[IC] Pokemon: New World

[Zarkun]

@Lugubrious@LuckyBlackCat

Amica and Tommy busily munched away at their food, the Froakie warily watching a group of Pidove that had taken up a position nearby to attack the crumbs the pair left behind when they finished. The sun was only just beginning to set and the view was rather enjoyable. He was about to ask Amica what she thought about the sunset when a voice sounded from behind him. ”Hey, you.” Tommy glanced up and frowned at the girl looking down on him imperiously. ”You gonna tell me where a Pokemon Center is, or what?” Tommy regarded her for several moments before it clicked. She had been a waitress at one of the diner's he'd played for on occasion and, before that, a rather pleasant person if the teens he had overheard at one of the hangouts he played at right.

And now she was a sourpuss. With an attitude like her's, Tommy was kinda surprised she'd found a Pokemon that would let her catch it. "Guess those kids weren't kidding when they said you were of foul temper now. Anyways, there's a city directory just in front of the shop. Better directions to the Pokecenter than what I can give." He turns back to Amica, who was suddenly playing with a Whismur and looked around for it's owner before spotting her running after the little guy and offering a smile when she reached the table.

"It's alright, miss. Amica is likely enjoying the interaction before we set out tomorrow. Name's Tommy." He offered the guitarist, as he'd spotted it on her back shortly after speaking, his hand for a shake. His own trumpet case was resting on the chair next to him and he glanced at it. He had one last gig to do tonight just up the street at one of the teen hangouts, probably would be his last gig for some time, so he'd have to finish eating soon.

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

Leisy didn’t feel like leaving the city quite yet, but she also didn’t want to have to keep Bidein inside his pokeball while she explored. Rather, she reasoned that she’d pay the tourist section of the city a visit. While most people in the residential areas of Central City avoided letting their pokemon out on the streets, especially excitable ones, the tourist areas and parks had no such unspoken rules.

Leisy had been to the tourist area before, but it only struck her now how many pokemon were there. People were walking around with everything from purple-bodied butterflies with black-and-white wings to huge dragon pokemon with blue and red bodies. She couldn’t help but stare at the pokemon there, and her fingers itched to take out her pokedex and scan all the pokemon, but she held back. Don’t be rude, Leisy, she reprimanded herself. You have your own pokemon now, so stop making googly-eyes at other people's’ pokemon.

Leisy unclipped Bridein’s pokeball from the belt at her waist and pressed the button to release the Fletchling. Momentarily stunned by the bright burst of light, Bridein backtracked midair before flying onto Leisy’s shoulder.

”Still not used to being in a pokeball, huh?” Leisy asked, frowning. There was little she could do about that, and Leisy hated that. ”So, what do you wanna do, Dei?” the girl asked her pokemon. Bridein gave his surroundings a scrutinizing glance, uncomfortable with the bustling life around him. Seeing his uncertainty, Leisy decided that it’d be best to make the first decision.”Let’s get a bite first—I’m starving, and I don’t think you’ve ever had pokeblocks, have you?”

The confused look the Fletchling gave her told all, and Leisy laughed as she straightened the straps of her backpack and started off to her favorite corner cafe. ”You’ll love them, Dei. In fact after we can order some to go—that and some berries. What kind of berries do you like? Oran’s? No?”

The idle one-sided questioning went on as the pair walked on, the two completely absorbed in their own world.

[Lugubrious]

For a few moments the guy looked as though he weren't going to answer Olivie, but once he'd thrown a snark her way the brunette's wish came true. Well, a booklet full of instructions to send her on her way didn't exactly solve her problem, but it was better than nothing. A brusque reply lay on the tip of her tongue, but before she could unleash it, another Pokemon bounced onto the scene. The little lavender-colored ball earned a wrinkling of Olivie's nose for both its interruption and its bothersome attitude. Turning slightly away, she hugged her Bidoof closer, as if to keep it separate from the loser Pokemon. That said, she did not immediately depart, instead observing out of the corner of her eyes the tomfoolery now unfolding between the Whismur and the Froakie. For a moment longer Olivie lingered, the names of the boy and his frog saved to memory.

A few seconds later, Olivie realized that she'd stopped too long, and tossed her hair impatiently. ”'Yeah, yeah. Take it up with someone who cares,” she scoffed. Making sure not to jostle her Bidoof, she made her way to the directory board, and very gingerly she placed her plump brown Pokemon on the nearest table. Though no expert, she thought it still looked a little dazed, and so paused a moment once she'd determined that the others weren't looking to rub its head between its ears. ”Aw,” she murmured, ”You're gonna be alright, tough guy.” After leaving him there, she leafed through the pages, finding the nearest Pokemon Center without much difficulty. Four-fifty-four Brighton Avenue, right. With her mission firmly in mind, she returned to the table where she left her new buddy only to find it vacant.

”What?!” In her surprise, Olivie's voice went higher than she would have liked. Looking around wildly, she spotted a familiar brown shape trying to squeeze through the riverside railing. Her eyes filled with anger. ”No you don't! Get back here!” The Bidoof, however, popped through the gap and vanished out of sight, and from the river a split second later there came a resounding ploosh. With zero hesitation, Olivie charged toward the railing and threw herself over.

