Both parents nodded at that. Granted, it was in Mr. Toral's opinion that the gym leaders should be most focused on their respective cities. "That is fair. If Mauville were to fall, the League would be in huge trouble. Though I'd also argue that if it's recruiting or forcing children like Hideo Kino or Aaron to go on the front lines, the League is finished, borderline so if a draft is implemented. If Keenan so desires, he could join. Though only if he battled the two of us and win would he have our full support and blessing. Especially given his wierd stagnation." That was news to him. Rubbing the back of his head, Kee did interject.

"I don't think I'd make a good soldier. Or a more combative Ranger. I did well with Greyson's gym challenge, but that also only dealt with a single Rayquaza. Not Team Rocket and the League duking it out along with multiple legends fighting it out as well..." At the time, he also lacked firepower, getting a B on that. However, the other sections he got rated as A+ and up. Flexibility being his highest rank. Although...a battle against his parents? That was probably more terrifying than any gym battle! Kee didn't quite know how to handle this though...as real as that gym challenge seemed, it was still an illusion. Fake. Not real with actual consequences. Kee didn't know if he would curl in a ball and cry or actually act like in that challenge...





Josh Devlin

A lady had come in with a bouquet of flowers. Okay...Aaron's not really one for flowers, but he does take any and all gifts graciously. But why was she here? And who was she? She introduced herself as Airi. With a small, if semi-shy wave, Kee returned the introduction. "I'm Keenan, Aaron's older brother. Well, one of them anyways. The other one is having issues coming over from Olivine." Kee didn't know why he said that. From underneath the bed, a Shaymin poked out. One of Kee's Pokemon, Aaron would never have something that wasn't a ghost or steel type in his team. "Soooo why are...you...here? Not to be rude or anything, and I didn't realize you knew Ace!" Kee panicked and waved his arms frantically in front of him. He really didn't mean to sound like an ass. Hopefully his flustered face and actions would tell her that he didn't mean to sound like a complete jerk or anything. "Erm, anyways, so how do you know Ace?" Maybe that was better.


AIRI WATANABE

OH! That was a good point. The most common speed based attacks were Quick Attack and Extreme Speed. Both normal type attacks. Ghosts were immune to them. "I wouldn't say that. Trust me, if you talk to Ace, he'd point out parts that worried him or made him switch things up. Or somehow had to modify his lineup and more! It may have been "perfect" on paper, but I'm sure you threw some curveballs that made him pause the overall strategy or pivot quickly to something else." A plan often doesn't survive contact with the enemy. Nor does a battle ever go exactly according to plan. Kee was far too confident in Aaron's ability to make it look like an easy time, but in reality, he panicked inside in some point. The boy was very stoic and hard to read after all.

Josh initially started agreeing with Kee's father. Then going into a spiel on one of the purposes of the gym challenge. Targeted recruitment into their military arm. Though also mentioned that while those with many badges are often targeted first, they do not often get sent to the frontlines immediately. "Slight problem with that. Aaron is sixteen years old. He's not old enough to join anyways. Unless you're implying that the League is so weak that it needs to recruit literal children to its cause. Keenan, on the other hand, is old enough, being twenty years old. If he so desires, we can't stop him. Aaron has no place in a war, nor should he even attempt to take on Rocket. I know from experience how devious they can be. And they're not afraid of throwing children into the fray. We must prove we're better in that regard. And have an ultimate vision, in addition of superior trainers and strategy. What those are, I can't say, obviously. But the League must have the moral high ground in some key areas."

Yeesh...heavy topics here. Luckily, Keenan has only had one encounter. He was much stronger now, but still, the experience definitely made him want to avoid Team Rocket. But Ace actively seeking them out? Even Kee didn't want that!



Josh Devlin

Yikes! "I hope he was okay. I'm...not even sure if I want to know how he did that..." As amazing of a feat as that was, some feats are just not good to repeat. Or learn how they managed to do it in the first place. Definitely best to keep the man out of the kitchen. Shin mentioned going through them and labelling them so he knew what the picture was about. Braille label maker? How does that work?! "What's it look like? Wait...nope, nevermind, bad question..." Doi! How could he have forgotten that so soon?! Then again, maybe the red head could describe it? Or know where it was at? "I can go get it if you know where it is?" He offered instead. Hopefully it would be so unique looking that it would be obvious.

~

Shaymin stumbled back as well, wrinkling its nose a little. The Riolu greeted it, though also eyeing it curiously. The Shaymin looked behind the fighting type. Was that how it was getting into the attic? The hedgehog barked the question, hoping that the Riolu would answer it honestly. Mission objective maybe found?


shinobu fujimori

Kee's dad waved it off. It wasn't a huge deal or anything. Most outsiders didn't even know they were there. What was funny was that Tyrantrum countered with Dragon Claw. Little hands with glowing claws clashed with the other's claws. Kee didn't see the end result, but she was just as likely to test her own skills against the unknown Pokemon.

