Surf's Up!

Yo! I'm the leader of the Humilau Gym and I love to swim and surf. Feel free to hit me up for a conversation sometime on the beach. Or come challenge me, although I can't promise you won't be drowned by my awesome Water-type Pokemon! [afilliated with destiny awaits]

[dimmedhikari-deactivated2013080]

“Not all of S-Sinnoh is cold..” She pondered on the question. Sinnoh didn’t really have nice beaches or big ones at that.. 

“Sunyshore City is warm and leads to Route 223.. A very long a-area with lots of water and leads right to the V-Victory Road.” Dawn laughed lightly. “Though, the beach isn’t that n-nice.. Route 223 is m-more of a place for swimmers..” With that said, she just shrugged. “Sinnoh is m-more of a land place..”

[marlonandoff-blog]

"Oh, really?" Marlon replied. "I guess that was just a rumor I heard.  But people generalize sometimes. Like, people say that Unova is all big cities and technology, but that's not true either." He shrugged. "Well, that's okay, I'm not gonna be picky when it comes to traveling. I bet it'd be fun even without the beach!"

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

"I don't find you appalling at all. There's nothing wrong with being quite friendly and "loosening up," as you say. And no, you would not seem like a bumpkin." She gave a shy smile at his answer. "Ahh, I know how you feel when I'm woken up for a battle. Battling is quite fun, isn't it? It's amazing how people can connect through Pokemon, and the incredible bonds we have with them."

[marlonandoff-blog]

"Ah, well, that's good," he replied. "Although there's nothing wrong with being serious, too. I guess I need to work on that. People say I'm too laid-back."

His demeanor brightened again when she mentioned Pokemon. "Yeah, Pokemon are awesome! I bet you have even stronger bonds with your Pokemon because they're Psychic-types."

[marlonandoff-blog]

-

[zebstrika-laka-deactivated20121]

Elesa slightly frowned at his action; she ‘hmph’-ed herself and rested her hands back on her hips. “I hardly got to see that,” she commented in a grim tone, but she did notice a hand which was almost as pale as she was on the picture. Shaking her head, she shrugged. “Well, a deal is a deal—I suppose…”

“Don’t worry, Marlon, my part of the deal has nothing to do with those cuties. Just…” She trailed off and shoved a hand in her back pocket and took out a bottle of bronzer. “Don’t even ask why I carry this around.”

She took off her yellow coat and applied the bronzer on her arms and sighed. “Hm…This will probably take a while…”

[marlonandoff-blog]

"That was the point of taking it from you," Marlon replied, grinning once again. "And yes, you better keep your end of the deal, man! Otherwise you'll have gotten me all worked up for nothing.

He looked a little perplexed at first, but his grin returned again when it registered what she was doing. Albeit a little less strongly. "Aw, man, seriously?" he laughed. "I mean, a deal's a deal, but you don't have to. Plus, ya know, it's healthier just to get real sun."

[zebstrika-laka-deactivated20121]

She pouted slightly at Marlon’s words—but did she actually expect him to get the slight innuendos she didn’t mean? No, we’re talking about Marlon here. “By throwing out that fact, it makes me see the picture even more,” she exclaimed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“A tan? Me? I’m afraid that’s a no,” she answered uncrossing her arms and resting it on her hips. “Now, if I were to tell you what I was going to show you, it wouldn’t be fun now would it? Just trust me, Marlon, what I’ll do in return will blow your mind.”

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon sighed exaggeratedly once again. "Fine, I guess," he huffed. Rolling his eyes slightly at Elesa, he rummaged around in his bag for a moment and brought out his wallet, in which he kept a few nostalgic pictures and pictures of his family. Despite being waterproof, everything in the wallet looked rather...wet.

He handed her a picture of himself in a swimsuit when he was five or six, extremely pale, then snatched it away from her before she could look at it for more than five seconds. "Hmph! Whatever you show me better be really good because I can't stand showing people stupid old pictures of myself." A pause. "And it better have nothing to do with Electric-type Pokemon, either."

