Paradise Found (Flora)

[Victor Von Doomstein]

He snickered quietly when she heard her fight off signs of seeming self-absorbed, and decided to explain. "I don't think I'd be able to see you as selfish from what you told me, Soleh. Really the opposite. Anyway, I'll tell you. Funnily enough, selfishness is one of the reasons that brought me here, I suppose." He was of the belief that she had opened up to him, and now here he felt he should return the favor.

"I guess I should tell you that I was lying a little about an apprehension towards Ghost-Types. I don't think they're that bad, honestly. But.. If I'm going to tell you why I was sent here, I may as well start from the very beginning. What I didn't know about their parents, the biggest reason behind our family's wealth aside from my mother's status as a wealthy debutant back then, was that they were secretly Pokemon Poachers. It's terrible, I know, but please, let me continue." His expression suddenly shifted to a serious one, regretful, as though he was the one bearing the sin of his family.

"Apparently what had been the most 'profitable' in the black market had been the gem industry. Nobody in the public had the heart to remove these sometimes essential parts of some Pokemon just for profit. I'm not sure what my parents felt about it, either. I wasn't able to tell if they hated it but needed the money, or if they did it like it was a sort of day job. They profited in the business, primarily, of.. Sableyes." He gulped, starting to finally release his pent-up memory. "They harvested the gems from them, and it didn't matter from where they originated. Bred for harvesting, caught in caves.. It was all fair game."

"I didn't know. Honest to Arceus, I didn't.. They gave me one as a gift. I didn't know the whole time that this one was the one they decided to give me as the first Pokemon to really start a trainer career with." A frown crawled onto his face, as he shook his head, looking down. At this point, he wasn't holding onto her shoulder with his hand, he had been leaning on her, as though he would fall otherwise. "You can imagine I developed quite a bond with him. I named him Zafiro, after those sapphire gem eyes he had."

"I traveled throughout the region with him, fighting against other trainers, seeing what Hoenn had to offer to us, even participating in Contests, occasionally. I swear, people used to call me self-centered, snobbish, condescending. It's like when he was around, all those qualities just melted away. And one day, Zafiro looked.. homesick. He wanted to see the cave in Dewford, where, as you know, Sableye are most known for nesting in. I suppose he just wanted to see his siblings." He sighed out his next few sentences as though he was having a legitimate struggle. "I don't know what happened. I suppose the Sableye, knowing the scent of me being associated with my family, were suspicious, distrustful. Things got bad. Zafiro and another Sableye, we had no choice but to enter a battle."

"I know the last move we used in that battle. Power Gem. We missed, hit the ceiling.." It was all starting to come back to him, the situation playing out in his mind as though he were watching a frame-by-frame recounting. "There were way more Arons and Zubats in the cave than I remembered. I gues the lack of Sableyes made more room for more nests for them. We hit a whole horde of those.. damned bats." The sighs went on to sobs. He held onto her for dear life. "They.. they swarmed him! I couldn't do anything. Not a SINGLE THING! ..I.. I just sat there, and watched them. They tore him.. tore him to pieces. I-I grabbed the only thing I saw. A piece of sapphire. I.. I was sure it was whatever was left of Zafiro. ..I blacked out, and I woke up in the Pokemon Center. They took me home to my parents in Lilycove."

"I told them everything. About what happened, about those fucking zubats. ..And as I got finished, there was a broadcast by the Ranger network on TV. Graphic footage about Sableye being harvested for their gems. There was, of course, only one culprit to blame after the footage was leaked. The Garcias. I really don't understand how it happened, but they didn't even get jailtime for it, either. They just got fined for a hefty sum. I'm not sure if it was bribery, or what. But, when I saw that broadcast, I fled. Fled as far as my flying Pokemon could take me. I went wherever I could go to avoid anything that remotely reminded me of my family, anything about the Garcia name."

He continued to cling to her, as he kept telling his story. "The last place I fled to was Mauville City. The security took me, scooped me up, and I was home again. .. My parents, they acted like nothing happened. Like Zafiro was a mistake and that there was nothing wrong with giving their son a Pokemon that was one of the same types that they coldly killed for money. i went back to school. I had to tell everyone that Zafiro's disappearance was related to the scandal. There was nothing else I could do."

"And, just like that, I regressed. I became the monster that Zafiro's presence prevented me from being. I was mean, I was snobbish, and I was self-centered, like how I used to be. Some of my teachers and classmates couldn't take it, and even mailed my parents. Father was furious, Mother was overly praising. It was then my father decided to 'enrich my personality and teach me the meaning of humility' by shipping me to Era." He looked up at her with a lowly expression. His eyes had been a plentiful well for tears, though, in the waters of the spring, it all appeared to be hidden.

"That's why I'm here."

[Prince Pony Age]

Soleh nodded, and listened patiently.

...Or, well, she thought she would. When he brought up the bit about Pokemon poachers, she made a face--which he responded to immediately, and she reset that face and actually listened patiently this time.

