To Be The Best...You Must Test Your Might {PRIVATE}

mmmmMMmmmMM YEsss im rubbing my hands together greedily tb h im forcibly staRTING THIS

Raine scoops the Pikachu into his arms, scolding him angrily. The man turns his gaze up to the Blastoise, childishly sticking out his tongue in a sneer. Yeesh, these people ate up their fame like a couple of starved Herdier. He and his partner step in front of the young champion, stealing whatever glory he'd been basking in. ❛ hey! 'ya know lance is here from kanto! ❜ The trainer proudly watches his work as the crowd seems to automatically dispel at his words. Lance would always be more popular. somehow. Raine spins on his heels, tilting his head back to look up at the kid. (had people in alola always been this tall?) ❛ heh, sorry! ❜

Again, Raine shoulders droop at the loss. He... hadn't thought of a reaction like that. He assumed most were fame hungry fiends who needed their share. The fact that he was wrong seemed to disappoint him more than it angered him. Raine had known Lance since he was a small child, but it had been years since the pair got along. He looked up to the famed dragon master once. That was before he joined Team Rocket. After that, Lance had seemed to lose all hope in the kid. ❛ you some kind'a idiot? ❜ He questions, giving a yelp when the Pikachu once again pulls on a locke of his hair. ❛ 'course he's here. alola didn't send any gym leaders or nothin'? ❜

Painfully, Raine knows he's here simply because of the name he'd disgraced years ago. He was no hero, or champion, or anything of the like. He'd even seen his father coming up here, and had to cover his face just to rush by. Speaking of, nearly every Kanto gym leader had been invited, besides Koga. He was quite sure it was because of the whispers of his recent involvement with Team Rocket. Cleary, they hadn't looked into his background. ❛ I ain't gonna' try an' understand alola. ❜ An oddity to the other regions. Alola and the Orange Archipelago always had been. When his partner pushes his hat down over his eyes, he once again relents easily. The Pikachu wants him to apologise. They'd been working on his manners, recently. ❛ so...rry f'er chasing off 'yer crowd. an' callin' ya' stupid. ❜

❛ yeah. I know who 'ya are. ❜ Raine insists, staring at the offered hand. Though it seems like he wont shake it, he takes it moments later in a weak grip. ❛ raine. ugh - raine... surge. embarassin'. I didn't fuckin' pick it. ❜ He'd always offer someone his fake name, the last name he'd picked up from somehwere else. Ever since he'd lost to his father all those years ago, he hadn't used it again. Yet, he assumed those running whatever this competition was would much prefer if he used his real name. That's what he was signed under, anyway. Worst - case - scenario, he ends up facing his father in one of these rounds, and it's an embarassing introduction. ❛ ain't got no title. ❜

The Pikachu on the man's shoulder reassuringly rests his paws on his trainer's head, cooing softly. ❛ yeah. him. ❜ Is all he offers at first, stuffing his hands away into the pockets of his jacket. Raine was well aware he looked nothing like the man anymore; he even dyed his hair whenever the signature blonde would show in his roots. ❛ he's... my dad. ❜ He wondered why he was even sharing this information that was so repugnant to him with a stranger. Perhaps that made it easier to speak about. He did seem to be spewing it out.

Raine actually offers the kid his own slouched smile in return. He knew what he was looking for. With a quick hand, the hat sitting atop his head is removed. It was obvious that whatever dye had been in his hair was quickly fading, leaving him to reveal half a head of blonde. ❛ hmph. yeah. ❜ Though he was being unnaturally nice to this champion, Raine had to remember why he was here. To win. To win whatever the hell they were offering for a prize. Money? Fame? He wanted it all for himself. ❛ maybe you'll even get to fight lance. he ain't all he's cracked up to be. ❜

Before the Blastoise tottles off, the man offers him a toothy grin full of crooked teeth, a threatening look. As the other trainers continue on, Raine and his partner continue to hang back, much prefering to lag behind in a group like this. It gave the pair time to take in their competitors, and decide if cheating would be needed to take them on. It was something he wasn't above doing, as it'd often been seen. Even his Raichu, who'd once been a Pikachu himself, was well aware of moves he shouldn't be anymore. Yet, Raine simply used this to his advantage. ❛ stupid kid with a water type. we could take 'dat down easy. ❜

Though, as they progress up Mt. Battle, not even Raine himself could bother with battle strategies. The view of Orre was something else up here. It almost made the scummy region look presentable. Almost. He was, of course, biased with his home region. Kanto was barren, sure, but it had more bustling cities than any of these damn near dead regions did. Much to the man's surprise, the arena itself was surrounded with a town - like setting like nothing else he'd seen in Orre so far. A hotel or two and a large Pokemon Center to accommodate them all. One had to wonder where a budget for something like that cropped up from. First, Raine spies the kid he'd been chattering with before and can't help but scoff. His head turns, and he instead spots his father and Giovanni deep in a conversation of their own. The man was always willing to approach the Viridian gym leader, but with the Lieutenant hanging about, he found this to no longer be an option. Begrudgingly, he and Pip are quick to approach the teen once again. ❛ hope I ain't interruptin' nothin'. ❜ No, his words were a lie, he in - fact, hoped he was interrupting something. ❛ some reason, i'd rather hang with you over any of these other prats. let's go. ❜ As always, he was pushy, the Pikachu on his shoulder crying out in annoyance as they once again began to walk off, now with this champion and his Blastoise in tow.

Raine could add no substance to their one sided conversation, but that didn't seem to matter now that he was dragging them off somewhere. The man stops them in front of the Pokemon Centre, sitting on the cement steps before the building instead of going inside. A shaky hand disappears inside his jacket, reemerging with a packet of durries. He pulls out a stick, the shock from the tip of Pip's tail setting it ablaze. Smoking was some sort of attempt to tame his shot nerves. Just the sight of the lieutenant put a heavy weight atop him. ❛ i'd offer 'ya one, but... 'ya don't smoke. I can tell. ❜ In Raine's eyes, the champion appeared rather wimpy socially despite his large stature. On cue, both and his Pikachu's gaze shift to the Blastoise. ❛ 'yer fuckin' squirtle is freakin' me out. ❜

[ooo thats an interesting concept!!]

Raine expells a huff of smoke with a bemused chuckle, eyebrows furrowing. He had been aiming for an insulting tone. ❛ jeez, kid. ❜ He left the other wondering if he was really that naive. Once the Blastoise himself seems to register the snarky words, a cheesy grin offered in response. This Pokemon somehow seemed able to look right through him. Raine wouldn't be surprised if the Blastoise somehow pieced together he was a Team Rocket member. ❛ the hell'd 'ya even get a kanto pokemon, anyway? ❜