Josh replied as they ate. The guy was a gym leader, Lilycove's before Lam Logan took over. Even taught Josh about the Trick Room strategy. "You've already dealt with a Trick Room strategy? What did you think of Aaron's use of it? If I remember right, he didn't lose a single Pokemon...where I won only by a technicality." There was jealousy there. Ace didn't even utilize any gimmicks! At least not in that match. But the blond wallow too much into it. "The real world is more than just regulation battles though. Team Rocket likes to fight dirty and utilize more than one Pokemon at a time. Even their entire teams if necessary. They're not ones to be trifled with. I would have thought you'd learn that from experience, Kee. Aaron evidently hasn't...and hopefully never will." Kee's dad spoke up between BBQ baked beans and his sandwich. Not knowing that Aaron had, in fact, taken on Team Rocket multiple times. And forgetting the attack on Littleroot.

His mom corrected that oversight. "Correction, he snuck out while we were hosting many of our neighbors and other civilians evacuated from Littleroot proper during the Meteno incident. I don't know where he went, but at least he was unharmed when he got back. I do worry for him a lot on his travels..."

"Mom! Dad! He's earned more gym badges than I have! Face facts, he's an accomplished trainer! right Josh?" His parents' overprotective side was peering out over Aaron. While it may have saddened Kee that they parted ways so soon, it was planned that they would. Otherwise the youngest Toral would have never been able to go off on a journey. Maybe some outside opinion would help on that front.



Josh Devlin

Keenan had been in Littleroot, visiting the folks when the attack on Petalburg happened. The news had given the aftermath, along with some footage of the battle. Including the sandstorm and giant Regirock. But in the background, he saw something that had caught his eye. A barrier of wood with some spikes. Only pokemon he could think of that could produce such a thing was Aaron's Trevenant, specifically trained to use Horn Leech in such a fashion. Hours later, they would get the confirmation that the youngest Toral was in Oldale's clinic. Thanks to an onsite nurse, his wounds had been stabilized and treated mostly. He wasn't in such bad shape that the kid needed to be life flighted out. But he was still injured badly enough to need observation, and still hadn't woken up.

Aaron's Trevenant stood guard at the window, just outside, along with his Magnezone. Aaron's Lucario and Gengar stood guard outside the door. Kee's parents had been distraught. Keenan had sent them out for a break and some dinner. The elder blond had sat down at the chair, and just waited. He hoped his baby brother would wake up soon. He had already seen enough death! Can't this little guy catch a break?! Kee heard a noise at the door and looked up with a questioning stare.



AIRI WATANABE

Josh corrected Keenan. "Either way, nice to meet you in person. I work with a lot of rangers during my archeological digs, especially the Mauville branch for out in the desert. This isn't a ranch though. We just like having a lot of space, and occasionally rent out the two cabins out back for a little extra spending money." There wasn't any fences afterall. And wasn't uncommon for wild Pokemon to show up randomly. Besides the Spectrier, there was another horse like pokemon that Keenan didn't recognize and another one that he didn't know either! What the heck! The one mashup of creatures one looked like it was trying to spar with his Tyrantrum. For which she obliged. He wanted to use her in a gym battle one of these days...

Kee's mother beamed at the compliment. "Oh thank you dear! I've made lots, so eat your fill and be more than happy to take some with you!" The round woman was quite the cook, and had no problem sharing the meals she made to others. Kee and his brothers all encourage others to take some, since a good portion would otherwise go to waste. Then Josh answered Kee's question. Callan Young? "Wasn't he a gym leader too? I think Ace battled him...name sounds familiar in that regard."

Kee's father was patient. There was a dig he wanted to go to, but the problem was the atmosphere. Like something was coming. He wouldn't mind talking to the ranger at some point, but best to stay silent for now.

Josh Devlin

The incident didn't ring any bells. But it sounded bad. Josh took his punishment like a man and changed. Definitely doesn't always happen...some people do not learn from their mistakes. He did agree with the sentiment of being a champion ranked trainer. Why challenge a gym outside of an inspection? Makes no sense. Well, off to his folks' place they went!

While his mother was glad to see him home, his father came out with a grin as well, looking at Josh with a raised eyebrow. "Hey Kee! What's happening?" And desperately trying to sound hip and cool while failing miserably. His mom stood back, beaming. Then she also noticed Josh. Keenan can already see the wheels turning in their heads. "No no no nonononono! It's not what you think! Yes, I've gotten a boyfriend, no, it isn't him! This is Josh Devlin, the gym leader in Mauville City and ranger captain there I think too." Both parents huffed in disappointment. His father did look at Josh a bit more warily though. Did he know about the Eris incident?

"Well, you best bring him over at some point. In the meantime, hello, Champion Devlin! Nice to meet you, come on in! We got lots of space for your Pokemon as well, feel free to let them roam!" Keenan was already throwing his remaining four pokeballs, showing a Tyrantrum, Steelix, Wartortle, and a Vikavolt. "The grounds are really huge, we got three cabins out back and a Pokemon battlefield. There's more than enough room!" Kee happily went inside, even as Mrs. Toral became a bit pushy at getting Josh down and joining them for lunch. Of which there was plenty of! Mostly bbq, but there was some fish there too.

As they were eating Keenan did ask Josh some questions. "So who gave you the most trouble when becoming champion?" There was the Elite 4, and then the champion himself, kyle lopez. Though that also now included Melody Miro when the man was gone or otherwise absent.


