[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

Better and been worse, that didn't tell him much. But the idea he needed to let go a little... Hmm. Josh slowly nodded, unsure of what to make of that. Clearly something was severely weighing on Amor's mind, but he would just have to pick his brain over time today. When he mentioned bumper cars, Zack's expression spread into a wide grin. Obviously he had been wanting to play the bumper cars all day, and Uncle Amor had just given him an excuse.
[break][break]
"Well. Guess that settles it"
[break][break]
With that, they were on their cars. Josh took a car alongside Zack, letting him pick. Zack picked the Magikarp one, for some reason.
[break][break]
As soon as the ride started, Zack, who was allowed to steer, made a bumper car beeline for Amor.
[break][break]

Amor Rose

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

"Yes," Josh answered bluntly with a small smile. He clearly had a plan, but he didn't want to say it just yet. She would just have to figure it out on her own. As the kids finished their ring toss, having done all they can knowing what was on the line, Josh watched Izumi take hers. Once she did, he noted she was looking towards the Magikarp Fishing, so he filed that away for later, before moving to his own ring toss...
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His own training in several departments made ring toss a feat for him. At first, he was getting them all in, over and over again. But just when it looked like the adults would win... Suddenly he began to miss.
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"Shoot," he muttered aloud as he missed another, then another. But still got one in here and there. The score would be close, and the kids watched closely in anticipation, on the edge of their toes... As he missed the final throw, putting the adults just below the kids' score.
[break][break]
"Well darn. Guess the kids win. Good job, guys."
[break][break]

Izumi Yamamura

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

Oh thank Arceus they weren't going on that again. Josh was pretty sure that he was going to be sick. He put Lyra down and the twins started hugging, and it was pretty clear that while Lyra wasn't as scared... It was going to need some work before they could take her up on that thing again. Maybe she was a little too young for that? Zack was too, but he seemed to be ok. seemed to be, anyway.
[break][break]
Izumi suggested pitting the children against each other in ring toss, the winner getting one reasonable wish. Josh frowned at that. "I've got a better idea" he then brought up, once he got his breath back. "If the kids can score enough points combined between them to beat either myself or their mother, we'll grant a reasonable wish for them both."
[break][break]
Something more positive. Encouraging cooperation and not leaving one of the kids out in the cold if they lost. That would help better cheer them up. That idea seemed to light up both kids, who looked to each other, and then shot towards the Ring Toss.
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"Me please!" called out Lyra, suddenly cured of her fears.
[break][break]

Izumi Yamamura

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

Truth was, by the time they got past the first drop, both father and daughter were holding on for dear life. For Josh, he had no control over this ride. Unlike a Pokemon, it could go wherever it wanted, fall off where it wanted, and endanger his daughter where it wanted. And that? Was terrifying. And honestly, if he didn’t decide on it himself, he didn’t like drops.
[break][break]
While he didn’t say it to Lyra, he held onto her just as tightly as she held onto him.
[break][break]
When they got off the ride, the both of them were a bit shaky. Lyra was a bit less afraid than she was, but didn’t seem eager to go back on as they met back up with Izumi and Zack.
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“How uh . How about something nice? Like the uhhh… Ring Toss maybe?”
[break][break]

@tag

JOSH'S STAMP LIST!
(Cleared Prompts)

