#[ user ] - [ gamblingrimsley ]

[splicedskies]

@gamblingrimsley - <3'd for a Starter!

Alola was such an interesting region. The Pokemon were friendlier than he was used to back in Sinnoh, more willing to chat and to share the wilds with the rest. Sadly, considering his position, Altra had to use such hospitality to make a place to rest outside of town. Avoiding the typical places for 'trainers' to rest and relax for each night.

As such, he'd found a place. Clear enough of a lot of grass, a long since fallen stump to be used as a bench. There wasn't much more he could ask for, so he'd let all four of his Pokemon out to enjoy the approaching evening.

So while he got around to starting a small fire with some loose tinder gathered by the black and white Zigzagoon. The Teddiursa shuffled through Altra's shoulder bag to pull out things to make themselves food; and the Gible was already finding the best place to relax. All the while the ghostly Zorua would leap onto a tall rock to keep survey over the area.

A lookout in the advent of any more aggressive Pokemon.. or humans. Trainers looking to sneak up on an unsuspected boy and his Pokemon.

"I don't think you need to-" Altra looked up to the Zorua, frowning as already he had someone in his sights.

Eyeing a man in the distance, eyes narrowed.

"What is it?" He slowly got up, dusting grass from his pants and peering out toward where Albert's eyes were locked on. An adult? Out this late?

"Think he's lost?" Altra's brows furrowed.

[splicedskies]

@gamblingrimsley - <3'd for a starter!

"So.. people do this.. for fun?" Altra blinked, trying to understand what the whole idea of 'gambling' meant. Something adults did for fun, apparently.

"It just seems really easy to.. well.. take advantage of." His eyes were analytical, trying to understand exactly what the other was getting at entirely. Why not just battle Pokémon in that case?

At least it would come down to the trainer's skill rather than a chance at luck.

"But this seems to just favor who ever is running it." The teen couldn't help but quint at the idea of 'gambling'.

[splicedskies]

What does your muse think of the Sinnoh League?

He doesn't understand why people are crazy enough to participate.

He's watched many, many trainers come through Celestic Town on their way to Eterna City, or to train on Mount Coronet.

So many bright, hopeful faces ready and willing to take on each gym to reach the Elite Four.. to take on what equates to the Circles of Pokémon Hell. (Srsly.. why.. WHY does the Sinnoh Elite Four go THAT HARD!? Looking at how many of my Nuzlocks of Platinum got curb stomped on Aaron and Bertha alone. BDSP made them EVEN MORE TERRIFYING. Hecking Flint's Life Orb Boosted god damn Steelix with Sheer Force!?)

All to be crushed brutally all on live television.

That, among his own Mother saying he couldn't get a Trainer's License to do just that, prevented him from even attempting any sort of challenges in Sinnoh. But, he at least found it entertaining to watch so many people get humbled.

As he travels now, he wonders if anything has changed since he left Sinnoh, but figures that it probably wouldn't be the case.

[splicedskies]

What is a dream and/or a nightmare your muse had and can't forget?

[[ Ooooohhhh... -rubs my gremlin hands-

Altra only ever has one Dream/Nightmare, ever. And it's actually a combination of two factors.

His repressed memories through manipulation via his 'Mother'.

His Darkrai DNA going out of control while he sleeps.

The Nightmare also tends to effect anyone that falls asleep near him ( As detailed in his About. ) I'll put it below the Keep Reading for people who would rather want see it during RP (I'd love to rp out this shit..). ]]

[[ The Nightmare itself is a retelling of a night where he'd 'snapped' after the Galactic Scientists in charge of his raising and creation had attempted to nullify or 'remove' his emotions as per Cyrus' request.

This caused Altra to enter his Awakened Forme and openly attack the Scientists in the Lab that night.

While Altra is having this dream, he takes the place as himself. Reliving the experience while believing it to simply just be a reoccurring nightmare as he brutally attacked faceless white coats in a dimly lit, sterile lab.

For those caught in it instead.. they'll often take the role of one of those Scientists in an attempt to escape. The dreams usually end if they are caught..

In Altra's case, it only ends after his 'Mother' stops him at the end of it.

He never wakes up remembering all the details from it, simply waking up shaking without any recollection of the dream itself. ]]

[splicedskies]

The ghostly looking Zorua looked on at his trainer with a relatively tentative mix of 'Really' and disappointment. The teen was friendly, and naïve, almost to a fault. Which made him wonder all the more how such a sharp mind could hide under it all.

Even so, seems the mild concern for a random wanderer won out over the typical 'stranger danger' warnings as the certainly older gentleman approached. All the while, Albert kept his eyes trained on them with a scrutinizing glare.

Altra's gaze does snap down to the Scrafty at the mans side, he's.. never seen a Pokémon like that one before. So it's appearance certainly takes him by surprise. It looks tough, that's for sure.

"Hmm?" As if he didn't exactly expect to be asked a return question in the moment, more concerned about someone just.. wandering about after dusk.

"Oh.. uh.. About as good as I can be?" As if he wasn't expecting to answer a question, especially with the other person now lightly illuminated by the cracking campfire. There were at least three other Pokémon around said campfire; a Gible, a Teddiursa and a Galarian Zigzagoon. All three seemed to look up at the 'visitor'.

"I just saw you wandering around and wanted to make sure you were alright." Definitely a younger trainer, all things considered. Especially how they seemed to have all of their Pokémon out and about in their makeshift campsite.