As he spoke of Zafiro and hugged onto her, she patted his back in what she hoped was a comforting way. When he first latched onto her it was somehow surprising, but she was cool with that. She was tempted to say "shh" and "there, there," but also felt that would be insulting--not jsut to his intelligence, but also because he was clearly not done yet, and he'd been the one to bring up telling his story anyway.

As he said how he fled, she assumed that would be the end and how he got here, and--wait, it wasn't? He..oh, wow, that sounds terrible. She let him finish, continuing to try to wordlessly comfort him. "I'm--I'm so sorry to hear that, you poor honey..." She wasn't certain why he'd want to talk about something so clearly painful to think about, but maybe it was...good, in some way? Like, that bit about Flannery was actually kinda nice, venting that to someone who actually understood.

She hadn't...lost any Pokemon or dealt with anything like that, though, so she wasn't likely what he was looking for, in that respect. All she could really do was say words that, in the scheme of things, amounted to nothing. Well, that and pat his back in a way that she had no idea was supposed to comfort him, but it was.

--- Soleh's Current Team ---

[Victor Von Doomstein]

Garci looked, well, to be a total wreck in comparison to how he does usually. His hair was thrown into a mess, and his face simply showed the expression of someone who had been bawling their eyes out for hours. He didn't look too pretty for the moment, but he had buried his face in Soleh's shoulder anyway, hugging onto her tightly. True, his cling was sudden, but he felt it was necessary. He needed someone to comfort, or at least listen to him, and at this point he wouldn't really have it any other way. It somehow helped that she was, well, soft.

As she patted him on the back, he sobbed uncontrollably. Whatever sort of rational, calm, collected mindset that was in Garci had completely and utterly shattered as he wept. Still, he had to tell someone about his sorrows, to let out all of the anxiety and the pain that was associated with this memory. When Soleh did it, he had no other idea but to provide his own sentiments, for the both of them to help each other. He kept sniffling, holding onto her tighter as he let the rest of his tears subside. A remaining few sobs escaped, as he slowly let her go, drifting back an inch or two.

He remained silent, as he ducked his head into the waters. The heat of the pool absolutely burned,it was a horrid sensation, but he wanted to wash away the tears and the snot. He did so as a means to regain his composure, as his head bobbed up. Even if Soleh wasn't amazing at reading people by emotion, anyone could see that there was still stress within him, even though his face look totally calm. "..Thanks for listening, Soleh," he sniffled out, as he held out his arms to hug her again, a means to show his gratitude. He still held on tight, but not nearly as much as he had before.

[Prince Pony Age]

She continued hugging him as long as he seemed to need it, though let go of him as soon as he seemed to want to move away. She watched him, as he dunked his head underwater, not really thinking much aside form general variations of 'daww, poor baby....'

He came back, and indeed despite his straight face something in Garci's posture was pretty obviously not-really-okay as he thanked her. He hugged her again, and she hugged back (again) and said, "Even if it weren't for you list'nin' t'me first, I totally woulda, it's.. yeah, no problem Garci hon."

This hug was over much more quickly than the first, considering. Soleh ...wasn't certain what to do after that.

--- Soleh's Current Team ---

[Victor Von Doomstein]

Garci was still at her side after the hug, leaning against the ledge.Through the whole explanation, he realized one thing. Lexus hadn't been awake for any part of it. He hadn't been sure if this was a good thing, to keep it hidden from her now that he'd finally got it off his chest. "If that's the case, Soleh, then, well. There's not much more for me to say aside from the fact that you're a very nice person." He dunked his head one more time, rinsing off his face as he did. "I think we should just relax here now."

So, for however long that one or both of the authors decided, Garci and possibly Soleh continued to rest in the spring. As soon as time would dictate that it was over, Garci returned to his hotel room with Lexus in tow. He didn't care if she was sleeping on the bed, this time. His mind was too busy being clouded with other concerns. He had been sitting at the side of the bed, leaning down over his knees. It was true. That lady, Flannery's sister, was really nice. Was he going to change his schedule just so he could ask to go along with her? The indecisiveness was killing him, more so than usual at least.

That moment, Lexus sprang to life, looking up at Garci. "What's the problem, Garci?" He looked down at her, moving his head from his hands. "You don't.. Just, don't worry about it." She moved toward him, shaking her head. "I can't not worry about it. You know what role I'm intended to serve." "Yeah, well, why do you have to serve it? To try and always figure out what's wrong, to baby me all the time. Why can't you just be like any other Pokemon?" "Because I am. Pokemon serve a myriad of other roles that they do just as well." "Well, you don't have to act like my mother. Anyone could tell that's exactly what you're trying to do." The Larvesta remained silent for a few moments and said, "It's about the girl you met today, isn't it? Did she do anything to you?" Garci's eyes darted to the side. "No, she didn't. Something's on my mind. Let's just sleep on it."

Suddenly, a twelve-second melody plays and the screen fades to black, as several hours pass.