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

Caitlin grinned at that and said, "Thank you for your compliments. I've, uh, been raised by my parents to present myself as a lady with class and finesse, which breeded an overly conscientious nature."

"You may not think your past in surfing interesting, but I think it is," she offered. "Your early life sounds as though it were quite fun. Not to say that my early life wasn't, it's just that lessons on etiquette, battling, music, and dance constituted how I was forced to spent my free time." Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she continued, "So, what is life as a Gym-Leader like?"

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon smiled. "Nothing wrong with that, I guess! I bet you'd be appalled by my etiquette, then. But hey, nothing wrong with loosening up sometimes too, ya know?"

"It was fun, not gonna deny that," Marlon agreed. "But I've also never left Humilau, so I bet I'd seem like a total bumpkin if I ever tried to live in a big city or try to go to a fancy dinner party or something. And hey, all that stuff sounds cool too!"

He paused for a moment and considered her question. "Well, fun, that's for sure! Although sometimes I wish I didn't have to stop my swims to take on challengers. But hey, battling is fun too."

[marlonandoff-blog]

~

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

Caitlin smiled at that. "Of course. I suppose I should be less hesitant to try new things," she murmured, putting a finger to her lip.

After some awkward shifting, she decided,"Alright. I guess I've always been self-conscious about how others view me that I've forgotten how to enjoy myself. I'm curious to know; when did you start surfing?"

[marlonandoff-blog]

"Self-conscious about how others view you?" Marlon repeated. "Aw, why? You're clearly a strong trainer and not too bad to look at, either," he added, grinning.

"Hmm...when did I start surfing?" He thought about it for a moment. "When I was really little, honestly! I've grown up here and I used to come out here when I was small and swim. I guess I only really started practicing around the beginning of middle school when I started entering competitions?" He laughed. "But that's not very interesting."

[zebstrika-laka-deactivated20121]

Elesa paused as she thought of the fellow gym leader being as pale as her; a childish grin lit on her face. She looked down at the young man’s waist and concluded that he was born without his trademark tan. “This talk makes me want to see when you were a still a pale baby, Marlon,” she blurted with a raised brow. Her dazed expression changed into a her usual smug grin. “How ‘bout it, Young Man? If you show me a picture of you when you pale as me, I’ll give you a sight that no one has ever seen before~”

Elesa was probably making this more suggestive than it sounded, but she just loved teasing young men—oblivious (like Marlon) or not—she just hoped he’d get him just a wee bit cautious.

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon gave an exaggerated sigh. "Aw, what? I haven't been pale since I was really really little," he protested with a bit of a pout on his face. He was proud of his tan and he didn't like the thought of Elesa seeing him without it.

"Besides," he added, "that's not fair, because you know what you're in for and you're keeping it a secret from me." He paused. "What kind of sight?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him. "...Did you actually have a tan at one point?"

[ringaroundtherosiex-blog]

So, how does tomorrow afternoon sound to you? I'll whisk you away from your Gym Leader duties and you can teach me how to surf. I'll even bring my own beach towel. How does that sound?

Giima loves his alcoholic beverages, I'm certain it'll work.

[marlonandoff-blog]

That sounds great! I'm sure you'll love it, it's like a resort out here.

And I shall have to pester him then.

[dimmedhikari-deactivated2013080]

She blushed a little, not really used to comments like that. “T-Thank you..” Her voice was quiet. “Sinnoh, I-I’m from Sinnoh.” Marlon really didn’t look like a normal trainer, it felt like he had something different about him. Though, it didn’t bother her too much. There was really no normal trainers, but common ones.. “Unova sure is d-different from Sinnoh.” Conversation.. Keeping a conversation would be nice. 

[marlonandoff-blog]

"Sinnoh, huh?" Marlon pulled a face. "Man, I've heard Sinnoh's really cold! I could never live in a place like that. Too used to the sun. But I guess you get used to it too if you live there." He shrugged. "Are there any good beaches or places to surf over in Sinnoh? 'Cause then I might consider traveling there someday. Nowhere I'd have to buy a winter jacket for, though."

