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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Isaac's long week seemed to be getting longer by the day. Every time he thought he'd finally caught a break, more and more kept piling itself onto his plate. Well, you know what? No more! Not any longer! He was parking his butt in the beaches around Lilycove, he was wasting his day drifting around in an inner tube, and nobody was going to stop him!

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For a while, Isaac's Pokemon followed his lead. Watson, his ever-present Totodile, was swimming behind him in large, listless circles. He was doing his best to relax, but as opposed to his far more weary trainer, the little croc was filled to the brim with energy. Even now, rather than letting the currents take him, he paddled his little feet quickly and restlessly.

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It was a flash of flame from above that snapped Watson out of his aimless paddling. The Totodile bobbed in the water, watching with jaws agape as a flaming bird dove through an explosion in the sky. Okay, that was awesome! Way cooler than just sitting around and doing nothing! Filled with renewed spark, the Totodile paddled off, snaking through the water at great speeds to get closer to the spectacle.

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Once it had arrived, the Totodile hopped out from the waters and sat down upon a nearby rock. He watched the coordinator-in-training and his firebird with bated breath, excited to see what happened next.

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]By this time, Watson was quite invested in the going-ons of this concert performance. By now he had taken a pair of shed Corsola branches that he had found in the water and was waving them around like glowsticks at an idol concert. When the Larvestra approached him, he excitedly barked in response, striking up a little conversation with the Larvesta. Everything was nice and peaceful, and the show was fantastic!

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Or, at least, it was until the bird took a tumble. Watson let out a distressed squawk, dove into the water, and swam away full speed ahead. His destination; Isaac, who in all this time hadn't moved from his cozy little spot. He'd practically dozed off, the currently gently pushing him back and forward as he stared up at the bright blue skies. He didn't even notice Watson's rasping attempts at getting his attention. He didn't notice the gentle headbutts to the side he was receiving when those barks failed stir him.

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But being flipped over? That sure got his notice!

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Isaac coughed, sputtered, and spat out water as he popped back above the waves. "Ugh, what the heck, Watson?" Isaac started, but before he could voice his displeasure the croc was already taking off. Sighing, Isaac followed after him, wondering just what had gotten into the crocodile.

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This was what brought Isaac over to the rest of the group. He and Watson arrived just in time to see the bird being scooped up, Watson pointing to it and letting out a series of distressed rasps. Fortunately, by now Asher had arrived onto the scene, and the bird was confirmed okay. Watson sighed in relief, but just in case walked up to the Fletchinder and gave it a pat on the head. It was a good bird! It worked hard!

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After this, Watson pointed to Isaac, giving a bark of acknowledgment and pointing towards him. He then pointed to . . . the Larvesta. After all, Larvesta was the only one he'd directly spoken to today. He looked towards Isaac with an expectant gleam in his eyes. Was this really happening? Yes, this was really happening. Isaac sighed, rolling his eyes, before smiling at the Larvesta. "Nice to meet you, Larvesta," he said.

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He then turned to the kid that was running this whole show. "And nice to meet you as well. I think Watson's really been liking the show you and your team were putting on," he said. "Your Fletchinder doing okay?"

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Okay, that was a relief. Isaac looked down at Watson, giving the Totodile an exasperated smile. "See? You totally worry too much." The Totodile huffed a little in response, before turning its eyes back to the skies to watch Fletcher go. He seemed like he was practically waiting for the show to start up anew so he could get back to cheering.

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The rest of the team seemed to follow a similar theme, with a cute little Larvesta and a blue-bodied Marowak. As soon as a Bones was mentioned, a flash of light came from Isaac's pocket. His own Cubone, Duster, emerged uncalled. He looked the older member of his species up and down, the look in his eyes unreadable. Jealousy? Curiosity? Reverence? With Duster being such a closed book, it wasn't easy for Isaac to tell.

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It seemed the quartet was there to try and come up with a routine for their next contest performance. It was a pretty recent decision, from the sound of it (and boy could Isaac sympathize, having only recently fallen into the current chapter of his own life). Clearly, improvising wasn't working, and so he was trying to tighten up his routines to make up for it.

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Seeing the kid working so diligently towards his coordinator dreams felt too familiar to Isaac. He tried to shake the thought.

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"Oh, right. I'm Isaac," he responded, realizing he'd forgotten the part where he introduced himself. Then again, it wasn't like he was planning on introducing himself to random strangers today. Even if their Pokemon, admittedly, had some sick moves. "I was just passing through when Watson saw Fletcher go down. Think it got him worried, and well, when Watson puts his mind to something half the time it feels like he's the one calling the shots here." Part of him figured that, now that the bird was okay, he'd just leave it at that and head back to the water.

