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   —— ... ... ... GOTCHA !    independent, semi-selective trainer red roleplay blog    dex completed by ASH (21+, he) est 3/21/21

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INDEFINITELY INACTIVE!

           Nicole wants to believe the best. That Unova can recover. And so far it has been, it’s just draining all the time to have to remember the sheer cold. How the teachings of Lacunosa have been running more rampant than ever through her thoughts and how she can’t even leave her house after dark without having an anxiety fit. Her Pokemon keep her calm, they work hard to ensure she’s safe and relaxed if they have to traverse through the night.

           Red seemed like he would understand. A well versed traveler…who probably had fears and anxieties different from hers, but they were there nonetheless. His Pokemon probably helped him a lot as well.

           The gentle hand on her shoulder drew her attention and she looked back over to him. Ah yes, he typed out a message for her. Taking a small moment and reading over it, she could see Red was trying to make her feel better. Trying to encourage her. Very gently, she patted the hand on her shoulder in return.

          “I’ is indeed. My team worked hard ta ensure safety…I worked hard…an’ I know Red has been workin’ hard too. I’s why we ge’ ta enjoy these halcyon days. I ge’ ta enjoy these lovely days an’ sunse’s in Kanto.”

    Skin to skin contact is far different from that of partially gloved to clothed skin, the wanderer notes, just as he always does when any blue moon instance of it starts him. He can’t say he minds, though. The surprise is a pleasant one, the zephyr-like brush of their fingers testament to comfort they’ve found within this friendship that harbors no pretenses.

    Out of appreciation for the moment, Red pays mind to little else apart from simpler sensations. A faint tickle of grass about his ankles. The largely distant cry of what would sound to be a spearow. They do, however, have time sensitive plans—or perhaps it would be more truthful to say that he has a plan, the details of which have yet to be divulged in full.

Speaking of which... We’d better get moving. Don’t want to miss the main event.

    With the thoroughly emptied ramune bottle tucked away for recycling at a later time, Red bids this hilltop he’s gravitated to time and time again fond goodbye, doing Nicole the courtesy of extending one relatively clean hand before he goes about dusting off his pants.

❛ I suppose I do. ❜   She chuckled as she smiled.   ❛ Honestly the photography hobby simply happened one day when I was getting photos of my work to put online and just happened to take a picture of some Pokémon as well. ❜   It was a joy that came to her with it, and one she is happy to share.

❛ Oh! I hadn’t been to Kanto in a long time. I wonder what’s changed there. ❜   Though Plum’s thought process soon changed on the mention of geodes. Her eyes clearly lighting up with excitement as it showed clearly with her signing as well as she spoke.   ❛ I’d really like to see them if you let me! Geodes are so interesting cause you never know what to expect like kinder eggs! Though not edible. ❜   She chuckled on the last part thinking on it.

    Listening to Plum’s story, Red can’t help but adopt an expression as fond as theirs. A moment is allotted for the warm memory to breathe before he signs in kind.

    Pokémon really do bring out the best in us, don’t they? Dreams we never knew we had included.

    His new acquaintance would seem to be full of surprises. Many of those he divulges his home region to give off the air of having at least heard of Kanto—and Red himself, for that matter. Precious few, however, have visited. If the former champion had to wager a guess as to why, it would be that it doesn’t seem as attractive of a tourist destination when compared to its neighbors.

    Any sadness that may have spawned from that thought is graciously chased away by the avidity in Plum’s eyes.

A twenty win streak. Much of the difficulty of his facility came from the monotony of it. Twenty battles in a row ; you battle, you heal, you battle. It’s a test of a trainer’s skills as much as it’s a test of a trainer’s endurance. Do they have the drive to keep going? Do their Pokémon have the strength to keep throwing themselves in harm’s way, over and over again? Minutes of rest aren’t enough to shrug off exhaustion. No healing method was perfect. No potion is an instant cure for a bruised limb, sprained ankle, fractured bone.

