[the cowardly lion]

[[lyrasen]]

ronan stonepaw
i could say sorry
in a thousand ways

Hands stuffed in his pockets, gray hair tousled by the biting wind. Every step seemed to drag on, every minute taking too long. Every movement felt forced. He desperately wanted to flee, to never face up to his doubts and fears, but at the same time he knew he had to. Every nerve of his body seemed to scream 'turn back!', but he numbly plodded on. It was all in his head anyway.

Ronan Stonepaw, age twenty-six. Commonly known as merely Stonepaw for his silent nature that resembled a stone. He was used to running from his problems, running his whole life. He ran from pain, guilt, fear, doubt, and that little nagging voice inside his head. I don't want to do this... he thought. But it's... for... the best. That was what he told himself. It was really only selfishness that drove him on, the need for companionship. But he was terrified that he'd run from his new partner, like he'd ran from his loved ones.

"This is silly." He said out loud, breaking the silence with his soft voice. "You're silly, Stoney." He winced. It reminded him of what a little kid back at home used to call him. That kid had been the only person to use that nickname for him affectionately. Coward, that voice spat. Damnit, just knock on the door. He looked up.

When did I reach the door? He wondered. His hand, disobeying him, reached up and sharply rapped three times. Silence. Wh-what do I say? On the inside he was panicking, though he managed to remain calm on the outside. I-I need to get out of here! His limbs locked, refusing to let him run. The voice laughed at him.

[Professor Palm]

Asuka laid back in her chair, awful relaxed for the environment she lived in. The lab smelt like rotten eggs and cheese decaying bodies and everything. It was just.. gross. But she stood it, in fact, she loved the smell. As she sat, legs on the table, and Skuntank sitting beside her as she slowly petted it's graceful head. She sighed. It'd been a slow year, not very many people had came in. Why was no one interested in becoming a trainer these days? Oh well. She wondered where her kids were...

knock knock knock

Asuka raised a brow, as did Mafia, the Skuntank. Putting her feet onto the floor she gracefully rose, slowly walking toward the door. As she reached her hand out to touch the cold, golden handle, she slowly opened the door and looked at the young man in front of her. "..Yes, hello. I'm Professor Palm, and I'm guessing you're coming for your starter? What is your name?" she wasn't one for formal greetings. Skuntank stared at him, not smiling. Just.. being a cat. If anything he was glaring, but changed his disposition as Asuka touched his head and rubbed it.

Kids these days, they needed more confidence.

[[lyrasen]]

ronan stonepaw
and just when i think i'm invincible
you come and happen to me

The door opened; a stench enveloped him, nearly making him gag. But he held back, opening his mouth ever so slightly so as to breathe through it. There was a woman standing at the door, petting a skuntank. The source of the smell?

"..Yes, hello. I'm Professor Palm, and I'm guessing you're coming for your starter? What is your name?"

"I-I'm Ronan Stonepaw. I... I don't know what starters you have here." He took a deep breath through his mouth, gulping it down. His green eyes wnadered, taking in the state of the lab. Other than the scent, it didn't seem too horrible. Then he moved his eyes towards the woman's face; somebody really loved Skuntank. He refused to hold that against her, though. "Nice Skuntank." His voice went back to its normal tone, soft and sweet.

Inside he'd calmed down quite a bit, not so nervous anymore. Okay, Stonepaw. You can do this. In fact, he was happy now; very happy. He hadn't had much interaction with pokemon over his short life, and most of it had been fighting for scraps of food. Once or twice he'd seen a few trainers go past, but they'd avoided his little town. It was a good thing they did, because lots of thugs used their pokemon to steal things.

He moved a hand up to smooth his ruffled hair. There. What were you worried about? Inside his mind he laughed at his foolishness. "May I come in?" He offered a half-smile; whole smiles were hard to manage these days. But at least he'd tried.