ARE YOU A POKÉMON MASTER?

[shinsengumi]

Welcome to this year's Pokémon Festival! Here, you can participate in many different activities and events, including battles, musicals, triathlons, films, breeder shows, and the coveted CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. Please enjoy your stay!

Comments

[warprofiteer]

As they should! [So the girl has some wits after all!] We should always respect the talent of those better than us. And aspire, of course. I see no reason whatsoever you shouldn't be able to earn a place on that stage.

[Such a doll-faced child would probably be beloved by the crowds, in fact, if she had the right Pokémon to mask any lack of talent. A simple-minded dream - perfectly attainable indeed.]

I trust, then, you'll be supporting me in the Championship Tournament? It's nice to see someone younger recognising the power and elegance of Poison-type Pokémon.

[aetas]

[She flushes pink when Riane says she might be able to perform in musicals someday, and further when Riane speaks again. The Championship Tournament... Drael'd been talking about it plenty for the last several weeks. She glances down in embarassment all the same; she doesn't want to disappoint the elegant Riane.]

Um, well, I'm a member of Drael's gym... a-and someone I know is really fond of Hassan, so we cheer for both of them. I like Kristopher a lot, too, he's— [She cuts herself off as her cheeks go even redder, then brightens.] But I'll definitely support you too, Miss Riane!

[warprofiteer]

[Nevermind. The girl is absolutely witless. And mercy, is she blushing over Kristopher?]

How bighearted you are! It's strange to imagine such an uncompetitive spirit is actually a trainer in a Pokémon Gym. Does Drael know about your musical ambitions?

[aetas]

Drael's gym is for everyone. [She speaks with quick confidence, not thinking about the fact that this woman might find such arrangements inappropriate.] We just make sure trainers are capable enough to fight Drael. Beating me isn't a very good measure, but beating Malis or Shryke is... But he doesn't. No one does, except Malis. They think I just like to watch. When I'm strong enough, I'll go on and start by myself.

[warprofiteer]

[For everyone, hm? Well, it's none of her business, is it? Certainly it's not in her jurisdiction. And thank goodness for that - why should she have to deal with that sort of remedial level of skill? She didn't advance this far to spend her time babysitting talentless children. Three days a year is more than enough slumming to keep her satisfied.]

And what sort of strength do you need to follow this dream? Not the sort attained by battling in a gym, surely. You already know what you'd like to do, don't you? Will learning to battle really help you with that?

[Just how had she got involved in this sort of prattling conversation, anyway?]

[aetas]

[Fila's eyes go wide at Riane's words, and she looks down as she considers the proposition. She doesn't need to ever be good at battling, does she? It isn't what she wants to do. She just... she murmurs the answer aloud.]

I just need to be brave enough to go on. I should. Maybe... maybe when I get back, I'll tell them I'm going.

[warprofiteer]

Do whatever you think is right, my dear. But follow your dreams, always. Don't let anyone else tell you how you should live your life.

[That last piece of advice, at least, is sincerely meant. What would Tsing make of her, chirping away like some interfering mother hen? Mercy, better not to think of such things. His silly assumptions would only hurt him.]

I'm afraid I have a husband to attend to. Should you ever make it to the stage, perhaps I'll have him buy us tickets to attend your showing. Will you write to me, if you're successful?

[How delightfully affirming it would be, after all, to think a few easy words from her could shape this child's entire life. Amusing, at the very least.]