hariyama's capsule pops open. upon receiving the downed wrestler in a flash of red, the pokeball shuts close. noah is swift to attach it to his holster; the device hums like a wind-up toy as it cycles.

noah's medicham braces for the altaria's attack. although it may be able to DETECT its approach, the broad wingspan of the dragon may catch it in the follow-up. its trainer understands this too.

as noah commands the medicham to fire a PSYCHO CUT as the altaria approaches, the silver glow intensifies, scattering its metallic sheen across the ring. strikes are exchanged. energy disperses in clouds and smoke.

as the fog dissipates, noah's medicham can be seen still standing. however, it is clearly worn down. the severe cross of attacks reveals its consequences in scuff marks. tired limbs.

his medicham attempts to fight again, but noah is quick to raise a hand. "alright, alright! we're good, man." noah recalls his medicham and as the red takes it, the pokemon closes its eyes to rest. "you know what you're doing."

he attaches the pokeball to his holster. it cycles. a tinny drumroll as noah retrieves what valerio has been waiting for.

"congratulations, jonathan! you've won the knockout badge. well deserved, man."

Valerio Dachev

"it's a protected site, duh dude. it's supposed to look the same. forever. unless it burns down."

the steady beat of an aged drumskin can be heard in the distance. as leaves eddy around their feet like golden spirits, noah shivers too. he's grown accustomed to the hoenn climate— and is startled at his heightened sensitivity.

noah swings behind kyle as they walk. sensing that kyle would be cold too, noah's hands find kyle's arms to rub them vigorously. he rests his head on the other's shoulder. curious eyes train themselves on the bell as noah tries to snatch it out of kyle's hand.

"did anything happen?" noah asks. "when you rang it. you know, i could use a bell like this to order you around. like calling for a butler."

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

the gym smells of rubber mats. from the flooring to each corner, every face of the building rustles electric with the bass track of some popular hits radio station. john is right; although, the gym is not always open to the public, it isn't strange to see patrons wishing to exercise here or gym trainers practicing with their pokemon.

noah laughs, the other's bravado far outshining his physique.

"alright, buddy." he says. "bootcamp instead of a campsite. we'll get you a place to stay, but until then," noah looks around, his glance a confident disc of light swinging past the mechanics of management he has somehow enacted, "we can start. now."

his machamp huffs, its beak ajar in an eager smile.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon machamp"]

John Sullivan

the fencing catches the brilliance of valerio's altaria. underneath the canvas, the ring's structure groans and heaves as the EARTHQUAKE ripples through like lasagna sheets.

the move is enough to fend off noah's pokemon for a brief while. impressed, the gym leader watches keenly. his gaze hardens into tight pearls. the pressure of scrutiny rather than stress.

while his hariyama delivers one last WHIRLWIND toward valerio's team from its vast palms, noah's medicham capitalizes on the sacrifice. his hariyama will fall to the dragapult's PSYCHIC FANGS, but his medicham weaves in through the winds. ice coats its fists, and as its lithe body melds into the gales, it throws ICE PUNCHES at the ghostly dragon.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon medicham"]

Valerio Dachev

noah's expression petrifies save for the blinking of light eyelids. seldom does anyone come to see him— but despite noelle's uneasy expression, the gym leader welcomes the subversion of expectation.

"well you found me." noah says. another push of a wet snout acts like a button. the mightyena paw backwards and sit like a parted wave with wagging tails. "come on iiiiin. there's nothing i'm really doing. got a bucket of fried chicken if you want some?"

a hand grips the door frame to pull it wide open.

"kyle wouldn't forgive me if i turned you away anyway."

