Sam frowned at the mention of rotation battles. He'd seen the roster for his, and he was going up against kyle lopez. He wasn't usually one to complain about a set up, but seriously?

He watched the field grow static with electricity. That stunfisk was going to knock heads. Luckily, Sam's larvitar wouldn't be affected by any of the electric moves on the field and she seemed relatively unphased by the terrain used. Because of that, she took her time, making her way toward the shedninja to close her mouth on a part of it's hollow husk, crunching down on it to tear it down, or apart-- whichever.

It was super effective and would break through that annoying ability shedninja had with relative ease.

Cillian Quinn

What Sam appreciated the most about the two remaining pokémon was that they had a certain weakness which he could utilize well. So long as that stunfisk was focused on the luxio, it would hopefully work. Because stunfisk had plenty of ground moves that would render his larvitar fainted.

"Get mad."

Almost immediately, the small green rock encased larva gave a mighty yell, then her feet started to glow as she pitched a royal fit with her stomping tantrum, attempting to hit both of the pokémon with the same move.

Cillian Quinn

The fangs were so cold that the larvitar found herself frozen on the spot.

Sam let out a sigh, then slowly frowned. Seeing his larvitar frozen in place had him with a decision. He could either withdraw his larvitar and save her from her status by using an ice heal, or he could let her remain frozen and hope that she would thaw out quickly enough.

He highly doubted that it would be anytime soon with the temperature the way it was. With that, he raised a hand and pressed a button to signal he surrendered, withdrawing his larvitar from the battle. His eyes moved to the stunfisk, then to the blonde who commanded it.

Why? Studying. He seemed very talented as a trainer.

notes

larvitar was frozen
sam withdrew larvitar
sam lost the battle royal

Cillian Quinn

While Gavin continued the battle royal, clearly winning the match, Sam pulled his larvitar out and gave her an ice heal to mend her wounds, giving her a bit of petting where she appreciated it before recalling her.

About then, the match had concluded, and he was correct in his assumption that the blond had won.

"I'm not one to make my pokémon suffer pointlessly. This battle wasn't a life or death situation. My pride can take the loss more than it can take the weight of knowing she suffered longer than she absolutely needed to."

When it came to people, Sam wasn't the best socially. But when it came to his pokémon, he was annoyingly kind. Quite the softie.

He held out his hand and gave the blond a look of recognition-- mostly just recognizing his talent and the fact that he'd won.

"Congratulations on your win."

Cillian Quinn

"Of course."

Sam dismisses the gratitude given out of courtesy to the congratulations he'd given to provoke it. Instead, he focuses on the notion of 'why battle at all.'

"It's the best method of figuring out the chemistry between trainer and pokémon. I've not had my larvitar for terribly long, and I've wanted to develop more of a bond with her. But allowing her to faint causes her to distrust me. So I try to avoid it."

For Sam, winning wasn't what battling was about. It was about learning who he was, who his pokémon were, and where they all stood with one another.

ooc

sorry this is delayed, i didn't see the reply!!

Cillian Quinn