#timebranded

[✉️] Hey, Blue. How've you been recently?

[✉️] Thought you should know someone moved into your old place.

[✉️] We're getting along really well. He's actually a childhood friend of mine! What are the odds, right?

There's a selfie, too. Lucas looks rather close to the aforementioned neighbor...or is it that the neighbor is rather close to Lucas?

Blue perks up at receiving some texts from Lucas; after making it through the luckyrose pine forest together, they're sort of trauma-bonded. He doesn't text her nearly as often as he used to, though.

[ 📲 • sms ⇢ Luc ] ah, my dear ex-neighbor, Lucas! nice of you to remember I exist! :3c

[ 📲 • sms ⇢ Luc ] here I was, thinking you didn't miss me. I still haven't forgiven you for not attending my party, you know?

[ 📲 • sms ⇢ Luc ] in your own backyard, no less!

She's not surprised to hear someone already moved into her old place. Those villas are prime real estate; she expected it to sell quick. It's a bit wild that the new tenant happens to be an old friend' of Luc's, though.

[ 📲 • sms ⇢ Luc ] so, childhood friends, huh? talk about a small world

She examines the selfie with raised brows.

[ 📲 • sms ⇢ Luc ] you two... are pretty close, huh?

Two medium-sized Qwilfish took your bait back to back! Thankfully, your reactions were quick, and you were able to reel them both in before they released their poisonous spikes in self-defense.

Next, you felt a powerful tug on your line, and you braced yourself, expecting it to be whatever creature had nearly dragged Hilbert and Ethan off the pier. It turned out to be a large Dondozo, and you barely managed to reel it in after several minutes of struggling.

Your attempts at reeling in the Dondozo must've exhausted you, because you're unable to fight back against the small white-striped Basculin and Wishiwashi that bite next. Both of them jump off the reel and swim away.

The judges have taken good notes and will work on assigning Lucas a score by the end of the contest.

Cynthia's reply texts fire back within seconds. She's on the ball, as always. She's absolutely blowing up Lucas's phone.

[sms: Cynthia] It's nothing too major, I hope.

[sms: Cynthia] I'm putting together a pitch to present to the Hoenn Contest Board tomorrow. They are looking to open more Contest Halls in Sinnoh, but they want to know what native Pokemon our region has to offer.

[sms: Cynthia] You are familiar with the contest categories, yes? Cool, tough, smart, beauty, and cute? I need some Sinnoh-specific examples for each.

[sms: Cynthia] I would do it myself, but I'm afraid my Pokemon would get upset if I didn't pick them. :)

“This isn’t the only reason I decided to become a Trainer, but it was the deciding factor,” he admits. Taking off his right glove and pushing his sleeve back, he holds up his arm so that the scar on it is visible. “A couple of years before I started my journey, I was struck and nearly killed by something that left this behind. Nobody could figure out what could have done it. Trainers travel a lot, so I figured I’d have a better chance of finding out than if I just stayed in a lab, you know?”

“I won’t say if I figured that mystery out.” Because he still wasn’t sure if trusting Gatz with that knowledge was wise. “But it doesn’t answer the second question, anyway. If I could be honest, it’s mostly to spite Cyrus - by being a part of the world he wanted to destroy. It would be hypocritical if I shut myself off from the world after I helped save it, right?”

Scavenger Hunt - Final Day ( GAMBLE ) [ 67 ]

Gatz and Sableye are both judging now, as opposed to just Sableye. Gatz is leaning in, focused intently as he is given a taste of the knowledge he swore to never seek on his own. Sableye felt bad about the scar, but glad Lucas was okay. He wondered if the scar still hurt. But the mention of bettering oneself in spite of someone else only makes them think of a certain Maverick and can't help but chuckle. But oh boy is Lucas right about Cyrus.

    “HOW are you only wearing a t-shirt and shorts right now?” Sure, it’s only fall... but she’s already sporting several layers just to feel comfortable.

    Beside her, a grumpy-looking Serperior wearing a makeshift scarf also voices her disapproval.