ten (text/action) ♊ this is the dance of the pokémon advance!

[viiru2alert]

[Early on the morn of the seventeenth, this anonymous text message appears on the Network:]

PFC. Since I haven't heard anything about stopping the meeting in light of that rampage at the Department Store, it'll still be happening. Just be ready to move somewhere else if they tell us to; I'd say Route 35 would be a good place. So yeah, if you like Pokémon battling, come on up to the top of Goldenrod Depot in a few hours.

[And a few hours later, lurking on the rooftop of one Goldenrod Department Store is a kid with stupid glasses who seems more interested in his Pokégear than anything else. But that's really because people haven't showed up yet!! There's not a lot to suggest that there is even a thing still happening here, to be honest, no banners or anything. He... didn't really put in much effort to get snacks or anything, because there are vending machines right over there, and all the money people win can totally be used for food! ...And for the people who lose, they should have brought more money.]

[There's gonna be two subthreads below: mingling and battling. If two characters meet and want to duke it out, one of them should make a new thread under the battling comment, just to keep it neat.]

Comments

[anabottleofcola]

[Bobbery and his team land on the roof from the stairs, and push into the scene with a stubbornness. His Sealeo hauls and thrusts herself along at his side with each step her trainer takes. The Raticate bristles and sniffs and glares at every other Pokémon whose face meets his. The Prinplup waddles behind looking intense, and the Wingull, as poised as she can.

This charge that they had has been hanging with them since the Valentine's Day rampage, especially since they'd recovered from the certain whoopin' they'd all gotten from the three in the Department Store. What a failure it had been in every sense, and every bit as much of a motivation to make the most of this. A fantastic training opportunity, for starters, build up competence, readiness, that they were clearly capable of but so far behind on - but also with any luck a place to find some respectful, fair, and friendly competition.

Bobbery's wearing his armband plainly, yellow and thinly embroidered with a black anchor, onto which is pinned four simple circles, two yellow for the Sealeo and Raticate, two orange for the birds.]

[viiru2alert]

[Got stuck in the rampage? Ouuuuch. Sollux was still traveling to Goldenrod at that point, so he was busy setting things up in the hotel with everybody else; but hey, that team didn't look too worse for wear. In fact, Sollux couldn't even tell they had gotten their asses handed to them at all. Signs of a good Trainer? Definitely. Sollux's own team went thusly: two Lv100s, one Lv95, and three 30-40s, which meant a yellow band with two white and one black pins on it.]

You're all looking motivated.

[anabottleofcola]

[Bobbery sizes up the trainer who's approached just as one of the trainers here - it intrigues Bobbery how many of the people displaced to this world are still children, but those levels!

He does wonder if that comment has anything to do with knowing - or even simply guessing that they had a brush with at least one of those maddened Pokémon, but that could be simply because it's still on the brain. And even so, he'll try to avoid making it into the topic of conversation - admittedly at least as much because it embarrasses his team as it does him. He'll just hope his short chuckle of "Hm!" comes off as just loaded enough instead.]

I should hope so, dear boy! I expect there'll be a certain value in any opportunity for one's team to test themselves and to make acquaintances. [Nodding at his armband.] Although I'm certain you've guessed that comparatively to the others present, my experience as a trainer is still limited, wot?

[viiru2alert]

[Look, man, have you seen the Trainer age limits in this world? There's pretty much nothing more dangerous than a Pokémon, and the natives are gleefully sending their ten-year-old children out to die somewhere in the wild with only a fluffy little bird to protect them. If, you know, they could die at all. Which they can't. But that's an entirely different tirade.]

Nah, that's okay. I mean, hell, I brought my Pokémon of the same level. [He holds out an arm. Yup, yellow band.]

[anabottleofcola]

[Thoughtful raise of the brow, and a pause.]

If I may ask, what sorts of Pokémon have you with you, and which fall within which level groups?

[viiru2alert]

The low ones are Normal, Fighting and Ghost, and the high level ones are Psychic/Ground, Water, and Fire.

[friendyousohard]

[Wandering over from the vending machine, a cheery and dopey-looking Dragonite waves at the admiral and his team, beaming as he chugs a lemonade. His trainer walks up behind him.]

Whatcha up to, Spike? Oh, hello! [She smiles as she notices Bobbery, waving at him with an arm boasting a black armband with one pink button and a teal one.] Did you just get here?

[anabottleofcola]

[The big tame lemonade-drinking dragon approaching waving got a rather immediate smile out of Bobbery, if not an immediately obvious one under the moustache, and a cheery bark out of his Sealeo.

His brow raises at the sudden appearance of his trainer, but the smile deepens politely.] We did, miss, yes. How do you do? This dragon is one of yours, is he?

[friendyousohard]

Quite well, thank you. [Her eyes fall on his armband for just the slightest moment, and there's a flash of disappointment in her eyes, followed immediately by thoughtfulness.]

We seem to be the early ones, it looks like. I'm Twilight Sparkle, pleased to meet you.

[anabottleofcola]

So it seems, indeed. Bobbery is my name. The pleasure is mine, Miss Twilight!

Around how many others are expected to show, if you would happen to know? I'm afraid I've hardly been here more than long enough to make it to this city from New Bark Town, and my circle of acquaintances and, accordingly, sources of information on events is rather limited, eh?

[friendyousohard]

Sadly, I'm not sure about the numbers of the club either, Mister Bobbery. All I know is that Sollux gave out the time and location, and so I decided to show up to see who else would.

But I do know that the talk of this group was quite popular, so I have to assume there will be more members arriving if we're patient.

[anabottleofcola]

I see.

Well, I suppose that my team will do as your dragon companion - [Glances again at the Dragonite.] - appears to be doing and enjoy the space for leisure in the meantime, eh?

[His look shifts to the Sealeo, who lets out another happy bark. She loves socializing with other Pokémon!]

[friendyousohard]

That sounds like a good plan to me.

[She smiles at the Sealeo.] Nice to meet you all, too. I just got an egg for someone like you.

[Spike sips at the lemonade again and lumbers over to a nearby bench, plopping down on it.] So have you been enjoying Goldenrod so far? Judging by your Pokemon and your armband I'm guessing this is your first time here.

[islandshore]

I take it you're fond of water types.

[And cue Riku wandering over with his big ol' Charizard and one huffy and skinnier-than-usual Dragonite.

Not every day he sees a Wingull or Prinplup around, nor a Sealeo, other than Sora's. Consider his curiosity piqued.]

[anabottleofcola]

[More dragons.

Bobbery is impressed at the sight of the lad approaching with the two, and it most likely shows. It takes a moment for him to tune back out and address the question.]

...Hm? Yes, I do imagine I've something of an affinity for them. My Scarlette was the companion provided for me on my displacement. [Indicating the Sealeo.] ...I suppose that speaks to some intelligence in the so-called starter Pokémon's assignment to new "trainers", does it not?

[islandshore]

In some cases, sure. I've seen match-ups with starters that fit like a hand in a glove.

[He laughs, resting a hand on his hip.]

As for me... can't say I'm one of them. My starter's fine and all, but I wouldn't call him a mainstay on my team.