Roleplay

10619

December 31, 2016 13:56:20

@Ayle

Ajax noted the restraint in Mila's voice, looking at her and her Kirlia again. She seemed...worried about the pokemon, who had cast on his mask of neutral detachment once again. Ajax's eyes lingered on Lin before looking up at the woman's question.

"No, it is fine, let's continue on. We'll have plenty of time for questions." He pushed off the wall, then paused, eyes averted, "...And apologies for my lack of formality back there. Unlike in business affairs, in the rings some people require force before they can be persuaded."

He cracked his knuckles, heading back to the main floor. The time on the marquee read 5:30 PM. Three more hours to not screw this thing up. After a moment of silence, Ajax cleared his throat and, still not looking at Mila, said,

"Well, since we're on the topic we'll head to the pokemon center." He turned into a smaller passageway just beyond the ring, where a guard stood at the end of it in front of a door. At the other man's wary glance in Mila's direction, Ajax sighed with exasperation,

"She's with me, Mace." He opened the door, and the two went in. Like the other rooms, this one was sparsely decorated as well, with a single machine sitting ominously at the end of it, humming and occasionally clicking. Ajax reached it, opening the top to reveal the indentation for the pokeball.

"Unfortunately we may need an upgrade to our current 'center', but we go by with what we have. It's a bit disappointing compared to the government-owned models, if we could get our hands on one without activating its tamper resistors," Ajax closed the lid, "Which, as you may know from your studies, has a nasty habit of killing pokemon instead of healing them."

@Skiatha

Mila nodded, before following after Ajax. So he says, but it appears as if this level of formality is the more likely mask, rather than the persona he wore in the training area. And why the sudden bashfulness? Out loud, she replied, "No need for apologies, the situation was due to my error."

She trailed slightly behind Ajax, still a little lost in thought. She carefully loosened her hold on Lin's arm as they walked, fingers circling around the bracelet he wore around his wrist. She kept a close eye on Lin as she did so, watching as his mask, and she was sure it was a mask, now, wavered slightly with confusion at the out of character action. What is this? Is this new behaviour, or have I just not noticed it before? I'll have to test this, find out what it means.

When they entered the Pokemon center, Mila walked up to the machine as Ajax talked, humming in assent as she looked it over. "That might be an area where I could be of help. While the facilities in our labs aren't quite government-grade, I have been lead to believe they are comparable. I should be able to arrange for a machine or two to be delivered to you, although you might have to provide your own engineers to install it or make any further modifications."

Her gaze lingered a moment longer on the Pokeball dock before she turned away. "If that sounds alright to you? We can, of course, work out further details at a later time."

Ayle

1453

December 31, 2016 17:22:54

@Skiatha

Mila nodded, before following after Ajax. So he says, but it appears as if this level of formality is the more likely mask, rather than the persona he wore in the training area. And why the sudden bashfulness? Out loud, she replied, "No need for apologies, the situation was due to my error."

She trailed slightly behind Ajax, still a little lost in thought. She carefully loosened her hold on Lin's arm as they walked, fingers circling around the bracelet he wore around his wrist. She kept a close eye on Lin as she did so, watching as his mask, and she was sure it was a mask, now, wavered slightly with confusion at the out of character action. What is this? Is this new behaviour, or have I just not noticed it before? I'll have to test this, find out what it means.

When they entered the Pokemon center, Mila walked up to the machine as Ajax talked, humming in assent as she looked it over. "That might be an area where I could be of help. While the facilities in our labs aren't quite government-grade, I have been lead to believe they are comparable. I should be able to arrange for a machine or two to be delivered to you, although you might have to provide your own engineers to install it or make any further modifications."

Her gaze lingered a moment longer on the Pokeball dock before she turned away. "If that sounds alright to you? We can, of course, work out further details at a later time."

@Ayle

"Yes, that would be greatly appreciated," Ajax said, "My father would be more than happy to arrange the details. We'll be heading to the main lounges next." Clearly done here, he turned somewhat tersely and headed back out the door. The guard only spared a momentary glance this time as they exited, looking away quickly before Ajax could notice the slight tilt to his eyebrows. He only coughed, letting them through before resuming his post.

"The lounges are located on the second floor, which are only accessible with an invitation from the boss himself," The slight contempt in Ajax's voice rang clear, but he continued, "We'll be taking the lift up."

They stopped at the entrance to the escalators, Ajax pressing his thumb into a similar pad as the previous one. The double doors opened, and he stepped in.

"Which level, Master Lu?" the elevator pronounced.

"Observation deck."

The doors closed and the small compartment hummed as it ascended, casual elevator music filling in for the silence between the two people and pokemon. When the doors opened, Ajax quickly stepped out onto the carpeted floor. The inset ceiling lights were dimmed, an expansive stretch of windows to their left accounting for most of the light in the lounge. Plush black couches and sofas were spread throughout the room, and a bar (empty, for now) sat towards the back. Ajax walked to the window, placing an arm on it and looking out over the main ring below them,

"This is where my father comes to overlook the tournaments," and where he likes to bring his playmates- Ajax held back another wave of contempt, motioning towards the people walking about below, "And where he likes to entertain his VIP guests. Perhaps we will return here to watch-"

His attention was drawn away by a waiter who approached,

"Excuse me, Mr. Lu, would you two like some refreshments?"

"Yes, just some water. Would Ms. Mancini like anything?"

