After Lorna's revelation -- Erik would not begrudge her the story, he had given his consent after all-- Hank and Charles had switched back to observe Eevee. They 'spoke' to other Pokémon in the vicinity too, including Charles' sister's Sneasel at the stadium. Quickly enough, the session was over.
They left Hank in the Lab to sort out the new data while Charles lead Erik towards the building's patio. It hadn't been too long a walk.
"Ta-da?" said Charles as both stepped outside the Poké Lab's premises, his arms outstretched, showing off the open area. Erik raised an eyebrow. The place was good, ideal even. There was a large clear patch of hard soil at the center, scarce thin grass here and there that only dared to thicken nearing the border. Further away, behind a steel mesh, berry shrubs and fruit trees could be seen growing well. They were nicely cared for, the Lab's garden, perhaps, and behind them was a dome that Erik suspected was an actual Green House.
When Erik looked back at Charles, the boy was deliberately staring away, hands clasped at his back, slowly rocking back and fort on his heels. Erik smirked.
"So. How should I kick your ass today, Charles?" he teased. Charles turned sharply to him, an indignant frown on his face.
"If by ass kicking you mean utter defeat at my hands, then, by any means my friend, I shall grant you the first step of our dance," Charles said haughtily, then grinned wide and bright.
They began the training.
Wobbuffet had been a little tired after Hank's machine's demonstration --Erik still felt grudgingly amazed by the fact that the awkward boy had built it all by himself-- so Charles had relied on Eevee for the most of their battling, Wobbuffet intervening only when he'd recovered some.
It was frustrating to Erik, just as it had been in their first encounter, the way Charles kept so carefully on the defensive. His strategy was reactive on the whole, his attacks lacked aggressiveness, their intent was more focused on subduing by pressure than hasty incapacitation. It grated on Erik's nerves.
"Stop holding back!" he shouted to Charles when he couldn't stand it anymore. "Fight like you really mean it! Dammit!"
"W-What?" Charles spluttered startled, his Eevee skipped a step in surprise and tripped down, Wanda zapped him. The battle was over.
Charles had been, admittedly, too absorbed in Erik's body movements--in a totally professional way, honestly; he was trying to understand him in relation to his Pokémon and their battle synchronization-- so he was quite taken aback by his abrupt outburst. Because, well, Charles wasn't holding back.
As a trainer, Erik was quite fascinating. His strategies were mostly power-based, lacking some finesse, and his pokémon responded well to his every command and yet, and yet, they weren't performing to their fullest. They had a deep connection, that much was obvious, yes, but their bond was left wanting at the end of the day. Charles had yet to pinpoint why. He had hoped that their training together would have provided some insight into the issue so, once fixed, Erik would defeat Cain.
But then, Erik thought Charles was holding back.
Holding back.
"I'm not holding back!"
"Yes you are," huffed Erik. "You are not trying to win at all, your moves are all defensive and when you finally decide to attack, you are too soft. Your Pokémon are completely repressing themselves for your sake, they feel your hesitance and act accordingly."
Charles opened his mouth to respond something, anything, but the truth was he didn't know what to say. Erik wasn't finished, though.
"And that Eevee," Erik pointed to Charles' Eevee and the little Pokémon's ears perked in attention. "Is well past his time to evolve."
"Eevee's not ready!"
"You mean you are not ready."
It wasn't that at all! Why rush it? Rushing only ever lead to bad decisions in Charles experience --Exhibit A: One Sharon Xavier's marriage to one Kurt Marko. Also, the sudden rush of power could be detrimental to Eevee's psyche if not carefully handled. Charles sighed. Yes, Erik was right on one account, he just grudgingly realized, Charles didn't feel ready to evolve Eevee.
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timeasmymeasure
FILL: "The Very Best" - 02 A Legendary Game! 2a/?
Date: 2012-03-17 03:53 am (UTC)They left Hank in the Lab to sort out the new data while Charles lead Erik towards the building's patio. It hadn't been too long a walk.
"Ta-da?" said Charles as both stepped outside the Poké Lab's premises, his arms outstretched, showing off the open area. Erik raised an eyebrow. The place was good, ideal even. There was a large clear patch of hard soil at the center, scarce thin grass here and there that only dared to thicken nearing the border. Further away, behind a steel mesh, berry shrubs and fruit trees could be seen growing well. They were nicely cared for, the Lab's garden, perhaps, and behind them was a dome that Erik suspected was an actual Green House.
When Erik looked back at Charles, the boy was deliberately staring away, hands clasped at his back, slowly rocking back and fort on his heels. Erik smirked.
"So. How should I kick your ass today, Charles?" he teased. Charles turned sharply to him, an indignant frown on his face.
"If by ass kicking you mean utter defeat at my hands, then, by any means my friend, I shall grant you the first step of our dance," Charles said haughtily, then grinned wide and bright.
They began the training.
Wobbuffet had been a little tired after Hank's machine's demonstration --Erik still felt grudgingly amazed by the fact that the awkward boy had built it all by himself-- so Charles had relied on Eevee for the most of their battling, Wobbuffet intervening only when he'd recovered some.
It was frustrating to Erik, just as it had been in their first encounter, the way Charles kept so carefully on the defensive. His strategy was reactive on the whole, his attacks lacked aggressiveness, their intent was more focused on subduing by pressure than hasty incapacitation. It grated on Erik's nerves.
"Stop holding back!" he shouted to Charles when he couldn't stand it anymore. "Fight like you really mean it! Dammit!"
"W-What?" Charles spluttered startled, his Eevee skipped a step in surprise and tripped down, Wanda zapped him. The battle was over.
Charles had been, admittedly, too absorbed in Erik's body movements--in a totally professional way, honestly; he was trying to understand him in relation to his Pokémon and their battle synchronization-- so he was quite taken aback by his abrupt outburst. Because, well, Charles wasn't holding back.
As a trainer, Erik was quite fascinating. His strategies were mostly power-based, lacking some finesse, and his pokémon responded well to his every command and yet, and yet, they weren't performing to their fullest. They had a deep connection, that much was obvious, yes, but their bond was left wanting at the end of the day. Charles had yet to pinpoint why. He had hoped that their training together would have provided some insight into the issue so, once fixed, Erik would defeat Cain.
But then, Erik thought Charles was holding back.
Holding back.
"I'm not holding back!"
"Yes you are," huffed Erik. "You are not trying to win at all, your moves are all defensive and when you finally decide to attack, you are too soft. Your Pokémon are completely repressing themselves for your sake, they feel your hesitance and act accordingly."
Charles opened his mouth to respond something, anything, but the truth was he didn't know what to say. Erik wasn't finished, though.
"And that Eevee," Erik pointed to Charles' Eevee and the little Pokémon's ears perked in attention. "Is well past his time to evolve."
"Eevee's not ready!"
"You mean you are not ready."
It wasn't that at all! Why rush it? Rushing only ever lead to bad decisions in Charles experience --Exhibit A: One Sharon Xavier's marriage to one Kurt Marko. Also, the sudden rush of power could be detrimental to Eevee's psyche if not carefully handled. Charles sighed. Yes, Erik was right on one account, he just grudgingly realized, Charles didn't feel ready to evolve Eevee.