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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:49:21 GMT -5
Valentines Day Blind Date Match-Up
Hoenn's Leader and Leader of Team Magma
...this will be awesome.
Maxie, leader of Team Magma, was sitting in a cafe, contemplating two things; first and foremost, his future. Where he was going to take Team Magma now that it was back and ready to go. He obviously couldn't pull any of his old antics again, because people would not take kindly to that at all, especially considering the state of the world right then, almost engulfed in a war that encompassed the entire world. He also, however, could not just back down and let Magma bide its time, because right then, it needed confidence in its leader, mainly himself; he didn't know what to do. Find Rayquaza and somehow cause the beast to come under his sway, but he hadn't the slightest idea how to do that at all. He resisted the urge to sigh and instead turned his thoughts to the other subject that was going to be on his mind tonight. Who was his blind date to be? He had grudgingly gone along with the strange match-making sevice, figuring it wouldn't hurt to at least try it; with luck, he wouldn't end up with a crazy Lux fanatic, because he hated fanatics like that. Fanatics, even ones in Team Magma for instance, were not useful to anyone; in fact, they were almost always downright detrimental. Sometimes I think it would have been easier if I had just stayed in exile...then again, Team Magma needs this goal done. the land needs to be expanded, for the sake of everyone, people and pokemon he told himself that as he scanned the crowd, looking for his blind date. Of course, he likely wouldn't know her as soon as she showed up; it could be anyone, for all he knew. Or...wait, he hoped it was a woman; if it was a man, he was going to not even try and just run off. Sure, he might lose face a little, but who cared about that? Maxie was not into men in the slightest; women were much more his taste. Well, hopefully she shows soon he told himself as he leaned back a little bit in his chair and waited, letting his eyes settle on the ceiling as he did so. The cafe was quite busy, surprisingly enough; he was surprised that Slateport was still as active as ever. He remembered the day the submarine had been stolen from the city...it had been quite lively then too, though for entirely different reasons. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:51:03 GMT -5
A dating service. Why the hell did she even bother using it, again? What had possessed her to? Oh, right. Volkner. That didn’t fit her answer, though. She wracked her brain for what it was that he said that influenced her to actually go along with his ridiculous idea. A dating service for Hoenn’s Leader. Really? She wasn’t even lonely. She’d made a good number of friends in a relatively short amount of time, but some, like Volkner, she’d had for at least a few years since she was younger. She was content with a wide circle of friends, some close friends, etcetera. No man had taken her heart – yet – but it wasn’t as though she were actively searching for one to do so.
Does Volkner think I’m lonely…? she wondered absently as she ducked between people in Slateport’s market square. She got hellos from people that recognized her for her fame within the Region due to her accomplishments, and nods for others because of her rank within Nox. She acknowledged them but stayed on a beeline for the café the matchmaking service she’d been wrangled into somehow had recommended and told her to meet the match they gave her.
Watch me not like this guy… she mused. Normally she got along with people, but her luck with a matchmaking service? It was probably laughable. At least I hope it’s a guy… The thought made her cringe inwardly. More of her friends were male than female. It wasn’t to say that she didn’t get along with other women, she just tended to gravitate towards men for whatever reason. It probably started when I didn’t chase after cute pokemon or Coordinating.. she told herself with a grin.
Stepping into the café, she looked around. It was a Valentine’s Day event for the whole restaurant, and almost every table had a couple at it.
Except for one.
A man with red hair, donning a black and red outfit caught her eye.
You have got to be kidding me… she thought, a feeling of dread rising up before the anger she knew would follow.
Walking over to him, she gave no indication that she knew his identity at a first glance.
”Are you here on account of that matchmaking service?” she asked simply.