((PFFT I can literally imagine the awkwardness between Ajax and Mila in the elevator, so gold omg sorry bbs))

Skiatha

10619

December 31, 2016 21:26:37

@Ayle

"Yes, that would be greatly appreciated," Ajax said, "My father would be more than happy to arrange the details. We'll be heading to the main lounges next." Clearly done here, he turned somewhat tersely and headed back out the door. The guard only spared a momentary glance this time as they exited, looking away quickly before Ajax could notice the slight tilt to his eyebrows. He only coughed, letting them through before resuming his post.

"The lounges are located on the second floor, which are only accessible with an invitation from the boss himself," The slight contempt in Ajax's voice rang clear, but he continued, "We'll be taking the lift up."

They stopped at the entrance to the escalators, Ajax pressing his thumb into a similar pad as the previous one. The double doors opened, and he stepped in.

"Which level, Master Lu?" the elevator pronounced.

"Observation deck."

The doors closed and the small compartment hummed as it ascended, casual elevator music filling in for the silence between the two people and pokemon. When the doors opened, Ajax quickly stepped out onto the carpeted floor. The inset ceiling lights were dimmed, an expansive stretch of windows to their left accounting for most of the light in the lounge. Plush black couches and sofas were spread throughout the room, and a bar (empty, for now) sat towards the back. Ajax walked to the window, placing an arm on it and looking out over the main ring below them,

"This is where my father comes to overlook the tournaments," and where he likes to bring his playmates- Ajax held back another wave of contempt, motioning towards the people walking about below, "And where he likes to entertain his VIP guests. Perhaps we will return here to watch-"

His attention was drawn away by a waiter who approached,

"Excuse me, Mr. Lu, would you two like some refreshments?"

"Yes, just some water. Would Ms. Mancini like anything?"

((PFFT I can literally imagine the awkwardness between Ajax and Mila in the elevator, so gold omg sorry bbs))

Last edited on Dec 31, 2016 21:28:52 by Skiatha

@Skiatha

Mila spent the elevator ride leaning lightly against the railings of the elevator, tapping out notes into her tablet for later review with one hand. The other still held Lin's, with the Kirlia shooting increasingly uncomfortable, questioning glances towards her, which Mila pretended not to notice.

Upon arrival at the observation deck, Mila closed her tablet, and walked with Lin to look out over the ring. Lin tugged tentatively, eager, as he pressed his face to the railing. "Later, Lin," Mila murmured absently, as questions about maximum seat capacity and how traffic changed over the course of the week popped up and were filed away for later. The barely contained hostility in Ajax's voice at the mention of his father caught Mila's attention. Definitely not on good terms, then. Perhaps it would be best to avoid mention of paternal figures, in the future.

The arrival of a waiter interrupted her musing, and she looked up. "Just water for me as well, please." She offered the waiter a polite smile, before turning back to Ajax.

"Whilst I'm flattered by the implication that I am counted amongst the VIP guests, and would, admittedly, prefer to watch the match from here, do you think it would be possible to view today's match from the stands?" Mila's gaze wandered back down, to the spectators milling around the ring.

"I am less interested in the actual battle, as compared to observing how the crowd reacts to the battle. Understanding the perspective of the consumer is often important to tailoring the experience for maximal enjoyment, and, therefore, ensuring repeat visits. As pleasant as this deck is, it doesn't quite reflect what the average spectator will experience."

As Mila finished speaking, the waiter reappeared with two tall glasses of iced water, one of which Mila took gratefully. "Ah, thank you."

Ayle

1453

January 01, 2017 04:58:59

@Skiatha

Mila spent the elevator ride leaning lightly against the railings of the elevator, tapping out notes into her tablet for later review with one hand. The other still held Lin's, with the Kirlia shooting increasingly uncomfortable, questioning glances towards her, which Mila pretended not to notice.

Upon arrival at the observation deck, Mila closed her tablet, and walked with Lin to look out over the ring. Lin tugged tentatively, eager, as he pressed his face to the railing. "Later, Lin," Mila murmured absently, as questions about maximum seat capacity and how traffic changed over the course of the week popped up and were filed away for later. The barely contained hostility in Ajax's voice at the mention of his father caught Mila's attention. Definitely not on good terms, then. Perhaps it would be best to avoid mention of paternal figures, in the future.

The arrival of a waiter interrupted her musing, and she looked up. "Just water for me as well, please." She offered the waiter a polite smile, before turning back to Ajax.

"Whilst I'm flattered by the implication that I am counted amongst the VIP guests, and would, admittedly, prefer to watch the match from here, do you think it would be possible to view today's match from the stands?" Mila's gaze wandered back down, to the spectators milling around the ring.

"I am less interested in the actual battle, as compared to observing how the crowd reacts to the battle. Understanding the perspective of the consumer is often important to tailoring the experience for maximal enjoyment, and, therefore, ensuring repeat visits. As pleasant as this deck is, it doesn't quite reflect what the average spectator will experience."

As Mila finished speaking, the waiter reappeared with two tall glasses of iced water, one of which Mila took gratefully. "Ah, thank you."

@Ayle

Ajax took his glass, sipping from it as he gazed thoughtfully over the ring,

"Very well," he turned, looking directly at Lin, "If you can ensure that there is not another incident with your Kirlia, then we will watch from the stands. Keep in mind, though, that if there is, neither I nor any guards would be allowed to interfere." He took another drink of the water, handing it back to the waiter.

"Since the matches will be commencing in another hour, we might as well go visit the waiting areas for the spectators and contestants."

A short elevator ride back down later, Ajax led Mila down another hallway, the widest one and the one that Mila had been escorted to prior to the meeting. People moved freely in and out of the rooms that lined the passage, each with a guard standing at the doorway.

