Exit

Ban the Person above you

Banned for not sharing.

Deify

God of the Spam Forums.

Word association Game!

Responsibility

Describe the person above you in three words or less.

Not enough words.

Post a random fact about yourself.

I used a bathbomb for the first time in my life.

I also learned that the bathtub part of a shower is amazing.

What Are You Listening To?

ᵗʳᵃᶜᵏ ⁰⁴

_____________________________________________ P E P P E R S A N D O N I O N S by T I E R R A W H A C K wb · ig · fb
	You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah I'm not perfect, just a person (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah Sometimes happy, sometimes nervous (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah I'm not perfect, just a person (Yeah, yeah) I'm only human, yeah Sometimes happy, sometimes nervous (Yeah, yeah) I'm new to this game, I ain't been here long (Long) So forgive me if I get this wrong (Yeah) I get lost sometimes, Italy, I roam (Yeah) I had to figure certain things out on my own (Woo) Make a phone call home to the ones I love (Love) Shit crazy out here, have you high on drugs (Damn) To be real man, I thought about pullin' the plug (Uh) So I can go fly high with the ones above (Ooh) Yeah (Damn) I don't wanna be judged, I just wanna be me (Damn, damn) Even though we buy chains, we just wanna be free (Damn, damn, damn) I don't wanna be judged, I just wanna be me (Damn, damn, damn) We just wanna be free (Damn) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the Sun but gum is stuck to my shoes (I try, I try, I try, yeah, yeah) You got to be the one that people lookin' up to (Yeah, yeah) I tried to reach the sun but

T H E R I V E R ᶠᵉᵃᵗ ᴱˣˡᵗ ˣ ᴮʳᵒᵏᵉⁿᴾʳᵒᵐˡˢᵉ

_Peter
^{PDC HQ · Holding Sublevel B2}

"It's a... hard question to answer, I'll admit."

Peter adjusted his glasses and stepped away from the woman, tapping the now transparent wall. The previous box of text was removed and a complicated overlay took over the entire space. Everything inside the room became highlighted. Over the edges of the Aida was a thin green line which followed the eye-line of whoever was looking through it, moving to match whatever angle they were viewing the information. Opposite him was the same man who had been inside the room since Kefira was first shown the live feed by Lorelei. He was highlighted in a dark grey as if to 'mute' him. Smaller windows began to appear across the surface, each one locked to a specific focal point in the room and magnifying and extrapolating extra information from their focus. The one on the doctor had a box around his chest, with an x-ray view of his heart. It beat calmly, the numbers and moving data lines around it the tell tale signs of normal oxygen levels and of low stress.

The Aida had several. There was a similar box around his chest with much of the same information albeit with a slightly slower heart rate. There was another on his hands and fingers, recording movement and subtle signs that could lead to any number of possible actions taken on it's part. There was an intense magnification of his eyes. Like the one over his hands, it read subtle twitching but also blinking rate, tracked what he was looking at and for how long, and also kept a log of temperature and tear production if any were produced. The final box was a blank square. There were lines that were drawn from it's corners to a point centered on it's head but while the program tried to read what was there, it could not.

"I have access, yes. But, my time with any of the AIDA versions post V three has been severely limited. I mean... the third version was out for a few years before everything went to hell and... they. Are. Expensive. Let me tell you." Wide eyes and misplaced bewildered excitement met with Kefira and her actual question. It took him a brief moment to realize that the present was not the place and he shook his head. "My time was limited and AIDAs are amazing pieces of work... despite what they've done. To really understand them... well you would need one of their scientists or engineers and they're strangely very elusive. It often feels like the technology was designed to prevent reverse engineering." He pointed at the blank box hovering near the AIDAs head, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders at the girl. "We're not allowed to look inside. I'm not sure who is besides them. Maybe the military but who really knows."

"What I can tell you is that yes, he is still a 'computer' in a sense. While he's made entirely of flesh and bone, what we know of his brain from the pieces we're allowed to glimpse and 'edit'..." He glanced again at Kefira knowingly. "...Tells us that he runs on commands similar to any appliance if you will but can still think and reason learn... 'grow'. The code underneath is impossibly complicated, we speculate, as we can't see it and even the code we can is at times, weirdly, hard to decipher but, yes... he can be controlled. It's what we'll be establishing right now today. Speaking of, there's no implant or surgical procedure to this process. It's all painless. Due to his natural programming and the growth process during development, he's actually meant for this. Waiting for it if you will... and actually waiting specifically for you. Time of purchase was not recent so, like the other nine or so V fours out there, he's tailored to fit a specific role and person. Lorelei was specific apparently and extremely tight-lipped about it all."

