#* verse : main. chin up‚ i can’t step into the spotlight.

[earngalar]

@poppicede​     /     river & lillian!

She’d yelp, if her hands weren’t already clapped over her mouth.

The a stranger rounds the corner, his sightline easily finding the dark shadow she’s hiding it, pressed to a wall and chest heaving.  Her first response is to panic — oh, no, the fan she’s been hiding from has found her — and then, a beat later, surprise takes it place.  It’s...someone else.  Someone else?

His lips part, perhaps to ask why she’s hiding, but she presses a finger to her lip and shushes him as silently as she can.  A moment later, the cause makes itself known.

“Champion!”  The fan’s voice calls out, and Lillian’s shoulders hike.  He’d followed her after an autograph signing, after everyone else was gone, and she’d run and managed to lose him as soon as she’d realized.  She won’t have her hiding spot blown by some stranger if she can help it!

[earngalar]

@fluminas​     /     the idol barbara & child celebrity / head of state lillian!

It hadn’t been a surprising suggestions from her team; after all, Lillian’s niche is all things cute!  She’s THE CUTE CHAMPION, known for her sweet team of pokémon and sweet fashions and sweet demeanor!  So a collaboration with the very cute popstar Barbara Pegg had seemed natural.

Their teams are already talking, of course, the girls they manage barely afterthoughts.  But Lillian makes it a rule to meet with potential collaborators in private before getting into work — she hates the idea of anyone thinking she’s only using them to increase her fame.  (  that others might be using her, the champion, doesn’t ever seem to occur to her.  that, or it doesn’t matter.  )

That’s why they’re here, in a private coffeeshop, still technically closed — the owner is a friend of Lillian’s, and always makes it available when she needs a private place — and Lillian is showing Barbara, with much excitement, her phone.  And on said phone?  Pictures of her Alcremie in various sun hats.

[earngalar]

[  sms : _____  ] can you come over? [  sms : _____  ] bad dream.  scared to sleep.

Her hands shake around the phone / a bad dream about Eternatus / the darkest day / Leon’s bleeding form / the hospital after, her body badly burned / it all blurs together.  But she’s SCARED.

[  sms : _____  ] i’m sorry

[earngalar]

@heartchosen​ : Brushes off the trail of tears left as he places a lil kissy on her cheek. ( hop )

They’re embarrassed tears, truly — she’s not in pain, she’s just frustrated and humiliated.  (  and horrifically tired, which is the cause of all this.  )  Hop has never been anything but her hero, and he’s always saving her — if not from bullies then from her own bad moods, if not from too - bold paparazzi or fans, then from the god that occasionally rewrites her personal reality and makes her forget her name.  She’s tired of forcing Hop into rescuing her, tired of being the reason that Hop worries or gets hurt.

She’s tired, too, of working herself into the ground; after all, that’s why her boyfriend had found her in her apartment, passed out on the floor — and why, now, she’s in a hospital bed.  She’d come to there, Hop beside her, and, upon realizing what had happened — that she must have passed out and collapsed, that he’d had to see her like that, that he’d brought her here — had burst immediately into mortified tears.  They’d only gotten worse when Hop had informed her that Lee was here, too, talking to a doctor about something outside of her room.

What a burden she is — what a sorry excuse for a Champion.  Her hands press to her face, cheeks burning and embarrassed and if this gets out to the press then that’s a nightmare, too, and she’s fine, she is, it’s just exhaustion and she doesn’t need to waste anyone’s time like this, and ——

And Hop’s hands take hers, pulling them away from her face.  Lillian lets out a small, surprised sound, eyes widening as she stares at him.  He smiles, careful, and moves his hands to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“‘S all right, Lil,” he says.  “Y’ didn’t do anything wrong.”

Her head shakes / she’s too exhausted to sign, and he always knows what she means, anyway / she’s worried him again, and that feels sick and horrendous.  She just — wishes she could be something other than the girl he has to rescue.  Hop breathes out a sigh and then, carefully, moves closer.  He leans over the hospital bed she’s sat up within and, gently — presses a kiss to her cheek.

She — forgets for a moment.  About her headache, or her shaking hands, or how tired she is of being a burden.  For a moment, all there’s space for in her head is : HOP KISSED ME!  That’s all she can think about, suddenly, cheeks burning red, eyes huge, smile stealing across her lips that’s helpless in its delight.  Hop laughs, and she laughs, too, following suit; she tugs him onto the bed with her, forcing him to sit so that she can tuck herself into him, giggling helplessly into his shoulder as her tears don’t slow.

