#♛⁑ VERSE •❤• ❛i just might be a black bill gates in the making❜ •❤• ❛champion❜

[ofdragondrums]

♛⁑ ❛ @skullkxd ❜ ⁑ plotted

So! A someone new finally snatched the Alolan title from Satoshi. An eager buzz crawls across Iris as she tries not to rush through the hallway. She hasn't been this excited for an induction in quite some time - and she's not even sure why she's excited. Should she be excited? This came at the expense of Satoshi's titile, after all. Though, being honest, Satoshi has already admitted that he's relieved to be through with official Champion business. Iris just isn't 100% sure how true that is.

Bah! This isn't about Satoshi, right now. The new Champion has been taking their time to greet all of their other visitors - It's about time for Iris to assert herself, she thinks.

"Ree! Hey, over here!" Iris waves her hand high, her giant sleeves only helping to grab the attention she's looking for. "Congratulations on your win! I know it took a lotta hard work to get past Satoshi!"

[ofdragondrums]

“Hey Wal-laaaace, I’m ready for my meet-up with your adorable lil’ -- !!”

Welp. That wide, excited stride Iris had when she was walking in drops as soon as she steps into the room. She can feel his energy weighing on her almost as well as any dragon’s -- and that’s saying something! “E’hey, Wallace...” (Dumb question, but...) “You okay?”

AH, it seems something is WEIGHING on Wallace’s MIND—he isn’t doing too HOT, and while he’s USUALLY good at HIDING things…WELL, Right now his FACADE is BREAKING.

[ofdragondrums]

♛⁑ @meistoshi​ •❤•                                                                                         ┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅

if you listened closely, you could hear a faint giggle amidst all the noise. this was the dainty laugh of a girl who both was and wasn't trying to make her presence known as she tip-toed in large steps to sneak up behind her best friend. 3... 2... 1... "SNEAK ATTACK!!!"

now the dragoness pounced onto satoshi's back, trusting that he'd catch her even if she did manage to surprise him. her giggle transformed into a full, hearty laugh; because around satoshi, iris just couldn't help delighting in her own childish joy. it's what she most secretly loved about him, really.

"you finally made it! you really had me worried at the end, there." she didn’t stay on his back for long, though, as she had some bragging rights to engage in. as soon as her heels clicked onto the ground, iris flipped her bangs in a bit of playful superiority. “leave it to satoshi to slip into the master’s eight at the last second. right, emonga?”

at first, it seemed as though she was talking to no one. but emonga was almost always nearby, and sure enough, she flew to iris’ shoulder as soon as she was called. and though she directed her attention to pikachu once she landed rather than answering the question, iris didn’t really seem to mind all that much.

“so! whaddo you think? did we surprise you again, satoshi?”

[ofdragondrums]

Even though Iris may not've been offended, she sure didn't know what to say to that. As her chuckles filled the empty air between them, she rubbed the back of her thick, carefully-styled hair; that poofy sleeve of hers flopping around in kind as she did so.

Luckily, Hoenn's Champion decided to give her an out. It wasn't so surprising that he wasn't as sure of her name as she was of his -- she had only recently been inducted after all, and that meant she had had to learn. everything. But still -- reading and getting lectures about people was way different from meeting them; and Iris was always so eager to learn from her peers, so she was keen to welcome Wallace to Unova's shores.

"Yeah, you got it! I'm Iris and -- it's totally okay, I-- I get it. I don't really meet other champions my age, either..." Her voice was just about to trail off, but Iris perked up because, well... she wasn't gonna dwell on that! Not right now, in front of another Champion, anyway! "You're Wallace, right? And this is your famous Milotic? It's seriously SO cool to meet you! I know I'm still a kid, but as the Champion, it's my pleasure to, well... formally welcome you both to Unova! Whaddo you guys think so far??"

“MY, Champions nowadays are quite YOUNG, aren’t they?”

Well, maybe it wasn’t MUCH of a surprise, though IRIS was definitely the YOUNGEST that the fellow CHAMPION had come across. Taking a break from the HOENN region, Wallace figured that he would do a little…TRAVELLING. Besides, MILOTIC was happy to be SWIMMING around in unfamiliar WATERS, curious as EVER when it came to meeting some NEW Pokémon.