Peter picked up the headpiece to his proximity suit and began putting it back on his head, adjusting the visor until it was center with his eyes and reconnecting the wires he had to disconnect earlier. With a satisfying click and a short hiss of gas pushing through now sealed vents, he returned to Kefira. "After this, it's permanent. It cannot be undone with a button push. It cannot be hacked. Everything he does will irrevocably be linked to your actions. It's what they wanted... and maybe why she chose you. Although... I guess it's not my place to comment on that..."

His voice trailed off as he moved toward the door and stood next to the pad that would allow her entry. "David in there will leave and I'll accompany you inside and take his place."

"Did you have any other questions before we go in? Don't hesitate to ask. Some may be too late to answer when we leave the room."

T H E L A S T A V A T A R ᶠᵉᵃᵗ ᴱˣˡᵗ ˣ ᴿᵒᵃᶜʰ

The tired sounds of a city that never slept were muted behind hundreds of feet of compacted dirt, steel and concrete. Beneath the streets, there were no crowds to drown out the ambiance, no space for satomobiles and no large glowing neon signs advertising the most popular spirits in the district. Down here, there was a little known Zen den and with the right words, a door to another world... or at the very least a piece of it. Here, there was nothing but silent whispers through ever encroaching walls, the scratching of mice in the darker corners of forgotten rooms and the sound of water droplets eerily reminiscent of lazy, lost rain. The Underground, as some would call it, was very much a maze where any and all discernible paths or rooms seemed to be cut crudely out of the Earth itself. Some efforts had been made to make it seemingly more or less comfortable with a smattering of metal and wood panels from the filth left of the world above. The collage of repurposed trash woven together vaguely described the boundaries of each space, giving way to some crude excuse of an underlying structure. This structure in turn described something of a genesis of a patchwork city, still in its infancy but growing nonetheless. Throngs of thick bundles of exposed wiring marked the lifeblood feeding whatever struggled to survive down here. They fed into lights, half of which were shattered and danced sparks haphazardly into the air. They fed into wayward appliances like the lone radio in the corner or the shattered monitor on the wall that blinked images of the Middle Ring and the impending celebrations. It also fed into a peculiar table situated in the center of a dusty room. Lights flitted around quietly just under the surface and lasers pushed those lights into the space directly above it, constructing a three-dimensional render of their slice of the lower ring.

"Cutting power would be the most effective way." There was a short pause and a man pointed at a section of the image, touching the edge of a building and highlighting it red. "The one plant powers the entire city and yes, they have the backups but with Holding here..." He tapped another edge and highlighted a second building that stood only an arms length away from a third building that was highlighted in yellow. A thin red line appeared tracing a path between the two. "...We have enough time to get in and get her out before they kick in and return power."

"I don't like it." Another chimed in. "The risk... it's high. And if we decide not to do anything, there's a chance RSF might release her because she isn't a Bender. She's done some shady shit in the past but she's smart. She's clean. Kept everything off the books."

"How about out of her head?"

"That is a lot of fucking names." A third voice.

"That is a lot of fucking faces."

"My point is. We go in and we fuck this up in any way, we don't get the shit fucks for security we're dealing with now. They'll start sending troops from the inner rings. You're talking about upsetting all of the Republic to buy maybe a minute of a window. Even if we get in there and get her out, it's all chaos afterwards."

"You came to us because we have the manpower and the weapons for this. We know and if not, I can get in contact with someone inside. Have them do her in there."

"No. W-we're not fucking killing her. And we're not about to start another war."

"What we're not going to do is risk everything for one person. Maybe she doesn't talk. Maybe she's got it in her to cut off her own tongue before they can ask questions but she's rubbed shoulders with too many people. She's been alive too long. Knows too much."

"They have ways."

"Ye-, they have fucking ways to pull that information out and they will. Besides, when was the last time you heard of the RSF letting someone go who was evenly remotely involved or related to someone who could potentially bend.

"...Never."

"Either way, she's a liability now to everything. It has to be done one way or another."

"She's not going to like this."

"Sakani is not here and if she were... Look, I get that she was close, that you both were. It's a hard decision but it has to be made."

