Anxiety Trials is a Pokemon Special sandbox RP. We are a friendly, no-fuss site where you don't have to worry about posting 24/7, but when you've got the muse. We are based loosely around the Pokemon Special/Adventures manga, though set in a slightly alternate universe. If you're looking for a fun place to explore what life with Pokemon would be like, hopefully we're the place for you!
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As those of you who have been with us for a while can see, we've done some updating on the site. To our new membes, welcome! We've reverted to our original name and are going to move forward with six month! See all our new, updated summaries in the "Need to Knows" section for a full run-down on what has happened!
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★ Weather ★
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Snow is starting to melt in most regions, they are beginning to see Spring
ANXIETY TRIALS was created by Fate. The skin which includes the Board Mod, Mini Profile and Sidebar are created by Dorothia @ Adoxography. The tabbed sidebar was created by kimset of RPG D'. Plug ins were made by their respective PB Support member. All other information which includes but is not limited to, Character Plots, Character Applications and more belong to their rightful owner. Pokemon/Pokemon Special is the property of Nintendo.
Ashelia always loved Undella Town. It was a small town, but it always got a lot of visitors coming to see the beautiful beach and the new Marine Tube. Ashe, of course, only cared about the beach. She was laying down on the cool sand under an umbrella in the rising sun this morning, her eyes closed as she thought about the first time she saw Jelly, her Frillish, here.
It had been nighttime then, and she was just brushing the sand off her back to go to the Pokèmon Center for the night when a wave of Frillish came up to the beach. They had emerged from the water quite creepily, but Ashe just tilted her head at them as they floated through the air above the sand. One blue Frillish came up to her and wavered for a moment, waiting to see if she would do anything. She did, of course. She battled him with Bubbles, her Vaporeon, for quite some time before she finally caught him and named him Jelly, for when he wasn't in spirit form, he was very squishy and fun to use as a pillow.
Ashe kept her eyes closed and breathed out a sigh of contentment as she folded her hands over her bare stomach. She was wearing her solid blue bikini today with her jean shorts, both very snug against her tan skin and bringing out the color of her deep, blue eyes when she had them open. She idly sucked on the cherry lollipop she'd had in her mouth all morning. It was her last one, so she was going to have to flirt with someone in hopes of getting another lollipop when the the came.
That didn't matter to her, though. She was good at coaxing people into giving her what she wanted. Most of the time it was candy, so it wasn't all that hard, especially when she targetted men. Oh, how easily a man can fall into the trap of a beautiful girl, even if that girl doesn't actually like men. Ashe opened her eyes to look around the beach at the people that were starting to arrive. It was showtime, and she wondered who her co-star was going to be today.
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style,width: 460px; background-color: #f7f7f7; padding: 8px;] [STYLE=font-family: arial black; font-size: 35px; color: 525252; letter-spacing: -5px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: left; line-height: 24px;]SHE'S A KILLER QUEEN[/style] [STYLE=background-color: 525252; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 10px; color: AFD4E3; padding: 1px;]Gunpowder, guillotine. Dynamite with a Laser Beam.[/style] [STYLE=background: url(http://i.imgur.com/f55bV.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border-bottom-right-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 60px; border-bottom-left-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 60px; border: 5px solid #525252; margin-top: -6px; float: left;] [/style] [STYLE=color: padding: 16px; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify; color: 7D9199; background-color: EDEDED; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-toprightborder: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-topleftborder: 10px; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 130px; width: 300px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;]✔ tag: Ashelia ✔ notes: Wild co-star appeared! And we're already off on the wrong foot and she's not even said anything! xD ✗ lyrics: Killer Queen by Queen ✗ credits: rayah! of BTN![/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; color: 79A3B5; border-bottom: 1px solid #DEDEDE; text-align: center;]Guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime.[/style] [STYLE=font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; background-color: EDEDED; text-align: justify; color: 808080; padding: 7px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;] Slamming the wooden lid of the basket shut, Caitlin tucked it carefully under her arm and, umbrella in hand, pushed the door to her villa open, stepping outside. She was greeted by a blinding flash of sunlight that dazzled her for a few moments – she really was not used to this – before she was able to collect herself, squinting against the light as she awkwardly closed the door behind her. There was no reason to lock it: none would dare enter without her permission, and she could see from the beach if anyone tried. Only a fool crossed a member of the Elite Four.
Today, she had decided to change up her daily routine. Today, she would have a picnic on the beach, allowing the sound of the waves to soothe her. It was quiet – despite its luxurious scenery, Undella Town often was, which was why she had chosen to erect her villa there – and it was far more pleasant than it would be inside her villa, alone. She often entertained company – the Sinnoh Champion, Cynthia, visited her regularly, as did many of the Gym Leaders of the Unova Region, and so did other travellers; all knew that Lady Caitlin Windsor had the finest villa in all of Unova! – but recently she had been alone. There was much in the world going on, it seemed. Although she cared for none of it: it was the peasant’s problem, and the peasants could clean it up. She would carry on as she always had.
She stumbled, almost falling on her face as the weight of the basket unbalanced her. Clad in her usual attire, she was not particularly manoeuvrable, and she carried a heavy umbrella with her also to protect against the Sun’s rays, as well as a thick, fine rug, to spread out across the sand…as delightful as it was, it had a habit of getting in the most inconvenient places if left to its own devices. She considered calling one of Pokémon to help her, but decided against it: gone were the days when Caitlin was dependant on another to do everything for her. She would do this by herself. Resolute in her superiority and self-sufficiency, but acutely conscious of the ache in her arms, she stepped off the stone path and onto the sand, sinking slightly when her foot touched the sand.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed, as she saw the other woman on the beach, lounging on it as if she owned it. But what was more disturbing was her attire…or lack thereof. She almost gasped, although kept herself in perfect composure. Had she no shame? What irritated Caitlin further was the flash of jealousy that passed through her: what she would not give to have curves like that! Of course, the stranger was coarse and uneducated, and not a patch on her own refined beauty, but when compared to this woman, Caitlin's womanhood was noticeably…lacking. This made her dislike the woman all the more. Who did she think she was, flaunting herself like that? There was a word the commoners used to describe one such as her, although Caitlin would not utter it or even think it. No, this was beneath her notice, and there was plenty of beach. She would simply haul the basket a little further down the beach.
