[Gabe Alim]

For being shades of black and grey, Ruby the Growlithe’s eyes shined so brightly. Gabe had first noticed when she had hatched from her egg. He’d never seen her parents and would never be able to tell for sure if it had just been a familial trait or something more specifically hers, but it hardly mattered either way. She was such a pretty Pokemon. And now she was looking Gabe in the eyes, tail wagging, her front crouched as she waited for him to do it, to throw the ball as hard and as fast as he could so that she could spring up and dart after it full gusto.

Gabe, however, wasn’t matching Ruby’s gaze exclusively. He’d pull away to look up and down the indoor training center he’d come to to assess one end and then the next. There were quite a few people there in to escape the cold, and it meant he had to be careful when it came to throwing things any which way. They’d clearly have to go forward if they wanted to avoid anyone, but there was someone way down the line training a—

“BOOF!” Ruby barked, impatiently, and Gabe jolted out of his thoughts again. He looked down at her startled and frazzled before understanding her impatient and sighing in response.

Maybe I should start with discipline training…. he wondered. She was a relatively new Pokemon, and while she had picked up basic discipline, it wasn’t exactly enough in this case. “Sit….” Gabe commanded. The Growlithe immediately sat back on her haunches and raised both forearms in the air.

Oh no, that cute little puppy face. Gabe could have melted had he not had enough resolve.

Taking in a breath, he rolled the ball he had in his hand and turned. “Ready… set… go!” he called tossing the ball as hard and fast as he could. The Growlithe immediately took off running after it. In an orange blur she’d snatched it from the air and came back with it bounding happily.

Dropping it at Gabe’s feet, Ruby stared up at him again, waiting. Gabe snorted, bent down, and tossed it again, hard, fast, assured. Again, Ruby went bounding out towards the ball, snatching it up from the ground this time before bouncing back. Gabe took it, threw it, and found it returned again quickly. Take it, throw it, bend down to take it again. They played for quite a while just like that.

Gabe would be the one to grow tired of throwing the ball first. Once more Ruby brought it back to him, and this time he frowned at it as he took it from her. His arm had raised, ready to throw it again, only to lower as he found his shoulder aching slightly from the repeated motion. Rubbing it with his thumb, though, he raised and threw the ball again not willing to stop until Ruby stopped. She’d set the bar, inadvertently or not, and he’d keep throwing it till she tired.

Which was basically never as an hour had passed by in the blink of an eye, and she was still coming back with the ball in her mouth ready for him to throw it again. After a little frustration, Gabe switched arms and started throwing from that one instead— which Ruby found strange as it didn’t go near as far and therefore wasn’t near as fun as anything she’d experienced! But! was still good since he was still throw it! They kept that up for another hour before finally Gabe had to stop and leaned over his knees. “Sorry, pup, I’m going to have to take a break…” he smiled looking back up at her. Ruby just licked his face affectionately at that. He’d still played for a long time! Maybe they should invite someone else to play too, though!

Words: 660
+1 Stamina plz, <250 words of throwing the ball for Growlithe.

[Gabe Alim]

Gabe fished through his Pokeballs debating who to have Ruby play with. Finally enlarging Harriet’s, Gabe tossed it upwards and allowed her to come forth. The Alakazam stretched and hummed a little low and thoughtfully. ‘Hmmm where are we, Gabe?’ She Teleported immediately as Ruby lunged towards her happily causing the Growlithe to hit the ground and immediately whine after.

“They’re called the Birch City training grounds,” Gabe answered aloud. “People come to the specialized facilities to raise and train Pokemon.”

‘I see….’ The Alakazam hummed and then looked down to the Growlithe then in understanding. ‘So you are training this little one then…’ She remembered when Ruby’s egg had hatched and how Gabe’s eyes had lit up with a fire unlike any other. It had been… really very sweet, honestly, and endeared the Alakazam more to her human every day. He had so many sides to himself and reflected all the complexities of humanity in that alone. It was very nice.

Another thought came to her, and Harriet looked inquisitively at Gabe after. ‘Are you expecting me to train as well then, since I’m here?’ she asked. Gabe paused and shrugged his shoulders right after. The Alakazam raised her nonexistent eyebrows a little higher.

“Actually I was hoping you would play with Ruby for a while… my arms are killing me, but she still wants to play fetch…” Gabe admitted with a small forced laugh. A curious expression came to the Alakazam’s features again, and she leaned her head from one way to the next and hummed a little more at that. “What?” Gabe frowned knowing that look of hers a bit too well now.

‘Why not use this time to practice your telekinesis then?’ Harriet asked. ‘It can be just as useful as your arms or shoulders… have you been practicing like I asked you to?’ She squinted and already knew the answer.

Some color drew to Gabe’s features, and his eyes immediately averted. “I’ve been busy…” he insisted. That was no excuse, but it was also his only excuse right then. Harriet frowned in response. Gabe sighed. He was the one who wanted to get better. He was the one who had wanted to take charge of these powers. No one else but him.

Harriet sighed. ‘Take some time to practice now, then… ‘ She encouraged.

“We’re in public…” Gabe muttered in response. Harriet blinked and looked around again.