Noelle Lane

before the altaria's BREAKING SWIPE strikes, noah's hariyama leaps. its rotund body attempts to HEAVY SLAM on top of the altaria's swinging wing while medicham dodges. should it be successful, the hariyama aims to pin the limb down on to the floor.

although the ICE PUNCH doesn't freeze, noah's medicham does not falter. it's a battle of attrition, truth be told. every little strike matters. and after dreepy explode on the medicham, the pink pokemon hurls itself away in the resulting smoke that masks them.

the medicham soars through the air, bruised from the draconic detonation— but lands on its feet. the wet canvas allows the medicham to skid purposefully. switching targets, it rushes toward the other opponent where the REFLECT may not reach.

taking advantage of the altaria that is presumably distracted by the hariyama, the medicham seeks to siphon some vigor back with a DRAIN PUNCH to the altaria's chest.

the medicham is focused still on its surroundings, as if a third eye has sprouted on the back of its head.

"keep it up, keep it up!" noah shouts.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon hariyama"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon medicham"]

Valerio Dachev

the machamp waves back with one of its slab-colored hands, while noah takes doug's hand for a firm shake. although the other's circumstance is disheartening, the gym leader does not dampen his own spirit in hopes of lifting the other's instead.

the other's joke inspires a laugh from deep within his chest. "like in a pokemon battle, or do you mean actual hand-to-hand?"

his machamp poses with all four hands up for a lock-up. a demonstration of the obvious.

"shouldn't we find you a place to stay first?" noah says with a small frown. "i'm sure we can find you a place to be housed, man. at least, maybe while I teach you a thing or two about fighting."

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon machamp"]

John Sullivan

bellchime trail is quiet. just the rustling of autumn leaves and the whisper of shoes against short grasses. in the distance, should one listen closely, the golden melodies of the ecruteak dance theater are kept in time with soft footfalls of kimono girls.

a cool wind picks up enough to cast noah and kyle's hair around their faces. ahead, the bell tower stands above the regal swirl of forest.

"you've probably already been here before," noah says, holding the other's hand stubbornly, "but there's value in doing things twice, right? like, you come in with a new perspective and shit."

he tugs him closer to the tiered tower.

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

sneaking in november's with kyle lopez

nerd? noah scoffs at kyle's retort. warm hands pull away from kyle's face, and as if to break the delusion of his boyfriend's tongue, noah planks over him. the stereotype of a lanky nerd is contested. with a samsonian defiance, noah can't help but flex his sturdy pillars on either side of kyle.

"if anyone's a nerd, it's you. remember blades and bulwarks?" noah says.

the bed weakens his endurance. he comes crashing down on top of kyle, the suggestion of a nap possessing an insurmountable gravity.

"sounds like a plan, man." he leans in toward kyle's neck, face half-pressed against the pillow, the other half brushing against the other's skin with kisses. his hands reach under the pillows and swipe around.

"just stay away from the cold side of the pillows," he says between tickling lips, "they're mine."

kyle lopez / vacation mission

noah catches the winds of john's particular voice. although the receptionist is quick to supply him with answers, the gym leader's voice trumpets outward into the lobby.

"hey! did you say something about bullying, man?" noah jogs over. beside him, his machamp runs too. each of its four arms are bent, hands in fists to regulate the rhythm of their spritely run.

noah's short stature is still filled and triumphant. despite having no challengers scheduled for today, he's dressed in his gym leader's outfit: nothing special, just a league tank top and deep blue shorts.

"is that just your funny way of asking for a badge?" noah leans on his machamp's side.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon machamp"]

John Sullivan

as the fires of battle die, hoenn's sea whispers against the shore. noah focuses on the cooling sounds. he's unsure if he can get used to this.

june's voice brings him back. his turtonator snorts once more and kicks sand back into the sea, leaving prints that fill quickly with brine.

laughing, he rubs the back of his neck. "hey, it worked out, didn't it?" he follows after her, perusing the carnage quietly. "but i won't do it again, sure!"

should she be skeptical, her suspicion would not be out of place.

[attr="class","pkspr"][attr="class","pokesprite pokemon turtonator"]

June Fair

noah faber and John Sullivan

poggy pog pog yeah noah can help him!
he's become a bit more rusty- but that might be perfect enough.

just wanted to respond to you because i know you already made the thread \o/

THANKS FOR REACHIN OUT GAMER