Menhir

Pokemon: Coming of Age

"My name is Damian Grant, I am from-"

"-Okay, wait, no, hold the phone.", Malie interrupted. She took a second to center herself as he continued talking, persumably not having heard her. She flipped down her sunglasses and waited for Sweatervest to get himself settled in.

"...Mind if I catch your name?"

Why are you casually asking my name after accusing me of a crime? Actually, what crime are you even accusing me of? Grand Theft My Own Drink?, Malie wondered. He was definitely some kind of spastic; their earlier "conversation" in the meeting room had made that abundantly clear. How did you deal with these people, again..?

"Oh, well, uh, ya see... My, er, mom told me never to, y'know, give my name to...", Malie squinted behind her sunglasses, trying to find the least offensive way to say 'crazy people', "...the charismatically challenged.", she finished.

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Malie waved goodbye to Team Blue (how boring!) and did an about-face as soon as they were out of eyeshot, snatching the beer out of Sweatervest's hand as she stepped past him onto the boat. Popping the top with a quiet hiss, she took her first sip and immediately spat it out into the open water. She looked back at Sweatervest who, for his part, seemed to be mostly staring at the canal like he was scared of it or something.

"Dude, gross! This stuff's all, like, warm and junk. Gotta get your head in the game, man, nobody's gonna want a warm cold one. That's why we call 'em cold ones, you catch me?"

She waved the can for emphasis as she sat down on one of the boat's padded benches, setting her Slakoth down next to her

"Dunno why you even took it if you didn't even want it, dude. That kinda thing oughta be a crime."

Malie took another from her can in spite of what she was saying. It was still practically a crime, yes, but not a crime worthy of actually wasting her nonspecific canned beverage.

"Anyway, man, Team Alpha Sapphire ain't gonna last if nobody has respect for each other, ya dig? So you gotta, like, quit stealin' people's drinks all the time and maybe tell me your name because I... I don't actually, uh, know who you are."

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Sweatervest slammed the door behind him and stormed off in a huff. Malie wasn't sure what his deal was, but obviously the guy had some serious personal issues.

"...If you wanted a drink, you coulda' just asked for one...", she grumbled, confused and a little irked by Sweatervest's petty attitude and totally baseless aggression. She could too possible passup this offer, thank you very much. She flicked her wrist to close the cover of her pokedex. Just as she was about to shove it back in her pocket, however, it buzzed again. With a sigh, she flipped it back open and tapped the read button, pulling up a short message urging her to leave for the boat. She didn't know this place even had a dock, much less it's own boat. Why didn't they just use ride pokemon like everyone else?

With a heave of effort, Malie pulled herself upwards into a comfortable slouch, tucking her Slakoth under one arm as if it were some kind of adorable braindead gym kit. Presumably the other two members of Team Silver (tentative) had already found the place after ditching her, but Malie never had the greatest confidence with directions. Alola's architecture was, as a rule, entirely linear, and she liked it that way.

She shuffled over to the room two and poked her head in through the doorway, craning her neck upwards to look at some four-eyes standing in front.

"Hey, I'm from Team Heart Gold. You guys wouldn't, like... Y'know, know where I'd find a boat..?"

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Malie herself up on one elbow and pulled out her buzzing pokedex, flipping the cover off and reading through the message as the sweatervest kid got mad about something.

"I dunno what your problem is, but I don't wanna fight nobody, 'kay? More importantly-", she started in her same dull monotone, turning her pokedex's screen to face the other two trainers and sort of limply shaking it in an attempt to show outrage, "-what the actual heck is this 'sposed to be? I joined this thing to get away from work, not fight career criminals. I totally feel like we're getting scammed! And this team name..."

Malie pushed herself up into what could generously be called a sitting position, as if to add emphasis. Slakoth tumbled down her stomach and came to a rest splayed out, upside-down against her thighs.

"...Like, seriously? 'Team Red'? That name is *distinctly* lacking in zazz. It is, in fact, a gaping abyss, utterly devoid of all zazz. If we're gonna be working our butts off I wanna be, like, Team Fire Red at least. Or Team Omega Ruby. Unno."

She cocked her head to make eye contact with Lance.

"Hey Lucian, we need a cool, ultra-zazzy name, pronto. You should, uh, do something about it. And maybe toss me a cold one, cuz I'm totally parched."

Welch (underworld debt collectors)

"Mm, yes. Woof woof indeed, hound.", Mr. Slake muttered with undisguised contempt as he placed his business card back into his breast pocket, "I suppose for all the heavenly host's gifts, a little class isn't among them."

Slouching a little, he leaned back with his upper elbows against the podium and looked up at the gaping void above them, flawless pillars rising into the aether, their tips obscured by slate-grey fog. He let out a long, shuddering sigh, regretting his transfer already. Sure, maybe he had lied about his credentials a tiny bit, owed a few minor favors, been on the wrong end of an audit or two, but this was Hell! Everyone was a scumbag, he was just better at making a career of it.

