Endure (Open)

[August Spector]

August collapsed on one of the benches a bit outside of the marketplace. Having no qualms about taking up even more space on the bench, August put his pack next to him and started rifling through it.

He knew of Charlotte, of course. He was from Ascua, after all, he knew of all of the gym leaders of the region. If he remembered correctly, Charlotte used Normal-type Pokemon but he wasn't quite sure what level they all were. His own Pokemon weren't that strong yet at all, so he probably should do some training and give them some vitamins and candy to help boost their levels and power.

Granted, Charlotte was the first gym leader of the region. Really, how tough could she be?

He also wondered how long he had to endure the gym challenge. How long would it take for him to be gone for his parents to welcome him back home? He supposed if he showed any sort of effort they'd be happy.

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette (3/5), Shuffle (3/5), Gamble (3/5), Parlay (3/5)
open!

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector, open! Also, I'm just completely making up how a TR works.
Happiness: Mesa (2/5), Rico (2/5), Nova (2/5)

Sadie finished up at the marketplace and tried to find a small space where she could teach Mesa her new move. It would have been easier if some guy wasn't taking up all the space of one of the public benches nearby.

Sadie eventually found herself on the side of the sidewalk and she released her Phanpy. Mesa came out with a small battle cry, apparently looking for an opponent.

"Soon, Mesa." Sadie said, giving her Pokemon a small smile. "First, I need you to learn this..." Mesa tilted her head at the disc-like TR that Sadie held out to her, but she didn't seem to complain when her trainer used the device.

"There we go," Sadie said when the TR turned off. "That will help with upcoming battles, I think." Mesa seemed to agree, although Sadie wasn't sure if Mesa knew what she was agreeing to, before Sadie returned her Phanpy to her pokeball. Murmuring nearly to herself, Sadie said, "Alright... Guess the gym is next... Wonder what type they use..."

[August Spector]

He was taking his time people-watching, not in any big hurry at all to continue this so-called gym challenge, and August unabashedly watched as a young woman taught one of her Pokemon a TR move.

He could quite honestly say he never thought about how a TM or TR worked, and it was interesting to see it in action, at the very least. Putting the disc and device by the Pokemon, the Pokemon seemingly absorbing the knowledge of whatever move it learned... It supplemented the fact that Pokemon were able to shrink down into pokeballs, be digitalized to travel to and from the PC system...

If August cared more about the logistics, he probably would have been more fascinated at the idea.

But he didn't care more and when he heard the young woman mumble about the gym, the thought of Pokemon being digital creatures went out f his mind.

"Normal-type," August said, loud enough for the other trainer to hear him. "Charlotte uses Normal-types in her gym."

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette (4/5), Shuffle (4/5), Gamble (4/5), Parlay (4/5)
Sadie Fox, yay for them finally meeting!

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa (3/5), Rico (3/5), Nova (3/5)

Sadie tried to keep her expression impassive when she heard the young man lounging on the bench evidently respond to her. It probably sounded better to have someone respond to her words than for others to think she was talking to herself, she was sure, but the angle at which he was sitting suggested that he had been watching her for a few good minutes.

"...Thank you," she settled for saying, trying to be polite rather than berating him for being somewhat of a creep. They were out in public, after all, so she supposed he had a right to watch her teach her Pokemon a new move.

The pack by his side indicated that he was also a traveling trainer, though. Maybe she could get even more information out of him.

Walking closer to the bench, Sadie asked, "Did you challenge the gym leader yet? Charlotte, you said her name was?"

[August Spector]

Whoops. The other trainer sounded a bit wary in response to August talking to her. In his defense, she probably shouldn't have been mumbling aloud if she hadn't wanted an answer.

Regardless, she did thank him, and he gave her a small nod, expecting that to be the end of their so-called conversation. Instead, she came closer to the bench and August glanced up at her as she spoke directly to him.

"Yeah, her name is Charlotte," he said. "I haven't challenged her yet, no, but I'm from the region. Can't really escape any news about the gym leaders when you're from here." He shrugged.

"I'm guessing you are not from Ascua," he continued. She looked fit, someone who was used to traveling, but her Pokemon still seemed on the young side. "What brought you all the way here? Don't tell me it was just for our gym challenge. It's still kind of new, after all."

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette (5/5), Shuffle (5/5), Gamble (5/5), Parlay (5/5)
Sadie Fox

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa (4/5), Rico (4/5), Nova (4/5)

Oh, he hadn't challenged Charlotte yet, then. Just a local.

"I see," Sadie said, already a bit checked out of the conversation when it was revealed he didn't have the answers she was looking for. However, he did ask her why she was in Ascua, of all places, if she wasn't from the region at all.

"I'm from Hoenn. It's because it's a new gym challenge that I'm here," she said. "I've tried my hand at a few regional gym challenges already. When I heard of Ascua, I thought this would be my next challenge.