Another pause, this time he stops completely in his tracks. A softly tired sigh is made, as it seems the person he was passing by wanted to grab his attention. It's odd, shocking as it may sound, not many tend to call out to complete strangers to ask if they're alright. Usually, people mind their own business and he minds his. Judging by the energetic and more lively tone of voice, this person is definitely on the younger side.

Without saying anything or making any sort of gesture, the leaves crunch as Grimsley calmly turns around on his heel. With the way he tucks his hands into the wide sleeves of his pure white yukata, his ghostly appearance truly doesn't falter. He's in no hurry to reach the other, he had been on a relaxing stroll; and he intends to keep it that way. As the gambler gradually approaches, the Pokémon that walks with him now appears to be identifiable as a Scrafty.

Once he's at a close enough distance to be heard without having to yell, he finally speaks up, seeming completely unfazed by this strange encounter. As though this were a normal occurrence.

"I'm doing perfectly fine, and you~?"

The gambler has a surprisingly polite voice, as though asking how the other is doing out of common courtesy. Perhaps the other person is looking for a bit of small talk before signing off for the night? He wonders.

[splicedskies]

As the cards were being shuffled, Altra's eyes seemed locked onto them. While his head didn't move, his eyes certainly were. Snapping back and forth. It was a little uncanny to watch someone follow the cards so sharply.

"Hmm?" Altra looked up to Grimsley at the question about his age.

"Oh.. Umm.. 15." There was a brief pause, as if he had to think about it. And indeed, he had to. He had to count back a bit to remember the last 'birthday' he celebrated. And it was his 15th, he's pretty sure about that.

Still, he couldn't help but think about how many opportunities one had to completely mess with this so called 'game'. He already noted parts where someone could shift the cards to coming out exactly as they wanted them.

"Well, that does go without saying, but some people still try to manipulate it to their own ends..." That's.. interesting words coming from a teenager of all things. Even so, he still watches Grimsley shuffle the cards.

"Well.. why do you gamble then?" A curious question.

Fwwwiiip. Fwwiiiiiip. Fwiiiip. The cards in his hand zip around and bridge with speeds that has them blending in with each other to the human eye.

There's a soft hum. Perhaps explaining how to gamble to a person who looks and sounds so young isn't exactly the best idea. ...But it wouldn't be the first time he's done this. Nor the youngest. Let's just say, a certain dragon type champion of Unova is suspiciously good at handling a deck of cards now.

"...How old are you again~?"

He quietly sighs. Contrarians are always so fun to talk to...

"The only way one can take advantage of the fates is through cheating, my friend. Which is a skill that is incredibly difficult to master in and of itself. Everything you take in life is a gamble, all the way down to when a Pokémon misses a move~ Nothing is certain." No matter how skilled a trainer is.

...Hm. But he can't disagree with that end statement. The house always wins. Hm, but such are the woes of capitalism and the constant hunger for profit...

"Such is life... If a casino couldn't win something out of it, it would go out of business, after all~ However, not all gambles are taken in such establishments~ Most of my wagers have been made away from places like those~"

[splicedskies]

"They're just.. wandering?" That was odd. Sure, going from town to town was normal but this person seemed to just be aimless. Most normal folks would be at home by now, in beds. Others perhaps using the quiet night to hunt for Pokemon or even head to another place. Undisturbed by people, the roads were often clearer at night after all.

But this looked way too out of place.

"Think they're okay?" Altra frowned, looking to his Zorua, perched on the rock and keeping an eye trained on the individual. Especially noting they did have a Pokemon with them.

'They're not alone. But maybe it's best we let them pa-'

"Excuse me! Are you okay?" Altra calling out toward the individual, the teens concern and abject curiosity overriding his partners desire for caution.

'... Pass..' Ears pulled back, and a sigh escaped the tiny ghost fox Pokemon.

"Maybe they're just lost, Albert." Altra frowned, looking back up at the Zorua with a mild frown. After all, he got lost all the time. To the point he's double backed on routes and had to ask Wild Pokemon for directions to the next town.

Even worse when it came to having to traverse cave systems...

Certainly the sign of a strange fellow, the way Grimsley wanders aimlessly around at night with no real destination in mind. With that attire, someone could even mistake him for a ghost. He definitely felt like one. The gambler was quite exhausted, but his restlessness often possesses him, which forces his feet to keep moving at ungodly hours. Sometimes it lands him in interesting places, and others it puts him in not-so-safe situations. If you asked him though, he found both routes to be intriguing.

As he wandered, his eyes catch the sight of a campfire. It's not an entirely welcome sight, due to his vision having already been accustomed to the very little light the night sky had to offer. ...Another trainer, likely. Hah, wouldn't it be odd if he just approached this stranger in the middle of nowhere out of the blue?

It's tempting... Fate tends to land him in unexpected situations. But Grimsley isn't one to often approach strangers minding their own business, nor likes to ask questions. He wasn't 'lost' by any means, in fact, it's quite difficult for him to get lost in this region, or lost in general. Can a man who has no concrete 'home' or destination in mind to speak of truly be lost?

His eyes catch the sight of a vague silhouette of a Pokémon, one he's never seen before. He's curious, but not curious enough to win the internal battle of spontaneously approaching this person in their own campsite.

There's a slight pause in his step for a moment, but he eventually continues his slow wandering pace. Unfortunately, Grimsley isn't the type of character to walk up to someone in these circumstances unless he's called out to, or if his attention is grabbed in a deliberate manner. If one squinted closely enough, a smaller Pokémon, around nearly four feet tall, could be seen walking behind him. It looks like it has a mohawk of sorts, grabbing its baggy pants as it continues to help watch Grimsley's back while he's having another one of those 'insomniac strolls'.