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Interlocking her hand with his, Desiree would laugh when she found out how wrong she was in her guess- an inevitable first, but it was especially funny to her that she was able to guess his taste for whiskey over his age. Though Callan was making it seem like he was quite older in comparison, she could not believe there was that big of a gap between them; but even if there was, the feeling of alcohol-soaked butterfly wings was still fluttering in her stomach. Moving herself to sit in his lap, her eyes meeting his and facing one another, a smile would slowly manifest below her cheeks at his wish.[break][break]

The smile was not only in response to the question of indulgence but also of relief, as it was clear he was focusing on other things than what he may or may not have heard of her penthouse incident almost two months prior. Leaning down to whisper, hands resting on his arms, Desiree would near closer and closer to his neck. "I'm not afraid of a little gap if you aren't, Callan~ ♡" She'd begin to give him a few soft, gentle kisses on the neck, the scent of lime, booze, and silk tree blossoms surely able to be picked up by his senses. While the alcohol was definitely pushing her the tiniest bit to be more, well, out there, Desiree was being truthful as ever at the moment; her past relationship with Oracelies was a nine-year gap, after all.[break][break]

She wanted him to unleash his crimson gaze upon those shimmering butterflies, allowing them to exist in tandem with the two til' the end of time. Continuing on the journey of her lips around his collar, a little sweet chuckle would reverberate against the glistening mark of her kiss. "You really wanna know~? ♡" Eyes would lock with his for a moment before moving to his other side, giving that side a rest from all the pecks. Desiree had yet to tell a soul what she'd indulged herself within her alone time, as all of those things were developed in her time being single. But those butterflies brought out things she hadn't expected, encouraged but not pressured by the rest of her mojito.[break][break]

"Electrostimulation and waxplay, but I'm sure the first is obvious ♡~" Desiree would lean backward for a moment, crystals shimmering in the dim light as she'd grab another drink and take a few sips. Placing it back on the table, she'd ease herself back against his chest- but would wait for his first real kiss rather than the one she wanted to give him, even if she was dying for it. "Someone as hot as you couldn't be older than thirty-three. ♡"

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Tipping her heart-shaped sunglasses forward toward the small cluster of paparazzi outside the Mauville City Gym, which had been waiting on her arrival since her post on Instagram about her upcoming challenge, Desiree would advance alongside Beanbean toward the entrance. They would shout towards her to pose, but striding in with confidence was enough; the Arcanine followed suit with his trainer, his heart-adorned saddle shimmering under the sunlight. Not only was it the idol's first time visiting the indoor city that had taken inspiration from her home region, but it was her first time challenging a gym- ever. She was going in with a confident yet open mind about it all, and with all the practice she'd got over the last few weeks to gear up for the challenge with Beanbean, her eyes were set on testing her capabilities.[break][break]

Unlike her somewhat unsuccessful attempt of aquatic riding with Shalin Nariya, the pinkette was much more versed in the arts of riding saddleback in the air and on the ground. When the wind was too rough to ride on the back of her Tropius, which she had been riding for a full decade, the Arcanine was always the answer; and he was much faster, an experienced lil' guy. He was able to keep up with the pack of puppers on the search for any clues, tracks, or remnants of the alleged legendary Galarian dogs spotted around Fortree, and some of those doggos were fast-fast.[break][break]

Having filled out the paperwork with ease, now all Desiree and her fire-type doggo had to do was wait for further direction. She was filled with excitement and a subtle flame of confidence lurking under her well-kept and designer outward expression. Though the tiniest fear of utter failure on camera was a bit intimidating, she'd try to live in the moment, not thinking of what the fans wanted to see her achieve. She wanted this for herself, to see just how far she'd come with her decade of overland and aerial riding. "Now Beanbean, remember what I told you on the pokejob? ♡ About envisioning all the treats in the world in front of you to keep up with the other puppies," she'd stroke the Arcanine's mane, giving him all the love he wished for, ".. you do that, and I'll give you double the treats I gave you last time when we get home~! ♡"[break][break]

But Desiree was aware that this wasn't going to be a fly around the concert hall singing or a run down the countryside, this would be a race, and those decades of experience could only go so far in a manmade obstacle arena. Manifesting luck and synchronicity to be on her side, just as she did before every edm performance of hers, she'd patiently wait to hear her name. As for Beanbean? He was wagging his tail faster than ever as he'd rub up on her lap, just as eager to ride as he was for those promised treats.