A twenty win streak was an uncommon occurrence, especially so far late into the season. Sinnoh was a cold region as is - and being nestled into the far northern tip of the region, where ocean breeze blew in winds that kept a constant chill - trainers don’t tend to come this late into the year. Those who did, generally didn’t want to stay long - certainly not long enough to fully familiarize themselves with the facility.

A TWENTY WIN STREAK was not an impossible feat, however.

“A twenty win streak?” Palmer looked up from the paperwork on his desk to his staff member, with a look of confusion on his face. A twenty win streak? This late in the season, no less? “Twenty?” His bewildered employee nodded - and Palmer scrambled up from his desk in a panic, pulling off his reading glasses and setting them on top of his papers. As quickly as the words had come out of his subordinate’s mouth, Palmer was gone. Down the hall, down the stairs, out of sight.

A twenty win streak, he thought to himself, coming to a halt outside the staff entry to the 21st-floor arena. Busy hands patted down his pockets to make sure that his team was with him, and he peered out from the shadowed backroom, adjusting the collar of his coat.

“A twenty win streak!” With a smile wide on his face, Palmer took confident steps out into the bright lights of the arena, stepping towards his side of the field. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the harsh light, but once they did, they fell onto his opponent in red. “That’s not a common feat in the slightest, you know - especially for someone as young as you.” Most of those who got this far in the tower were veteran trainers near Palmer’s own age, and individuals under 25 were rare… So he wouldn’t mind standing around making small-talk, to find out more about the trainer, to give him a quick breather.

“A twenty win streak is a lot more torturous than it sounds, right?”

    Red is grateful for the lapse in action as a staff member who kindly supervised his 20th match madly dashes to retrieve Palmer. It provides an always appreciated opportunity to maintain his teammates’ hydration, stretch and center himself for what will no doubt be a challenge to remember.

    By the time his final adversary arrives, he’s readily assumed his proper place within the boundaries of the new stadium he’d been led up to, cap twisted backwards and thumb hooked to the belt where five poké balls sit at the ready—but it would appear the elder trainer is the friendly sort who prefers to break ice with a bit of chatter rather than jump straight into any proceedings.

    Far be it from Red to shy away from small talk in a situation like this. The basis is something he can follow, after all. Moreover, as much as he adores competitive battling, engaging in nothing but for any lengthy stretch of time does tend to make one yearn for a change of pace.

    Adopting one of his smaller smiles in kind, the young man closes adequate distance between himself and his host, fingertips dancing along the keypad of a communication device on the way. When he comes to a stop, the resulting message is presented in a larger and bolder than usual font size. Sound strategies to combat the plethora of light sources overhead.

I’m honored. The trainers here are exceedingly talented. I can only hope they enjoyed battling with me as much as I did with them.

    Even knowing full well that a loss can be just as exhilarating as a win, Red hesitates to assume all others will share that sentiment.

Anonymous asked: ❝ A challenger appears! ...And dumps a bucket of water right over Red’s head! ❞ ✦ unprompted.

    Red’s reflexes have never been his strong suit. This goes double for when he’s completely unsuspecting. As such, the splash meets its mark with little to no margin for error, thoroughly soaking the stunned man’s upper body and then some.

    Pikachu, on the other hand, zipped off their trainer’s shoulder at the first sign of danger. They came to sit in the grass a safe couple of yards apart from ground zero, doubled over in raucous, chortling amusement at the utterly defeated expression upon their friend’s dripping face.

    This sort of thing never happens when he’s in Johto. Certainly not. It’s only ever Kanto.

            Grace was always a polite little Pokemon. She loved socializing and getting chances to be the little lady of the room. Especially since she’s been catering to the little Sewaddle around the ranch and modeling their clothes for them. How hard they work and are trying to perfect their crafts.

            As the little Riolu ran past chasing the Mareep around for a game, she turns back to Red and gives a small nod. Did they truly see it as work though when half of it was just actually being the natural protectors they are? Namely Amperia. She’s literally doing what Luxray are known for and patrolling their borders. Kangaskhan is doing what she does best…and so on and so forth? Even so, Nicole will make sure they get rewarded like they do every day.

