Set in the original region of Arciel, Legends Rising is a route-inspired, but not strictly route-based, Pokemon roleplay. Pick a faction, pick a class, and strike out into the wild to take on the League, master Contest coordination, research the mysteries of Pokemon and Arciel, and much, much more. Will you be a classic trainer? A criminal? A farmer? Choose your destiny on Legends Rising.
Three optional icebreaker questions are offered: 1. If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be? 2. What is the cheesiest pickup line you have heard? 3. If your friends compared you to a Pokemon, which Pokemon would it be?
Feel free to discuss any of these or use your own icebreaker!
Arietta, after her few terrible weeks of just... chaos wanted a break- she wanted to find love again. Somebody who'd be able to be there for her and maybe be a new start- she just wanted... somebod- she'd had enough crying! It'd been over 8 months since her last relationship, so what better way to show the press, and her blog that she'd moved on, with a new cutie to boot? Anddd it just so happened she saw the advertisements for this speed-dating thing!
She was ready- she was ready! Arietta has dolled herself up, hoping to catch the eye of as many people as possible. A darling black lace dress, a thin golden belt that hopefully made her waist look a little slimmer, darling red lipstick- a half up ponytail with curls through her hair, some bits gelled down to frame her face, and a bow and some golden clips finishing the look. She'd also applied some (hopefully) decently cute eye makeup and killer contour to boot. Arietta was super excited, she was pumped- and she was ready to get some hearts! Or at least one persons- anybody??
Tightly weaving a strand of hair around her finger Arietta moved in, eyes taking in the room full of attractive singles with an endeared gleam... this was going to be good! She couldn't wait! She scanned the room with narrowed eyes for her spot, 10... 11... 12! Bingo! Like she owned the place, Arietta began forward, sliding into her chair onto to pause upon seeing the name- oh my arceus!
A more bubbly grin pushed on her features, Callie?? No way! That meant the girl actually signed up! It was about time she threw herself out there, ahhh maybe this would be a good way for Arietta to get out some nerves! Gently adjusting her skirt Arietta waited for the familiar head of hair to pop into her vision, grin painted eagerly on her expression when she did finally notice her. At this time Arietta was so busy looking for Callie that she hadn't exactly noticed Elise on the table right next to theirs- fully convinced the girl was staying home and hopefully curled up safe from the outside world in her blankets.
"Callie!" her voice was excited, and she raised a hand high, as if to further grab her attention- she didn't care if people heard, or saw her- this was her night! Let them stare- it'd be good attention for Callie, too! "Over here!"
[attr="class","curragepost"] Callie hated this. She hated that Ara was coming to this event and hated that she kept poking Callie about coming too. What would it take to get Ara to realize she didn't need to go looking far and wide for love? (Maybe Callie actually opening her mouth but she didn't wanna make things Weird if Ara didn't like her like that ajiofjiaojwieofwa. BUT STILL.) Despite her jealousy, though, Callie had eventually decided maybe it wouldn't hurt to come. Mom and Dad and Vi were all so encouraging too. 'You deserve to meet a nice girl,' they said. Callie guessed they were right, and it WOULD be nice... Besides, lately she'd been pretty scared of her crushes being found out, so maybe if she found someone else to date for a little while it'd help her keep her secret. Maybe even help her actually get over the PNG girls!
Callie! Over here!
... JIOWEFJEOWIF OR MAYBE SHE'D JUST GET MATCHED WITH ARA ON AN ACTUAL HECKING DATE OKAY THEN. She tried and failed to fight down her blush as she nervously hurried over. "H-hey Ara! U-um, wh-what are the odds, huh??" She let out an awkward laugh as she sat down. "Y-you know if you wanted to go on a date with me you should've just asked," she 'teased' except not really.
Ara couldn't help but grin at her friend, bringing her hand back down to rest at the table, a giggle leaving her. Aww, Callie sounded super nervous. She was gonna do great, though, Arietta just knew it! This place was full of hot people, and surely one of them could be somebody Callie'd be interested in! As the girl sat down and spoke Arietta's mouth opened in a soft 'o' shape, a curious, "Oh?" leaving her lips, followed thereafter by a soft laugh. "Welllll technically I did ask, and you're here to go on a bunch of quick dates, right?" a hand moved through her hair, and she managed a wink "I guess this counts as a practice one, I guess? A preparation for whats to come!"
