let the journey begin! [mod]

[EnigMa]

Caleb took a deep breath as he came upon the laboratory of which he'd receive his first Pokemon. Of course his family back in Johto had Pokemon of their own, but he had never bothered to leave the comfort and stability of Ecruteak City. Sure he had always wanted to go out and journey with friends. But it had always been, 'I swear, tomorrow, I'm going to just go for it!' And when the sun rose it was just another day. No drive, no determination. But when he had come across a letter that was mysteriously sent to him, he knew it was a calling.

It had been 18 days in total; 3 to get through to Kanto, (with a family friend.) and a little more than 2 weeks by boat to get to the region. (He was accompanied by the same family friend on this journey.) Once he was sure about his goal, he told his guide that he could go home, and not to worry. And soon enough, he ended up at this lab.

He gently pushed open the lab door and took a step inside. The air inside was relatively similar in terms of the air outside in terms of temperature. He gazed at the numerous gizmos and books that lay while subconsciously searching for any kind of life within the lab. "Excuse me? Is anyone here?"

[JENNI *]

"Hold on!" Called the Professor. He was busy trying to get the Eggs away from the snorting Tauros; she had recently left behind her own eggs and Lief had them stored safely in an incubator to help them grow. He really should start giving them to trainers... Snatching the last egg from the clutch, he took the two eggs and ran inside, smiling quickly at the young man before darting into another room. A whirring sound and then a lock; Lief stepped out without the eggs and faced the young man, hands shoved in his pockets.

"Hallo!" He boomed, walking towards Caleb. He didn't have any goodies to give away today - only Pokemon and a starter kit. Hopefully the young man wouldn't mind leaving without a snack. "I'm Professor Lief... how can I help you?"

[EnigMa]

Caleb let out no response to the man's words. Whatever he was doing, it was probably extremely important. After all, he was a professor/scientist. He silently observed the man as he zipped from one room to another, and even offered up a smile to be polite. After the lock was heard and the man stepped out, Caleb was slightly taken aback but the enthusiastic greeting. But then again, being as though this man gave everybody Pokemon, he would have to be at least somewhat charismatic.

"Hello Professor Lief. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Caleb Cole. Aspiring trainer." He nodded at the seemingly friendly man and continued with, "I was actually looking to obtain my first Pokemon. And whatever supplies you could offer would be helpful. If not that's quite alright too!" He didn't want to offend the man if he didn't have any spare supplies, but Caleb's intuition told him that was not the case.

[JENNI *]

"I shoulda guessed, considering you're here, aren't cha?" Lief had been having a pretty swell day, not unless you count egg counting fun. He paused at the kid, and then smiled once more. "Can I interest you in something to drink? Water or Soda is all I can offer, I'm afraid." Lief chuckled, taking his hands out of his pockets to point to the small, sort of random sitting area with a rather large table. "Or should we get straight to the good stuff... your starter?"

Lief knew that some of the male trainers - which weren't many, oddly - seemed to be headbent on getting their Pokemon and getting out of there as fast as possible. Lief hoped this young man wasn't too much like the others.

[EnigMa]

Caleb nodded his head sheepishly at the man's comment as to why he was obviously here. Caleb wasn't too swell at identifying humor. "Actually, a water bottle sounds perfect right about now. It's very humid outside." He also wasn't a big fan of gross weather. Anything above 90, or when the humidity touches 80 or above is gross to him. His eyes danced around the lab once more. "This is quite the workplace." Caleb had always favored scientists and their work. And the fact that this one was personable made it much better.

As Caleb strolled over to obtain the water from the professor. "I've always been a little nervous about starting my journey. And I've always told myself that this part..this part right here was going to be the most nerve wracking part of the entire adventure. So far, I feel like I'm right. Then again, my trip has barely begun to unfold." Caleb's fingertips tingled as he thought of the possible options for starters. 'Swablu?...Ditto?...Machop?...Bulbasaur?..hmm.' It was there that he averted his attention back to the scientist who stood before him, in order to hear what he had to say.

[JENNI *]

The Professor motioned for Caleb to sit. "Take as many as you like! This weather seems to turn on a dime, though." He stretched then, before smiling kindly at the young man. At the comment about his working space, he puffed his chest a little much like a proud father would of his son. "Thanks! It took some time to build and more than enough time to discuss with the proper people, but it's been built and I now call it home." Lief had spent most of his post-university years talking designs and things of that extent to the board of Professors. He was going to take over Elm's lab in New Bark Town, but instead they found him this quaint little place.

Shaking his head, he returned to the present. At the mention of the nervous part, Lief chuckled. "It's fine, son. This may be difficult right now, but once you beat this, everything else is smooth sailin' from here!" He stuck his hands in his pockets, before a look of realization popped onto his features quite comically. "Right! One second, I might as well get this train rollin'!" He ran off into the back, and spent a few minutes there, before returning with an arm full of Pokeballs and a small generic starter kit.

[EnigMa]

Caleb's eyes widened as the professor brought out eight Pokeballs and eight pictures. He caressed each Pokeball, almost as if he was trying to get a read on the Pokemon inside. But he knew he wouldn't truly know until he met it. Letting out a small puff of air, he began to weigh his options. 'Alright let's see..Cyndaquil would be an interesting choice. But I feel like Ralts would match my personality very well. However Bagon would be power personified once he grew up..'

After pondering a few moments, Caleb placed his left hand on the Ralts Pokeball, and his right on the Bagon. "I would like..." He took one last moment to think before clutching the Pokeball in his right hand and raising it. "This one Professor Lief, sir." Bagon and his evolutions were considered the Dratini equivalents in Hoenn. Surely, they matched in sheer strength. Caleb just hoped that his new friend would enjoy being around him as much as Caleb would around it. The butterflies in Caleb's stomach finally let up; he had just took the first step on the road to becoming a Pokemon master.

He averted his attention once more to the professor who stood before him and waited attentively.

[JENNI *]

"I see! He's all yours, take care of 'im!" Lief smiled and scooped the rest of the Pokeballs away. In the place of the now taken Pokeballs, he put the starter pack there, and stepped away, allowing the new trainer to take on his new Pokemon. "Just remember he's a powerful one, that one is. You gotta map in that pack there, follow the route outta here and it'll take ya to Vida." Lief mentioned, smiling.

name up to trainer, MALE pokemon
level 5 , rage , bite

x 5
x 1
x 1
Dex
Map

[/size]

[EnigMa]

Caleb lightened his grip on the Pokemon in his dominant hand and breathed a sigh of relief. The starter decision was done. Sure he'd have to make more along the way, but this was definitely the most difficult. He gazed down at his clutched Pokeball, and looked back up at the professor. "Thank you professor. For the Pokemon, and the supplies. Now if I make it big, I know who to thank!" A small chuckle escaped from the mouth of the young trainer.

Superseding all of this action, he performed a one hundred and eighty degree turn and faced the door. This was it. He forced himself to take a step and another followed, and then another. Soon enough he was embraced by the warmth of the outside that had been so harsh and humid when he had entered. He pulled out his map and quickly discovered where he needed to go. "Well..he we go." And just like that, he was off on his own journey.