𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐄𝐍

in a pride of lions -- 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 .

[pyroaress]

―   ❝   some women fear the fire  ...  𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭.   ❞

「    ♕   //   ♕  」

[pyroaress]

“ My husband is dead. ” Both technically and metaphorically.

[jawrot]

[missingstarter]

@pyroaress

"I like you. Really. So don't make me do this."

He lifts his arm, stopping Feral from going for the woman's throat. The vague threat wasn't necessary, of course. Silver would've stopped his Pokèmon from taking things too far no matter who came to check on them - and he knew, from the second the Water-Type took down a whole tree with one last attack during his trainig, that someone would've come.

He didn't expect someone who would react like that, tho, that's for sure.

"Feral, down."

He's not going to bring the giant alligator back in his PokèBall, just to be sure, but he's going to keep him at a short leash. For now.

"...there's no need to get aggressive."

A comment addressed towards his Pokèmon and the woman.

[pyroaress]

“ …Soo cute. Somethin’ about ‘prickly kids’ really gets me all warm and nauseas inside.” Said with mocking enthusiasm. Malva stands her ground a few feet away with Arielle prowling at her side. It was only a finger raised towards the pyroaress that kept her from launching forward. Sparks cracked between her sharp canines shown with lips raised in snarl. That ‘gatr tempted a Thunder Fang to its throat should it step any closer.

“ Aw and the way your brow furrows with that so serious frown of yours..! The cute aggression is real. Makes me wanna squeeze ya tight till your head pops-!” She’s tensing. Almost sounded like a threat. Oops. Reel it back. Malva snaps her fingers and a Rotom phone seemingly buzzing about the situation zips down so she may busy herself with the screen for a moment. “ Note to editor, take out that bit before posting. That’s not very suave, is it?”

A moment later and she waves it away and returns her now sorted frown back to the other. Moment lost. Now she’s tired.

“ Kid, Lumiose might be a dump but it ain’t for tourists to go around making it worse. That’s the mayors job.” Now that she was making her way over she could see him a little better. Her lips pursed. This brat looked vaguely familiar, it was annoying. “ And he gets extra annoying by calling me every ten minutes about some ‘emergency’ and ‘elite four should be doing this and elite four should be doing that-‘ like I don’t have better things to do then hover around Lumiose shoo’ing loiterers and tourists snapping trees willy nilly cause they can’t control their Pokémon. That tree could’ve been like…some simisage’s home or something. Or like…could’ve fallen ontop of someone. I dunno.”

“ Keep the overgrown lizard at the training courts or within the nightly battle zones .” A thumb juts to the Feraligatr.

[pyroaress]

“ what? no witty remark? nothing clever to say? ” / from griselle

questions

…

“ A small hot Flamethrower roast with cream and sugar please. ”

How’s that for witty?

Behind the paper she was feigning to read a wirey smile cuts through her cold facade. This could’ve been a tepid moment of peace and silence. She’d continue loitering with a paper to her face all day in front of their coffee truck and say nothing…but goodness knows she can’t help a challenge.

Malva tips her auburn shades, crimson eyes meet her blue glare.

“ Kidding. Is it so bad I drop by and check on you? I do soo worry about all of Flare. ” Even the ones who refuse to come back.

[rpclefairy]

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

“ am i not good enough? ”  

“ you’ve been so quiet. what’s on your mind? ”  

“ why did you help me? ”  

“ who do you fight for? ”  

“ why do you hate me? ”  

“ have you come to laugh at me in my miserable state? ”  

“ you’re not dating anyone, are you? ”  

“ i’ve got your back, okay? ”  

“ where do you think you’re going? ”  

“ how long have i been asleep? ”  

“ are you going to kill me? ”  

“ why can’t i come with you? ”  

“ we all have secrets, don’t we? ”  

“ did you want to be alone? ”  

“ why should i trust you? ”  

“ wait. did you hear that? ”  

“ promise me? ”  

“ why are you talking like we’ll never see each other again? ”  

“ do you remember anything at all? ”  