"As you know, these are the waiting rooms. Many require prior reservation for a private room, or if you give an extra 'fee' to a guard." They had only passed a few rooms when someone from B3 called out,

"Ajax!" A man with dyed-silver hair and red contacts came from the room, "You wanna come in for a bit, have a drink before the matches? Or are you...busy?" He smiled toothily at Mila, gold canines glinting. Ajax shed the man's arm from his shoulder, continuing walking,

"Not tonight, Marcus, I have business."

"Ah, I see. Didn't know you were into that type," Marcus looked at Mila, red eyes glittering, "of business."

Ajax stopped, glaring at the other man and with danger in his tone, and growled, "I said, not tonight, Marcus," He shoved Marcus away, sending him stumbling into the wall, "Get out."

As the other man scrambled away, Ajax ignored Mila and returned to walking down the hallway as if nothing had occurred,

"As I was saying, there are VIP waiting rooms as well, further to the back. They require separate keys to open, unlike the common ones. Before a match begins, guests are notified in the rooms by the guards."

After reaching the end, they headed back to the main floor.

"The stands are raised from the ground by a system of machinery below us, while those who can't find a seat stand around the edge of the ring. However, while it gains them a closer view there is also an increased chance of secondhand injury from the battling pokemon, especially if there is fire or electricity involved. Safety precautions are taken, but due to the unpredictable nature of battles it is hard to determine the zone of safety."

They had exited the hallway now, approaching the ring which was slowly being elevated, the gears groaning under its weight. Ajax stopped, watching the maintenance crew work around them,

"And that concludes our tour, with another half hour to spare. The stands will be put up shortly, if you wish to find a seat. Any questions?"

He turned to Mila, quiet thoroughly bored.

((I actually like giving Ajax a hard time haha...this is so bad. If you want to speed things up you can just write that Ajax answered whatever questions Mila had. xD oH and have fun writing the pokemon match~ 8D (just keep in mind that these are lower tier trainers so they won't be particularly good lolol) ))

Skiatha

10619

January 02, 2017 15:59:12

@Ayle

Ajax took his glass, sipping from it as he gazed thoughtfully over the ring,

"Very well," he turned, looking directly at Lin, "If you can ensure that there is not another incident with your Kirlia, then we will watch from the stands. Keep in mind, though, that if there is, neither I nor any guards would be allowed to interfere." He took another drink of the water, handing it back to the waiter.

"Since the matches will be commencing in another hour, we might as well go visit the waiting areas for the spectators and contestants."

A short elevator ride back down later, Ajax led Mila down another hallway, the widest one and the one that Mila had been escorted to prior to the meeting. People moved freely in and out of the rooms that lined the passage, each with a guard standing at the doorway.

"As you know, these are the waiting rooms. Many require prior reservation for a private room, or if you give an extra 'fee' to a guard." They had only passed a few rooms when someone from B3 called out,

"Ajax!" A man with dyed-silver hair and red contacts came from the room, "You wanna come in for a bit, have a drink before the matches? Or are you...busy?" He smiled toothily at Mila, gold canines glinting. Ajax shed the man's arm from his shoulder, continuing walking,

"Not tonight, Marcus, I have business."

"Ah, I see. Didn't know you were into that type," Marcus looked at Mila, red eyes glittering, "of business."

Ajax stopped, glaring at the other man and with danger in his tone, and growled, "I said, not tonight, Marcus," He shoved Marcus away, sending him stumbling into the wall, "Get out."

As the other man scrambled away, Ajax ignored Mila and returned to walking down the hallway as if nothing had occurred,

"As I was saying, there are VIP waiting rooms as well, further to the back. They require separate keys to open, unlike the common ones. Before a match begins, guests are notified in the rooms by the guards."

After reaching the end, they headed back to the main floor.

"The stands are raised from the ground by a system of machinery below us, while those who can't find a seat stand around the edge of the ring. However, while it gains them a closer view there is also an increased chance of secondhand injury from the battling pokemon, especially if there is fire or electricity involved. Safety precautions are taken, but due to the unpredictable nature of battles it is hard to determine the zone of safety."

They had exited the hallway now, approaching the ring which was slowly being elevated, the gears groaning under its weight. Ajax stopped, watching the maintenance crew work around them,

"And that concludes our tour, with another half hour to spare. The stands will be put up shortly, if you wish to find a seat. Any questions?"

He turned to Mila, quiet thoroughly bored.

((I actually like giving Ajax a hard time haha...this is so bad. If you want to speed things up you can just write that Ajax answered whatever questions Mila had. xD oH and have fun writing the pokemon match~ 8D (just keep in mind that these are lower tier trainers so they won't be particularly good lolol) ))

Last edited on Jan 02, 2017 16:01:31 by Skiatha

@Skiatha

Mila mouth curled in an expression of mild disgust as Marcus scurried away. The implication behind his words had not been lost on her, and that, combined with the earlier comments of the other man in the training room, painted a... rather different picture of Ajax from the one he had been showing her. A fan of casual dalliances, is he? How cute, that he has the time for such.

The raising of the stands garnered quiet noises of subdued interest as Mila watched the machinery at work, eyes scanning the rows in search of the best position from which to watch the crowd. At Ajax's words, Mila nodded, and smiled. "Well, thank you for showing me around. It was certainly informative, and I appreciate it."