“IRIS, was it? Please don’t take what I said TOO personally; you’re just the YOUNGEST I’ve seen thus far.”

// @ofdragondrums | sc.

[ofdragondrums]

Altaria, having been on the lookout, was the first to pick up on movement. She searched in that direction with hurried caution, deciding to call out to her partner, just in case. { 'Iris? Is that you I'm hearing?' } When her Champion failed to answer, Altaria bristled her feathers as a preemptive warning. Sure, she had an injured Pokemon in her lap, but she was perfectly capable of defending both of them from a distance.

As the stranger revealed himself (and attempted to establish some sort of peace amongst the three of them), Altaria seemed to hesitate. She had seen Iris do this enough times to be inclined to believe he was being genuine, but that didn't mean Gabite felt the same way. Cautiously, Altaria lowered her head closer to Gabite's. She wanted to move in closer to him, but still keep her eyes on this human, just in case. { 'What would you like me to do about this human, little one? Iris charged me with your protection, ergo, I am yours to command.' }

Gabite rolled into Altaria's feathers, voice drained. [ 'Isn't. One human... enough?' ]

{ 'Hmm,' } Altaria mused. { 'Yes, I suppose so.' }

Fortunately for everyone, Iris could be heard calling out to the group just as Altaria was giving this stranger a 'welp, you heard him' sort of look. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" Arms now full, Iris burst back into the clearing with a sense of urgency. "Okay, I got everything we need to-"

There was some delay, but it finally hit her that she was no longer alone in this forest. "Oh-! Hello! Altaria, you didn't say we had more help! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you!"

Altaria glanced down at Gabite, who was not exactly thrilled with this turn of events, but clearly too exasperated to correct it, either. She wasn't sure exactly how much she could correct the situation,but the least Altaria could do was speak up. { 'Actually, Iris, we don't know why this human is here. Is not your hand enough?' }

"More help is always welcome!" Skipping the formalities, Iris knelt by Gabite's side and started laying out berries and plants. "If you wanna come on over? This is a really sweet Gabite. He may be wary, but he's not aggressive." For a moment, the only sounds between them were Iris' attempts at cracking open this apricorn and Gabite's own little whimpers. After a quick, sympathetic, "I know, buddy," the young champion finally remembered something crucial. "I'm Iris, by the way." After all, not everyone knew who she was the moment they laid eyes on her.

N skidded down the slope of the mountain side with ease, allowing gravity to descend and veer him onto a small outcropping that he could perch on without issue. The local mountainous pokémon seemed to be mostly in good spirits today; which was a good thing. That meant he could pass the region by through nightfall, if he was lucky.

He took a breath and took the surroundings, marvelling in the beauty that Unova offered him; a pang of homesickness for the forest that was his home coursing through him. These trees were not Pinwheel, but they were still trees, and beckoned to him as a mother looking for their lost child.

( A child of the forest always missed his home, no matter how far or wide he roamed. )

N had just taken in his fill when the faint murmurs of pokémon caught his ears, green eyes sliding from the vista before him to peer over the ledge. It hurts, the gabite whimpered, as N took a careful look at the pokémon’s injury. A damaged fin, from the looks of it – nothing too dangerous, but the wound would fester if it didn’t get treated right.

Instinct overtook caution, N deciding to slowly make his way down and approach the pair, keeping his distance. “Is something the matter?” He asked them, hands held out with his palms open to indicate friendliness and trust.

[ofdragondrums]

Yeah, Iris is starting to get the hint. She's also getting the sense that they're real worried about it. With a gentle sigh, she lifts herself up onto her hands and knees, very intentionally putting her face right up into Ree's so she can look them in the eyes. "I hear what you're saying, Ree. I dunno what kinda life you've had so far, but right now I'm looking at a good spirit. I would know. I can connect to dragons like this, too." Don't ask her how it's similar. It just... is?

"But, hey. If you do decide to prove me wrong, someday. Just know that I can beat Satoshi. And I'm sure that I can take you down, too!" This doesn't come off as a threat so much as it does a challenge, though. There's an excitement in her voice - a spark in her eye. A genuine curiosity about the person who took down her best friend. And maybe a sincere lack of worry that she'll ever have to be that serious.