The instant she hit the water she knew she'd made a huge mistake, but it was too late now. Fortunately the river was only really deep in the very middle, allowing Olivie to stand only half-immersed. Now sopping wet, she snagged the shocked Bidoof from the river and held it in front of her. You!” Water streamed comically down her face as she saw a big, half-eaten berry in the Bidoof's mouth, and like someone flipped a switch Olivie's expression changed from a glower to a concerned frown. ”You...were hungry?” Suddenly everything made sense. ”The Pokedex said Bidoofs live mostly around water. If you were scrounging around a meadow, you musta been starving.” As the Bidoof cautiously chewed through the rest of its berry, its trainer hugged it again, and mumbled, ”Bastard. I was worried. We'll get food soon.”

Roughly twenty feet away, a small flight of stairs provided a means of escape from the water. As she hoisted herself out of the drink, Olivie spotted the Feebas again. Persistent little weirdo. ”Scram! I didn't jump in here for you, you know.” Seated with her back against the railing, Olivie checked her belongings. The Pokedex, in its closed state, had not suffered any water damage. Hey, the old model's good for something, she noted approvingly. Her hard case had seen better days and would probably need to be thrown out, but the keys weren't going to rust and her wallet could be dried off. Even on a warm night, the wind caused her to shiver thanks to her wet clothes. Very fortunately, her sky-blue coat was made from a certain kind of nylon that repelled water, so she had nothing to worry about in terms of modesty. The Bidoof sat beside her, staring at her critically, and Olivie looked at it. ”Give me a break. You weren't on the verge of fainting at all.” After shaking some droplets out of the Bidoof's Pokeball and wringing out her long hair, she tucked the critter under her arm and with tired eyes began to walk in the direction of the Pokemon Center, passing by the restaurant where Cici and Tommy sat and leaving behind a trail of water as she did. When she glanced at the two trainers, she made sure to don an annoyed expression as if to say 'just you try and make fun of me. You just saw I don't mess around'.

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

With their stomachs stuffed and their leftovers packed up to go, Leisy and Bidein were again trying to decide where to go.

”So, where to now?” Leisy asked the pokemon on her shoulder that was currently preening itself, content. ”The pokeblock store? We can make our own if you want,” Leisy suggested. Bidein chattered enthusiastically, which made Leisy grin as she set out.

”Okay so Rawst berries, right?” Leisy asked, frowning as she walked on. ”I think those berries also have some other function...” Leisy trailed off in thought before brightening. ”Wait, I can just ask the pokedex, right?”

Fishing the device out from her pocket, Leisy set about reading the culminated information on the Rawst berry. ”Blue in color, and it heals burns,” Leisy read aloud, completely focused on the device in her hands. ”And it’s bitter! Do you like bitter things?” the girl asked, looking up from her pokedex in surprise. Bidein gave a noncommittal shrug, almost as if to ask Yeah, and what’s wrong with that?

”Nothing,” Leisy laughed, walking on. A commotion around the rails up ahead stopped her laugh short, and she glanced over just fast enough to see a girl take a flying leap over the rails. ”Oh my god!” Leisy exclaimed, eyes widening as she ran over and peered over the rails. The girl was now in the water, her hands wrapped around a brown bundle of fur—her pokemon?

Did she leap off the railings to save her pokemon? Leisy wondered with wide eyes as she watched the girl. Wow. I wonder if she knew how deep the water is here? At least she can swim.

After the girl had climbed up the ladder at the side of the railings, glaring at the crowd, the gathered people quickly dispersed, frightened off by her glare. Leisy hesitated before approaching the girl who was now looking over her things.

”Do you need some help? The pokemon center nearby offers board with towels and everything, so you can clean up there,” Leisy offered. When the girl looked up with hostile eyes, Leisy backtracked. ”Of course only if you want—I can lead you there. I’m Leisy. Leisy Takigawa.”

---

@lugubrious

[Lugubrious]

Scarcely had Olivie started her trip to the Pokemon Center, which the directory informed her to be on a street south of here, than she found herself confronted by a younger teenaged girl asking if she needed help. When her gaze fell on her new acquaintance, the raven-haired trainer could not help but shy away. Olivie use the time to narrow her eyes, uplift one eyebrow, and examine Leisy closely. The disingenuous, she knew, hid their true motives and feelings behind facades of friendliness or respect, but one used to their tricks could always tell when they were hiding something. This girl, even after being deflected by Olivie's stern glare, exhibited no such signs. Could it be that the brunette had stumbled upon a wild altruist? Such a rare breed...

She closed her left and and almost closed her right, tilting her head away from Leisy as she shrugged. ”Whatever, since you're making such a fuss. I guess it would be faster than finding it myself.” In her arms, her Bidoof watched Bridein the Fletchling intently with its beady eyes. Ultimately Olivie followed its gaze, momentarily taken by the intense bright orange of the tiny robin's plumage. Her fingers moved through her own Pokemon's fur, scratching it. Now that she thought about it, she could definitely go for a meal herself. Do Pokemon Centers serve food? she mused. Probably not. First things first, though. Her mad dash to retrieve the Bidoof from the river originated mostly because she thought it was running away. Though she would never change her tough stance with her Pokemon, the notion of her first catch fleeing in dissatisfaction stung her immensely. In order to ensure that would never happen, even if she was hard on it in the future, she needed to cultivate a bond with the goofy beast now. For that, a rest-up and a meal would be just the ticket. At that moment, the sound of a belly rumbling softly emanated from the pair, though whether it came from the Bidoof or its trainer was difficult to tell. Stoicism dominated Olivie's features as she wiped water out of her eyes and said, ”Lead the way, kid. Name's Olivie. Don't wear it out.”

