Bones was distraught, but resolute. Now that he had some help, maybe they could take down the Hypno. The ad hoc made/scraped arrows all pointed in a specific direction. But the lady didn't seem too interested in those. The fur and the clothes were to her. She made the obvious deduction from the scene, causing the Marowak to snort as if to say "No shit." He was there too, and had fought alongside his trainer. The second comment made him nodd. Good, maybe a little slow, but considering he couldn't talk human, he supposed it was going to be. The fire type ignited his bone club and drew an eight in the air to signify that there was eight of them.

That many...even with a type advantage, he still couldn't turn the tide. Bones also pointed out the half-baked arrows scraped onto the dumpsters and walls. He tried to mime what the Pokemon did to his trainer, and what said trainer probably did...since his willpower was outrageous. The boy always had his tanto dagger with him. Bones hoped that Asher stayed that way and led them to the creatures' lair. They just had to follow the clues. Well, arrows...maybe. Ash might have left other clues. It was a matter if they see them and follow them correctly.

Elise Calcifet

She got rid of the flashy stuff in a heartbeat. Then brought out the flax. A yarn like material that was stronger than yarn and hair. Hmm...that was tempting. "Let's keep that on the table for now..." There was some other stuff. Still metal, but not as flashy. Might be nice for it to not be cut and lost. The braided bracelet was another option that looked good to him. With four charms to accompany the centerpiece picked out, Ash got what he wanted all ready for it.

The girl commented about how close him and his friend was. "He...might have stumbled upon me working some routines with my Pokemon for doing contests. And we got on pretty good after that. He helped me with a troublesome Pokemon...even saw me win a gym badge using said formerly troublesome Pokemon. He's been...the brother I wished I had...sorry...I didn't mean to get all sappy on ya." The red head chuckled a bit as he looked at the two choices of flax and braided bracelet. He decided on the flax just because it could be either a bracelet or a necklace. "I think I'll go with the flax just because it could either be a bracelet or a necklace."

Momo Sakai

Again, he got outshined massively. But this concoction got a better reaction overall. So maybe his genius wasn't lost...or he was getting better, since this was his first time mixing these drinks. The next round was floral based and he went pale. Asher didn't do flowers. He didn't even know you could put flowers in a drink. There was one that he saw a long time ago in his grandpa's garden that did spark his memory. It was so cool...and perhaps made him want to become a mostly fire type trainer. He looked around to see how the others were doing their drinks. Mostly taking inspiration from Momo Sakai. So...that was how one applied flowers to the tea?

"So...my favorite flower is the flame lily, but I won't be using them for a drink. I'll be using cherry blossoms." He mirriored what he could from the ad hoc buddy he had made. He used white tea, and black cherries to help out with it. It just seemed so bland and wierd to use flowers as a part of an ingrediant. This was pretty...basic. But he did garnish it with cherry blossom petals. Like what happens in a lack or river near such a tree. He wanted to do so much more to the drink. But who knows, maybe basic was the way to go with this one.



98 + ?


BGqVgHxb

His concoction ended up being on the lower end. Which was a bit disheartening. But he was still doing better than some. Next was a fruit based one. Oh that made his ears perk up. The Bounsweet sweat! A fruit juice made of that as the base would be perfect! A caffiene free fruit based tea! Bones already snagged the watered down sweat already. Rummaging through the various other fruit, Ash settled on strawberry bursts of boba and some oranges. That should taste good...right? Should he also use some sort of syrup? He saw a few other people doing the same. Asher slowed down in trying to make it just to make sure he didn't make mistakes in the actual brewing. The fruit drink started off nicely, and the strawberry bursts of boba looked good in the liquid. Garnishing it with an orange slice and copying Momo Sakai and added two cherries in the tea as well.

He opted not to use any syrup. The bounsweet sweat fruit drink thing should have enough sweetness to it. The rest of the fruit should blend pretty good, and the bursts could be good. He just hoped this turned out better than the last one. Bone picking the oranges didn't go unnoticed...some of the peels did look a little...charred. But hey, maybe that added flavor?

34 + ?

Bjmb|Iu_

Did he have a good eye? It was just something that caught his eyes and resonated with him. But the problem was the way to wear his gift. She pulled out several different things. Well, silver was out. As was gold. Basically anything shiny. Way too eyecatching and tempting to steal. Granted, he was sure that Isaac could handle himself against such a thief, but you never know...and why give the temptation? Ash also saw a good number of Pokemon charms as well. And Momo brought the candy out. Ash opted for a chocolate bar instead of gummies. Wire was tempting, but also gave too much of a hobo feel...or cheap maybe. But what the heck was flax?

