[attr="class","witness"]Francie bounces into the room with absolutely no idea that she's in any way intimidating because let's face it how the flip-flops and sneakers could Francie Myrtle be intimidating in any way at all possible??

A giant gym and maze, for one. All her rock types, for two...

"Welcome to the Petalburg City's Gym Challenge! It's a maze--"

Francie interrupts herself with an expression that shares she's a bit embarrassed and realizes, he might already know that, since he signed up for it.

"Ah.... which, you probably already know so anyway!" That's all said rather quickly, and she takes a deep breath to keep herself a little more focused. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Samuel! Let's go over the rules, shall we?"

Although she doesn't give him much time to answer, she does gesture toward the stone wall behind her. It opens to reveal three pathway options, large solid stone walls sliding apart to reveal the options.

"The maze has a non-damage move rule, meaning only status type moves may be used while inside the maze. Your pokemon must be present with you at all times, along with me! If you lose either of us at any point, you're disqualified! Um...."

For a moment, she wonders if she's missed anything. She hadn't had her coffee that morning yet and really couldn't remember if there were other rules. Commonly known as a brain fart.

"OH! Right, s-sorry, early morning without enough java, um, anyway. There is a time limit! As soon as you cross this white line, it's started. Try and make it through the maze before the time limit runs out!"

With as cheerful a smile as Asher's was charming, Francie steps beside the challenger with more joy than was probably allowed in a single human being but somehow Francie manages it.

"Get your partner out, and start when you're ready!"

oscar clayton - roll total 0/200
you may begin rolling!

[attr="class","witness"]This guy's nerves were radiating off of him like a heat wave. It had Francie a bit concerned when he ordered the inkay with such callus, but at the same time, people got short when they got nervous. Well, unlike Francie. If she got nervous she stammered and blushed and laughed at herself a lot.

That callus order, it was Samuel's way of coping with his nerves.

As if to try and help with his nerves, she moved to place a hand on Samuel's clenched fist.

"Confidence is literally eighty percent of the challenge. You're gonna do great, and you're not alone. I'm right here, and you've got your inkay as well."

Francie wasn't sure if her confidence would help him as they began through the mace, but she sure hoped it would. If one didn't have confidence, they began second guessing pathways, and she'd seen people go through mental breakdowns so harsh she had to escort them out of the maze and take them to the hospital.

oscar clayton - roll total 79/200

[attr="class","witness"]The inkay only spurred on Francie's desire to find a carbink. She'd always wanted a carbink, since she'd first seen the creature in a magazine... or was it on an online forum? She couldn't be bothered to recall, but that inkay just made her want one all the more!

Just, so float-y, and cute!!

That pointed coo had Francie melted, right there and there, and she couldn't help how she squeaked in delight.

"Honestly, he's so freaking cute!"

She whispered it mostly to herself, before bouncing forward a few steps ahead of them and holding out her hand, for them to stop. The floor began shaking as they started to descend down.

"Welcome to the second stage of the maze, if you will."

As what was once the floor closed up, the pitch black tunnels beneath the gym were the new location in which 'Samuel' would find himself.

"Here we go Sam the man, and Malum the inkay. Being that Malum's got his own little radiance about him, you won't need instruction on illuminating your path. But! Status moves only still, so, don't get too silly."

Without much thought, and because it was habit with trainers at this point, Francie moved to take Sam's hand.

"Also, don't lose track of me either, still."

oscar clayton - roll total 128/200

[attr="class","witness"]The stammering was usually something Francie did herself and she assumed that it was due to the darkness around them, which was why she didn't say much in regard to it. Maybe he just needed some time and space to find his bareings.

The twists and turns of the maze were difficult enough, but Malum illuminated the place so nicely that one couldn't possibly be scared.

Either way, Francie was too busy thinking Malum was a cute little lantern, and decided to comment on as much.

"What a lucky find you have in this inkay. He seems very easy going. Do they have like, a bad flaw? Like, does he have terrible bedside manner or anything?"

Something so cute had to have something wrong with it, right?? You're one to talk, Francie.

oscar clayton - roll total 145/200

[attr="class","witness"]The moment they found the dead end and Malum took it upon himself to cheer happily, Francie's eyes widened in amusement and a smile tried to part her lips. She wasn't able to hold it back when Malum flippedhis lights off altogether, and she found herself letting out a laugh while being pulled along by Oscar.

Unbelievably, his language didn't bother her. There was a gym leader she'd met that was real 'punk rock' and he tended to use foul language like it was an NR movie.

"I see what you mean!" Francie called while following Oscar's pace and gripping his hand enough for stability. "But he's having so much fun!! And I mean, I'm not mad at the results!"

Speaking of results, as if a prank itself, a bit of light was coming into view. A shadow of the inkay coming into view as well. Francie grinned brightly and laughed, bubbly like the inkay's coos, as they approached a rope maze. On the other side was the incline leading up and into the gym arena, the finish line.

"Look at that! He came through in the end! Now all you have to do is make it through the rope maze, and you'll be finished!"

oscar clayton - roll total 181/200

[attr="class","witness"]As Samuel began bobbing and weaving through the ropes, Francie was sure to follow. She was small enough that the ropes didn't bother her. Besides, it was a lot of fun! She was a strange one and enjoyed little puzzles like this.

Once they were through, Francie gave inkay a kiss on his cute little head for helping them through and proving to be a good, if not tricky, little cutie.

As they came to the light and incline, Francie turned in a circle as if to present the gym arena they surfaced at.

"Welcome to the finish line, Samuel and Malum the inkay!"

Francie beamed at the both of them, walking backwards toward the podium that stood with a case of Stone Badges.

"While being a little bit of a trickster, you trusted that your pokemon would eventually lead you the right way. You showed patience and calm in a tough situation and under pressure, you thought quick enough to get you to the end of the maze! Facing anxiety isn't easy, but you did wonderful!"

As she spoke, she scanned her retina and opened the case, taking out a badge, and then turning toward him as the case closed and locked itself back. She held out the Stone Badge to Samuel and gave him a bright smile.

"Congratulations, Sam the man!"

oscar clayton - roll total 200+