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

Leisy breathed out a silent sigh of relief when the girl accepted her help. The walk to the pokemon center was mostly silent. Leisy bit her lip, trying to find something to say, but Olivie seemed too engrossed in her thoughts to be bothered. Instead, Leisy watched Olivie’s Bidoof. The brown fluffy fur was a dead giveaway for the pokemon that often roamed into the city on accident, but it was mostly found near the rivershores throughout the city, playing in the water. Bidein, however, was suspicious of the Bidoof, feathers slightly fluffed up in agitation. Leisy shot him multiple looks to tell him to calm down.

When the two arrived at the pokemon center, Leisy rung the bell on the counter to get the attention of the secretary. ”Hi! Can we book two rooms overnight?” Leisy asked politely. The secretary typed a few things into her computer before looking back up with a smile.

“Sure thing. May I see your trainer identification on your pokedex?” the woman in the Poke Corp nurse uniform asked with a kind smile. Leisy and Olivie handed her their pokedexes, and the woman scanned them before returning them to the girls. “Here are the keys. Return them tomorrow morning at 10 am so we can bill you,” the nurse said, handing the girls two card keys. “Your rooms are in the back. Take a left and go up the stairs.”

Leisy turned to look at the brown-haired girl. “Do you want me to get you anything while you shower? Some food, supplies, or whatnot?”

---

@lugubrious

[Balthazar007]

Central City
City's Edge

Nick

Nick wandered down the path. His excitement hadn't faded one bit. His pace was still strong and his eyes were still wide. Hours upon hours passed in this manor. At one point or another, he had put away his Poke Ball. Reading Pokedex entries seemed to be all that he cared about.

He had emerged from the mountain side forests and made his way through the beautiful rolling fields. The sun was starting to fade as he finally reached the edge of the city. There were so many people and Pokemon to boot. It seemed as though most people were walking side by side with a Pokemon. Some people even sported utility belts, showing of a collection of Poke Balls.

Now it started to hit him. He had spent the entire day walking and hadn't decided on catching a single Pokemon. It was like college hunting all over again. What school would have the best program; what Pokemon would become the strongest? What was the reputation of each school; what Pokemon were known as the best? Which school had the best social atmosphere; which Pokemon would make the best friend? These questions and more haunted Nick's mind, slowing his pace to something more of a slumped stroll. Down the street he walked with both his Pokedex and Poke Ball hidden in his front pockets; both of which were covered carefully by his hands.

[LuckyBlackCat]

♪♫♪ Cecilia "Cici" Taylor ♪♫♪

Location: Central City

@Zarkun

"Amica, huh?" With a smile, Cici looked down at the Froakie. "Cute name." She gripped Tommy's hand with her roughened fingers, returning the handshake. "I'm Cici, and this is Forte," she said, gesturing towards the Whismur, who was still happily playing with the other Pokemon.

Without warning, the Whismur let out a laugh that was more of a screech. Gritting her teeth, Cici covered her ears again. "Uh... He can be louder than you'd expect, sometimes. Hence the name," she explained, taking her hands from her ears and rubbing the back of her neck. At the trainer's reaction, Forte went back to emitting his usual squeaks and murmurs.

The other trainer nearby, holding a Bidoof, clearly wasn't impressed. Glancing over, Cici caught her expression - one that looked like she'd found something disgusting on the sole of her shoe. "He's just playing," Cici said with an awkward smile. When the girl ignored her, Cici simply shrugged, turning back towards Tommy and the two Pokemon. Forte didn't seem bothered in the slightest, so there was no point in getting offended.

Her attention flicked towards the trumpet case on a chair at Tommy's side. "So... A fellow musician," she commented.

[Lugubrious]

The silence that settled over the girls as they walked was a thorough one, but it did not last long. Intent on feeding her newfound partner and perhaps getting a bite herself, as well as on changing out of her abysmally soaked black sports clothes, Olivie made haste. More than once she just about outpaced her guide, forcing Leisy to speed up herself if she wanted to remain ahead. As it slipped behind the horizon, the sun left in its place the dark vacuum of night, fraught with cold winds that made Olivie feel uncomfortably clammy. Unable to prevent herself from shivering, the brunette instead adopted an indignant expression to stave off any thoughts of weakness that might be gleaned from her appearance. The inside of the Pokemon Center, when she reached it, felt positively tropical.

Held back by a lack of any sort of knowledge pertaining to how the place worked, she elected to hang back and let Leisy do the talking. As such, she grit her teeth in frustration when the nincompoop told the receptionist to reserve her a room as well. Any rationalizations flew out the window when it came to this stranger's mistake, particularly when the receptionist's Pokedex-scanner came out. Silently Olivie fumed, though when the nurse came to take her Pokedex, her scowl couldn't contain her ire any longer. ”Uh, no,” she rounded on Leisy, making sure to select her most condescending nickname. ”What's your problem, hon? You see a Pokemon hurt and starving, and you wanna make me waste money on a hotel room when I live in this city? Get outta town. Look, nursie.” Glowering, she turned again to face the Poke Corp employee who, having very rarely dealt with a person of this temperament before, cringed. ”Just heal my buddy here, will ya? That's all I want!” Her Bidoof held between her hands, Olivie shoved it into the nurse's arms.

