The Grand Opening

[driftingmods]

[A large WELCOME sign is hanging from the buildings when you walk into Levanta Town, but that seems to be the only sign that today is any different than any other day. The villagers are simply going about their daily business. However, if they are approached they are more than happy to explain the region as well as they can to any new arrivals.

Welcome to Levanta Town in The Drifting Land!]

Comments

[hoennmaihime]

Oh, that's a good point, I didn't think of that. Okay, I'm a Pokemon Coordinator and before I came here, I was travelling through Johto. I've got three ribbons so far, and I was heading towards Olivine City to participate in a contest there for my fourth. Also, I love trying new food, shopping, and swimming, especially in the ocean.

Is there anything else you'd like to know?

[yeah she can be a tinyyyyyyyyyy bit oblivious]

[battlestandby]

[auuuugh girl talk, you remind him of another girl that mildly annoys him...]

I didn't want your life story. I'm more concerned with how trustworthy and competent you are.

[hoennmaihime]

[Chewing on her lip; that's a bit trickier.]

Ummm... Okay, how about I show you my Pokemon, and then you use them as a judge of character?

[battlestandby]

[A girl willing to prove her worth to him without giving him any lip? That's a nice change of pace already.]

Very well, go ahead.

[hoennmaihime]

[She gathers all five pokeballs into her hands and throws them into the air, simultaneously saying:]

Okay: come on out, everyone!

[Cue Blaziken, Venusaur, Munchlax, Wartorle and Glaceon appearing. And all five pokeballs falling magically back into her hands.

May's already briefed them on the 'sudden change of scenery' situation, so their respective attention is mostly on the stranger in front of them.]

[battlestandby]

[He'll give then all a look-over. Blaziken immediately has his approval, as does Venusaur. Glaceon... meh, he's seen worse Ice-types. Wartortle would be more useful whenever it becomes Blastoise, and Munchlax... oh dear, that thing looks annoying.

Hm.]

... This should do. For now. Keep working on them.

[hoennmaihime]

[May blinks in surprise. That was... terse. Oh well, it's clear to her by now that that's probably just the way Paul is. No sense in making a fuss over it.]

Well, we're hardly going to stop training! We've got a Grand Festival to win, right guys?

[She's met with an enthusiastic cheer from all. Clearly, her Pokemon feel the same way.

...One has a little more on its mind at the moment, however. Munchlax has shut its eyes and is deeply sniffing the air - when a sudden burst of speed propels him behind Paul and in an instant, greedy little hands are reaching for his backpack.

Oh shoot, why now Munchlax? May sternly calls out:]

Munchlax! Cut that out, you can't do that to a stranger!

[It freezes, but remains exactly where it stands, readying itself to beg for the food with that blank expression of its.]

[battlestandby]

[Paul turns around abruptly to face the thieving Munchlax, giving it a very hard downward stare.]

You haven't had this one for long, have you?

[hoennmaihime]

Munchlaaaax

[Its hands slowly lower to its sides, but it continues to stare unwaveringly back up at Paul. May's just going to... see how that goes.]

...Define 'long'.

[battlestandby]

Long enough to thoroughly discipline it.

woops I misread that

[hoennmaihime]

Oh! If that's the case, then yes. It takes years to teach a Munchlax to ignore its stomach!

[battlestandby]

... I can show you how to keep it on a short leash.

sorry this took so long!

[hoennmaihime]

Yeah?

[Some fresh advice could come in handy.]

Have you trained a Munchlax before?

s'alright!

[battlestandby]

No. But I've been a trainer for four years and I've developed my own methods of dealing with Pokemon that won't behave or follow orders. It's called discipline.

♥

[hoennmaihime]

Discipline...

[How did you discipline a Pokemon anyway? Hmm. That was something her mentor had never done. Ash didn't like the idea - Pokemon were equals. And then Aipom would steal his hat and pull them all into another adventure for the hundredth time, with a half-hearted telling off at the end. Maybe.

This is her own journey now. And maybe, if a Pokemon persistently acted like a small child, then they should be treated like a small child.

May shifts, her right hip jutting out slightly and her head tilting to the side, interested in what Paul has to say.]

I'm listening. You're not the type of trainer to be accused of going too far, are you?

[battlestandby]

[Why yes, yes he is! And of course he's not going to be totally honest about that at first!]

You're asking if I have a bad reputation?

[hoennmaihime]

I guess you could say I'm curious as to how competent and trustworthy you are.

[well snap.]

[battlestandby]

I can show you my Pokemon; they will be proof enough of my competence.

[hoennmaihime]

Sounds good to me.

[Waiting.]

[battlestandby]

Everyone, standby!

[Out go six Pokeballs, showing off fully-evolved epic beasts! Torterra, Honchkrow, Weavile, Electivire, Ursaring, and Magmortar!]

[hoennmaihime]

Woah...

[The look on May's face is a cross between apprehension and awe. The same can be said for her smaller Pokemon, barring Glaceon. She, Blaziken and Venusaur seem pretty chill, as per usual.]

You're all so fierce! You must have worked really hard, I'm impressed!

[battlestandby]

These are the results you end up with after years of rigorous training, yes.

[Every single Pokemon of Paul's are staring down at May's Pokemon. Shorty Weavile can at least stare down Glaceon.]

[hoennmaihime]

[STARING COMPETITION - that Wartortle immediately bows out of. It'd much rather go stand behind May's legs, hiding protecting her. The rest don't seem to want to back down, though.]

I see... But you all still know how to relax and have fun, right?

[battlestandby]

[He'll just stare at May. He sorta took that as a rhetorical question. His Pokemon remain to be stoic, except for Weavile who can't keep a straight face and snickers.]

[hoennmaihime]

...Right?

[We may have a problem.]