She strolled past the other woman without looking at her, selecting a remote corner of the beach a good distance away from, and rolled out the blanket tucked under her arm, spreading it out across the sand, delicately smoothing the corners before sitting down on it, staring out to sea for a moment before returning her attention to the task at hand, propping her umbrella up and beginning to unpack her basket. Really, this was such a bother; she had only just packed everything! She had, naturally, packed far more than she needed, but it was her way to have too much, rather than too little…and perhaps she’d stay out for the afternoon and feel like a snack later. She had brought her book with her – a fascinating novel it was, too, one the bookish drudge had recommended to her…for a drudge, she had surprisingly good taste – and the weather was pleasant. It was, as the commoners said, a perfect day.
Or at least, it would be perfect, were it not for that nearly-naked woman lounging on the beach. Did she have no sense of decency? In public, people were supposed to wear clothing…or at least, swimsuits that covered them decently. Caitlin was far from sheltered, but she had never seen a display quite so brazen. Really, now! Did the commoners have no shame?
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2012 7:13:07 GMT 9.5 by caitlin
As Ashelia watched for people, she was almost disappointed. There was only one other person at the beach that day, and it was only Ashe's luck that it was none other than Caitlin of the Elite Four. She thought she saw the psychic master actually glare at her, but it had to be her imagination. She didn't really know much about the Elite Four, or really care for that matter, but she always thought of them as more social people. Nice people. Caitlin hadn't said a word as she nearly fell over trying to carry a picnic basket and an umbrella right past her. She frowned to herself, but shrugged her shoulders, brushing it off as nothing. Then the unthinkable happened. She was sucking on just a stick now.
She took the stick that once had candy on it out of her mouth and frowned at it. How horrible. And she had nothing else to eat. Not yet, at least. She looked over at Caitlin, who had set out her blanket and basket, and was now putting her umbrella out. Ashe had no idea if her next plan would work, but that had never stopped her from trying before. Why would seducing an Elite Four member be any different from seducing anyone else? Caitlin was gorgeous in her eyes, so it would certainly be fun for her. Her plan ready to go, she put on her cutest smile, brushed her orange hair back behind her ears, then stood up and walked over to Caitlin. She immediately sat down on the sand, out from under the umbrella of course, and smiled at Caitlin sweetly. "You're Caitlin, right? With the Elite Four? I'm a big fan of yours!" The last line she said with a bit of a preppy accent to emphasize it. There was something to be said about the right words with the right accent. Ashe might not have been the smartest girl, but she knew how to talk.
She looked out at the food that had been unpacked with pleading eyes. She was hoping she didn't need to ask for food; the right look was everything. She looked back up into Caitlin's eyes, brushing some hair back behind her ear with one finger cutely, and awaited an answer from the Elite beauty.
A flicker of movement from the corner of Caitlin’s eye told her that the woman had gotten up from her position. Oh, finally! Did that mean she was going to…no, she was coming over here. Well, perhaps she’d just stalk past her and leave Caitlin to her meal. Oh, in the name of Arceus, she wasn’t…she was. She was approaching her. And she was sitting down. Not on her blanket, thankfully, and not in the shade of her umbrella either, but close enough that Caitlin shifted, the motion so slight that one might have mistaken it for her simply getting more comfortable in her kneeling position, away from her. She smiled at her and, in spite of her irritation; Caitlin had to admit to herself that it was quite a nice smile. Then she opened her mouth and shattered that illusion by making the most painfully obvious statement in the world. It seemed the commoners the world over had an innate knack for stating these things.
“Of course you are.” Caitlin said acerbically, as though this were a foregone conclusion. Was that all she had come to say? Really, what was she hoping to…ah. So that was it. She was looking at the picnic basket like a lost Lillipup, and then back to Caitlin, brushing her hair back with practiced ease, preening herself. Begging for a handout, then. The cut of her clothing – at least, what little of it that there was – did not suggest a woman who could not afford food, however. It was not uncommon for the lower class to beg for things from their betters, but Caitlin had never actually had it happen to her before. She’d had fans pestering her for autographs before, but never for anything more…certainly not for food, at any rate.
Caitlin chose to ignore her, not entirely sure how else to deal with her, and returned to her methodical unpacking. Where she came from, people had proper manners and respect for their betters, and these non-too-subtle “hints” with her eyes were only irritating her further. Uncultured peasant, no doubt she was used to getting her way by giving people these looks of hers. One flutter of those pretty lashes and she’d probably have men begging to lick her boots for her in exchange for a single word of thanks. There were those types in the upper class, as well…most called them harlots. That seemed too kind for this woman, somehow.
Maybe if she just didn’t say anything else, the woman would leave her in peace: she couldn’t be so stupid as to realize that Caitlin was not interested in sharing her meal. The commoners had SOME degree of intelligence, she knew that much. She certainly wasn’t going to invite this woman to share her blanket: even if she did take leave of her senses, the other was covered with sand, sand that it would take forever to get rid of. It would defeat the point of having a blanket in the first place.
So, Caitlin wasn't going to be social. Ashelia always loved it when people played hard to get. She feigned an uncomfortable look before speaking up again. "I heard you have a villa here, but I've never seen you out here before. You're absolutely beautiful, so I can see why you wouldn't want to come out here much. All those men hitting on you all the time... It's exhausting, ya know?" She gave Caitlin another sweet smile and decided not to look at the food again. That would have been inappropriate. She looked out to the water, watching the waves lap against the shoreline. She looked back to Caitlin with another smile and brushed her hair behind her ear once more.