Flabbergasted, she couldn't offer any resistance and found herself holding a squirming rodent and being stared down by an angry trainer. “H-hey, wait!” she stammered. “I, uh, I need it's p-pokeball...” Uncomfortable, the Bidoof chattered its teeth menacingly.

Olivie, still seething, tossed it over. After giving a derisive look at Leisy, she took a few steps away, removed her fighting gloves, and began to unbutton her nylon coat. Not many patrons of the Pokemon Center were out and about at this time, but regardless a plethora of eyes flew Olivie's way as her sopping-wet, sleek black sports apparel became visible. Not even a smidgen of concern emanated from her; she merely shook out her coat, spraying water across the spotless white, and then put it back on. By the time her usual struggle to button the sky-blue jacket was done with, the nurse had returned to the front desk with a pokeball in hand. The sparks had yet to be extinguished in Olivie's eyes as she glanced at the ball before demanding, ”He in there?”

Still overwhelmed by this girl, the receptionist nodded her head. Olivie hmphed curtly and accepted the Pokeball. Immediately she opened it, and the Bidoof appeared on the floor with beady black eyes bright. He appeared to be in perfect condition, and upon seeing his trainer he released a happy sort of chittering sound. In that instant, Olivie smiled despite herself, but the next second both trainer and Pokemon regained their ordinary, fierce expressions. By this time the various eyes on Olivie had drifted away, and the girl in question planned to do the same—after she did what she wanted, of course. ”Hey!”

The nurse jumped.

”Where's the nearest place to get something to eat?”

Fittingly enough, there stood a Pokemon-themed fast food joint called Electrode Eater just beside the Pokemon center, which Olivie had seen on the way in. Nevertheless, the nurse graciously informed her, and without further ado the brunette spun on her heels to exit the Pokemon Center the way she came.

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

Leisy cringed as the brown-haired girl exploded at her, calling Leisy out for assuming too much. Opening her mouth, Leisy tried to explain that she’d just thought the girl would want a shower with towels and a place to relax and sleep, but she couldn’t deny the truth in the girl’s words.

I guess I really have been too sheltered, assuming that everyone has pocket change to spend, Leisy thought, dropping her eyes to the floor as the brunette made her exit. Leisy stood still for a few seconds, momentarily at a loss for what to do, and Bidein took this moment to coo and ruffle his feathers, almost as if comforting his trainer.

”Thanks, Dei,” Leisy told the Fletchling, using a finger to scratch the robin’s throat lightly in gratitude. ”So, what were we going to do together?” Leisy asked, cocking her head in thought before brightening. ”Berries, wasn’t it? We were going to buy some for the journey. Off we go then, Dei.”

Leisy returned the card key to the nurse, apologizing for the inconvenience before taking her leave. Exiting the Pokemon Center, Leisy decided to put her encounter with the brunette trainer behind her, reasoning that it wasn’t wise to dwell on something on the first day of her journey as a Pokemon trainer.

---

Cillian Weiss

Cillian yawned loudly, stretching as he lifted himself off the seat of the tram. He’d just arrived at Central City, one of the biggest cities in the region. It was also the place Cillian intended to start his journey as a pokemon trainer.

The first thing Cillian did after he got off the train was head to the Pokemart. The pokemart at his hometown had been a small, local store that didn’t offer the full selection of Poke Corp goods, and Cillian was excited to see the products he’d only read about on the internet.

Walking into the store, Cillian felt the cool blast of air conditioning breeze over him, a desirable change considering how hot it was outside. Grinning, the white-haired boy walked over to the shelf and set about perusing, scanning over labels and prices. Potions, status effect removers, survival gear, Cillian thought, looking over the multicolor rows of Poke Corp product. Where are the Pokeballs?

Looking to the front desk, Cillian realized that the capture capsules were easily the most valuable items in the store and therefore regulated more closely by the corporation. ”Can I get a Pokeball?” Cillian called to the clerk as he walked over, pulling out a light blue-on-white pokedex and turning it on to check his trainer point count. He knew from his research—a brief foray on the internet to learn as much as possible about life as a trainer—that all trainers started out with 5 trainer points. Just enough for a classic, red-and-white Pokeball—his second, actually, but Cillian thought it better to be prepared than not.

Waiting patiently as the clerk recorded his purchase, Cillian reviewed his plan inside his head. Buy a Pokeball, scout out the town, and head to the mountains, Cillian thought. And take a picture of the Poke Corp building.

Thanking the clerk, Cillian took his pokeball and pocketed the trusty device into his bag, whistling lightly as he exited the shop.

Here’s to the start of a good day, Cillian thought, grinning.

---

@balthazar007 Cillian bought a Pokeball

[Zarkun]

Tommy returned her handshake firmly before setting to munching on his sandwich once more, though it was short lived as Cici spoke again. "So... A fellow musician," she commented. Tommy smiled and nodded, patting the case.