Josh Devlin

Josh asked if there was a particular gym giving him trouble. "No? I haven't...challenged one...since your's..." Though he was really close to challening noah faber again. But he honestly hadn't even looked at the queues for the gyms in a while. Though it was surprising that Josh had gotten declined by Hideo. "Really? How come?" Kid seemed like a good kid, not a mean bone in his body. Seems like you can never know these days.

The dark haired man confirmed that Spectrier was a ghost-type. Even lamenting that there weren't many ridable ghosts out there. At least at a decent speed. "Visiting my parents. They live just outside city limits, to the west of the theater. Figured since it'd been a while, I'll pop in and check up on them. Wanna come with? They always like visiters, assuming dad's in from an archeological dig. And it is getting close to lunch, mom always makes too much, so it's no big deal if you join us." Kee started to walk in the direction while looking at Josh. He'd probably have to clarify that Josh wasn't his boyfriend or something, but they were always welcoming.

Assuming the master of speed joined him, they'd soon get to the two story house, the entrance guarded by a Walrein, who waved at the duo, an Arcanine, who barked in their direction, and Kee's Houndoom trotted over, and lastly, an Armaldo happily munching on a watermelon. "That Armaldo means dad's home! He uses a lot of fossil Pokemon or those often found at dig sites." He could already smell something amazing coming from an open window. Out the door came a rather round woman with tears in her eyes. Kee met her in a huge hug...


Josh Devlin

Josh mentioned the gym grind. And that made Kee depressed. Josh did his in two years, and became a champion ranked trainer. The blonde hadn't gotten far. Two years...and two badges only. Just what in the world was he doing all this time? Of course, Josh asked about his own gym grind. "It hadn't proceeded at all..." He felt very small, with hands behind his back, shoulders up, and his left foot making circles. He could say a lot of things, but they just sounded like excuses, even to him. Kee could already hear Ace tear into him. How embarrassing...he was supposed to be the big brother! As he started to yell at Shaymin, the trio disappeared.

Only to reappear behind him, making Keenan jump. Once Josh's heart had calmed down, he answered Kee's question, even as Shaymin ruined the gym leader's hair style. "Cool! I know you can do it, you've got a lot of awesome speedsters! I'm assuming it's a ghost-type? Ace would want one for himself..." Being a ghost-type specialist and all. "And sorry about that...Shaymin likes to lay on heads and make nests..." It was a wierd character quirk of the grass-type. But it was also super cute!


Josh Devlin

Keenan didn't recognize the Pokemon Josh was on. That made him more excited. Houndoom gave a friendly bark in hello, while Shaymin rose one paw up and waved from Kee's head, looking at Josh's own mop of black hair. "Hehe thanks! It's a bit of a handful, but it's good! I'm hoping to train it a bit so I can pair it with Houndoom for a double battle here! Ace already got Hideo Kino's gym badge. He's been...going at it pretty hard. He almost has eight." Compared to his measely two. Then again, he'd been enjoying some things first before moving on to his next challenge. He still hadn't decided where at though.

"That aside, what Pokemon is this?! I've never seen one before!" Kee took out his Pokedex to check it out. Spectrier. The swift horse pokemon. And a sorta depressing and scary one at that. It...sorta made him pale a little bit. Suddenly and without warning, Shaymin jumped from Kee's head to Spectrier's to Josh's. And attempted to make Josh's head its next nest, checking out the man's hair and head for a comfy nap. "Shaymin!" Kee wasn't able to grab the little guy in time before it hopped off.


Josh Devlin

• player/ooc name: Jun
• character tags: Keenan Toral Aaron Toral Oliver Shrakes Asher Baran Niky Racz Raju Mystic
• dropped characters' tags (if applicable): n/a
• ic posts for characters: Raju
  
  
  
  Aaron
  
  
  
  Oliver
  
  
  
  Asher
  
  
  
  For Niky
  
  
  
  for Kee
  
  
  
  
• are characters in directories?: Y
• any notes/comments:

After visiting shinobu fujimori in Lilycove, Kee thought it good to check in with his parents back at Littleroot. Kind of amazing that just a year ago, a major battle was conducted here. And the Dialga that was released fixed most of the damage. What's more, a gym was built here as well, ran by someone younger than Aaron! He knew that his little brother was working on his seventh badge already. While he barely had two. Aaron always had more motivation than he did. Kee was in it for the journey, Ace had a goal in mind. The youngest of the Torals also had a stronger drive. At this point, Keenan wondered if he should continue the gym challenge, even though he still didn't really know what to do with his life yet.

With a Shaymin on his head, and his Houndoom next to him, he looked at the gym before him. He was there when Ace went up against Hideo Kino in a tough and interesting double battle. Of course, it was more amazing that Hideo wasn't just very young, but also blind and managed to get this far. Ace must be so jealous! But it was also that kind of resolve that'll get the guy far. Assuming he had more than just being a gym leader in mind. Kee was about to move on when he spotted someone he hadn't seen in a long time. "Oh, hi Josh!"



Josh Devlin