"Silver or gold or anything flashy and gody are out. Wire feels...maybe a bit cheap? I don't know...maybe not flexible enough? What's flax? And any other material for the string? Maybe something that could be either or?" The red head went ahead and started to go through the other charms. He found a Larvesta and Fletchinder charm. Boy did that take him back when he first met Isaac. Shortly after he witnessed Melody Miro doing a performance, and inspiring him to become a Pokemon Coordinator. He's only been in one contest, but he gave a pretty good showing. An Alolan Marowak charm was next...and a Thievul one. He was sure that Snickers never met Isaac though...but Chompers did. A Gabite charm instead would work.

Momo Sakai

Momo was very enthusiastic. And open...yeesh. Have a little caution? She also seemed very confident in his ability to get the hang of whatever he decided. As Ash thought about it, he took the offered seat. And boy did she have all the accessories! Either she was spoiled by her parents and was given all she wanted...or she stole them! Not that he could talk...he was a petty thief by trade. Granted he was mostly concerned with food and water and shelter than stealing knicknacks for accessories or costumes. Thinking about what type of gift, Asher at least had something in mind. "I...think I'd want a necklace or bracelet. Something that he could always keep on him." Since he really didn't know when they'd be able to meet up again. Let alone in a neutral or good place.

"Or something that could be either?" That'd be kind of hard to do. The type of material wouldn't be feasible. At least in his mind, he could be wrong. Still didn't help to ask. A centerpiece of some kind was essential to him. Ash started to look through various beads and stuff, until some kind of glass thing caught his eye. A glass flame. "This looks perfect for the centerpiece..."




Momo Sakai

Asher and buddy arrived to the large warehouse where the contest was being held. There was quite the the crowd around, so he didn't entirely know how to respond to this. Upon entering and seeing the rows of stations, this was definitely a pro setup.  He was a kid...how was he to compete with all these adults on something that wasn't Pokemon related? Well, he wasn't one to give up. So just give it his all! The red head did have a good amount of respect for Aurelie Lefevre's response to her own question. Since...well...why not? He wholeheartedly agreed with the lady. Honestly, the drink was so flexible that there was something for everyone. If he had any money, he would have invested in the company after he got some drinks from other Rocket members that swore by it.

Before he knew it, it was time for introductions! There was quite a few participants, but he did recognize at least one, Momo Sakai. Well, maybe afterwards they could catch up with some tea or something. "Hello ladies and gentlemen! I am Asher Beran, and this here is Bones, my Alolan Marowak and buddy! Glad to be here!" His shiny Alolan Marowak also waved at the audience. Now it was time to think and plan. He didn't opt to tell everyone his plans like some of the others. But that was also probably because he didn't entirely know what he wanted to do. The first round was a free-for-all. 

And so it starts! He wanted to go with something sweet, but also festive. Fall...pumpkins...pumpkin spice! "Bones...I have an idea...pumpkin spice." With a resolute nod from his assistant, they went to work! Starting with the type of tea. This...soon got derailed pretty quickly. White tea was the first step. Then using coconut milk to add to it. He loved coconut milk back home! Add a dash cinnammin, then the pumpkin pudding. With some popping boba and some whip cream, here he had it! Ash did see something of interest...perhaps he could use the Bouncsweet sweat drink in a later part of the competition...



jgcO7X|x

Momo knew how to sew and how to make accessories? Pretty useful skills...maybe he could ask her to teach him? Ash knew some people frowned at guys knowing how to sew or something similar, but it was really a useful skill to have! Those people were stupid. His ears burned in embarrassment at being calleed cute. Or maybe his wish was cute? Either way, he was bashful. They soon found themselved in front of a house all too similar to all the others around. After she unlocked her door and went in, her Pokemon soon filtered in, with the Grovyle heading straight for the couch. The other two disappeared off somewhere. Bones stayed by Asher's side.

Momo led them to a nearby working table with several accessories lying around. At the mention of the plushies, he looked at the selection. There was...quite the display of them. From Litten to Pyroar to Chandelure to even a Wobbufet. And some Pokemon that he was unfamiliar with. "I'd rather make something. I think that'll make it more relevent to him." Plus give more meaning in his opinion. Ash looked around to put his stash of candy at, and took off his Marowak helm.