             Looking back to her new companion, Nicole looks at his message before giving a soft shake of her head.

            “I’m on break ta day. Bu’ they still wanted ta see tha babies an’ tha eggs, so they came in. Wei howeva needed time alone wimmie so tha’s when ya saw us doin’ our lil’ treasure hun’. Do youse an’ Pikachu wanna do ‘er see more?”

    Relieved as Red is to know he hasn’t distracted anyone from their duties, a new concern readily takes its place—the prospect that he may be taking up Nicole’s free time. In one way or another, to his easily made anxious brain, that feels far more heinous than the alternative he’d initially presumed.

    All that prevents the man from running away with his own conclusions is a soft, recollective chime of his therapist’s voice. He’s meant to be putting forth an effort to avoid doing that, especially when he’s not been given any information to support his wild ideas outright. It stands to reason that his new acquaintance wouldn’t have offered to continue their tour if she wasn’t willing. That’s what anyone ought to be putting their faith in.

    A touch worried that his several seconds long bout of internal discord had been unconsciously stowed in a frown or pinch of the brows, Red is quick to let go of any tension prior to facing the other pokémon lover anew.

It’s great that you feel so comfortable spending time here even on your off days. You must be really happy with what you do. As for Pikachu, they seem a little preoccupied at the moment—

    The former champion’s fingers give pause, his head tilting to highlight the direction in which Pikachu just moments ago bounded off. They would seem to have found kinship in some Mareep a ways past the fencing, if their laughter is any indication.

at least with the trainer’s companion on the mend in the room adjacent, comfortably asleep, she finds her hands free enough to begin with a second patient. 

“may i take a look?” before approaching the trainer, heliane is careful to inquire, already fetching a pair of gloves from the small cabinet behind the desk, silently counting the minutes since he’d arrived in her little clinic; if the blood was already dry, it likely wasn’t anywhere near as rough as the injuries his pikachu sustained. 

    The medical professional’s query, however gentle, is met with a slight flinch on Red’s part. Be it due to personal preference or trauma, he’s never handled promises of a stranger’s touch all too well.

    Reluctant as he is to impose care of an injury that could very likely be attributed to his own carelessness upon another, this does make for a perfect opportunity to try exercising some trust. Tension hiking his shoulders notwithstanding, the traveler boldly consents.

❝ He was the first one ready, to be honest, ❞ Misty admits, a slightly amused grin. Lance usually comes across as quite stoic, but the idea of this tournament had him about as excited as everyone else. The image of him at the the last Indigo League meeting, trying to hold back a grin as he informed everyone of what was to be happening at Pasio happen. 

She shrugs.❝ Lance was a bit concerned when we all said we would be coming, but you’re right. And I know everyone has at least someone staying behind to help take care of things. My sisters are taking care of things. They kind of forced me to go, said something about me needing a holiday. ❞ She can’t help but laugh at that.

At the mention of the trio of legendary trainers pairing up together in the tri-battle formation, it doesn’t surprise the Gym Leader at all. The two are as close as can be, even after all this time. It leaves her a little disappointed as battling alongside Red is always a treat, but the offer certainly perks her up. 

❝ We’d love to !! ❞ she says, a large smile painting across her features. ❝ It’s great getting the band back together. Anytime you want to, just let us know. But that doesn’t mean we will be taking it easy on you in an official match just because we’re friends either, Red !! ❞

    Initially, Red does little other than blink owlishly at Misty’s insinuation about Lance. He’s never known the man to be the overly enthusiastic sort. Upon further consideration, however, when they’d faced off at the Indigo Plateau all those years back, there were certainly blazes stoked within his eyes. Potent energy rumbling beneath his frame. It stands to reason that, given the right circumstances, his entire body could be given a fervent directive.

    How he wishes he could have seen it.

    Though the former champion remains attentive to his friend’s tale, he does kneel to give Starmie some much deserved appreciation, hand hovering before its topmost appendages in a silent request for their consent to be pet. At this close proximity, their core’s sheen is all the more radiant. The pokémon must be in their prime. It will be an incomporable delight to watch them in action.