"So, do you like it out here? On the beach, I mean. It's totally calming to me. You get to meet interesting people out here, too. Occasionally, I get to meet someone really pretty, like you. It doesn't happen very often. Your class and beauty aren't usually out here, but I'm glad you are today." She gave Caitlin a wink after the last statement. Flattery was always a good strategy, especially for those who were more uptight, like Caitlin seemed to be. Most of Ashe's words were actually true. She did find Caitlin attractive, and the fact that the Elite looked like she wanted nothing to do with a commoner only made her more enticing.
She had done a little too much talking, she thought. She waited to see what Caitlin would say, if she said anything this time. She might've been put off by too much talking, but Ashe hoped the flattery and the wink helped offset that.
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style,width: 460px; background-color: #f7f7f7; padding: 8px;] [STYLE=font-family: arial black; font-size: 35px; color: 525252; letter-spacing: -5px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: left; line-height: 24px;]SHE'S A KILLER QUEEN[/style] [STYLE=background-color: 525252; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 10px; color: AFD4E3; padding: 1px;]Gunpowder, guillotine. Dynamite with a Laser Beam.[/style] [STYLE=background: url(http://i.imgur.com/f55bV.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border-bottom-right-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 60px; border-bottom-left-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 60px; border: 5px solid #525252; margin-top: -6px; float: left;] [/style] [STYLE=color: padding: 16px; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify; color: 7D9199; background-color: EDEDED; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-toprightborder: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-topleftborder: 10px; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 130px; width: 300px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;]✔ tag: whoever ✔ notes: anything here ✗ lyrics: Killer Queen by Queen ✗ credits: rayah! of BTN![/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; color: 79A3B5; border-bottom: 1px solid #DEDEDE; text-align: center;]Guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime.[/style] [STYLE=font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; background-color: EDEDED; text-align: justify; color: 808080; padding: 7px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;] The peasant was still here! And she was still talking! Caitlin was unable to stop a sigh escaping from her lips, drowned out by the woman’s incessant babbling; it was doubtful that she even noticed it. Caitlin continued to unpack the contents of her basket, trying and failing to ignore the woman at her side, at a distance that was neither respectful nor overly intrusive…it was quite vexing. She did not violate Caitlin’s personal space, but her very presence was a pollution of her surroundings.
But at least she had stopped gazing at the assortment of food that Caitlin was unpacking; her gaze was a mixture of predatory and longing, and it was unsettling. But then, this was probably a veritable feast for one such as her: a fussy eater, Caitlin ate only the finest foods, and she was a cook of modest accomplishment. An assortment of quiches, cheeses, carefully prepared salads and some grapes (she absolutely adored grapes) were followed by two pies that she had baked the previous night in anticipation of a picnic the following day – and, she had hoped, company of an acquaintance, but nobody had arrived, and thus she had brought it with her, although it was doubtful she would be able to finish even one by herself - a small pot of cream, and three types of jam, and a small canteen of boiling water to go with the herbal tea. The tea-set she placed closest to her, as far away from her uninvited guest as possible: it was expensive porcelain and, despite the chips on the cup and pot, she was extremely fond of it; Darach had given it to her when she had been made a Frontier Brain, what seemed to be a lifetime ago. Methodically, she spread things out around her, although she did not eat. With this woman in close proximity, she felt a distinct loss of appetite, although she could not quite say why.
Something she said then caught Caitlin’s attention. “Well, of course I am beautiful; I am a lady.” she sniffed, giving the woman a direct look, trying to judge whether she was sincere or stupid, or possibly both. There was earnestness to peasants that many of her class found almost charming and refreshing, but it annoyed her to no end. The inane drivel that they expelled from their mouths was often no different to that which they expelled from their rears. Her imagination with compliments was quite lacking…but then, she WAS a commoner. What would she knew of poetry?
“I am quite sure I do not know to what you are referring. I will not either partake in or tolerate such crass behaviour from company I did not invite and have no desire for.” she replied, narrowing her eyes at the woman. She knew all too well what the woman was talking about, and was disgusted on two levels: the first was at the woman herself, for such base thinking. It seemed she thought only with her stomach or her sexual organs, like many peasants. Really, was this all their lives consisted? They must lead extremely boring lives. The second level was the thought of a man trying such a thing with her. The very idea…she was unable to stop a shudder that had nothing to do with the sudden breeze, and cursed herself inwardly for her lapse of control. She would not admit why she was so repulsed, not even to herself, but the feeling of repulsion was no less for it. Still, what the woman was suggesting was enough to make her skin crawl.
She might enjoy such attention, but Caitlin certainly didn’t. Was she mocking her? Did she dare go that far? Whilst Caitlin would not lose her temper with this woman – this was a very nice beach, and it would be a shame to see it ruined – that did not mean she might not call upon one of her Pokémon to dangle her upside down…say, twenty feet in the air above the ocean. Yes, that would do the trick nicely. It was something to keep in mind.
She was about to tell the woman exactly what she thought of her, and exactly what she could do with herself, but was barely able to get a word in edgeways; by Arceus, but this woman did seem to love the sound of her own voice! It was not an unpleasant voice, it was just the things it was uttering that made it so…and the one to which it belonged. “Do I enjoy…” Caitlin repeated the question, trailing off as she found herself considering it in spite of herself. How could she possibly enjoy herself when she had this shameless harlot shrieking in her ears like a neutered Exploud? But then, when she considered sitting within the stuffy confines of her villa…
“…I suppose. The air is pleasant, as is the scenery; it is the main reason I chose to construct my villa here. Although it is extremely noisy, and there is little in the way of privacy.” there was a frost to her words that would have put even Kyurem’s legendary freezing abilities to shame at the last. Would she not get the hint? There was something vaguely flattering about having an obviously star-struck fan fawning over her, but not at such close proximity, and not when she was by herself. She was unaccustomed to dealing with the commoners, and it was proving more difficult than she thought…this one seemed to be exceptionally stupid. Or just remarkably ignorant, with an annoying disposition; she couldn’t quite decide which.
