[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200122/e953ebd7baa8b50eccbebc557e8aa65b.png[/img][/center]

Huh, so that's what was going on. It looked like Cyril was having an odd experience battling Chloe if his Budew was going to get dunked on with a bucket.

Then there were the little monsters that were the twins, circling around him like Vullabys as he got back up on his feet. Somehow he had rolled Cecile off him, much to her displeasure and certainly was not liking how close the twins were getting to Basil. The Darumaka almost seemed to be puffing up as if it was trying to make itself bigger and intimidating, but luckily, Kalmia was able to drag them away before it could become anything more. Basil arched his brow in puzzlement. Assistants? That's a job a bit too big for those two. For a hot second he thought they were the Professor's kids, but it was probably a mistake. Hyper little guys they were; he couldn't help, but feel somewhat envious of them for having such a carefree life.

But those feelings were pushed aside as his line of sight fell upon a certain Elite Four member that walked into the lab when he didn't notice. Basil stiffened straight and felt his spine tingle as Jacques analyzed him, unable to get a read on the man despite his smile. [color=8882be]"B-Basil Rivens, an honor to meet you."[/color] He somehow choked that greeting out and was too nervous to hear the Elite trainer's comment. 

It was not until the situation was explained to him that he began to calm down slightly. So it was just a failure of communication between the two of them. That would explain why someone like Jacques would actually care about coming down to see the new hopefuls since he had a stake in this, but it looked like Basil was the one that slipped through the cracks, or would have if he did not arrive on the same day as that Cyril guy did. It was pretty unlikely that Jacques would have someone lined up for him to battle to keep up tradition...Wait a minute, what did he mean by [i]hardly?[/i]

Basil just watched on as the elite went to Kalmia's computer room, Cecil tugging at his pants to get his attention and then they both nearly leaped out of their skin; a roaring engine broke the silence in the room and it grew closer and closer. Looking out the window revealed an older boy that oozed confidence and had an aura that screamed bad to the bone and yet, he was on a first name basis with an Elite Four member. Hold on, another Pokemon? Was this guy one of the trainers that Jacques had selected before? 

Something stirred in him when Rodger shot him that unimpressed look. Was he really that pathetic? Was he really that spineless that he could be looked over with not even a second glance? Even Kalmia did not expect him to even want to fight them because yeah, they were intimidating. One of them was the Elite Four and the other was an already experienced trainer that looked like the definition of a Bigfjord City resident; a punk that had a rough life on the streets, but all the stronger for it. And Basil? He was a timid, bloody noble, a useless one at that, that no one expected anything from. 

His fists balled up and this strange sensation swelled in his chest, as if he was going to breathe fire any moment. [color=8882be]"Are you done messing around? Your fight is with us."[/color] Basil was shaking, but there was no doubt that there was a budding, yet fierce rebellion in his eyes that just needed time before it would bloom. 

So what if he was scared? So what if Rodger had more experience? So what if no one had expectations for him? He'll tear down those notions and show them the person that he will become. 

[color=8882be]"Cecil, lend me your strength."[/color] 

The Darumaka nodded and stood by his side, ready to throw down.[color=ed1c24]"Dar!"[/color]

[@PlatinumSkink]