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

"Yes, we reside in these towers where we each have our own rooms. Grimsley, grumpy? Well yes, he can be. At times like those, I pester him to my heart's desire. But he is not as grumpy as me when Trainers have the audacity to awaken me for a battle. Hmf."

 Caitlin crossed her arms at that, but quickly uncrossed them and let them hang at her sides. "Swimming I absolutely adore, but surfing seems a little too risque for me. Nevertheless, you speak of it so highly, so I'll try it if you teach me," she decided, giving a small smile. She blushed lightly and the thought of her tanning. Her porcelain complexion burned too easily. "It sounds as though it is quite lovely, judging from your exuberant manner and tan," she agreed, nodding.

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon grinned. "Haha, well, give him some good pestering from me then, he needs to loosen up."

"Risque? You never know until you try. Although I guess I'm not one to talk, I'm not nearly as classy as you are," he added with a wink. "I think as long as you go into it with the right mindset it's pretty fun! You can't take yourself too seriously because everybody's gonna mess up and fall in the beginning. So I guess it's not the most graceful thing when you start off. But once you get it, it's awesome!"

[punkandpoison-deactivated201305]

That’s called bribery Marlon. That’s not fair. 

Hmm, maybe. Tentacruels are pretty cool. Still, I dont want to go swimming. I’d rather eat a Venipede.

[marlonandoff-blog]

No, asking me to come into the dark claustrophobic cave of your club without getting anything out of it is what's not fair.

I'll pick you up and carry you and dump you into the water if I have to.

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

"Don't tell anybody else this, but I have to admit you're correct. Only a few challengers have truly lived up as to why I even became an Elite," she revealed.

"Hmm..I'll have to take you up on your offer. It'd be nice to vacation someplace else other than Undella. Any outdoor activities you'd recommend?"

[marlonandoff-blog]

"Same kinda deal for me, being the eighth gym leader that people battle," Marlon agreed. "But at least I live in a city. Man, all I know about you guys is that you live in some tall towers or something. Well, at least you're not as grumpy as Grimsley is, anyway. Now there's someone who really needs to get out more. But I digress."

"Anything I'd recommend?" He thought about it for a moment. "Well, I do love to swim and surf! So I'd always recommend that. But you could always just hang out outside tanning or with a book or something if you don't like getting wet. The weather's super great out here!"

[dimmedhikari-deactivated2013080]

It was almost like she could feel the energy of the man going around everywhere. Would it be alright for her to speak to him? She did walk towards him.. 

“H-Hello.. I’m D-Dawn.. N-Nice to meet y-you, Marlon.” Her voice was a little shaky since she was just surprised.. This would be interesting enough! Wouldn’t be that surprising if they got along. 

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon smiled and reminded himself that he might want to tone it down a little bit. This girl seemed pretty bashful and he didn't want to bother or overwhelm her.

"That's a pretty name," Marlon remarked. "Doesn't sound like it's from Unova, though. Where are you from?"

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

Lovely Lullaby: Greetings

[sereneslumber-deactivated201211]

“Oh no, it’s absolutely fine!” Caitlin insisted, blushing. “Oh, I’ve heard of you, you’re a Water-type specialist. I’m pleased to meet you, Marlon,” she said, nodding. “From the tourist books, Seigaiha seems like a lovely city. It must be paradise residing there.”

[marlonandoff-blog]

Marlon grinned. "Something like that," he agreed. "If you ever wanna come visit I could show you around. No offense, but it seems like it could get pretty boring and stuffy having to be an Elite Four member, isolated all the time. So if you ever wanted a vacation, this would be a great place to come! 'Course, I am a little biased, because I live here."

[punkandpoison-deactivated201305]

Good! I look forward to it.

Eck, swimming? No thank you. No. Thank. You. It’s not my thing. Nor are beaches… and my club is not little or claustrophobic, Marlon. You’d know if you actually visited. Anyway.

[marlonandoff-blog]

I'm not gonna come to your club if you don't agree to come swimming at least once.

C'mon, maybe you'll see some Tentacruels. They're Water and Poison. Which is a compromise. Right?