“ what? no witty remark? nothing clever to say? ”  

“ you wanna know what your problem is? ”  

“ may i have this dance? ”  

“ can i ask… what happened? ”  

“ how many people have you killed? how many? ”  

“ do you ever hear yourself? ”  

“ would you run away with me? ”  

“ could you be happy here with me? ”  

“ you can’t or you won’t? ”  

“ you slept with them, didn’t you? ”  

“ well, how do i look? ”  

“ after all you’ve done how can i possibly trust you? ”  

“ why can’t you let me in? what are you so afraid of? ”  

“ what did they do to you? ”  

“ so why’s it so important anyway? ”  

“ where have you been? ”  

“ why are you looking at me like that? ”  

“ why did you come? ”  

“ what are you doing out here by yourself? ”  

“ is… that my shirt you’re wearing? ”  

“ you… don’t like me very much, do you? ”  

“ why does it always have to be a fight with you? ”

“ why can’t you look me in the eye? ”  

“ can you forgive me? ”  

“ what if i never see you again? ”  

“ you were going to leave without saying goodbye? ”  

“ how about a little midnight snack? ”  

“ are you… smelling me? ”  

“ how did you get this scar? ”  

“ what do you want in exchange for it? ”  

“ what did you want to tell me? ”  

[heavensghost]

[darkheartgodess]

[gracerocky]

EMILIA CLARKE as BEA GRANT Ponies (2026) — Season 1, Episode 5

[pyroaress]

Legendary Pokémon are the bane of her existence—

‘Wdym I can’t mess around with forces of nature without it being easy and facing no consequences?? AUGH just get in the ball 😒’

[pyroaress]

‘ There you are.’

This anomaly they’d been tracking down for who knows how long. Readings and bits of information blur through her subconscious and fingers tense seeing it back up. Dead end. Nowhere to run. Probably exhausted by now between scurrying around in the shadows avoiding trainers and her hot pursuit. Strategic hunting of course. It’s strong. Why give out her cover and waste energy when everyone else can do it for her? Easy prey.

That being said her Houndoom already mega evolved snaps his jaws with spits of embers. Dont. Move.

“ It’ll all be over soon, Darkrai.” A masterball expanding in her palms. She needed this specter. These pokeballs are not common or cheap so better make this count-

…Oh now what? Pokémon and trainer for a moment watch the shadow start to fall back into a portal.

“ Oh no you don’t-“ Hellgar at her heels as she goes into a sprint, lioness claws grabbing at its cloth like body in a grip. ‘You’re not going anywhere without me-!’

[darkraise]

The  arrogance  and  folly  of  persistence  hunters.  His  hopes  dashed,  but  the  tug  at  him  was  met  with  a  smile  of  his  eye  rather  than  frustration.  The  cloth-like  end  of  his  body  dissipated  like  smog  and  soon  the  rest  of  his  shape  followed,  melting  into  brimstone-floor  of  this  pocket-dimension.  There  she  and  her  loyal  hound  would  find  their  dream  nightmare  of  dreams  nightmares;  an  ancient  underground  cavern  in  which  magma  flowed  free  since  creation's  dawn.  The  very  portal  they'd  jumped  through  closed  behind  them  with  no  hope  to  return  on  their  own.

Darkrai's  shadowy  form  slid  across  the  ground,  beneath  and  past  the  obstacle  they'd  now  face:  the  land's  end,  Groudon.  Its  fierce  golden  eyes  flared  alive  in  response  to  the  new  arrivals  before  it.  From  the  nightmare  incarnate,  only  something  akin  to  a  dark  chuckle  could  be  heard  ringing  from  somewhere  and  nowhere.  Why  had  no  one  ever  followed  him  through  to  this  world?  Because  it  was  a  trap  with  no  way  out.  Did  she  think  this  little  gadget  clutched  in  her  hand  would  prove  its  worth?  Capture  him  or  the  big  red  guy  whose  deafening  roar  echoed  in  this  false  miniature  world?  If  in  doubt,  let  a  minion  handle  it;  that's  a  Darkrai  for  you.  He  was  curious  to  see  it  play  out,  even  if  the  temptation  was  there  to  use  the  other  legendary  as  distraction  to  open  a  second  short-lived  portal  and  just  strand  her  and  her  companion  here.