"Honestly? It IS a lot. It's so much talkin' to people, and so many more challengers than you would think, and then exhibition matches, and meetings, and then protecting your region, and then travel for stuff like this, and then of course you gotta have somethin' you do that's your passion - It's like SO much, but it's like... I wouldn't give it up for anything."

Iris adjusts a bit, crossing her legs to sit more comfortably. "You already made it to the top, Ree. You already made more people proud than you'll ever know or meet or even imagine. All you gotta do is keep goin'." And here, she decides to take a lil' risk. She offers her hand for a fistbump. "Y'with me?"

“Yeah, no, I … get that. It just feels like a lot. We don’t exactly got a… good reputation.”

It wouldn’t be cool to admit they’re part of a gang, right? Though, if Iris did any research, she probably knows that already. Ree bites their tongue and exhales, trying to steady their breathing. It’s so not cool to cry in front of an older girl.

“I already told everybody what they see is what they get. I ain’t changin’ for any dumbass that tries to force me to get squeaky clean. I already told the board that. And … the chairman knows too.”

Kukui hasn’t been unkind to them. Even though Ree knows about all the beef between him and Guzma. Everyone in skull does. That’s been a saving grace, for Ree’s self confidence.

“I just … I only ever got this far cause I wanted to prove that us Po Town punks could. And make everyone who believed in me proud, too.”

[ofdragondrums]

A knowing smile pulls onto Iris' face; an amused huff following right after. Oh, she knows this feeling. In this case it's a warm and fuzzy one. But she can recall several times that Grandpa Drayden or Uncle Alder would give her some honestly-perfectly-sound advice, and yet it would take a friend or a complete stranger repeating those same words to really make the advice seem... she doesn't know... legitimate? Sometimes it just feels like your family has to try to cheer you up though, right? That's probably the deal.

She turns her head to watch Ree, just taking it in as they really start to open up. Finally, Iris starts to relax. She can really feel herself sinking into the sand, now. It's not as though she's conquered the world, here. But maybe this conversation could really start to go more smoothly. They were finally starting to feel like they were both on the same page.

"You know what? There's always gonna be those people. I learned that pretty quick. I also learned that if you try to make yourself into somethin' that they like, then you quickly start to become someone your real fans won't recognize. So I think, when we become Champions, the best thing we can do for ourselves is really hone in on why we went on this journey - and who we want to represent. Then that can be our guiding light though all the hate and the criticism - and the people who will try to use you for your fame."

She pauses, and it occurs to her to add one more thing. Just one more bit of reassurance. "It really sounds like you've already got your foundation goin'. You just gotta have faith in it."

“… yeah. That’s what — one of my family said. That I give … kids like me… I show em that it ain’t just the rich, able-bodied kids who get powerful.”

That’s exactly what he said, wasn’t it? That Ree gave people down on their luck hope for things to get better with hard work. The kid sniffs again, the heel of one palm pressing against their eye.

“I won the junior bracket of the Pokémon world tournament a couple years ago,” they add, not sure why they keep talking, “it was held in Kanto. They all called me Po Town Hero, cos that’s where I’m from. Po Town. And … s-so it … it makes me feel good. That I was able t’get this far — and… even though I’m not somebody anybody would think of when they thought of a champion.”

A hiccup, and then a laugh. Ree’s shoulders are still stiff, their posture uneasy. Their scars hurt. The wind makes them sting and burn.

“Nobody ever thought we could make anything of ourselves. And a lot of people still don’ like me cause of where I’m from. But I don’t … let them get to me. … mostly.”

[ofdragondrums]

"Hmm..." A sympathetic hum. An acknowledgement that she could never say anything that would really make that pain go away.

Iris tilts her head as their arms flail at the water. She doesn't know too much about Alola, so the clues largely go over her head. But it still doesn't take a genius to figure out that these are probably a bunch of troubled teens and adults doing troubled teen and adult things. Maybe they doesn't feel like they deserve to be Champion. A concept that has Iris biting at her lip a bit.

