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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 13, 2020 22:04:46 GMT
"No dear, a lady should never be rushed, but rather presentable and on time. You've managed as much arriving here in uniform and made up as you should be. We wouldn't set you up to fail on your first day. Aliana will be keeping you company for the day and explaining the ins and outs of your courses. You officially start tomorrow." Sliding the paper across the desk to the boy, she leaned back in her seat and smiled. "You are a rare sight Miss Lucasta, but then I suppose the world is becoming more progressive."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 13, 2020 22:26:55 GMT
"Alright, I look forward to it," he says, taking the paper, looking it over again, before putting it in the bag that he'd bought for all of his school supplies (and makeup). "Once again, thank you. I was a little bit nervous about starting, and not knowing exactly what I was doing, but everyone here has been very helpful."
He's not exactly sure what she'd meant by her last comment, but mostly just shrugs it off as he goes out to meet Aliana. Hopefully she'd not wandered too far, as this had taken a fair bit shorter than he'd expected by how long she'd implied it'd be.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 16, 2020 13:48:59 GMT
"Finding the worthy is so passé a second time around, you know? You don't need a second paradise when you already have one.". Thel overhears Aliana as he steps up to the door to move into the hallway. On opening the door it looks to just be her, sitting in the hall, hands neatly folded in her lap. Casting him a passive glance, she smiled. "I'll call you back.". Removing a small device from her ear, she pushed a silver thing on it once and a light cut out. "Done already Thel?"
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 16, 2020 17:31:39 GMT
"Yeah," Thel says, nodding. "I didn't know exactly what to take, so Heidi just gave me the basic courses, which all sound good. I was worried that it was going to take a long time, but it was pretty quick."
He looks around, a little confused. "Sorry, was there someone else here? I thought I heard you talking to someone." He shrugs. "Guess I misheard, it wasn't very clear. I figured I should introduce myself."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 18, 2020 2:33:24 GMT
"Just a phonecall, the earpiece frees up my hands for other things.". Aliana explains, smoothing her skirts as she rises. What she says afterwards is lost on the boy, as with a sensation of falling from a great height, he finds himself in a staggered position before a sharply dressed man with leonine features. Behind him are four girls in red sharply pleated skirts, and color coded visors, with makeup to complement their hair. "It's ready Lysander!". Comes a strangely familiar voice. "Good.". Comes a deep reply.
A large blossom-like structure fills his vision, and he finds himself once more in the hallway with Aliana, though she is holding him and looking concerned. "Are you alright Thel? You fainted."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 18, 2020 2:50:17 GMT
"Huh?" He looks around, getting his bearings back. Still in the school. That was... weird. "Y-yeah, thanks. Felt like I was falling for a moment there. Haven't had something happen like that before. I guess... it's the excitement of everything here, or something." He steadies himself back to his feet. "I'm feeling a little thirsty. ...maybe it's just because I haven't been drinking enough water? Is there somewhere where I can get a drink?"
The images that he'd seen continue to eat at his thoughts, though. Did they mean something? Were they a memory? Because he really doesn't remember seeing anything like that before. Was it just something with his body, like how he's better at reading now? He gets a vague feeling of the night that he'd first shared with Em, for some reason.
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 19, 2020 23:40:44 GMT
"I suppose you wouldn't have had breakfast yet, right this way." Easing the boy to his feet, she remained close, an arm around him though it was clear it was to steady more than an attempt at familiarity that she hadn't earned. Moving through a set of double doors where the three halls met, there was a windowed catwalk leading into a lavish looking eating area. Long tables set with cutlery, napkins neatly folded, everything arranged just so. Towards the back of this room, Aliana led Thel into a nice kitchen, fetching him a sizable glass of water.
"Have you ever used a rental Pokemon before?" She asked while he rested and tended his physical needs.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 19, 2020 23:45:56 GMT
"Thank you," he says, smiling. "I appreciate it." He feels like he should probably be fine walking on his own now, but lets her arm remain in position, guiding him to their destination.
The eating area is huge, too. This seems like a lot of ornateness just for food. But, then again, given this place... this is probably how it's supposed to be.
"No, I haven't," he shakes his head, as he gratefully accepts the water. That helps. He thinks, at least. "And, again, thank you, I feel better now. Sorry for causing you to have to go out of your way here."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 0:29:51 GMT
"No need to be so apologetic. I'm supposed to look after you, and I volunteered for this." A light granola joined the water, consisting of nuts, berries, grains, and a little bit of honey for sweetener. It wasn't as much as Thel had been used to eating in recent weeks but it qualified as a snack at least. "Well, often in your battling courses you will be given Pokemon to use temporarily, so that everyone has the same general baselines to work from. It helps establish how showmanship and grooming work without variables like poor behavior or odd move choices." She explained.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 0:39:25 GMT
"I guess..." Thel says, before laughing. "I just don't want to be more trouble than expected, that's all. Just the standard amount of trouble."
"And I see." He nods, thinking. "Will we have time to get to know them a little bit, or will it be just for the battling? That would… definitely be something that I'd have to get used to. Because all of my Pokémon are friends first, and battling partners second."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 0:49:12 GMT
"I suppose we could use some of our time together today for that, but it won't be a regular option, no. The rentals are well disciplined and follow instruction. A great deal of this school is poise, distance, timing. They have all of that. Too much familiarity shows social weakness. My Mightyena and Drudiggon both know that when we aren't in private, they are to keep their distance and remain alert and disinterested. It seems to be part of what gets me such high marks?" Aliana smiled and shrugged gently.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 1:09:25 GMT
"Really? Huh." Thel has a bit of a mystified expression on his face from that. "There's definitely a lot for me to learn, then. I would have thought that knowing someone and having familiarity with them makes things better, not worse. Isn't it good to know people, to have friends and be close to people? To show you aren't on the outskirts?"