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With the crunch of her sweet chocolate candy, Desiree would look at Alex with curiosity. Going from Devon to Teravolt seemed like a big jump in some ways, albeit they were both larger scale, they were completely different. But Desiree wondered just what interest that technological company, Silph Co, had an interest in when it came to the mining and smelting; his tone made it seem like they could have been up to some sketchy endeavors, like most gargantuan companies back in Kalos, but regardless it didn't seem very pleasant. The invasive questions her inquisitive nature wished for her to ask would be pushed back to another day with her realization of his strong conviction of the topic.[break][break]

Her eyes would dart away from the maintained eye contact at first, in hesitation, but they would slowly scan back upwards. "When I moved here at the end of June, I was signed onto 'Trancewave', a Kalosian music label. They're independent like Teravolt, but while we were gearing up for my new album release we ran into some issues."[break][break]

Twirling her hair, her tone would appear a bit unsure if it wished to continue with the topic. Looking around the venue to see if anyone was staring or attempting to move within earshot, she'd lean in a bit closer to Alex in an attempt to whisper the rest. Curious eyes and curious ears were always the rivals of the pinkette, and if he had his men here, well.. her next words were sure to pour gasoline into the firepit.[break][break]

"The head of Hoenn Music Group, Bernstein, have you heard of him?" She'd pause for a moment, ruffling the fluffy hair in the Furfrou's head, ".. he's got much more influence in the scene in these parts than my previous label thought, so much that he was barring my releases under Trancewave until I did him a 'favor'. It was looking like, unless I gave him what he wanted, I would never see a music release in these parts. He swarmed me back at the charity mixer in Slateport, and if it weren't for Callan Young, I don't think he would have taken my no for an answer."[break][break]

Popping another candy in her mouth and quickly chewing, all she could see in her mind were his sausage fingers gracing her tattoos of the botanical gardens. Bernstein was filth personified, even if he had all of those beefy men encompassing his existence.[break][break]

"Callan told me I wasn't the first he'd done this to, either," she'd continue to whisper, glancing around momentarily to spot anyone in those sleek black suits, ".. I'm just glad Teravolt is just out of his grasp, they lifted me out of that dead end. ♡"

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Sitting on the edge of Stern Hill on a pink and white quilt, Desiree was not the kind to pass up on perusing the lands with her group of pink friends, even if some of their personalities clashed about. Today marked a sudden appearance of a Tsareena swarm on the outskirts of Slateport City, and though her attendance was a spur-of-the-moment decision, it proved to be the perfect outing. She was taking a tiny hour or two long break from refining her album in the works, and the location of the spotting was extremely convenient. It was only a fifteen-minute flight over from the Teravolt offices or less, and the summertide winds from the coastal city brought refreshing winds onto the party's little picnic.[break][break]

But the real party occurred on the picnic blanket and beyond, a small boombox playing some tunes and a bottle of strawberry wine in the idol's grasp. Trying to get a glimpse of the strutting wild horde, she would move back and forth to look through the moving-about group of companion pokemon before her. They all appeared to be playing with dolls, each one with a different pink aesthetic; though they were calling out through their various forms of trills, it looked like Starlight the Clefairy was guiding the lackluster attempt at the 'story' they were trying to play. At first, Desiree thought they were just playing house, but as she watched, it reminded her much more of a plotline synonymous with 'Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper'.[break][break]

Taking a sip from the heart-shaped bottle of wine, Desiree would watch the horizon from afar, allowing all of the pokemon to participate without her wandering eyes watching. There was a group of strutting divas to watch, after all, and she wondered if they would appear even more fierce than the models back at those runways in Kalos. Performing at those events was dazzling, a beautiful pastime.[break][break]

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A gentle gust of wind flowed into the outskirts of the Meteor Falls, causing a few tiny stones to fall into the deep craters. At least, that's what Desiree thought was causing it; soaking up the moon rays ever so gracefully, Starlight the Clefairy was far from done in terms of her dance, and it was slowly causing the magnetic field to become more and more potent. The scent of the silk trees fluttered off into the distance, pink smoke dissipating into the clouds above as the flame inside the antique burner flickered slowly before putting itself out. Though it was quite the calming aroma, Desiree knew that too much would cause her to get loopy, and well.. that wouldn't be the best idea when out on a midnight stroll. [break][break]

