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[attr="class","header"]WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER

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He knew one wasn't too impressive, not when you needed eight. Luckily, he hadn't started taking on the gyms three years ago and had only recently managed to land one. It had only been recently that he had started to take on the gym circuit. However, even back then, thoughts of taking on the gym circuit and becoming a champion had been on his mind. At the time, he had just been preoccupied with getting used to the freedom that coming to Hoenn had provided.
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Then he had taken some time to get used to what it was like being a kid. Although some would say he still didn't really know what it was like to be a kid. He had been told that he could take things a bit too seriously. But considering he had grown up with a Pokémon professor as a father, it couldn't really be helped.
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As he inquired about the required eight badges, he nodded. "Yes, and I plan on meeting the requirements and becoming champion. It has been my dream for a while. I used to be envious of other kids who would set out on Pokémon journeys. In Alola, instead of a gym circuit, you take the island challenge when you're eleven, and I had gotten really mad at my parents when they had told me I was too frail to take part. So when my older sister talked about coming here, I, with my older sister's help, was able to convince my parents to allow her to take me with her."
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As he mentioned getting out more, he furrowed his brow. However, he actually spent plenty of time outside, rarely missing a day without at least spending some time outdoors. Despite sensing a double meaning to his words, he refrained from commenting, though his confusion was evident in his expression.
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"I don't know much about fans, so I'll take your word for it," he said before continuing, "I was actually referring to Team Rocket. I've heard rumors that some members won't hesitate to eliminate someone, but I'm not sure how much of that is true," he added with a small shrug.
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As the conversation shifted to facial hair, he unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh when mutton chops were mentioned. He found the style amusing, as he had never really understood it. "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh. I've never been one to understand new fashion trends, including facial hair," he admitted.
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As he mentioned being clean-shaven as more sanitary, he nodded in agreement. That was part of the reason he had never given much thought to growing facial hair, along with the fact that it made a person look more put together. To him, someone who was clean-shaven looked more respectable, but that was just his opinion.
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As he became dramatic after what he had said about his sister, he couldn't help but be amused. "Definitely, I like letting my Pokémon roam free when at home, so it would definitely be a problem."
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His reaction to Quilladin was even more amusing. "A Quilladin, when I was younger, I used to think its last evolution was extremely cool. That was back before I started to favor normal types," he admitted, his gaze momentarily fixed on the grass-type Pokémon, though it wasn't long before he had turned away.
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Quilladin wasn't a Pokémon he really wanted, so he indicated that they should move on. After all, walking would guarantee them running into a Pokémon more than just standing around would.[break] Ozni Adebayo

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + skipping

[attr="class","oznitop"][attr="class","ozni"]

[attr="class","oznimain"]This egghead reminded him of himself. Before he got cool, anyway. Though Ozni noted the confusion, he didn’t explain it. The kid seemed big enough to look stuff up on Google. At the talk of fans, Ozni shrugged. “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, let me tell you.” Sure, it was cute when children asked you to invest in their business. It was something else when you found someone trying to sell locks of your hair.

At the talk of Team Rocket, Ozni paused. He figured a kid like this would live and breathe statistics. That he’d be able to Rainman some of the crime numbers. “Somebody is driving up this region’s murder rates.” He shook his head. “And, if what they did in Kanto is any indicator, it’s not the rangers.” Sure, the upper scruff was probably corrupt, but at least they weren’t full-on dictators. Not yet. “Just don’t talk to strangers, and you’ll be A-Okay, compadre..” He was pretty sure the real megalomaniacs were as conspicuous as a white-paneled fan labeled FREE CANDY.

Ozni grinned. “And why shouldn’t you laugh? Those things but the h-y-d-e in hideous. They make you look like a robber baron.” His own hairstyle was pretty set in stone at this point. It was equal parts cool and low maintenance. Just some gel, and a few pony holders, and he was good to go. “A mustache’s better than a fake ID sometimes.” Not that he actually had to sneak in anywhere to get booze. The family servants were used to having a slosh in charge.

“It better be one hell of a glow-up then.” The thing was super awkward. It was just begging to be used in some ancient game of football or something. Agreeing with the kid, he moved toward his car. Occasionally, he’d shift his legs as if trying to ward off an ache. One time he did this, he almost fell backward into the path. Another demon bird was on his trail. With a squawk, he moved to stand behind Absalom, making the holy sign of Arceus as he did so. “It’s another one! Shit!”

Fortunately, this one seemed more interested in the weird mop-top weasel that emerged from the bushes opposite than in ruining Oz’s hairdo.