She brought her hands down and rested her head on them, tilting her head curiously. "There's so many hot people here, including yourself- i'm sure you'll have a date with some amazing people..." She trailed off for a moment as she let her eyes roam the area, only pausing for a moment and blinked, ever so slightly taken aback at... two familiar faces in the nearby vicinity. That- those were... Gabe.. and Shea, right? No! No- it's fine. It's fine- ignore- ignore... ignore- they don't exist right now! They didn't look decently happy! She wasn't going to let this ruin her lovely night of love seeking, damn it! She attempted to draw her eyes back to Callie, though whatever grin she had on before had dropped a little.
"U-Uhm- anyways!" She thought to keep chipper, though her gaze kept flicking over as she tried to find words, "Use me as like... a practice dummy! Or a test- and i'll give you feedback- maybe! Get those nerves out, y'know? If I was one of the pretty girls around here- like- a total stranger, how'd you start this off?" She paused for a moment, waiting for an answer, focus on Callie! This is important for her!
[attr="class","curragepost"] Hahaha... "Guess so," she 'agreed' regarding Ara asking, but that really wasn't what she had meant, ha... haha... But Ara went on, and boy howdy.
On the outside, Callie wore a goofy smile, almost looking ditsy or airheaded. On the inside, she was fucking screaming. ARA. Ara how could you just call her hot and then??? Not even think twice about??? But??? And??? ARA. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
...Wait where was she looking? She followed Ara's brief gaze to see Exes Six and Seven at a table,, together?? "Oh gross," she grumbled. "Forget them though." She shook her head, trying to do the same. They were both gross losers and meanie faces, so maybe they deserved each other. Who knew? But okay, right, right, focus on Ara...
"But..." Callie squeaked a tiny bit from the back of her throat. "You are a pretty girl," Callie managed to say. "You're... one of the prettiest girls here?" She could feel her face starting to heat up again. Oh no, what was she doing? She forced an awkward laugh. "B-but I guess you're not a stranger right?" Okay breathe Callie. Her heart rate had picked up so much, yikes. "I-I really don't know what I'd say if you were! I'd have to see what you looked like and acted like, not being you! But you are you! So it's like, hard to pretend you're not you!" she insisted.
"Um... I guess if I didn't know what else to do though I'd read the card?" She picked hers up and looked over the questions given. "Well I already know what Pokemon your friends would say you are, because I'm your friend!" She giggled a little. "Um... So what would your three genie wishes be I guess?"
The girl bit the inside of her cheek, realizing Callie'd seen them too, still trying to keep on whatever plastic smile she decided to wear for the moment. ...Forget them... well, that... was awfully hard- what if... what- no. No. They both broke her heart, let's just ignore that Gabe almost- yep! she just had to ignore their asses and uh, just... keep her attention on her friend. Arietta brought a hand up to push through her curls and the corner of her lip twitched up slightly. "...yeah- this is supposed to be an event to move on further from them- they- like- don't even matter!" She was mainly trying to convince herself this, but... whatever.
The girl continued to weave some of her curls between her fingers, trying not to glance across the room right at where they were, right- this was gonna be a trial for Callie! A test! Callie had to find somebody, had she even been to an event like this before? Ara wasn't quite sure... At the girls 'but' Ara tilted her head ever so slightly, only to chuckle ever so softly at her words, a less forced smile blooming on her face. "Aw, you really think so?" She moved to let go of her hair, instead letting her hand rest on her cheek. "It's the makeup, i'm pretty sure, and the kilos of product in my hair, gotta get people to notice me somehow!"
As she continued talking Arietta nodded, "Yeah, you're right, it might be a bit hard pretending i'm a stranger..." She pursed her lips for a moment in thought... she really wanted to help Callie somehow. "Oh! I could still give you tips though? On how to sweep the girls off their feet- flirting and stuff!" She raised a brow, "That could could as practice, right...?"
She watched then as Callie read the card, curious- she hadn't had the chance to look at it yet. They were icebreakers! Oh yeah, right, that question automatically didn't count, cuz Callie was one of her closet friends! At the question Arietta brought a finger up to her lips, lightly pressing them in thought.
"...well...the first ones obvious! I want PNG to become huge, like- boom! And for them to last for a long-long time- that counts as one wish, right?" A small laugh. "...I'll count it as one wish!" Right, then she'd have to think up a second one, hmm... Arietta did have a lot of things she wanted, new dance gear, maybe a cheaper hairstylist... but always at the top of her list was: "I guess the seconds obvious too, huh? I just... want somebody to be with- like to be able to love and kiss and they can take me on cute dates and they'll say a buncha risque stuff about my dancing- and they won't try control me, they won't cheat- they won't... they won't....hurt..." She'd started to get quiet, eyes flicking back over to Gabe and Shea's table before she forced herself to look back at Callie, forcing a laugh. "I... miss it- but that's why i'm here! And that's why I frequent clubs, duh!" She was rambling, and brought her hands to clasp infront of her perhaps a little too tightly.. "I'm... definitely gonna find them eventually! Mark my words, Cal!"
