[Gabe Alim]

Gabe needed a moment to clear his head. He’d been so busy lately that everything was melding together. That was at least initially why he decided to take an hour to himself to do something purely for pleasure. He’d looked into going to a spa, getting a massage, or something of that nature, but all of those required plans in advance, and he really didn’t have time for that. However, when the local ice-skating rink (formerly a roller skating rink) declared that it was now open for the fall and winter season, he realized that that was it.

How long had it been since he had actually been ice skating? One year? Two? He wasn’t sure he had made it the year before last due to some unfortunate circumstances, so he would guess it was at least two now. He could bother to spend a few bucks for entry and rentals in this case, and thus there he was sitting on one of the bleachers tying his skates as tight as they would go.

Checking his phone once, he slowly stood and then started over towards the entry point. Oh god, this was a lot harder than he remembered. Gabe wobbled, grasped the side, and took in a breath. Well, good practice before winter hits, I guess… he chuckled a little to himself before pushing off and slowly starting to relearn how to skate. That’s right, one leg that way one way that…. not bad.

Misa Yukimura

[Misa Yukimura]

Misa ran down the street, she was so excited to get to the ice rink. There had been some new pokemon migrating through the forest, so the lake was a no-go. That meant that the rink was the place to go, or risk a pokemon attack at the lake... Every time winter came around, you could guarantee that Misa would be skating. It was her favourite winter activity!

Walking into the rink, she went to the counter and grabbed the most worn pair of skates she could find. You could always guarantee that those would be the best skates. Strapping them on, she walked to the rink, thankful that her training had given her at least some preparation.

Stepping onto the ice, she pushed away from the barricade. Weaving between the other skaters, being careful not to hit any unsteady skaters, she smiled at those who she assumed were skating for the first time. There was one that caught Misa's eye, it looked like they was having some trouble. she guessed their hair was getting in the way. Stopping just in front of him she asked "Are you alright there friend? Need me to grab you a stabilizer?"


Gabe Alim

[Gabe Alim]

Slid one way, slide the other— nope, nope, nope, nope. Gabe stiffened and stopped moving even as the skates continued to usher him forward. Don’t people say this is just like riding a bike? Granted, perhaps he was just a little shorter two (or three?) years ago and had an easier sense of balance on ice then. And I didn’t have—

Someone had skated over to him and immediately started talking pulling Gabe out of his thoughts. “Oh uh…” he looked at the woman and slowly smiled. He really wasn’t sure he wanted one of those giant blocks for the kiddies, but… “I think I’m alright…” he answered shifting from one foot to the other only to immediately stumble. Oh god, oh crap, no not the face.

[Misa Yukimura]

She immediately dove forward, throwing her arms out to catch him before he fell. Misa knew from experience that falling on the ice would not end well. Helping him back to his feet, she moved him closer to the barricade. It seemed like he was still unsteady, Misa didn't really want to leave him on his own. She could see that he would be visiting the pokemon center if she did.

He seemed kind of stubborn, based on what she had seen already. Misa would probably have to think of a way to help him while making it seem normal. "Hey... I'm still kind of new with skating too. why don't we skate together for a bit, until we get a little steadier on our feet?" She blurted out the first lie she could think of.

[Gabe Alim]

Suddenly being yanked back from the ice a mere few inches from it, Gabe winced and groaned as he was righted again. Being eased over to the wall, he clasped it and steadied himself again. Why was this so hard when he was already a dancer? Hah. Maybe because most dances didn’t require sliding on thin blades across ice.

The offer thereafter earned a small subtle smile. Now why was she being so nice? Genuine concern? Or she was working for someone…. He wanted to look around right then and see if he could spot anyone out of the ordinary there, but his eyes locked on hers instead. “Hm, actually, well, that sounds nice,” he smiled. “My name’s Gabe, what’s yours?”

[Misa Yukimura]

Misa gulped at Gabe's stare, surprised by how intense he had gotten. Almost like he was trying to pick out some fact from her eyes. She offered him a smile of her own, there was no need for her to be getting scared. He probably just had a naturally intense look. Moving to his side, she linked arms with him to support. "It's nice to meet you Gabe! I'm Misa."

