[attr="class","lance"]the scent of her perfume floats over, almost intoxicating in how it makes him lean a little closer.

eyes flicked down low to admire, then back up before he gestures over his shoulder towards the bar. he extends a hand towards her, offering with a smile.

"let's start with this one."

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]mirroring her, he leans into the rail as well, letting the glass of golden-brown liquor hang over the floor below.

"anything fun."

after a sip, he tilts his head over to ask:

"why? have something in mind?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"i've only heard good things about it."

he hasn't been here himself, but the reviews he's read online make it sound like it's one people could not miss.

while he would've preferred the bar, the booth is just as nice, if not nicer only due to the privacy it allows them.

"what do you drink?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah

[attr="class","lance"]"i suppose you're right."

her fingers brush along his palm, drawing his gaze down. his smile only grows, perhaps charmed by her antics. he has no reason to be suspicious, after all.

"depends on the reward."

he answers simply. it's half a lie: he gambles every day for almost no reward.

"are you?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"couple of drinks, maybe."

the last of the wailord is dispatched right as urshifu shifts out of his MEGA EVOLUTION, blue fur now black once again.

"no pressure, though."

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"wandering around on your own sounds like no fun."

despite the earlier gesture, his eyes never wandered very far. he takes her hand, gentle as he asks:

"would you like some company?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]with a chuckle, he nods:

"i'll drink to that. too much for one lifetime."

even from a distance, he's able to tell how urshifu's tiring after each strike. the blue on his fur starts fading, telling him enough to know they don't have long left.

"you got any plans after this?"

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]oops!

naturally, he looks, and after a moment of feigned recognition, turns towards her, leaning now on his side.

"no, no, don't worry about it."

a smile flashes.

"i think so but i can't seem to remember either. it's lance."

with a subtle gesture out to the casino, he asks:

"are you here to partake?"

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"they will, i'm sure."

with support from tallie and her pokemon, it makes their lives a whole lot easier. all urshifu has to do is swoop in to send the weakened wailords back into the water with precise SURGING STRIKES.

splash. splash. splash.

"looks like we'll be done in no time."

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]the casino floor is packed full of people; some mingling, some partaking, but all of them seem to be indifferent in a way he can't quite describe.

perhaps it's indifference to the turmoils of the region, or perhaps it's to something else entirely; whatever it is, he drowns the thoughts that surface, leaving it for later.

for now, he stands on the second floor, leaning against the railing that opens out to the main floor of the casino.

[attr="class","noodles"]nina larson // [x]

nina larson

[attr="class","lance"]duty compels him to tap at his belt once again, and this time it's not a pokeball that flashes, but a stone. urshifu MEGA EVOLVES, body growing in size, fur shifting in color. by the end of it, urshifu's leaping forward to throw the first of many SURGING STRIKES.

the first wailord's sent into the water, then the second, then the third.

"looks like you softened them up pretty good."

seven more to go.

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah // [x]

[attr="class","lance"]"i could...but that just feels like cheating."

not that they had much time to waste in the first place. with an exhale, he taps a pokeball on his belt, and out comes an urshifu, poised and ready to strike.

"not sure if we could handle all ten..."

they probably could, but with a smirk, he tilts his head over to his partner.

[attr="class","noodles"]@tallulah // [x]