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:51:55 GMT -5
Time continued to tick by, and really, Maxie began to wonder if he had showed up just a bit early...now that he thought about it, there were also quite a few other couples in this place for Valentine's Day; he wondered, had they been brought here too via the same matchmaking service? Most of the people seemed to be getting along, which was a good sign; it pointed to him getting along with whoever his match might be...hopefully. So long as it wasn't a guy, he would try his best to be polite and courteous, no matter who it was that showed up. He was telling himself that as another person entered the building, and he screwed up his eyes a little bit as he studied the female; this was...strange. For same reason, the leader of Hoenn for Nox had entered Slateport City right in the middle of Valentine's Day, when most people were in the cafe that day for a romantic outing. That was when she spotted him and...began walking towards him; dear lord, the fates really did hate him and all he stood for, didn't they? First that earthquake a while ago and getting stuck in Granite Cave, and now being stuck with Alyssa as his date for the evening. He expected some sort of cutting remark from her, for surely the Hoenn leader had something to say about what he had done to Hoenn, but instead, she had asked a simple question, causing him to steeple his hands together before he answered. "Yes...yes I am here because of that. I assume you are too," Maxie said with a sigh; he wondered if it was possible to find out who arranged this. And slowly strangle the life out of them; this was cruel, just too cruel. "You might as well sit." Maxie said a moment later; he could just imagine hear launching into a rant any second. And he'd just sit there and take it, because what he had done years ago was truly horrendous. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:53:24 GMT -5
Alyssa barely even needed to be told that he was in fact here thanks to a matchmaking service. How the hell was she, Alyssa Akiyama, Hoenn’s Regional Leader for Nox, Hoenn’s Abyss, paired with Maxie, the leader of the hated Team Magma. Alyssa wanted to place her hands beneath the table at which he was seated and flip it towards the wall so she could grab ahold of his collar and shake sense into him. Truly, she wanted to punch him. She wanted to slap him; she wanted to yell at him at the top of her lungs but in a public place like this that would get them both nowhere but a good number of stares and most likely the polite invitation to leave the restaurant.
”Youre right as rain with that assumption.” she said quietly, clenching her fist by her side. ”Though I must say I can’t believe that I’ve been matched with you. I wonder if the service thinks they’re being funny by seating me with the ex-Leader of Team Magma.” she curled her lip in disgust. ”What, no smart comeback?” she snarled, knowing full well that she hadn’t even given him enough time to respond in the first place. ”I can’t believe this sort of luck. I’ve had the fortune not to meet you until now but it was bound to happen someday. You’re just lucky that I was out of Hoenn at the time you, Team Magma, and equally damned Team Aqua pulled your colossal stunt.” She clenched her jaw, taking a seat across from him with obvious displeasure. ”I would have toppled you sooner than Ruby, Sapphire, Steven, or Wallace.”
She glared at him from across the table. ”The least I expect from you is to realize how completely foolish your actions were and how stupid you are for even so much as attempting them, don’t even get me started on listing them.” Crossing her arms, she sat back, her cerulean eyes alight with fire.
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:55:09 GMT -5
It was to be expected, that she would hate him so; plenty of people in Hoenn hated him, and even those outside of it hated him. He wondered, just how many lives had he ruined in his little stunt? No, not just him...Aqua had ruined plenty of lives too by pulling what they had, but the blame fell on him too, and Alyssa had no qualms about telling him such. Really though, he thought it a bit arrogant of her to exclaim she could have toppled him faster than, say, Ruby, Sapphire, Steven, or Wallace could have. Why was Wallace mentioned though? Maxie barely remembered the man; most likely it was because of the pretty boy attitude Wallace seemed to have about himself. Compared to him, well, Steven Stone was much more memorable of a man, not to mention persistent to all hell. "Trust me, were it up to me, we never would have met. I've had bad enough luck already lately," he said, addressing her first concern about them being matched up in the first place; she had a point though in the fact that it was peculiar that whoever ran the service saw fit to pair him and Alyssa up, of all people. He still had a hard time getting over that; he concentrated on the matter at hand, however. The task of trying to calm her down. "How I went about it might have been foolish, Alyssa, but what I wanted in the end was for the land to expand. Groudon wasn't supposed to go out of control, and for not taking the proper precautions, I am sorry. But I am not sorry for trying to expand the land for pokemon and people; it's a noble goal, one fit only for me and me alone," Maxie replied to her, letting a slight frown twinge his mouth after he spoke. He would never apologize for following his beliefs, ever. "Tell me, do you really think you could have taken me down faster than that boy Ruby could have?" he asked skeptically; Ruby was skilled, extremely skilled, even when he was only about twelve years of age. Now? Ruby probably could beat most anyone in Hoenn, Alyssa included. Of course, the Team Magma leader did not say that, nor had he revealed that Team Magma was actually back in full force; no need to make Alyssa suspicious. Then again, she had to have some inkling; the mysterious funds Nox was receiving lately had to be coming from somewhere, after all. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:55:52 GMT -5
Alyssa’s fingernails gripped her arms, digging into her skin as she listened to him. ”Foolish doesn’t even cut it, my mistake for giving you that impression. It was stupid, absurd, and you are an utter fool for so much as trying to think you could expand the land, and much less control Groudon to do it for you to boot!” She clenched her jaw. ”To be so arrogant as to assume that you could control Groudon in the first place proves that you didn’t think your plan out. A Legendary and sacred pokemon such as Groudon should be too great for any one person to control, much less somebody that has less-than desirable ideas in mind when they want to use it like a tool.
