"well, I couldn't just take you out to the middle of nowhere."
[Break][break]
It was also easier to convince other girls to take a quick detour to the outskirts of the city than fly out to the middle of forest, or on top of Mt chimney. But he'd never admit that to Calla. For once, he'd rather play pretend for a bit longer, and act like those nights never happened.
[Break][break]
A hand instinctively found itself being offered to Calla-- a silent invitation for some help demounting the Staraptor, should she need it.
[Break][break]
"But next time let me know and I'll totally fly us out somewhere wayyy more spontaneous than this."
[Break][BREAK]
Shooting back a cheeky smile, he stepped toward the arranged blanket and lanterns, taking a moment to flick each of them on before featuring for Calla to sit, or stand, or whatever.
[BReak]
"If you think it's pretty now, just wait til you get a load of what's to come." He winked, "Not that it'll be any more pretty than you are."
[Break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"I guess that settles it. Unless you wanna go 3-0?"
[break][break]
Liam could honestly do this all night long. Win or lose, it didn't matter much to him, because either way, her spending that extra second trying to pick another house to rob was another small victory he could pocket for himself.
[break][break]
Taking a bite of the apple he had gotten himself, he allowed the juice to pour over his tongue, filling his mouth with the sweet tang of a fun night out before further parading around Calla.
[break][break]
Swallowing down the chunk of fruit, he threw the delicious apple into the air before catching it again with his other hand. Back and forth it went, from hand to hand, like a round red ball being jungled about.
[break][break]
"Ya know, you say couple costumes are cringe, but like, I feel you're missing out," He hummed, "You'd make a killer batgirl."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

When Calla spun around to retreat back into her closet for another jacket, Liam knew his victory had been secured. All he needed to do was bring a life-ending event into the mix and she was convinced!
[Break][break]
Who would've thought.
[Break][break]
Grinning, he carefully accepted her hand in his, giving just enough of his own strength to lift her from the window onto the back of his staraptor.
[Break][break]
"You know the drill. Hang on tight."
[Break][break]
After a second of reprieve, the ranger gave his large avian a tap, signaling him to take off into the clear night sky. The crisp November winds combed through their hair and between their fingers as they sped across the skyline, soaring far beyond the cityscape.
[Break][break]
Unlike thier last little adventure through the clouds, Liam made sure to keep their flight relatively smooth, limiting the amount of bumps, flips, and dives he'd normally take just to add some thrill to his ride.
[Break][break]
They would eventually find themselves settling near the outskirts of the city, where trees dominated thier surroundings and the plumes of smoke and pollution didn't clog the sky. Near the center of a encirment of small trees and shrubbery, near the outline of the surrounding forests, a small blanket is already spread out across the ground, with battery powered lanterns holding down the corners. They were even a few pillows dotting the blanket, mainly grouped up near one side of the blanket.
[Break][break]
"Here we are."

[Break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] @tag[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Even if the joke was bad, and it was, it made Liam chuckle like low rolling thunder.
[break][break]
"Maybe they'd get sponsored by POG bank."
[break][break]
As they left the red-shuttered house's stoop, his golden eyes flicked over to hers.
[break][break]
"So you're not picky about where we go," He raised his eyebrow, grinning. The last girl he was with hated anything messy -- which, for the long term, was a big turn-off. Especially considering how Ribs were his absolute favorite. "Good."
[break][break]
Despite the letdown that was those damned golden coins, Liam wasn't one to let worry hang off his brow. Like in all things, he kept forward with enough confidence to drown in.
[break][break]
Yet again, their group walked up the grey house's stoop, and yet again the Staraptor tapped his beak against the door. This time, however, it wasn't a young couple opening the door, but an elderly woman with a basket of...
[break][break]
"Apples."
[break][break]
Aka, victory.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Oof, that hurt.
[break][break]
Like a soldier mending a strike to his heart, Liam placed a hand over his chest, grunting out a weak, "Ouch, Cal."
[break][break]
But he couldn't let that get him down. Not when his time, dignity, and night were on the line.
[break][break]
"There'll be blankets," He added, winking, though they both know she could always just dig into her closet for a second jacket. Or, if he was feeling desperate enough, he'd even offer his own for her comfort.
[break][break]
"Is it due tonight?" Practiced and prepared after countless nights of doing the same, both to his friends and others, the question immediately trailed behind her objection. "Cause if it isn't..." He extended his hand again. "C'mon. Live a little. Who knows how long we've got."[break][break]
Especially with that meteor and everything.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

It wasn't Calla's hesitance that made Liam's face sour, or her reaction to his romantic gesture.

[Break][break]
The true murder weapon had been the horrific realization that she didn't know who Mac fucking DeMarco was.
[Break][break]

"What am I playing," he echoed back, still left in shock. Had Maccy loss his touch? Or, maybe, he was too underground for poor Calla to understand? That second option - that had to be it.

[Break][break]
"Nevermind, I'll show you some more when we get there." He physically waved off the tiny bump in their road before extending his hand out toward her, exactly as he did before only a month prior.
[Break][break]

"You've been working right?"

