[hider=Malik's Relationships / Impressions][hider=Hestia Quintrell][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/228707920571793410/775780017351295056/2281762_whuLYmSEU8mFWn3.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"It's been a while since we've had a serious talk with one another-- actually, I don't think we've [i]ever[/i] had one. Needless to say, she probably hates my guts for beating her in the Finals a long time ago, back when she called me her 'bitter rival' and all. Wouldn't blame the girl, since that was the first time I didn't get utterly crushed by her, but I still respect Hestia 'cause of how hard she's always pushed me. I've helped her out a few times, like when she was first becoming a Gym Leader. Tried to refuse and throw me out with the tough girl act, but I know Hestia's a softie inside.

Our battle record? Uh... think it's 6 wins and 11 losses in the lady's favor. Most of those losses came around during the Gym Challenge that one year, but I've closed the gap just a bit recently. Feel like she's always [i]extra[/i] mad at me for some reason, though."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Ezran Hawthorne][center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e7/3a/04/e73a04e88a269cab162d3be998b802ae.jpg[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"Z's a swell lad, good to his friends and even better to his Pokemon, makes me proud to know 'im. I'll never forget his miracle run during the Gym Challenge and Champion's Cup a few years back; poor guy was stuck at several points all throughout the event. Even after losing a bunch of times, Z kept comin' back at it to the point where he even made it to the end against Victoria. Damn thing reminds me of my own run almost ten years ago.

Maybe when it's all said and done, our numbers' hangin' up on the rafters and we're old men, I'll ask Z what he thinks 'bout startin' up a band. Ha!"[/color][/hider]

[hider=Joseph Johannes][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/410301230821146624/776309970567168020/d84ares-b42b1ccb-f067-440d-9a89-812fda78e45b.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"The Man o' Steel, hmm? Honestly have [i]no[/i] idea where he came from, kinda just showed up outta nowhere, but... I respect the gig that he's grown for himself. I [i]may[/i] or [i]may not[/i] have a bit of his merch sittin' at home, or watch reruns of his show while I'm flyin' about. Too bad he's about as hard to reach as I am, these days. I'm sure there's more to him beneath all that shiny armor."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Moira Kingsley][center][img]https://static.zerochan.net/Aisha.%28Oninaki%29.full.2579736.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"You'd think our residential Dragon-type specialist would be as flamboyant and annoying as someone like Hestia, but from what I've seen, Moira's quite the opposite. She's like every bit of a living, breathing knight from a page in those ancient books down in Hammerlocke's Vault, almost brings the Man o' Steel's image to shame. I'd try to have a good talk with the lady, but I'm kinda afraid that I'll come off too direct and frighten her. Lord knows that her dragons already do enough scary shit to the lot of us in battle."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Fiona MacConnell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/fwfKF9q.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"What can I say? Fiona's probably the only person among everybody that I can confidently say that I'm friends with. Maybe she has an idea on why I packed my bags and gave up Motostoke, maybe not. I try to make it a point to share a drink with her when available, and Pops goes on social media thinkin' she's the one for me. Just because he's obsessed with Flying-types, she happens to be a specialist, and I used 'em as a kid. No thanks-- I wouldn't wish [i]me[/i] upon anyone, hah. To be honest, I'm a bit jealous with how carefree and unburdened she seems to be. I know it's hypocritical 'cause I willingly throw meself into all the work, but... sometimes I feel like I tied her hands when I passed all that responsibility onto her.

