[Sigh] -_-

[[GreyWolf]]

<sup>'A trip seems to take longer than I thought' came the thoughts of a boy. There he was, just sitting there, watching the views and sights blur past. He was in a bus in fact, one bound for the Pokémon laboratory in the Dianto Region. The pamphlet he read while waiting for the bus said that from that station, he would arrive at the stop in 2 hours. It really hasn't been 2 hours yet but it seemed longer than that, possibly because he was rearing to start of. He checked his watch again, a few more minutes and the bus would stop. He breathe out. 'Just a few more minutes.' He told himself, and he gently rubbed his temples. He glanced at his side. The bus wasn't full at all, just a few passengers who wanted to go to the market or somewhat to do their daily activities.

The bus screeched to a halt, making Kyle nearly thrown off his seat. For a moment, he paused and looked through the window once again and then he swung his bag onto his back and got of the bus. He seemed to be the only who was getting off right now. The bus drove off, leaving him at the stop with no one else. He grimaced as he sought out the laboratory from the distance and trudged his way towards it.

Finally, he was right in front of the laboratory. Larger than any house he had ever seen, he gapped at the building before heading for the door. The wind seemed to be blowing at his side. His jacket, which wasn't zipped close, was flapping at his side. He rested his palm on the door, then knocked a couple of times.</sup>

[Alaina]

A new aide bustled around inside the lab, reading a piece of paper that almost trailed to the floor which was full of instructions, reminders, food lists, supplies the Professor needed, the preferences of the Pokemon, the rules of the lab, the training schedule, the way the hatchery worked and - the door knocked, pulling her out of her thoughts about how impossibly long the list was and how she would never manage to remember everything and how she would certainly be fired on the spot because she'd give a Spheal's lunch to a Seel for breakfast and how she'd end up homeless on the street, begging for money and how her beloved Pokemon would be taken from her because she would be deemed irresponsible by the police force - Or I could just, oh, I dunno, open the door? She thought to herself, forcing her self to end the crazy list of possibilities which would most likely never occur. She walked over to the lab door and opened it, seeing her first-ever new trainer: A boy who looked to be about half her age who had spikey blue age. Wow. That made her feel old.

"Hello. The Professor's in the fields right now. I'm one of his new aides, Alexis. How can I help you - I assume you're here for a starter?"

She asked quietly, as though she wasn't quite sure of herself, as she ushered the boy in out of the cold. Before she shut the door, she caught a glimpse outside and saw that the clouds were steadily darkening, indicating an oncoming snow, possibly a snow storm. Well, that would make the beginning of a journey rather interesting. She had noticed, over the past few days, that in the Dianto region, it would snow for about an hour, it would pass, and about fifteen hours later, it would get darker, then two more hours later, it would snow for another hour, and the process would repeat. A thought came to her head just then. Why am I even paying attention to the weather, much less memorizing it? I mean, it's important, but that's why God invented the News. So normal people DON'T have to - so newscasters can get paid money to predict the weather and be wrong about it. Again.

((No religious inferences meant.))

[[GreyWolf]]

Grateful of the quick answer from his knocks, the boy came in. Cold though it was outside, it was considerably warm inside the Laboratory. Perhaps they have a temperature control system. He thought, seeing that most pokemon were only comfortable when they live in a surrounding much like their natural homes. He was amazed by the sheer size of the Laboratory. Of course, he had already imagined on the bus what a pokemon laboratory would look like. Even so, he would not have have imagined it this way.

Over taken by the splendor of the Laboratory, he had backed up to admire the place some more. Then he bumped into Alexis, and tumbled onto the floor. Not quite what he wanted as a first impression. He felt dizzy from the fall and began rubbing his head. It was only then that he thought off who had it been to open the door. He looked up to Alexis, who seemed to be staring at him for some reason. Immediately his cheeks grew red under female's gaze, thoroughly embarrassed by his actions.

"I'm sorry" Was all he could manage to say, still sitting on the floor stupidly. He hadn't heard a word Alexis said. His hazel eyes lingering in hers before he awkwardly moved forward to get up.

[Alaina]

Alexis attempted to keep her eyebrows down, knowing full well that raising them would only add to his already-obvious humiliation. She bent down to help him up, but he got up of his accord before she could. Shrugging, she then took a few steps back, rolled up the Never Ending Sheet Of DOOM, as she called it, and tried to look slightly more professional as she waited for his response. Her decision led to an awkward silence; it took her a few moments to realize that the new trainer, or coordinator, hadn't heard what she'd said.

"Are you here for a starter? If so, do you know which you want? And, I'm Alexis. You are?"

