uriah still hasn't quite picked up on her wildchild origins so he assumes nothing of it. he enjoys the company and the scene in front of them, watching it with glee.[break][break]

"thanks! bert likes to wrestle with my bigger pokemon. he holds his own! much like your lillipup."[break][break]

the PLAY ROUGH connects, this time bringing bert to the ground as they take a little tumble together. by the end of it, the flapple's giggling as well.

[attr="class","ooc"]Ettie[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon flapple"]

her offer surprises him even if it shouldn't have. the widening of his eyes is accompanied by a smile and a nod, eager to accept what he feels to be really personal.[break][break]

it's a step in the direction he wants to go in even if he's trying to convince himself otherwise.[break][break]

"yes! i'd love that."[break][break]

so, so much.[break][break]

"i'd offer the same but pretty sure the last time i wrote was in middle school."

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-simisear"]

[attr="class","icon"]

he's confident he would've been able to keep the act up for longer if not for how she calls him "big guy". it makes him hit his breaking point, laughing shortly after as well.[break][break]

"cal...we're so bad at this. like actually bad."[break][break]

it's why they would make terrible team rocket members. well, he would anyways. he's horrible at lying and keeping a secret.[break][break]

the fits of laughter eventually subside enough.[break][break]

"what drink did you get?"

[attr="class","icon"]

out of four of them, two are related (twins), and one is an ex-gym leader who holds much more expertise, knowledge, and wisdom, so it's only natural for uriah to begin to feel anxious, worried that he definitely is the odd one out.[break][break]

though not a new feeling, it still stings all the same.[break][break]

"nah bro i think you got it all!"[break][break]

he nods in agreement, then shrugs his backpack to the front.[break][break]

"oh right. i brought food slash rations with me so if you need one just give me a shout."[break][break]

"and if anyone needs a mount pokemon..." he looks at calla roth in particular "...let me know. i have some on me that can fly as well."

a clash of strength...[break][break]

"go on, bert!"[break][break]

perhaps it's the added advantage of being able to push off the ground that helps the lillipup overpower the flapple but that's exactly what happens. bert the flapple is pushed back, losing the initial clash.[break][break]

still, uriah claps.[break][break]

"woo! so strong!"

[attr="class","ooc"]Ettie[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon flapple"]

[attr="class","icon"]

in all honesty, uriah has no idea what they're doing here. this is out of his realm of expertise despite his many months with the military and later the police force. but perhaps it is those connections that lead him back into danger.[break][break]

guess this will be a trip for the boys. oh, the boys and calla roth, which makes him constantly anxious because the last thing he wants is for her (or anyone, really) to get hurt.[break][break]

"uh, out of everyone here i think you have the most experience, greyson."[break][break]

he turns to look at the ex-gym leader.[break][break]

"wanna lead us?"

"friend good?"[break][break]

without further ado, their play fight begins! bert the flapple swoops down low, accepting the invitation, and flies straight towards the lillipup. it releases a LEECH SEED just before that sprouts in the ground below them.[break][break]

flapple looks to tackle the lillipup.[break][break]

"friend good."

[attr="class","ooc"]Ettie[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon flapple"]

[attr="class","icon"]

the last thing he wants is to get all up in his head about it as well, so even if it goes unsaid, the two of them are already on the same page before their date even begins.[break][break]

maybe that's why he already feels at ease. that said, his heart does flutter when he sees her walking back to him, and where she deadpans, he cannot for the life of him hold character.[break][break]

so he chuckles, turning into his shoulder to try to regain his composure.[break][break]

"right, okay."[break][break]

he clears his throat, then looks back at her.[break][break]

"i do. i don't think i've ever seen you around before. you, uh, new in town?"

his heart dips, followed by his body as he's pulled into a kiss he so easily returns. some of the other skaters may clap but he doesn't even hear them, too engrossed by her and the moment.[break][break]

when they pull away slightly, he's enamored.[break][break]

"okay! that sounds really nice. let's do that."[break][break]

finding her hand once again, he gestures over his shoulder.[break][break]

"ready?"

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-octillery"]

already his mind is thinking of any connections he has in the world of journalism. naturally, it's his father with the majority of them but uriah has a few back in sinnoh. none here, though, which sucks because he really wants to help out in any way he can.[break][break]

"i know i haven't read your writing but i think you'd be an amazing one."[break][break]

he peers over at her, offering a genuine comment.[break][break]

"you'd be amazing at anything you choose to do, actually."

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-simisear"]

before starting their play-fight, flapple decides to offer the lillipup a gift to say thank you for inviting them over to join. so it flies up to a nearby berry tree, plucking two only for them to further RIPEN.[break][break]

flapple drops one for ettie and the other for the lillipup, waiting just in case the pupper wants to eat it before their fight.[break][break]

"i'm very excited."[break][break]

he sits with her, gaze cast at the pokemon.[break][break]

"what's your name? i'm uriah."

[attr="class","ooc"]Ettie[break]

[attr="class","pokesprite pokemon flapple"]

the looming problem of their work almost becomes too easy to ignore, at least in the moment, as he chooses to focus on her answer instead and on how brightly she seems to smile in return. she matches his energy easily.[break][break]

"okay! let's. we can, uh, work on the details later maybe."[break][break]

the fact that both humans are smiling must be good, right? it's certainly enough for octillery to shoot out OCTAZOOKAS, raining down makeshift confetti over the ice rink.[break][break]

"for now, wanna grab something to eat? i'm starving."

[attr="class","ooc"]calla roth[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-octillery"]