A rather loud start.

[Catilena1890]

Well that took a bit longer than it needed to. Crescendo sighed rather loudly as he walked through Dust Town, tilting his head back and lacing his fingers behind it.

"Why mother couldn't just loan me one of her flying pokemon I`ll never know. That boat ride was so tedious." He complained. Secretly he wanted to start with one of his parents pokemon, but knew that building his own relationship with one would be far more worthwhile. He continued to walk, lamenting the long trip the entire time until he found the lab. Walking up to it, Crescendo tried to open the door to find it was locked. His eye twitched as he spun around, sitting down and crossing his legs. He pulled out his flute from the case on his side and polished it, instantly calming his nerves.

"Father always said that music is best for unpleasant emotions. Might as well practice until someone lets me in." He muttered, putting the metal pipe to his lips and playing. The music flowed from the intrument and through the town, attracting the resident pokemon to him to listen.

[Basile]

What was he doing here? Really. This was one of the more idiotic things his family had come up with. Honestly it was as if they were saying pouring salt into a wound was a perfect cure! Annoyance rolled off of the boy in nearly tangible waves as he stood across from the Professor's lab. His arms were crossed, his foot tapping an erratic beat on the sidewalk from deep within the shadows. Lani did not want to go in there! He did not want a new pokemon, no matter how much his mother insisted it would be 'good' for him. One did not simply just attach a new limb and expect the afflicted person to act as if everything is as it was.

He was still ranting in his head about the idiocies of this idea when another boy came up to the door, knocked on it and promptly plopped down, of all things playing a flute. Ugh. Of course it would be his luck that the place he needed to be was closed. Maybe he could use this to advantage. He'd just go home, say the lab was closed and .... No that wouldn't work. His mother would just get upset with him and then sent him right back here. Ugh. Well, at least if he got the pokemon he could appear to make an attempt at a gym battle, dump the pokemon off at a center, and then go home. He would have legitimately tried. No one ever said he had to succeed in his journey. Ah loopholes. So much fun.

Might as well get this over with then. Sighing, he stalked out of the shadows, past the flute player without a world, and slammed his fist against the door. Lazy people, needed to get their rears up and open the door!

[Catilena1890]

Crescendo jumped at the sound of Lani's rather impatient gesture, and he turned around to see him banging on the door. With a frown, Cres put his flute away and sighed.

"Patience is a virtue you know." He told him calmly. Rule number 1, don't fight when you can reason.

As the two boys waited, a small form appeared in the distance. It got closer and closer with dazzling speed until it stopped just in front of them. Cresendo's mouth was wide open as he took on the form of a Suicune, almost not noticing the woman dismounting from it. She looked at the two boys and grinned sheepishly as she approached the door.

"Oh my, am I late again? I`m sorry fellas. Let's get inside so we can get you pokemon shall we?" She said, bobbing her head as she opened the door and let them in. The four of them walked past many fancy-looking machines into another room. In this room, there were more machines and computers, but the highlight of the room was the large podium in it. Professor Conifer gestured for Crescendo and Lani to stay put while she and her Suicune walked up to the podium.

"May I get their things Ranny?" She asked. The Suicune laid down and allowed Conifer to pull out 9 pokeballs from its mane. She set three pokeballs in a circle on the inner ring of the podium while she opened the other 6 and placed their pokeballs on the outer ring. She then turned to Crescendo and Lani and smiled, stepping aside.

"My name is Professor Conifer, and I study pokemon types. The pokemon you see before you are the starters, and you may pick any of them. The pokeballs on the inner ring of the podium contain pokemon even I don't know, as they will imprint of the first one who opens them. Trainers may choose only one pokemon, but coordinators and breeders may take two. Choose wisely now, who will you pick?" She asked as the pokemon lined up.

[Basile]

Lani was not impressed. Not impressed at all. What kind of professor was late? Not professional at all. He shook his head as he followed the woman inside, he refused to refer to Conifer as a professor. Even if she did ride in on a suicune. Perhaps the pokemon was just mentally deficient to allow that type of person to control him. Still, the types of pokemon that popped out of the balls were intriguing. Or they would be, if he cared to be partnered with one. A dratini, a trapinch that would eventually evolve into a flygon, a few others that were rather pathetic looking. None of them interested him. So he simply walked up, plucked a ball from the middle, and stalked back to his spot. It would be easier if he didn't have to actually pick the pokemon. Besides. He still had to get all the gear he would never use. Had to make a show of it.

[Catilena1890]

Although he picked it up, Lani did not open the pokeball. This upset the pokemon inside it and it decided to take matters into its own hands. The ball opened up anyway and a bright light came forth, taking the form of a light blue and black pokemon in front of Lani. It's sparkly tail wagged as the pokemon looked up at it's new trainer, smiling cutely. It padded up to him and jumped up, licking his hand.

"Shinx Shinx!" It cried melodiously. Shinx looked up adoringly at its new trainer and wiggled its butt, the tailwag obviously not sufficient enough to represent its happiness.