She stepped away, in the direction of the row she had decided on: one close to the back of the stadium, and slightly elevated. "I do have questions, yes. Perhaps we could get settled first, before we begin?" Mile's expression turned slightly rueful. "My apologies if this has been a bore to you, but I assure you, I'm almost done."
'
Upon reaching her chosen seat, Mila nodded politely towards the maintenance crew, before sitting down and pulling Lin into her lap with a stern look. Her tablet was quickly set up, a list of notes materialising in front of her, before she looked back at Ajax. "Right, first of all, I'd like to find out about the specifications of the healing equipment you currently have..."

"And... ohh! Another failed Sleep Powder from Laker's Dustox, Prince's Herdier avoiding it yet again as its Sand Attack takes effect!"

Mila leaned forward as the crowd groaned and jeered at the battle, squinting at the tiny figures in the ring. These screens simply aren't adequate, not for an arena of this size, and especially not when the participants in the battle are so small. It's hardly an issue in a small scale battle like this, but Ajax did mention that the stadium can be packed to bursting during high profile ones. I wonder how much Father is willing to invest in this venture? Perhaps I should work on persuading him to work on upgrading this venue to something more presentable.

She sighed, arms curling around Lin in a light embrace. The Kirlia was watching the battle with rapt attention, twitching slightly at every play made by the Trainers and their Pokemon. Mila, on the other hand, was already bored stiff, utterly unimpressed at the clumsy direction provided by the trainers. It stood in stark contrast to the ease with which Ajax had commanded his Pokemon, and Mila had to wonder if he was the exception, rather than the norm.

A flurry of activity in the ring drew howls from the crowd, as the Dustox landed a Psybeam which sent the Herdier to its knees. The Herdier's trainer was yelling obscenities at his struggling Pokemon, which forced itself forward in an attempt to tackle the Dustox. What was that move? Take Down? Mila frowned. Upgrading the sound system here might be necessary too.

A lull in the battle, as both trainers paused to consider their next action, drew further jeers from the crowd. As expected. Much of this crowd is in this for fast paced action. Being able to think quickly would give one a definite advantage in the ring. Mila took the opportunity to glance down at Lin, who had started tapping her arm impatiently. I wonder what he's seeing? Perhaps battles would be more interesting if Pokemon could think for themselves.

Mila looked back up at the unruly crowd. The rhythm of it was easy enough to discern; loud cheering and howls for blood would erupt whenever one participant landed a hit. The response would increase in pitch and fervour if actual blood was shed, or if physical injury occurred. Spectators appeared largely indiscriminate in who they cheered for, applauding and booing each battler in equal measure. A particularly rough looking woman a few rows down from Mila had jumped up in her seat, shouting unintelligibly, multiple times as the battle continued and more blows were exchanged. Mila, in all honesty, was getting tired of it.

This whole thing lacks finesse. I can see why Father enjoys it so; he's always been more inclined towards the use of brute force over strategy. Have battles always been like this, or is this emphasis on trying to bulldoze your opponent in the most straightforward way possible a new development? Mila's grip on Lin tightened slightly. Perhaps I'll head back and have a look.

A particularly loud roar from the crowd drew Mila's attention back to the ring, where, thankfully, the battle appeared to be in the process of wrapping up. The Herdier had managed to ground the Dustox, and had begun savaging its wings as the other Pokemon shrieked and struggled. The Dustox's trainer looked to be on the verge of frustrated tears as she looked for a way out, before apparently giving up with a yell and returning the Pokemon. The stands, predictably, erupted.

Mila stifled a groan at the wave of sound as she released Lin from her grip. The Kirlia proceeded to jump up, balancing with a dancer's grace on the back of the chair in front of her, chirruping excitedly as he tried to get a better view. "No, Lin. Let's go." Mila tapped his horns lightly, before she stood and turned to Ajax.

"I think I've been able to get a decent enough idea of the type of crowd you have, as well as some potential adjustments we might want to make. I will attempt to determine their feasibility before I make any further suggestions, and I thank you for your hospitality today." She shot one last, despairing glance at the ring, where the winner was basking in the adulation, before continuing. "Would you be able to show me to the exit?" I sincerely hope tonight's show isn't the sum total of battling. I'm certainly not qualified to make such judgments, but that was... pretty awful.

((I feel like being able to put them through suffering is the main attraction of creating OCs, haha. Also, this post is an absolute behemoth, good grief.))

Ayle

1453

January 03, 2017 07:30:16

@Skiatha

Mila mouth curled in an expression of mild disgust as Marcus scurried away. The implication behind his words had not been lost on her, and that, combined with the earlier comments of the other man in the training room, painted a... rather different picture of Ajax from the one he had been showing her. A fan of casual dalliances, is he? How cute, that he has the time for such.

The raising of the stands garnered quiet noises of subdued interest as Mila watched the machinery at work, eyes scanning the rows in search of the best position from which to watch the crowd. At Ajax's words, Mila nodded, and smiled. "Well, thank you for showing me around. It was certainly informative, and I appreciate it."

She stepped away, in the direction of the row she had decided on: one close to the back of the stadium, and slightly elevated. "I do have questions, yes. Perhaps we could get settled first, before we begin?" Mile's expression turned slightly rueful. "My apologies if this has been a bore to you, but I assure you, I'm almost done."
'
Upon reaching her chosen seat, Mila nodded politely towards the maintenance crew, before sitting down and pulling Lin into her lap with a stern look. Her tablet was quickly set up, a list of notes materialising in front of her, before she looked back at Ajax. "Right, first of all, I'd like to find out about the specifications of the healing equipment you currently have..."

"And... ohh! Another failed Sleep Powder from Laker's Dustox, Prince's Herdier avoiding it yet again as its Sand Attack takes effect!"