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Yet another part of him felt compelled to stay. Stupid core memories. "So. Whatcha got for the routine so far?" he asked. "Can't say I've done one of these myself. But I've been told I've got a pretty good eye for tips." It's just a shame he couldn't be back there to give them anymore.

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Pah. Like they were even needed in the first place.

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Watson beamed from ear to ear at the compliment. He excitedly hopped up and down in place, making happy little rasps all the while. Isaac couldn't help but snicker at how cheery his starter was. "That's Watson for ya," he said, smiling despite himself. "Total scatterbrain. But he's got heart. Sometimes a little too much, if you ask me." Much as Isaac was gently roasting the croc, there was nothing but fondness in his voice. They really had a heck of a bond, huh?[break][break]

At the mention of advice, Isaac shrugged. "I may not've done one myself. But I've helped people set up for them in the past," he said. His little brother's junior league contest, for one. It was a moment he couldn't help but find himself coming back to as he watched these performances play out. Deja vu sure was a bitch, huh?[break][break]

Fletcher was up first, and Totodile's excitement only doubled at the reveal. He grabbed for the coral sticks again to start cheerleading the Fletchinder on as it went through that tried and true routine; spiral of flame, Ember to set off the fuse, Aerial Ace to stabilize its path through the ring as its Flame Body basked in the embers. "Honestly? I'm shocked you haven't done one of these yet," Isaac said as the performance came to a halt.[break][break]

Now it was time for the advice. Asher was right; this was going to be hard with how much less experience he had. But if he remembered some of the rambles Elliot went on . . . "It feels like a lot of people's first contest entry is shooting a ton of lasers to try and wow the judges with special effects. So you're already a step ahead of the pack by remembering this is a performance, too. Just enough flash to catch the judges' eyes, but you're keeping the attention on how fit and well-trained Fletcher here is," he said.[break][break]

"Honestly? If I'd add anything here, maybe some kind of dive bomb?" Isaac seemed a little bit shakier now that it was coming time for innovations, but dangit, he knew he had to try. "It'd be a good way to show that control, swooping down right in front of the judges without putting them in any actual danger. And it'd also give them a great up close look at Fletcher while they're all ember'd up. I know they already get a good look during the first round, but that extra glow should really add a bit more visual edge. And it'll put Fletcher right back in the front of the judges' minds."[break][break]

My, my, was that a bit of an underhanded tactic there? Maybe Isaac had some hustle to him after all.[break][break]

Next was the Marowak, and Watson wasn't the only one getting worked up this time. From the sidelines, Duster tried his best to follow along with the moves, albeit with little success. His bone spun slower, and the only special effects accompanying it were the occasional cloud of dust. The Cubone seemed a little frustrated with itself, letting the bone clatter to the ground at the end. It instead settled for watching the superior evolution's performance, a far-off look in its eyes.[break][break]

"If Fletcher's Cool, then Bones is Tough, right?" Isaac observed. Elliot was always talking about how the categories were really more concepts than hard-drawn lines, but it was easier for Isaac to understand this way, dangit. "And, yeah. Hell if I'd want to be on the wrong end of that glare. Guy's got some killer presence, and that can make or break a routine. I mean, imagine Watson doing the same thing. Bet it'd be a lot less scary." Sure, Watson had fangs for days, but he'd also lost a fight to one of those rubber clown toys once, so Isaac was incapable of finding him intimidating in the slightest.[break][break]

"I feel like you've got a good core going on. Hit some music in the background to match up with his movements, and you're like most of the way there. Maybe another attack or two in between, as a bridge?" Isaac wondered. "Like, does he know Earth Power or something like that? Cracking out some big magma-spewing fissures in time with the beat would make it even more clear that Bones isn't someone to mess with."[break][break]

Phew! That was a lot. Isaac could feel his brain smoking and turning just from the effort. But . . . in a way, it felt nice helping with this kind of thing again.[break][break]

A shame he didn't when it counted most.

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]No recoil damage, huh? That leaned into the tough thing quite nicely. "Oh, that's perfect," Isaac said. "I can see it now. Same bit. Throw the bone up, send it spiraling in the air. But instead of waiting for it to come down, jumping up to meet it. Then catching it, launching down with a Flare Blitz, and landing without a scratch on him. Pretty neat idea, huh?" Isaac said. It was ultimately the same sort of performance, just with a little bit more pizzazz at the end. Sometimes, that went a long way.[break][break]

With that said, it seemed like his advice went over pretty well! Maybe Isaac was better at this kinda thing than he thought. Maybe, just maybe . . . nah. God knows he's been spreading himself thin in way too many directions as is. Was this what it was like actually having potential? Shit, where was this feeling years ago!? It would've saved him so much trouble![break][break]

"Fire types your thing, I'm guessing?" Isaac found himself saying. Sticking around wasn't originally on the docket today, but, fuck it. Watson clearly enjoyed being around here, and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't having a hell of a time watching the performances so far. Who knows? Maybe after this performance break, he'd even get to see some of his own ideas put into practice.