"That I am. In fact, I'm putting on my last gig just up the street from here in about an hour. Maybe bring Forte by and see what he thinks of the trumpet?" He chuckled at the joke and leaned back, watching Amica play with the floating pink ball. He realized that the trip to the next place over was going to be decently long and, if he didn't find someone to travel with, lonely for both of them. Maybe another pokeball before I leave would be a good idea... He didn't dwell on it though, and decided a solution was right in front of him. "I'm actually heading to the next town over in the morning actually. Wanna come?"

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

Emerging from the produce store, Leisy zipped the plastic cartridge of Rawst berries up in her backpack, adjusting the straps as Bidein flew in a vague circular shape above her head while waiting for his perch to settle down.

”’Kay Dei,” Leisy said, patting her shoulder for the Fletchling. The robin swooped down from the air and landed on the girl’s shoulder with a awkward twirl. Leisy smiled sympathetically, reaching up with a gentle finger and running it along the length of the bird. ”Maybe you can sit on my head for a change?” Bidein gave his trainer an incredulous look, which made Leisy burst out laughing. ”Alright, alright, that was a bad idea.”

Pulling out her pokedex, Leisy switched to the map screen, examining the distance they’d covered in a day. ”Hm, not bad for an afternoon, but I’d like to get back out to the river,” Leisy admitted, looking at Bidein. ”I kinda have hopes of finding a water pokemon. They’re so pretty, and—oh! Thar reminds me,” Leisy said, pulling out her wallet from her backpack. ”I still need to buy a camera!”

Wallet in hand, Leisy marched to the tall Poke Corp building rising in the distance. If I can’t find a camera there, Leisy thought, I won’t find one anywhere.

---

Cillian Weiss

Cillian walked on between the trees, eyes darting left and right as his fingers danced along the side of the camera hanging around his neck, eyes ready for any movement that came his way.

People told me Pokemon are afraid of humans, Cillian thought, looking towards a bush to his left suspiciously, but no one ever told me they’d be invisible too.

Still, Cillian didn’t give up, deciding to switch gears instead. He’d spent the last hour looking for Pokemon, but he’d seen no success with that. Now, it was time to focus on the beauty, the pure aesthetic appeal of nature.

Walking along, Cillian snapped pictures of mundane things that would remind him of today—a footprint of a bird in a patch of dried mud, a broken branch to the side of a rock that indicated something’s passage, a feather that was dangling on a stray spiderweb. Spiderwebs mean spider Pokemon, Cillian thought, letting go of his camera to allow it to dangle from its strap around his neck. And spider Pokemon are a type of bug Pokemon. Bugs… Are not so aesthetically appealing.

Pursing his lips, Cillian hurried on through the forest. Walking on the well-trodden dirt path hadn’t even occurred to him—how could one hope to appreciate nature’s wonders on something created by humans?

[LuckyBlackCat]

♪♫♪ Cecilia "Cici" Taylor ♪♫♪

Location: Central City

@Zarkun

Cici smiled. "Yeah, I was planning on heading out anyway tomorrow." She'd imagined she'd travel with just Forte and maybe one or two other Pokemon for company, depending on how many Pokeballs she could afford by then. While she enjoyed socialising, she knew too well that friendships could easily drift apart... at least, friendships with humans. Pokemon, from what she'd heard, were much more loyal. One of the main reasons for her journey as a trainer. Still, at least this way she'd have someone to talk to as she explored the surrounding routes and towns.

She wondered what it would be like, discovering the rest of the region, catching new Pokemon, facing new challenges.

"And a gig? That's something we'd both enjoy," she continued, briefly glancing at the Whismur, who was still bouncing around, playing with his new friend. "He likes music. It's how we met. I was playing, earlier today, and he just came over." She lowered her voice slightly, leaning in. "I just hope he doesn't try singing along, though..."

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

The Poke Corp building was all sorts of big and fancy, being the tallest building in Central City. Every floor sold a different type of product, specializing in everything from Pokemon-inspired furniture to Pokedex upgrades. Leisy’s eyes couldn’t stop darting around the store as she walked up stairway after stairway, opting not to take the elevator this time around.

This is tiring, Leisy thought as she climbed up the stairway for the tenth—no eleventh—floor, but worth it. Who knew that you could buy a Pichu-themed backpack?

Electronic gadgets spanned the fourteenth through seventeenth floors, and Leisy found the camera section on the fifteenth floor. After another half-hour of indecisiveness, Leisy settled on a mid-tier camera built for travel—waterproof and “weatherproof,” as the packaging claimed. Her parents had wired Leisy her monthly allowance, of which the camera all but depleted.

Leisy spent another hour or so in the store, mostly reading descriptions of things she thought were interesting but would never consider buying, but some things—like the portable berry pots—Leisy bookmarked in her mind for a later time. Others, like the pokeball seals, Leisy just wanted to indulge in.

”What do you think about emerging in a cloud of smoke?” Leisy asked Bidein. The Fletchling closed his eyes and went back to sleep, which he’d taken initiative to do since his trainer stepped into the store.

Thus, Leisy’s second journey out of Central City started. Leisy hummed as she walked on the dirt path that led out of town, taking a left when she’d reached the place she’d first seen Bidein.

