[center][h1][color=orchid]Sophia Danvers[/color] and [color=chocolate]Amber Pine[/color][/h1]
[h3]En route to Mesalon Gym[/h3][/center]
[@Zanavy] [@Typical] [@Noxx] [@ItMeGritty]

When Aedre asked about Sophia, Amber leaned in and whispered back. [color=chocolate]"Well she seems like she wants people to watch, but let's give her some space."[/color] Every battle was a learning curve, and the more experience Sophia had, the better her chances were. Still, bearing in mind the cracks in the other trainer's porcelain doll facade, Amber stayed behind, letting her walk ahead. Too much encouragement could be misread as pressure.

Looking over as Nyxx approached the group, Amber smiled, her expression turning strained as she tried to shrug off the morbid joke. [color=chocolate]"Hey again."[/color] Her eyes widened at the gleam of a badge. [color=chocolate]"Congratulations! Let's think about it this way, the more challenges we get through by choice like this, the more prepared we'll be for any unexpected ones."[/color] She could only hope this would be the case.

Sophia, to say the least, was rather less impressed. She stopped in her tracks, open-mouthed, staring in utter shock at the badge. [color=orchid]"Wha...? But..."[/color] she sputtered when she could bring herself to speak. [color=orchid]"How? Just freaking how? What happened to having to work for success?!"[/color] All her efforts, and a total slacker had somehow managed to get a badge first? It was some kind of fluke, it had to be. [color=orchid]"Hmph... Well you've had your moment to shine. Now watch as I take my turn."[/color] Despite Lacey placing her hand on her leg, presumably urging her to calm down, Sophia marched forward, ponytails swishing as she sped up her pace.

[color=chocolate]"Sophia!"[/color] Amber called, but there was no getting through to her. Hopefully she wouldn't be too rash about this. Shaking her head, Amber turned to the others, engrossed in conversation about their Pokemon. [color=chocolate]"I agree, training Pokemon seems to be the best way to learn about them, especially their battle techniques."[/color] She smiled over at Ty. [color=chocolate]"I'm Amber, and yes I'm a researcher too. The geography and technological progress of Kosei means a lot of fossils to find and revive. When you think about it, fossil Pokemon and Ghost types have a lot in common. They're both relics of the past, and can provide insight into it."[/color]

She gave Chalcedony and Larimar a fond glance before continuing. [color=chocolate]"Although it isn't just fossil Pokemon I'm studying. It's Pokemon in general, and the many forms of potential that can be brought out. Like the skill you're helping your Scyther build."[/color]

The gym came into view, a place to put said potential to the test. Amber's stomach tightened with nerves, not just at the thought of the league challenge, but at the greater, more dangerous ones she'd mentioned earlier. It would be reassuring, she reminded herself, to track progress. To be able to prove to her family that she could cope with any further bumps in the road. [color=chocolate]"Well, I'm sticking to my original plan,"[/color] she replied to Aedre, [color=chocolate]"and Ty, I take it you're going to go for it too?"[/color]

In any case, it was clear who'd try first.

The monastery may have been a haven of calm and humility, but Sophia strutted in like a celebrity down a red carpet. She raised an eyebrow at a woman in front of her, a trenchcoat-clad, purple-haired trainer who tried - and in her opinion, failed - to put on a flair for the dramatic. Clearly only one person here could pull that off. Rolling her eyes as the woman yelled about glory, Sophia strode in front of her, tilting her head and putting her hands on her hips.

[color=orchid]"And just who the hell are you?"[/color]

[hider=Notes (Sophia)]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Gothita "Lacey" lv14, Purrloin "Grimalkin" lv13, Staryu "Arcturus" lv13, Darumaka "Lumas" lv11, Shuppet "Fantoccino" lv11, Bronzor "Clarus" lv11
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x1, TM33 (Reflect), Oran Berry x3[/hider]
[hider=Notes (Amber)]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Kabuto "Chalcedony" lv11, Yanma "Aeshna" lv9, Rockruff "Kyra" lv13, Rowlet "Tacita" lv11, Anorith "Larimar" lv13, Sableye "Almandine" lv12
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x1, Potion x2, Dusk Ball x1[/hider]