She sighed again, and this time it had nothing to do with the woman’s presence. Oh, how she wished that Darach were here! He would know exactly how to banish this creature from her sight. He had always been o good at these things…if a little slow at times. Her wistfulness was replaced by irritation. No, perhaps Darach would have had no more luck than she was…
Ashelia knew when she wasn't welcome and, this time, for some reason, it actually hurt. She respected Caitlin. She actually kind of liked her. It wasn't just her looks though. Caitlin was polite and proper, but there was an edge to her voice that let Ashe know that it was her that was being too noisy. The smile faded from her lips, replaced with a slight frown. She shifted a bit, getting her feet in the sand as if about to leave. "I see... Silence is nice, I suppose..."
For the first time in a long time, Ashe was actually sad, though she wouldn't actually show it openly. The single Pokèball on her hip shook a bit and a red beam shot out into the water on its own. Ashe blinked and looked over to see Jelly, her male Frillish, shooting up out of the water. She didn't know how he did it. She suspected it had something to do with his ghost half, but she couldn't confirm that. She shook her head and finally stood up, brushing the sand off her legs and rear.
"It was nice meeting you..." She flashed one last smile to Caitlin before she turned back toward her umbrella. It wasn't even her umbrella, but the man that let her use it never took it back. He tried, but he just couldn't get past his stutter around her. "Come on, Jelly." She waved her Frillish over, who had been hovering on the other side of Caitlin as she thought about the umbrella. Jelly hesitated before joining her, taking one last longing glance at Caitlin before he followed Ashe as she started back to her spot.
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=valign,top,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=style,width: 460px; background-color: #f7f7f7; padding: 8px;] [STYLE=font-family: arial black; font-size: 35px; color: 525252; letter-spacing: -5px; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: left; line-height: 24px;]SHE'S A KILLER QUEEN[/style] [STYLE=background-color: 525252; text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: 1px; font-family: arial narrow; font-size: 10px; color: AFD4E3; padding: 1px;]Gunpowder, guillotine. Dynamite with a Laser Beam.[/style] [STYLE=background: url(http://i.imgur.com/f55bV.png); height: 100px; width: 100px; border-bottom-right-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 60px; border-bottom-left-radius: 60px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 60px; border: 5px solid #525252; margin-top: -6px; float: left;] [/style] [STYLE=color: padding: 16px; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify; color: 7D9199; background-color: EDEDED; border-bottom-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomrightborder: 10px; border-bottom-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-bottomleftborder: 10px; border-top-right-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-toprightborder: 10px; border-top-left-radius: 10px; -moz-border-radius-topleftborder: 10px; margin-top: 5px; margin-left: 130px; width: 300px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;]✔ tag: Ashe ✔ notes: n/a ✗ lyrics: Killer Queen by Queen ✗ credits: rayah! of BTN![/style] [STYLE=font-family: georgia; text-transform: uppercase; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; color: 79A3B5; border-bottom: 1px solid #DEDEDE; text-align: center;]Guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime.[/style] [STYLE=font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px; background-color: EDEDED; text-align: justify; color: 808080; padding: 7px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #D6D6D6;] The satisfaction that Caitlin felt as the woman finally got the message was immense, although she did not allow it to show; no, that would simply not have been proper. It looked as though she were not entirely clueless, as she frowned, her mind seeming to process the words and, eventually, discern the meaning behind them. So slowly! Her satisfaction faded somewhat. There was little satisfaction to be derived from besting a commoner in a game that she was clearly not educated enough to play. But then, had her intent not been to drive the woman off, so that she might enjoy this day in peace? Or had it been simply to put her in her place? She was not entirely sure; rare was it that one did not amount to the other.
But, now that they had firmly established who was superior to whom…well, why should she not permit the woman the pleasure of her company? She had made it quite clear that she would not suffer her impudence, and was now confident in her ability to banish her from her sight, should she wish to. Much like training Pokémon, one needed to be firm of hand when dealing with commoners, it seemed, lest they take airs with you and presume overmuch. She, Lady Caitlin Rose Windsor, of the Elite Four, would not be made sport of by some common harlot and her Pokémon, a Frillish, which had popped out of its own accord and was now looking at her with…longing? No, it was looking at her umbrella.
But there were some reasons for keeping the woman around: the prospect of hauling the leftovers back up to her villa after she had taken the trouble to haul them down to the beach was one that her arms did not approve of. That aside, it seemed that this one was the only company that she was going to get today…and she could admit, to herself, in the most abstract way possible under the circumstances, that she desired company on this day, and was disappointed that she had not been visited in her villa by a wandering figure of some import…even that rancid-smelling, indecently-exposed, laid-back buffoon, Marlon, would have been welcomed by her today, if only to alleviate her boredom. There were often difficulties in life such as this but, being a lady, she would endure them with stoic demeanour and grace.
“Oh, very well then.” Caitlin said to her retreating back, irritated by the fact that she had just turned away with the most casual farewell possible. Not so much as an ‘Excuse me, my lady’ or even a curtsy! Commoners. Perhaps they were harder to train than Pokémon after all. “I suppose there is too much here for one individual to consume, and a lady should always show charity where it is so obviously needed.” she shifted her position, shuffling backwards slightly, so that she was positioned on the edge of the blanket, leaning over to pull the food arrayed in front of her back, opening the smallest of spaces on the blanket.