”Dei, do you remember this place?” Leisy asked the robin. Bidein chirped a yes, flying up to the branch where he’d sat before as he looked down at Leisy. Leisy grinned up at her pokemon, waving. ”Heya, Bidein. Wanna go on a journey?”

---

Cillian Weiss

Cillian resisted the urge to throw his arms up and just charge through the forest in frustration as he waited patiently, hiding in the bushes. He was currently waiting by the river for Pokemon to emerge from the flora to drink from the flowing water, but after around half an hour he was ready to give up.

Where are the pokemon? Cillian thought in frustration, fingers tapping a fast-paced rhythm onto his camera. He was used to waiting for a chance picture, but Cillian had been looking forward to a day of wonder and excitement, not a day of playing the waiting game with no one in particular.

After another few minutes, the white-haired boy finally gave up, walking over to a tree and slumping against it. A odd rustling noise above his head prompted Cillian to glance up, and he was horrified to see a large Combee hive above him, shrouded by leaves.

Cillian broke into a sprint, his camera bouncing up and down around his neck as he ran away from the nest of bug Pokemon. A swarm of buzzing behind him told him that the drones were not far behind, and Cillian sped up his speed, panicked. Crashing through bushes as he ran, Cillian looked wildly about for something to distract the Combee. He knew that the often-told tip of submerging yourself in water was a lie, but the Combee were close behind him.

A grassy field opened up in front of Cillian, but the boy didn’t pause to think before running across it, kicking the heavy grass out of his way as he did. This is it, Cilli, Cillian thought to himself as he ran, panting. We’re going to die early.

Suddenly, a flash of green burst up from the grasses to Cillian’s right. The noise of blades slicing air sounded behind Cillian, prompting him to run even faster. However, the fading hum of the Combee told him that the bee Pokemon had departed, so Cillian skidded to a stop at the edge of the grassy clearing. Looking back, Cillian saw a clear image of his rescuer: a bipedal, light green-armored Pokemon with scythes as limbs and cream-colored insect wings. A Scyther.

And then, just as quickly, the Pokemon was gone.

[Zarkun]

@LuckyBlackCat

Tommy laughed at the notion, imagining the little Whismur trying to sing with one of Tommy's jazz solos as the band played in the background. It was probably the only place with a set predetermined band that he played with, but he didn't mind. The extra sound had helped teach Tommy how to blend his own in with the others, even if he was the star, so to speak. "I think that would make for an interesting night for everyone." Finishing his sandwich, he called Amica over and asked if she was done with hers. She nodded and Tommy signaled a nearby shop attendant for a take home container. "Well, if you're up for it, follow me. The place is big on jazz though, fair warning. It's actually surprising as many teens hang out at it as there are."

Once he had packed away Amica's sandwich and called the Froakie over, and it should be noted she promptly took up position on his head, he lead the way up the street, already running through the solos he'd play tonight and a couple of full band sets that always got the crowd's attention. After a short walk, they reached a building with a neon sign that read The Jazzy Chatot. "I'll admit, the name's a bit cheesy, but the food's good and they pay good, so I can't complain."

[Lugubrious]

A brazen chime rang out as Olivie pulled open the door to Electrode Eatery. Not having expected such a noise from a restaurant, she paused for a moment, and dutifully her Bidoof sauntered right in. With a shrug the nineteen-year-old followed her Pokemon in. Immediately she became aware of the place's unique atmosphere. The warm yellow light, radiating from lamps and electronic braziers reminded her of bowling or pool halls she'd visited in the past, and just as it had then it gave off the impression of organic liveliness unmarred the manufactured feeling produced by glaring white ceiling lights. A decidedly wooden décor, combined with a frequent color scheme of red, white, and black, combined to produce an aura of vibrant maturity. Standing behind the front desk, the employee on staff fit the bill: a totally jacked, bronze-skinned hulk of a man in modified sailor's attire. He seemed to Olivie to be straight out of a comic book.

Right away the brawny dude noticed her, and he crossed his arms. “Welcome to Electrode Eatery, little miss!” he pronounced in an intense base. “We ain't your everyday diner. Li'l squirts get to snack in Pichu Park across the streak. So, trainer,”[/color] He leaned over the counter, staring Olivie in the eye. “How tough are ya?”

Tilting her head slightly, and pressing her knuckles against her chin in though, Olivie arrived at her answer. ”How tough am I? I work ten hours a day.”

A substantial harumph greeted this claim. “Yeah?” he scoffed. “So?”

Olivie tossed her hair. ”As a waitress in a family diner.”

Instantly the large fellow's eyebrows shot up. His hand slipped behind the counter and pressed a button. To his left, the waist-high gate into the restaurant proper flew open. “Right this way,” he told her, and Olivie strolled triumphantly through.