Oh- yeah- and another one? "...And- uhm- my last wish I guess is like for breakfast pancakes topped in sugar to be by my bedside every morning!" She rushed that one out quickly, suddenly feeling a little uneased. "You? What sorta wishes would you make?"
[attr="class","curragepost"] Hm? No, Ara! It wasn't the makeup or the hair product, it was-- Oh Callie couldn't risk opening her mouth to argue without saying something really incriminating. She pursed her lips and let her friend go on instead.
When she got to answering the wishes, Callie listened intently. The first wish was awesome! The second one... made her fight to keep up her smile. "Y-yeah, I'm sure you will!" she agreed, even as her heart twisted inside her chest. The third wish was really cute, though, and Callie giggled softly.
Her wishes? "Well... Assuming our wishes are mutually exclusive and not, like, adding up... My first wish is for PNG to become the best band in the universe!" She smiled sweetly. "My second is to have the best and cutest bakery in all of Arciel, of course~" Maybe it could have a cute theme like Elise's dad's cafe, even! "And my third wish..." She thought briefly about a cute happy relationship between all the PNG girls, but the thought soon deflated. "Is for all my girls to always be happy and find whatever they're looking for." Even if that meant finding other people. They deserved it, after all.
Her smile may have looked just a little sad, but if asked she'd play it off as nerves. "What kind of flirting tips did you have in mind, though?"
As Callie began her wishes Arietta unclasped her hands and instead settled them infront of her on the table. PNG becoming the best band in the universe was something she could damn well get behind! They were going to be great, she just knew it! So much work had been put into them, she just couldn't wait to see the fruits of their labour pan out! As she some about the bakery Arietta grinned further, "You'll have the cutest! You already make the best treats possible~!" and the third wish was really selfless of her- it wasn't a wish for herself, but rather her friends, and the girls in the band." What about you though- you should be included in that! Being happy and finding what you're looking for, y'know?" a soft giggle then, "...but those are still really sweet wishes, as expected from Callie!"
She moved to run a hand through her hair now, keeping her eyes glued to the girl infront of her- she was getting used to the idea of her exes being present, as long as she didn't match with them she was a-okay, everything would be fine. As Callie inquired about the flirting Arietta seemed to brighten a little bit. "Oooh, you really wanna know?!" Her hand moved to curl through her hair and she practically beamed. "Wellll- they're just simple ones, since the key point of this is presenting yourself, right?"
She tilted her head, as if it was obvious. "But you also have to leave your mark- if you're nervous somebody might assume it's because there's something wrong with them and that you're uncomfortable, so lowkey flirting cannn be a way to show interest!" She brought her hand out of her hair for a moment, debating on exactly how she'd go about explaining this. "Say you're paired with a pretty goddess for your next round, the most obvious way to show interest is eye-contact, but on-top of that..."
Arietta brought a finger to her lower lip, "You need to make your intentions clear, or your interest known. Genuine smiles, giggles, that's how it starts- compliments- and unless they throw you a pickup line first, don't throw them one, it can come off to some people as cheesy..." She shrugged then, "If you're interested in what they're saying you lean closer and don't take your attention away, and if you're going to compliment themm draw your eyes to what you're talking about and then back- draw out your words, leave them hanging, yknow?" A head tilt, "And for bonus points, something that often can work is... complimenting features that others wouldn't- one that always seems to work is if you..."
She tapped her lips, "Look to their lips, then back to their eyes and instead of saying 'you have good lips' or something, instead throw a general compliment... like..."
She trailed off, thinking, before going,"Like smile, but not with too much teeth, you look down to somebodies lips, back up to their eyes and say, without too much enthusiasm... you look great, or you're gorgeous, or just something completly genuine- it shows interest clear and day, and because lips insinuate yknow like... kisses and... stuff, it already makes your mark as being potential- and usualllly... it gives people butterflies!".She realized she was rambling and rolled her eyes at herself, settling back in her chair, "Of course, going the natural nervous route when with the right person can be charming, i'm sure you'll knock all your matches out of the park anyway!"
