Higher Learning (OPEN)

[Eloise Rosdale]

She sat alone, as was her usual preference when Marci or Zayne wasn't around, idly thumbing through some book or other and not really paying much attention to the things that she was reading. It wasn't that Eloise didn't like books, or found them boring...it was merely that she was simply looking for a way to kill time until she could come up with something of more interest to do. Goliath was, of course, with her - the primeape never seeing fit to be too far from his trainer - but even he seemed content to merely sit and be silent for a while. 


A bit of a sigh escaped her lips, a scarlet-tipped finger idly reaching up to toy with one of the dark red curls that hung in her face before moving to turn the page, and she absently switched positions - one long leg crossing over the other. A bright yellow stiletto dangled precariously from her toe, but she paid it no heed. After all, the library was never a place that was overly crowded...and Eloise could be thankful for that. Even the Queen Bee needed a little time to herself, though if any of her few friends decided to show up she wouldn't be disappointed. Zayne would certainly be welcome, and even Marci - though occasionally her almost obscenely aggressive state of being could get tiresome even to a person like herself. 


"I don't know Goliath. The students seem to be getting far too complacent in this place..." She murmured, pausing in her reading or absent tugging at her hair to reach over and pat the large pokemon on a very muscular arm. He just grunted in reply and kept his gaze focused on the rest of the room, eyes narrowed and watchful for any that might decide it would be a good idea to bother /his/ Eloise just because she was alone. Of course, people often learned that there was a price to pay for that...and usually not even one that had to be paid to Goliath but rather to Eloise herself. She was terribly good at making students squirm in fear, and though occasionally he couldn't help but wish things were different, he could be proud of her for being able to keep the student body in their 'place'. And that was below her. 


Eloise's lips pursed slightly as she finally moved her attention in the general direction of Goliath's - hazel eyes sweeping coolly over the near by tables. "I suppose it's a good thing though, that they've learned where they belong." A faint smile briefly curved her lips, a brief but fond look darted towards Goliath before she quickly wiped that softer expression off her face. Yes, it was good that the students learned. The redhead's eyes narrowed a bit, slipping towards the door as a few students wandered in. They tittered nervously when they saw her, and made an effort to stay out of her way, and she merely nodded subtly to herself at the proof of their 'education'.

Only once they were seated did she sigh again though, turning a somewhat bored glance back to the book opened in front of her. Maybe Zayne would show up soon. The little blond had a knack for finding her, and though she hated to admit it she would actually quite like some company. Especially since it appeared that there was a little 'matter' to discuss - the 'matter' of a certain tall Asian boy hanging around her friend. It was of some curiosity that Zayne hadn't managed to freeze him off or otherwise chase him away, and from what she could figure out...well, this Ransom was one of those extremely rare genuinely /nice/ people. But she wanted Zayne's take on it before she decided what to do as Zayne often didn't know what was best for him until she pointed out. Was this Ransom good for him? She couldn't say...at least not yet, but if Zayne didn't seem to be adverse to him hanging around then it was likely Eloise would simply observe the situation as it played out and act as necessary. After all, not everyone in her group of friends needed to be jaded like she was - and she already knew her BFF had a 'thing' for pretty males, though he tried very hard to pretend otherwise.  

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Word Count: 734
Tags: Open
Notes: Goliath (Gorilla-sized Primeape)
Wearing: A pair of dark blue skinny jeans, bright yellow stiletto heels, and a belted white tunic-style shirt. 

[Zayne Maddox]

---

    Zayne wasn't wearing anything special, not really, some soft, charcoal sweat pants and some zip up hooded shirt that hid a white t-shirt.  The only thing one might note, was the fact that his hair was still damp. He was still sore and miserable from a long class with Drescher, the conditioning class to be precise. Every day he had to consider it something of a blessing that his pokèmon weren't particularly gifted physical based 'athletes', it got him out of having to take on some of the more challenging courses.  No way was he ever going to add something four legged to his team... well if he ever added anything at all. 

     As it was, Zayne was looking for Eloise, he'd taken a bit longer just enjoying hot water then he'd intended to, and was eager to get to her quickly.  Sterben, for his part, wasn't particularly troubled, and walked along side his child in the typical way, keeping a firm grip on one had.  His body wasn't really suited for a lot of physical stuff, but that didn't mean it bothered him necessarily. So, as they entered the library, there was no sign of the recent 'ordeal' in him.  

    Trailing not too far behind Zayne was Creeper. The Mr. Mime had only one thing on his mind currently, and it had nothing to do with their last class.  They were going to see Eloise.  Zayne often went places just with Sterben, but the boy did try to make it a point to bring him along whenever they went looking for Eloise. Indeed, the moment the reclined girl and Goliath were found, the psychic couldn't help but brighten a bit; she was always good to him, and Sterben didn't pointedly get between such things, as he did with Zayne. 