She walked ahead of her Bidoof, selecting a booth against the back wall. On the outside edge of the booth, there appeared to be a circular cushion on the floor. A button on the wall, according to its accompanying note, would raise the cushion for a small Pokemon to eat at table level. Though she only grunted, inwardly the brunette counted herself impressed that a fast food joint would go to such lengths to cater to Pokemon. When she pressed the button, the seat slowly ascended, and the Bidoof leaped on before it got too high. At this time of night, when the last traces of the sun had vanished and the pink-orange heavens drifted away into dreamland, Electrode Eatery was pretty much dead but still open. For that, Olivie counted herself lucky, as a waitress was on hand to supply a menu immediately. Without much hesitation, she placed an order for a cheeseburger, but found herself at an awkward loss when it came to getting something for her new friend. The waitress, a spectacles-wearing woman who introduced herself as a long-time Pokemon enthusiast and volunteer at Central City's local shelter, happily spilled her guts about the typical Bidoof diet. As it turned out, leafy greens would suit the little guy just fine, but the Eatery also happened to have some plant shoots left over from chopping up the next day's vegetables that could be added into the Bidoof's salad for only a small increase in price. Figuring a bond with her buddy to be worth it, Olivie agreed, her sour demeanor replaced by nothing more acerbic than succinctness. After all, when one worked in the food industry, one got to know very well just how badly the personnel had it; none of them needed an ornery customer to deal with. Very soon the food arrived, and together the pair chowed down.

The cheeseburger, prepared on the grill, was well-done and not very greasy. Somehow the store got away with using good cheese, which was more expensive than the cruddy generic cheese, and Olivie appreciated it immensely. Meanwhile, her Bidoof devoured his salad with aplomb. Since his little mouth could only fit so much at once, though, he still had about a fourth to go by the time Olivie was wiping the last trace of burger juice off her lip with the back of her hand. It struck her out of the blue that she had yet to give the Bidoof a name. At a loss, she took a close look at the creature from head to toe and before long the answer jumped out at her. ”Buck,” she said aloud, ”For your buckteeth. And 'cause you're a sturdy young buck. We're gonna go far, you and me.” Whether he understood or not, Buck chittered in response. Glad to be alone, Olivie let herself crack a small smile before she sipped her halfsweet tea.

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

Leisy walked along the bank of the stream, moving from one rock to the next in a little game with herself to see how long she could manage before having to touch the ground. Bidein flew overhead, enjoying the slight breeze that flowed through the trees and warded off the heat for a brief moment.

”Hey Dei, have you ever been to the mountains?” Leisy asked, hands held out to stabilize herself. The Fletchling flew down from the air, swirling a circle around his trainer. Leisy took that to mean a ‘no.’ ”Hm. We should go visit sometime then.”

Leisy skipped over a few more rocks, keeping up her precarious balance as she observed the water Pokemon in the stream out of the corner of her eye. It seemed that Pokemon had an innate sense of who posed a danger—the more you sought them out, the more wary of you they were. Leisy, now partnered with Bidein, seemed no longer pose a threat, and the Pokemon acted as if she weren’t there.

Every now and then, however, Leisy still noticed a shadow or two retreating into the bushes as she walked, but she didn’t let it bother her too much. What Pokemon wouldn’t have the common sense to retreat as a human passes by?

Up ahead, a squawk of alarm sounded, and Leisy saw a blue, white-faced bird Pokemon being chased by a black-and-blue striped lobster Pokemon that was shooting jets of water at the fleeing Pokemon. Without thinking, Leisy ran in front of the bird Pokemon, putting her hands out at each side to shield her from the aggressive Pokemon that was rapidly approaching.

”Dei!” Leisy called. The Fletchling dropped from the sky and hovered in front of his trainer, eyes sharp and trained on the aggressive and now quite angry lobster Pokemon.

---

Cillian Weiss

”Wait!” Cillian called out instinctively, sprinting back to the middle of the clearing. He looked about wildly for an indication as to where his mysterious Pokemon rescuer had gone, but to no avail. Cursing silently as he raked a hand through his hair in frustration, Cillian glared at the trees lining the field as if to demand that they produce the Scyther that had driven off the Combee.

I didn’t get a picture, a good look at the Pokemon, or a chance to thank him, Cillian thought angrily, sighing as he let the emotion wash off him. It was his own fault in a way—the fact that no Pokemon had come out while he’d been hiding out in the bushes should have told him that there was something wrong with the location. His own ignorance had lost him the chance of properly observing a very amazing Pokemon.

Scyther had a reputation of being honorable and proud Pokemon, and Cillian’s foolishness and wonderful display of cowardice probably warded the Pokemon off for good. For the first time, Cillian realized that he actually wanted to see a bug Pokemon a second time. But this one saved my life, Cillian argued with himself. This one’s not like the others, all legs and chitin for brains.

After fixing his cap and the straps of his backpack, Cillian set off again, mind lost in the mountains now. He’d read about rumours of the Pokemon in the ranges around Central City—fire pokemon, they all claimed, and Cillian was dying to see a wild embodiment of flame for himself. His hometown had been small and surrounded by forest—less than the ideal place to find anything other than the average bird and bug Pokemon that could usually be found around any semi-urban environment.

I’ll get stronger, Cillian decided, feet steadily carrying him towards the mountains. I’ll catch a fire Pokemon and prove to that Scyther that I’m not a coward.

[LuckyBlackCat]

♪♫♪ Cecilia "Cici" Taylor ♪♫♪

Location: Central City

@Zarkun

Cici looked down at herself. Scruffy hair hanging in wild tangles over her shoulders, faded baggy jeans, scraped-up boots. She laughed. "I may be a little out of place in there," she said, but followed Tommy towards the building anyway. Even though jazz wasn't the kind of music she usually listened to, it was always good to learn more about different genres.