Mila leaned forward as the crowd groaned and jeered at the battle, squinting at the tiny figures in the ring. These screens simply aren't adequate, not for an arena of this size, and especially not when the participants in the battle are so small. It's hardly an issue in a small scale battle like this, but Ajax did mention that the stadium can be packed to bursting during high profile ones. I wonder how much Father is willing to invest in this venture? Perhaps I should work on persuading him to work on upgrading this venue to something more presentable.

She sighed, arms curling around Lin in a light embrace. The Kirlia was watching the battle with rapt attention, twitching slightly at every play made by the Trainers and their Pokemon. Mila, on the other hand, was already bored stiff, utterly unimpressed at the clumsy direction provided by the trainers. It stood in stark contrast to the ease with which Ajax had commanded his Pokemon, and Mila had to wonder if he was the exception, rather than the norm.

A flurry of activity in the ring drew howls from the crowd, as the Dustox landed a Psybeam which sent the Herdier to its knees. The Herdier's trainer was yelling obscenities at his struggling Pokemon, which forced itself forward in an attempt to tackle the Dustox. What was that move? Take Down? Mila frowned. Upgrading the sound system here might be necessary too.

A lull in the battle, as both trainers paused to consider their next action, drew further jeers from the crowd. As expected. Much of this crowd is in this for fast paced action. Being able to think quickly would give one a definite advantage in the ring. Mila took the opportunity to glance down at Lin, who had started tapping her arm impatiently. I wonder what he's seeing? Perhaps battles would be more interesting if Pokemon could think for themselves.

Mila looked back up at the unruly crowd. The rhythm of it was easy enough to discern; loud cheering and howls for blood would erupt whenever one participant landed a hit. The response would increase in pitch and fervour if actual blood was shed, or if physical injury occurred. Spectators appeared largely indiscriminate in who they cheered for, applauding and booing each battler in equal measure. A particularly rough looking woman a few rows down from Mila had jumped up in her seat, shouting unintelligibly, multiple times as the battle continued and more blows were exchanged. Mila, in all honesty, was getting tired of it.

This whole thing lacks finesse. I can see why Father enjoys it so; he's always been more inclined towards the use of brute force over strategy. Have battles always been like this, or is this emphasis on trying to bulldoze your opponent in the most straightforward way possible a new development? Mila's grip on Lin tightened slightly. Perhaps I'll head back and have a look.

A particularly loud roar from the crowd drew Mila's attention back to the ring, where, thankfully, the battle appeared to be in the process of wrapping up. The Herdier had managed to ground the Dustox, and had begun savaging its wings as the other Pokemon shrieked and struggled. The Dustox's trainer looked to be on the verge of frustrated tears as she looked for a way out, before apparently giving up with a yell and returning the Pokemon. The stands, predictably, erupted.

Mila stifled a groan at the wave of sound as she released Lin from her grip. The Kirlia proceeded to jump up, balancing with a dancer's grace on the back of the chair in front of her, chirruping excitedly as he tried to get a better view. "No, Lin. Let's go." Mila tapped his horns lightly, before she stood and turned to Ajax.

"I think I've been able to get a decent enough idea of the type of crowd you have, as well as some potential adjustments we might want to make. I will attempt to determine their feasibility before I make any further suggestions, and I thank you for your hospitality today." She shot one last, despairing glance at the ring, where the winner was basking in the adulation, before continuing. "Would you be able to show me to the exit?" I sincerely hope tonight's show isn't the sum total of battling. I'm certainly not qualified to make such judgments, but that was... pretty awful.

((I feel like being able to put them through suffering is the main attraction of creating OCs, haha. Also, this post is an absolute behemoth, good grief.))

@Ayle

((pfft oh yeah, casual dalliances is kinda one of his things >> And heck yes, I loved your post!! The bigger the better haha))

Ajax was slowly dozing off as the match progressed, if you could even call it that. He had his pokeball out on his lap, an observational training technique for Nem; but battles like these only served as reminders to her for what she shouldn't do in the ring. Every once in a while, the roar of the crowd or the holler from some random intoxicated spectator from the seats would force him to open his eyes, watching one of the trainers goad on their pokemon, before promptly losing interest again. One glance in Mila's direction told Ajax that, as well, she was not impressed. However, the woman looked quite calm for someone who had never seen an actual ring battle before, neither looking on with terror or disgust nor watching with intense interest-- unlike her Kirlia was.

The small pokemon was barely sitting still under Mila's hold, trembling with anticipation in response to the battling pokemon below. How very interesting. He would make a good candidate for a battler, if only a Class C type.

Another howl from the crowd made him turn his eyes back to the ring, from which he could make out the Herdier tearing through the Dustox's wings like paper. As the trainer surrendered and the crowd began to cheer, Ajax caught Mila's voice. It was obvious she was disappointed, in both her tone and glance at the ring; but Ajax had seen worse. And it had only been the first battle of the night. Nevertheless, he nodded and stood as well, replacing his pokeball onto his belt. However, before he was able to reply he caught sight of a guard moving towards him through the stands. A glance upwards confirmed his thoughts, as Ajax saw the figure of his father through the lounge windows. He turned back to Mila,

"I'm afraid I must take my leave right now, but the guard will be able to show you out. Oh, and," he paused, "If you have any other questions or would like to meet again feel free to send me a message." The guard had reached them, standing by Mila's side as Ajax nodded at him and slipped quietly away through the crowd.

