| T U R N P A G E ↦

“We all hope there won’t be a next time.” But all they could do was hope to stop a next time before another few young Trainers were forcibly involved. Such a depressing topic.

“Mm, how about your League work? Anything you do on the regular? Patrols, Gym regulations..?” May as well change the topic to something a bit lighter. “I’ve heard primarily that you’re an avid reader at that?”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— Yes, a change in topic is rather appreciated. Things in the regular...? Well, there are certainly a lot of things Lucian does in the regular. Reading is most definitely one of them. It seems a lot of people know about that. “Yes-- I do rather enjoy books. They’re quite fascinating. Daily tasks... We do receive challengers quite often.”

She adored being recognized, that much was evident. She often took it as a personal offense if someone didn’t even comment about knowing her face.

“Malva,” she repeated, nodding her head. For a moment she paused, not wanting to come up short on his name. Sinnoh, she believed. “You’re Lucian..?”

“The pleasure it all mine, it’s refreshing to meet Elites outside the ones I work with in the Kalos League. From what I hear, you read quite a lot. Are you fond of news stories or do you only read them out of necessity?”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— So she knows a bit about him? Well, it shouldn’t come as a surprise, really. They are both members of a league’s elite four. He’s heard of her, who why would it not also be vice versa? “I prefer books, quite honestly, but I do enjoy news stories as well.”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “ ...N? ”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “The way her words flow so elegantly is truly an art we need more of. My, her stories manage to make me shiver, make my heart race, or even both...”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “Of course! I greatly enjoy her works. Everything she writes is absolutely wonderful.”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “I do rather enjoy anything written by Shauntal. She’s very talented.”

“Hm... I have much too many favorites to name specifically, but my favorite genres are horror and, well... romance. Is that an odd combination...?”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— He’s... not sure what to do. Does he pick her up...? “Where is your parent...?”

       “Listen up, I have a brain like a fucking pasta strainer. I read shit, and then I forget about it instantly. You have an amazing brain I’m sure anyone else would kill for. Stop selling yourself short, man! You’re fucking wonderful!”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “...” Honestly, he’s speechless.

“Ew? That anon can shut up. My own powers, you know what I can do? Lift a ball an inch in the air and spend an entire day feeling like my head’s gonna explode. So much for ‘powers’ right? Trust me, I honestly wish I didn’t even have them sometimes.”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “...Thank you, Will. I do appreciate it.”

                               Ugh. He was even prettier up close. Burgh had never been at such close quarters with him; he’d only ever really seen him on TV, maybe once or twice at a distance. It wasn’t horribly common for Gym Leaders and Elite Four members to interact, especially not between regions. Hell, Burgh didn’t even talk to Bugsy that much. 

                             ❝ Oh no, the pleasure is mine! Welcome! How long will you be staying? ❞ he asks, Leavanny cheerfully tittering at Lucian in welcome as well, ❝ Have you been before? I can show you a bunch of great spots to visit if you haven’t! ❞ Calm down Burgh, stop with the rapid-fire questions, he’s not even in the city yet, he thinks to himself, subconsciously thumbing his bike handle because of his nervousness. Was he always this tall? Lucian was not a short man by any means, Burgh was just suddenly self-conscious of his height. That doesn’t happen very often anymore. 

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— Would it be... out of place to ask for an autograph of some sort? Lucian doesn’t want to appear rude, or seem irritating. But it is his first time interacting with such an artist, so perhaps asking later won’t hurt much. Burgh seems to be friendly enough, anyhow. Lucian is sure the other wouldn’t mind scribbling his name down on a piece of paper.

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “...Think what you wish-- I still am a member of the Elite Four.” A member with no telekinetic abilities.

...

“Psychic abilities or not...”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “I...”

“I’ve earned my spot. As for your other question...” He lets out a small sigh. He really does not enjoy thinking about this. Lucian would much rather avoid the subject. “...I wouldn’t know.” 

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “E-Excuse me...?”

                            He’s got a pink convertible, why not a pink bike? Burgh always takes his bike to go back home to Nacrene, so there he was: taking the jaunt down the Skyarrow Bridge to get back to Castelia. He’s been taking this route since he was a teenager, but there’s always so many different people and Pokémon to see on this world-famous bridge, he takes the ride pretty slow. One of his hobbies was people- and poké-watching, as the little things that you don’t notice on a broad scale provide a large bit of inspiration for our enigmatic arti–

                                                  Hold on.

                             Very few people in the world have such vivid violet locks, and only one that has such in shoulder-length curls. His Leavanny, riding on his back, chitters concern as he nearly falls over riding past this RARE guest: Sinnoh’s Psychic-type Master, Lucian. Oh no, what does he do ?? He’s Castelia’s ambassador, he should go over and welcome him, but Arceus was he GORGEOUS. Burgh knows he’d end up a stuttering, blushing mess if he went over and said hello – wait, when did he end up off his bike, standing right next to him? 

                            ❝ Lucian! Are you headed to Castelia? ❞  

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— It is not so much a surprise to Lucian when he finds someone next to him. Being one of Sinnoh’s Elite Four members, he is used to commotion and others buzzing about him-- however bothersome it may be. Personally, Lucian prefers peace and quiet, rather than spectators watching him purchase a loaf of bread in awe. But such comes with being a powerful trainer, and Lucian is not vain-- he simply is able to recognize that he is talented in the arts of Pokemon battles. Not that others aren’t, of course.

            But this is not someone he would simply pass off as a random fan. This is Burgh-- Castelia City’s gym leader, and renown artist extraordinaire. And, quite honestly, as mentioned aforehand, Lucian is quite the fan. Instinctively, he straightens his posture once making eye contact and offers the other a small smile before lightly tugging at his own shirt. He needs to look decent in the presence of such an artist, does he not?

            “Ah. Burgh.”

with ‘harmonia’ in his name, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that he enjoys the melodies which flow so naturally with him- even if he’s a bit frightened by his sudden appearance, n puts aside that fear for the moment. if he’s made a mistake, he’s going to learn of it at one point or another- may as well ensure that lucian is alright with him at the moment, right…?

“…i, um…it wasn’t an intentional surprise, i suppose. i found being alone with very little background noise a bit unnerving, so i made that sound myself. did i interrupt you in doing so, or is it just a coincidence?” rocking back and forth upon his heels, his laugh is one that’s a bit nervous- though, evidently, contagious.

“well, if you…if you say so. i find there to be nothing special to it, really…but thank you.” n averts his gaze in embarrassment, though there’s a smile, clear as day- really, lucian was too kind. “i’ll keep it in mind, if you’d like.”

☾ ✘ ☽ ——— “Interrupt?” Lucian somewhat mirrors N’s laugh, head tilting to the side ever so slightly. Finding out he can sing so wonderfully has to be more than just a mere coincidence, yes? Lucian certainly counts himself lucky. It’s not often one finds a boyfriend that manages to surprise you everyday. “You haven’t interrupted anything. Just made my day more interesting, is all. Thank you.”