11.22.15 -- We are approaching the holiday season very rapidly. I understand that things get busy around this time of year, just try and make sure that you don't forget about us! And, because winter is coming, things in Rakuen are about to change! Our winter event will be starting on December first so keep your eyes peeled for it and be sure to participate. You won't want to miss out. Enjoy the last little bits of your fall!
Pokemon is a copyrighted concept that belongs to Nintendo. The site plot as well as site related threads belong to the staff team. All of the images as well as posts belongs to the respective owners and or creators. The present theme was created by Noemi and Namazu with the help of Adoxography and their beatiful resources. A special thanks to Cloud for unique ideas within the site. Thank you for respecting this and not stealing from us.
Yayli town was a coastal settlement. Living inland his entire life, Luce wasn’t used to the smell of salt in the air. He knew the Rauken region was mostly coastal; the map on his brand-new pokedex showed just that. The ocean was inescapable here. He was just going to have to get used to feeling like his nose was being seasoned whenever he went outside.
Luce stepped into a local food shop for supplies. On stepping out, he was assaulted by ocean air. Luce stepped into a clothing store for another set of shoes. As he exited, the salty air waylaid him. Luce stepped into the local library, and made himself a regional library card. He also picked up a couple of books that peaked his interest and downloaded a few audio books to his dex. The moment he walked outside, he was flanked by a strong up-draft sent by the ocean.
This was going to take some getting used to.
Between the lab visit and his shopping, the sun had had time to pass its midway checkpoint. There wasn’t much point to leaving in search of pokemon today, not if he wanted to get back to the pokemon center for the night. He could stay in the center now, rather than having to pay for a hotel. That was a good feeling.
So, if he wasn’t going in search of other pokemon (because that’s the logical next step in being a trainer, right?), he needed something else to fill his evening. He had just picked up a couple of books, and he was feeling a little hungry; perhaps he’d find a cafe.
To his luck, there was a nice-looking one just a couple buildings down. He was about to go in... when he saw the menu in the window. The prices stopped him dead. What once he could easily afford with his hefty lab paycheck, well, he simply didn’t have that kind of cash anymore. Letting out a sigh, Luce went on a search for a much more affordable place to eat.
That was found in the form of a cafe known as “The Grand Gyarados”. It was a small, two-floor place that had dark wood tables and, by the time Luce had made his order and gotten his number, only one empty table. A table for two, beside the window, but only one seat was filled. In a book this would be a plot device for something important.
Ellie walked into a swanky restaurant, with enormous purse in hand, patiently waiting to be greeted and escorted to an empty table by the host. However, she was only met with looks of disgust by both the customers and the workers. The host standing behind the posh moderne style desk that was located at the front of the restaurant, shared glances with a fellow waitress that stopped to stare at Ellie. "What is it? I am still waiting to be seated" exclaimed Ellie, while the host cheerily smiled at her while he stated "I am sorry, but we only cater to the upper-class, so I am going to have to ask you to leave the property". Ellie was shocked at how she was being treated, and was ready to chew the host out, until she saw a reflection of herself on the mirror next to her. She was flat-out filthy, with twigs and dirt in her hair, and cuts, scrapes, and bruises on her arm and legs. Not to also mention that her dress now looked like something out of a particularly sad old clothes donation box. She turned red in the face and quickly left the building.
Ellie knew she couldn't run back into the forest again, since it was going to get dark soon. Her stomach rumbled, as she hadn't eaten since breakfast this morning. Ellie brought out a sunhat from her humongous purse, along with her trademark Parvati sunglasses and wore both of it right before she entered a rundown cafe/bar called "The Grand Gyarados". The workers at this restaurant were much less judgemental, and she got her food without much delay. It seemed as though Ellie would have to share a table with a stranger, as the only vacant chair in the building had the same table as somebody else's chair. However, she was way too hungry to worry about that, so she hoped for the best and sat down on the empty chair, before blankly staring at her fellow cafe-goer sitting on the opposite side of the table.