((Oh and just letting you in on some ringer terminology~ Battling pokemon are rated by class, with Class A considered to be the "strongest" type to Class D as the "weakest" type. The types Bug, Grass, Fairy, and Flying are Class D; Psychic, Poison, Dark, and Ghost are Class C; Normal, Electric, Water, and Ice are Class B; and finally Fire, Fighting, Dragon, Ground, Rock, and Steel are Class A. Though obviously some lower class types have an advantage over some higher classes, these are mostly based on which can pack the biggest punch and thus, make the crowd happiest. :'D ))

Skiatha

10619

January 03, 2017 16:35:06

@Ayle

((pfft oh yeah, casual dalliances is kinda one of his things >> And heck yes, I loved your post!! The bigger the better haha))

Ajax was slowly dozing off as the match progressed, if you could even call it that. He had his pokeball out on his lap, an observational training technique for Nem; but battles like these only served as reminders to her for what she shouldn't do in the ring. Every once in a while, the roar of the crowd or the holler from some random intoxicated spectator from the seats would force him to open his eyes, watching one of the trainers goad on their pokemon, before promptly losing interest again. One glance in Mila's direction told Ajax that, as well, she was not impressed. However, the woman looked quite calm for someone who had never seen an actual ring battle before, neither looking on with terror or disgust nor watching with intense interest-- unlike her Kirlia was.

The small pokemon was barely sitting still under Mila's hold, trembling with anticipation in response to the battling pokemon below. How very interesting. He would make a good candidate for a battler, if only a Class C type.

Another howl from the crowd made him turn his eyes back to the ring, from which he could make out the Herdier tearing through the Dustox's wings like paper. As the trainer surrendered and the crowd began to cheer, Ajax caught Mila's voice. It was obvious she was disappointed, in both her tone and glance at the ring; but Ajax had seen worse. And it had only been the first battle of the night. Nevertheless, he nodded and stood as well, replacing his pokeball onto his belt. However, before he was able to reply he caught sight of a guard moving towards him through the stands. A glance upwards confirmed his thoughts, as Ajax saw the figure of his father through the lounge windows. He turned back to Mila,

"I'm afraid I must take my leave right now, but the guard will be able to show you out. Oh, and," he paused, "If you have any other questions or would like to meet again feel free to send me a message." The guard had reached them, standing by Mila's side as Ajax nodded at him and slipped quietly away through the crowd.

((Oh and just letting you in on some ringer terminology~ Battling pokemon are rated by class, with Class A considered to be the "strongest" type to Class D as the "weakest" type. The types Bug, Grass, Fairy, and Flying are Class D; Psychic, Poison, Dark, and Ghost are Class C; Normal, Electric, Water, and Ice are Class B; and finally Fire, Fighting, Dragon, Ground, Rock, and Steel are Class A. Though obviously some lower class types have an advantage over some higher classes, these are mostly based on which can pack the biggest punch and thus, make the crowd happiest. :'D ))

Last edited on Jan 03, 2017 16:36:19 by Skiatha

@Skiatha

"I'll probably be taking you up on that offer." Mila grinned, before turning away to follow the guard. "Come along, Lin."

The walk to the exit was spent in quiet contemplation. Lin was still buzzing with excitement, although he appeared to be trying to rein it back as they approached the car. Mila petted his head once they reached the vehicle, nodding her thanks to the guard as she entered, and shut the door.

"Haa..." Mila exhaled heavily once the car rolled off, leaning back into her seat and closing her eyes. I'll need to speak with Father about requisitioning a machine and parts, need to think about how to improve the seating situation, need to-

Soft humming and light pressure on her arm caused her to open her eyes. Lin had scooted over from his seat to lean against her, gaze averted in what looked like embarrassment. ...Need to figure this out.

Mila bit her lip as she lifted her arm to pet the Kirlia. This behaviour only emerged after we came to the ring, right? Except... no. It didn't. He's always seemed to show particular interest in battles. Perhaps it's simply because he is a Pokémon. They are battling beasts, after all. She wrinkled her nose; the statement felt inadequate to describe the range of emotion Lin had so clearly exhibited in the ring.

I need to test this. Meaning, I'll have to come back to this ring, and watch more battles. I might even have to participate in some, to see if this is a consistent pattern. See if I can invoke similar behaviour in non-battle situations as well, and if I can...

Mila paused, the train of thought shuddering to a halt. If I can... then what? That would mean... The idea seemed too fantastical to consider, too contrary to everything she, and the rest of the world, thought and believed about Pokémon. She set it down gently, warily, and backed away. No. Don't jump to conclusions. Perhaps Lin is simply exceptional; none of the other Pokémon you've seen have exhibited similar behaviour. Most of those had, however, been trained to within an inch of their life.

She looked down at the Kirlia, who had, apparently, dozed off, slumped against Mila's side. His expression looked peaceful, mouth curled into a a small smile. Mila smiled at the sight, before pulling out her tablet and opening her search engine.

Well. More data can't hurt. Mila hummed softly, mimicking Lin's earlier tune as she scrolled through the results, as the car drove through the glittering streets of the city center.

((Ooh, thanks for that! Those tiers make sense, nice job! Although now I realize I pitted a Class B mon against a Class D one, haha.))

Ayle

1453

January 03, 2017 18:56:50

@Skiatha

"I'll probably be taking you up on that offer." Mila grinned, before turning away to follow the guard. "Come along, Lin."

The walk to the exit was spent in quiet contemplation. Lin was still buzzing with excitement, although he appeared to be trying to rein it back as they approached the car. Mila petted his head once they reached the vehicle, nodding her thanks to the guard as she entered, and shut the door.