[attr="class","curragepost"] Oh... Oh that was so much to remember! Callie was trying to take mental notes, but her head was spinning. She wished she had a marker... Oh no, but then her arm would be all marked up with notes and people would ask about it and it'd be super embarrassing! Oh shoot, she got to thinking about that and missed a little of what Ara said aaaaaaaa! ;-;
"R-right!" she tried to recall everything that was said and affirm she understood. "Eye contact..." Even though that was scary and realistically not happening for long. "Leaning in, and compliments, and uh, looking at her lips, and... and uh..." She squirmed a bit in her seat. "B-but what if, when I look down, she can't tell I'm looking at her lips? What if she thinks I'm just checking out her boobs and takes me for a total perv or something??" Gosh there were so many things that could go wrong. "Or what if I make too MUCH eye contact and it comes off as creepy staring? Or I lean in too far and make her feel like I'm invading their personal space??"
Seeing Callie's confused face the girl giggled slightly- she... might have rambled a bit too much on it- but she just wanted to help her friend score a cute girl! As she began recalling what was said Arietta nodded, a soft, "Right~" leaving her- at least until Calliope went off track, overthinking it- oh no! Arietta grinned, rolling her eyes in amusement. "Hey-hey! Confidence is the key- if you overthinking it, then it'll seem forced! And..." An eyebrow up, "Maybe the boobs-thing could be turned into a joke like 'hey my eyes are up here!' and you guys continue on!" She shook her head a few times with a giggle, maybe she should go about this a different way!? She always got carried away when talking and she really didn't want Calliope to freak out around the other girls- or when faced with a suuuper cute one.
"How about I just show you, then?" A head tilt, "So I can show you how easy it is?" her hands moved to push once through her curls, eyebrow quirked slightly. It wouldn't hurt at all, right? And Callie'd understand and be able to apply it to practical use- even tonight, maybe! Oh- she should take Callie to clubs, maybe the atmosphere would help her better?! Oh but... she probably might not like them... uh- anyways!
Arietta kept her gaze on Callie, speaking once more "Of course, I can understand if you don't wanna! Somebody as..." She trailed off, letting her gaze fall to Callie's lips, shoulders moving forward slighly to follow the notion, now... what word should she use? Pretty was simple, it wouldn't nail the point home- synonyms, Ara! "Stunning..." Before glancing back up to Callie's eyes, letting her shoulders relax back with a grin more cheeky than anything settled on her features "...As you'd be able to make the girls swoon without even realizing! That and your hair'd already make you memorable in their eyes- so maybe you don't have to flirt?"
Her hand settled underneath her chin, and she raised a brow. "Did it look like I was looking at your boobs? And if you make eye contact for too long just bat your eyes and... make a comment about how looking in their eyes like... is comforting, or their eye colour reminds you of something close to you- or you could just say the colours as deep as the ocean- but relating it to yourself is always a classic..." A head shake, arceus what was she? A sixty year olds online advice blog?! None of this would probably help Callie... "Ahhhh- maybe i'm really not actually that good at this?! Sorry Cal!"
[attr="class","curragepost"] A joke? A joke at her expense, Ara! That didn't sound funny at all! Oh Callie was going to crash and burn... Confidence was indeed key, and she had none! Why had she let herself be talked into this?
Show her? "N-no that's okay, you don't--" She didn't have to do that. Callie might not survive if she did. Fortunately Ara said she understood... right before demonstrating anyway, Callie realized a bit belatedly. Her face heated all the hotter, and she looked at the table in hopes that Ara wouldn't notice.
And her hair? Oh... Oh it WAS memorable but maybe not in a good way. What if her dates thought she was too childish? Or too silly? Should she have worn it down today?
Did it look like I was looking at your boobs?"I-I guess not..." But that was Ara! Ara who had so much practice! Ara who was good at this stuff! What if Callie still messed it up?
She did listen all the same as her friend described some more techniques, only to... apologize? "Wha- no! No this is all great, you're amazing. Thanks for all the help Ara!" Looking up at her again finally, she got caught making eye contact and then didn't want to look too nervous by breaking it too quick, so she held it a moment. Oh she.. could try um... "Your eyes are like... the sweetest brown sugar I use in my baking." Oh that was so dumb... C'mon Callie. "Er, s-sorry..."
As Calliope thanked her for the help Arietta raised a brow, had she.. actually managed to help her friend at all? Ahhh, maybe then Callie'd become a master flirter and would get a cute girl to introduce to the group! And then Arietta's loneliness would kick her tenfold- Ara stop. Actually, that might not be good for Ellie either... seeing she just got broken up with- but still! "I'm glad, for a second I thought I sounded like some weird cheesy person who had no idea what she was talking about!" She laughs a little, moving to gently push some hair behind her ear and shrugs, she was fine!
