Cerulean's so interesting, Wesley's able to completely ignore it. It's not like he hasn't wandered around it before, looking vainly for that stinkin' Pokecenter, which seems to change locations everytime he visits...! Yes, well, anyway, Wesley continues with the battle as Rainstar gets his with the Swift attack. "Try Recover," the boy orders, and the creature does..only to have it's concentration broken when Shocksphere lets out a Screech. <Are they better yet?> asks the Drowzee, looking bored. <Takes a while, pal> replies Fistfight. Wesley just stands, commandingly, and watches.

"Maybe we should try south again?" Melissa asks her Nidoran, quietly looking down at him. The little purple Pokemon just looks behind himself, and shake shake shakes his head. <And get attacked by another wild Pokemon? I've lucky to have escaped alive!> Melissa understood one, maybe two words. He mentioned something about Pokemon or something, and she can draw a conclusion from this. "You're scared to go back? You don't want to get attacked again?"

Fortunately or not, these two seem to be fated to meet. And what to Fistfight's wandering eyes should appear...but jolly old Melissa soon would be there. She spots Melissa and gives a "chop!" of greeting, simultaneously waving her hand, causing her Trainer to peer in Melissa's general direction, and the battle to stop. Wesley just blinks, being so rudely interrupted from some serious training, which he needs to be doing in order to win Badges!

Who needs badges when you can read books? Melissa's philosophy. The girl glances around, though looking too far at the ground to notice Wesley, wishing there was a boulder around to sit upon. "Maybe we should ask for directions?" Puff, however, shakes his head. <No way! We can do without 'em.> Typical male. <Let's ride the bus!> Melissa is fresh out of ideas - she can't understand Puff's own rather nice idea. "Maybe we should forget about the festival." She says quietly. Puff just sighs. "Nidoraaan. Nido."

Wesley just looks rather curious as Melissa seems to fail to notice the rather obvious fact that there happens to be another human presence in the general vicinity. Oh, dearie me, how awful that he should be forced to ignore Melissa and continue on with his Training! Well, you have to make sacrifices to Train the best Team in...Trainerdom! Giving a slight shrug, Wesley goes back to his work. "Shocksphere, try a--" "--maaaaachoop! Chop chop ma! Mamachop maaa!" says Fistfight, running over to Melissa, waving at her, and generally making a big spectacle of herself. Translation: <Heeere! Over here lady! Say hello to uuuus!> This also succeeds in interrupting Wesley's train of thought, rendering him unable to start another battle.

Still not noticing Wesley, Melissa merely peers down at the little Machop. "Hello!" She instantly greets Fistfight. Wow! A wild Pokemon! She could use a Machop, then she and Wesley could have a little more in common. They could read a book on Machops... together! That would be fun. Puff just whimpers, cowering behind his trainer's ankles. <Don't hurt us!> "What's a Machop doing around here, anyway?" Melissa blinks, suddenly recalling the limited knowledge she knows about this region. Machop isn't a common wild here... is it?

A Katerwaul slinks closer, bright eyes all ablaze ... so whisper a prayer and start that save! (Saving)

<I'm with my Trainer...over there, see?> Fistfight says, helpfully pointing to where Wesley stands, looking rather perplexed, while Rainstar and Shocksphere look happy to get a break, and ThoughtThief the Drowzee looks amused. Why oh why does Fistfight want to talk to Melissa?, is what Wesley is thinking. It's not that he doesn't like the human girl (and, no, not 'that' kind of 'like') he just doesn't understand why Fistfight sees the need to interrupt his Training. Scheduals and routine, dangit! That's what Training is!! <And I won't hurt you..say, can yer Trainer understand you?> she asks of Puff.

The girl blinks down at the Machop. "I... I'm sorry, I can't understand you... girl." Yeah, she can at least realize it's a female Machop! "Who are you ges... oh." And Melissa looks up. It's Wesley! Wesley! Say it, Melissa! "W... W...Wesley!" Melissa tries to shout, but it comes more out in a squeak. Fistfight would be lucky to even hear her, and Wesley, almost definitely not. <Understand me?> The Nidoran replies. <Nuh uh.> He shakes his head, though stays behind his human for protection.