[pyroaress]

Pretty careless to chase after a vaguely known Pokémon. All she saw in that moment was a target about to make the slip. Blindness made by pride; how beneath her usual careful nature.

Her hold passed through in smoke and with a loud ‘oof!’ she and Helgar dropped on brimstone. The heat would have been unbearable to a trainer unfamiliar with fire.

‘ What in the world-‘

IF they were on earth anymore that is. The portal way back closed right behind them and that despicable shadow slipped away. Their new challenger rumbled in front of them towering high above with contempt in its eyes.

Daze turned to dread and from dread anger boiled over-!

“ …DARKRAI! GET BACK HERE! This is cheap!!” Forget the literal behemoth and the doom of their situation, her fiery contempt was for that cheat-! Couldn’t face her itself so it hides behind Groudon! …Or is it? This felt utterly real but who’s to say this isn’t some nightmare Darkrai inflicted? The god before her was just some vivid part of a dream. Not her idea of a nightmare but-

Malva growls and loudly shouts into the cavern. Her houndoom nervously snaps at Groudon. He’s not as convinced as his master this was some illusion-

“ Is this some fancy parlor trick of yours?? It doesn’t even look like an actual Groudon! Sloppy work, Darkrai!! ”

[crimsonclutches]

@pyroaress sent: “ You’re not half bad .. for a Rocket. You’re not looking for new opportunities are you? Scarlet Queens are worth more than bland pawns and there’s so little moving space on your side of the board~ ”

not half bad for a rocket.

ariana purses her lips at the backhanded remark, but her composure stays poised. sturdy. no scenes at dinner, especially when she's being treated. they're in some fancy lumiose restaurant--crystal chandeliers, gold leaf on plates, expensive wines in glasses--their privacy secured by a thick partition shielding them from the other patrons (or the other patrons from them.)

belladonna, ariana's arbok, coils languidly by her trainer's heels (much to the chagrin of the waitstaff, but none have the nerve to tell ariana off.)

in response to malva's coy remarks, the rocket looks up...and laughs.

"ironic..." ariana hums, leaning forward slightly, a wordless challenge glinting in those imperious, ruby eyes. "flare's lioness, lecturing me about 'moving space' while she's the one trapped in kalos's gilded cage."

the executive takes a slow sip of wine, letting the moment stew before continuing. "...as you are well aware, rocket has eyes everywhere. unmatched presence, yet enough freedom to dine openly with a stunning woman...mm, I want for very little."

"but you," ariana smiles, lowering her timbre to something discreet, almost intimate. her intense gaze locks with the gleam of malva's glasses. "you are hungry. you crave the throne again. I hear it in your words, see it on your face. it's why I've been called here tonight."

"so," she declares in a soft tone that demands transparency, reaching over to top off their wine glasses while gently turning the tables. "from scarlet queen to scarlet queen...how can I help you, miss bellerose?"

[pyroaress]

Ah. Still loyal to her pack of poachers it seems. Ariana was a respectable figure in their line of business. She had to be well versed in keep a front in a rival’s company. The meeting was made neutral but that did not mean there wasn’t danger. Between sips of wine and polite talk she watched for any notable signs. A nervous tick, perhaps an inability to keep eye contact or even keeping too much of it.

No signs of weakness. However the slight purse in lips at her comment told her Ariana wasn’t planning on leaving Rocket. …Not yet anyways.

“ I cant seek a throne I already own, my friend.” Said with an almost too playful note in thick Kalosian accent. They were two predators circling each other. Dear Ariana trying to call a facade to trip her up. How attractive. Her heart even skips a beat and her lips stretch to a dangerous smile. Was that Adrenalin or romance? She couldn’t tell the difference either way. Both were such a rush and whatever was in her sights became prey. Let’s catch up then. “ Lysandre is dead. I alone have Kalos in my palms and there is no fool with his grandiose rapture tomfoolery holding us back anymore.”

