When the tall man in the wolf mask drew Cillian Quinn away, Yumi relinquished him without resentment. She had spent a few solid minutes in Gavin's company, long enough to have found him entertaining. Briefly, she wondered if he would remember he'd promised her the first dance once the ballroom opened.[break][break]

Having finished her rosé, Yumi discarded the empty glass and glided around the foyer, debating if she should get another drink or wait a little longer. Several more guests had arrived since she'd walked through the museum's front doors, but none drew her attention.[break][break]

None save a man in an autumnal mask and forest colors. The cut of his clothing and the way he carried himself exuded an elegance and class few naturally possessed.[break][break]

Little did she know this man was none other than @girard. Despite the nosiness he displayed during their initial encounter, Yumi found herself drawn to him after he'd leaped to her aid last month. It was a curiosity, of course — nothing more. Certainly nothing more foolish than that.[break][break]

Tearing her eyes away from the mysterious man in green, Yumi found herself beside yet another ice sculpture. She idly wondered if anyone she knew might be in attendance. parker jones didn't seem like the type to dress up for anything, but knowing fern delaney, he would never pass up this kind of opportunity.[break][break]

Could Yumi find him among the sea of masked faces? Only one way to find out.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

As they strolled through the foyer, past velvet ropes cordoning off other rooms and refreshment tables, Yumi kept her arm looped through Gavin's. But she was careful not to press herself against him, instead keeping a polite, natural distance between their bodies. It wasn't that she cared what other guests might have thought; she simply did not possess a shred of disrespect for herself.[break][break]

"Oh, I don't know," Yumi replied as she and Gavin passed an ice sculpture of two Pokémon locked in battle. "There are so many that we know of now."[break][break]

She considered the carving on display. The sculptor's interpretation made the subjects look like dancers instead of combatants, their movements fluid like water.[break][break]

"Suicune has always been a favorite since I was a child, because of all its folktales and legends. It always seemed ethereal and beautiful to me," Yumi finally said, feeling that revealing such a detail about her identity would matter little.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

This time, Yumi laughed, the melodic sound carrying through the room. "Shining armor is boring," she remarked decisively. "I know a thing or two about the different sort of knight, and I much prefer it."[break][break]

Growing up surrounded by bodyguards who could kill a man at a moment's notice tended to skew one's perspective, after all.[break][break]

Gavin's taste in wine was both expensive and impressive. Yumi could not help but feel intrigued by him, her brain gears whirring as she wondered what sort of man he truly was. She was terrible at placing accents, so she couldn't figure out his background by voice alone.[break][break]

Regardless, she noted his confident demeanor and familiarity with the more luxurious side of life. Even his cologne, which she could detect now that they were in such close proximity, smelled costly.[break][break]

A pity he was married.[break][break]

"Fairly new," Yumi confirmed. "I arrived just before the dome went up. I've heard rumors and tales, of course, but never had the opportunity to see one up close myself. It sounds like it would be thrilling."[break][break]

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Of course, she had already seen Legendary Pokémon during her short time in Hoenn; the last time was during the Rocket summit in Sootopolis, when she witnessed the full glory of Lugia and Xerneas with her own eyes. But there was no need say that out loud in public.[break][break]

"Should we go see if we can find a beautiful bird for you to admire?"

MADE BY GUNSMILE

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Rocket Racketeering[break]
⬥ Outfit

"Princess?" Yumi chuckled, amused but not quite charmed by the cliché. "I think it's fitting if you'll be the knight. I approve."[break][break]

The man certainly cut a dashing figure with his height and frame. It was enough to make a slender woman like her, who didn't even reach six feet in heels, feel secure. Protected.[break][break]

… Hah, as if.[break][break]

"And Syrah is a great choice. Bold, even. Those Kalosians do know how to make a powerful red."[break][break]

She took another generous sip of rosé, savoring the sweet flavor of wild fruits. Her drink was lighter than a Syrah but still full-bodied in its flavor profile. The label was Cerasuolo Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, she recalled.[break][break]

"I agree the Lapras is uninspired," Yumi replied, turning her gaze to the ice sculpture once more. "And it doesn't have fun details like scales to complicate the sculpting. I think I'd like to see more effort and complexity, like one of those Legendary Pokémon I've seen in pictures."[break][break]

She glanced sidelong at Gavin.[break][break]

"What about you? What would excite you to see?"