"Haa..." Mila exhaled heavily once the car rolled off, leaning back into her seat and closing her eyes. I'll need to speak with Father about requisitioning a machine and parts, need to think about how to improve the seating situation, need to-

Soft humming and light pressure on her arm caused her to open her eyes. Lin had scooted over from his seat to lean against her, gaze averted in what looked like embarrassment. ...Need to figure this out.

Mila bit her lip as she lifted her arm to pet the Kirlia. This behaviour only emerged after we came to the ring, right? Except... no. It didn't. He's always seemed to show particular interest in battles. Perhaps it's simply because he is a Pokémon. They are battling beasts, after all. She wrinkled her nose; the statement felt inadequate to describe the range of emotion Lin had so clearly exhibited in the ring.

I need to test this. Meaning, I'll have to come back to this ring, and watch more battles. I might even have to participate in some, to see if this is a consistent pattern. See if I can invoke similar behaviour in non-battle situations as well, and if I can...

Mila paused, the train of thought shuddering to a halt. If I can... then what? That would mean... The idea seemed too fantastical to consider, too contrary to everything she, and the rest of the world, thought and believed about Pokémon. She set it down gently, warily, and backed away. No. Don't jump to conclusions. Perhaps Lin is simply exceptional; none of the other Pokémon you've seen have exhibited similar behaviour. Most of those had, however, been trained to within an inch of their life.

She looked down at the Kirlia, who had, apparently, dozed off, slumped against Mila's side. His expression looked peaceful, mouth curled into a a small smile. Mila smiled at the sight, before pulling out her tablet and opening her search engine.

Well. More data can't hurt. Mila hummed softly, mimicking Lin's earlier tune as she scrolled through the results, as the car drove through the glittering streets of the city center.

((Ooh, thanks for that! Those tiers make sense, nice job! Although now I realize I pitted a Class B mon against a Class D one, haha.))

[Private Server 188.178.251.68 CHATROOM]

_{5.15.30

[MilaM] Today at 7:34 PM

Hello, Ajax. This is Mila Mancini. I'm contacting you to discuss the delivery of the healing machine to your ring.

I have been able to arrange for delivery at any time over the next 3 days; which would be most convenient for you?

[Ajax] Today at 7:39 PM

Hi Mila, Thursday would be a good time. Would you need a transport?

[MilaM] Today at 7:40 PM

No, that won't be necessary. I can have it to you at around 6am.

Is there a cargo or back entrance for the delivery?

[Ajax] Today at 7:40 PM

Ok, I will be meeting you then.

There is one, but it is concealed. I will let the guards know that you will be arriving.

Here is the code to present them

|code transferred|

[MilaM] Today at 7:41 PM

Perfect. I will inform you when we are almost there.

There was another matter I wished to discuss with you as well.

If at all possible, I would like to spectate at another match, preferably one where the participants are more experienced and the stakes are higher.

Would you have any matches in mind?

[Ajax] Today at 7:42 PM

There is one on Friday, if you would be interested. It is a guest from the Death Valley district against a local trainer, never battled him before. It would certainly be one worth spectating.

Unlike the last one you witnessed, my apologies.

[MilaM] Today at 7:42 PM

Ah, I was wondering. No apologies necessary, it was simply poor luck.

The battle on Friday does sound promising. What time should I arrive?

[Ajax] Today at 7:43 PM

It will be late. Begins 10 PM, but stands will probably be filled by 9. 8:30 would not be a bad time to arrive.

[MilaM] Today at 7:44 PM

I see. 8.30 it is, then.

Are the stands usually filled so fast for matchups like this?

[Ajax] Today at 7:44 PM

Yes, usually.

[MilaM] Today at 7:45 PM

Understood. In that case, I will see you at 8.30 on Friday.

[Ajax] Today at 7:47 PM

Ok, I will see you then Ms. Mancini.

[MilaM] has left CHATROOM}

Ajax collapsed the screen, letting a small chuckle escape his lips. He hadn't expected that Mila was one for watching battles, but apparently something about it interested her. How...unusual. Ajax took another puff from the glowing blue cigarette he held between his fingers, before flicking it to the ground and extinguishing it. Guess he'll find out this Friday.

For now, however, he was off for the day, and the night was still young. Ajax turned at the sound of a girl calling his name, and walked back into the bar.

((huehue Ajax u naughty boy))

5.19.30 | 8:25 PM

The stands had already been put up, having been scrubbed clean by the maintenance crew until they were shining underneath the floodlights that poured over the ring. People had already begun to walk about, creating a constant hum of noise and activity. As well, the occasional cacophony of aggressive pokemon was heard before they were dragged away by their respective owners. Already, two fights had broken out between a few pokemon, as they were no doubt on edge for the impending battle to come, even if they themselves were not slated to fight for that night.

It's because they're bloodthirsty beasts. That's what they all were, deep inside. It's the reason why they had broken loose before, ravaging cities and killing civilians before finally being brought down by the government. It's the reason why they are outlawed from the streets, exterminated in hordes from the wild and taken from the hands of countless trainers so that society could be safe from their plague. It's why now they are a hobby of the Rich, at least the ones that were able to be "tamed", or a beast of war for the Ringers in their illegal pits-

Ajax blinked from his thoughts as he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking behind him, he saw a guard, who quickly dropped his hand at Ajax's glare, and cleared his throat,

"Sir, I would like to inform you of the arrival of Ms. Mancini. Should I bring her in?"