[Break][break]

The oversized hoodie and tired eyes gave her away. She was a walking mirror image of his sister during Midterms. All she was missing was a cup of coffee and a pissy attitude to complete the look.[Break][break]

"C'mon, take a break. Just this once. I promise it'll be worth it."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Arceus, this was fun.
[break][break]
She was fun.
[break][break]
"Red shutters, obviously."
[break][break]
It wasn't obvious. Liam was just sipping on his own confidence, siding with the house whose paint job reminded him more of home.
[break][break]
Since his pick of the two was closer than hers, the party didn't even have to think before walking down the red shutters's walkway, all the way up to it's stoop. Again his staraptor gave the door the tap, and again the home owner opened the door, greeted the adorable pokemon, then rewarded them with handfuls worth of chocolate gold.
[break][break]
"So, remind me, do you prefer Asian or barbecue? Or both? I just want to make sure I get our first date right."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

With the wind coursing through his short, wildish blonde hair, the man piloted his Staraptor like one would direct a plane. They barreled downward and swooped back up in time, taking twists and turns otherwise thought to be impossible or too dangerous to attempt. [break][break]

All to reach the same destination he had several nights ago, when the world was a bit quieter and still and not on the verge of collapse.[break][break]

"Right over there," He murmured, both to himself and the avian. The duo slowly hovered over, keeping leveled to the window. "Perfect. Okay, hold on."

[break][break]
Liam reached into his jacket pocket and fished out what looked to be a small, compact speaker. The bullet, as he called it. It only took a second of fiddling for the red device to spring to life, filling the air with music one could only describe as 'romantic'.[break][break]
Well, to some, at least. To others, well, it might come across as anything but.[break][break]
He gently rapped on the door.

[break][break]
"calla roth?" He called, "Your ride is here."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Liam took the light elbow nudge and snappy comebacks with stride, swallowing them all down with a smile and chuckle.
[break][break]
This girl had some serious bite.
[break][break]
Again, as they made pace toward the next house, his arms hung limply at his sides, swinging in time with the wind. The heat emanating from them nearly barked off their warmth, but alas, that was a decision she would have to make. He couldn't do all of the work, after all.
[break][break]
When Calla looked over, her gaze would immediately be caught in his, like a baseball perfectly fitting into a mitt. He wondered if she knew just how pretty her eyes were, and just how much effort he was putting in not turning away. "You will." A crack of fire flickered in his eyes, sending them ablaze. "After I win our little bet."
[break][break]
Again, they walk up to the next house's stoop, keeping pace close behind their Pokémon's back. The only difference laid in what happened after the door slipped back close.
[break][break]
"Looks like the first point goes to me," He grinned, waving the full-size Hershey bars the woman in green had just finished handing out. "I hope you're not busy next weekend."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"Nah, you're definitely overthinking it."


[break][break]
Liam shook his head, chuckling.


[break][break]
While they continued to defend their positions, Staraptor caught up to the other two Pokémon, choosing to trail behind them over his sleazy trainer and be subjected to any more flirting. Together, the group made their way up to the yellow house's stoop. The sheer intensity of the decorations forced Liam to squint as they walked up to the door.


[break][break]
"Damn, those are bright," He grumbled, referring to the blinking signs, lights, and ghoulish displays. If only he brought along his signature pair of shades.


[break][break]
Staraptor gave the door a soft tap with his beck.


[break][break]
The door swung open, revealing a young couple on the other side. One wore a pair of espeon ears, while the other wore a pair of Umbreon ears, and to top it off, a small mewling eevee kept peeking from between their legs.


[break][break]
As their Pokemon collected their treats from the kind couple, Liam leaned over to Calla, smirking, "Maybe we should take notes, hm? Could be cute to wear something a little more matching next time."


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-staraptor"]

Her admittance only further solidified the smirk that curled its way up the side of his face.

[break][break]

How did he know, he wondered, a twinkle of knowing glistening beneath his pair of golden eyes.

[break][break]

As they neared the targeted cul-de-sac, Liam released his tingling fingers from the plastic pumpkin basket he'd picked up only a day prior, handing it off to his staraptor. The avian took it with a scowl, fully aware of his trainer's true intentions.

[break][break]

"Over there." He lazily gestured toward the first pair of houses nestled together to the right of the circle, the first pale yellow and the second a mellow blue. Both had their own sets of proud decorations, but the former was a tad flashier than the other.

[break][break]

"I'm betting on the blue house." He turned to face her, brows raised and voice low. "how about you?"



[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Liam's costume is far flashier than she made hers out to be. Dressed in a black, skin-tight suit, the man had proudly embraced his new role as Night Wing, even going as far as making his grump Staraptor come out in an avian-safe robin costume.




[break][break]
"Why? You look cute as fuck and it'll be fun," He cooed, hand lightly coiled around the wire of his pumpkin basket. "I promise."




[break][break]
The autumn air was at full blast tight, combing through his slickened hair and thin, pale fingers. He wondered, for a brief second, if her hands were as cold as his. And if he could somehow help them.




[break][break]
"You know what we should do?" A soft rumble of a chuckle fell out and with slow, swaying movements, he leaned forward, tickling her ear with his warm breath and low voice, "Let's make bets on which houses hand out the better pieces of candy. Winner decides their prize."
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-staraptor"][break]without the mask