[centre] [h3][b][u][color=coral] Gwen King: Elm’s Lab :Confrontation[/color][/u][/b][/h3] The Nidoran was...quite a bit friendlier than she was expecting, really. She had heard of most pokemon simply flying into fits of rage. She had even seen it in some of the local pests but...well this little dude was the picture of serenity. ...or it was just stupid. [color=662d91]“I’m so sorry. I have no idea what he was trying to do. He didn’t hurt anything did he?”[/color] Huh. So she COULD speak without being a hostile little bitch. Well imagine that. Gwen shook her head and regarded the chick with her lazy smile. She was fine. Though Abigail wasn’t asking about her, but they never did. It was the leg. Always. Honestly, the damn thing was a bit tougher than people tended to think. That leg was made of pure Unovian engineering. It would take a bit more than a poisonous rat to break it. Maybe two or three. Four tops. [color=coral]“Nah. Nah, he’s fine. Little dude was just curious, s’all.”[/color] She glanced down at the rat for a moment before continuing, [color=coral]“...maybe a bit hungry? I dunno.”[/color] [color=ec008c]“Oh, hello Abigail.”[/color] Gwen began to turn to acknowledged the voice, but something cut across her view quickly. Following it, she found...a bird sitting on Abigail’s shoulder. The Natu. Was it too much to ask for the bird to leave a hot steaming pile of humility on her shoulder? [color=ec008c]“I suppose I should introduce the two of you. Abigail, this is Gwen. Gwen, Abigail.”[/color] Gwen gave the lavender lass a nod, but didn’t add anything else. Honestly, she didn’t quite like the vibe she was getting from this chick. Too...ah, hell, call a duck a duck, yeah? She seemed like a stuck up bitch. But whatever. An elderly voice cut the slight tension. [b]“Alright, since everyone has their pokemon, I think it’s time all of you got going. It’s already past noon! It would be better if you could go ahead and get at least halfway to Cherrygrove before dark.”[/b] Completely disregarding Abigail and Cerise for a moment, Gwen finally managed to make eye contact with Avery. Some of the other trainers were making for the exit like Elm suggested but...he was just standing there. What the actual fuck was going on? Yuu spoke up. Again. For the umpteenth time. Gwen didn’t quite catch it. It was directed to Elm, it seemed, so she didn’t rightly give a fuck. Instead, she crossed over to Avery. He seemed a bit nervous and tried to look away, but he didn’t move. Fucking moron probably forgot how legs worked. When most of the people had cleared out, she finally turned to him. [color=coral]“Yo. You coming or what, dude?”[/color] Gwen crossed her arms and looked up at the impossibly large guy that she had known as a brother. Avery sort of hunched down, and rubbed the back of his neck. Despite their rather drastic height difference, it was as if Avery were looking up at a towering Gwen. [color=orange]“Uhh…”[/color] he began, but faded off. He had a far off look in his eyes. Gwen frowned. She knew were this was going, and she did not like it. [color=coral]“Un-fuckin-believable...you’re not going. The fuck d’ya lie to me?”[/color] she clenched her fist. She REALLY did not like being mislead, lied to, or otherwise had. That was her job. [color=orange]“I uh…”[/color] Avery seemed very uncomfortable. He obviously didn’t want to answer, but she wasn’t letting up. [color=coral]“DUDE! You even packed. Wha, ya gettin’ cold feet or sumthin’? Stop fuckin’ around and let’s go.”[/color] She was getting agitated now. Stop beating around the damn bush already. [color=orange]“I can’t.”[/color] Gwen grinded her teeth a bit. It was like pulling teeth with him sometimes. [color=coral]“Whaddya mean ya can’t?! Sure ya can! Just grab a ball, put one foot in front of the other, and we’re outta here.”[/color] [color=orange]“No, I mean...uhh...I didn’t get a license.”[/color] ... That one floored her. She wasn’t expecting that. Why didn’t get get a license? He passed the tests and shit (thanks in no small part to her), and did just about everything she did. It couldn’t be physical either...for fuck’s sake, SHE passed, and she had twenty-five percent less limbs than he. [color=coral]“Didn’t get a - how? I know you passed the test. You…”[/color] [color=orange]“I forgot to put the form in the envelope when I mailed it.”