She'd taken out the second half of her sandwich, and along the way, she munched on it, looking up at the neon sign. The name reminded her that a Chatot was a priority on her list of Pokemon to catch, once she reached the skill level to do so.

Lost in her daydreams about future possibilities, she didn't notice the ball of blue and white fluffy feathers zooming towards her until she felt it tug what was left of the sandwich from her hand. "Hey!" She turned her head to see the Swablu land on a brick wall outside the building. As soon as it spotted her looking in its direction, it let the sandwich fall from its beak on to the ground. Despite being surrounded by crumbs, which it wiped away with its wings, it gave her the most innocent look it could.

Forte bounced over to the Swablu, scolding it, though doing so in mutters. The wild Pokemon, still trying to be the picture of innocence, gave a soft, sweet chirrup and fluttered into the air. Cici couldn't help but chuckle as it settled on her head. "So my hair looks that much like a nest, huh?" she said, reaching up and petting the Pokemon. It was like patting a ball of cotton. She knew the Swablu was deliberately putting on the cute act, but it was working. She just couldn't stay annoyed at it.

[Typical]

Leisy Takigawa

The blue-and-black striped Pokemon clacked its pincers, angry that its prey had been stolen away. Bidein let out a few warning squawks at the lobster, but it showed no sign that it was going to back down.

”Bidein!” Leisy shouted, pointing to the crawfish. She paused. Do what? What was she going to tell her pokemon to do?

The attacking Pokemon didn’t hesitate for long, and he took advantage of Leisy’s hesitance to launch a few shots of water at the Fletchling. Bidein easily swerved out of the way of the water, glancing at his trainer for guidance. Realizing that she wasn’t sure as to what to do, he decided to just continue stalling so she could figure it out.

Leisy realized that her hesitation was her greatest weakness right now, and decided to just go with what her gut told her. ”Dei! Scratch!” The robin obeyed, dripping of the sky to let his claws rake across the crawfish’s carapace. The attack didn’t faze the armored Pokemon who recovered fast enough to land a beam of water on Bidein, drenching a wing.

In the time it’d taken for the Fletchling to perform the attack, Leisy had pulled out her Pokedex to scan the enemy Pokemon. Clauncher, the Pokedex informed her. Scanning over the facts and details inside the archive, Leisy quickly formulated a plan of attack.

”Bidein! Agility and then quick attack!” Leisy called to her Pokemon. Bidein followed suit, accelerating before dropping down and ramming the Clauncher with a wing. In the process, Bidein was able to throw off most of the water on his wing, speeding up the drying process and enabling him to better dodge the enemy Pokemon’s blasts of water. ”Good job, Dei!” Leisy called. ”Now peck!”

The dance of quick attack and water gun continued until the Clauncher made an annoyed clicking sound, opening and closing its pincers in rapid succession. Feinting another water gun, the attacking Pokemon instead released a series of fast-moving bubbles that popped in explosive bursts. Leisy had overlooked the possibility if a bubblebeam, and Bidein was paying for it.

”Bidein!” Leisy shouted, eyes wide as the Fletchling plummeted from the sky.

---

Cillian Weiss

The mountains were slightly different from the forest in that although Cillian caught sight of Pokemon, they moved too fast and hid too quickly for the photographer to get a good look at them.

I think I just missed a Growlithe, Cillian thought, groaning internally as he let his camera dangle on its strap again. Night had fallen, and he still wasn’t even close to finding a Pokemon. First day as a trainer is a total blowout.

Cillian found a little niche between a boulder and a shrub and decided to make camp. He set up his tent and went scavenging for kindling for a fire, eventually finding some satisfactorily dry branches under the shrubs. It was at this point Cillian realized that he had neglected to pack matches.

”Damn it,” the boy breathed, annoyed. He plopped down at the base of his tent and spooned cold soup into his mouth before lying down to sleep.

Tomorrow better be better than today, he thought as he drifted off into sleep.

[Zarkun]

@LuckyBlackCat

Tommy chuckled at the pair as the Swablu pretended to be totally innocent of swiping Cici's sandwich. Checking his watch, he gets her attention. "Hey, I gotta head in and start warming up and getting the band their sheet music. When you come in tell 'em you're here with me and you'll get a nice discount on food." After getting her response, he turns and heads down the stairs under the sign, opening the door and slipping in. He was created by the familiar sound of the band already doing their nightly entertainment with a couple of smooth jazz songs and he could hear the conversation.

It was a place that Tommy was going to miss a lot when he left, but he'd be back soon enough, if he was lucky. Heading over to the counter, he lets the owner know he's there before heading into the back warm up room. Amica, in the mean time, is listening to the sound of the music with interest and once Tommy closes the door to the warm up room, hops down off his shoulder to wait for her trainer to be done for the night. After a couple of scales and his personal favorite warm up solo, he slips out and puts Amica in a booth that was also saved for Cici and Forte. "Get her attention when she walks in, makes sure she gets this seat, alright?" Amica smiles and salutes.

"Froakie!" Tommy smiles and rubs his Froakie's head lovingly. He was beginning to wonder why he'd waited to start on his journey if he could have a partner like Amica. Getting back on the stage, he handed the band their sheet music before starting them off on one of the songs.