kodachi | ARE YOU A POKÉMON MASTER?

[It's Blaziken who takes to the field, claws raised with a triumphant crow. His Pokémon are as confident as he is, well-trained as they are, and not even Hassan's dour words can bring him down. The battle begins, and he turns to his fellow gym leader, his words casual.]

Yeah, I know. Plenty of time until then, though. You should try having some fun, Hassan. We only get this opportunity once a year.

[The words jog his memory, and after he directs Blaziken's next attack, a vicious kick to the opposing Granbull, he shrugs in Hassan's direction.] I was supposed to tell you when I saw you, Shryke's been looking for you. He doesn't want to be a bother if you're busy, though. You can probably find him.

[No sense in correcting the man, and yet Hassan very almost finds himself baited into response. He does have fun - that is to say, he enjoys himself. Adhering to policy has never once hindered that. A concept far removed from Drael's shortsighted understanding.

It's only Drael's secondary remarks that stifle his answer, Hassan swallowing back irritation in favour of the unexpected rush of far more positive emotion. His frown only barely wavers, however, and his voice remains gruff when he speaks - it really is no one else's business, after all.]

Probably. Do you know where he might be?

Try the unofficial aviary they have set up, I'd bet. Near the edge of the park. 've never known him to stay in a crowd if he didn't have to, and it's usually quiet out that way.

[And that will have Hassan out of his hair, Drael decides smugly. Now he can carry on battling in peace.]

Right. [He might have been able to infer that much by himself. Hassan fixes Drael a steely glare, even as he prepares to move on.] Two hours, Drael. Please try not to live down to my expectations for a change.

[The aviary is never hard to find. Even if you don't know where it is, you only ever have to look up to have some sense of where the Flying type trainers might be congregating. Hassan strides away without further comment, and it isn't long before he finds himself among the spacious gathering of trainers and their feathered Pokémon. Hassan doesn't hesitate to release Swanna from her Pokéball, all the better to fit among the small gathering and all the better for Swanna's comfort as well.

It's a happy coincidence that watching the path of her flight directs his eyes toward Shryke, though it isn't until he's within speaking distance that he realises the surprising anomaly - Shryke isn't alone.]

Am I interrupting?

[He doesn't consider himself a jealous man. A possessive man. No, he's not. Shryke gives him no reason to be. It's Drael who's left him short-tempered, that's all. That's the only reason he doesn't greet this newcomer with a smile.]

And truly no one's ever told you how marvellous you'd look on canvas? With your eyes, and your hair, and that glossy Swellow proud on your shoulder! Oh, it'd be a glorious painting, I tell you. I haven't been so inspired in months. The colours would be fabulous, all your easy darkness against the light of dawn...

[Far be it from Tsing to mind his subject's lacklustre responses; his passion overflows him, the endless pursuit of art fueling his constant enthusiasm. He must communicate it to this young man, he simply must!

... Only here is someone else, interrupting with a question about whether or not he is. Tsing nods firmly once.] You are.

[He's lost track of how long the stranger's been here posturing at him, going on and on about paints and colours, and his gaze startles upward at the voice he recognises. He feels the knot in his shoulder ease just the slightest at the sight of Hassan, and his lips manage to twitch in a small smile before he snaps at the stranger.]

No, he's not. I'm sorry, I don't want to be painted. Please.

[The sharpness of his own words startes him back again, and he wordlessly raises his arm to call Swellow back from the sky. Only a moment later, the bird pulls out of a steep dive to land gracefully on the leather cuff around Shryke's outstretched arm. There, this is better.]

[How few words it takes to confirm all of his sharp misgivings. Hassan doesn't hesitate a second longer, stepping abruptly forward to interject himself between Shryke and this harassing stranger. Who does this man think he is, bringing any sort of unease into a festival intended to celebrate the bonds between people and Pokémon? Who does this fool think he is, to unsettle Shryke in a place that should give him comfort? Hassan tightens his fist, and then tenses further still at the involuntary twitch that convulses the fingers of his left hand - the surest indicator of all as to just how much this has angered him.]

I think he has made himself clear enough. Unless you would rather I find someone to escort you from the premises I suggest you make yourself scarce. Immediately.

Oh. [Perhaps it's meant to intimidate him, but Tsing only chortles, raising his hands as he backs away a step and sweeps into a low bow.] No need to be hasty, gentlemen, I'll leave you in peace. My but it only gets more and more difficult every day...

[He would have made a wonderful subject though, Tsing muses, with one last furtive glance over his shoulder as he wanders away, hands in pockets. What will he do now, having been so thoroughly rebuffed...]

[The stranger leaves, and Shryke isn't what emotion plucks at him. He is relieved to be free of that man, certainly, but at what cost? He lays his fingers gently on the wrist of Hassan's left arm, and murmurs.]

Hassan. It's all right. Thank you.

[He doesn't mean to turn so sharply at Shryke's touch, and the realisation of his actions is itself an awkward sort of balm. He must be calmer. There is no sense in anything otherwise.]

Drael said you wanted to see me.

[The words are bitten out tartly, statement more than question, and again Hassan finds himself privately drawing back from his own projected anger. No, he can't do this with Shryke. The sigh escapes him naturally, though it takes an effort to make himself speak again.]

I'm sorry. Was he troubling you for too long? If it suits you, I can still have him removed.

ARE YOU A POKÉMON MASTER?

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