Nr.1 - Offer a carnival treat to someone else - HERE
Nr.2 - Eat a Carnival Treato - HERE
Nr.3 - Reference Tug of War - HERE
Nr.4 - Cheer up a child (you're gonna see this one a lot) - HERE
Nr.5 - Ride a Carnival Ride (WHY DID SHE PICK THE FLUME WITH THE DROPS!? - HERE
Nr.6 - Snap a photo for the gram - HERE
Nr.7 - Involve or reference tug of war contest - HERE
Nr.8 - Involve or reference Ring Ross - HERE
Nr.9 - Reference Tauros Rodeo - HERE
Nr.10 - Successfully dunked a bitch - HERE
Nr.11 - Survived 3 turns in the Dunk Tank first try - HERE
Nr.12 - Was dunked by wife, whiffed the return throw - HERE
Nr.13 - Face in a hole - HERE
Nr.14 - Clamperl Diving - HERE
Nr.15 - Mask Making - HERE + Tera Shard, Clampel, Poke Ball, Egg Tutor
Nr.16 - Buy a balloon Pokemon - HERE
Nr.17 - Share your carnival experience - HERE
Nr.18 - Got ice cream for the kids - HERE
Nr.19 - Share to a social of your choice - HERE
Nr.20 - Found out kids might have sensory issues - HERE
Nr.21 - Bribe children with carnival treats so they'll stop fussing over the earplugs - HERE
Nr.22 - Reference ring toss - HERE
Nr.23 - Lost The Game - HERE
Nr.24 - Let a child steer bumper cars - HERE
Nr.25 - Bombed the hall of mirrors - HERE

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

"AHHHHHHHHHHH FU-"
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As soon as he surfaced, he had screamed, barely keeping himself from swearing loudly as he remembered the presence of the kids and Izumi Yamamura nearby. Josh groaned as he would pick out the source of his pain -- another Clamperl. Except when he did, it clamped onto his fingers.
[break][break]
"FFFFF-" he barely contained himself as he yeeted off the Clamperl and dove back down. He could still hear the kids laughing hysterically. Of course they would laugh at his pain.
[break][break]

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

Once it was indicated they could take them off, Josh would remove his own. The kids yanked theirs out when they saw him do it, but were still grumbling about the sounds. Josh had to wonder if maybe the twins had a sensory issue? It would explain a lot. But the kids were still interested in what had happened, even if the noise was a bit much. "A Cynga Suit? That's what it's called?" Josh whispered to himself as he listened in. So it was called a Sync Stone, what they used... Perhaps he would have to look into that himself, if it might end up being a benefit to his work as a Ranger.
[break][break]
But then she said to put the earplugs back in and Josh had to fight with the kids to get them to put them back in. While they enjoyed the showcase, they were really fussy about the noise -- and the earplugs. So Josh did what any father would do in his situation...
[break][break]
Bribe them with treats he'd picked up from the stalls earlier to keep them quiet. And then was able to put in the earplugs just in time to be able to marvel at the show. So this was the power of a Sync Stone...
[break][break]

Shalin Nariya

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

"I've been in one or two, but haven't investigated much. My duties to RaiCorp and to the Rangers keep me busy" Josh admitted softly at that. "I'll have to make time."
[break][break]
Though his eyes widened when Small Josh asked if maybe Zack could ride the giant Raichu to help them keep up. Josh scratched his head, unsure of if that would be safe. That'd be quite the rodeo, wouldn't it, if that Raichu was trying to pass the time attack? If he wanted that, he'd have just taken Zack to the actual attraction. But Josh looked to Zack and the giant Raichu, then back to Josh. "If you're sure it's safe" he remarked, once Small Josh assured him that the Raichu wouldn't run without his command. They were trying to win a time attack, after all. But then it was Josh's turn to lower his voice.
[break][break]
"I trust you. But if Zack gets hurt, you'll be hurting a lot worse than he is."
[break][break]
His tone was completely and unflinchingly calm, but he spoke it while looking the younger Josh dead in the eyes. With a look that made it clear he was very much serious. This would be a new side that the younger one would see, and a glimpse at the viewpoint of a parent. Josh was very protective of his children, terrifyingly so. He did not look away, he did not cease to meet his eyes for several moments more. He just stared, calm, listless, as if staring into his soul, to ensure he got the point.
[break][break]
With that, they were off. While Josh didn't move as quickly as the other Josh, not wanting to let Zack (aboard the bigger Raichu) or Lightning out of his sight, but he moved as quickly as he was able to.
[break][break]

