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.
Oh, it was Gabe who introduced her? Actually that made sense. Close, but different. That really was one way to describe it- maybe she wasn’t doing back handsprings off a bar, but dancing had all the fundementals gymnastics had. Arietta found herself sliding down the wall and onto the floor, attempting to get comfortable. “That makes sense, actually- in technical terms you’d like, assume dancing to be a step down, but in reality it...” why was she rambling? Why did she find herself explaining things he already knew? There was an awkward sniff as she scratched her arm, “...changed my life.” She finished lamely.
As he spoke about how far she made it she found herself letting out a laugh, “I have so far to go though...” her finger moved to trace idle patterns into the floor as she dwelled upon her thoughts. PNG might be known, but they’re not massive- she and the girls work their asses off.
“...I probably wouldn’t have made it so big if it wasn’t for...” she stopped herself, gulping down her words- Gabe hated the girls- Gabe didn’t... this was Gabe, she was sitting here, talking almost casually to Gabe, who left her stranded in the middle of an unknown town because she didn’t want to leave her friends- how could she try and forget that?
There was a sudden shutter in her breath, and Arietta forced herself back up, willing stupid frustrated tears away as she glances back to Gabes leg, “...Try standing and give me-uh... a pain rating for that?”
Gabe’s eyes closed as he listened to Ara ramble. He kind of expected more technical jargon, various mentions of how step and foot posture were aligned perfectly, whatever else— but what came after had him blinking back to full focus again. It was… it was strange to think…. But yeah it had hadn’t it?
And she was running with it now.
His stomach flipped over. Gabe bit the inside of his mouth. He already knew what she was going to say and didn’t want to hear it. He shifted his leg a little from one angle to the next. Ara seemed to have the same idea as she sprung up and practically ordered him to stand. Gabe didn’t move, though. As much as he personally wanted to, he might as well have been handed an unmovable weight.
His gaze held on his lap. “Finish it,” he said suddenly. “Finish what you were going to say.”
Literal chills snaked down Ariettas spine as he refused to move to check on the leg, instead practically demanding her to finish what she’d said. There was a shake to her head, a gulp. No... arceus fucking- how could she be so stupid?! Her hands instinctively moved to wrap around herself and she took a step back, “Why should I?” Came her response, she stared down at Gabe, eyebrows scrunched together .
Not tonight, not right now. “So you can yell at me again and tell me how awful my friends are- so you can lose your shit at the one person who’s attempted to help you tonight?” Her voice grew soft as she attempted to hold her ground, almost lost in a way. Was this fair of her? To assume what he was going to say? Probably, but suddenly she felt herself close off.
She crossed and uncrossed her arms, turning away from Gabe. “...I was just going to say they got me into idols, and it’s because of them I became an idol and am actually getting money out of this life...” her voice was hesitant, but she managed the response.
Why should I? Gabe stared in silence not answer. Instead, he stared back at her unblinkingly, his own eyes narrowed a bit in turn. As she went on, though, his gaze faltered. As she folded her arms and turned around, he leaned back in the his chair and did the same. His gaze dropped entirely, and he stared in silence for a moment a his bruised knee. He had been the one who wanted to have a night just to forget. He had been the one who had wanted to just be Mismagius and her be Gardevoir. He was the one being (annoyingly) pampered in one way or another.
But there was something cold and bitter that tightened in his stomach from the way she said getting money out of this life as if…. She hadn’t ever considered…. “Did you even think what we could have been….” he muttered so softly, so distantly, it could easily have been misheard or missed entirely.
There was a long silence, where Arietta held herself tightly and attempted not to shake, she was different now, she wasn’t fifteen, she could handle yelling and fighting and she sure as hell wasnt going to let Gabe get the better of her- this was a fun night, people were having fun- she had been having fun, hadn’t she? It confused her, she was confused, and suddenly shaken. Her eyes began to idly survey the wall opposite her, noting a strange stain there, a crack here-
Funny how even a wall could tell a story. She was so concentrated on not losing her shit and keeping her cool that she almost missed his faint voice rising up from the silence, barely audible. A question that bounced off the walls and left her pushing her lips together.
