#auraprotector

He wanders aimlessly, for today no work could bother him. It was far from Christmas, so he did not have to daunt himself with strenuous shopping. He heads, instead, to his favourite haunt in the city, a famous shop located near one of the gates leading out of the city - the same shop that sold the everlasting Lumiose Galette.

He reaches the shop, picks out a few choice notes and exchanges them for a sweet treat, and then he turns around and his eyes catches a foreign face; few were out due to the cold. He eyes the man curiously and stops to observe. There is a certain air about him that seemed...different.

Sycamore does not say anything and continues to watch the man. His foreign air would mean that he was a tourist of some sort, but what sort of tourist hangs around during such freezing temperatures? So he continues to watch the man go about his business and though nothing is said, he knows the man is well aware that his gaze is boring into his back.

He loves the rush that the alcohol brings to him; sends his mind to another realm and his veins with the fires of passion. When he finds himself outdoors for a smoke, he eyes three young men heading out of the bar, clearly intoxicated as he. Allen lights the cigarette with an unsteady hand and puffs, filling his lungs with the toxic perfume. 

The three men are chatting wildly, and Allen, the fool, mumbles, rather loudly: “Shut it.” 

The next thing he finds himself pinned against the wall. “Say that again, darling,” the youngest of the group, and the clear leader of the pack says, hissing and smiling dangerously. 

Allen spits in his face.

He does not notice a younger man walking up to the group with their fists raised. Allen feels the blood drain from his face, and his already pale face is paler still. He soon tastes blood.

“One more thing, darling. Next time, I won’t go easy.” As they walk away, he spits in their direction. “Easy?” he shouts after them, “The only thing easy about this is you three!”

      He arrives at the Iron Island a few days after he sets out from Hoenn, and while he knows his arrival will be unannounced and sudden he feels it’s simply the right thing to do. It’s been some time since he’s seen Riley and while he doesn’t wish to trouble him with his own problems he does intend to bring him to his real destination: Snowpoint City. It will be good for both of them-- a break from training and a break from a normal routine. He hopes Riley will see it that way at least and already prepares to keep things well under control. As long as he doesn’t think about the problems that trouble him it should be alright. It’s easier said than done of course and he realizes it as he steps off the boat and makes his way up to the house stationed there. 

      It’s a long walk to the house and one he uses to calm himself down to the best of his ability. On the outside it’s easy enough to feign a neutral expression, a false smile, or other feelings, but when your friend can read past that due to their fascinating abilities it’s another matter entirely. He’s never been able to outfox Riley but this time he’s ready to try. He’s sure if he can keep his thoughts off what’s bothering him then it will work.

      He keeps a lookout for Riley as he approaches and when he doesn’t see him he assumes he’s inside. He sets his bag down before the building and draws up his hand to knock on the door and waits for Riley to answer. I hope he’s not in the cave. He mulls over it and looks off towards the cave in question, and in light amusement wonders how surprised Riley would be to stumble upon him in the caves. Luckily that’s not the case, as the door opens and he sees his friend standing there. 

      A calm yet genuine smile eases its way to his features as he takes the other in. He hasn’t changed. Are his first thoughts and that makes it easier to smile, to relax and know that this was the right choice to make in coming here. 

The fact that Atticus managed to earn a bursary from Hearthome University still remains a curiosity to him. He honestly doesn’t think he deserves it, but seeing as the sleepless nights in Lumiose Public Library paid off and granted him a perfect score, it’s no wonder that Boy Wonder Atticus is back with a somewhat clearer path and the slightest hint of direction in his life. Honestly, he doesn’t intend on sticking to his major, Pokémon Physiology. But the sense of security and sureness that a declared major leaves no room for him to change his mind — which he thinks is a good thing. It may be restrictive and binding, but it’s also warm and welcoming all the same.

He’s made his fair share of friends (perhaps not really friends but mates, who are mostly there for fun and stress-relief) and an unofficial fanclub of which he is unaware of. Some of them were kind enough to take him in for Christmas as he refused to go back to Kalos over the break. (It’s not like he actually had the choice; he doesn’t have the money, but he’d like to think that he wouldn’t have gone back even if he was still the rich boy he used to be). Though it seems that they mostly keep him around not out of genuine interest, but because of his polished demeanour. Because of his magnetic allure to the girls they were infatuated with. They’d hope that the girls would realise that Atticus had a sharp tongue and that he wasn’t afraid to let it loose. He doesn’t know why he sticks around with those boys, anyway. Perhaps it’s the comfort of not being alone.

As per usual, there’s the routine “good morning” from a group of girls that Atticus never replies to. At first he thought it was strange and slightly creepy, but on good mornings he’d give them a nod or a muttered “morning” (to which they gossip about for a good four minutes). Heck, it’s the first day of the new semester. 

“Good morning,” he speaks, this time crisply. 

‘Pokémon Biopsychology 201’ is scrawled across the blackboard in large print.

He prepares for the lesson, unlike the other students, setting his ring-bound notebook and pen down neatly on his desk. He flings his coat off and onto his chair almost resentfully burdened by the extra piece of clothing that winter forces upon him. This is a two-semester course, which he doesn’t mind because he actually likes the course, with familiar faces from last time. He doesn’t know their names, nor did he bother asking. He just knows them as “the girl who's always looking at memes” or “the dude with funny patterned socks”. But he does know one person in the class.

Except he isn’t here yet, which is strange. He’s usually the earliest. He’s the only person, besides Atticus, who actually does work and pays attention in class.