemetery during the daylight but it seemed even with those precautions in place an eerie fog still covered the taller sections. “Just get us back as quickly as possible, ok?” he added as his Dusclops mumbled something in acknowledgement.

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+ sw ghost/psychic
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Lana let out a yelp despite himself at the appearance of another trainer. He began to try to put together an explanation that didn’t sound shady. “I-I was j-j-just-!” he began before cutting himself off as the trainer went straight for the Delibird. The flying type glared at the new human, guarding its tail and gifts fiercely despite Toshiaki’s kind disposition. [break][break]

Lana watched, quietly staring as the Delibird deliberated in communicating with Toshi or telling him and Lana off and scaping. Luckily, the Delibird seemed to relax just a little before nodding at the train. Yes. Yes, he was a little lost. “U-Um!” Lana cleared his throat before trying to speak up. “I-I f-found them p-p-picking u-up presents h-here.” He explained. “I-I t-think it got a-attacked. R-Recently.” He added before poitng at one of the few presents the Delibird had yet to pick up.


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+ Toshiaki Macallan delibird delivery
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Lana couldn’t help but smile back at the trainer, nervous but his companion’s cheerfulness infectious. Perhaps it also had something to do with not having a fun conversation with another person in so long. He’s quick to agree though. “S-Sounds fun!” he said trying to bring as much energy as August. He followed the boy’s gaze to his partner pokemon before looking back at August. “W-Well, I think they l-l-look f-fine. A-And I-I think you s-should still try out f-f-for the rookie circuit.” Lana said, attempting to assure the other boy. [break][break]


“I-I’m sorry Garbage Baby and i-interrupted your t-tryouts.” He added, his head dipping as an apology. “I-I wouldn’t either. W-We can m-make a day out of it? I w-want to try my hand a-at the pokeblock m-machines too. A-And it looks l-like more f-f-fun with o-other people.” He looked over at Garbage Baby who, while trying to entire then Buizel out of their concentration, had fallen on his back and was merely slapping his tail on the floor.


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+ August Gallagher mission prompt: coordinator choreography [break]


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Victor was a strange man. He had a strange job, strange tastes, and even a strange past. It’s not something Lana can really fault him for. It just took him by surprise. He hadn’t expected his first relationship like this to be so easy to haggle. It was a simple request. Stay here. A good offer, almost too good. But what were the alternatives? He’d never been asked to stay anywhere before, nor had that kind of interest ever been expressed with him. [break][break]

Just be here. He could do that. He caught Mikey’s eye, ever vigilant over his trainer. There’s a single, slow blink. A sign that there lacked a danger here, for now. “Ok.” Mikey didn’t seem alarmed, so why should he be? Besides…when was the last time he’d slept in a bed? Woken up without bed sores or clinging desperately to his backpack to keep it from getting stolen? He’d even cooked breakfast. Non-terrible breakfast. Hot breakfast. “L-Let’s write s-something up t-then. I c-can start t-today.” After all most of his valuables were already in a backpack somewhere in the apartment.


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+ victor evans we-cant-unpack-all-this-right-now-john-mulaney.gif
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“A-Aren’t you supposed to be…in Shoal Cave…?” Lana asked gently as he surprised a small red and white bird pokemon fretting over something on the ground. It was colorful and at first, he had thought it to be berries but upon closer inspection they looked like…presents? He froze when the Delibird began shrieking protectively, more or less warning him to stay put. He didn’t quiet down, only freaking out worse as his Dusclops appeared from the shadows next to it and began inspecting a present. The Delibird was quick to snatch it, screeching at Mikey before the ghost rejoined his side. [break][break]


“H-Hey I’m not h-here for the presents!” the ghost trainer said a little louder in an attempt to calm down the Delibird as it protected its hoard of presents.



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+ Toshiaki Macallan delibird delivery
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Victor seemed just as embarrassed as he was about his inquiry. But it was a perfectly natural one. At least, this sort of confirmed he wasn’t interested in him like that. Sort of? Lana looked at victor, gaging him as he spun the responsibility on him. “W-Well…I mean….t-that’s why I-I-I’m a-asking. S-So I can t-take it i-into c-consideration.” He returned. He’d never held hands with anyone except for when he was a child. Much less kissed anyone. Those things he could only glean form books or movies. [break][break]

“I-I know…” he said back carefully. Victor didn’t seem like the type. More sad and lonely than angry and violent. Dream murder aside. “I-It’s just…y-you can t-tell me w-w-what you w-want too. I-It goes b-both w-w-ways.” He said, pressing the man a little more.


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+ victor evans BUT DOES HE WANT THE NUDES OR NOT?!?!?!
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