Small fascinated calls would emanate from behind the fairy-type trainer close to the ground, and when she'd turn to look, it would be none other than another wild pokemon. Unlike the one that had approached before to watch, this one was much smaller and appeared to be much less skittish. A social butterfly of a pokemon, a wild Flabebe, it wasn't difficult for her to recognize the species; they were known to flock to her mother's botanical gardens in the hundreds. Smiling at the sight, Desiree would tap her hand on the back of the bench ever so slightly to not disturb Clefairy's dance, wishing for it to join her in the mystical sight of fairy energies. Though a bit hesitant at first, the wild pokemon would float upwards and barely a reach from the pinkette's side, curiously looking at the ceremony unfolding before it.[break][break]

"Isn't it wonderful? ♡" The idol whispered in a peaceful demeanor toward the Flabebe, which appeared to be staring in delight and trying to mimic the floaty dance her own way. It was so precious, a little spin around the upper part of the flower with each call of the Clefairy. "Here, have a little treat, it's mainly honey and apricot~! ♡"[break][break]

Unwrapping one of the sparkly bags in the picnic basket, Desiree would smile and cautiously hold it out to the Flabebe- rather than a solid piece, it was a bunch of smaller beads of candy, making it the perfect size for the tiny flower pokemon. Leaning off the edge of her flower, the Flabebe would grab one politely and call out in thanks, slowly eating with it nestled in between her tiny hands. The fairy-type trainer laughed with intent to keep it down, allowing Starlight to continue her dance, and wouldn't take long to raise a pokeball toward the flower-riding pokemon and push the button against her forehead.[break][break]

Encapsulated with bright light for a moment, Flabebe would be pulled into the pokeball, flower and all. The ticking of a pending victory or failure always tested her ability to exercise patience, but if she were to be successful, Desiree would look forward to spending the rest of the dark hours watching the moon dance with a new lil' buddy. Regardless though, that would still be her fate; the meteoric rhythm was captivating and beautiful to see, especially of its limit to one night each month.[break][break]

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An invisible magnetic field encompassing the indent in the ground and around the Clefairy, it was as if it were encapsulated in a sphere of cosmic energies, known only to herself. Starlight continued her dance under the moonlight, using its high-pitched cries to call out to the moon and its energies- it was anything but beautiful to witness, so much so that Desiree could not keep an eye off of it. It was just as strange as it was fascinating just how strange some of the cutest pokemon can be in their own ways, but without judgment, she would focus on the fluttering pink wings on Starlight's back.[break][break]

Additionally drawn in by the scent of the silk tree blossoms and the moonlit dance, a wild Granbull found itself sitting next to the bench and peering upwards towards the fellow fairy. Desiree would notice this and flinch ever so slightly, but the pup seemed to be just as fascinated by the twirls and calls as she was. It was comforting, even if it was a bit odd, knowing that Starlight had a plentiful audience for the meteoric venue.[break][break]

Not wishing to interrupt the dance that unfolded in the immediate skies, the pinkette would take one of the shimmering pouches and release the candy inside of it into her palm. Rolling it on the ground toward the wild fairy-type pup, it would jump for a second and then sniff it, shortly munching down thereafter. A show and a snack, what else was better? After watching for a bit longer and enjoying the show and sustenance, the Granbull left the outskirts of the falls, continuing her midnight perusal.

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It was deep into the depths of the night, and upon the craters of once-fallen meteors on Route 115 Desiree found herself giving into Starlight the Clefairy's wishes. On a full moon's night, which just so happened to be tonight, Clefairy and their youngins and elderly found themselves drifting downward with their pink wings to dance into the night; Starlight wished to give into her craving for the species' ancient practices, and her trainer was all for it. The trip began just after the fairy type nearly dragged the pinkette out of their treehouse to stare at the full moon, and the rest came with gifted knowledge of Hoenn. The peaceful routes surrounding Meteor Falls were the place to be if they were to venture outward, a place where she'd be able to bask in the moon's rays and dance among the cosmic craters. It would be the perfect cherry on top of their previous trip here the day prior, celebrating the once-cleffa's evolution.[break][break]

