even a guy like shigure enjoys the night life. or, more precisely, it's easier to hide away in the shadows of the night and blend in with the crowds that drown everything out with buzzed excitement. sometimes they like to break out of monotony and poke their head into a good ol' arcade. it's the fluorescent lights and eardrum bursting music that gets him. makes it easier to not think, you know?[break][break]

well, at least, they weren't thinking. past tense. because now why was he getting his ass kicked the moment this guy wandered over and plopped down next to him? so much for a totally calm and peaceful race of which it definitely was! definitely. trust.[break][break]

"... dude." it's not directed to anyone, the comment tinged with complaint being sent to the air. he lets out a sigh as he leans back into the chair. he's still got time to climb back to podium or something, right? losing is whatever. it just sucks to be in bottom eight against a bunch of npcs and some rando. [break][break]

+ Josh Devlin / mission: all nighter

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

"ah... is that how it is...?" they tilt their head, and while they're usually very stoic (and borderline sleepy), there are clear hints of interest reserved for people shigure quietly welcome into their circle. it's not often they do so, but shigure easily warms to kindness, even if any outward expression they wear says otherwise. [break][break]

"i'm still learning, so..." they sniff awkwardly, picking at his work gloves. after all, becoming a "daycare worker" was very much so a last minute decision on shigure's end. however! nikola's visits and rambling about different types of pokemon was proving to be useful. it's unfortunate such knowledge would be used for more... unsavory practices, but as far as they knew, shigure used it only for good! and considering how they've only been in hoenn for a handful of months, even random information on zigzagoon was appreciated. [break][break]

"there's a difference though right... between regional versions or something?"[break][break]

+ NIKOLA SAMSA / friends!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

they drag themselves onward, mentally sighing to themselves because he's sure if he let it loose, she'd whip around with a few choice words of which shigure would only sigh further at. basically, he was sparing both of them the trouble, though he could easily deflect and say he was just taking in their sorry sights. it's not as though shigure were unfamiliar with unkempt streets that echoed with the ghosts of a well-lived society. [break][break]

it was because of that that they were being very observant. people (and pokemon) were good at crawling unnoticed.[break][break]

"... so. anything's fine?" they start, rubbing at their nose. "as long as it looks strong or whatever?" trash bags rustle nearby, shigure tilting their head in the direction. didn't sound like anything intimidating, but one could never know! [break][break]

+ VELVET ASCH / well well well.... finally slapped it down like a hamburger

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

their eyes close again, and it's definitely not because they're nodding off but totally because they're imagining what momo is attempting to speak into existence. stars and lights... and streamers... he had to admit, her creativity knew no bounds and he could see the appeal. shigure didn't know anyone that could bring out their pokemon's charms like momo could (though, he had to attribute it to his usual company, perhaps). unfortunately, aimi just had a bulky thing to lug around and solemnly, they mumble: "hammer's big..." a very simple observation very much so attributed to shigure's sheer exhaustion. [break][break]

with shigure's cool tone though, it did sound like it held deeper meaning. whatever that may be![break][break]

he isn't entirely sure when he held out an awaiting palm, only being pulled back to awareness when the candy gently pricked at his skin. they stare down at the colorful spike balls of candy, head tilting to the side. a memory plays in his mind: they're children again and momo calls his name insistently just to push a bag of the sweets into his chest. they're star shaped, shigure! aren't they cute? blinking down at the momo in the present, a tiny smile plays on his lips. things change, but the memories never will. it's a good thing. [break][break]

"they are," he agrees, daintily putting one in his mouth and rolling it upon his tongue. "thanks, by the way." they pause, awkwardly sniffing to fill the silence as always. they glance elsewhere, shifting weight from one foot to the other before they sigh. "sorry. work's got me busy... do you mind if we sit somewhere?" busy was an understatement, but at least they're being honest somehow. he didn't want to force momo to drag his body somewhere comfy if they accidentally pass out, after all. thankfully, a bench was nearby amongst the flowers and shigure himself drags his body there before momo could ever have to suffer effort. [break][break]

+ Momo Sakai / they're literally kinda everything to me

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

unlike their trainer who's always wary of their surroundings, the pichu and sprigatito pay no heed, even wandering towards the buzzing. the pichu even has the gall to peek over his shoulder to ensure shigure is following behind and oh. was that a laugh? shigure rolled his eyes but still complied. what greeted them, however, did cause a pause in the kantonian's movement, his rascal duo halting at the sight of a trio of pokemon clearly brought together by an outside force. [break][break]

shigure is quick to scan their surroundings though, first to find a possible trainer but they needn't look too far! they mumble a what the hell under their breath, before they breathe a sigh and raise their hands in surrender. [break][break]

"just passing by," he claims, however one can't miss the sheer fascination he has in watching how the stranger manages to stay glued to the beedrill's wing. his pokemon, however? well they're quick to cower behind him, and hopefully the sudden movement doesn't set any of the beasts off. [break][break]

+ Shalin Nariya (shroc time)

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

the thing with shigure is, despite their demeanor, they let their pokemon run them around the block. which is to say, when his pichu runs off into the forest, sprigatito in hot pursuit, it really does take a little effort from their trainer to hold in the sigh as they drag themselves after the duo. thankfully, shigure doesn't really fear much nowadays, even with the unpredictability of hoenn's natural populace. if anything, this was just another day in their life: chasing down his energetic pokemon one step at a time.[break][break]

"be careful," he calls simply, hands in their pockets as they continue onwards. suddenly, they glance off to the side, eyes narrowing slightly. was that... the sound of buzzing? they frown, deciding to pick up the pace. hari could easily take down a wild bug type, but in a forest, a battle would only stir the rest of its inhabitants. [break][break]

unless, miraculously, it was a trained bug pokemon, but what were the odds of that, right? [break][break]

+ Shalin Nariya / grass, poison, bug time!

[attr="class","pokeclass"]

he fiddles with a stray thread on his sleeve, quiet as always as he listens to momo's babble. they're especially tired today. work has them busy, but their membership even more so. of course, when it comes to momo though, shigure has a hard time cancelling on her. they're each other's remnants of home, no matter how cruel that may seem. [break][break]

their eyes close for a moment as her chatter lulls him to a sense of comfort. this is nice. wouldn't it be even nicer to— [break][break]

shigure jolts at her outburst, blinking rapidly before settling on her. "er, right..." he rubs at his nose, yawning with a shrug. "i dunno. the streamers would make it hard to move, wouldn't it? silque's used to it, but aimi..." another yawn interrupts his sentences, and instead of their nose, they rub at an eye. "... anyway, she'd have trouble swinging her hammer around."[break][break]

+ Momo Sakai (shroc time)

[attr="class","pokeclass"]