[CENTER] [h2][Color=641E16]| ROUTE 1: Hills |[/color][/h2][h3][Color=641E16][i]| January 1st, Dusk| [/i][/color][/h3] [Hider=| RIN | The Restless, Rambunctious Rival |] [Img]https://i.imgur.com/bvG1klF.png[/img] [Color=641E16]◇◇◇[/color] [Color=rosybrown][B]They/Them[/B] Pronouns for When Referring to Rin.[/color] [Color=E6B0AA][i]Thank You![/i][/color] [Color=F2D7D5]◇◇◇[/color] [/Hider] [/CENTER] Rin could have choked on the shavings from having ground down their teeth to dust in trepidation. What if Osajyin got a critical hit? What if Osajyin missed? What if the [i]Girafarig[/i] got a critical hit? [I]What if Osajyin only did one damage again making this whole situation even more tumultuous?[/I] Even as the trainer stared at the ground, they could see their immediate surroundings light up as a sure sign of Osajyin's [i][b][u]Synthesis[/u][/b][/i]. [color=rosybrown][i]'Dammit, Rin, snap out of it,'[/i][/color] they chastised themself in their head. Rin balled their fists between the blades of grass beneath them. [Color=rosybrown][i]'Worse come to worse, you can always hunt after that cutie. Only Izumi's ever beaten you in a race, and that's cuz she [b]totally[/b] cheats! You got this. So just look up, idiot!'[/i][/color] After another round of mentally berating and encouraging themself, Rin pulled their head up by their shoulder-length hair, forcing their eyes to look at the outcome of fight. It was . . . absolutely astonishing. The wild [i]Girafarig[/i], which had looked so skittish before, was actually . . . walking [i]towards[/i] Rin?! Their jaw hung open before slamming shut into a cheshire smile. Trading their open mouth for open arms, Rin flew forward like a [i]Lopunny[/i] using [i][b][u]Bounce;[/u][/b][/i] practically prancing the whole way over to the Long Neck Pokémon to surround him in their loving embrace. Osajyin just stood back and watched his Trainer wrap their arms around what would be his new brother with a content smile. He had done his job well, and now it was time to sit back and relax. Settling back into his comfortable spot from just mere moments ago, his eyes rested on the sight of Rin calling out the rest of their team from their respective pokéballs. It was a nice nap while it lasted. Osaja had even slept through Anusobeket climbing up his neck, and all three of his [i]"siblings"[/i] chattering away around him. However the time to get up was made very clear by Rin hopping on Osajyin's back and demanding the Leaf Pokémon get in gear. If that hadn't disturbed his slumper, Rin's immediately proceeding laughter sure did the trick. His Trainer didn't actually expect to be carried, but they did inform Osajyin it was time to head back to their little campsite on the beach. Calm as ever, Osaja got up and strolled towards his destination. As he passed the newly captured [i]Girafarig[/i] the [i]Bayleef[/i] gave him a warm smile of welcoming, which was returned with a sheepish simper. Rin was obviously very excited about catching this one, so Osajyin had high hopes that his Trainer had good taste in friends. Rin was also quite clearly pleased it seemed they were all getting along, and they slung their arms around the two of their necks. With a pep in their step the trainer walked like this until they arrived at their beach camp. Once there, Rin promptly excused themself to have the privacy to finally relieve their chest from the strain of their binder; storing it away in their backpack along with their hearing aids and the rest of their clothes as they changed into their baggy pajamas. [CENTER] [h2][Color=641E16]| ROUTE 1: Beach |[/color][/h2][h3][Color=641E16][i]| January 1st, Night | [/i][/color][/h3] [/CENTER] Having used up the last of their starting pokéballs, Rin beamed with giddy as they settled in their extra-large tent, surrounded on either side by their sleeping bag and sleepy pokémon. After enthusiastically retelling the Pokédex information of each of their pokémon, Rin's attention was suddenly caught by the sight of two notification icons on the top right corner of the Pokédex's screen. Clicking on them, Rin delightfully discovered they were from Liz! [U][Center][I][color=f49ac2]"I guess we will see what will happen then Rin. Don't forget: I am going to win next we meet!!"[/color][/I][/Center][/u] Rin was going to respond with furiously competitive vigor, despite being hours late, but halted halfway through their arrogant reply when they saw her second message. [U][Center][I][color=f49ac2]"Calling it a night, hope your day was somewhat better than mine!!"[/color][/I][/Center][/u] Having paused long enough to notice Anusobeket trying to read over their shoulder, Rin really thought about it. This all really had been [i]just[/i] the first day of their Pokémon Journey. The [b]first[/b] day of the rest of their life. Memories of meeting their new made-family washed over their mind like a waterfall. Just as their thoughts drifted to the faces of the family they left behind Rin felt compelled to sit up in the tent and hold all their Pokémon close. [I][Color=rosybrown]'Come on Rin, don't get [b]that[/b] sentimental.'[/color][/i] Coming from someone who had three sisters, the hug was an impossibly tight fit even for Rin, but they wouldn't have it any other way. In the morning they knew would have to put together the world's sweetest, longest, cheesiest monolog about the value of friendship and expectations vs reality, but right now? Right now Rin was currently passed out under the cuddling pile of their pokémon. It was only day one, but Rin could almost vibrate from the radiating love that surrounded them. It was such an innocent, pure, and fast-formed love that one could only experience from interacting with pokémon. It was truly a form of magic on its own. Rin couldn't feel the cold of the early winter air, or the even the simmering discomfort of dysphoria they'd had since taking off their binder. Rin could only feel at peace as they sunk into dreamland. After all this time, it looked like tomorrow really would have to wait even longer . . . [Center]. . .[/center] [Center]. . .[/center] [Center]. . .[/center] [Center]. . . but it didn't wait long . . .[/center] [CENTER] [h2][Color=641E16]| ROUTE 1: Beach |[/color][/h2][h3][Color=641E16][i]| January 2nd, Dawn| [/i][/color][/h3] [/CENTER] [CENTER] [@Balthazar007] [/CENTER]