"A few people have. It's been nice." To battle again, even if her team is fledgling and new again.

It was frustrating to lose so many times but it made the few victories all the sweeter.

"And you? I can't imagine you turning any down."

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"i've mostly been the one instigating battles. i've fought a few so far."

a few is an understatement — battles upon battles filled up the past few days. it's tiring, but rewarding at the same time to see so what hoenn has to offer.

"anyone interesting?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

At the question, Callie took a moment to thing. There were people who she expected to excell who had, like John Sullivan. But the most unexpected was....

"There was a man with a Riolu. Liam, I think? He was very skilled." Little did Callie know, she was complimenting Cillian Quinn.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"liam king?"

matias scoffs.

"i lost against him. i found his whistling quite off-putting."

if anyone would understand, it'd be callie.

"doug's been doing quite well, too."

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

"I know what you mean. I lost as well."

The whistling, too, had been just as off putting.

"He recognized me, too. Despite..."

A vague motion to herself.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"i think he was in kanto."

but there's no way to prove it, at least not without extensive work that he can't be bothered to put in at the moment.

"whistling and clicking seem to be the new trend. i've fought a few who do it."

the likes of Razz Kingsman and Eris Halla, for example.

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

"I don't like it."

For obvious reasons.

"Nonverbal communication is fine, it's just..."

She crosses her arms.

Maybe it was best to change the subject.

MATIAS SILPH

[attr="class","matias"]"neither do i."

those who have no problem with it likely haven't been through what they have. but he can't complain, so he thinks it best to simply change the subject.

"you hungry? there's a stall Eva Morales took me to the other day."

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

A little."

She's thankful that MATIAS SILPH understands, at least.

"I didn't get to use my Bulbasaur today. She was excited."

But that was okay. She could have a nice snack.

[attr="class","matias"]"would you rather battle?"

a part of him already knows her answer; he reaches into his pocket for a pokeball, calling out a little cubone.

"cubone's been looking to fight."

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

"Of course."

She was like MATIAS SILPH. Never could resist a challenge.

She smiles a little sadly at the Cubone but still calls out her Bulbasaur.

Her very first partner and her most trusted pokemon had always been her Marowak.

[attr="class","matias"]cubone's new to battling, that much becomes clear by how it seems to nervously teeter before the battle even begins.

"take it easy, cubone."

nodding, cubone starts the battle by throwing his BONE RUSH.

[attr="class","noodles"]Calliope Marks

Her Bulbasaur is no better. The plant pokemon is easily distracted by the crowd of people and pokemon.

She doesn't see the Bone Rush coming.

"It's okay." She soothes, gentle. "Try a Leech Seed."

MATIAS SILPH