[center][color=lightgreen][h2][u]Sage Monsoon[/u][/h2][/color][/center]

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Sage wandered the grounds of the Pokemon Laboratory, eyes lazily gliding over the assembled group of would-be Trainers and Coordinators as he shuffled along quietly, shoes scuffing across the ground with every step, as though he couldn't be bothered to lift his feet fully off the ground. At his heel, with significantly more pep in his step, Reynardine gave what might have been a long-suffering glare up at his owner at the lack of motivation. Sage managed to glance down at his partner just as one of these glares was directed upward, and smiled ruefully. He knelt down to the Fennekin's level, patting the fox Pokemon on its head, scratching its ears.

[color=lightgreen]"And here I thought [i]I[/i] was supposed to be bossing [i]you[/i] around,"[/color] he said quietly, almost a whisper. Every action seemed dedicated to using up the minimum required amount of energy required for it. Reynardine yipped in response, pressing its head into Sage's hand, demanding more pets. Sage did so, still pondering his situation. A not-insignificant part of him was practically shouting at him to abandon ship, jump on board the next plane or ferry or outrigger that was pointed at home. He still could, after all- the funds his parents and his uncle had raised would provide passage back. He could still just... leave.

[i][color=lightgreen]Yeah, sure. And see the looks on all of their faces when they find out I've given up. Again.[/color][/i] It was no secret to him that his family saw him as a failure. He certainly hadn't done anything to disabuse them of that notion. But before, he hadn't cared.

Now, he was curious. Reynardine meant something to him, it seemed. And from that little tidbit of meaning came a curiosity about what else might mean something to him someday. Which was why he was here, he supposed. He stood up, despite Rey's protests, and began his shuffling trek anew, this time in a more focused direction. That Professor was around here somewhere, he reckoned. And she'd have one of those Pokedex such-and-such things for him to use. Then he'd really be official. Sage chuckled at that- it was all still very surreal, at this point. Taking on a Pokemon League was no small undertaking. He'd be here for months. Maybe even years, if he sucked at it, at first. But there was a strange allure to the idea, as well. 

He walked into a room where at least a couple Trainers seemed to be sizing each other up for a battle. Before that got underway, he cleared his throat noisily.

[color=lightgreen]"I'm... gonna go out on a limb and say this is where we get started...?"[/color] he said, mumbling significantly louder than usual.