"Yeah. Fine. So plan A is the break out and plan B is... taking her out. Parade will start soon and security will be pulled from the outer ring to the middle. Do we start then?"

"We start now. There is a Pai Sho tile on the board that just so happened to arrive. Free for the taking." The third man hit a button on the edge of the table and the render of the map was dropped for another image. This one of a girl with blonde hair.

"Who is that?"

"Leverage. Keep the RSF at bay or if we must... may keep your 'Gran-Gran' alive."

---

	__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ ...is arrived at the plant in the Lower Ring.___

"Do you need this?" Jack held out a device about the size of her closed fist; A rebreather designed to be as small and as easy to use as possible. This one in particular fit comfortably around the mouth, creating a seal around the lips and nose without a loop around the ear.

Vyska, however, shook her head. Although she'd wrinkled her nose briefly, she was quick to force her lungs to adjust. There was a near constant tinge of metal and dust in the air, enough to taste it on her breath as she exhaled, but she wouldn't let it affect her. "It stinks." She answered honestly. "But no. You?"

Jack shook his head as well. "Believe it or not, I grew up in this."

"I know."

There was a short pause before Jack's expression turned to mild amusement.

"Oooh. Okay. Someone's in a joking mood today. You do know that I'm in charge of your well-being right? I could probably end you, get rid of the body and still have at least the rest of the day to chase after Ms. Xiao before anyone knows what happened."

"Ms. Moon!" A man in a hard hat and an orange vest called out to her as he entered the landing pad. A badge dangling off the breast pocket read him as Mark Maxis. "Mark. It's a pleasure to see you again!" He reached in for a handshake which Vyska took.

"And a pleasure to see you as well. It's been some time since my father had me here for a tour."

"Yes. You've grown so much since then. Oh!.. And as I'm sure you're already aware, he's doing fine at the Synergy Plant. Said he was looking forward to hearing about you chastising us during your visit. We've buttoned up in anticipation of your arrival because of his warnings."

Vyska let a genuine smile pierce through her more professional poise to the girl underneath who was simply excited to do the work her family had been for years. There was a hint of anticipation in her eyes as she started toward the doors that lead to the rest of the plant. "I promise not to be harsh. I'm sure everything is running smooth. Besides, this is less an inspection and more my continuing acclimation to my duties."

Mark followed quickly behind, slowly over taking the woman before they reached the doors and opening one up for her.

"What's that?"

Jack's voice stopped her before she'd stepped inside and she turned to follow his gaze toward the large security gates at the front of the plant. They were open when they were supposed to be closed although barricades had been put into place and it seemed like there was a small number of men in hardhats crowded around it.

"Ah. Maintenance. Routine."

Gods Among Us

^{Some bbcode may not display correctly on your device.}

G O D D E S S O F N I G H T

cs · theme · wiki

_________"...Ow..."

name. Blake Lou Delarose origin. Greek. _______________________________________________ location. An apartment in Manhattan. tl:dr. Blake leads Nyx to Dacia, hoping to teach Dacia a lesson. Nyx learns something new instead.

A collaboration between @Exit and @ningal700

"Are you sure this is the place?"

Blake stood in front of a rather unassuming, green painted door; better kept than most of the others they had already passed although some bits of paint had been chipped near the knob. Above that was the keyhole marking the only deadlock securing the door in place and behind her was the one escape route that led down an inadequately lit hall.

If this wasn't their destination, the only thing left to do was to leave.

...You heard him too. This is it...

"It is such a strange place to call home." She looked around for what must have been the hundredth time, noting the way the walls looked as if they were melting. Studying every stain. Counting the curling fingers of paint as it peeled into itself. Tasting the mold in the air with her every breath. "Is this what our home is like?"

...No. I have no-... I... will show you after we're done...

"Then we will part."

...If we must, angel. Now, knock on the door...

Blake rapped her knuckles on the door firmly enough that the sound of her knocking echoed down the hall and back. While they waited for an answer however, she became very aware of a slowly growing urge to simply use her ax to break the door down and enter. "Is that you?"

...I'm usually already inside by now...

"...How strange is this... to 'feel' you inside me."

...What...?...

"Your emotions. I did not know I'd feel them. Not in this way. Although I will say..." Blake's eyes fell on the large rectangular case in her hand. "...I do like the idea of using it. Maybe I'l-" The sound of shuffling feet from the other side of the door was sudden enough to interrupt, as was the light in the peephole being smothered.

...Doesn't look like we have to...