     Creeper was pleased to move forward, offering Goliath a silent greeting by means of dipping his head just a bit, before he sat himself near the chair the girl was in, well in her reach for whenever she might like to give him a pat. Even if she didn't he was pleased to be there.  Zayne held back a moment, eyes falling on Goliath and Eloise to gauge if she wanted some alone time.  It was one thing for Creeper to go right over, but if other students were around, they needed to see that even Zayne was mindful to be respectful to her.

    If he determined that Eloise was in the mood for his company, he would take a chair near her, that had somewhere comfortable for Sterben to settle himself nearby as well.  It didn't bother Zayne that Creeper had joined Eloise with little thought of him. Though he never said as much; he liked to see Creeper happy, and he didn't take it personally that Eloise made him feel that way.  After all, he knew well enough that the Mr. Mime was given only the most minimal of opportunities to get close to him. He didn't hear or understand Sterben in some special way, but he knew the Banette well.  One did tend to get to know one's only friend and guardian quite well after so many years, as up until Eloise had 'taken him in', Sterben had been all he had. 

   Most would have offered words most likely, but Zayne tended to be silent. Similarly, he had offered no smile, and only continued to wear a mostly neutral, expression. It wasn't that Zayne didn't like being around Eloise, quite the contrary.  He'd been pleased to follow her, ever since his little... 'run in' with Goliath before he'd understood the way of things.  Maybe it was the unusual way he had responded to being attacked, or she had understood, even that early on, why he behaved the way he did, whatever it was, Eloise had decided she would protect him and look after him.  Her methods weren't always 'kind', but Sterben had always been the same way, so it was hardly a deterrent.
  

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Word Count: 675
Tags: 
Notes: Zayne, Sterben(Banette), Creeper(Mr.Mime) 
        someone may have rambled a bit ^^;

[Ketra Naideen]

Ketra called it. There was not way she understood anything about pokemon internal natures and how that affected their specialized areas. Her co workers had tried to clarify the concept of "natures" with how that related to a pokemon's stamina, but that all went over Ketra's head, which frustrated her because it was something more daycare workers knew. Hell, Ketra didn't even know what Niddy or Kaida's natures were. She knew Kaida definitely wasn't calm. Not when half the time she was running laps around her room chanting something about going outside or seeing the Lucario she had seen the other day. Rash, jolly, and even naughty were things that Ketra might categorize the Riolu as, but not any one of those things. Perhaps Niddy was easier to pin, kinda. Her issue with Niddy was that she hadn't had him for as long as she had had Ketra, so she didn't know him as well. She knew he was brave but also very modest. Like maybe he would puff out his spikes but more to outshow a potential enemy then it was to show off. In fact, he seemed to find it rather annoying that Kaida was so ostentatious.

So how where they in a fight? Curiosity itched Ketra to the library. She picked up Kaida, partly out of affection and partly to make sure the pokemon wasn't too rambunctious. Perhaps it would have been better to put Kaida in her pokeball, but she figured it wasn't good to quell her curiosity. When asked the baby pokemon didn't want to return to her pokeball. Ketra figured it cut her off from the senses in the outside world, which she didn't like. Remember we're going into a library, Kaida. I need you to be quiet. Kaida nodded dutifully. Niddy trotted at Ketra's heels looking around every now and again as any "bodyguard" would. Kaida smirked a bit as she imagined him as a Nidoking. Perhaps Niddy was modest now, but she wondered how that would hold when he rivaled her size. 

The library wasn't that crowded though it wasn't empty either. Ketra could see a few desks she could sit at alone as she looked around. That would be the easier way to do this though: find a book and sit alone at a desk. It was copping out, and Kaida would be more bored then ever. The pale blond trainer set the Riolu down and started looking for books on natures. She grimaced at her dilemma then finally asked, Kaida, where do you want to sit?

The curious wagged her tail at the question and started to eagerly look around. Mom gave her another warning to behave and not wander off, so the young pokemon tried to tamper her expressions of excitement as she looked around. She started searching eagerly for to older Lucario she had seen before, but she saw no sign of him. She did however catch the sight of a Primeape, a Mr. Mime, and a Bannette sitting at a table with their trainers. The sight of them set off the tiniest bit of nervousness in the little Riolu. She didn't know why exactly, but maybe it was some inlaid instinct that triggered at the sight of a Psychic and Ghost type. Psychic which she was weak to, then Ghost which she knew she could not hit (she had a frustrating row with a shuppet back at the previous daycare Ketra had worked at). Mom was too absorbed in book finding to notice but Niddy did, which didn't please Kaida one bit. I want to go over there, she thought to her mother, indicating to the source of her nervousness. Mom looked up at the table of interest then frowned. You sure? she asked the Riolu. The Riolu nodded a stout affirmative.