“Position yourself on the edge of the blanket – the very edge, thank you! I’ll not have you getting sand everywhere – and help yourself to whatever your heart desires…other than the grapes. I must vehemently insist that you do not touch the grapes.” There were limits to even Caitlin’s – magnanimous as she was –willingness to show charity. Sharing grapes was definitely over that limit. So would sharing fruit pie be, were it not for the fact that she had one too many. “Your associate is welcome to the shade of my umbrella, under the condition that he stays upon my left side and does not make physical contact with me. I will not abide unwanted physical contact.”
Withdrawing a Pokéball – the only one she had brought with her today; her other Pokémon had elected to remain at the villa – she placed it upon the blanket to her immediate right, rapping it once upon the top, prompting her Gardevoir, Harmony, to emerge in a flash of light in a kneeling position almost identical to Caitlin’s own, her expression curious as she looked first at the woman, then at her Pokémon, and then finally at Caitlin herself. Yes, Harmony was no doubt perplexed by the strange turn of the day; she was hardly used to the presence of commoners herself, or Pokémon other than Caitlin’s own…or perhaps she was simply surprised that Caitlin had managed to get this all down from the villa by herself.
“Harmony. We are to have company this afternoon, it seems. Would you kindly pour the tea whilst I serve the food?” it was phrased as a request, rather than a command; Caitlin had no need to order her Pokémon to do anything for her outside of battle. She would demonstrate, to this peasant and her Pokémon, how one should properly conduct oneself. Imagine, allowing your Pokémon to emerge without permission! Who was taming whom?
She withdrew her spare plates as she spoke – fortunately, she had four; she had not anticipated using them, but always carried an entire set of crockery out of habit; it seemed somehow incomplete not to - wishing that she had thought not to bring the china with her. It seemed a waste to use her finest china on this commoner, who would probably not appreciate the intricacy of the design painted upon it in a dark blue, before being finished so that it was smooth and shiny: depicting highly detailed murals of the deities of Sinnoh, carvings that could, apparently, be found upon Spear Pillar (Caitlin had never been there herself – climbing a mountain? Not in this lifetime) they had been a gift from Cynthia for her birthday last year, and she was rather fond of them. Cutlery – silver, naturally – followed this, as Harmony did as instructed, pouring the boiling water with practiced ease before adding teabags. The scent of peppermint reached Caitlin’s nose even as she began neatly dividing the quiche and cheeses, leaving the pies alone; whilst not a proper meal, decorum dictated that the savory items be consumed first. Perhaps, had she been by herself, she might have broken this rule, but circumstances dictated that she be as proper as possible in front of her…guest. Now, that was a word to leave a sour taste in the mouth, considering the profile of said…guest. She had never entertained a commoner before.
“You will find the fare satisfactory, albeit not grand. All that you see was either prepared by myself, or is fresh and not yet a day old, grown within the most fertile soil from various continents. There is no meat; if this is not to your liking, you are free to leave.” Caitlin’s tone never lost its edge, but it hardened for a moment as she spoke. She would not refuse meat if decorum would not allow for it, but if given the choice, she would avoid it, and as this was her meal and she was not in formal company, she was free to set the rules. She was not about to have a meal prepared specifically for this woman. “The tea is peppermint; I suggest you drink a full cup whilst hot, and then take a second and sip at a more moderate pace. It will provide more comfort in this moderate heat than a cooler beverage once you have adjusted to the temperature. Etiquette dictates that you, the…guest-“ she struggled over that word, the sour taste coming to her mouth again “-select what you wish to consume first. Do not loiter.” It never hurt to remind her exactly who she was dining with; the common people had certain expectations of the upper class, although they’d no right to, by Caitlin’s own reckoning. But then, the minds of the rabble were filled with the strangest notions…
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Last Edit: Nov 16, 2012 17:48:19 GMT 9.5 by caitlin
Well, Caitlin was far more arrogant than Ashelia had thought possible. Charity? Obviously needed? Ashe had a strong desire to put Caitlin in her place, but she was too pretty to attack. She stopped and turned back toward Caitlin, walking back over with her swagger and sitting down on the blanket, trying not to get sand on it. She smiled at Caitlin sweetly as she spoke. "Thank you so much." It actually hurt to say it, but she wanted to be nice to Caitlin. As Caitlin released her Gardevoir, Jelly floated over next to the other Pokèmon. Jelly seemed to be looking her over as she poured the tea, trying to figure out what to do with her, perhaps.
Ashe flashed a smile at Harmony, then looked down at the plates Caitlin was putting out. "Oh. Dialga and Palkia. Pretty plates." She doubted Caitlin would be impressed that she knew the dragons of Sinnoh legend, but perhaps a bit of shock, at least. Ashe didn't come off as very smart, she knew, so when she spoke about something like legends, people tended to be shocked. She had travelled a lot, so knowing little bits of information here and there was to be expected. Of course, she never told anyone she travelled a lot. That would be too telling.
And then Caitlin was instructing her on how to eat... Odd. This girl was far too uptight, even for Ashelia's patience. Why was she so enthralled with this snobbish princess? Was it her class; the fact she was an Elite? No, Ashe didn't care about battling. It wasn't her looks, either. Ashe had been with enough beauties that looks weren't enough to make her swoon. That really only left her personality, but she was so stuck up it made Ashe want to leave the beach, and that was saying something. Ashe was extremely patient and some even called her lazy. She always got other people to do things for her in some way or another. As she thought about why it was she liked Caitlin, she wasn't really listening to the part about the tea.
She looked at the food for a bit before taking some of the quiche and cheese. She looked at the grapes for a bit, then at the pies, determining that she should wait for those. Grapes apparently weren't on the menu for her, but that might change later. Then she remembered her manners. She extended her hand toward Caitlin, palm up, in an attempt to introduce herself. "I'm Ashelia, by the way." She smiled and, if her hand was taken, would lean forward to kiss the back of Caitlin's hand softly. "Ashelia Clearwater."