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]"That's the spirit," Isaac said, an easygoing grin spreading across his face. "Thinking up new ideas is always important. But practice is what takes a good idea and shapes it into a great one."[break][break]

With that, Isaac took his first bold steps into "do what I say, no what I do" territory. But what else was he supposed to say? That he flies by the seat of his pants and improvises his ass off to surprising results? Sure, it's been working out for him so far. But it was A) awful advice and B) bound to stop working out for him soon. He couldn't keep running from his own misfortune forever.[break][break]

It sounded like the kid was the half-and-half type. He picked a favorite, but didn't let it define him. Practical, but personalized. An elegant style. "Not bad," Isaac said. "Especially as a coordinator, I bet it gives the crowd an idea of what to expect. Y'know, the signature on your performance. Then you can play into it to get your fans hyped up for the Usual Routine . . . or, every once in a while, throw a curveball to leave 'em all shocked."[break][break]

Shit, what would his signature be, if he were to perform? "I could never pick a favorite," Isaac admitted. "Though with how often I get jumped by a steel type trying to prove itself, you'd think I was made of magnets oe something![break][break]

As the older human counseled the younger, so too did the older Marowak do the same for the younger Cubone. Duster's annoyance ebbed away as the Marowak demonstrated its complicated spinning motions, both with its own bone and through showing Duster how to work with his. Duster studied the movements intently, replicating each motion to the best of his ability. His spins were slower, his rotations were clumsier, and he didn't quite capture the aura of grace and menace. But he was doing his best! Finally, with one last big, sweeping spin, Duster flung the bone into the air.[break][break]

Was that a wisp of shadow coming off of it? Nah. Couldn't be.[break][break]

Triunphant, Duster held a hand up, ready to catch the bone. A CLONK! to the head confirmed that he wasn't quite in position. Duster hunched down in a daze, rubbing the spot of the hit and chittering grumpily. Stupid bone. You made him look bad

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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]"Heh. Boy do I know the feeling," Isaac admitted as he heard how Asher pulled his team together. "I can't remember the last time I've gone out looking for a Pokemon. But they sure know where to find me!" Dugtrios in the garden. Bisharps ambushing him in abandoned warehouses. A Fennekin tag-teaming with a Koffing to try and mug him. "Even Duster here's a runaway. He stumbled upon me, and then just kinda stuck around. Took, like, months to get him to even accept a Pokeball."[break][break]

Oof. Location. Oh, that was a hard one. Isaac couldn't just come out and say the Rocket Sub. At best, the kid would call League personnel or ring up the Rangers. He'd probably think less of Isaac, too, which was a shame. At worst? The kid might actually be interested, and Isaac would be damned if he'd ever have that on his conscience.[break][break]

Luckily, he had his secondary "home" to fall back on; no home at all! "For now? I've just been wandering the region," Isaac said. "Never really been the type to put down roots, y'know? Hoenn's a real big place, and it feels like every time I come back to a place I've been before, there's something new to see." It still wasn't the type of life he'd advise, but with Asher already having a place to stay and a job on a ship, he was a lot less likely to be tempted by it.[break][break]

Wait. Job on a ship?[break][break]

Ugh. No. Even if it felt like a quarter of the region were secretly in on it, not everyone in Hoenn was a Rocket. Especially not some random teenager. He didn't need to do the whole Subway Employee bit to figure out whether Asher meant That ship or not.[break][break]

Duster listened at eager attention to Bones' story and advice. He even let out a quirk barking laugh at the mention of the two bullies getting smacked down by a Bonemerang. Okay. That was actually pretty impressive. And if Bones could step up to the plate to get a Bonemerang splitting targets like that, he could handle a little bit of verticality. He gave Bones a grateful nod, then stepped back to clear out a little area for himself. Then he let the bone fly, watching its trajectory as it sailed into the air. Higher . . . higher . . . a little bit higher . . . and now it was getting lower, and faster, and lower, and faster, and-[break][break]

Duster stuck his hand up, catching the bone right on his palm. With each second, the speed of the rotation slowed, until finally it had calmed enough for Duster to snatch it outright. Victory, thy name is Duster!

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