Niddy refrained from rolling his eyes at his "sister" (something that Ketra had scolded him for doing on more than one occasion). She's just trying to prove she's a not scared or something, he grumbled in Ketra's head. Though if he was honest, part of him wasn't too keen on going near that Mr. Mime. Ketra shrugged and replied, I figured. Though if she's scared that means she's getting some sense right? Besides Mr. Worrywart, it's the library. It's not like these are wild pokemon. If she wants to overcome some nervousness why not. Might be helpful for you too. She smiled. Niddy grumbled a bit at her teasing him and flicked his ears in mild annoyance which made his trainer huff in a sort of voiceless laugh. 

Ketra picked out two books and handed one to Kaida, knowing that while the pokemon couldn't read, she might enjoy the pictures. She put the other book in her bag and pulled out her white board with expo markers. Despite her show of confidence, Kaida seemed to linger behind Ketra a little bit cautiously as the trainer approached the two other students. Niddy of course was in front (definitely a "brave" nature). He puffed out his spikes a bit though he restrained himself after Ketra reminded him to be polite. When she got to the table she smiled and wave at the two. When they noticed her, she wrote on the whiteboard "May I join you?"

[Bradley Mandara]

Bradley poked his head around a shelf, he had been there a while, but had his music in his ears and was absorbed in a book. A text book actually, talking about water type Pokemon. From what he saw though, there were three people. One, a girl, that had an air of her. Commanding, very commanding. She had to be if that Primeape there was hers. Then that boy. Very light of hair with a Banette and Mr.Mime.
Cubone was holding onto his leg and his Skarmory noted that he was moving around, so he got up and walked over to check it out.
There was another girl that walked over to the two people and noted her whiteboard, Nidoran and Riolu. He narrowed his eyes and focused, checking the situation out deeper. His twin sister, Ylva, had told him about the kid with a Banette, but he couldn't judge on his hot-headed sister's words. Just to make sure that the girl with smaller Pokemon would be ok, he began to walk over, politely.

Sabishii made and angry noise and ran over to his master, wanting to be picked up. He made satisfactory noises when he was lifted up and laid his head against his master, gripping his bone, not caring about anything else around him.

Blitzkrieg on the other hand, was very aware of the situation. He looked at all the other Pokemon in the room and only determined two trainers as threats. The naturally violent Pokemon clamped his jaw some and settled to walking next to his master, looking the Primeape over.

Bradley gave one of his gentle smiles to the girl with the whiteboard, nodding to her. He did the same with the girl with the Primeape and another respectful nod to the boy with the Banette. His baggy pants were held up by a belt and his hoodie had a little dirt on it from Sabishii, the Cubone that was clamping onto him even though he was holding him to his hip. His black hair was windblown from were he had been flying on the back of his Blitzkrieg, the Skarmory that still wore a saddle. "Hello there, I was just reading a book around that corner there when I noticed other trainers. Would.. it be to bothersome if I could.. join you guys?" He mainly asked out of a concern for the smaller girl. These two trainers both had very powerful Pokemon, and hopefully if anything were to happen, Bradley could help grab onto and calm down a situation. The boy and his Pokemon awaited approval from the girl, who seemed to be the leader of this group.

[Eloise Rosdale]

Eloise brightened considerably...or rather she brightened considerably for her the moment she saw her pretty Zayne enter the room. It was strange that she should regard him as her closest friend, especially given their rather rocky start. It was amazing what conflict could bring about sometimes. 

The right corner of her painted lips tilted up - lipstick red as the candy-apple polish on her nails - and she nodded to the blond. It was a necessary gesture, she knew, as he had been taught better than to assume she'd want company. Even his own. Of course, little did the much smaller boy know that Eloise would never turn him away. He was special to her, possibly the first person she genuinely cared about, and because of that...well, there was very little she wouldn't do to make sure that he was happy and well taken care of while he was with her. Which was why there was concern over this Ransom boy. 


Rumor had it he was nice. Possibly a bit too nice...so nice that it couldn't be real. So she'd have to gently question Zayne to make sure he wasn't uncomfortable, and make sure that his interest didn't bother him. Because it was clear, to her at least, that Ransom was /very/ interested in her Zayne...and she didn't mind giving him over to someone who would be good for him, but she wanted to make sure that Ransom was it before allowing Zayne to even consider returning such interest. Though, the fact that Ransom had a ghost type did speak in his favor as she knew Zayne would need someone who understood his own particular favored type. 