Still humiliated — still angry at herself.  But ——— Hop’s here, and he loves her, even if she’s a burden to him.  Hop’s here, and he hasn’t left yet, and he won’t ever leave, and he loves her.

She doesn’t say thank you, but she doesn’t need to; the way she takes his hand and squeezes is enough.

[earngalar]

@drakule​ from ——— x.

<  never insult pumpkin flavor in my presence again.  >  Her fury is mostly - faked, but she is every bit the big - sweater - wearing, pumpkin - spice - loving stereotype.  Even this moment, she’s got tall boots, a wool skirt, and a pumpkin - flavored coffee tucked into her elbow to free her hands for sign.  <  hop and i are getting pumpkins to carve and decorate with next week, and i wanted feedback on what i should bake with the extras.  >  She always shares what she bakes, after all.  A pause, head tilting.  <  will you at least eat roasted pumpkin seeds if i give you some?  >

[earngalar]

@redlegend​ from ——— x.

<  pretty!  > she signs right back, cheerful and sweet and giggling, rocking on her heels.  And he looks happier already!  (  normally, the last thing she’d be doing is going out of her way to cheer up adult men.  but raihan thinks she can be better, ergo —  )  The Champion’s hands flit again, a little faster than usual — it’s nice to sign to others who sign, too!  <  you looked a little down.  something pretty to wear always cheers me up!  >

[earngalar]

The other finds her — less than herself.  Or less than her self.  Sitting, almost doll - like in her limpness save for the vice grip on the pokéball in her hands.

“⟟⏁ ⟟⌇⋏'⏁ ⌇⏃⎎⟒ ⊑⟒⍀⟒. ⊬⍜⎍ ⏃⍀⟒ ⋏⍜⏁ ⌇⏃⎎⟒.“  Whatever spills past her bitten lips, normally silent, it’s abundantly clear that she isn’t HERE — that she isn’t seeing you.  Small hands curl tighter around the pokéball.  “⏁⊑⟟⌇ ⏚⍜⎅⊬ ⟟⌇ ⋏⍜⏁ ⌇⏃⎎⟒.“

[earngalar]

@barrika-dark​ : “Who did this t'you?” Piers speaks low, their voice calm but there's a dangerous, angry look in their eyes. Not at Lillian, of course not, but to those who would harm her. Their anger comes from a place of concern, only wishing for her to be safe, as well as a burning desire for justice to be dealt.     /     accepting.

Tears slip down her cheeks as he approaches her as she dismounts from the taxi; she can’t even bring her trembling hands up to wipe at her face.  There’s a messy bruise  on the right side of her visage; her hand raises to cover it out of habit, don’t worry them, won’t worry them.  Won’t be a burden.  Too late.

“Ah...”  Her head shakes, when they ask — voice gentle but eyes burning.  It doesn’t matter.  It’s her fault.  Shouldn’t have visited; she wasn’t supposed to be back in Wyndom for another several hours.  But she’d cut her quick visit to Postwick far too short after ———

<  it’s nothing.  >  It isn’t.  <  i’m sorry.  it’s my fault.  >  Lillian wills her hands to stop shaking.  She doesn’t want to be this afraid of him.  She doesn’t want Noah to still have power over her.  <  one of the boys who — used to bully me grabbed me and surprised me.  i panicked and shoved him.  he hit me, just — out of surprise, i think.  not to...hurt me.  he knocked me over and i —  >  Got bruised up.  And reminded of the times he DID want to hurt her.  It feels like she’s unraveling like knotted twine.

<  he didn’t mean it.  i’m okay.  >

[earngalar]

@drakenskies​​​ liked!     /     to be loved by aurora.

<  i tell myself i have to build defenses.  nobody knows me.  but...  >  Her hands pause; this is a confession.  Or, better yet, an explanation / a show of gratefulness.  <  but i’m learning to be loved.  you’re helping me learn.  so...thank you.  >

[earngalar]

@189time​ : your mother or hop ? <3     /     accepting.

This isn’t right...this isn’t fair!  Hop saved her, and her Mum gave up so much to take care of her after her dad left — after Dad left BECAUSE OF HER.  She drove her mother’s love from her, and still she stuck by her.  Hop rescued her from aloneness when Mum couldn’t be there — which was most of the bloody time.  