Luce was staring absently out the window. Before long, someone came with his sandwich (cheese with various greens, more cheese in spread form, and a slice of deli meat) and his coffee (milky, a treat) and he quickly went back to staring out the window. Then someone else came to the table. Luce was about to tell the waiter that he’d already gotten his food, see, when he saw who it was; a girl, trainer (probably) covered in dirt and twigs and overall looking as if she were trying to imitate a tree. Luce was too dumbstruck to put up any protest when she sat down across from him.
He pretended he didn’t see her sit down. He pretended something outside the window was very interesting. But she was staring at him, he could feel it.
He turned, shoulders tense, and looked her straight in the eye. “What do you want?” he asked, a little louder than he intended. The person sitting behind him momentarily glances over her shoulder in the midst of her own conversation.
Ellie noted that he was eating a sandwich, and ignored his question. She started digging into her shrimp teriyaki, an obviously reheated meal which came in a styrofoam "to go", even though she made it clear she was staying in. As you could expect from a run down cafe, the meal was totally bland and flavourless. Nevertheless, Ellie's hunger overcame the fridge smell (and taste), and she chowed down onto her shrimp teriyaki. She had basically shoved the food down her throat, and her box was empty before she had even realized it. Despite the condition she was in, Ellie felt truly free for the first time; she didn't really have to worry about her appearance or manners, since basically everybody else was as messy as she was, expect for the man sitting in front of her. Ellie fixed up her hair a bit, bringing out an assortment of colourful pins and putting them on. After she was finished with her hair, she finally said something to her fellow cafe-goer "So, where are you from and where are you headed?" Note: 180 words
The girl devoured her food. Hesitantly, Luce poked at his sandwich and swirled his coffee. His question hung in the air like a bad smell. Out of her bag came colorful pins; expensive ones too, from Luce’s point of view (not that he knew anything about the price of hair pins, for all he knew they were the sort you got a dozen for a dollar). Even with them placed nicely in her hair, Luce couldn’t help but feel overdressed. Which was weird, considering he was wearing a slightly worn T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
Well, this was awkward. Luce considered pulling a book out of his own bag and finishing his meal as if she wasn’t there.
The woman broke through the silence, broke social norms, and skipped directly over the part where you’re supposed to ask someone’s name.
Her question left Luce reeling. “F-Floccesy Town.” He stammered. A little town in Unova? That’s what he came up with? He looked down at his coffee. “North.” He continued. “It’s the only place to go.” This conversation had already drove off a cliff and exploded, and they were only three exchanges in.
Ellie slightly raised her eyes at the man's sudden panic at being asked a simple question. However, she decided to play it cool and continue on with the conversation, pretending the awkward response never happened. "Oh cool, I actually was born in Dizhen City myself, so I'm sort of a local around these parts. What would bring a handsome man like you to Rakuen all the way from Unova?" asked Ellie, as she brought out a very large make-up box from her treasure chest sized purse. She continued talking as she applied mascara, eyeliner, and other assortments of make-up to her face. Ellie then put away all of her vanity related items into her purse, before stretching her arms a bit, while remaining stationary on her chair. She then places her hands on the table, intensely looking at the strange Unovian man before her, observing his every man like a cheetah ready to strike. Note: 154 words
“I’m-” Luce pauses. He couldn’t say “just here to become a trainer”, could he? If so, why didn’t he just become a trainer in Unova? He knew Floccesy Town was a mistake. Here he was, thinking of how he could escape by digging himself a deeper lie. He needed a good backstory, but stuck under pressure, sitting across from a stranger of the very odd variety (here she was, applying makeup without a mirror; how was she doing that?), this was not the time to come up with it.
Luce sighed. “Just a trainer. On my journey.” he said. Luce took a bite of his sandwich and left it at that. He didn’t need to explain anything to her. What he did need to do was turn the conversation back on her.
