[color=yellow][u][b]Troy[/b][/u][/color]

[quote][color=lavender]"I don't know, but I couldn't just ignore it! It didn't help! I can't just-- maybe you don't get it. Nevermind. I'm sorry, okay?! Just leave me alone!"[/color][/quote]
Hrmmm...

Although Antoinetta seemed to understand, Zaria implied it was Troy who lacked understanding. Judging from Tim's ongoing mental breakdown, Zaria isn't the only one who feels this way either.

Troy thought back to Zaria's exact words.

[quote][color=lavender]"I couldn't just ignore it!"
"Maybe you don't get it."[/color][/quote]
The statement, 'Troy doesn't get why Zaria can't just ignore it' is a true one, though the knee-jerk assumption would be that Zaria simply lacks the competency to control her emotions. Unless you can recognize outward influences and evaluate their validity objectively, you are subject to being psychologically manipulated by others; this was one of the first lessons Troy's father taught him. He can't help but reason that they should be able to just ignore it, but by making that assumption, Troy knows he risks falling victim to the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Zaria called Troy out for his lack of understanding, and if she isn't just deflecting, then that must mean there's a bigger picture here he isn't seeing.

Although it's true that Troy underwent homeschooling between elementary and now, he's never had a shortage of people, usually his father's employees, who made disparaging comments about him. After all, he is a rich kid who uses expensive vitamins on his pokemon. In their eyes, he is but a pampered child trying to substitute skill or hard work with piles of money. Even if you cut them out of the picture, Troy's father never minced words with him, no matter how harsh. Troy knows what having harmful words thrown at you is like, especially when they're true, because his father doesn't lie. If Zaria meant that Troy should [i]check his privilege[/i] as someone who hasn't tripped, then she's succeeded, though not to any meaningful effect, since Troy still stands by his earlier statement.

Ruling that out as anything worth consideration, Troy tries to think up another possibility. After all, it would be rude to assume Zaria just can't comprehend the idea that Troy would not be phased in her position. Troy knows that he wouldn't be phased in her position because he would even offer to stand up and fall on his face in front of everyone to prove it if it didn't go against his entire point to begin with. Her disbelief in him is not enough to control his actions, and while it might be helpful in getting friendly with her so he can [s]use her to train[/s] train with her later, it might ultimately repel some other partners, especially when Tim over here is crying us all a river solely because he was peer-pressured into it. When dealing with those who let themselves be controlled by social hierarchy, a degree of popularity might be necessary.

This line of thought is getting off-topic. Back to what Zaria said, [i]why[/i] couldn't she 'just ignore it'? Was she hoping to accomplish something by yelling 'LEAVE US ALONE'? Ah, of course!

Troy looked back at Munchlax. Was she in on the heist? Well, the reverse heist. Mentally measuring the angle between Zaria and Munchlax, visibility between the two was undeniable. If Munchlax somehow sent a message to her, then that would explain her actions, but Troy was watching Munchlax the whole time. Unless they had met beforehand, there was no way for Munchlax to send her a message before she stood up to make that announcement, and from her angle, there was no way to see the pokefood Troy had set on the seat between himself and Valerie.

If that was not her aim, what else was it? 'Leave us alone'... surely, it wasn't the content of the message that held meaning, unless she was addressing someone specific in the crowd over a separate situation. It was definitely possible for her to meet others before getting to the amphitheater, but seeing as how all five of them were grouped together on account of being transfer students, it was unlikely that she knew anyone in the school [i]well[/i].

If it's not the content of the message, perhaps it was the volume. Maybe she was trying to attract someone's attention, perhaps the faculty of the PMA. If that's the case, then she should just walk up to them and inform them of the situation. Yelling reflects more poorly on her than leaving her seat would, if keeping in the staff's good graces was her goal.

Unless... she's also trying to manipulate the rest of the students. After all, you can't be snitched on if a teacher catches you in the act. If the teachers took action, it would take care of the jeers without drawing unnecessary ire from the ones throwing them, essentially conditioning the students into being nicer to her while putting her in the good graces of her fellow transfer students. She even followed up your response with the [i]innocent and sensitive girl[/i] act, which was a nice touch. For a while, Troy even felt like he had to prove his sincerity in order to [s]make her cooperate[/s] get her on friendly terms with him. There may be more to this Zaria person than meets the eye. Troy respects the play, but he'll have to be careful around her from now on.

[hider=Misc.]
[hider=Team]Shuckle Lv. 10
Ability: Sturdy
Item: Berry Juice
- Power Split
- Defense Curl
- Rollout
- Infestation[/hider]
[hider=Bag]Poke Ball x5
Berry Juice x3
TM Hidden Power x1
Cheri Berry x1
Chesto Berry x1
Pecha Berry x1
Rawst Berry x1
Aspear Berry x1
Leppa Berry x1
Oran Berry x1
Persim Berry x1[/hider]
PP: 4[/hider]