I don’t know when you last checked or not, Maxie, but pokemon are nothing but tools. They have minds and hearts of their own; they have spirits and souls that guide their will. To think you could bend that for your selfish deeds makes you in no place to question me for anything. But since you haven’t spoiled my mood entirely I will humor you and respond that yes, I believe I could have. I was in Johto at the time and only got wind of your antics through letter by exhausted Wingull from my parents. To expand the land mass as you so desperately want as much as Archie wants to expand the seas is stupid. The world is in balance as it is and anything to upset that balance aside from natural causes is never going to end well."
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:56:38 GMT -5
She was smart, arrogant, and...right; absolutely, dead-on right. It had been arrogant of him then to think he could just control Groudon like that, a legendary pokemon, with or without the Blue Orb. It had been the stupidest mistake in his life, and the most arrogant; it had nearly ruined Team Magma after all! Of course, no one knew it hadn't ruined them, that they were still going strong; they still thought that Magma was down and out, unable to come back from what had happened. That wasn't true; he wanted to refute what Alyssa was saying, but how could he without revealing his team was back? "You're right...it was arrogant for me to try and control Groudon like a tool, especially when legendary pokemon are very volatile beings. Still, I do not think my goal to expand the land was foolish in the slightest, especially in light of Team Aqua. After all, had I not done something and Team Aqua actually succeeded, would your precious balance still exist? Had I gone ahead and expanded the land and succeeded without Team Aqua expanding the sea, your balance would be gone too.
Had we both done nothing...well then, problems would have arisen; it's only a matter of time until all the space on this world of ours is discovered, and what then? People will get overcrowded, as soon as wars start to die down a bit. Pokemon will be displaced. Fights will break out again, and everyone will die. More land Is needed, Alyssa." Maxie said, deciding not to comment on what she had said about being able to beat him faster than Ruby; as he had told himself before, no one could do that. How strange that this date should turn into a debate on what he had done...he had been wrong to do it, he knew that, but had he not tried and Aqua succeeded, worse things could have happened. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:57:15 GMT -5
”I did not say that you were the only one at fault. I said Archie’s idea was as stupid as yours, Maxie. Neither the sea nor the land should be tampered with in artificial means and like stated, should only change in size through natural means such as the sinking of borders between land and sea, allowing the sea to creep upon the shores, or the eruption of a volcano which would cause new land when molten rock spews into the water, hardening as it cools, and forming new land.” She sighed quietly, attempting to calm herself.
”The world will grow over-populated at any rate, and pokemon will be displaced, yes. But that is natural for the world to keep itself balance. It has happened before in the long past, and it will happen again in the future. So long as we don’t try to force natural processes things will solve themselves. Not ‘everyone’ will die, although fights will happen. It’s to be expected. Only a fool would think otherwise. If you make more land, people will die just as they would naturally. If you expand the land, pokemon will be displaced – water pokemon. If Archie expanded the seas, similar consequences would have seen. When you two watched on as Kyogre and Groudon fought in Sootopolis, what was going through your head? Disbelief at how terribly you had failed, I hope? Realization that you were wrong, I assume? It’s thanks to Rayquaza that Hoenn was not destroyed by clashing weather patterns – caused by Kyogre’s rains and Groudon’s droughts. There’s no telling what could have come if the fight had existed longer than it did.”