A moment later and the door opened up. A woman with pale skin, green eyes and long black hair in a black sweater stared back at her. A woman matching the description of the one person they needed to find. "Um, hello?"

...That's her. That's the sinner. Ask for her name. Ask her if she's Daciana...

"Daciana?"

The woman quickly looked her over before responding. "Erm, yes, that's me... Most people just call me Dacia, though. And, who are you?" She asked, raising her brow.

...Her. Get inside. We need to see what she's selling, her setup and then deal with her directly...

At the confirmation of her name and as if she'd been waiting for the exact cue, Blake ignored the rest of what Dacia was saying and pushed her way further into the apartment, much to it's occupant's dismay. "Um, EXCUSE ME, ma'am, can I help you with something?" She heard her call out, but while Dacia tried to make sense of the intrusion, Blake kept her eyes not on the bewildered woman but on what she could glean from what bits of of the room she could see behind her. The layout was fairly straight forward. A small apartment without enough room for the basics. There was a table in the center of the room in front of a couch that was facing the TV anchored to the opposite wall. Below that was a shelf with a few books and random odds and ends. There were pictures, posters, a few plants and a number of lamps all turned off. To her left lead to the rest of the apartment and an open door to what looked to be a balcony. Other than that, there wasn't much of anything of note.

...Does it smell like anything?...

Blake inhaled sharply, still pushing against Dacia's protest at letting her in. "Like, 'foumart'... in your more ancient English. I do not know what you call them today. Everything is so very different than what I remember."

...Yes! ...yes. Now tell her you're here to buy...

In the breadth of a heartbeat, Blake's energy seemed to change. She stopped fighting and instead, in complete calm, turned to the confused woman. "I'm here to buy."

There was a brief pause of disbelief before she was given a reply. "Um, alright then, that's fine I suppose." Dacia said as she finally relented and backed away, allowing Blake room enough to enter further. "My regular customers usually don't meet me here at my apartment, though. Where did you get my name? And my address?" Despite the sudden deescalation, there was a tension in the air that was hard pressed to leave and it only became more stifling as Dacia closed the door.

...The Lord provides all...

"The Lord provides all." To which Blake was given another confused look.

...We know who she is and what she's doing... It's time my angel. We need to teach her about the sins she's committed...

Blake continued to the table and laid the case out on top of it, one hand gently placing it down while the other was already working the latches with gloved hands.

...NO! No. Not with the ax...

Her hands froze in the middle of undoing the second latch and this time it was her turn to express confusion. "Then why bring this if we're not to use it?" Her eyes wandered as she spoke. "Am I to use my hands again?... Would it not be faster with the bla-..." Wandering eyes fell on Dacia who had since moved to gather the things she would need to conduct fair business. The silver scale in her hand called out to her. "Ah... that is something I recognize. Scales. A balance. Or manipulation. How curious to find it in a world so touched by change. Is this yours, child?"

...Angel, that is just a scale...

"Child?" Dacia began, baffled. "We seem to be rather close in age... In fact, your face appears younger than mine. But yes, the scale is mine. I have a few." She then gestured quickly at the case. "What's in the box? I don't feel quite so comfortable with strangers bringing undisclosed items into my home... Especially strangers who don't provide me with a name in case I should need to find them later." She raised an eyebrow. "So you can either give me a name, even a nickname, it doesn't have to be your real name, I understand why some of my clients are uncomfortable sharing that information... Or I'm afraid we won't be continuing our business today."

Blake paused for a moment.

...You don't have to answer tha-...

"My name is... Blake."

...What?!...

"...And there is an ax in this box."

Dacia's eyes flicked briefly over to the cane leaned into the corner of the living room.

...If you tell her anymore, we'll have to use the ax!...

"Well, I appreciate you sharing that..." She slowly started walking over to another drawer by a second scale and began to work it open with the key around her neck. "I certainly hope you don't plan to take that out here and now...? And, what is it that I can get for you?"

"Well, I'm very much confused right now because I want to know where you came by such an item... the scale. But I'm also here to..."

...We need to punish her like we did that boy...

"...She says I need to rough you up. I still don't understand why we brought the ax if we're not supposed to us-"

What was once a simple state of confusion on Blake's part as she watched the other woman quickly abandon her belongings on the ground and make for something in the corner of the room, quickly turned into the realization that... the goddess felt pain. The sensation of a blunt object colliding violently with her wrist sent a shockwave of fire into her bones and straight up her arm. It flared over her shoulders, burned into her neck and she could feel the warmth begin to climb up her cheek. The muscles of her body tensed immediately, straightening out her back and forcing in a sharp gasp of air that would be her only audible response to the preemptive attack on her person.