Hopeless at heart, the answer to that should be obvious. Nights spent crying, constant what ifs echoing off her backside, the longetivity of her relationships always questioned by the press, if she hadn’t dwelled on the what-ifs, on the hopeful stories of if things had been better, was she even Arietta?
The silence was deafening, and eventually she glanced over her shoulder, heart hard and expression hurt. “Does that really matter now, Gabe?”
Does that really matter now, Gabe…. A sigh escaped from him. His chest deflated. He wanted to be angry, wanted to start fighting, wanted to tell her off for all the what ifs he had had. But there was a nostalgic part of him that was dying in full. The desire to dance, the fun with Ara, the …. Feelings. “I guess not,” he answered slowly shifting the ice bag on his knee some to look over it.
“I…. sorry,” Gabe finally sighed. “I didn’t mean to …. Dig this back up again. I’m….” He paused, gulped, and sighed again. “Don’t take this the wrong way. I don’t…. know how else to say it.” He folded his arms tighter still and leaned back in his chair, eyes down to his leg. “I’m still in love with you.”
Her full body turned now to face him, though her eyes kept themselves firmly locked on the wall behind him, hands tightening across chest. He had sighed, and she didn’t understand why, she just stood there, averting her gaze, watching him as he mumbled something about guessing not. She fidgeted, hands moving to tug at her hair now, trying to keep them busy, to keep her mind busy, though she paused, hand in her hair as he spoke again.
He was apologising, and she managed to nod her head, it was fine, he hasn’t meant to ask the question at all. It was just curiosity, ridden with scars and angst from years past. She had opened her mouth to half heartedly wave it off, but he continued speaking, something about not taking what he said the wrong way?
She stood there for a moment, hand tugging at her hair as her gaze moved to him, and she saw how hesitant he looked, hell he looked broken in a way, attempting to comfort himself for words he was about to say. She didn’t understand, was he about to call her out again? For the shit she’s done, was he about to-
There was a hitch in her breath, a widening to her eyes, hands instantly dropping themselves from her hair out of pure shock. He was... but- how? Questions swim in her head and she had to thank her feet for being stable still.
She was an asshole, she’d said things about him to the media, her blog was littered with slander and bullshit and she was able to lie straight to his face, and yet he sat there- saying-
“Why...?” Left her lips, after she realizes the silence was far too unnerving for comfort. What else was she supposed to say, how did somebody react to that? “I literally- y-you’ve said it yourself you’ve seen my fucking blog?” Her words began to tumble out before she could help it, a hand moving to the sink as if to hold herself steady.
“I literally- isn’t- like- being an ass to somebody the way to get them to not? Like- pushing people away?” There was almost a pleas to her voice, followed by a soft huff, “...I don’t- like I really sont understand.”
Gabe’s teeth grit, and he glanced up at Ara briefly before looking down again. Why? He could almost ask himself the same. What spewed out next was a series of reasons not to. A huffed sigh escaped from him. “I fell in love with someone who liked to dance as be flashy about it,” he snorted loudly. “And someone who could be as flirty as she was air headed.” His gaze flicked up and didn’t quite meet hers. “That person’s still there so….” He huffed and glanced sideways. “It’s just hard for me….”
A pause. “I wasn’t lying when… I said I was falling in love on the dance floor,” he stated. Another pause. “I don’t want to be with you.” He said that quickly enough. “Those feelings are… just there.”
She stood where she did in practical silence, fidgeting, shifting. It was a lot to process, and she didn't really know where to start. As he began explaining, if you could even call it that, she found her hands clutching loosely her chest. waiting until he was finished to even begin to say something. "...Okay..." eventually left her, there being a quirk to her lips, a slight upturn in expression. "...I- can't really begin to understand...still."