Sighing, she allowed the jist of her tirade to end. Although she got out most of whatever she would have said, she would be ready to counter whatever he said.
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:57:42 GMT -5
She was right, in a way, but still, the process she was describing would take many years to occur, during which time people would kill each other over the limited land space that would be available; didn't she realize that? She had to realize that magma from a volcano hardening into land would take some time, just as it would take some time for the seas to wash away the land. He and Archie...the two of them had simply sped up the process, with disastrous results; or rather, they had tried to speed up the process. For the second time, he thought about telling her of Magma's resurgance, but really, what would that accomplish? She'd probably turn around and try to rid the world of Team Magma again by herself, and while she was doing that, while she made Nox focus on eradicating the last traces of Team Magma, Lux could sneak in from behind and obliterate the group. No, what he said here, today, could change the fate of the war, and he wouldn't let it go badly for Nox. He didn't particularly like either of the groups, but Nox was definitely the better of the two. "I know what would have happened if the fight had lasted longer," Maxie said, trying to keep the guilt out of his voice; no need for Alyssa to see him weak, especially when the only reason he knew about her was because she was Nox's leader for Hoenn. "Their fighting would have gone on for ages, and eventually, the entire world would have been covered in that drought, in the raging seas. I would have been responsible for so many deaths..." Maxie said; in truth, what she had said hit so close to home, because she was so very right. He had felt those exact things when he had seen what he caused; realization that he was wrong, disbelief that his plan had not worked. But...no, he had a new plan now, a better one, and no one would learn of it this time before it was ready. Well, no one outside of Team Magma, anyway. "Anyway...can we get off that topic? I know what I did was wrong. It was the biggest mistake of my life. But can we try to push that to the side, in light of what day it is?" Maxie suggested, hopefully; he was in no mood at all to deal with more of her tirade. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:58:17 GMT -5
Alyssa practically held her breath as Maxie continued speaking. There was hardly anything she could say that wouldn’t seem like she was re-stating her point without diverting to making new points for herself and risking allowing her temper to flow freely. She didn’t want that, though. Not here, not today. Control yourself, Alyssa. the quiet voice in her mind silently warned her. When he finally spoke after a moment of silence, admitting his wrong and asking to move on, she looked at him. Her cerulean eyes stared into his for a long moment, and she was intentionally allowing the tension to mount between them while she decided.
For this matter, the ball was in her court. However, she felt strangely merciful compared to how she would towards the man sitting before her any other day. This will be brought up again, I am sure. she thought, narrowing her eyes before closing them all the way, a long and tired sigh escaping her body. ”…we may.” she said, unclenching her hands from around her arms and letting her hands drop into her lap. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
”…despite the fact I feel sure we both know quite well who is sitting across from us, we never did proper introductions. I suppose we should do so to start on a better topic, hm?” She paused, taking a moment before continuing. ”I’m Alyssa Akiyama…Hoenn’s Leader among other things and titles.”
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:59:01 GMT -5
Maxie was prepared for her to continue arguing her point, because she seemed like a very determined woman. But no, he was pleasantly surprised when she agreed with him, that they could ignore what he had done due to what day it was. He was...glad, because he was sick of being constantly reminded of what an absolute failure that plan had been; he still didn't know where he had gone wrong. No, no, he would not let himself go down that line of thinking again, because it would not get him anywhere; the best thing to do was concentrate on the future. And just temporarily, that meant focusing on Alyssa, and what she had to say to him. Hm, interesting, she wanted to start over so bad that she was willing to make a pointless introduction; it was already well-known who she was, but it wouldn't hurt to properly introduce himself. "And I am Maxie Mavronski. Don't ask about the last name...it's far too elaborate for my tastes, to tell the truth," was what he said with a small shake of his head; really, did his parents have to be so alliterative when they named him? After all, his initials came out as MMM; if that was alliterative, what was? "What do you suppose one talks about on...blind dates? Do they just get to know each other? In that case, would you tell me something about yourself?" he asked, though that was probably fruitless; why would she tell him anything about herself? |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 19:59:30 GMT -5
Mavronski, huh? Well, she’d never had a proper name to go with the face other than just ‘Maxie’. Now I know who to think of when I want to think of one of the worst people in Hoenn’s recent history. She didn’t let the scowl show on her face. Archie’s right there too. She paused in her thoughts for a moment. The rest of Magma and Aqua are there too. I suppose they get a bit of leeway if they dropped from the faction, but even still I hold the fully accountable for all of their actions. Were this not a time of war, and I had reached the top of Hoenn by defeating Wallace, I would see through many actions…but now is not the time for that.