“Dizhen City?” He asked. “What’s it like there?”
He could eat his sandwich fast and then leave. Luce took a long drink of coffee and a large bite of his sandwich.
Ellie was absolutely fascinated by the man's strange behaviour, but more importantly, she was attracted to him. The last couple of days have been hectic for Ellie, spent on a luxurious cruise ship, with one of her parents' butlers following her around. She had managed to get away from his domineering control over her by sneaking away in the middle of the night while the cruise ship was docked at a bay. Then there was a ferry, a very grumpy Pidgeot, and another ferry. It had been a couple of days since Ellie has had any "meaningful" human contact, and she was starting to feel quite lonely. Noticing that she had been staring silently at Luce for a while, she mindlessly blurted out "Dizhen City is a pretty boring, just like place. I heard there's a dive bar in town, do you want to come with me? Drinks on me!". Note: 150 words
Luce coughed on his coffee. He scrambled for a napkin, and for once, was glad his food came with two too many of the paper squares.
“I’m eighteen.” He said calmly. “I’m underaged.” What was this about, asking a random stranger -who hadn’t even shared their name- to go get drinks? He absently wiping the side of his mug where a line of coffee had earlier dripped down.
This was weird. She was staring at him and she’d already finished her food but she wasn’t leaving and he didn’t know her and honestly, he wasn’t sure at all how to proceed. This is why he avoided people - they were so strange; puzzling.
But maybe that was it; he just had to look at this situation like it was a puzzle. He just had to figure out how to either leave entirely or at least make it so he didn’t have to talk much. “But if this place is so boring, what makes a place interesting?”
He took another drink of coffee to wash down the feeling of the last.
Daniel sat down at a stool with his Aron hanging on his shoulder.
He wanted to sample the towns restaurants before he left. Supposedly this was a popular place .
He ordered a simple soup and a coffee. A slice of pie to finish. Price was low as to be expected on his trainer budget. . As he was eating he would share his soup with Aron. His Klink was at the poke center recovering from a failed charge beam.
As he began to delve into the pie he opened a letter addressed from the gym in Rustburo City. Various other letters sat in a pile. But this was from the place he loved the most. As he opened it a silver gym leaders badge fell out on the floor. He was confused as gym leaders used gold badges for ID. Trainers used bronze badges for their collection. He knew that from training in his bosses various gyms.
He reached down for the badge knocking his coffee down.
Ellie exhaled in annoyance, the strange man was obviously not socially gifted, as he couldn't get a "clue". "Well, you're no fun. There is no drinking age in Kalos, but I don't think that would entice you to have a good time either. Anyway, my name's Ellie Frazier, and I'm a trainer just like you. I hope we'll be seeing each other around, Mr. Stranger" Ellie stated, as she waved her hand around in the air, presumably trying to wave goodbye to the strange man. She got up from the table, grabbing her enormous purse, before leaving the building. Ellie was sure that he was hiding something, but she honestly couldn't care what. Ellie got herself a nice room in a fancy hotel in town, and after checking in, she fell asleep like a log on the comfortable, soft bed that awaited her. Today was the first day in Ellie's adventure, the first of many to come. Note: 157 words
985 Pokedollas earned. This is my exit from the thread
Earned so far: (I'm doing a bit of a cash-in so I can buy a few things)
£1349
And so the strange lady made her exit. The table behind him changed occupants. No fun? Luce assumed not. He was here for food, not entertainment. She left, leaving behind her name, and without his. That secret he had kept to himself.
But their meeting hadn’t been for nought; she had left him with an important question. Others would ask about his past, and as it stood, he had no answer. How many times would he be able to say “just a new trainer” and leave it at that? It wasn’t an immediate problem, no, but he’d think about it tonight. He wondered if, in this small region, he’d meet Ellie Frazier again.