A pink lantern made of crystalline in her hands, the wary idol found herself in the blank space that was where the meteors once fell. It was a bit cold here, but the white faux-fur cloak lining her upside did just the trick. She manifested the wish to rebuke harm within her heart, and the rose quartz fragments in her pockets, sitting on a bench overlooking a giant hole in the rock. Cigarette in her lips, Starlight would approach the edge of the spherical cataclysm with delight, a moon call awaiting her soon-to-be levitation.[break][break]

Surprisingly, the full moon's rays were more than enough the dimly light the surroundings with a white hue, but the pink lantern did even more. Watching in awe, a picnic box full of pink and white crystals and a bunch of Starlight's favorite treats in little sparkly transparent gift pouches sitting beside the trainer, Starlight would begin to dance in the air above the crater. It was beautiful- humming a peaceful tune of a non-existent song, Desiree would begin to feel truly comfortable, even if it was in the dead of night. The smell of the burning incense helped, resting on the ground below her, radiating warmth and the scent of Unovan silk tree blossoms.[break][break]

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Delighted in her old friend's partaking in the arts of eating her rock candy, she'd raise one of the pink ones up to her lips and crunch, holding the stick in her hand as they would advance toward the cavern entrance and she would listen attentively. The thought of a cave-in was indeed concerning, a thought that she had not quite given time for when taking on this little gemstone excavating mission; maybe the cavern systems in Hoenn were more brittle and fragile in comparison to their Kalosian counterparts. Only time and mining could tell, though she'd somewhat bury those morbid thoughts to avoid freaking herself out for potentially no reason.[break][break]

"That's a good idea, it would be pretty embarrassing to have to call for help if we got stuck~! ♡" Joking alongside him, Cleffa would look in curiosity toward the entrance to the cave as Sven dipped out and returned quickly with supplies. Slipping the tiny little baby-sized hardhat on Cleffa's head, which would sit securely between her horns, Desiree would begin to laugh at the sight as she'd follow suit in slipping hers on and tapping it to make the light on the front wiggle around. Pickaxe in hand, courtesy of her old friend, she would look around whilst sticking to his side as they would enter.[break][break]

Raising the pickaxe upwards a few feet away from Sven once inside, she'd knock it against a little divvy in the rocks, leaving a rather small cataclysm in the natural formation. It was a rather weak hit, but nevertheless, it could potentially have a few crystalline formations deeper, so there was no harm in trying. Starlight would jump in joy as Desiree would continue to chip away, slowly excavating as she was rather weak in the arms. "Starlight loves rose quartz and meteorite fragments but knowing her, she's gonna be so happy when we find something and let her hold it ♡," she'd respond with a smile, working up a sweat as she'd chip away at the rock, ".. but liike, how've you been holding up in Hoenn?"[break][break]

She wasn't quite sure how long Sven had been in Hoenn in comparison to her, but she was sure it was for much, much longer. Curious and enthused, she'd look over every now and then to make sure Sven was doing alright in his excavating endeavors as they would talk. For now, the cave seemed anything but unstable, but that fear of a cave-in slowly made itself known in her mind with each hit of her pickaxe. Cleffa wasn't scared though, she was too busy cheering on the trainers.

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Following Alexander into the venue of the mermaid show, Furfrou following suit, Desiree would look towards him curiously as he would speak of his experience in the music industry; or at least, his lack thereof. But what really struck her was that he seemed to be a veteran by his words, a rather respectable pastime in her eyes, but she couldn't help but wonder what effect that had to have left on him as a person. She wouldn't dare to ask about that though, as she knew sometimes talking about such experiences was a rather rough route to take.[break][break]

"That's exciting~! ♡ I'll forever be grateful for Teravolt scooping me up so soon after I moved here, it was looking like a dead end at first," she'd chuckle ever so gracefully, scanning the seats expanding forward. "What industries did you work for before~? Honestly, I've been in the music industry ever since I became an adult."[break][break]

Taking a few steps into the venue, Desiree would nod, patting the groomed fur of the Furfrou. "Yeah, they're perfect~!" Excitement would fill her mind as she'd slip into the chair, anticipating the start of the show- but she was here to socialize and learn more about the wannabe Teravolt executive, and that was the real origin of her exhilaration. Removing a small bundle of silk wrapping from her purse and unwrapping its pink strings, inside would be an assortment of wrapped chocolate candies, which she would hold out toward Alexander with a smile. Treats were treats, and a bit of sugary sustenance would be mandatory in this non-smoking zone.[break]