"Heh. Yeah..." She's certainly not gonna call them out on it. Out of respect, she turns her head away. "I'm sure you do mean it? But everybody needs a Champion. You know? We're all big and bombastic and larger than life - when we come from these fancy upbringings, that just makes us even harder for that kid who looks up to us to relate to. If you're willin' to tell any of your story, I'm sure there's a whole lotta troubled kids out there who'll get a lotta hope from seeing that you made it this far. I mean, I basically put my Village on the map, you know? And small-town kiddos tell me all the time how they never thought they'd make it out of their hometowns, but hearing about me and where I came from gave them the courage to start their own journeys. And you know that's the kinda thing..."

She trails off, taking a moment to wipe at her own eyes. "Heh." Sniffle. "Darn wind."

“… the accent is … it’s basically all I got left from where I was born. Haven’t even gone back since I was, like, five or six.”

And the accent is sort of forced these days. Ree started to lose it years ago, and it’s only through stubbornness and practice that they’ve managed to keep it.

And even then … it’s starting to fade again.

“No, it’s …” they look at her, gesturing helplessly at the ocean. “I ain’t exactly raised with a normal childhood. I live in a cursed town with a bunch of people in their twenties cause nobody cared about us. When I say I ain’t meant for this, I really mean it.”

They laugh a little, helpless, before wiping at their eyes.

“… the wind is stingin’ me.”

[ofdragondrums]

"Oh no, I didn't mean- I just-" Sigh. Looks like they're both tripping over their words today. But at least that means that's something else they have in common. Iris knows where she messed up, at least, so she tries to do her best to rectify it.

"I think it's really great that you found a new home here in Alola. I just heard a Unovan accent, so I thought maybe that was something we have in common. But I probably should'a just said that. I'm real sorry."

After rubbing her arm for a moment - apologizing always makes her feel like a small child again, - Iris turns to look at the sea again. She doesn't really get views like this in Unova. And she would be happy to just… stand in silence and soak it all in, but she literally can't stand for the self-deprecation.

"Nononono - don't you dare! None of us are really raised for this. But those of us who got the closest? Let's just say we got our own problems. Like, oh, I dunno… Not bein' the greatest at normal, everyday conversation?" She chuckles - at the tension, at herself - before heaving one heavy sigh and just… flopping into the sand. Fancy dress be damned.

"Lemme tell ya somethin, Ree. There's not a Champion alive that's not gone through the imposter feelin' you're feelin' right now. Not me, not Alder… Not even Leon or even Satoshi!" A soft smile pulls onto her face as she rimenisses. Iris idly plays with the sand, her fingers picking up little piles and then letting them slip between her fingers. "You're just gettin' started, but you'll find your footing before you even realize it. I'm sure anybody else here would agree with me."

Ree grimaces a little bit. They’re already messing up this meeting — making her feel bad about wanting to help them, being awkward and dumb — what is wrong with you, Ree? — and they can’t help but stiffen at the question. They’re still too nervous to look at her.

“… Alola is my home.

I wasn’t born here, but … I can barely remember anythin’ before this. It’s home to me. Just not … not where I was born.”

It’s a … sensitive subject. Not ‘belonging’ to Alola, but not really belonging to Unova, either. Ree chews their bottom lip and tries to relax their shoulders, to little avail.

“I just … I was sent to live here when I was six. Nobody ever —” came back for me “I … uh. I was born in Unova, but I barely remember it. As far as anybody is concerned, I’m alolan now… I think.”

A pause. A breath. Ree sniffs and tugs at their hair again.

“I’m sorry. I’m bad at this shit. I wasn’t raised to be… this.”

A champion.

[ofdragondrums]

The face does not go unnoticed. In an instant, Iris yanks her hand back, her expression shifting from gentle and affirming to just a bit uncomfortable in seconds. Not because she can't handle the rejection or anything, just... what does she do with her hand, now? Rub the back of her head?

...Yeah, that'll work.

As Iris listens, she takes in the crisp ocean view. The moist air nips at her skin and she instantly begins to rub at her arms. She's still not used to the cold, poor thing, but she tolerates it better than she ever had before. "Really wonderful that you all thought about that kind of thing. Everyone should have the opportunity to battle the best of the best if they're up to the challenge."

