[color=lightsteelblue][center][h1]Vivianne Cypress[/h1]
[h3]Mesalon Gym[/h3][/center][/color]
[@fer1323]

Vivianne, eyebrows furrowed, peered out of the window again. [color=lightsteelblue]"I knew he wouldn't stick around long,"[/color] she muttered. She knew exactly who he was. Here, it was unfortunately impossible not to know who Detective Jack Hammer was. [color=lightsteelblue]"For all his big talk, that guy's about as brave as a Wimpod faced with a flock of Pidgeots."[/color]

At Oscar's question, she nodded. [color=lightsteelblue]"Well, the coast's clear,"[/color] she replied, [color=lightsteelblue]"but fair warning. The Pokemon behaviour I mentioned... Some of the wildlife around here seems to be getting swept up in battle-rage for no apparent reason. Sometimes it even happens to low-level trained Pokemon. Thankfully, from what I've heard, they don't stay in that state for long, but we'd still better be careful."[/color]

She turned to the Porygon Z. [color=lightsteelblue]"Time to make a move, Pixel."[/color] The artificial Pokemon, who'd calmed down now the broken electronics were gone, floated to its trainer's side, prepared to defend her and the other two if they ran into trouble.

[hr]
[color=orchid][center][h1]Sophia Danvers[/h1]
[h3]Mesalon Gym[/h3][/center][/color]
[@fer1323]

[color=orchid]"Y-Yeah... Exactly why he doesn't scare me in the slightest,"[/color] Sophia replied, the confidence in her voice faltering just a little. [color=orchid]"I'll come along. Got to be the first to get a full team, after all! Just you watch!"[/color] 

And there she was, agreeing to travel with Oscar again. Because, well... She couldn't let her rival outdo her! She'd show him she could fill her team first! She seriously hoped nobody had already beaten her to it. That would be yet another in a long list of embarrassments.

At Vivianne's words, all thoughts of competition left Sophia's mind, memories taking their place. An Eevee covered in scratches as her Purrloin lashed out again and again. Her Gothita sending that defenseless Hoppip hurtling through the air. Alexis' horrified shouts that she hadn't listened to until it was too late.

That explained it, just like it explained what had happened with Rheese's Wooper and Alex's Beldum. The knowledge, though, did nothing to ease the crushing guilt that came back full force.

"Gothi?" The squeak snapped Sophia back to reality. She cringed inwardly at the shame that was clear on Lacey's face. Grimalkin, who'd spent the past few minutes continuing to sulk, turned her head, ears pricking up, a shudder visibly running along her sleek form. Leaning down, Sophia petted both of them. The little cat went back to acting as if nothing were wrong, but Lacey's wide blue eyes still bore that frightened, confused look.

Picking up the Gothita and cradling her, Sophia faced the other two trainers. [color=orchid]"Ehh... We've been cooped up in here long enough, in any case,"[/color] she blurted when she could bring herself to speak. [color=orchid]"What are we waiting around for?"[/color]

While she covered up her initial reaction from Oscar and Vivianne - or at least tried to - she looked down at the distressed Pokemon in her arms, sending her a thought.

[i][color=orchid]It wasn't your fault,[/color][/i] she reassured Lacey. [i][color=orchid]Please don't blame yourself.[/color][/i]

[hider=Notes]
[b]Pokemon Party:[/b] Gothita "Lacey" lv13, Purrloin "Grimalkin" lv12, Staryu "Arcturus" lv12, Darumaka "Lumas" lv11
[b]Pokemon in PC:[/b]
[b]Inventory:[/b] Pokeball x2, TM33 (Reflect)[/hider]