play it like a pirate

A woman poked her head up over the flames, staring wildly over toward the elevator. She looked a little crazy, but that may have just been the lighting. Maybe. “…Yo?” She squinted, standing up on her tiptoes, “Who’s there?” By the bass still pumping up through the floors, she knew Nash was still in the midst of battle, and besides, that wasn’t how the floors here even worked. Nash would have risen up with the challenger and it was her thing to tease him mercilessly as he stood there looking ashamed. It was her favorite thing, and since Nash wasn’t here, she knew it couldn’t have been a challenger.

Unless the league up and changed the rules on her, which wouldn’t be so bad. The same old, same old got boring fast.

It was only just before the elevator doors were about to close did Gilda will herself to step into the hot, dark room. Her pokemon still pressed close into the small of her back. It was so dark, she could only just hardly make out the other woman peeking out from above the flames. But that was enough to coax her forward until she was further into the room, and yet a safe distance away from the fire.

The gentle caress of the ocean rocked the inner tube lightly, moving it at a slow pace towards the dock where several people were lined up to enjoy an aquatic sightseeing tour. Their excited chatter echoed over the small waves, a few lone Tentacool popping their heads up to see what was going on above the ocean floor.

Oceania had been no exception when it had come to the peeking curiosity — her morning training regiment ended a bit earlier then usual, so she’d decided to relax along the shore. Though, she had to wonder why it seemed that there were so many people for such a small boat.

To make it even more suspicious, it was a boat that she hadn’t even recognized before — did Meria Dock finally get some fresh faces?

The Meria City Leader quickly abandoned her inner tube, slipping into the waves and quickly swimming up to the docks where the crowd was beginning to board the boat. She limbered her way up onto the dock after reaching it, brushing long aqua locks back as her eyes locked onto a semi-familar face.

”.. Gilda…”

She’d never expected to see the Champion out here — she’d only met her once or twice for introduction purposes when she’d been presented at the welcoming ceremony.

The young woman offered a small nod as she slipped past a few passengers until she was able to lean against the railings closest to the dock. The boat itself wasn't something overly impressive - possessing two levels that couldn't possibly hold more than sixty people comfortably, coloured a plain white, black, and yellow - but the owner herself seemed proud enough of it.

"Mhm, she's mine." Gilda hummed over the absent chatter of the people behind her, patting the railing. "Today's been slow. Figured I'd take her out to the water when I'd have the chance." Her gaze swept back to the her passangers for a quick moment, before returning her attention to the other. She cocked a brow.

"Battling isn’t much my strong suit. Only two of my pokemon have any real experience." 

That statement was a fact. Umbreon was without a doubt one of her only pokemon that had experience in a pokemon battle. When she was much younger her father insisted on Larka and her siblings to take part in the town battling competition. 

But besides the loyal moonlight pokemon her brother’s Tyranitar, currently in her possession, would be the second and final. 

Perhaps she might be mistaking her for one of her brothers instead? They did all look quite similar but Larka of course being much more feminine. All of them battled competitively around the region. 

Larka took a glance up before a slight smile was drawn as her expression. Kneeling down so she was closer to Umbreon she pat his head affectionately once again and then turned back to the unnamed stranger. 

"Maybe a look upwards will spark a memory?" 

Gilda racked her brain for where she had seen this girl before. She had never been good with putting names to faces, but at least now she had a clue that she hadn't battled her before. That narrowed it down to... well, it didn't narrow it down much, actually. Maybe she had seen in a shop, or she was just a passing face, or maybe she was--

"... hm?" Gilda, and even her now curious Persian, shifted their gaze upwards from the familiar stranger. Only to see the familiar stranger again, posing on the overhanging billboard. She hummed, nodding in understanding. While the actress' name still escaped her she distinctly remembered where she had seen her face now. On the television - of all places. 

"Pst…Gilda. What’s a pirates favorite letter?"

Oh no— her favourite joke.

"Pst…Gilda. What’s a pirates favorite letter?"

Oh no— her favourite joke.

She reached down to pat the dark furred eeveelution in thanks before grabbing the damaged glasses to inspect them. Umbreon threw a glance at the Persian as if to mock it sulking on the bench while he had manners and recieved a pat of affection for his good work. 

In truth. The glasses were worth no small price. She had modeled a few pairs for an advertisment about the company and it’s products. The manager had given her one of the pairs as a thank you for her work. Quite the price tag if you wanted one. 

If she wasn’t as exhausted as she was Larka would have probably asked the girl to pay to repair them after her pokemon’s mischief but even that would have gone too far. It didn’t matter anyway considering she could just buy new glasses for only a few pokedollars. 

However, Larka could hear the anger in her agent’s voice already. She would never hear the end of it if the scrape ended up scabbing over during filming. In her eyes it could just be covered up by the make-up crew but in his it was a blemish ruining his star’s future. Whatever. He’d have to deal with it. 

"Nothing that can’t be fixed." She assured placing the glasses up on her head for the meantime. 

This caught the young woman's attention before she was given a chance to respond. Rolling her eyes once again, Gilda scooted over beside her Persian and rubbed behind his ear. Begrudgingly, Bellamy relented - the flickering sparks calming down as well as he settled for just glowering at the dark-type. 

"Oh. Fine. Like I said, my Persian is just a huge arse. Let me apologize again." She offered the other a slight nod of her head before pausing, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. 

She decided that a trip to her usual teahouse was a perfect reward for her hard work and a much needed break. Judging from the afternoon sky she could make it there before the sun would even fully set. Contrary to popular belief even in the city you can get a beautiful view of the sky. Yet only in that small panel of twilight where the sky was covered in orange and purple hue while stars seemed to peek out from under the colorful blanket to wake.

But right after the entire city would seem to come out of hibernation in a burst of frenzy nightlife. The stars would be replaced with the lights of shopping department windows and the theatre tower glowing signaling the times of it’s shows. If you were lucky the Museum would have it’s weekly night exhibits on display.

For now Larka was content on her quiet afternoon walk and promise of iced herbal tea waiting just a few more blocks.

However, the stars seemed to have a different plan for her at the moment. Before she could react to the sudden shift the concrete rushed up to meet her. She opened her eyes and found that her glasses were no longer on her head but lay just a few inches next to her. A fine crack inched on the left lens. Hand reached up to touch the right side of her jawline and just beside her chin was a scrape due to the scuffle with the ground. 

Umbreon was already beside her with a look of concern and apology for not catching her. Who could blame him? She must have tripped by accident.

Whoops

Larka looked up to find she wasn’t as alone in the area as she thought. Another girl, seated on a bench with book in hand, was looking on Larka’s predicament with her own pokemon beside her.

"Bellamy," Gilda began after a few moments of pregnant silence, gently whapping the top of her pokémon's head, "He can be an ass sometimes." Taking the magazine off her lap, as well as shooing her Persian's head away, she inched forward and held in offered hand out as if to help the other up. Bellamy having since curled up in the far side of the bench - the big sulk.