"What about you?" she asked in return. "You don't seem like a brand-new trainer."

Rather, he seemed much older than the average tween that got their license.

[August Spector]

August's eyebrows flew up when the other trainer revealed where she came from. "All the way from Hoenn? Damn. Can't really imagine our Pokemon League being special enough for someone to travel from that far away," he said. His tone was neutral, with a touch of awe or disbelief.

She definitely had much more ambition than he. Although, he supposed that wasn't too hard.

He chuckled under his breath when she asked about him. "Nope, brand-new trainer," he said. "Got a Pokemon from the lab and everything. Wasn't really my idea to take the challenge, but..." He shrugged. "Here I am."

This stranger didn't need to know that his parents more or less kicked him out to try to get him to do something other than be a winner at the Game Corner. "Came from Diamond City and am a bit out of my element at these smaller towns," he admitted, giving just a bit of his backstory to hopefully satisfy the stranger's curiosity. After a pause, he added, "Name's August Spector."

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette 1 (1/5), Shuffle 1 (1/5), Gamble 1 (1/5), Parlay 1 (1/5)
Sadie Fox

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa (5/5), Rico (5/5), Nova (5/5)

Sadie didn't know what to say when the other trainer seemed to be in disbelief that someone would visit Ascua's gym challenge from another region, so she said nothing. She wondered if that was just this man in front of her or if there was something else up with the region that Sadie didn't know about. Regardless, she was here now and she wasn't going to leave until she had joined the Hall of Fame.

"Wasn't your idea...?" Sadie's brows furrowed as she tried to comprehend the other stranger's admission. "Why wouldn't you want to challenge the gyms and grow with your team? Or do you mean you were going to try to be a coordinator or something and that didn't work out?" Which, honestly, would explain why he was this age and just starting as a trainer. Maybe he had attempted other careers but nothing stuck.

Of course, she was also older than the average newbie, but she also had a few years under her belt as a trainer already.

"Diamond City..." Sadie tried to remember the routes and map of Ascua that she had studied on the way to the region. "There's a gym there, but not quite the last one, right?"

After a moment, the stranger actually introduced himself and Sadie figured she should return the favor. Reaching out for a handshake, she said, "Sadie Fox."

[August Spector]

She seemed absolutely baffled that one would not want to be a battling trainer, and August gave her a lazy grin. "Wasn't my thing," he said simply. "I was living my life in Diamond City, enjoying my time and job at the Game Corner... I'm hoping a gym challenge will be just as entertaining."

Arceus, he missed the Game Corner. He was still holding out hope that battles would give him a similar rush of excitement. Smaller battles with young, wild Pokemon hadn't been too bad, but against a gym leader or even another trainer who had some sort of strategy would probably be more entertaining.

"Yep," August said when the other trainer asked about Diamond City. "Spoiler alert, Diamond City's gym leader uses Fire-type Pokemon."

The pair gave each other their names, and August gave Sadie an amicable nod when she revealed her own. "So, you going to find Charlotte to try to earn your first Ascua badge?"

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette 1 (2/5), Shuffle 1 (2/5), Gamble 1 (2/5), Parlay 1 (2/5)
Sadie Fox

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa 1 (1/5), Rico 1 (1/5), Nova 1 (1/5)

August didn't quite answer her question. "Wasn't my thing" was a half-assed response, in her opinion, but she supposed it wasn't really any of her business. Maybe he liked the Game Corner enough that he ran out of money and thought battling would be a simple way to earn more cash.

At the very least, he seemed to know his stuff when it came to the gym leaders around Ascua. Sadie wouldn't mind picking his brain for more information, but she was getting the feeling he was rather lazy. She knew now to maybe find a good Water-type and raise it well enough for the Diamond City gym down the line.

"That is my plan," Sadie said when August asked if she was going to go and find Charlotte for a gym badge. After a pause, though, Sadie asked, "What if we battle first? Test each other's teams for the gym? You willing?"

[August Spector]

August gave her a small nod when Sadie mentioned that she was going to find Charlotte for a battle, and he gave her an amicable, "Good luck."

He thought that would be that. This virtual stranger would leave and August would be by himself with only his thoughts for company. Not that he would complain about that, of course.

But then Sadie suggested the pair battle each other under the pretense of testing their teams for the gym. August's blood started singing at the idea of an actual battle but gave her a casual, crooked smile.

"Sure, why the hell not." He got off the bench and stretched before gesturing to Sadie to follow him. "C'mon, think there are a couple of areas off the beaten path that will work as makeshift battlefields."

August led her down a couple of streets and pass a tiny park. Nestled at the edge of it was a battlefield that looked as if kids had drawn it among the clay and dirt with chalk. Still, it should serve its purpose.

He stood at one end of the battlefield and asked, "How do you want to do this? Singles? Double? I got four Pokemon willing to battle, if that helps. I don't mind either way."