Caitlin sighed, exasperated. ‘Pretty plates’ indeed! A simpleton, through and through, who clearly did not understand nor appreciate what she held in her hands, as she had expected. She almost felt like putting her hands together in mock applause. Still, she had not expected her to know what was on them. Perhaps she had slightly more depth than a thimble…although that did not excuse her present ignorance. “Peasant. They are the finest china, unique in design, having been specifically crafted. They were…a gift, from the Lady Cynthia.†her voice softened at the last, her face taking on an almost wistful cast. She had not seen Cynthia in so very long, and she always had the most interesting tales to tell of her adventures. Caitlin was not suited to a life out-of-doors, and had no desire to “live it rough†as the commoners might put it, but there were times when she almost envied Cynthia, and others, like this peasant, who could live however they wished. Why, if she could live however she wished…
She snapped back to reality, irritated that the woman had prompted such a reaction from her. It was not the time for idle daydreaming; such foolish thinking would avail her nothing. “So mind you are careful with them, or you shall not like the consequences.†she finished, perhaps slightly harder than she had intended. Perhaps a threat was the wrong way to approach this obstinate commoner, but then, anyone who did not heed the words of a member of the Elite Four was even more foolish than she gave them credit for.
As she watched the woman, she decided that, perhaps, she was not particularly hungry after all. She pulled the small cluster of grapes closer to her – out of the other woman’s reach; she was taking no chances – and contented herself with sipping the strong tea that Harmony handed to her wordlessly, having sensed her mood and, it seemed, sharing it. Whilst she had been with Symphony, her Gothitelle, for much longer, Caitlin had found that Harmony was far better at picking up on her moods…which was perhaps why she sat next to her, rigid and tense, prepared to blast the woman to the opposite end of the beach if she so much as blinked incorrectly.
“Charmed, I’m sure.†she replied as the woman introduced herself, her tone slightly dry, although she offered no further comment, and nor was she particularly offensive in her manner; it was a simple statement, an automatic response to what passed for an introduction. If she thought that giving her name would convince Caitlin to actually use it, she was in for a disappointment. A peasant she was, and she would remain as such until she had proven her worth. It was doubtful that she would have the chance, however; the longer she suffered her company, the more Caitlin was convinced that this had been a foolish whim for her to indulge, and she would not be making the same mistake twice.
She raised one delicate eyebrow at the outstretched hand, taking a small sip of tea before replacing the cup in her lap, folding her hands over one another; a rather clear gesture. The peasant didn’t actually expect her to take her hand, did she? Had Caitlin not said that she would not abide unwanted physical contact? One did not grasp hands with one’s inferiors, either. She did nothing, allowing the peasant to figure things out for herself. She was here on an idle whim, and nothing more; if she sought to rise above herself, she would be treated with the contempt Caitlin felt she deserved.
Caitlin barely even spoke this time. She made no move to take Ashelia's hand and gave only a small respone to her greeting. Ashe was trying to be civil, but was still being shot down. What made things worse was what the Gardevoir said to her. Harmony called her a peasant, and that was a huge mistake. Did they really think that little of her? She was starting to lose her temper, and Jelly immediately picked up on it. He narrowed his eyes at the back of Harmony's head before floating over to Ashe's side. Ashe had only lost her temper once in her whole life, but the man that made her do it ended up in a coma. She didn't remember all that much about it, but she remembered Jelly being there along with Bubbles, her Vaporeon.
She put down her food after taking a small bite and wiped her hands together to get the crumbs off, then glanced over at Harmony with no smile before turning her attention back to Caitlin. "A question for you now." She had lost her fake preppy voice and actually sounded serious. "Are you always this rude with people, or are 'peasants' like me just lucky enough to have your scorn?" Jelly kept his gaze on Harmony just in case she tried to do something... Psychic. He wouldn't be able to beat her in a battle, but he was ready to protect and stall for Ashe as long as he could. "I was trying to be nice, as I actually like you, but I can't tolerate being treated like garbage. Perhaps I should have stayed with my family so I could grow up to be proper and pompous, like you, but I didn't want to live in a mansion and have people expect me to be elegant. I understand that you are used to being treated like royalty, and if you give me a chance, I can too. I have one condition, though: drop your condescending attitude. You're not a princess here." Her eyes went wide as she realized what she had just said and she brought her hands up to cover her mouth. She mumbled to herself as she turned away from Caitlin. "I want you to be my princess, though..."
Jelly blinked at the sudden loss of confidence in his trainer. He lowered himself and placed a tentacle on her shoulder as he looked at Caitlin. He held no malice or contempt toward her, but he was worried for his trainer, who he loved to no end. He turned to look at Harmony and tried to convey that Ashe meant no harm. She was trying to like Caitlin more.
The woman’s entire stance shifted, taking Caitlin momentarily by surprise. Quite suddenly, she had lost her far too casual, easy-going impudence and revealed a surprising core of steel. What she said next, however, set Caitlin’s blood to boiling. How dare she? How dare she? Her cup was halfway to her lips when a red veil descended over her vision, and she felt familiar stirrings of anger somewhere within the pit of her stomach, working its way up to her chest. She did not shake, but she felt suddenly lighter, as though something had been cut loose, and she had been left to drift. A part of her mind was curiously detached from the experience, but the rest of her was fighting to remain in control. That rational part of her mind, so small now, was losing the battle, however.
Caitlin set her cup down a little more forcefully than she had intended as the woman finished her outburst, and for a second she was slightly concerned she had broken something, although the concern was lost in the haze of barely restrained anger. She had only been addressed in such a fashion twice in her life, and neither time had ended well for the person in question, or for the surroundings. She had a far greater control over her anger now than she had when she was a teenager, of course; however, if the stabbing pains in her temples were any indication, she was hovering dangerously close to the edge of losing her control. That would not be pleasant, for her, the other woman, or her crockery; whilst she had a better control over her emotions, her psychic capabilities were wild and destructive. She gripped the handle of her cup tightly as she glared at the woman, her eyes cold, voice tightly controlled fury.