How /do/ people realize Fistfight is feminine? Wesley (and his player) sure as heck can't figure that out. I mean, other than the fact she looks old, she doesn't look..different, from a guy of her species. Well, Machop genders aside, Wesley eventually shakes his head, recalling both Shocksphere and Rainstar. The Drowzee stays. Now comes a slight pause as Wesley feels uneasy, but can't quite remember why. Something about Melissa being strange..oh, oh, wait, he remembers it now! He shoves his hands in his pockets, looking awkward and hesitant, as if he's just waiting to flip out again. Fistfight has no time to placate Puff, she simply sighs. <Pity. Was hoping you could tell her to ask Wesley to the Friendship Festival tomorrow.>

Puff seems more interested in the fact that the Friendship Festival exists. <Friendship Festival?!> His ears perk, and he pops out from behind Melissa. <Where is it? We're lost! We're tired! We don't know where it is!> Yes, they're lost, right outside of a rather large city where they could ask for directions. Right. <Melissa was inviting *me*, though, so I don't think that's an option.> Or so he thinks. Melissa never said that, Puff just assumed it. Melissa adjusts her glasses, and tries her luck again. "Wesley!" Well, a little bit louder... stress on 'little bit'.

Gee, Melissa seems to be moving her lips a bit, and she seems to be looking in his direction. Might she just be speaking to him? Well, he doesn't hear anything. Hmm..she might be calling out how she hates him, or how she never wants to see him again! From her last little outburst, anything seems possible! Who knows how their minds work. <Only way t'find out what she wants is to move, Trainer,> ThoughtThief says, with a sneer, pushing his Trainer forward. Wesley stumbles, but eventually begins to walk over to Melissa, with all the timidity and wariness of a mouse facing a cat. Meanwhile, Fistfight blinks at Puff, then nods, pretending to take that all in. <Of course she is, but I believe you can invite more than one person...heck, I'll even invite you..uh, l'il guy!> Something about names...they're just so hard for senile old Pokemon to remember!

Melissa would look cute in a cat costume. Wesley would look adorable in a mouth costume. Can you picture it? Right. As ThoughtThief urges Wesley towards Melissa, the teenager just blinks, stiffling a giggle. Okay, she shouldn't laugh, but he looks *funny* being pushed like that! Anyway, now with Puff. <You can invite more than one person? You'll invite *me*? But what about Melissa? I don't want her to go alone...> Huh? Wesley, who?

Wesley walks towards Melissa, finally getting within four meters of her (just to give her her personal space, y'know!) He looks up at Melissa as she seems to..stifle..something. He looks at her in perplexity, but eventually it penetrates his brain that he might want to..say..or do..something. He raises his hand, as if in a wave, decides against it, and, after some deliberation, winds up running his hand through his (somewhat shaggy) blonde hair. Fistfight smiles brightly at Puff. <Well...how about, my Trainer and your Trainer will go together, and that way we can go together, Nido? Don't that make sense?> <Don't expect too much of the rodent,> mutter ThoughtThief as he joins the conversation.

"Um. Hey." Melissa smiles nervously, waving one arm a bit to enunciate her greeting. "Didn't really... expect you to find... I mean, expect to find you here." Error number 1. "Are you lost too? We kinda troubled so... tr... ra... ran into some trouble a little south of here." Error number 2. "So we don't know if that's the way to Saffron." Puff, meanwhile, is wholeheartedly agreeing with Fistfight and ignoring ThoughtTheif. <Sure! Let's do that!> Puff nods, and nods, and nods. Silly little bunny.

Fistfight smiles, her evil plans to take over the world..or, just to ensure her Trainer's friendship with this girl, coming to fruition! <That's great! Dang, but yer a kind one!> she oos and ahhs over Puff, just to show him how much she appreciates this. ThoughtThief chuckles, and mutters something about 'yokels getting along well'. Wesley, meanwhile, blinks. "Saffron is south of here," he eventually says, still looking perplexed. "I don't see why you want to go, anyways. All they have there is the Friendship Festival. Father says it's where all the crap-peddlars try to con you out of your money," he adds, with a nonchalant shrug.

The sky is cloudy grey, and nothing casts a shadow. The southwest wind is mild.

