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“I got fuckin nothing”
It was a sentiment shared amongst the whole table. Kieran, Carmine, Crispin, Lacey, Amarys, and Drayton all sat around the club room table looking as stumped as they did several hours ago.
Diana had given them a simple assignment;
“I'm going back home to visit some family, I'll be back Monday, in the meantime could you all try coming up with a poster or something we could put up around the school to advertise the league club?”
She gave that to them Wednesday…it was now Sunday and all they could show for their work was a blank paper.
In their defense, procrastination was one hell of a bitch.
“Come on people! Think!” Carmine shouted, “What can we use to advertise our club?”
“‘Welcome to league club, we kicked that blood asshole out.’” Drayton said, head still on the table.
“Uhh how about we mention how red hot our battles are!” Crispin offered optimistically.
“We are not adding a pun to our official club advertisement.” Kieran said quickly. “Why are we even advertising the club? Everyone knows who we are and what we do. Seems like a waste of time.”
“Well for starters, there's the transfer students next semester. They won't know what this club is about. Being able to advertise the club to them is crucial.” Amarys started.
“Pluuuuus our reputation is still a bit in the shitter cause of Owen…many freshmen and sophomores are still avoiding us like the plague." Drayton adds, scratching his cheek.
“...and I guess the “rouge pokemon attack” didn't help…” Kieran whined and looked down.
“Eh! No! Stop that self loathing.” Carmine grabbed a discarded soda can and threw it to bonk Kieran upside the head. “Don't make me get the spray bottle mister!”
Kieran grumbled and rubbed his forehead.
“So something to advertise to new students, AND repair our reputation.” Crispin frowns.
“And don't forget actually letting people know what the club is about.” Lacey added.
“And having it be stylish, but not be too busy or people will ignore it.” Amarys adjusted her glasses.
All eyes stared at the blank paper and groaned.
“How is this so hard?! Its a poster!” Carmine threw her hands up.
“Aww dont be mad Mimi-” Drayton ducked to avoid a soda can. “We’ll figure something out.”
“And by we you mean us and not you?” Lacey crosses her arms.
“Exactly.” He snapped his fingers.
“Well how about we start simple.” Kieran leaned across the table, marker in hand, and proceeded to draw a rough scribble of something in the center of the paper.
“An electrode exploding?” Drayton laughed.
“No? It's the Academy logo.” Kieran frowns as he points. “See that's the top of the blueberry, that's the rings.”
“Riiiiiight right.” Drayton nodded.
“Look, it's something!” He pouts, crossing his arms.
“Okay so logo…and maybe we can add…” Lacey takes the paper and scribbles down ‘Blueberry Academy's Official League Club’ at the top in big blocky letters. “There, now we at least have the club name?”
Amarys took the paper next and grabbed some markers. She blocked out some basic colors down, not trying to make it look clean, but enough theh get the idea. “I think we should use a pale darker blue for the background, it will allow us to add text without it blending in too much.” She explains sliding the paper back to the center.
Crispin grabbed a sharpie next. “Oh we could just make a loooong list of pros, like all the great things about the club!”
Carmine slid the paper over and the fire type trainer began scribbling immediately.
“Lets see, fun competitive battles for starters!”
“Don't forget weekly team building exercises!” Lacey smiled.
“And our laid back vibe.” Drayton spoke up from his table nap.
“You should mention how all students are welcomed.” Amary's eyes drifted to Kieran. “Regardless of trainer status.”
Crispin nodded with every addition, tongue sticking out as he made the bullet point list.
“Oh and top it off by saying those who battle to the top will become champion of the leauge and get one free Masterball.” Drayton says. “Thay will really get kids attention.”
Kieran whined “why do we even allow that…what if someone tries something and-”
“Kiki, no one will try to catch you in a masterball, you're okay.” Carmine reassured him.
“You don't know that!” He whined. “What if someone like Owen tries- wait has he used his ball yet?! What if he hasn't?!"
“Kiki, I got a spray bottle with your name on it if you don't calm down.” Carmine warned.
“I think I have a justifiable reason to be upset.” He crosses who arms. “Who even allowed masterballs to be handed out like candy?” He mutters.
“Cyrano.” Amarys answers plainly.
“Hows this?” Crispin slid the scribbled on paper back into the center of the table and the others collectively cringed.
“Crispin, buddy, remind me to never have you write anything ever.” Drayton shook his head.
“What? My handwriting isnt that bad!”
“Its…pretty bad.” Lacey admitted.
Crispin frowned.
“Handwriting aside, I think the layout could work…” Amarys nodded to herself.
“Maybe we could all draw our aces on the corners?” Lacey pointed. “To fill up the negative space?”
“And don't forget we can mention our handy pokemon specialist.” Drayton smiled at Kieran. “Diana would like that.”
“Yes please advertise me further, it's not like I'm already drowning in students.” Kieran deadpanned.
Amarys, indeed, jotted down how they have ‘an in-house pokemon expert’. “How's this now?”
They all looked at the mess of scribbles and colors. It was messy but they all could clearly see how it was all meant to look.
“I think its great!”
“Oh once we add our own flares it'll be perfect!”
“Looks fine to me.”
“Drayton, your eyes aren't even open!”
“Well, if we are in agreement, I'll go bother the art club for the supplies so we can make this proper.” Amarys turned to leave.
The rest of them looked at the clock…8pm and they were only NOW making the final project.
“This sucks.” Drayton sighed.
- - -
Diana sighed as she got off the boat, stepping onto the metal dock of Blueberry Academy. Kalos had been…a much needed vacation. It was nice getting to see her mom again, and of course spending time with Jacinthe was always pleasant. She took a deep breath of the salty air.
“Just a few more weeks…” she huffed as she dragged her bag towards the elevator.
A few more weeks, then she can be done with this ruse.
She really ought to thank Jacinthe for coming up with the plan. Though she will admit “put him in a maid dress and make him follow your beck and call” was a pretty funny solution to her problem.
“Soon Vivi…”
Her eyes were pulled to a new addition to the metal walls of the school, a poster advertising the league club.
“Huh…didn't think they'd actually do it.” She shook her head with a chuckle. She honestly didn't expect the 6 of them to do it, but hey, guess she was wrong. The poster was…very unique to say the least. She could practically pinpoint where people chipped in or dictated elements. The slick design of poster board and logo were from Amarys, the big blocky letters advertising the club name probably came from Lacey or Carmine, the bullet point list was probably Drayton pitching in the bare minimum, and the doodles of various pokemon in the corners, each with their own unique style, clearly a group effort.
“Oh…hey Diana.”
Diana turned around and saw none other than Kieran standing there, looking awkward as he always seemed to.
“Hello to you too Kieran, I hope things weren't too disorganized in my absence?”
“Nah…was pretty typical…” His odd eyes avoid hers, typical though, she was the champion and he didnt exactly have the best impression of the club when he first joined. “Do…you like the poster?”
She looked back at it and felt a small smile tug her lips.
“Its very…league club esc.” She says ruffling his locks. “You all did well.”
Kierans eyes sparkled. “R-really?! Cause sis said it looked like a mess and kept saying how you'd be mad.”
She shook her head with a chuckle, yup that sounded like Carmine. “Nah, its perfect for the club, tell the others its perfect.” A yawn creeped up, “now if you excuse me, I got quite a bit of unpacking to do, and in desperate need of a bed.”
“Ah- r-right! Well uh its nice to see you landed safely!” He called out before running off.
Diana felt a soft chuckle leave her as she shook her head. She was gonna miss that squirt when she left. “Nice seeing you as well Kieran.” She replied in a quiet voice before heading off to her dorm.
Just a few more weeks.