It had been the morning, and Garci was in his usual wear, not quite a suitcase being carried along with him yet. He was in the lobby/reception room/what have you of the bath house, sitting down in one of the chairs. Not quite yet would he be looking for the masseuses. Not until he'd seen her, and could tell if she was going to leave or stay for another day or so. He had his hands together, as he sunk in his chair as time passed.

[Prince Pony Age]

"Nah, I'm nothin' special. But yeah relaxin' sounds...nice." She did for a while, leaving when she noticed, "Ah, man, I'm gettin' all pruney! 'Dja lookit that." She went back to her room and slept that night snuggling Bonbon, her Flareon, as she did basically every night.

Aaand suddenly it's the next morning! Soleh tended to be early-to-bed, but she was also late-to-rise because she really liked sleep. At least, when in hotels and other establishments where the beds were sooo nice and comfy.

Well, comparatively.

So poor Garcian was probably waiting there in the lobby for quite a while before she appeared. She was dressed somewhat for traveling, in a tee-shirt and shorts and tennis shoes. Her five Pokeballs were obvious on her waist, with one of them apparently unoccupied as Bonbon was out, and by her side.

She noticed Garci sitting there, and waved to him in greeting. "Oh, hi there! What'cha doin' just sittin' there? Looks pretty borin' t'be honest.. If you're not doin' anythin', you wanna come Litwick huntin' with me? Fig'red if I like'em I might's well get one, though havin' someone to talk to while doin' it would be nice!"

--- Soleh's Current Team ---

[Victor Von Doomstein]

Garci's facial expression brightened when he saw Soleh approach, and he had waved back. He felt as though he'd been waiting hours, and very nearly gave up on his wait. "I was just.. er-herm, thinking over things. I had been.." He noticed a magazine left over on the nearby table, and tried to explain his reasoning for staying there or mask the fact that he was waiting for her to come. "..reading this magazine. I finished with it, but I didn't quite know what else to do." Hearing her idea for hunting Litwick had been a perfect idea - he had nothing better to do, and she was perfect conversation to pass the time with.

"Litwick hunting, hm? I thought the story would have scared you off, though." He smiled at her, trying to mirror the same creepy grin he did yesterday. "Still, I'd absolutely love to. I have a couple of Pokemon that would do fine against them. As a partner, would you prefer.." He dug into his pockets for his Piplup-designed ball containing Edgeworth, and the other for the Pawniard-designed ball containing Bellator. "A Water type, or a Dark type to tag along with your Flareon?" This had been the first time he'd seen Bonbon, and in all likelihood, he assumed, this was her most beloved Pokemon. It's just as well, it was a fire type, which was more than enough to explain it.

[Prince Pony Age]

Soleh took his word for it, not questioning that at all. "Ah, I see! Makes sense."

Nodding at that as he responded to her invitation, she answered, "Nah, I ain't scared. I guess we should be weary of the wild ones but once it's in a Pokeball it'll be perf'c'ly fine!" She clearly said "weary" when what she meant was "wary". "And sure, the more th'merrier, right? Right!" He let his Pokemon out, and she smiled at them. "Ah, good idea! That should make it easier t'cat--.....oh, oh, man, Pawniard has False Swipe don't it? --Wait no that's Normal type it can't hit Ghosts. Ah, well. Anyway, yeah, type advantages are pretty cool!"

She shook her head to herself, and finished with, "Anyway, you ready to head out or d'ya need t'go 'n' get ready?"

--- Soleh's Current Team ---

[Victor Von Doomstein]

He didn't mind her slip of the word wary, because that might just end up the truth if this 'soul sucking' information about Litwicks are true. He decided to go along with picking Bellator, to try and train a Pokemon that had already been getting stronger. This may or may not be a decision he would regret, but having Bellator be a Bisharp might actually get him to appreciate his trainer a little bit more. He withdrew the ball containing Edgeworth back into his pocket, and sent out Bellator, who stood in his stance, staring down the Flareon for a moment before turning back to Garci. Another slip she let out about types was something he shrugged off. The fact that she hadn't really trained as a Pokemon trainer would be a viable enough reason for him to understand why she was a little out of practice.

He checked if there were empty Poke Balls in his pocket, and nodded when he managed to feel them. "No, I believe I'm absolutely ready for this. Let's go, Soleh." He stood up out of the chair with Bellator at his side, as they moved toward her, prepared to follow if she was to leave to the outside, into the springs area now (or anywhere else for that matter). He was certain that in that area, they would find Pokemon like Litwick.

[Prince Pony Age]

Soleh spaced out for several moments that felt more like three months before she came to and answered, "Uh. Sorry 'bout that. And awesome, let's go!" She made for the door as well, and when outside, wandered around the edge of the springs hoping that there would be more Pokemon at the fringes of the humanized area.

[haven't posted in so long! ops sorry also sorry it's short]
[also a mod here would be an awesome thing]