She stayed quiet for a little while after that, only speaking to say hello to acquaintances from work, or those she had done odd jobs for. After a few minutes pass, she speaks to Gabe again. "It's so nice to be able to get out like this... You see, I'm training to be a ranger. and Arceus does that keep me busy." She let out a small laugh.

Gabe Alim

[Gabe Alim]

Gabe shifted his weight a little as Misa locked arms with him. It was actually a little easier to regain his balance this way, but he was also aware that falling now would likely take them both down if he wasn’t careful.

As she fell quiet, though, he glanced sideways at her. Very quiet. What exactly… did she want? He waited and even commented on a few things here and there trying to recapture the conversation but unable to. It was only when she started speaking that he conversation really started moving again. Training to be a ranger? Well, that was interesting. A small smirk pulled across his features.

“Is that so? Thank you for saving me from the wilds of the ice then,” Gabe laughed softly. “I’m just out trying to get in a few laps before winter hits…” He shrugged his shoulders a little at that before watching some very young kids go by. “Almost a little jealous that some of us can skate so fluidly and with no fear…” He grinned a little as the kids twisted and swerved around themselves. Their low centers of gravity really did give them an upper leg on anyone who was taller. Perhaps the only upper hand short people actually had, hah. “Ready for winter?”

[Misa Yukimura]

She let out a laugh of her own, "a good ranger is always happy to be of service." Flashing a smirk towards him. Misa was honestly surprised by Gabe, she couldn't pinpoint what kind of person he was, he kept flashing a different side before turning to a kind and welcoming person.

She glanced at the children as they passed, "Regarding your comment about skating... I suppose that we were all that fearless, when we were young." Memories flashed through her of her days in Kalos, wandering the forests near her home. Those were good times...

Glancing at him, she continued. "you'd think it would be easy to get ready for winter when you live in a city, but there's actually a lot to do because of my job."

[Gabe Alim]

A small laugh escaped from Gabe. “Fair,” he answered— both to her assessment of rangers and to her assessment of children. Both were accurate to one degree or another, he supposed. As she glanced back at him, he smiled. “Oh? What all do you do on a day to day?” he asked, carefully navigating his skates around a small puck that had been left on the ice.

“If you don’t mind me asking, anyways.”There was a soft but genuine curiosity in his tone, and his eyes didn’t waiver from their sideways glance (that was a lie, they did flick forward as they started to move around the loop of the rink because if he went crashing forward now, embarrassment would be all that was left of him).

[Misa Yukimura]

Misa grinned, he was getting better. Soon enough, that she wouldn't need to help him. She smiled at the question, it was always nice when someone asked about her about her job. She loved to talk to people about her job. "It's not as glamorous as you think... we mostly just do a lot of paperwork. But we do patrol nearby wilderness sometimes, so at least I get to workout." She scratched the back of her head with her free hand. "I'm too green for them to give me any exciting jobs yet, I need to prove myself to them first." And she would do just that, she was determined to.
ice
Glancing around the rink, she smiled at the number of people that were present. "I can't believe that there are so many people here. It's nice that their making the most of the rink. In my opinion it's better to skate with someone." She had originally intended to skate a few laps and leave, but it was nice to be able to talk to someone.

Gabe Alim

[Gabe Alim]

A lot of paperwork? That sounded much less glamorous than the crime dramas and comedies Gabe watched on TV from time to time but felt very much like something that was true to life. “I see,” he answered with a small smile. “I’ve met a few rangers out on different routes.” He had met quite a few in one way or another, but that didn’t matter now. “The work in keeping everyone safe— both humans and Pokemon— is very much appreciated.”

Looking back out on the rink, Gabe hummed a little. “It’s rather romantic,” he laughed. “As far as sports go, I’d say aside from gymnastics, it’s got to be one of the most romantic sports.” Of course as soon as he said that, a young couple went skating by happily. They were twisting and twirling and clearly much more comfortable on the ice than Gabe was, but he could appreciate their agility and grace for the moment.