Momo Sakai

BUBBLE TEA BREWING SIGN-UPS

Character: Asher Baran [break]
Pokemon: Shiny Alolan Marowak (Bones) [break]
Favorite flavor: Passion Fruit Green Tea[break]

With the wave of the flag, the race was done. And it was too close to call. The boy and his Rapidash had to slow down slowly, going into a gallop before a walk. Josh was the first to slide off of his steed, immediately returning it into its pokeball. Asher...well, he was pretty sure he was stuck there. He laid down against the beast's neck, the saddle's knob thing digging into his lower sternum. But the red head didn't care. He was far too exhausted to. Frou-Frou was panting hard and was still slowly walking in circles, trying to cool off first. Josh had some good words to say. But before he could give the young trainer anything, Asher spoke up first. "That's great and all...but can you help me off? I-I think my legs are stuck..."

Frou-Frou even laid down to make it easier to get the boy off of her. Even when he did get off, the Rapidash didn't get up. She was resting from the sheer intensity of it as well. Asher's legs...didn't move much. They were so stiff! Regardless of how silly he looked, Ash held out his hand. A metal badge was slipped in. That got Asher's yellow eyes wide. A badge! He was so dumbfounded that he almost missed the announcement on the screen. He got second place, but not at all by a lot. Frou-Frou still held her head high, proud of her accomplishment. And Josh piled on the compliments. It was so...surreal. Tears actually welled up in his eyes as he realized that he was being complimented. And not by a friend or anything...but by someone with actual authority! At the offer, Ash had only one thing to say. "Yeah, that sounds great. But we're grabbing a buddy that watched. I saw him in the stands. His name is Isaac Merlo."

Josh Devlin

She was sorry to hear that about Isaac Merlo . But sorrys didn't mean anything if action wasn't a part of it. Something that Momo did follow through on by saying that her house was just up the street. She wasn't just talk...she was serious in helping him out. Ash followed her to the house. Along the way there, the little girl did ask if he had anything in mind. "Yes and no? I'd like to make something that'll either be good to wear as a necklace or bracelet. Or if that seems too difficult, maybe a plushie of some sort...just something to remind him that he's not alone." And that he still had friends on the inside.

"I usually use a lot of fire-type Pokemon, so something similar to that vision would be good. Or even something similar to my own characteristics." He wasn't too terribly picky on that. So long as Isaac liked it, that all that mattered to him. Bones was nodding at every word, agreeing with his trainer. It sounded like Momo had a lot of stuff, and could be quite useful in this endeavor. Well, time to see if she was all talk or if there was some substance to it.


Momo Sakai

The last curve was done, and they managed to retake the lead! But it wasn't over yet, this was the home stretch. Just a few jumps, then they can use High Horsepower again. Josh was right beside him and the tiniest bits behind. It wouldn't take much for the gym leader to tie or even retake the lead. They held back the tiniest of amounts just so they could clear the jumps smoothly. Even so, Ash and his queen nearly missed the first jump! But recovered quickly enough to be right back on Josh's heels. The next few went much smoother, though the red head would later attribute that to just how good Frou-Frou was, and a good bit of beginner's luck.

Through gritted teeth and in midair on the final jump, Ash had one command. "High Horsepower!" It was the final stretch, and speed was all that matter. Immediately on touching down, the huge equine glowed orangey brown once more, giving a long, but steady increase in speed. Josh's may be a larger burst, but they were also shorter...it would be with baited breath as to who will cross the line first!

SW7PBV74  

Josh Devlin


···

Yamper were often yippy little shits in his experience. Though admittedly, this one doesn't seem to be that bad, only yipping when commanded. Though the running circles around wasn't too amusing. Bones was so tempted to just stick his foot out to make it trip. Still, Ash just gave a polite smile. No need to be rude or anything, she's been nothing but nice. The red head also chuckled nicely about her claiming to be a good candy passer. Which...well, she did catch a lot of attention to get everyone in the area. Along with her Pokemon. The lie went well, since he didn't go to school at all. The mask did end up pretty good though. Momo was good at sewing, and mentioned about giving him a gift to help him make more costumes in the future.

That did give him an idea. "Actually...a friend of mine was injured recently, and had been going through a very rough time as of late even before that. I'm trying to earn enough to either buy some materials to make something or just outright buy something for him. The costumes I can do later, I'd just like to make something for him to lift up his spirits...if you got something that'll help with that..." It would be one less thing for him to buy. And maybe give him some inspiration as well.

Momo Sakai