"...So-", he started, taking stock of his new coworkers. "-is this normal for you lot? Getting ditched in the middle of the interview, I mean."

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Elekid had made a serious tactical blunder in joining his trainer's antics, one which became evident a few seconds later when Slakoth whipped around at lightning speed and slapped it into the wall with a heavy thump. Malie gave a muffled "I'm up, I'm up..." as she rolled face-up in response to the motion.

"Eyy~", she said, squinting and making finger gun gestures at the sweatervest kid and the intense-looking salaryman, her Slakoth already beginning to curl back up atop her exposed belly.

"How you doin, whatsyerface one and two? Don't bother gettin' up or anything, cuz I'm sure not."

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Malie glided her through the not-quite-angry-but-definitely-a-little-upset mob of Magnuses and Tims who had very much not recieved their admittance letter and were here to complain. Were Malie a more critical person, she'd have questioned how such an oversight was even possible considering this was, ostensibly, the biggest annual event in the entire Kanto region after the League finals. It was almost like this event had been organized by someone who didn't understand naming conventions or the importance of a home address. Malie, however, was in, and these people were not. That was all that really mattered in the end, right?

Nonchalantly parting the crowd, she emerged at the front gate before stopping and searching her pockets. Trainer passport, check. Letter of admission, also check. She flashed both to the security guard, who waved her through. Strolling into the lobby, she took stock of her surroundings as she approached the front desk.

"Hello, ma'am! Welcome to the Oak Institute, may I help you with anything?"

Malie continued staring at the vaulted ceiling. Was that Ferric-styled?

"Ma'am?"

"...Too harsh.", Malie mumbled, not bothering to make eye contact.

"I'm sorry?"

"There's no natural lighting in here, and the couches are only two seats wide and slanted towards the backboard...", Malie absentmindedly fingered the strap of her Slakoth-themed backpack, "...I wouldn't sleep here in a million years."

There was a brief pause as the receptionist regained her bearings.

"Ma'am, this is a waiting room. It's not the place for taking a nap."

"You can say that again. The decor here is really harshing my mellow. I think maybe if you repainted in a soft green it'd-"

"-Ma'am, are you here for the OI trainer program?", the receptionist interrupted through gritted teeth.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess I am. Malie Makana, from Alola."

"Thank you. Take the right corridor and you'll reach the orientation room."

Malie shuffled down the hallway with a yawn, eventually finding a room with a bunch of empty seats and some four-eyes who looked like he spent most of his time handing out six-packs of pokeballs. He cleared his throat, surreptitiously checking an electronic notepad.

"Hello there, and welcome to the world of Pokemon! My name is Professor Sumac, but people call me the Pokemon Professor! As I'm sure you know, this world is inhabited by-"

"-Cool, so I just grab these?", Malie said as she proceeded to ignore Professor Sumac and rummage through the boxes.

"I'm supposed to give those out, miss."

"...'Scool. Self service is the way of the future."

"Don't you... You know, want a Pokemon?"

"Oh, I brought my own."

Malie grabbed her bag and pulled upwards, revealing the Slakoth-themed backpack to be an actual, living Slakoth clinging to a regular bag. Of course, it moved so little you could hardly tell it apart from a stuffed toy.

Professor Sumac pinched his nose, sighed, and made a shooing motion towards the exit.

"Just- just pick a door, okay?"

"Cool."

Malie opened the door to Room 1, tripped on the threshold, and fell facefirst into the shag carpeting. She should probably have gotten up right away, but it was just so soft... Without a greeting or even acknowledgement of others in the same room, Malie and her pokemon quietly fell asleep.

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Malie

Bio

Name
Malie Makana

Age
18

Height And Weight
~5'0", Secret

Gender
Girl

Hometown
Hau'oli City

Sexuality
Bedsexual

Personality
Malie is prodigiously lazy and shuns labor like a vampire shuns sunlight. Her dedication to sloth is so refined that she will work with furious precision and intensity in order to ensure nothing infringes on her naptime. She dislikes battling and always puts forth an absolute minimum of effort in her tactics, ascribing to an easygoing philosophy that doesn't put emphasis on winning as much as minimizing damage.

Likes
-Naps: There's nothing like a good three hour nap to cool off after a long intense day of doing nothing, and Malie's pokemon agree.
-Regional foods: Poffins, Malasada, and the elusive Rage Candy Bar are all regular favorites; it's rare she's seen without something to snack on.
-Dancing: Malie is trained in over twenty styles of dance including, but not limited to: The tango, the hula, and the truffle shuffle.

Dislikes
-General effort: Getting out of bed is just so intense.
-Cold climates: Because Malie's cold-weather wardrobe isn't comfy enough to ensure maximum naptime.
-Alarm clocks: Anything that prevents Malie from sleeping her full fourteen hours is satan incarnate.

History
Malie is a member of one of Akala Island's most established families, reputed for their skill in pokemon battling and generally being pillars of the community. When she started her trial at 11 years old, as is tradition in her home region of Alola, people thought it'd be natural that she would inherit the Captain position from her cousin, who was himself the youngest of his generation at the time. Malie, however, had other plans.