[/color] … This fuckin’ guy. Completely fucks over himself because he forgot to stick a piece of paper inside another goddamn piece of paper. And...what, did he still mail the damn thing? ...this idiot actually mailed an empty envelope. He really fucked himself over. And her too. Now what was she going to do? No, she was still going. She wasn’t about to sit around twiddling her thumbs waiting on this asshat. But she did LIKE having this asshat around. He didn’t talk much and made for a great packmule. … Oh fuck… She was going to have to talk to those other asshats… Gwen’s hand went up to her head and she lightly pressed on her temples. This guy was the cause of more of her headaches than just about anything else. Part of her wanted to just give him an earful. He had done some pretty stupid things but this…c’mon… Before she spoke, Avery took his chance. [color=orange]“But I’m going to work in the lab until I can try again. It’s gonna be fun. Professor’s going to let me be the first to taste that egg over there. Or, well, he never said that I COULDN’T be. And I’ll get to play with the other Pokemon until they leave. It’ll be fun.”[/color] … Gwen sighed. She threw her hands behind her head and Avery’s shoulders relaxed in response. [color=coral]“Guess that just means I get a head start. You BETTER get that shit in for next time though. If I become the Champion before you even get your first pokemon, I’m banning you from them altogether”[/color] she said playfully. Avery, being Avery, missed the banter, and his eyes grew wide with fear. [color=orange]“You wouldn’t do that...would you?”[/color] Mischief flashed on Gwen’s face. [color=coral]“Maybe. Guess we’ll find out?”[/color] And with that, she turned to leave. She heard Avery start to say goodbye. She spun around, raised her hand, and cut him off. [color=coral]“Ehh-ehh-ehh, none of that goodbye bullshit. No farewells, no later days, and certainly no goodbyes. We’re gonna see each other again soon. After all, you lied to me, and I can’t have that. Now, I might not feel like it at the moment, but I’m still gonna have to kick your ass. Got it?”[/color] Avery’s face was all scrunched up and...fuck, the dude was crying. But he still nodded. Gwen quickly turned around and left the blubbering giant. She entered the lobby and grabbed her things, not looking back. It was time to get this show on the road. So she left. ... Her face felt weird. Odd… Gwen wiped her face with her arm. It was wet? Weird... When did it start raining in Elm’s Lab? [hr] [h3][b][u][color=BlueViolet]Tetsuya Nishimura: Route 46 :The Trail Goes Cold[/color][/u][/b][/h3] [color=gold]“Never gonna happen.”[/color] [color=PowderBlue]“Aww, c’mon, Delaney. Live a little~”[/color] [color=Gray]“Swing and a miss.”[/color] [color=PowderBlue]“Hush it, Gramps.[/color] From behind a veil of smoke, Detective Tetsuya Nishimura watched his colleagues banter. He barely followed what they were talking about, instead worrying more about why they were here in the middle of nowhere. Route 46...they were approaching the entrance to a cave that would open up onto Route 45 and after going through another tunnel, would put one at the foothills of Blackthorn City. It wasn’t exactly the busiest route in the region, but it was an important one nonetheless. And now it was completely sealed off. On both the Blackthorn City side and the Route 46 side, the entrances to the caves had been collapsed. Normally that might just be chalked up to nature being a fickle bitch but… Tetsuya frowned. He took a deep drag on the cigarette before tossing it to the ground and stamping it out with his shoe. [color=BlueViolet]“Alright, people.”[/color] he projected. The others quieted and turned to face the speaker. He continued. [color=BlueViolet]“Wilson, take Himura and block off the area. I don’t want anybody getting any funny ideas. Delaney, you’re with me.”[/color] Akio Himura, the youngest of the quartet, frowned and began to say something no doubt moronic, but held his tongue and trotted off behind Malcom Wilson, or Gramps as he was known, instead. Not that he really had a choice in the matter, really. That just left Tetsuya and- [color=gold]“Thanks for the save, bossman.”