All that was left was his food. He took another sip of his emptying coffee, savoring the sweeter flavor of the bottom half of the mug. Something dropped on the floor behind him. He could read one of his books now; he’d found the new one from one of his favorite authors and had been looking forward to cracking it open.
Luce reached down for his bag- and was hit by a falling mug of coffee.
It was mostly the porcelain cup that bumped his hand, the contents splashing mostly on the ground just beyond. Luce yelped, yanking his hand back. (He’d find in a moment that he was mostly unhurt, just startled by the unexpected bump and the few drops of hot liquid.) In a second action, he pulled up his backpack as the brown liquid quickly spread across the ground.
Luce looked beside him, to the guy who spilled the drink. He looked about his age, probably another trainer. “Watch where you’re dropping things.” He said. What was with his luck today?
At least the guy apologized. “No, it’s fine.” Luce sighed, going back to his own business. But as Luce returned to his meal, now cold and mostly gone, he noticed the other person became somewhat panicked.
This was like another common trope in novels - a character bumps into the main and loses something. Luce was not in the mood to start off some strange adventure, sure to please audiences but not in the least him, nor did he want to push his poor luck any further.
More than anything, he wanted some peace and quiet. Time had brought with it even more people, and the small cafe was filling up with noise.
Luce stood up, lifting his bag’s one strap over his head. “I’ve got some stuff I need to take care of-”
Something clattered to the floor. With all the rumbling of the drop and its aftermath, the badge had managed to catch on the side of his bag, loose enough that it came free with some jostling. He bent down and picked up the little object. It looked like a badge - which one he’d never bothered to memorize, but it seemed to be made out of the silver.
Luce held the badge out to the trainer (if he had a badge, Luce could safely assume). “This is that important to you?” He asked. The guy’s response to its loss was quite animated.
Daniel was more than happy when the stranger handed the badge to him. After remembering a lesson from back in one of the gyms he remembered the meaning behind a silver badge.
"Yes like you have no idea." He quickly glanced at the badge worries it was damaged.
"Fwew close one. I need to be more careful. " Aron rolled its eyes as Daniel said that.
"Thank you how can a repay you." He said. Trying to see if he had anything at least equivalent to the badges value.
"May I ask your name. i'm not usually good at talking to people I've just met." He said as he glanced between the badge and the helper.
On the badge it had Daniel's name engraved on the back.
Luce paused. His meal was already paid for, and he wasn’t feeling very creative. “Let’s just say it’s an IOU.” He said, giving the badge back to Daniel, according to the small writing on the little piece of metal.
“It’s Luce.” He said. He adjusts the pack on his shoulder. Daniel raised the count to two new trainers he’d met in the span of an hour. There was that saying, “when you look into a trainer’s eye, you have to battle”, but Luce wasn’t expecting everyone to be so talkative. He hoped this was a pattern unique to cafes and like gathering places, and he wouldn’t be constantly assaulted by trainers wanting for a fight or conversation.
“Perhaps we’ll have to battle, next time we meet.” Luce threw out jokingly. He waved to the trainer and, leaving his dishes for the waiters, departed through the cafe door. It was time to find out what the inside of a pokemon center room was like.
"I think we have a new friend.." He told Aron who was simply laughing at Daniels clumsiness.
Daniel ordered another coffee from the server after promising not to spill it again.
He sipped it as he finished reading several more pieces of mail.
"The issue with being me. Is simply being me..." He stated as he hated to read mail. But he felt it was disrespectful not to. Not if you know who is sending it.
Daniel took out the map from his bag and began to study it intently. He wasnt sure where he was going to go but he decided it was time.
Using his watch as acompass he drew a planned route in purple marker. That was his route for now.
Daniel stood up again gathering his belongings and paid the server. He didn't care to much for the food here but he always loved coffee.
With an order of coffee for the road he left the restaurant. Still he wanted to forget the embarrassibg spill. Yet it remained. Of course he did meet a potential friend.