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[attr="class","header"]WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER

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They didn't seem like they would be. Not that he had any experience, but he had heard all these stories about celebrities being mobbed by their fans. He just didn't understand why people would put themselves through something like that. "I suppose only a celebrity would be able to fully understand something like that," he said at last.
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As he mentioned the crime rate, he frowned. Yeah, he had read that too about the number of deaths skyrocketing. "I would say everyone should just learn to set their differences aside, but I know that will never happen. People are notoriously selfish creatures after all."
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Which was such a shame. People would find that they actually had more in common with others if they just set aside their differences and talked things out, instead of relying on violence. That's the way he felt anyway.
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"True, but it's probably still rude. What if someone actually decided to try and bring that back into style? Then we would be laughing at that person," he pointed out, though one could tell from his tone he was still mildly amused despite his mention of rudeness.
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As he mentioned fake IDs, he shook his head. "I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I want to drink, so that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'll just leave the drinking to other people. Besides, I have enough health issues without potentially adding more."
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As he spoke, he couldn't help but be amused. "Here," he said, pulling up a picture of Chesnaught on his phone before handing him the phone. "That's the final evolution. Unfortunately, it wasn't really a Pokémon that could be found in Alola. Before coming to Hoenn, I thought the only way to obtain it was if you were from Kalos. Unsure why Pokémon from other regions have started to frequent Hoenn," he said, frowning slightly.
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Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, they pressed on. Before too long, they ran into another Dodrio and a Gumshoos. Seeing the Gumshoos, he smiled slightly. It brought back so many memories of his parents. While being cooped up hadn't been ideal, he still loved his parents.
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His musings were cut short when the older male ducked behind him. He shot the other an amused look before sending out Song. "Song, while they're distracted, put them to sleep," he ordered.
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Having her orders, the Jigglypuff snuck closer, going unnoticed by the she was able to sneak closer. And before either knew what was happening, Song had used Sing to put them asleep.
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Seeing them sleeping soundly, he took out a Pokéball and tapped the Gumshoos with it before turning to the older male. "Gumshoos is a Pokémon from Alola, though apparently it was originally brought over from another region to deal with a Rattata problem. Seeing it made me think of my parents," he said awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
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"Anyway, you don't need to worry about the Dodrio, he'll be out for a while. Song often puts a little too much power behind that move when she uses it," he explained, glancing at the Jigglypuff.
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"Anyway, we should still move on. There are other wild Pokémon that could attack."[break] Ozni Adebayo

[attr="class","oocnotes"] + catch attempt on Gumshoos

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[attr="class","oznimain"]“Yeah.” Ozni sighed wearily. A melodramatic hand swept up across his chest. “You plebs don’t know how good you have it.” Being able to walk around without someone making a headline about it? Not being accused of making a political statement every time you wore a graphic t-shirt? That was the kind of stuff he heard other bigwigs whine about. Honestly? A life like that sounded boring as hell.

“Hah!” The idea of people getting along made him laugh. “You really are just a kid, huh?” Absalom here sounded like one of those vapid Miss Unova contestants—all sugar plum dreams. It was weird when he juxtaposed him against the stuff he’d been sprouting. A Poindexter with optimism, color him surprised. “But I don’t think selfishness is the problem.” Heck, it was what made the world go round! People wanted to be warm, so they hoarded heat in their homes. One of them wanted to go down in history, so they figured out how to fly.

True, unadulterated altruism? It didn’t exist. Sure, people claimed it was kindness driving them, but it wasn’t. Even charity was just selfishness’s alter ego. At the talk of sideburns, Ozni just smiled. “Some people deserve to be made fun of.” It stopped stupid bullshit from getting out of hand. And, if anyone asked, it was just a joke.

Though sometimes a Mean Girl, Oz didn’t see a point in pressuring Poindexter to drink. DARE told him drugs weren’t cool. “More booze for me then.” Not that he drank much anymore. What use was liquid courage when you weren’t scared of making an ass out of yourself? With an excited noise, the CEO took the phone.

His head tilted as he tried to make sense of the Chesnaught. Where were its ears? What did all those spikes do? “What a weird dude.” It didn’t strike him as a badass, but it was definitely better than Sir Roly-Poly from earlier. At the question of the environment, the CEO shrugged. “We have a bunch of gods running around high on god’s supply.” Time, space, and courage all fighting over this little chunk of paradise.

When the Dodrio collapses, Oz relaxes. He goes so far as to stick his nose out at it, stiffening as one of its heads shifts in its sleep. A polite golfer’s clap erupts as Absalom catches the toupee thing. “Bravo! Bravissimo!” He whispers at a shout. Up went a brow.

That thing wasn't something he'd want to remind people of. “Oh?Your dad into bad toupees?”

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