Well, she supposed so, but this was hardly a crowd of people or anything as far as she was concerned. ‘So?’ Gabe made a low, frustrated noise in response, and Harriet rolled her eyes again. ‘You can fake throwing it with your arm and use your mind more to extent the throw if you’re so embarrassed about your own powers….’ she reminded him. Gabe winced at that. He wasn’t… he wasn’t embarrassed. He saw them as tools that others didn’t have and shouldn’t know about. They were weapons in an arsenal he could spring to if he ever needed it and— ‘You’re making excuses… I already gave you a solution to the problem…’ Harriet cut in.

Ugh…. A slow breath drew in and out of Gabe. Bending down, he pretended to reach for the Growlithe’s ball and then just… waited. ‘Focus… draw invisible arms up around the ball…’

“I know what I’m doing—“ Gabe growled and immediately regretted it. Yellow eyes flickered sideways to Harriet, and sure enough, she was frowning at him. Gabe frowned back. Harriet shook her head deciding it was better not to say anything in this case and let him figure it out instead. Meanwhile, Ruby remained rather perfectly unaware of the tension and just waited to see what was going to happen!

Another slow breath drew into Gabe. He just needed to focus, reach out, and grab it. It had been so much easier before he had these instructions, or so he told himself. Whatever, whatever. He’d get this.

The ball wriggled again, and Ruby immediately turned to watch it. Slowly but surely, it raised upwards to Gabe’s hand. The Growlithe yipped in excitement and started bouncing from side to side. He was going to throw it again? Which way was it going? Where did she need to be. Gabe eased up and started looking around slowly. Where was the best angle to make it look like he was throwing it? Did he just actually throw it and then use his power to extend the reach or…. No his arm was far too sore for that. He needed to fake it and then just throw it with his mind.

‘Don’t stress…’ Harriet reminded him. Gabe side-eyed her, and she fell silent again for now. Gabe glanced forward, took in a breath, and then ‘threw’ the ball. In his mind, the invisible hands reached outwards, grasped the ball, and tossed t. Suddenly the ball was flying, and the Growlithe took off after it at top speeds! Ball, ball, ball, ball! She’d snatch the ball!

Gabe sighed and smiled. A low hum from Harriet would assure him she was pleased, and despite himself, Gabe was pleased as well. He smirked softly but could not afford to be complacent— Ruby was coming back, ball in mouth, and expecting him to throw it again. Reaching for that power in the back of his mind, Gabe raised it up from the ground again subtly, pulled it back into his hand, and fake-threw it. Again. Again. Up and again. It was becoming easier now and requiring a lot less focus. It was actually kind of fun, even!

‘You should do this more often… it’ll work your mental muscles all the more if you practice….’ Gabe side-eyed Harriet, and she only smirked back this time. Gabe glanced forward and shrugged his shoulders slowly now. He guessed this was as good as any…. The pressure was there to be subtle, so it was a kind of practice too…. Ugh, he sometimes hated when she was right.

Ruby came back with the ball and dropped it at Gabe’s feet again looking up expectantly. Again.

1033 + 660 = 1693.

[Gabe Alim]

After a while, Ruby flopped over panting loudly. She’d finally burnt up all her energy and decided to take the moment to rest and recoup. Gabe snorted watching her flop onto the ground and pant. Harriet laughed softly shaking her head in the same beat. What a silly small child burning herself out like that. Ah, she remembered those days, though. Her eyes flickered over to Gabe. ‘So did you come here just to play with the puppy today?’ she asked.

Gabe glanced back and shook his head. “I have a few others I wanted to work on training with as well,” he admitted. “Crimson, Nails, and Fang need obedience training too…” As well as Ruby, but it was rapidly becoming clear that she could weasel her way around by being super cute. He’d have to break that habit before it got too much to bear. Harriet chuckled to herself, and Gabe frowned upon realizing she was probably reading his thoughts on the matter. “It’s been snowing entirely too much outside to train them….” he commented.

‘Caring for younglings, you intrinsically know what they need and seek to provide it, whether it be training or indoor facilities to keep them from freezing…’ Harriet mused with a small playful tone.

Gabe snorted “I just don’t want to be out in the cold,” he answered shifting a little in his seated position to bring his legs up and wrap his arms around them. “We’re nearing the peek of winter….” A sigh escaped from him at that.

Harriet stared for a moment before looking forward to the sleeping Growlithe. Ah…. She was aware there was more to this than that, but pushing into his mind for answers as rude. Instead, she awkwardly went around that. ‘If I recall correctly, you mentioned that you and Lizbeth left on our journey during the winter….’ she mused briefly. ‘That must have been very difficult for the both of you….’ Most trainers left in the spring or summer or even I n the fall not the dead of winter.

Gabe forced a dry, almost pained snort. “It was….” he answered. “I’ve never been a fan of the cold, though.”

‘Ah…. Hm…’ Harriet fell silent not sure how to continue. Instead, they sat in silence for a while.

Words: 387 + 1693 = 2080.

[whimsae]

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Gabe Alim

Your thread has been locked. Because it was 2080 words, you receive 8 levels, 80 pen, 1 Lum Berry, 1 Green Apricorn, 1 White Apricorn, 1 Burn Heal, 1 Dusk Ball, 1 Premeir Ball and 2 rare candies.