Back then, I heard some fans in Motostoke tried to harass Fiona after I left 'cause they didn't want her to take over, tryin' to spread some bad rumors... Some balderdash, that. Of course, I was more than obliged to shut 'em up; I'll always have her back, so I figure she'd have mine."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Nordrin Yasmar][center][img]https://i.ibb.co/Db344Yc/110295-01-r05.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"Grumpy one. You'd have me convinced if you told me Nordrin spits in your food before servin' it if he doesn't like you. [i](Don't tell 'im I said that.)[/i] That being said, being a prestigious chef that came from the bottom, you're bound to be a no-nonsense kinda lad. If fancy titles were the name of the game, he'd take the cake, no pun intended... but I've dealt with my share of pretentious people over the years, and I wouldn't mind knockin' down another one by a peg like a [i]real[/i] trainer does. I can tolerate 'im otherwise at least, from one workaholic to another."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Zeke Webber][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/AgGFyOf.gif[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"The only guy who doesn't make me feel like a midget around the others, and yet, I'm still a small fry in comparison. 'Bout as arrogant as Nordrin, except he's got muscles instead of a frying pan. I wouldn't be surprised if he held a grudge against me for all the times I've beaten him, but I don't think he's the kind of musclehead that people make him out to be. I've seen him ponder to himself in deep thought sometimes, it's almost like lookin' at a completely different person."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Thomas Tyrell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/U2AmKmd.jpg[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"Doesn't give himself enough credit for how good he is of a trainer. If you ask me, I feel like Thomas is handicappin' himself, given how wicked smart the lad is. I feel like he and I could connect on a few similar bases, but we just happen to never be available for a chat; he's busy when I'm not, and I'm busy when he ain't. I'm sure that we'd be pretty good friends, though. Takes great care of Pokemon and the environment, something I really admire."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Elijah Grayson][center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/759308820857094184/776638512471474186/e7061bc2674c16d4da03e913a9431b1a.jpg[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"It's kinda scary how laser-focused the guy is, not just in battles but outside of 'em too. Don't underestimate Eli just 'cause he's only got 'vanilla' Normal-types; you're guaranteed to have a bad time, and he'll even give you an essay on why you got trounced. Trust me when I say that I know from personal experience. He's worked just as hard than almost everyone else, if not [i]more[/i] than some, to get to where he's at now, and in such a short time span too. If I'd known him sooner and hadn't given the gym to Fiona, then I'll bet Eli would've been sittin' in Motostoke instead."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Henrietta Durand][center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a3/4d/de/a34dde047dc1fefa1f27d3b12f422df5.jpg[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"Everyone seems like they've got some connection to the other regions, huh. I only know Miss Durand a bit loosely, not even sure if she ever partook in the Gym Challenge here in Galar, but I think we're all in for a real surprise with her. She's got the spunk in her confidence that Hestia wishes she had, and she isn't a sore loser after losin' a battle. I think of her as an 'Ace Trainer' of sorts. She's also got a great fashion sense; her mum works for one of the boutique stores that I go to, and bein' in the same industry, she probably knows my mum as well. She's cute."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Liam Anwell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/15Xsc4g.png[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"He's an interesting character, fits the archetype of a Fairy-type specialist down to the molecule. I'm very glad to have someone like Liam as a part of our league, someone who isn't afraid to be themselves even if there's a handful of idiots who think he's weird or something. Guy's the sweetest person I know, and it ain't even close; always puts a smile on my face when I see 'im. Sad to admit, but my mum's said that Liam's her favorite Gym Leader. I'm sure he could be even better if he didn't worry so much about findin' a boyfriend, but who am I kiddin'."[/color][/hider]

[hider=Isla Owens][center][img]https://safebooru.org//images/2524/d31ae1b17b534e3ec5df404ea292cc13a539448b.png?2631676[/img][/center]
[color=Purple]"The newest face of the bunch. Don't know her a whole lot, but I know not to underestimate someone, even if they're who I'd consider a a newbie. Fangs might be sharp but I've yet to see 'em bite. I think she's a friend of Hestia's? Would explain why they're a bit similar in that regard. Sometimes I feel like I've done something to offend her with how she looks at me, but I thought I was just bein' nice when offerin' some help. Oh well, hopefully I'll get to know Isla a bit better beyond that awkward first year."[/color][/hider][/hider]