“How dare you speak to me in such a fashion, you ill-mannered harlot! You swagger up to me and presume to interrogate me, I endure your inane babble and even go so far as to invite you to share a meal with me, and you have the nerve to speak to me as though I were some kitchen drudge here for your amusement! Your manners are atrocious, you are insincere and uncouth, you have no sense of modesty or decency, and you have the audacity to accuse me of ill temperament and a lack of manners! Perhaps others would not be so quick to treat you as ‘garbage’, as you so crassly put it, if you were not so quick as to act it!”
A sudden flash of pain behind her eyes, and the tea in her cup was bubbling and steaming, instantly boiled. A sharp snapping sound told her that she had broken one of her knives as well, which seemed to leap into the air in front of her, twisted in one violent motion so that it snapped in half, the two pieces falling with a dull thud onto the blanket. The sound seemed to bring her back to reality, however. With no small amount of effort, Caitlin calmed herself, relaxing her grip on the handle of her cup, willing the pain in her head to subside, before it did any more damage than it already had…a fine mess it would make if she made the china explode next, or worse yet, the food. A light touch on her shoulder told her that Harmony had sensed her pain – perhaps even felt it herself – and, sensing her trainer’s anger as well, put two and two together, and was now glaring at the woman with undisguised hostility, although with her outburst, much of Caitlin’s anger had ebbed, to be replaced by a lingering sense of regret. She was an ignorant peasant, what did she know about speaking to the aristocracy? There was just something about her…character that got under Caitlin’s skin.
“I do so hate it when this happens.” she frowned into her cup, momentarily forgetting about the other woman completely, and delicately poured the scalding tea onto the sand, watching it thoughtfully for a moment as it bubbled and hissed when it struck, the sound unusually loud to her ears. “A perfectly good cup of tea, ruined, and now I shall have to acquire a new set of cutlery as well. Well, in truth I was never overly fond of silver. Perhaps engraved steel…” that was something to think about this afternoon. No doubt someone somewhere could make her some perfectly serviceable steel cutlery with some ornate handles. Perhaps something that matched her tea set. Silver was far too malleable a metal.
It was then that she took notice of Harmony, who looked just about ready to spring up and leap at the woman bodily, never mind attacking her with her more formidable psychic capabilities. Caitlin’s anger was quick to fade, but Harmony’s wasn’t; she was still quite young. “Harmony, pour me another cup of tea, if you please. With honey, I think.” her tone made it clear that she was not going to tolerate any unladylike behaviour from her; bad enough that she had lost her temper with this ill-mannered brat. But then, she sorely tested Caitlin’s patience, by presuming to speak to her as though she were her equal! Who was she to even dare to make conditions? “I shall brook no further conflict whilst I dine; although in truth I have lost my appetite. Once you have had your fill, I shall retire to my villa. I believe that would be best.”
She took a sip from the cup handed to her, shuddering at the vile sweetness before setting it down. It seemed to do the trick, though; she was back in control of her faculties. She did not look at the other woman, contenting herself with staring into her cup, watching the murky liquid swirl. Perhaps interacting with the commoners was not quite as simple as she had thought – how did people manage it? It had been very foolish for her to emerge from her villa, and suddenly she longed for the comfort of her bed, her Musharna on the opposite pillow, keeping watch over her dreams.
Listening to Caitlin yell at her was far too much for Ashelia to bear now. Even turned away, she had her fists clenched in anger. She would never punch someone, especially another woman, but it was a natural reaction; one that she rarely experienced. She tried to hold it back even after Caitlin had calmed down and was now worrying about her dishes, but this happened far too rarely for Ashe to keep a lid on it. Losing control, she turned back toward Caitlin and lashed out, slapping the "lady" across her face quickly. There wasn't too much force in it, but it was still going to sting.
"You still don't get it! You are just another Pokèmon trainer! You're not any better than me, so I can speak to you however I want! If you want people to treat you with the respect you feel you deserve, you should try being nicer once in a while! This high and mighty act isn't working for me, so cut it out!" At this point, Jelly had positioned himself between Ashe and Harmony, just in case the Gardevoir decided to lash out against the one assaulting her trainer. Ashe wasn't done venting yet, so she continued yelling. "In case you haven't noticed, we're at the bloody beach! Indecent? This is swimwear. If you don't like it so much, either leave or do something about it! And I'll have you know one more thing. Other people actually like me. It's you that has the problem and I don't care what it is anymore!"
She stood up and quickly took a step back, cooling down a bit. She had her arms straight down and her fists were clenched again; to be honest, she looks like an angry princess herself right now. She wasn't done venting her anger yet, though. No, she still had a good bit of fury left in her. For now, she just glared at Caitlin, daring her to make a move.
Caitlin barely even felt the blow, and nor did it, or the woman’s words, register on her until a few seconds later. Surprisingly, she was not particularly angry with her. It simply…confirmed a few things. She set her cup down on the blanket beside her, placing a restraining hand on Harmony’s arm as she did so; her Gardevoir looked quite ready to fling the woman across the beach…no doubt she could do it, too. Caitlin sighed lightly, the sound loud in her own ears.
“So, you resort to violence when you run out of words? Well, I think you have proved my point for me quite admirably, don’t you?” Caitlin’s tone was soft, although the contempt in it was obvious. She stood, taking a moment to smooth her dress. “Come along, Harmony. Let us leave this ignorant savage to her business, whatever that may be.” she beckoned to her Pokémon as she turned her back quite deliberately on the woman, adding to her Gardevoir in an undertone as the Pokémon came closer to her; “If she comes within twenty paces, deposit her in the ocean, and if she attacks with her Pokémon, you have my permission to do whatever you feel is necessary.”