And then a second blow to the arm expelled that air and sent her tumbling to the ground.

...Fuck!...

"...Ow..." Blake wheezed. In a haze of the most disorienting orientation to the life of a mortal being, she watched the edges of the world before her fade in and out of focus and from some far off place, could hear the woman speak.

"What do you mean, 'she'? I thought you said that you came here from church?!"

Galarian Stories

Thomas Tyrell

This CS is mobile friendly (mostly).

Created by Exit for Galarian Stories.

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ _______________ _______________ Male · 25 · Grass · Theme ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ______________________________________ Appearance. Stands at six feet. Auburn, shoulder length hair has been dyed blonde and is often tied up and kept out of his way during work. Lithe build approaching fit. His wardrobe is usually lax with loose fitted shirts and comfortable pants, whether they be jeans, cargo or even sweats. He's most often seen in boots, a necessity given his time spent off the beaten path. When challenged, he'll answer with whatever he's in at the time, wherever he's at. Personality. Known to be sensible. Wise. Not one to throw his weight around in a room for the sake of attention. Thomas's take on life is one of devotion and hard work, even if at first glance he exudes the opposite. He seems fairly laid back and is often taking time where it's appropriate and when he can. When it's time to make moves however, he will. Outside of work, he's kind, compassionate, a little bit of a flirt, a little bit of a romantic, very much a klutz but has enough social bones in his body to get by. He approaches his Gym Leadership with much of the same enthusiasm, ushering in new trainers with a pride that he relishes while ensuring that they're not necessarily the 'best' but dedicated to their journey and to their pokemon. He likes to think of himself as a reminder that the most important aspect to be a trainer is growth and that embracing weaknesses and mistakes are a major part of that and not something to be overlooked. It's a lesson he's had to apply to his own life on multiple occasions, only reinforcing its importance. ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ History. Thomas was born a single child and in the city of Wyndon, although this would not become his home. His family being as nomadic as they were kept on the move and so, much of his early life would be spread across the entire continent. To help with the inherent lonely nature that travel placed on him, Thomas began taking bits and pieces of the cities and regions he would visit with him when he left. These trinkets arrived in the form of various small plants and saplings. By chance, during one of his pickings he would accidentally mistake an Applin for a simple apple from which he intended to take seeds. The little dragon would become his first official Pokemon and best friend. His journey to becoming the Gym Leader he is now began shortly thereafter. Recognizing that pieces of themselves had become inspirations for the young boy's dreams, they took to nurturing his flame. His mother had in fact been a successful trainer herself and his father, a researcher in the science of agriculture. Surprisingly, their varying careers made for a relationship that worked well on the move and also meant more opportunities for Thomas to learn. Two lessons remained the most important during his early days: His father taught him the importance of growth, the cycle of the world and how a single plant fit into that. How everything started with good soil but was maintained with love. One made for deep roots and the other ensured a strong and healthy plant. Relationships worked in much the same way, whether it be with people or Pokemon, and building those relationships with love on a strong foundation meant stronger bonds and a stronger team. His mother impressed upon him the importance of adaptation, of recognizing weakness and learning how to overcome it. She would remind him that just like the Pokemon he grew to love, plants too learned to survive in even the harshest of environments and that he would have to learn to do the same. The last lesson he learned he taught to himself after he'd watched the saplings and plants he'd taken from around the world grow old and die. No matter how good the soil or how much love and attention you give, everything withers in time. Thomas was approached after he graduated as a potential candidate for gym leadership in his area of expertise. By then, his travels and his prowess in battle had garnered for him a bit of a name. He initially refused, resigning himself to a life on the move as had been the norm for him. Additionally, having followed in his father's footsteps, his studies required him to travel to the different habitats and study flora in their natural home. Rooting himself in one place, particularly to a Gym, was counter intuitive to that. A certain someone convinced him otherwise and since then, he's been nurturing the spirits of trainers looking to take the crown. To this day, however, he stands by the fact that he is naturally the worst candidate for his position. Even then, he holds to his promise all the same. _ A dense forest to the Northwest of Turffield is home to Thomas's gym. Finding the clearing and the ruins marked as the origin of the surrounding forest is the mission. In respect to the sacred nature of the land and to the battles held there, only immediate family, close friends, other gym leaders and the Champion are allowed to spectate on location. Everyone else must watch the broadcast. Sceptile · Palatus · m Grass · Timid Overgrow ______________________________________ Ferrothorn · Uria · f Grass | Steel · Careful Iron Barbs ______________________________________ Ludicolo · Nympha · f Water | Grass · Modest Swift Swim ______________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Mow Rotom · Hiraskira · n Electric | Grass · Modest Levitate ______________________________________ Venasaur · Ralpheia · m Grass | Poison · Timid Thick Fat ______________________________________ Flapple · Dracomalus · m Grass | Dragon · Jolly Hustle ______________________________________ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ Moira Kingsley "She was a lot like the cooler older sibling that was always away from home but that you secretly wanted to be like. And then she became a leader. Now she wears that armor like the books she used to when we were kids and I'm just now realizing I can never be at her level. She's also half of the reason why I'm here." ________________ _________________________________________________ Fiona MacConnell "It's been a year. A really long one. At a match a month, I think the record stands at twelve and oh. In her favor, of course. It'd be an understatement to say that I've learned something in my time on the field against her. I still envy her spirit to this day but absolutely appreciate her time and friendship." ________________ _________________________________________________ Zeke Webber "I previously only knew him as the persona he gives on screen. On a chance encounter with him much earlier in our careers, I learned there were more layers than just the one. No one is harder on that man than himself and it's clearly what pushes him so far. His physique and strength in battle are testaments to his training." ________________ _________________________________________________ Ezran Hawthorne "Met only in passing. He's yet another I need to get in touch with on a more regular basis. I've yet to really train against the type plus there's an interesting science there: While one produces the other, his very effectively kills mine. Besides that, all I know about him is his music which is fairly good." ________________ _________________________________________________ William Anwell "He's got quite the personality and even I can tell he's got a thing for fashion. I also hear he's a bit of a flirt from the others. I've yet to be on the receiving end but considering I plan on visiting, I'm sure I'll see my share. Ballonlea is another planet and I'll need his insight to recreate it in the lab." ________________ _________________________________________________ Henrietta Durand "In another time, her drive may have put me off. She wants for the top spot so much that, besides fashion, there's little room for anything else in her life. As you grow up though, you learn that people are the way they are. It's her dream and I have to respect her ability to push herself to achieve it." ________________ _________________________________________________ Victoria "The answer is yes. I never challenged her. I was familiar with but never actually took part in the gym challenge, surprising as that may sound. Just too busy with school. But we have met before and... she has an energy that's hard to ignore or forget. A confidence and poise and she's a little too easy on the eyes." ________________ _________________________________________________ Elijah Grayson "I still believe he should have been a leader long before I was. He's incredibly smart and skilled and facing the two in battle is... difficult. There was never a question about him being promoted. A great trainer and even better friend. Plus, it helps to live down the street from the smartest guy in town." ________________ _________________________________________________ Hestia Quintell "My loss record against her is far smaller when compared to Fiona. I'm still waiting on a win here too. This is probably a theme. There's also a lot of respect. It's not easy to fail and pull yourself back together, especially when loss affects you as heavily as it does her. I admire that." ________________ _________________________________________________ Isla Owens "Like many of the gym leaders, I have yet to talk with her personally although I'm very much interested in adding her to the growing list of trainers I let beat me around. Hestia has said nothing but good things about her and not to mention her bouncing back after the injury. If not soon, I'll see her on her way up to the champ." ________________ _________________________________________________ Joseph Johannes "I've been meaning to get in touch but our schedules have never aligned. He's got his television gig and I've been busy with construction on the lab. Like Zeke, he has this natural ability to believably embody his other persona and if Joseph is anything like him, we'll get along just fine." ________________ _________________________________________________ Malik Harvey "Very easy to see the natural talent he harbors and the harder worker that lives in him. There's a lot of admiration there, especially for someone who positions himself in life specifically to help others grow and it's a sentiment I hold strongly to. When the time allows, I intend to sit down with him." ________________ _________________________________________________ Nordrin Yasmar "I have to admit that the food at High Steaks is absolutely amazing. Can't recommend it enough. And yeah, he can be abrasive but sometimes you just have to let people be. The thing about him is, like Henrietta, attitude often reflects leadership. There's a reason he's good at his craft." ________________ _________________________________________________ Cherry _ _ "Hmm?" ________________ _________________________________________________