Her hands moved, brushing through her hair in a soothing motion as she attempted to think- she couldn't begin to understand, because she was the type of person who threw herself at any feelings she had, and never thought about anything. There are reasons you like someone, and then there's reasons a thing ends that outweighs the like- right?
"Uhm..." She shifted again, watching him, "...i'm sorry- i... so one way to look at this is i've managed to royally fuck up your life? That explains why you were so mad... I... guess..." There was a shrug to her shoulders, a weak laugh. But- she shouldn't be talking about her, right now that's the last thing she should be talking about.
Her hand continued through her hair, and she moved up to shift her weight to the balls of her feel, then back to the heels, balls... heels... "You could channel all that through dance, couldn't you?" It was more of a quiet, spoken thought. "The- er- feelings- I mean."
Gabe wasn’t sure why he was saying these things. He wasn’t sure what admitting them would even do. As he’d finished speaking, he just stared at Ara without word. As she spoke, though, he shrugged a little lamely back at her unable to or unwilling to explain further.
What she went on with, though, had him freezing. He stared at her without a word for almost a solid minute before looking down again at his bruised leg. Channel everything through dance, heh. That was just like Ara. He kind of wanted to be mad but couldn’t even bring himself to be. He…. A weird half laugh broke from Gabe unexpectedly. “Maybe after this heals…” he answered with a sly and cynical tone. Yet… it wasn’t…. entirely angry then either. More genuine than he probably wanted to admit to. “Maybe when there isn’t a pounding in my head.” And in his chest.
Arietta's hand eventually dropped from her hair, moving to drop by her side at the sound of Gabe's half-laugh- this was fine- that meant things were fine right? Things were... funny? Good. Good. She echoed him, a soft drawl of "...Maybe." leaving her lips. A possibility of dance, that should be enough- a way to deal, that's what he sounded like he needed right now. After a few seconds of standing there she found herself moving, absently walking over to the ice bucket to pick it up, right- she'd have to start collecting things- it'd only just hit her the bathroom was a mess, really.
Toilet paper was scattered, the floor of the first stall was probably covered in water from the ice... fuck. Idly, she found herself speaking, not really thinking just... filling the silence. "Of course you don't have to- maybe dance is like the further thing you wanna do- you could... jenga?"
She moved to the alcohol bottle, grabbing it and moving it in her hands for a moment, n almost dazed expression in her eyes before she put it in the bucket, the soft crunch of it meeting ice hitting her ears. Right- okay. As she moved towards the glass on the sink she found herself wondering- would Gabe even be able to cope out of this room?
If his head's pounding, then... and then if he got knocked by people it'd be right back to the drawing board?! She turned to face Gabe again, her nose scrunched, "...If your heads pounding, you can just rest here a while, right?"
She glanced to Gum for a moment, thinking. Thinking about everything but... that. If she thought more, then her head would hurt, and they didn't need two people perpetually suffering here. She was walking on ice, literally. "Oh- I can give you more medicene if you need- I... I actually don't know what the dosage is- it's probably safe to camp out here if you have to, at least I hope so..." There was a pause, and a very soft mumble to herself "...Can I get sued for hogging the bathroom and literally bribing the patrons?"
“Jenga?” Gabe repeated. That was… a little out there, but he guessed toppling a tower had similar feelings. Rubbing the side of his face, he watched her move again quickly one way and then the next. She had… so much energy heh.
At her sudden question, he blinked slowly before reaching one hand up to rub his temple. “I guess,” Maybe he could take some more medication (how much had he had already? He couldn’t remember now…) – ….Was she reading his mind now, or was he just that predictable right now? “Mmmmmm…” the mention of being sued, though, earned a sharp snort. “Ah yes I can see it in the news now, member of a pop idol band gets sued over questionable bathroom practices…” He was trying not to be too sarcastic, but it was kind of hard.