She briefly turned back to her book, eyeing the page she'd been on absently before deciding to just push the thing aside - and then returned her attention to Zayne, watching as he sat and reaching out to offer a Sterben hand a squeeze before glancing down at Creeper. A frown briefly drew her brows in, the expression subtle and quick before her face was schooled back into that almost icy neutrality that most found there. "You know...you should really think of changing his name. He's too sweet to be named Creeper." Eloise suggested haughtily, eyeing the Mr. Mime before reaching down to pull him up into her lap so she could give him proper cuddles. Most people were put off by the admittedly odd-looking pokemon, but to Eloise...well, there was no pokemon that was unlikeable. And besides, she did genuinely like Creeper. 


But even despite that brief moment where she'd frowned at the poor Mr. Mime, things were looking up. A pleasant afternoon in a library with her Zayne was just what she wanted. Of course, it was too bad that the universe didn't seem to care what /she/ wanted right now...not if those two bungling and unknown students who /dared/ approach her was anything to go by. A cold stare was given to the two strangers, her hazel eyes icy and unblinking before she slowly turned to the Primeape by her side - Goliath already on the alert. "Goliath." She said in quiet, firm tones. 


That single word being spoken was enough to call Goliath to action, the gorilla-sized primeape standing at his full 6'7" of bulky height so he could lumber over to where the two 'intruders' stood. Without worry or care, the rather large pokemon nudged his way in between the two students and the table where /his/ Eloise sat at. He remained standing, his expression as cold and impassive as his trainers as he stared the /people/ down rather than bothering to pay mind to what pokemon they may have with them. After all, other pokemon didn't bother Eloise, but unknown and therefore unliked people did.

"No, you may not." Eloise said in icily clipped tones, not bothering to be nice in her refusal of extra company. She had quite the reputation as school-wide bitch, and it was a reputation she was quite fond of as it kept those she wanted away from her at bay. She would not let up just because some little girl used a notepad or some boy asked in such polite tones. They had nothing that she wanted, and therefore were useless to her. And it was likely clear that once those words were spoken, she fully expected the other two to take the not-so-subtle hint. Especially since as soon as she said them, she turned back to Zayne without so much as a second glance at the other two.

"Get your humans away from here." Goliath grumbled down at the pokemon present. "Eloise doesn't want their company, and I don't want yours." The words came out at almost a growl, though it was soft as he saw no need to shout. His size was usually enough to make his point for him - well, that and his well-trained impassive features. 
 

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Word Count: 828
Tags: Zayne, Ketra, Bradley
Notes: Eloise (is a bitch), Goliath (Primeape)

[Zayne Maddox]

---

    It was nice to have some time with Eloise; things made sense with her and Goliath. It wasn't like with that strange boy that had started hanging around him.  Maybe it was odd, that at that moment he did wonder what Ransom was up to, but he told himself he was just concerned that the other might come popping out of the wood works at any moment. Well, it was definitely time to focus on something else. 
 
    "I don't know any names for him", he offers softly.  He really hadn't put much thought into what Creeper was called, the Mr. Mime had just always had that name.  At least, as far as Zayne knew that was the case.  There wasn't much time to consider the matter further, however, as some girl approached.  Zayne stared at her, hints of suspicion, and displeasure intermingled in his icy response to this strange student.  At least, he thought she was strange, who didn't know better than to bother Eloise? 

    Creeper couldn't have been happier, cuddling up to Eloise as he was welcomed into her lap, the Mr. Mime simply enjoyed being around her. As she brought up the subject of his name, the psychic did wonder if Eloise would have any in mind particularly.  He didn't count on Zayne coming up with anything, but that wasn't saying anything against the boy. It simply was what it was.  Then others came, and he wasn't sure what to think.  He wasn't the antisocial sort, and had nothing against others, per say, but they put Eloise and Zayne on edge. 

     Goliath stepped in as commanded, and so no one really had to worry about this.  Goliath was good for keeping others at bay. Still, even if his child and the psychic were content with that, Sterben was far from pleased.  His red button eyes glowed lightly with his displeasure.  It wasn't just about the pair standing before them.  No, the fact that one of them just so happened to be Asiatic, and had characteristics that reminded a certain ghost type of a boy that was causing all sorts of trouble for him, didn't help matters.

   Standing up in his chair, the little possessed plushie wanted something, anything to use to hurt that boy who looked close enough to the one that was frustrating him to unload some of his aggression on.

    "~Yes, get your stupid trainer away from my child, before I decide to come into his room while he's sleeping and use his eyes for new pin cushions~", hisses the ghost type, much to the surprise of Creeper, who just, blinked at his teammate in surprise at how aggressive the other was being. Zayne also could feel the energies pouring off the ghost type, really plenty of people would be able to feel it, without any particular sort of gift. 

    ".... Maybe... we should just let Goliath handle it", suggested the Mr. Mime softly, cuddling a bit closer to Eloise.  

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Word Count: 501
Tags: N/A
Notes: Zayne, Sterben(Banette), Creeper(Mr. Mime)