Captains only retain their rank until the age of twenty, so she could dodge it by simply taking an obnoxiously long time to complete her trial. Sadly for Malie, she proved a bit too skilled and finished her trial ahead of schedule entirely by accident. In a blind panic, she tried loaning out her team to friends in hopes of disqualifying herself from the position, but it didn't take. All seemed lost when she recieved a notification from the OI project that her ballot had been drawn, granting her the chance to have a second pokemon journey with a bunch of societal rejects who had never managed to have their own prior to now. She set to packing her bags immediately, with one thought on her mind:

If I stall this vacation out to two years, I won't have to pull Captain duty!

Trainer Bio

Experience
Has run the gamut as far as the Alolan trials are concerned. Had a full team, but they're all tied up at the moment overseas.

Favorite Pokemon Types
Psychic, Normal

Reason For Adventuring
Malie was slated to take over her cousin's job as captain when she got a letter informing her that she had been selected for the OI Project. In hopes of ducking her duties by aging out, she jumped at the chance for a free vacation.

Pokemon

Party

Picture	Description
	Name: Slakoth Gender: Male Type: Normal Personality: Laid-back, narcoleptic Moveset: Amnesia | Slack Off | Feint Attack | Encore
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing

BOX

- N/A
- N/A
- N/A

Misc.
Dibs:
Snorlax
Slowpoke
Musharna
Comfey
Gumshoos

Themes
-Character Theme: "How about a contest..?"
-Battle Theme: "We can stop any time you like..."
-Boss Theme: "I was taking... A nap!"

Pokemon: Coming of Age

@CaptainSully
You didn't say anything about two-stage starters being restricted in the rules, though? Just that three-stages were automatically acceptable.
Well, anyway, just switch Slakoth out for Slowpoke on my dibs list and we should be fine, friend.

Pokemon: Coming of Age

Malie

Malie

Bio

Name
Malie Makana

Age
18

Height And Weight
~5'0", Secret

Gender
Girl

Hometown
Hau'oli City

Sexuality
Bedsexual

Personality
Malie is prodigiously lazy and shuns labor like a vampire shuns sunlight. Her dedication to sloth is so refined that she will work with furious precision and intensity in order to ensure nothing infringes on her naptime. She dislikes battling and always puts forth an absolute minimum of effort in her tactics, ascribing to an easygoing philosophy that doesn't put emphasis on winning as much as minimizing damage.

Likes
-Naps: There's nothing like a good three hour nap to cool off after a long intense day of doing nothing, and Malie's pokemon agree.
-Regional foods: Poffins, Malasada, and the elusive Rage Candy Bar are all regular favorites; it's rare she's seen without something to snack on.
-Dancing: Malie is trained in over twenty styles of dance including, but not limited to: The tango, the hula, and the truffle shuffle.

Dislikes
-General effort: Getting out of bed is just so intense.
-Cold climates: Because Malie's cold-weather wardrobe isn't comfy enough to ensure maximum naptime.
-Alarm clocks: Anything that prevents Malie from sleeping her full fourteen hours is satan incarnate.

History
Malie is a member of one of Akala Island's most established families, reputed for their skill in pokemon battling and generally being pillars of the community. When she started her trial at 11 years old, as is tradition in her home region of Alola, people thought it'd be natural that she would inherit the Captain position from her cousin, who was himself the youngest of his generation at the time. Malie, however, had other plans.

Captains only retain their rank until the age of twenty, so she could dodge it by simply taking an obnoxiously long time to complete her trial. Sadly for Malie, she proved a bit too skilled and finished her trial ahead of schedule entirely by accident. In a blind panic, she tried loaning out her team to friends in hopes of disqualifying herself from the position, but it didn't take. All seemed lost when she recieved a notification from the OI project that her ballot had been drawn, granting her the chance to have a second pokemon journey with a bunch of societal rejects who had never managed to have their own prior to now. She set to packing her bags immediately, with one thought on her mind:

If I stall this vacation out to two years, I won't have to pull Captain duty!

Trainer Bio

Experience
Has run the gamut as far as the Alolan trials are concerned. Had a full team, but they're all tied up at the moment overseas.

Favorite Pokemon Types
Psychic, Normal

Reason For Adventuring
Malie was slated to take over her cousin's job as captain when she got a letter informing her that she had been selected for the OI Project. In hopes of ducking her duties by aging out, she jumped at the chance for a free vacation.

Pokemon

Party

Picture	Description
	Name: Slakoth Gender: Male Type: Normal Personality: Laid-back, narcoleptic Moveset: Amnesia | Slack Off | Feint Attack | Encore
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing
???	Name: N/A Gender: N/A Type: N/A Personality: N/A Moveset: Nothing | Nothing | Nothing | Nothing

BOX

- N/A
- N/A
- N/A

Misc.

Themes
-Character Theme: "How about a contest..?"
-Battle Theme: "We can stop any time you like..."
-Boss Theme: "I was taking... A nap!"