[/color] Zoe Delaney. Tetsuya started off towards the caved in entrance, and she fell in step beside him. [color=BlueViolet]“So when are you and Himura going to stop playing your little games and finally tie the knot?”[/color] he casually shot over to her. The tall blonde’s grin didn’t falter. [color=gold]“Pfft please. That kid couldn’t handle all of this.”[/color] Zoe gestured to herself. Tetsuya chuckled and shook his head as they grew closer to the cave-in. [color=gold]“Tell ya what, why don’t you finally grow some balls and ask out Natalie, and then maybe, JUST MAYBE, I’ll let the kid buy me a drink or two.”[/color] That one elicited another laugh from the man in the dark suit. She had him there. He shrugged and nodded as they finally reached the cave. … It was blocked up alright. But judging by the surrounding area, it didn’t seem like anything else was really affected by this little slide. Not at first, anyway. Whatever it was, it was local. Zoe approached one side and Tetsuya the other. The more senior detective didn’t like this. Not one bit. The Chief was right...something didn’t fit… This cave-in was just TOO perfect. … It was almost as if someone had designed it...but...why? Why block off this path? Tetsuya, standing up tall, just gazed at the pile of rocks. Instinctively, he reached for his jacket and pulled out another cigarette, which he promptly placed between his lips before searching himself for a lighter. [color=gold]"Hey Nishimura...you uh...you might want to see this."[/color] Tetsuya raised an eyebrow. She found something, eh? He abandoned his search for a lighter and quickly crossed over to the younger Detective. She pointed at something. He couldn't see it at first, but when he did, a groan escaped the man. What a fucking headache... [hr] [h3][b][u][color=SpringGreen]Sophia Rhodes: Route 29 : A Quiet Stroll Through Stranger Town[/color][/u][/b][/h3] Sophia trotted along carrying Cinder. The Cyndaquil that she had received from Elm was a male...and apparently rather lazy. He didn’t quite seem all that interested in walking. But that was fine. Sophia didn’t mind carrying him whatsoever. They had left shortly after noon, and now the sky was a fine auburn. The sun was hanging low over the trees. She didn’t figure they had much daytime left at all. But she had to say, the leaves against the dusk skyline? Absolutely breathtaking. The trail had been a rather straightforward one. After they set out from New Bark Town, the small little group had pretty much stuck to the road. She had to admit, the path seemed much, MUCH safer with other people around. On her way in, she had practically flew, terrified of getting caught alone in the dark. She even had to admit that she felt the tiniest bit of relief when she found the tunnel out of Blackthorn closed. Sure, her trip took MUCH longer but...well she felt as if she grew a bit during it. She had found a way to travel for every stretch of her journey...but Cherrygrove to New Bark was all on her. Luckily, that path was fairly quick. Going back however… RMMBLR Sophia stopped for a moment and looked down. What was that sound? RMMBLLRR. Oh. It was a stomach growling, demanding nourishment. … Oh dear. She was getting rather peckish. And Cinder likely could go for something to eat as well. She gazed at the ones in front of her. Surprisingly enough, the young looking girl with...well, the artificial leg, was among the frontrunners. She probably felt obligated to do so. To prove that she wasn’t just a burden. Sophia’s smile waivered upon that thought. She felt bad for the girl...but quickly she shook herself out of it. She had met people in similar situations as white haired woman. Pity was not something they usually welcomed. But that was all speculation. She hadn’t had a chance to talk to the girl, and ever since leaving the lab, she had seemed rather sullen. The look on the girl’s face could kill. Probably. She didn’t want to test it, that’s for sure. … Come to think of it… Sophia gazed about at the rest of the group. She had heard a few scattered introductions, but nothing official as it were. Oh well. When they finally decided to make camp, she could ask then. But those were thoughts for another time. For now? Sophia put one foot in front of the other, and marched on. [/centre]