After a deep inhale of the salty air, Iris exhales in a deep sigh. She slows the rubbing of her arms and considers the question. "Honestly...?" She steals one more glance at the sea before turning to face Ree in full. "Not as much as I woulda liked. Keeping up with the Unova League actually keeps me pretty busy..."

Sigh. At least an opportunity has opened up. "What about you? Alola's not home for you, is it?"

Ree can’t help but make a bit of a face when she reaches out to help. They know she has their best interest in mind — they know that — but they like keeping their independence with their mobility as much as they can. Still, they don’t say anything rude, instead leading them to the outside of the stadium.

“Satoshi and the league built this place last year, after our match on the mountain,” they say, as the doors automatically open and the two are deposited outside — the open sea displayed before them. “The arena on the mountain wasn’t … accessible.” A nervous laugh. They tug at their hair, looking out at the sea and not at Iris. “Ain’t much here when the league don’t have business, though…”

It’s an artificial island. Satoshi had placed Ree as an intern to help map out and point out accessibility flaws that the board members might not have picked up on while he was traveling. It’s made out of … trash, or something? Ree doesn’t really remember.

“— uh. So — did you come to Alola a lot? When Satoshi was champion.”

[ofdragondrums]

"Hey-! I can totally relate to that! I have loads of people to thank for my place here in the Unova league. There's Clair, Grandpa Drayden, and of course we can't forget Alder!" Speaking of which, Iris was getting the feeling she was speaking to another Unovan. But maybe this wasn't the best time to bring it up? Maybe when they were more relaxed. "Yeah!" She reaches her hand out to - she doesn't know, for sure, actually - help them up; offer reassurance. Whatever they like! Iris offers a knowing nod to Moleyne, and then proceeds to gently guide Ree away from the table.

"How 'bout I follow your lead? I go wherever you go." If they were in Unova, she would show them one of her favorite chill-out spots, but...

“Yeah, it was — I had … a lot of teachers. I didn’ wanna let ‘em down, so…”

Satoshi had been rooting for them the entire time that Ree was chasing him. he might have be a little biased, though…

“— go?”

they pause, glancing up at Molayne, standing next to them. He looks back, smiles, and winks. Ree’s shoulders visibly loosen, and they turn back to Iris before giving a sharp nod.

“Yeah! Okay. Les’go outside for a breather,” they say quickly, pushing the wheels of their chair so they can lead the way. “It’s stuffy in here anyway.”

[ofdragondrums]

Oh geez, was she being too much too fast? Iris' smile softened, and she lowered her hand to offer a dismissive wave. "Oh my gosh please. Just call me Iris. I'm like - nowhere near that old." A pause. "Am I??" Her brow furrowed, and for a moment she seemed to really consider it. She was in her late teens now, so maybe...?

Gosh, she was getting distracted already. "Never mind that, only two tries? That's really good! Not many people become Champion on their first or second try." She chuckled as she considered the battles she had with Alder, and the many people she had defeated in their Champion attempts.

"Y'look stressed. You wanna get outta here?" She was sure she could come up with some half-assed excuse that everyone would accept. Largely because she knew that everyone that mattered would understand exactly what was going on. After all - they had all been here before.

it seems that, even with that final, climactic battle being several months ago, there are still people who need to be introduced to them as the new champion. Ree takes a couple hours ever week to make it out to the new arena and make small talk with whoever has come to see them, and it’s … well…

it’s nerve wracking.

All of the people that come by have high expectations. All of them know satoshi, know the league, and even though Molayne keeps reassuring them that they just have to be themself, Ree just gets so… stiff and prickly when they have to do this. Anxiousness pools in their gut and spins round and round until they feel nauseous, but they fight the urge to run away or hurl or both.

There are a couple of people talking above them — from Unova, from what they understand. It’s … a weird feeling. Ree raises their head when their name is called and makes eye contact with the current Unovan champion.

“I … y-yeah. It was — I lost, last year, so I hadta work a hundred times harder. I’m… you’re — Ms Iris?”

Be polite. Be polite. Don’t get all weird now, Ree.