Calliope seemed reasonably flustered, which was expected! The girl probably wasn't very used to most of this, which was why Ara was here! Avoiding eye contact, staring at the table, Arietta was sure her friend was going to do great, what she wasn't expecting was Callie to draw her eyes up and meet Ara's gaze, and she tried to take the girls advice!
A beam broke Arietta's features and she giggled softly, arceus her friend was cute! And she tried her best! At the sorry Arietta shook her head a little, "Nooo, don't apologize! Everybody starts somewhere, if you apologize the person might thing you don't mean it!" She brought her hands together in a clap, "If I was a baker it might work on me, but say... if you say something more universal like golden syrup, or describe it a little more then you might make the other person fluster, since golden is such a pretty term."
Arietta trailed off then, bringing a hand up to her lip in thought. "But yeah... either that or just go on about something your passionate about, a lot of people adore that... hmm..." She shrugged then, settling back into her seat. "...hey... do you think Ellie's okay..." Her eyes flicked off slightly to the side, pointing out the girl to Calliope, "Like- didn't Tony... just break up with her? This can't be healthy."
[attr="class","curragepost"] "Wha?? O-oh, no! I mean it!" Callie insisted, only to immediately regret that. Ara didn't seem to take it that way, though, even if Callie wasn't sure if that was good or bad. But apparently, brown sugar was a bad thing to use, and syrup would be better...? :c But... Ara's eyes were more brown than gold. So was syrup really, but she digressed. She just felt really bad at this.
Of course, then Ara told her to use something she was passionate about? But? Baking? was??? ARA??? Make up your mind!!! Callie took a deep slow breath to calm her frustration without showing too much outward sign of it. Okay, okay, this was fine... Ara was always a little... flighty, and while Callie didn't usually mind she needed to remember that right now.
Then the subject changed sharply. "Huh?" Well... She wouldn't say breakups were inherently unhealthy, but they definitely weren't fun. But... "Ellie's not... here, is--" She looked around as she spoke, stopping short as she spied their friend. "Oh!! Oh noooooo, Elliiiiiieeeeee." This was distressing for multiple reasons honestly!! "I hope she's okaaaay." Callie whimpered. "Mm.. maybe after the event we could do something with her? Remind her she still has us?"
For a few moments her gaze lingered at where Elise sat, hands moving towards her chest and clutching slightly in silent concern- but she couldn't really do anything. If this is what Ellie thought would help her than Arietta couldn't do anything, besides she looked... decently okay, happy, maybe? As Callie spoke, hopeful wishes that Elise was okay and that they should get something after Arietta's gaze turned back to Callie, a tight smile on her features. "We're defo gonna have to do something after- if... I don't find somebody..." A pause and then a headshake, "Nah you're right, we can like... go out to the ice cream bar, or... or... is it to cold for that?"
She unclasped her hands to begin raking them through her hair, turning once more to glance at Elise, "...we could have the leftovers at her cafe?? So she'd feel comfy at home- and we could have like a sleepover or something, just spending valetines as friends so nobodies alone!"
She turned back to Callie then, small a little more natural on her face and she opened her mouth, as if to say something, however she... saw something out of her peripheral vision. uh...? before she could hone in on it the alarm rang."...o-oh..." A giggle left her, "Okay! Just remember what we talked about! Flirting and stuff- make an impression- be your hot self- don't wink if you can't wink... o...oh my arceus????" She trailed off once more to glance back at Elise, before a strangled noise left her- oh- oh- oH SHE WAS BEING KISSED?! TAHTS WHAT SHE'D SEEN?!
"CALLIE?!" Arietta's voice was louder than usual and she cut herslef off quickly, eyes flicking over to Calliope with a slight urgency, "You saw that, right? That girl- Elise- but- she only just got-" Like right okay, maybe, maybe Arietta knew what moving on too fast was but that was too fast??? And- uh- uhm-uh- uhhh."We need to talk to her tonight- like- she can do what she wants but that's Ellie and like- she?? Was so upset???"
She moved to slowly get up, upon realizing everybody else was and brought her lips together, "...Ugh- uh- uhm.... yeah..." A forced smile on her face then as she pushed a hand through her hair once more, "I'm worried about her but... I guess I can't let that distract me from today- I might find my soulmate! But we should both keep an eye on her while knocking people dead, yeah?"