Josh Devlin

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

There had been a lot going on as of late, so Josh had been looking forward to the advent of Funtasia. Why? Mostly so that his kids could have some fun with their parents for once, after how busy they had been with universe-threatening events. Now this festival was finally here, and he was intent on making the most of it.
[break][break]
They had gone when it came to Lavaridge, but the carnival was beginning to near its end, and the kids had enjoyed going so much that he figured he could take them once more. This time it was the one in Rustboro, but Izumi had a Rangers Captain meeting to attend, so he'd be taking the kids himself. Luckily, at this point he knew the layout fairly well, so he could at least navigate without having to split into sections of the park, or have Izumi's help.
[break][break]
At his side were two kids, about seven years old the both of them, a boy and a girl. The boy had brown hair and brown eyes, while the girl had blonde hair and brown eyes as well. Their current stop? The ice cream stall. Josh had just finished handing them over to two very hot and hungry children who began lapping the ice cream up in moments.
[break][break]
"Hey, hey, you're gonna brainfreeze, careful!"
[break][break]

@shizue

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

Well, Izumi wasn't listening. Go figure. So looks like they were getting on. Lyra was still more visibly terrified, and he could tell that Zack was putting on a brave face too. But hopefully they would be a bit less scared if he stayed by Lyra's side the whole way through.
[break][break]
Of course, the child clung to him with a complete and utter death grip that would make her mother's death grip look like nothing in comparison. But she was able to eventually watch the ride unfold before them without covering her eyes.
[break][break]
"Alright, Ly. The first drop is coming. Are you ready?" he inquired, to which the scared child nodded with a slight whimper. "Just hold onto me. Don't be scared. Keep hold of me and I won't let you go. Okay?" he made sure they knew, which got another nod and "mhm" in kind.
[break][break]
Honestly Josh was a little anxious about the drop too, so he held on just as tight.
[break][break]

Izumi Yamamura

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

There had been a lot going on as of late, so Josh had been looking forward to the advent of Funtasia. Why? Mostly so that his kids could have some fun with their parents for once, after how busy they had been with universe-threatening events. Now this festival was finally here, and he was intent on making the most of it.
[break][break]
They had gone when it came to Lavaridge, but the kids had enjoyed it so much that when they came to Lilycove, Josh and Izumi had decided to take them again. For the moment, they had split into pairs so they could each see what each kid wanted. Josh, today, had gone with Zack. Brown hair, brown eyes, it was easy to see both his parents in him. But just as Josh took a picture to post up so Izumi could see what they were up to, a familiar voice caught his ear.
[break][break]
"Amor, hey!"
[break][break]
Much had happened the last time he'd seen Amor. The revelation that he'd been trying to revive someone, and not his parents, but a deceased lover who Josh didn't even know existed at that, had been a surprise. While Josh had tried to talk him down from it, Amor had refused to stop. And in the end, Josh relented and swore to stay and protect him, what come may. But the attempt had failed, and Amor had, obviously, not taken it well.
[break][break]
It was all that Josh could do to stay by his side for awhile, go for a drink, and remind him of what he had said in that cave -- they were family. Amor was the godfather of his children. The kids looked up to him as an uncle, and Josh thought the same, seeing Amor more as his sibling than his friend. And they needed him. Josh had made sure in no uncertain terms that Amor knew that.
[break][break]
But Amor had risked his life once more in pursuit of some desire that Josh was left without answers to, and he hadn't seen him since. He was used to Amor isolating himself, he knew he'd make an appearance eventually. And lo and behold, here he was. But when Josh got a closer look at Amor, he didn't know how to explain it... His friend looked weathered. Tired. More than he had seen him in his entire life. Had what happened in the caves done so much to him in so short a time? Had he failed so hard at trying to show Amor that he was loved and wanted, that he still had a family?
[break][break]
"Izumi's with Lyra. I'm with Zack today. How're you holding up?"
[break][break]
And Lightning, who in fact would not stay in his Poke Ball. That hadn't changed.

Amor Rose

[attr="class","dragomirpt"]

And then Izumi Yamamura up and turned it into a competition. That tracks. So as soon as Izumi came up with a prize, and the kids began clapping, Josh took a deep breath and went underwater again. He'd only gotten a Pokeball this time, which by prize standards is apparently not very impressive.
[break][break]
So he would just have to find something better this time. He was an old pro now, he could do it, right?
[break][break]
He just hoped no more Clamperls would clamp him.
[break][break]