There Was Fire

[kayota]

Sid had never even so much as owned a Pokemon... it was for this reason that on the way to the Konika Village lab, he had repeatedly asked himself if he was out of his mind. He didn't have the slightest true knowledge of battle strategies, or even how to care for them... Well it should be easy enough, right? Time would tell...

He realized with a start that he had been standing blankly in front of the door to the lab. He'd been so engrossed in his own thoughts on the way there that he hadn't even been aware he'd arrived! He really needed to snap out of it. There was nothing to be nervous about... But it didn't seem to matter how many times he told himself that, he was already shaky as he approached the door. He really hated how he did that. It was so stupid... like something in his mind assumed that everybody was out to get him. Man up, he told himself. The people here won't hurt you... He pushed open one of the double doors and entered the building.

"H-hello?" he said softly, probably too softly for anyone else to hear. He jumped with a yelp as the door slammed shut behind him. Clearing his throat, he raised his voice a little: "I'm here for my starter..."

[James Friestien]

"Puh. Can you believe that? My niece comes home in tears today, tears, because her teachers had the bright idea of using scare tactics to make them work harder."

Scowling, Jim leaned forward in his seat and rested his elbows on his knees. If there was one thing in life that got the lethargic aide wound up, it was his niece. Perhaps he felt so strongly because the young girl had lost her father, his brother-in-law, at a very young age to the nefarious Omega Syndicate; perhaps it was because the aide had always wanted a daughter of his own, but lacked the wife and/or significant other that having one required; or perhaps it was simply because he liked her. Whatever the reason, Jim Friestien was now fired up and mouthing off about another "injustice" against little Angela to the only people who might listen: His Pokémon.

"I mean, come on. Telling the kids they won't have futures if they don't get a 'check plus' in handwriting? For the love of Arceus. Plenty of people with bad handwriting have been successful. I mean, look at me! ...Okay, bad example. Look at... Look at doctors! I mean, they don't have time for penmanship. It's not that important. Not to say she has a problem with handwriting. My favorite girl has top marks, best in her class... Well, the thirty kids they lumped her in, anyway. But I bet she's the best overall. And they're still giving her this speech. Ridiculous. Don't you think?" And, at last, Jim fell silent and turned to his companions. The Slowking, Sir Bartholomew, simply yawned and blinked at his trainer, as if uninterested. The Poliwag next to him, however, bounced up and down in fury to support Jim.

"Brooo, broo broooooo!" he chirped, as if the aide could understand what he said. Jim's scowl softened, and he nodded at the Poliwag in gratitude.

"Thanks, Karl. I knew I could count on you. Others in here, on the other hand..." The aide's dark gaze shifted to Sir Bartholomew, who simply shrugged in response.

"Slow."

"Hey! What are you trying to say about my little Angela??"

SLAM!

All three occupants of the lab jumped at the sound of the door closing with the breeze, each one turning to look down the hallway towards the lobby. A yelp followed it, causing Jim to sigh and stand. "Someone's here..." he murmured. Greeting new trainers never was his favorite thing to do. "I'll be back. Don't think this is over, Bart." The warning was given with a pointed finger in the Slowking's face, who once again seemed unimpressed. And, without further ado, the aide was moving to greet Sid. Somehow, he mustered a smile and seemed welcoming. "Hello, hello! Welcome to Professor Aspen's lab. She's out right now, but I can help ya get started with your journey. Th' name's Jim Friestien." He flashed the man a smile. "You did say you wanted a starter Pokemon, right? We have a brochure around here somewhere..." After a bit of rummaging on a nearby desk, Jim triumphantly pulled out a folded piece of paper with pictures of Pokémon on it. "There we go. Take a look."