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The glimmering flashes of cameras and the shouting of fans and paparazzi alike took Desiree back to her time after Kalos' Got Talent, and though they were invasive, she couldn't help but smile as they advanced inside. Callan's existence seemed to be a big deal here, perhaps more than she was used to; but it was just as alluring as it was inevitable, and she wouldn't let them capturing a glimpse of their night out dampen the mood. Slipping through the cracks of wavering bodies dancing to the music, the private lounge awaited the two with open arms, a good call on his part. It was difficult slipping out of the crowds back home in the Kalosian clubs, at least, if you didn't have access to the VIP.[break][break]

"I haven't either, the last time for me was for a performance back in Lumiose~! ♡ It's refreshing, though clubs are clubs." She'd follow him to the bar seats, the glimmer of her prismatic dress gleaming with refractions of the occasional flash of ultraviolet light. A bit of smoke left her lips as she'd commit her full attention to the guitarist, her gaze appearing full of excitement and livelihood, it felt nice to the pinkette to finally soak up the small bits of nostalgia she'd left in the Kalosian nightlife scene. It was just as refreshing to spot a smoke-friendly sign marking the area, as those were becoming more and more alienated from modern-day society.[break][break]

Desiree would let a giggle escape her lips at his inquiry, or rather an observation of her tastes, and would blush. "Mojitos aren't thaaat boujee, you should see what my sisters order when we go out," she'd smile and toy, relieving her shoulder from the tension of her purse by hanging it on the back of the chair while perusing her mental assumptions of his presumed preferences, "..you seem like you would like old-fashioneds, or maybe a manhattan? With all those people trying to get your attention when we came in, I'd be surprised if beer was up there, it's too ordinary~."[break][break]

Greeted by a slide from the other end of the table, the mojito would appear, prompting her to quickly take a sip from the straw. She'd flinch ever so slightly at the strong taste at first but would take another; it was exquisite, and clearly was given a generous pour of the white rum. If this was the norm for Purgatory, Desiree would definitely need to call an Uber home after the night unfolded. She wasn't planning on holding back when it came to ordering drinks, having already made the mental note of wanting to cover the check even though indulging in drinks was Callan's idea.[break][break]

"Ooh, like a drinking game? ♡" She'd twist one of the long strands of pink within her acrylics, listening to the terms attentively. A shiny glimmer in her cerulean eyes, it definitely would be a good way to learn more about one another outside of what the press had detailed of their lives. It was an appealing idea, and she couldn't help but wonder for just a moment what she would ask if her guess would be true.[break][break]

But an ever-encroaching fear of the questions he'd ask crept into her stomach, as she had no idea just what negative lights in the press Callan had potentially born witness to; the having been cheated on scandal of Cosmic Records, or more precisely the event that prompted her to move to Hoenn. The event that, had it not occurred, would have never prompted her to meet Callan in his home territory. Bernstein at least knew of what the press in Kalos tried to hide, or at least he made it seem that way, and what if Callan did too? Hoenn used to be far out of her grasp when it came to the mass's perception of her, so there was no way to be completely sure. He wouldn't ask about that, he couldn't know- at least, that's what she wished for. But Desiree would try her hardest to push away these fears and hide them with a big big gulp of her mojito, finishing nearly half the glass before placing it on the table once more and letting out a sigh to release the alcoholic burn.[break][break]

"I'm down~! But don't get too greedy with the questions if I keep guessing wrong, I wanna learn more about you, too, ♡" she'd smile and flirt, tapping her nails against the table as she'd ponder her first guess, "..hmm. You said you haven't been to a club since you were twenty-five, was it?" That's what she remembered from when they walked into the lounge, but distortions of sound could have caused her to hear wrong, as she was the tiniest bit unsure. Or maybe the generous pour was proving rather effective. "Are you twenty-seven?"[break][break]

A couple of years of a break from clubbing wouldn't be too farfetched of an assumption for most people in similar scenarios, but Desiree couldn't help but wonder, swirling the straw in her cocktail as she would gaze into his crimson optics in curiosity.[break]

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