Ranny, sensing Lani's insulting thoughts, growled at the new trainer. How dare he question her choice of friends. As she continued to growl, she suddenly felt a bump at her legs. Ranny looked down to see that Shinx was trying to attack the large blue pokemon and this left the suicune confused. Ranny shook her head and jerked her foot, sending the little shinx flying across the room into the wall, making everyone gasp. Still, the shinx got up and returned to Lani, taking a fierce defensive stance in front of him. Ranny smirked and lifted her head, preparing to teach the runt a lesson when Professor Conifer stepped in.

"Ranny! You know better! Leave the poor guy alone." She said. Ranny snorted and turned her head to the side, feigning boredom at the whole situation. Shinx sat down and looked back at Lani again, as if asking if he did good.

Meanwhile, Crescendo was looking over the starters eagerly. He loved every one of them to bits, but one stood out above the rest. He approached the Snivy, who seemed indifferent to everyone. Before he could make his choice Crescendo's attention was snapped to the sight of the mini-battle. He pulled out his flute again and began to play to soothe the rage of the insulted suicune, and when he stopped he found that the Snivy he was looking at before was at his feet, giving him an approving stare. Crescendo smiled as he reached for Snivy's pokeball, attaching it to his belt.

"Well, I guess we're good to go now." He said, happy with his choice.

Pokemon Obtained:

Lani:


Pokemon Name: Shinx
Gender: Male
Pokemon Personality: Protective, affectionate, apprehensive towards strangers, can be violent in a flash.
Pokemon Ability: Intimidate
Pokemon Health: 26
Pokemon Level: 5
Move Roster: Tackle, Leer

Crescendo:


Pokemon Name: Snivy
Gender: Male
Pokemon Personality: Calm, aloof, enjoys music
Pokemon Ability: Overgrow
Pokemon Health: 23
Pokemon Level: 5
Move Roster: Tackle, Leer

[Basile]

No. No, no, no! This was not good. This was so not good! He watched in horror as the little pokemon burst forth from it's ball and instantly began to love on him. Oh, there were soooo many things wrong with this! Why did this shinx have to be a runt? Why? Why did it have to be so affectionate? And protective! Lani bit off a groan as the little one turned, growling and attempting what appeared to be a headbutt attack on the suicune. Of course, then the little on went flying, and Lani had to press his lips together to suppress a laugh. Somehow he didn't think that would go over too well in the current company. Still! It was the little runt's own fault for attacking a pokemon who was obviously much more powerful than it.

And then it had to do it. It had to. Instead of backing down or cowering, the little shinx actually moved in front of him and growled right back even though it knew it was incredibly outmatched. Damn! Double damn! He felt the stirrings of pride in his heart for the little one, and that was something he could not afford. Not if he was going to go through with his plan. He did not want a new pokemon! He had a pokemon, and it had died. That was his pokemon, his companion. Not this little shrimp of a shinx!

If this was going to work, however, he couldn't allow the little thing to get hurt. Not right off the bat. So Lani heaved a heavy sigh, leaned down, and plucked the shinx up off the floor, causing the little one to squeak. "That's enough, Abeon," the boy snapped. His entire demeanor changed in an instant from the growling hellion to a kitten full of love and affection as he rubbed against his trainer's cheek.

Lani glanced up at Conifer. "Well? Where's the rest of it. Are you always this slow?"

[Catilena1890]

Ranny growled again at Lani's comments only to be silenced by the Professor, who was otherwise unfazed. She gave a smile at Lani as she pointed to the bags and pokedexes.

"Well I've been having a surge of new trainers lately, so I've been a bit harried. I don't have any help aside from Ranny here, but she doesn't belong to me and only visits. Now then, go pick your bags and get everything together, you`ll have to leave for Gustella when you are done." She said in a matter-of-fact tone, moving to pet Ranny and nurse her wounded pride.

Grabbing the first bag and the blue pokedex, Crescendo carefully packed his things, his Snivy helping him. He waited for Lani to pack, seeing as how they were going in the same direction anyway, before he would leave the lab.

Pokedex Styles:



Bag Styles:




Box Contents:

X5
X5
x3
x2
x3
x5

[Basile]

Abeon paid no attention to the woman as she explained herself, crawling up onto his trainer's shoulder to continue nuzzling the boy's cheek. It left Lani's hands free, but still... He couldn't have this little creature crawling all over him. So he lifted the pokeball and commanded the shinx to return from whence he came. Gone was the little blue and black fuzzball. For about two seconds. Then he burst forth once more, and resumed his admiration and cuddling. Lani sighed, lifting a hand to his forehead as he quietly shook his head. Despite his look of irritation, he was having a hard time supressing the smile that threatened to break free. So he transfered his attention.

"Get some assistants then. Every professor I've ever heard of has assistants." His tone made it clear that he didn't think much of her skills as a professor, and he blatantly turned his back on Conifer and the suicune as he grabbed the third bag and his supplies, including an orange pokedex, dumping them into the bag with little ceremony. After he'd settled the bag on his shoulder, he retracted the shinx's ball and settled it onto his belt. Then he lifted his hand. "Thanks for the stuff Conifer. See you." And with that he was out the door and on his way, shinx still firmly planted on his shoulder.