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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 18:16:05 GMT -5
Adrien gazed in awe as he stepped off the bus. He had seen his fair share of buildings both gaudy and large, but they all paled in comparison to the ostentatious structure before him. The buildings various facilities stretched towards the horizon on both sides and a massive, gleaming dome painted to resemble a poke ball loomed in the distance. It reminded him of- "AHEM" came a sudden cough from behind.
Adrien snapped back to the moment and looked back at the passengers stuck behind him. "Excuse, my apologies," he said as he stepped aside. Moment broken he gave the building one last cursory glance before starting towards the entrance. He wondered just how many others had taken these same steps before him as they began their own journey.
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Post by Managrimm on May 25, 2014 18:52:03 GMT -5
The lobby was still fairly empty, the only people in the room being those with other business or those trainers who had shown up very, very early. A good five people who had gotten off the bus behind Adrien filed in with him to take seats or otherwise settle down comfortably around the room. There were a lot of young, excited faces gathered in the lobby and a couple of people were flipping through the League's official pamphlets. The three people doing so all had the same one, the covers decorated with stylized images of a Yanmega using Air Slash on a Donphan in front of a stylized Poke Ball background.
About nine people were waiting altogether, Adrien included, and plenty of seats were still open. People fidgeted and relaxed and played with phones and MP3-players in their various fashions, the clock ticking slowly ahead.
When only three minutes remained, a middle-aged man emerged from the door besides the reception desk and glanced around the room. "How many of you are here for a Pokemon?" he asked, noting how many hands went up as all but one person responded. "Great." He nodded. "Looks like everyone is here. If you haven't signed in already," he said, gesturing to the clipboard next to the reception desk, "Do so now and we'll get started."
A few people were already standing, several gathering backpacks or large bags, and three crowded around the sign-in sheet while some who had signed in earlier swelled forward eagerly to grab places at the front of the pack. Once everyone was ready, precisely one minute early, the entire group was herded down the hallway and into a large lecture hall.
The lesson was very basic and all things anyone aspiring to be a trainer should already know. The rules of official battles, the movesets and care of the various starters, as well as some warnings regarding misuse of Pokemon were all covered. The lesson ran a bit long, likely due to the speaker covering twice the number of Pokemon as usual, and a few would-be trainers seemed noticeably impatient by the time it ended.
Finally, the speaker stepped down and an aide called for the fresh blood to assemble. They were led, a few adamant trainers asserting themselves as first, to the all-important hall leading into the rooms where they could pick their starters. One door, the one they were told housed the basic starters, was immediately to their left. The other, which appeared for all intents and purposes to be an exit complete with "Exit" sign, led to the promotional Pokemon. Once released, the most eager of the trainers wasted no time.
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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 20:38:47 GMT -5
Adrien, from his position near the back, joined the smaller group and headed towards the exit.
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Post by Managrimm on May 25, 2014 21:26:06 GMT -5
A large, mesh tent was attached to the building from the outside, the floor giving way to grass as the novice trainers stepped out into the impressive enclosure.
The air was alive with Yanma buzzing around the room in frantic bursts, only two resting quietly with a Cacnea near an artificial pond. A group of four Roggenrola appeared to be congregating around the entrance to what seemed to be a concrete-reinforced greenhouse, the entrance through which could be seen a good number of Cacnea. A few other Cacnea, previously wandering around, stopped to take note of the humans as they entered. One particular Roggenrola bumped into the Cacnea it had been following and got swatted away onto its back. The rest of the Roggenrola seemed to have formed a conga-line behind one of their fellows, but two broke off at the sound of footsteps and started wandering over.
There were several aides in the room, one of which was accompanied by a Swoobat. Two of the five trainers immediately hailed one down.
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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 22:15:17 GMT -5
The Roggenrolla seemed a bit... unrelatable and the Yanma weren't exactly easily approached. Adrien kept his options open but decided to start with the greenhouse. Carefully he stepped around the Roggenrolla and entered the structure.
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Post by Managrimm on May 25, 2014 22:29:05 GMT -5
The Roggenrola cluttered around the entrance made entering a bit tricky, but though one shuffled slightly at the sound of Adrian's footsteps none of them moved to impede his progress and he successfully entered the greenhouse. The air inside was shockingly arid and he quickly found himself surrounded by the staring eyes of no less than five Cacnea. "Cacnea," one stated plainly, waggling an arm less in greeting then in acknowledgement.
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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 23:15:23 GMT -5
"Greetings, my name is Adrien," our hero began, tucking his arm and bowing deeply as he spoke. Adrien briefly surveyed the room before continuing.
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Post by Managrimm on May 25, 2014 23:21:32 GMT -5
A few of the Grass-types sitting along the greenhouse shelves exchanged glances. "Cacnea, Cac. Cacnea," one Cacnea, different than the one that had spoken earlier, piped in from its place on the floor as it examined Adrien. The one next to the humidifier just stared, expression unreadable.
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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 23:48:33 GMT -5
Adrien moved a bit closer to the Pokemon and knelt down, his cloak dragging in the sand. "Was that a greeting?" he inquired.
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Post by Managrimm on May 25, 2014 23:51:01 GMT -5
It started to shake its head, but paused mid-motion and shrugged instead.
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Post by Kyro on May 25, 2014 23:58:14 GMT -5
"Very well," Adrien said, giving the Pokemon a warm smile before standing back up and stepping back a bit. Addressing the room again, he asked "Would any of you like to join me on an adventure? You would be welcome to train and grow stronger, or simply accompany me. If any of you have any questions I will try to answer to the best of my ability."
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Post by Managrimm on May 26, 2014 0:08:23 GMT -5
"Cacnea. Cac, Cacnea," said the one Adrien had been addressing, tone indecipherable as it looked Adrien over appraisingly. A few of the others exchanged glances again.
"Cac. Cacnea, Cac," one on the shelf said down to it, the three of them shrugging.
It shrugged back before looking up at Adrien. "Cac," it said, raising its arm.
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Post by Kyro on May 26, 2014 0:14:49 GMT -5
"Is that a question?" Adrien asked, raising his pointer finger. "Or are you saying you'd like to come with me?" he continued, raising a second finger.
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Post by Managrimm on May 26, 2014 0:23:05 GMT -5
It blinked, looking at one finger-less and club-like arm before raising them both questioningly.
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Post by Kyro on May 26, 2014 0:36:47 GMT -5
Adrien smiled and nodded. "I see," he said, kneeling down again. "Would you like a minute to bid farewell to your friends?"
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