But…. Looking back towards Gum, he whistled and caused it to turn around and head inwards towards him. “Fit me a knee brace….” he stated slowly making hand gestures to ensure it knew what he wanted. Shifting around a little, Gum managed to do just that and slipped over it just fine. Gritting his teeth, Gabe slowly attempted to stand again.
The squishiness of Gum’s form offered flexibility, but the pressure there still offered support. He was pretty sure he was going to be able to walk on that….
Placing the ice bucket to the side she moved now, bending to pick up the leftover toilet paper, pausing for a moment upon hearing his snort and practical mockery of her worries- but it was serious! They totally could sue her. "But like- it's possible! And they'll probably question the alcohol going missing- or the suspicious ivysaur raid." Came her weak retort, followed by my gathering of toilet paper. She'd been so caught up picking things up that she hadn't realized Gabe was getting up until she'd turn to go to the bin.
Gum was on his knee- he was like... a support thing!That's actually pretty smart, but she was a little wary. "Are- is it safe to stand?" her head tilted, "...or...even walk- like without further damaging yourself?"
There was a pause- she could solve two problems at once, maybe. "...Uh...If you like- wanted to test walking, you could always go to the sink- there's some more paracetamol there- probably take like... one more? Maybe two-" She'd moved to the side, grabbing one of the paper towels before walking towards one of the stalls, she'd have to like... dab down the floors? "Call out if you fall..." Was barely mumbled.
Gabe snorted at Ara’s words. “Not like I can’t return the alcohol….” he answered. Even if Ara didn’t want to show her face, Gabe had nothing to hide (….exactly, heh). “Can just say my Ivysaur got confused.” The noise that came from his leg in the form of a “Diii?” had him smirking. “Nothing, Gum.”
As Ara turned and asked about him standing, though, Gabe glanced down to his knee. “Gum’s got a pretty decent hold…” he murmured more to himself than to her. Walking was going to be the test, though, and a few shaky steps were taken at first before he moved more fluidly over to the sink. This… wasn’t terrible. Sure, he was still sore, but it was doable. As he found the medication, Gabe took three more. Probably not the recommended dose, but he didn’t really care right then. Over the counters weren’t likely to kill him— hopefully.
Looking back into the stall, though, Gabe bit the inside of his mouth. “What are you dong? Can’t you just pay someone to clean this up?” he asked snidely.
Gum was undeniably cute, she'd give that to them. But yeah- returning the alcohol actually sounded... fairly smart- she totally thought she'd be labelled a thief for taking it- maybe if she told them about the injury she'd be let off scotch free, yeah! The girl nodded, not that Gabe could see, as she continued to scrub at the floors. "Okay- then that's fine and sorted."
She hoped he was right about Gum having a decent grip on his leg- if not that'd... probably end up really bad. She didn't know if she could deal with much more.
She found herself absently cleaning the floor, unfortunately for her the ice had melting a lot more than intended when she'd been fiddling around to try and make the toilet paper ice back, and a heap of wads of the paper had even stuck together, which... wasn't the best. But it was something to distract herself.
Arietta almost jumped upon hearing Gabe's voice, glancing over her shoulder as he spoke- can't she just... pay someone? She wasn't made of money, what money she did have went towards practice, or was spent out at some stupid clubs. "Oh- uh- I could but..." She moved to pick up a toilet paper wad, dangling it above her head, "Kinda just need to keep moving- and this is keeping me moving, y'know? Besides, i'd feel like, totally bad, if a chick came in here to a total mess."
She turned back and flicked the wad into the toilet bowl, moving to scrub a little more at the floors, "You managed to find the medi?"
He watched her move in silence, but a small quirk upwards came to the corner of Gabe’s lips. Ara was… so restlessly even after all this. “Yeah, I found it,” he answered not willing to actively admit how much he took either right then. “Hopefully it’ll kick in soon.” Gum made a small noise in response but what exactly it was saying was lost on even it. Gabe glanced down very briefly to it. When it only stared back at him, Gabe shook his head.