They were right. You do need a holiday. You’re one of the hardest workers I know. Even if you are a little out of your element when it comes to being at a desk.

    Misty’s enthusiasm for a throwaway idea such as his own is thrilling. If he weren’t inhibited by his jet lag, Red might take her reciprocation and usage of ‘anytime’ far too literally. Inquire about Brock’s current whereabouts, latch onto one of his arms and challenge the first set of trainers they stumble across as a collective.

    Lest his own idealistic fantasies sweep him away, Red is forced to point his focus back towards reality. Namely, the discussion at hand.

NAME: ash! star’s fine too. STAR SIGN: libra! HEIGHT:  ~5′4-ish! MIDDLE NAME? nah. PUT YOUR SPOTIFY ON SHUFFLE. FIRST 6 SONGS? YESSS let’s GO. 1) reaction (osu edit) - james landino, slyleaf. 2) do i wanna know? - arctic monkeys. 3) “come on petunia” - the blow. 4) lion - tsukiko amano. 5) still alive (j.c. mix) - aperture science psychoacoustic laboratories. 6) putting the dog to sleep - the antlers. (just as a fair warning, 4 and 6 might fuck you up emotionally.) EVER HAD A POEM / SONG WRITTEN ABOUT YOU? yes..... my partner makes up and sings songs about me all the time. 😭 one of my exes also wrote a really cute poem about me on a birthday card. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU PLAYED AIR GUITAR? for a play i took part in during middle school. LMAO. i don’t think i’ve ever done it of my own volition. WHO IS YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH? don’t really care about celebrities nowadays but when i was a kid, jesse mccartney was probably the closest thing. WHAT’S A SOUND YOU HATE & A SOUND YOU LOVE? hate - the slight screech of a fork when you set it down in a bowl the wrong way. love - classic silent hill menuing sound effects. DO YOU BELIEVE IN GHOSTS? not in the stereotypical "ooooOoooOo i’m a ghoOoOOoost” sense. but i do believe a strong will can be left behind and, for better or for worse, continue to interact with the world around it after a body perishes. which MAY have a lot of to do with personal experience and the fact that i live in one of the most haunted places on this green earth. HOW ABOUT ALIENS? similarly to the above, not in the stereotypical sense portrayed in american movies! but it’d be pretty naïve to think ours is the only planet in the entire universe with “intelligent” life, imo. DO YOU DRIVE? nope! call me paranoid, but being a pedestrian is scary enough. do not wanna get into a metal death trap and ride alongside a bunch of other folks who i may or may not be able to trust and are also piloting metal death traps. really can’t afford one anyhow, so it’s kind of a moot point. IF SO, HAVE YOU EVER CRASHED? n/a. WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ? loser by jerry spinelli. just for the nostalgia. DO YOU LIKE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE? sort of! but it also gives me a headache if i smell it for too long. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU SAW? the sound of music! it was my first time watching too. INCREDIBLE film. WHAT’S THE WORST INJURY YOU’VE EVER HAD? i’ve actually been very lucky in terms of your typical injuries. have never broken a bone, or anything like that. but one time, i tried to open a window at my mom’s house and the grip mechanism broke off, piercing my wrist in the process. which sucked as is! but the worst part was that it got infected in spite of all the water and neosporin i doused it with. was out of work and feverish for days. DO YOU HAVE ANY OBSESSIONS RIGHT NOW? no... brain very foggy and empty. 😔 hoping this weekend changes that! gonna be playing kirby, rune factory and the cookie run kingdom update as well. DO YOU TEND TO HOLD GRUDGES? not grudges, per se, but i don’t tend to forget things. i.e., if i notice that a lot of the times we speak, you’re barely acknowledging the things i say, only messaging me when you want to vent and railroading conversations, then i’ll be less likely to want to chat with you pretty much permanently. of course, if somebody’s done something trust or comfort breaking, i don’t tend to waste my energy resenting them. i just cut them off. do not got the time for that! IN A RELATIONSHIP? yup! for over eleven years now. i’m the luckiest dude around, if you ask me.