With the city or towns behind him, Holland would march toward the falls. He had been here a few times on his patrols - ranger duties demanded it. Today was a day to try and capture more Pokemon though. He heard dragons existed in the falls somewhere. He was going to find at least one.

As the man walked, he realized he wasn't totally alone. Lifting his head, he would spot the form of a woman and her Pokemon paces away. His golden eyes squint slightly, trying to allow them privacy. However, his Totodile had other plans. She would approach the pair openly and he mentally sighed. Apparently the female gator had a tendency to be social.

"Is she bothering you...?" he says, stopping before them and staring down at the Totodile. It was jumping happily on the spot, cawing and making a scene. Holland was embarrassed for himself. "stop that" he says sternly but quietly. The gator stops immediately, rushing back to her trainer and hiding behind his leg. What a weirdo.

illeana reyes

Holland quirked a brow at the young woman, too intuitive to ignore her shakes. He said nothing to her, only lightly scowling. Perhaps Totodile had picked up on it, approaching the woman boldly and in an effort to cheer her up... He was slowly training all his new Pokemon in healing and care.

"You could say that" he states unhelpfully at first, his golden eyes focusing on the woman's face. Totodile peered around his legs to stare at the girl then to the tall Pokemon behind her. His frown deepened "just looking for Pokemon..." Was she fine to walk around? She seemed a bit out of it, if truth be told. He decided to indirectly probe her.

"Are you?" he asks.

illeana reyes /skip

"Dragons, maybe" he replies, glad she already does not seem the type to make long winded conversation over nothing. Holland couldn't help agree with her statement about clearing one's head. He lives in the middle of nowhere, alone, surrounded by nature daily. He doesn't agree with the company bit though even if it looked like she needed it.

Imagine being glad to be around him... He feels she picked the wrong person for company. He wasn't exactly a social person. "I suppose" he does give her at last, allowing her silence to fester. Feeling comfortable in it more than actual talking. "though I am a piss poor conversationalist, I'm sure you're aware." He scowls lightly, trying to make a slight joke but wondering if it'll fail. His jokes were not very upfront either.

A Squirtle appears and Holland is quick to take out another Pokemon. The Serperior slithers toward the water-type, lashing out with a Leaf Blade before the wild Pokemon has a chance to react. The Kanto starter falls to the blade and Holland takes out a Pokeball, tossing it at the turtle and capturing it.

illeana reyes / capture

"..." he was about to say something when he heard some frantic crying. Holland looks past the woman to see a fallen tree along the route. Its old roots dug into the ground, suggesting it had been there for some time. Perturbed by finding no good hiding place, an Applin was crying next to it.

Or maybe it wept for the tree that could never be now.

He glances at the human before approaching the Applin, bending down to its level. The small Pokemon was smaller than natural - suggesting it was a child compared to others. Had it been abandoned? A logical conclusion, for it sniffled and tried to roll away. But he was quicker, reaching out a hand to gentle stroke its head. It sniffled greatly this time, burying its head into his hand.

"I guess any dragon that will have me" he replies to the woman, straightening up with the Applin in his arms now. Pokemon chose the trainer as much as humans chose them. Dragons were fickle beasts as well. They stubbornly went for the strongest humans, seeking glory. Holly was not a strong trainer, but he had a strong heart. A wall of iron covered it, coated it.

It didn't crumble as easily as others. The Applin looked content against his chest, slowly fading to exhausted sleep. He plucked a free capsule from his belt and tapped it gently against the dragon's head. It swallowed it up, as the Serperior retrieved the Squirtle's Pokeball for him too.

illeana reyes / befriend capture