“You should get up and…. get back to dancing,” Gabe commented slowly glancing sideways to the mirror. Ugh he needed to adjust this dress. Shifting in it a little bit, he pulled and rearranged it to finally be back in proper place again. Running a few fingers through his hair as he stared in the mirror, he slowly reached for the bottom portion of his mask again.
A hum absently left Arietta's lips as he spoke- he'd been able to get the medicine, maybe paracetamol wasn't too strong but... it was something that should at least ease the pain a little probably- yeah! It seems her scrubbing had been succesful, the ice and water all cleared from the bottom of the stall- would she have to like... check the others? She didn't make an ice pack in any others but maybe having to replace the toilet paper?
As he spoke again Arietta stood up, nodding at the work she'd done at the floor, "Go out there and be let down at how nobody else can keep up with me?" It came out as more as a joke, and she ushered herself out of the stall with a hum, only just realizing that her purse was unuseable now and she'd have to find somewhere to put all of her stuff. "Doesn't sound like much of a fun time to me- besides like.. twenty girls know exactly who I am and what i'm wearing-I- uh- don't think it's a good idea for me to really go out there yet- but if you can walk- I mean- you plan on going soon I guess, then?"
She glanced at him in the mirror now, fidgeting, uncertainty in her eyes.
Gabe’s lips parted and then closed at Ara’s words. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but it wasn’t that. For as much of a joke as it probably should have been, he found himself conflicted with other feelings on the matter as well. His gaze flicked to the bathroom door now unguarded by Gum. “The ballroom still has that mysterious air about it; I’m sure you could walk out into anonymity if you wanted to,” he answered slowly.
At her semi-spoke semi-question, though, he looked back and smirked a little back at her reflection in the mirror. “I have four more outfits to wear this evening. I’m not done yet,” he answered with a small laugh. “I’m not out yet.” As much as this was going to hamper some of his more intense dancing, he wasn’t going to stop just yet. Once the medicine kicked in, he was sure to be off again. He had to.
Could she really? Just how anonymous was this anyway? The girls saw her costume, right? Arietta's lips tightened, "I mean- I hope you're right." She moved again, beginning to gather the items she'd let fall out of her purse, holding them uncertainly in her hands for a few moments- typically things that wouldn't fit in a purse would fit in a bra- but like... With what she brought she couldn't just- and she'd be dancing, right? Probably?
As he mentioned his... four outfits?! He was still going to dance? Her mouth fell open and she blinked, as if startled, "...You're... kidding?" she was shocked, surprised even. How could he dance with an injury that looked incredibly painful- and how did he even manage to smuggle four outfits?! Where were they? "Are you sure you'll be okay- like- it was bad enough that you literally collapsed- what if you fall on somebody again and it gets- like- worse?"
She held her items to her chest, attempting to ignore the smirk he sent her as she fluffed on, "Where do you even... like... stash your outfits? Or like- arceus you sound like you were super prepared?" For a fun night, for a night of not meeting her. "...I... guess it'd be a shame if you went through all that effort and had to get hauled away to like, go to the pokecenter or something, though- like it took me a solid month to make this!"
You’re kidding… Gabe glanced sideways at Ara and stared for a moment before offering a smile. The list of worries earned a small shrug as he glanced forward at his reflection again. “I won’t be dancing near as quickly or as detailed,” he answered. “But I don’t want to lose the night over this….” He closed his eyes and smiled for a moment. It sounded crazy. He sounded crazy.
The question after had him glancing sideways and grinning. Fishing out a Pokeball from his person, he enlarged it. “Gum’s got space to spare in here…” he answered before shrinking it down again and putting it away. “Right now they’re considered its held items I suppose…” Gum made a weird sound from his leg, and Gabe looked down again. “Thank you again by the way.” The Ditto stretched and made a strange thumbs up out of its cells before shrinking back down again.
Gabe’s eyes raised to Ara, though, and he stared for a moment in silence again. A month to make…. Of course, she made it all herself. Of course…. But…. but such talent…. Stop thinking about it… Right, yeah.
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