She blinked once to acknowledge his words and couldn’t help but smirk. So his name, too, shared similar letters with a more ‘elaborate’, as he had put it, flair to it. Alyssa Andraste Akiyama. Did they really have to name me ‘Alyssa’? she wondered idly, thinking of her parents for the first time in ages. She shook it off and looked back at him. That was a fair question he had – what was one supposed to talk about on blind dates? The closest they would come today was small talk and getting to know one another more than just Maxie being an object of Alyssa’s hate.
If that…
Sitting back, Alyssa glanced up as the waitress as she laid a long plate between them. It was decorated with an assortment of finely sliced fish pokemon, some she had no doubt were imported from other regions. This was Slateport, after all, and the time of war had only hampered their ability to produce the best. Looking at the waitress curiously with a cocked eyebrow and water raised to her lips, the young woman spoke.
”Finest fish from all the regions, and even Qwilfish on the ends. It’s specially prepared by our licensed chef. This is the introductory dish for the line of meals today for couples.”
The white-haired Leader nearly dropped her glass and coughed violently as the waitress walked away. Although she should have been prepared for a comment like that on this day, it was the last thing she was expecting. Me. Maxie. A couple?! She would have laughed if the notion were funny.
”Ah…pardon me…” she said, coughing once or twice more.
”Get to know each other, you think?” she wasn’t keen on revealing too much about herself to this man, though she would give minimal details.
”Born and raised in Verdanturf. One of the most peaceful places in Hoenn. Your turn.”
She had a feeling this back-and-forth would continue for a while. Poking her fork into one of the fish slices, she popped it in her mouth and chewed slowly.
This is delicious…
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 20:00:16 GMT -5
The smirk that Alyssa had was not lost on the red-haired man, and he resisted the urge to say something; he really disliked what his parents had named him. True, while it was rather alliterative, that didn't mean it was the best thing ever; in fact, in his mind, it was the worst thing ever. How he disliked his parents for giving him such a stupidly alliterative name; but he didn't focus too much more on that. Instead, he focused on the assorted fish before him, no doubt from the many, many fish that plagued the various regions. He remembered the first time he had seen a Magikarp; was that creature one of the fish on the plate before him now? He wasn't sure. It was at that moment that the waitress decided to inform them that the meal before them was for couples, and he could see Alyssa visibly react; although she didn't slam her water down and question it, he could tell that she really, really wanted to. He broke out in a chuckle, that soon came a small laugh before he stopped, realizing that Alyssa didn't find it funny in the slightest. Still, he did, as his smile showed. "Verdanturf...that's where Wally's uncle lives, if I remember right, or someone related to him. It's also where you have to get the items necessary for pokemon contests," was what Maxie said in response to him telling her origins. How odd that the future leader for Nox in the Hoenn region would be a girl raised in such a backwater place...Verdanturf was not really notable for anything aside from the fact that it was where one had to register for contests. That, and Wally's family lived there; unless one were a coordinator or wanted to learn about Wally, the place was all but useless. Maxie, of course, did not say that. "Raised right here in Slateport...in fact, I believe I've been to this cafe before. I'm not sure if the same people are running it or not though..." he said, not letting his displeasure at her simple statement show as he took a bite from the food before him. Despite the fact that Alyssa might have qualms about digging into something that represented romance, he did not, because really, why would anyone ever let good food go to waste? "Anything else you want to tell me? Pretty sure people don't just tell each other where they were born and such on a date. They get right down to the intrusive tidbits, but I can understand you not wanting to share those." Maxie said after he had swallowed his food. Say what you would about him, he was not a sloppy eater by any means, nor was he rude; he took a drink of water as he awaited an answer of some kind from the white-haired Nox leader. |
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 20:00:53 GMT -5
Wally…that sickly child that had grown into a fine fighter and a wonderful Pokemon Breeder, if she remembered correctly. Green hair, Ruby and Sapphire’s age, constant case of terrible asthma, recently making it into the papers alongside her for rumors? His relatives to live in Verdanturf… she silently responded, keeping her cerulean gaze focused on him as she slowly chewed a second piece of fish. It was indeed good – brilliantly flavored and sliced small enough to be considered an appetite whetter but nothing beyond that. She had a feeling that he couldn’t believe someone like herself had established a massive reputation and claim to fame throughout the regions upon only coming from a tiny town situated at the base of a cave where the wind-swept grass was the prettiest thing you could see alongside wildflowers.