Puff smiles broadly. <I know!> He mumbles none-too-modestly, adding a little pose for visuals. Maybe, if he were a bit bigger, tougher, and more aggresive, he'd have a right to pose when he's called great. Anyway. "Friendship Festival's the reason." Melissa says like it's Mardi-Gras or something. Wesley's little pessimistic comment kind of causes Melissa to blush a bit - especially at the sort-of-naughty word - but she doesn't say anything about it. "I'm... going anyway."

Wesley looks over at her as she blushes, wondering if he should say something..nice. Like, 'good luck', or something? Well, eventually he says; "That's good..." in a sort of I-don't-really-care-but-I-don't-want-to-be-mean kind of way. Fistfight chuckles. <So, whatever your Trainer says or whoever she goes with, we'll be ready to meet up and say 'hi' and be all friendly to each other!> <Maybe you can fall in love and have babies and--> <--Kill you!> Fistfight says, testily interrupting ThoughtThief's sneered comments.

Puff just kind of looks, his smile fading into a look of pure confusion. <Hey!> He yelps, looking at ThoughtThief. <We're not in love! We're just going to a festival!> The purple Pokemon peers up at Melissa. <Right?> Melissa ignores him, but for a reason. Ow. She feels hurt. Wesley seems to have absolutely no interest at all. "Well... I... um... I guess I'll be heading there now." She says quietly, turning so that Wesley in on her side. "I've... got... to... get a head start." She's lying, and it's kind of obvious.

Wesley looks mostly confused, but in a guilty sort of way. He did..something wrong..didn't he, but, if he did, what? "Oh..okay..that's good, then..see you another time," comes his mutter, as he scuffs his foot against the ground. <Nevermind him!> Fistfight says quickly, glaring daggers at ThoughtThief before turning quickly to Melissa. Don't want her to go away with /too/ many hard feelings. She reaches up to try to grab the teenage woman's hand to stop her from leaving. ThoughtThief chuckles and turns to Puff. <Yeah, of coooouuurse you don't, Nido!>

Yeah, Wesley did something wrong. "Yeah. Maybe back in Pewter. C'mon, Puff, we've got a long way to go." Turning her back on the boy, Melissa is able to take one step before Fistfight clutches onto her arm. Melissa gasps, and turns the upper portion of her body to glance at... the Machop. "Oh. Hey there, girl. What's wrong?" Puff glances to the side, and growls. <I would beat you up, but I've gotta go!> He takes a few steps backwards. <Next time!> And he scampers off towards Melissa... well, the whole four steps.

A Katerwaul slinks closer, bright eyes all ablaze ... so whisper a prayer and start that save! (Saving)

Fistfight isn't quite sure how to say "I'm sorry for my Trainer's stupidity" to a creature that can't understand her. Still, she pats Melissa's arm, and fixes her with a kind, motherly smile. <We'll see you in Saffron tomorrow, girl. Don't be surprised.> With another motherly smile, she lets go of Melissa's arm. "We..we will? but I thought--" Wesley begins, before ThoughThief cuts him off. <Yer an idiot, and yer going with the gal! If she doesn't hate yah for insulting the party she wanted to go to! Damn, if you were any slower you'd be movin' backwards,> ThoughtThief mutters in disgust. Wesley just looks shocked, then abashed, but he can't seem to conjure the words to make an apology. Especially since he still doesn't /quite/ understand what he did.

Without a word, Melissa just gives a half smile to Fistfight, and turns her head forward. Slowly, without looking back, she starts heading away from Cerulean, hoping to be able to find her way to Saffron before nightfall. Puff scrambles after her, asking annoying little questions, like, <Why did you leave him? Are you mad at him? Do you know the way?> The girl ignores them all. She can't understand him, and if she did, she still wouldn't reply.

Wesley just glares back at Fistfight and ThoughtThief in an agony of confusion and uncomprehended guilt. "So...what, am I supposed to..I'm not going to-- I have Training to do! Willow needs to be exercised and..I don't have to listen to you! I'm...I don't have any friends. Or I don't want any, if all they do is keep me away from Training my Pokemon." So there. Harumph. What he says is not loud enough for Melissa to hear as she's retreating, thankfully. Fistfight and ThoughtThief just look at each other and sigh, enemies putting down their arms to face a common foe, for now. They'll be arguing with Wesley long into the night, is their general, mutually-shared thought. And so, both sides begin to prepare their opening arguments.