MADE BY GUNSMILE

When the eyes of the blonde man with the Corviknight mask met hers, Yumi felt a smug sense of thrill. Of course someone would notice her splendor right away. She gave Cillian Quinn an amused smile.[break][break]

"Good evening," she greeted him in kind before pointedly sipping on her rosé. Dark eyes glittered with mischief from above the lip of her glass. They also noted the gleam on the man's finger: a wedding band.[break][break]

Was he a married man with wandering hands, then? Or simply looking to alleviate boredom with a young woman until his partner arrived?[break][break]

It didn't matter to Yumi. She wasn't attending with the hope of finding romance. And so her smile widened at his offer. "A dance sounds fun. You get first dibs, then, when we're finally in the ballroom."[break][break]

She glanced around at the growing crowd.[break][break]

"In the meantime, want to walk with me? I want a closer look at the ice sculptures." She offered her arm, expecting him to take it so they could go together.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

The ice sculptures donated by luciano fisk were delightful decorations in the foyer of the National Museum of Natural History, and deep down, Yumi greatly admired the artistry. It was no great secret; she adored beautiful things. Why not examine such elegant sculptures more closely?[break][break]

Arm-in-arm with a masked Cillian Quinn, Yumi swept close to the Lapras that occupied the center of the chamber. From that location, she could observe the other guests as they milled around, her sharp gaze noting sartorial details and sizing up other predators and prey. But the choice would also strategically place her in the center of the party, putting her on full display.[break][break]

Of course, they would take a walk about the room to marvel at the other ice sculptures, too, and capture the attention of those along the edges of the crowd.[break][break]

"What's your drink of choice tonight, Sir Knight?" Yumi asked Gavin, choosing to call him based on his mask since she did not know his name. For emphasis, her gaze flickered to the glass of wine in his hand. She carried her own glass of half-finished rosé in her free hand.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

When Yumi received the beautiful invitation for the winter masquerade, she had almost squealed with excitement. No one could outdo her in formalwear, though she was right to guess many other women in Hoenn would try.[break][break]

Yumi spared no expense. Her A-line gown and matching mask were bespoke designs from velda glaus's House of Glaus. Black velvet opera gloves and a crown, pinned in place by her professional hair stylist, completed the ensemble. She rented a gleaming black stretch limousine for her ride, which delivered her to the red carpet right on time.[break][break]

Emerging from her vehicle in a cascade of fabric, Yumi gave the RotomTV Rotoms her most saccharine smile. Countless hours training for PR and social media vlogging culminated in this moment. She was in her element.[break][break]

She felt powerful.[break][break]

Gliding into the welcome foyer, Yumi checked her bag and 100% authentic fur coat, then made her way to one of the bar stations for a drink. "A glass of your best rosé," she commanded imperiously.[break][break]

Once her drink was in hand, she turned her sharp gaze upon the other guests. Knowing the night would involve dancing, she had to choose her prey quickly. It seemed there were some couples already, but many other unattached men and women loitering about as well. Dark eyes noted the attractive figures of both Cillian Quinn and Kazimir Wynter nearby, and how Elisabeth Fiorelli seemed to exude an elegance and class to match Yumi's own.[break][break]

But the night was young, and guests were still arriving. She had time.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

"Of course I look cute," Yumi remarked, letting Kyogi free from her scarf, then zipping her coat back up. Using SHADOW CLAW, the Mimikyu began gathering up more snow for her mistress, building up the snowboy as best he could.[break][break]

Glad she was no longer doing any labor herself, Yumi analyzed everyone else's creations with a critical eye. Some were far more complete than others; some were even finished and undergoing inspection by the Darmanitans.[break][break]

Turning to her friend again, Yumi asked, "Do you still want to go gift shopping after this, Mei?" Not that she intended to buy gifts for anyone except herself.[break][break]

MADE BY GUNSMILE

NOTES

⬥ Mission: A Star is Born[break]
⬥ Outfit

@girard

NOTES

⬥ Mission: Country Bear Jamboree (PP)[break]
⬥ Outfit & picnic setup

Yumi huffed, her breath condensing in the air as she trudged through the snow beside Mei Liu. Somehow, Yumi's roommate had convinced her to leave the apartment and participate in something called a Snowboy Showdown, whatever that was.[break][break]

"I can't believe you've dragged me out here with you," Yumi complained. She was dressed in a puffy coat, fluffy white earmuffs, a pink wool scarf, and waterproof mittens. "It's so fucking cold. I can barely feel the tip of my nose."[break][break]

Johto saw its fair share of snow, which Yumi enjoyed watching from the warmth and comfort of the indoors. But to be outside? To play around in it like a child? How inelegant.[break][break]

Bundled up in her scarf was Kyogi, Yumi's Mimikyu. The small Ghost-type emitted a high-pitched wail as they passed the table covered with drinks and snacks. Yumi glanced at the various treats, noting the fruitcake slices, iced cookies, hot chocolate, and hot cider offered up by the event's organizers. She selected a cookie shaped like a candy cane and broke off a small piece for Kyogi to nibble.[break][break]

Munching on the rest of her cookie, Yumi crouched down and began gathering snow for her snowboy. Since she had let Mei bring her out there, she might as well join in. Naturally, she would make the most beautiful snowboy of all.[break][break]

MADE BY GUNSMILE