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette 1 (3/5), Shuffle 1 (3/5), Gamble 1 (3/5), Parlay 1 (3/5)
Sadie Fox

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa 1 (2/5), Rico 1 (2/5), Nova 1 (2/5)

Sadie was delighted that August agreed so readily to a battle with her -- it would be a great test to see how her team would fare against another trainer -- but matched his crooked smile with a smaller one of her own. "Great," she said simply, and followed him when he said he knew of a place in the town where they could have their battle.

She did get a little suspicious the further they walked, but soon enough they were at a very crudely created battlefield by a small park. It didn't seem to get much use, but it would do for them.

August got into position on his side and Sadie got to hers. He mentioned he had four Pokemon, but Sadie only had three. She paused a moment before suggesting, "A single battle with two Pokemon each, then?" and her hand strayed to her pokeballs as she tried to figure out what kind of Pokemon August had.

[August Spector]

Sadie chose a single battle with two Pokemon each, and August took a brief moment to figure out which of his Pokemon to send out.

"Perfect," he said, and released Gamble without any further preamble.

The Nincada shook himself when he was released, giving a few clicks in Sadie's general direction as he puffed himself up, ready for his opponent. August figured that Gamble hadn't seen too much action just yet, and the Nincada seemed to be a safe option for his first Pokemon. He knew Sadie had a Phanpy -- with a new move, whatever that was -- so he hadn't wanted to send Parlay out. Roulette would have been great against a Phanpy, but there was only the possibility of Sadie sending out the Ground-type. At the very least, Gamble was part Ground-type as well, so a Phanpy's same-type moves may be negated.

Of course, Sadie could also toss out a Blaziken -- she did say she was from Hoenn, right? -- for all he knew, but August was betting with the knowledge he had.

"$300 to the winner, yeah?" August asked, willing to make this battle more exciting. "Gamble, Harden."

Gamble started off the battle with a sheen.

Gamble

| male | run away

Level: 11
Hold Item: none

Sand Attack | Scratch | Harden | False Swipe | ---- | ----

>> Gamble used Harden.
>> Gamble's Defense increased.

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette 1 (4/5), Shuffle 1 (4/5), Gamble 1 (4/5), Parlay 1 (4/5)
Sadie Fox

[Sadie Fox]

August Spector
Happiness: Mesa 1 (3/5), Rico 1 (3/5), Nova 1 (3/5)

Just like that, it seemed the aloof stranger that she had just met vanished. As soon as Sadie mentioned the battle conditions, August sent out his first Pokemon, declared a bet, and had his Pokemon prep for whatever she was about to throw at it.

Sadie couldn't help but grin.

"Sounds fine to me," she said, agreeing to the bet easily as her gaze zeroed in on the Nincada.

She knew that species, the primarily-Bug Pokemon being native to Hoenn. It was a fair start, especially considering August saw Sadie with Mesa. He probably guessed that she would use her Phanpy.

Well, she could give August this small win as she enlarged Mesa's pokeball.

Mesa burst out with a battle cry, and Sadie wasted no time commanding, "Stealth Rock, Mesa."

Using her new move, several stones rumbled and dislodged from the battlefield around them, levitating in the air around the Nincada's side of the battlefield. With that prepped, Sadie said, "Slam," sending Mesa to go charging towards her opponent in a strong tackle.

Mesa

| female | pickup

Level: 11
Hold Item: Oran Berry

Rollout | Stealth Rock | Growl | Defense Curl | Slam | Flail

>> Mesa used Stealth Rock
>> Pointed stones float in the air around August's team
>> Mesa used Slam

[August Spector]

He guessed correctly.

What August didn't guess was Sadie's Phanpy using Stealth Rock. Gamble actually looked up at the floating stones, shifting carefully to be sure he didn't hit any of the rocks before refocusing on his opponent. Stealth Rock wasn't a typical move for a Phanpy to learn, was it? Was that the TR that August saw Sadie teach her Pokemon?

It didn't matter right now, especially since the Phanpy charged across the battlefield and used Slam on Gamble. Gamble tumbled backward, but hopped back up on his feet, not getting too hurt thanks to having raised his defense already.

Still, Slam was a strong move for a Phanpy, too.

"Sand Attack," August said, "then follow up with Scratch."

Gamble obeyed, digging up sand to throw at Mesa's face before getting up close and personal to rake his claws along her side.

Gamble

| male | run away

Level: 11
Hold Item: none

Sand Attack | Scratch | Harden | False Swipe | ---- | ----

>> Slam took off 16% HP
>> Gamble used Sand Attack
>> Gamble used Scratch

Pokemon Happiness: Roulette 1 (5/5), Shuffle 1 (5/5), Gamble 1 (5/5), Parlay 1 (5/5)
Sadie Fox