She asked, trying desperately to sound like she hadn't already asked it. The possibility that new trainers didn't look at available Pokemon was, according to Professor Willow, quite high, so he had ordered all his aids to carry a lab-pocket-sized copy of the list. Since a lab-coat had pockets much larger than most pockets, her copy was nearly the size of normal paper. She held it out for the boy to take it if he needed it.

[[GreyWolf]]

"Actually, yes I am." answering quickly, trying to cover up that awkward silence. "Um, alright...Nice to meet you Alexis, I'm Ky-- Nick, I'm Nick." He repeated his name again. He had only decided to use his second name at that very moment, making him stutter as he did. He considered his first name to a nickname or rather, since it was only he and his mother who knew his name was Kyle. Often, he wondered why didn't he want people to know his first name but often shrugged the question off.

He stared blankly at the paper Alexis held out, another awkward moment, before realizing that she was holding it out for him to take. Once he realized this, he quickly tried to fix the problem by taking the paper quickly, perhaps too quickly.

He scanned the list off pokemon on the paper. Then found that he knew none of them, absolutely none. You stupid ass He found himself wondering what the hell should he do now!

He then turned to Alexis again. Perhaps she could help him. "Actually, I don't know what pokemon I want because I don't know these pokemon." He said quietly, handing back the list. "Maybe you could recommend one for me instead, you seem to know more about this than I do anyway."

[Alaina]

She cocked her head slightly as he stuttered over his own name. That was odd. But she shrugged it off and bit her lip in the next awkward silence. Maybe she should enroll in a socializing class next semester. That might be useful in this job.

"Well, it sort of depends on what you're doing. If you want to get to the gym right away, I'd suggest something good against both grass and water with a weakness to neither - such as flying, poison, or bug. Unfortunately, we don't have any of those available at the moment. However, Elekid or Pichu would be good, since they're not weak to grass Pokemon - their attacks are just less effective. If you're planning staying around Route One and Two, trading, adopting, and the like, any of them would be good.
For a coordinator, someone like Pichu, Mime Jr., Smoochum, Elekid or Igglybuff would be good - they tend to love crowds, attention, and being center stage.
If you're looking to have a good starter, then Igglybuff, Cleffa or Azurill would be your best bet.
If you're experienced with handling Pokemon - not necessarily a lot, but some - then try out Munchlax, Bonsly, Magby or Mime Jr.
That was probably kind of confusing, but it's mostly a matter of what you're doing and how much time you have to look for other types. Actually, for most of route one, someone like Magby would be excellent. It's kind of a matter of opinion.

She inhaled heavily after her long, extensive speech. Wow... Where had she learned all of that? Shaking her head in slight surprise, she waited for the boy's reaction.

[[GreyWolf]]

Kyle contemplated this silently. From what he could tell, Alexis was merely pointing out that no matter which pokemon he were to choose, they would have their own strengths and weaknesses. It sort of made his wonder what he would like to become in a year or two. Right now, his ambition was to become a breeder, to train and care for pokemon was his goal.

Everything just seemed so jumbled up that it made his head hurt. Wanting to make a decision right before the headache would kill him or something. He chose the one that Alexis said last.

"I guess the Magby will be fine, since I'll be there for some time trying to get used to this sort of thing." He answered, shrugging off the nervous feeling.

[Alaina]

"Magby it is, then. One second."

She smiled slightly at the boy's confusion, though it was mostly from her own embarrassment. She spoke too much. Alexis left the main entrance hall and walked down one of the hallway passages. A few minutes later, she returned, a pokeball in one hand and a light brown bag in the other. She held both items out for Nick, and opened the door. She enjoyed the presence of another human who didn't add to her to-do list, but unfortunately, her to-do list was rather long and her conversation with the new trainer had already been going on for quite some time.

You have received a Magby!

Name: -You Decide-
Gender: -You Decide-
Level: 5
Attacks: Smog, Leer
Personality: -You Decide-
Obtained: Pokemon Lab; level 5

You have also received:
-Pokeballs x5
-Potions x3
-Pokedex
-Badge Case
-Ribbon Case

[[GreyWolf]]

Somehow, even by just holding the pokeball of the Magby, he felt the pokeball grow warm as he touched it. Perhaps the Magby is thriving. He thought and then chuckled to himself. Since when did he know such things?

He placed the pokeball into his pocket, safely tucked in, he then placed the other items into his bag. He looked to Alexis once again and then gave her a smile, something rare if it came from him. "Thank you for your help, I hope that someday we'll meet again, in some other not-so embarrassing time." Said Kyle, nodding gently.

Perhaps it was the euphoria of finally obtaining a pokemon to call his own but he felt all giddy inside. He felt a rush of joy, something that came sparingly since separation from his father.

He shrugged off the thought, calming himself down again. He headed for the door. "Thanks for your time." He said in a light tone and then went through the door.

[Alaina]

((Thread Finished))