Blunt. Not a note of remorse for her former head. Malva had kept on swirling the contents of her wine by the glass stem. Crimson eyes meet her ruby glare.

No pride lion meant nothing held back the pride’s lioness anymore. Too much to prove with far too much to protect to keep her claws sheathed. Flare moved on from grandiose to covert but not as a matter of defeat. It’s to their advantage.

“ A matter of keeping relations open. You understand. Housekeeping. Ensuring even with the old king dead NEO Flare is keeping its partners and whatever agreements. I, however, do not care for empty business platitudes.” Ariana was right. She wasn’t here just for a meal. Malva watches carefully. “ I prefer exchange of favors to solidify relations instead. I scratch your back, you scratch mine so to speak. It makes separating the inept from the trustworthy easy. Once we’ve fulfilled our mutual requests I say we’re golden. Enticing, non?”

Her Rotom phone floated up from behind her as if on queue. One hand busied on the screen and the other stroked the mane of her Pyroar who raised her head from her lap. Information buzzed in a code only her and a few select subordinates can understand. No chances taken.

“ I specifically wanted you from Rocket because of your strengths if you’re asking why I haven’t gone to Giovanni for official matters. I care less for syndicate ‘leaders’. Too much yellow tape and waiting around for an audience. Bothersome.” Brusque. She doesn’t care for any of the “rules” syndicates fashioned between each other either. She’s out to prove she’s twice the operation any of these dull men on their plastic thrones are. “ Impressive log might I say. Beautiful and zealous. A shame you’re an executive of an executive. You have too much potential for that.”

A genuine comment or bait? Malva’s eye flickers from her screen to Ariana.

[girljeremystrong]

ever since i was a little girl i've been mad as hell

[aqua-regia009]

Artwork by Tristan Elwell (American, b.1968) for Ashling (The Obernewtyn Chronicles, #3) by Isobelle Carmody

http://www.tristanelwell.com/

[lacetulle]

Almée Couture | Spirit of the Forgotten

[gena-rowlands]

— BETTE DAVIS as MARGO CHANNING | All About Eve (1950)

[darkraise]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐒: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐄𝐃𝐈 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒 ( accepting )

"You're a jittery little thing, aren't you?" @pyroaress

The  lioness  should  know  the  saying  of  approaching  a  cornered  beast  best.  Prior  engagements  with  trainers  and  their  Pokémon  had  already  worn  him  down,  physically  and  mentally.  Her  callous  remark  was  a  match-stick  to  his  already  shortened  fuse  but  he  wouldn't  give  her  the  chance  to  ignite  it.  He  inched  further  back,  until  the  cloth-like  end  of  his  body  brushed  against  a  wall.

Here  is  a  trick  he  picked  up  during  his  stay  in  this  accursed  metropolis,  courtesy  in  part  to  his  missing  kin;  a  portal  to  the  hyper-dimension  opens  behind  him  and  he  fades  through  to  escape  this  encounter.  So  far,  nobody  dared  following  him  through  and  he  hoped  this  would  remain  the  case.

[pyroaress]

‘ There you are.’

This anomaly they’d been tracking down for who knows how long. Readings and bits of information blur through her subconscious and fingers tense seeing it back up. Dead end. Nowhere to run. Probably exhausted by now between scurrying around in the shadows avoiding trainers and her hot pursuit. Strategic hunting of course. It’s strong. Why give out her cover and waste energy when everyone else can do it for her? Easy prey.

That being said her Houndoom already mega evolved snaps his jaws with spits of embers. Dont. Move.

“ It’ll all be over soon, Darkrai.” A masterball expanding in her palms. She needed this specter. These pokeballs are not common or cheap so better make this count-

…Oh now what? Pokémon and trainer for a moment watch the shadow start to fall back into a portal.

“ Oh no you don’t-“ Hellgar at her heels as she goes into a sprint, lioness claws grabbing at its cloth like body in a grip. ‘You’re not going anywhere without me-!’