"No, no. I will go out to meet her. You are dismissed." He waved the other man away, strolling down the maze-like corridor and up to the surface level. Coming out through the door, he grinned at Mila, golden eyes scanning her,

"Well it's certainly been a while. Come along, the party's only just begun."

Skiatha

10619

January 04, 2017 21:32:34

[Private Server 188.178.251.68 CHATROOM]

_{5.15.30

[MilaM] Today at 7:34 PM

Hello, Ajax. This is Mila Mancini. I'm contacting you to discuss the delivery of the healing machine to your ring.

I have been able to arrange for delivery at any time over the next 3 days; which would be most convenient for you?

[Ajax] Today at 7:39 PM

Hi Mila, Thursday would be a good time. Would you need a transport?

[MilaM] Today at 7:40 PM

No, that won't be necessary. I can have it to you at around 6am.

Is there a cargo or back entrance for the delivery?

[Ajax] Today at 7:40 PM

Ok, I will be meeting you then.

There is one, but it is concealed. I will let the guards know that you will be arriving.

Here is the code to present them

|code transferred|

[MilaM] Today at 7:41 PM

Perfect. I will inform you when we are almost there.

There was another matter I wished to discuss with you as well.

If at all possible, I would like to spectate at another match, preferably one where the participants are more experienced and the stakes are higher.

Would you have any matches in mind?

[Ajax] Today at 7:42 PM

There is one on Friday, if you would be interested. It is a guest from the Death Valley district against a local trainer, never battled him before. It would certainly be one worth spectating.

Unlike the last one you witnessed, my apologies.

[MilaM] Today at 7:42 PM

Ah, I was wondering. No apologies necessary, it was simply poor luck.

The battle on Friday does sound promising. What time should I arrive?

[Ajax] Today at 7:43 PM

It will be late. Begins 10 PM, but stands will probably be filled by 9. 8:30 would not be a bad time to arrive.

[MilaM] Today at 7:44 PM

I see. 8.30 it is, then.

Are the stands usually filled so fast for matchups like this?

[Ajax] Today at 7:44 PM

Yes, usually.

[MilaM] Today at 7:45 PM

Understood. In that case, I will see you at 8.30 on Friday.

[Ajax] Today at 7:47 PM

Ok, I will see you then Ms. Mancini.

[MilaM] has left CHATROOM}

Ajax collapsed the screen, letting a small chuckle escape his lips. He hadn't expected that Mila was one for watching battles, but apparently something about it interested her. How...unusual. Ajax took another puff from the glowing blue cigarette he held between his fingers, before flicking it to the ground and extinguishing it. Guess he'll find out this Friday.

For now, however, he was off for the day, and the night was still young. Ajax turned at the sound of a girl calling his name, and walked back into the bar.

((huehue Ajax u naughty boy))

5.19.30 | 8:25 PM

The stands had already been put up, having been scrubbed clean by the maintenance crew until they were shining underneath the floodlights that poured over the ring. People had already begun to walk about, creating a constant hum of noise and activity. As well, the occasional cacophony of aggressive pokemon was heard before they were dragged away by their respective owners. Already, two fights had broken out between a few pokemon, as they were no doubt on edge for the impending battle to come, even if they themselves were not slated to fight for that night.

It's because they're bloodthirsty beasts. That's what they all were, deep inside. It's the reason why they had broken loose before, ravaging cities and killing civilians before finally being brought down by the government. It's the reason why they are outlawed from the streets, exterminated in hordes from the wild and taken from the hands of countless trainers so that society could be safe from their plague. It's why now they are a hobby of the Rich, at least the ones that were able to be "tamed", or a beast of war for the Ringers in their illegal pits-

Ajax blinked from his thoughts as he felt a tap on his shoulder. Looking behind him, he saw a guard, who quickly dropped his hand at Ajax's glare, and cleared his throat,

"Sir, I would like to inform you of the arrival of Ms. Mancini. Should I bring her in?"

"No, no. I will go out to meet her. You are dismissed." He waved the other man away, strolling down the maze-like corridor and up to the surface level. Coming out through the door, he grinned at Mila, golden eyes scanning her,

"Well it's certainly been a while. Come along, the party's only just begun."

@Skiatha

The cacophony that greeted Mila upon her exit from the car caused her to wince. It appears that the crowd during my previous visit was a poor indicator of the level of foot traffic this place experiences. At least my attire is less out of place, this time

She felt Lin's grip on her hand tighten slightly. Mila squeezed back reassuringly, almoat on reflex, as she navigated her way through the crowd. Most of her research had come up with nothing, save for flimsy conspiracy theories and half-baked anecdotes. As such, Mila found herself experimenting in earnest. It had taken time, but continued gentleness towards Lin had resulted in him relaxing slightly, and he had taken to dropping the act when they were alone. Her notebook on observations had 27 filled pages, and was still growing.

Today especially had been interesting. Lin had been excitable all day, to the point that he had almost broken composure duiring a board meeting. A quelling glare from Mila had, at least, been able to prevent that disaster. And now, so close to a proper battle, he was hopping and jumping in genuine excitement, although he never let go of Mila's hand.

Still, such musings were unnecessary, for now. Mila greeted the guards with a smile and a request that they inform Ajax of her arrival, before entering the surface level of the ring.

"Well it's certainly been a while. Come along, the party's only just begun."

Mila dipped her head in acknowledgement as she made her way over. "Good evening to you as well. Arriving early was a good suggestion; I had not anticipated such crowds."

She glanced around, before stepping towards the stands. "Do you have any seats you would prefer? We should probably get going."

Ayle