He runs his fingers through his hair, laughing. "Ah, man, I seem to have been looking at all of this all wrong, then. Probably a good thing that I'm learning it now, at least." He gives a giggle at a thought. "Definitely going to be hard for someone like Hope to act disinterested, though... I think we've got our work cut out for us."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 1:22:22 GMT
"The behaviors cultivated here are those meant to express power and control, ultimately. There are a few tiers of social existence. The lower class struggle to get by on their earnings, sometimes going without food. Depending on their walk of life, they are socially stigmatized. If they become well enough off to live comfortably, but they have to work to maintain that, that is known as the middle class. This school caters to the echelon above that, high society. Where wealth is earned through decisions that affect many in the middle and lower classes, and aside from good decision making or an initial investment of hard work, individuals spend much of their time delegating and socially posturing at one another in high society. Flexing, I believe is the low brow expression of it. Charm school is an expression of that because it teaches the rules of social engagement in high society. I uh... I wrote a paper on it." She laughs.
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 1:33:32 GMT
"Ohhhhhhh…" he says. "Wow, you really know a lot about this stuff. I never really thought about it like that before. But... no, I understand. I've seen it all. I just... didn't really see it in that light." The den was structured like that. The majority of the males, just... trying to struggle to eat, for scraps. Then the few favoured ones, desperately trying to hold onto that position. And then the ladies, lording above, squabbling with each other. "Yeah... I really do understand now." He's not entirely sure how he feels about that reflection of that, of putting himself in the spot of the ladies. Though, he reflects, human society is definitely far different than the Salandit one.
"It seems like there are going to be a lot of different rules and everything to keep track of. I look forward to it, though, because right now I feel a little lost, so having some guidance there, it'll be nice."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 1:45:07 GMT
"You'll want to keep notes, and practice in your room. Use the rental Pokemon when they're offered until your own can behave in the manner expected so that you don't lose face. You will have opportunities to train them in class, but that is most certainly a social trap. I have seen a lot of first years ridiculed by their classmates. Use your time in your room to work at that, as long as they aren't destructive you should be fine." The girl advised, slowly pacing the kitchen as she considered more things to help the boy succeed.
"Other then that, do your assignments, remember to keep eye contact, a straight back, and squared shoulders. Posture and how you hold your eyes should say more than your words do."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 1:55:50 GMT
"I seeeee…" Thel says slowly, musing. "I'd not have considered that, not wanting to use my own to begin with. Thank you for the warning. I'll make sure to keep careful notes, yes." He nods, trying to commit this to memory.
"So, uh, where should we go next?" he asks. "I'm not sure where we were going before I so rudely interrupted us."
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6,670 posts
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92 likes
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 2:38:21 GMT
"I can show you the courts, fields, pools, and gardens. Most of these will be your practice zones. We can also take you down to the rentals office for an introduction to some of the rental options, typically they're done by roulette, but I imagine we could do it by species for sake of introduction." Aliana held the door to the kitchen open for Thel, and followed him out.
The fields behind the property were all fairly standard battle environs, sharply lined and well tended. The fields with obstacles present looked just a bit more orderly than usual, rocks aligned just-so. The hedge maze was a curious thing that made little sense. Why cut bushes into rows? Eventually arriving at the rental outbuilding, rows of Pokeballs sat in locked glass cases on dark purple velvet pillows. The balls themselves were black with a gold seam and markings, they looked very nice, sleek and expensive compared to those the boy normally carried. "Anything in particular that interests you?"
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 4:42:43 GMT
The grounds are pretty, but indeed very confusing. Humans make a lot of choices that are most peculiar to him... but they'll probably make sense in time. Maybe. He still doesn't understand the whole "insistence on being alone" thing they seem to have going on, so it might not make sense. Sometimes you just have to accept things.
He gets a little apprehensive at being in front of the Pokéballs. "This place... I dunno. It feels like we aren't supposed to be here. Especially since you said this wasn't a regular option. It just feels... wrong to do." He glances over at her. Well... she offered to be here. And she'd probably know if it was wrong. "And, uh... they all look the same. Does it matter?"
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6,670 posts
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I'm not going to say it was damage, but it was damage.
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Apr 27, 2024 17:48:03 GMT
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Post by Robot on Aug 20, 2020 10:35:48 GMT
"I am allowed as a proctor, and you are accompanying me, so it is fine.". She soothed. "And it would depend on your preferred sorts of Pokemon, each ball contains a different species. There are no duplicates. On rare occasion, graduates are permitted to take one home with them."
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Post by DataNinja on Aug 20, 2020 18:01:33 GMT
"Oh, okay," he says, reassured. He doesn't exactly know what a proctor is, but it sounds important. "You sound incredibly talented, based on what you and everyone else has said. ...thanks for taking the time to do this."
"I... don't really have any preference that I can think of," he admits. "I've never really thought about it, much. I mostly just... focus on ones that've been friendly and want to travel with me. I haven't really thought of anything besides that. So I guess... since it's usually random..." He just points towards a random one, that might be polished a bit more than the rest, or it might be his imagination, "Let's... let's go with that one." He tries to sound confident. That's what this is about, right? Confidence.
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