Sure, things could be tense with both of them these days — Mum not understanding why Lillian wants nothing to do with Dad, or worse, understanding and simply not caring ; Hop loving, and loving, but far away, but resentful of her win / of the time she can no longer devote to him.  But she loves them both.  It’s not like...it’s not FAIR to make her choose between the only two people who ever gave a shit about her before she was famous...!

“I ——— ah, I...”  Selfish, ungrateful thing.  Entitled, cruel.  

Funny.  She’d be thinking the same thing even if she’d made the opposite choice.

<  hop.  >

[earngalar]

@drakenskies​ from ——— x.

Her head tilts as he speaks; he’s so kind.  It’s hard to imagine what she ever saw in him that might remind her of her father.  Lillian even smiles, something pleased and affectionate, when he calls her hun.  Her hands are slow, but with thought more than hesitation.

<  i am,  > she replies, eyes serious.  <  i’ve thought about it a lot.  it felt...nice, to tell big bro.  so i’m not afraid to tell you.  >  The nickname she’s given Leon slips into the sentence without much thought.  Still, even Lee doesn’t know the whole story.

The smile falls as she thinks of the other reason she wants to tell him, eyes lowering.  <  and...i’ll probably slip up and be mean again, eventually.  not on purpose, and i’m working really hard, but...  >  She wishes she how to explain — that the cruelty isn’t on purpose, that she just doesn’t always know how to stop.  She’s getting better, but it’s not like she can change everything overnight.  <  at least then, if i’m bad to you again, you’ll know it’s...not really about you?  >  Like Hop did, when they were kids and she’d been occasionally unkind to protect herself.  She just doesn’t want Raihan to think that she hates him ever again.

Her eyes raise, and she smiles faintly.  <  is...that okay?  if you don’t wanna know, that’s okay, too.  >

[earngalar]

@barrika-dark​ : "D'y'wanna meet the most recent addition t'my team?" Piers asks, holding up a Pokéball with a slight smile on his lips. It's not very often there's a twinkle of excitement in his eyes, but he hopes Lillian will say yes.

Lillian turns on her heel at the sound of that familiar voice, beaming already even before the words themselves process.  She’s always happy to see Piers, after all!  Especially when he wants to share something with her.  And the question has her grinning wider yet, all but skipping closer to close the gap, giggling all the while.

The Champion nods once she’s closer, hands flapping happily at her sides while she bounces on her heels — her agreement and excitement couldn’t be clearer, even in lieu of speech or sign.  (  it’s probably a funny comparison; tall, perpetually deadpan — but smiling now — beside small, pink, and unabashedly delighted.  )  She wonders who he’s got!

[earngalar]

@galaxciaas​ liked for hailey!     /     not ready to make nice by the chicks.

<  i’m still mad as hell.  >  Despite the sign, her expression is pensive more than furious.  She’s been thinking a lot about forgiveness these days, and who deserves it.  <  not ready to make nice.  >

[earngalar]

anonymous : Hailey or Hop     /     accepting.

This isn’t fair....they’re both her friends, and she loves them both — it’s not as easy as just choosing!  

Or, at least, she wishes it wasn’t.  That fact of the matter is she’d known the answer as soon as she’d been asked.  She wishes it was harder.  She wishes she was better.

Hailey loves her, and protects her.  BUT HOP SAVED HER.

<  ——— hop.  >

[earngalar]

@glrchmp one fluff coming right up

Lillian wanders into the room with a basket of cookies tucked into the crook of her arms, come to share her bountiful harvest with her favourite (  and only  ) brother when she catches sight of something glinting in the sun when his hand raises to brush as his hair.  Dark eyes go wide; she nearly drops the cookies as she realizes just what.  The small thing practically trips over herself closing the gap, breath gone, and she barely gets the basket off her arm and onto the nearest table before she’s grabbing at his hand with almost comical urgency, huge eyes only growing wider once she’s pulled it nearer and her suspicions are concerned.

AN ENGAGEMENT RING.  HE’S WEARING AN ENGAGEMENT RING.  THAT MEANS...

Her grin once she looks back up to him is sunny and enormous, and she all but bounces in place, still gripping his hand.  She’s too giddy to even sign; all that escapes her is a string of bright, excited giggles.

[earngalar]

@189time​ liked, take two!

<  i think about you all the time,  > she signs, grinning, cheeks dark and warm and chest warm.  OF COURSE SHE THINKS ABOUT HIM!  He’s her favourite person!  For a long time, her ONLY PERSON.  <  you’re better than literally anybody!  >  And it’s true!  How lucky is she, that she gets to be beside him!