Big names come from small towns… she thought, allowing herself to smirk a bit at the thoughts of other trainers that had managed incredible feats in their childhood. They, too, had come from smaller towns and it was no hidden fact. Red and Blue from Pallet, Gold from New Bark, Ruby and Sapphire from Littleroot, Diamond and Platinum from Twinleaf, while other trainers had followed in similar steps through Unova too. Maybe the dream she’d kept alive through the years wasn’t as far-fetched as she had thought, looking back on it now.
So, Maxie was from Slateport? That was interesting enough. Alyssa found it a bit ironic that he would make the City go in uproar by stealing a submarine out of its port, but she wouldn’t touch that issue. She’d forced any qualms she had with Maxie aside for the sake of the day, and she would not go back on her word. Doesn’t mean I can’t think it… the small voice within her head grumbled.
Her eyes narrowed at the older man at his suggestion. She wouldn’t reveal much on her own if she was just left to not answer on accord of her own decisions, but if he asked, she would consider responding to more than if she was left to talk on her own.
”…fine, you want to get to know me?” she asked, summarizing what she saw coming as a result from their exchange. ”You’re going to have to work for your information. Ask me what you want, I may or may not respond. That much is up to me.”
Crossing her arms, she sipped her water and leaned back, watching him.
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Post by KANE on Feb 21, 2012 20:01:20 GMT -5
Maxie noticed her eyes narrowing, but did not comment on it at all. After all, there was zero reason to bring up old wounds, especially when it seemed that she was willing to forget them in light of the fact that it was a day for love. He doubted that she honestly believed there was a chance of that happening between them though, based on how she had acted when she had first seem him. Besides that, there was the matter of her hair. True, she had all the signs of youth aside from said hair, but whenever he looked at it, it always made him think of an old woman. He wondered just how it was that she got by in life with hair like that, how she was able to live cracks about old age down, for surely she had to receive them. That, or people never said anything about it, owing to her reputation as Nox's Hoenn leader. He thought about those thoughts, and Alyssa's words, as he stuffed another piece of fish into his mouth; hm, Krabby. Yes, he was positive that this had to be a Krabby; he had dined on the exquisite pokemon before. He remembered the first time he had ever became conscious of the fact that a lot of food was made out of pokemon; he had been a young boy. At first, he had been horrified, because it was obvious to him and others his age that pokemon were sentient creatures, based on the fact that they cared about people. But he tried his best to steer his thoughts away from that direction, because really, he had to concentrate on what to say to Alyssa. Or rather, what to ask her; what could he ask first? Hm, he pondered that as he looked away from the meal between them to look at her. He narrowed his eyes a bit too as he clasped his fingers together. "Hm...what to ask you. I know. How is it that you managed to become the regional leader for Hoenn? And why did you become the regional leader?" he questioned; that was a fairly basic question to ask, especially considering that it was not private in the slightest. At least, he didn't consider it private, but then, he probably had different notions of what private meant compared to Alyssa. He was, after all, the leader of Team Magma, which meant that he had to be okay with some things not being private. Such as the fact that Courtney was positively devoted to him; she would likely not hide THAT in public even if he asked her to. |
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