Disregarding her picnic entirely (she could send her Pokémon down to the beach to collect her belongings at a later point, although the possible loss of her tea set was regrettable) she left the beach, Harmony in tow. She did not look back or break her stride, but had she spared a glance for her Gardevoir, she would find her alight with a sharp blue glow, ready to blast the woman back if she came within range, her natural calm gone as she prepared herself for battle, should the situation call for it. Caitlin did not intend to waste any more time on the savage than she already had, however, and calmly walked up to the entrance to her villa, the door of which opened even before she arrived, her Gothitelle, Symphony, looking distressed as she hurried out to stand by her trainer’s side.
Entirely unnecessary, for Caitlin doubted that the woman would be able to best even Harmony with all of her Pokémon combined, but it made her feel somehow more secure, and she gave a rare smile at her Gothitelle, surprised as her cheek hurt with the motion. It was quite possibly bruised…but then, that was nothing that cosmetics could not conceal. Physical wounds healed; it was of no consequence. Her anger had evaporated, to be replaced by a deep-rooted contempt: did you feel anything for the insects that you might accidentally crush, after all? The woman had proven, quite effectively, that she was everything Caitlin believed her to be.
The door shut behind her with an ominous finality, closed by one of her Pokémon’s psychic abilities. A sharp click told her that they had decided to lock it, as well…that would be Harmony’s work, then. A large, metallic blue Pokémon floated past her, settling in front of the door, effectively barring the way. Waltz, her Metagross, had picked up on her distress too, it seemed, and a soft nudge at her leg alerted her to the presence of her Espeon, Arietta, who she picked up and carried over to the closest chair, which she all-but collapsed in.
Whilst Caitlin found it highly unlikely that the woman would attempt to assault her in her own home – she would be a fool to try, that was for certain – she was moved by her Pokémon’s concern, and felt wetness on her cheeks as tears came, unbidden, to her eyes, dripping down onto her Espeon’s coat, which mewed in concern. She stroked her reassuringly with one hand, using the back of the other to wipe her tears away. That was strange. Why was she crying? She didn’t feel anything in particular; since that uncouth brat had slapped her, she seemed to have gone entirely numb. Perhaps she was just tired. That was probably it.
“Harmony?” her Gardevoir was at her side instantly. “Be a dear and put the kettle on, would you? The plain china, if you please. Use whatever tea you would prefer to have.”
It had been a foolish whim. Caitlin simply did not do well interacting with commoners; they presumed far too much, had no manners, and knew not when they were in the presence of their betters. She could not abide such treatment – she was their superior, after all – and she certainly could not abide being made free with. She had never been abused in her life, and found that, unsurprisingly, she did not care for it. She cast a glance at the door – or, rather, her Metagross’ back, as he stood an unnecessary watch over it – wondering what the woman was doing. Had she left, or was she smashing up the china to spite her? Perhaps she had even decided to finish the meal by herself. It mattered little, really. With another sigh, Caitlin closed her eyes, taking simple comfort in the warmth of her Espeon on her lap, and the sound of bubbling water as her Gardevoir prepared yet another cup of tea for her. Perhaps she would be able to finish this one without any interruption…
As Caitlin left, Ashelia didn't know what to say or if she should do anything. She watched Caitlin go, feeling almost numb for the moment. She was still extremely mad, but she regretted the slap and didn't want to attack or even pursue Caitlin right then. She waited until Caitlin was already back in her villa to unleash her rage. She ran away from the left behind picnic a little and kicked up sand several times. She creamed a few times; not so loud that it would disturb those inside the buildings of Undella Town, but loud enough to vent her frustration some.
After several minutes, she collapsed on Caitlin's blanket. It was a nice blanket. If it were hers, she certainly wouldn't mind laying on it instead of the sand. She looked at the food and the china for a bit with blurred vision before she reached up to wipe the tears away. Why was she crying? She never cried when she was angry any other time. It was odd to her. She had had feelings for someone a long time ago and, though they didn't reciprocate the feelings, it still didn't feel quite like this. She didn't know what it was at all.
After she had calmed down some more, she started packing all of the food and dishes into Caitlin's picnic basket, being careful not to break anything. She knew it was valuable china to Caitlin, so she didn't dare break it. Odd, considering she had just slapped the woman... After closing up the basket, she got up and shook the blanket, shaking off all the sand and rolling it up neatly. She then folded in the umbrella and picked up everything the way Caitlin had brought it all out. She soon realized just how hard it must have been for Caitlin to carry it all out in her regular clothes.
She stopped by the Pokèmon Center for a bit on her way to Caitlin's villa, getting paper and writing out a note. She slowly snuck over to the villa, knowing that so many psychic Pokèmon there would definitely be able to tell she was coming, and put the basket, blanket, and umbrella on Caitlin's doorstep. She left a note on top of the basket; the front having a simple, red heart on it and the inside reading, "I'm sorry I slapped you. I can't take back what I said, but I could try to make it up to you if you let me. There's a man in Opelucid City that makes some of the best utensils in the world. I'm sure he can craft some steel cutlery to go with your china. I won't bother you again unless you wish to have my company. I hope you do, though..."
Leaving everything on the doorstep nice and neat, Ashe hurried back to the Pokèmon Center and sat down in one of the chairs in the lobby. She let out a long, heavy sigh as she closed her eyes, leaning back in the chair. Jelly plopped down in her lap - had he been behind her this whole time? - and she pat his head lightly. He stretched out one of his tentacles and laid it, along with the rest of her Pokèballs, across her lap. Apparently he had not been behind her the whole time. At some point, he must have gotten her other Pokèmon from the nurse, but Ashe couldn't say when he left her side. She was ashamed that she had completely lost track of her friend in her anger. "I'm sorry to you too, Jelly."
