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Tate shuffled some paperwork at the front desk of the lab, unsure of where this flood of new trainers was coming from but not daring to question it. Any new blood in their humble region, so long as those folks were capable, was good. And nobody left their lab if professor’s aides such as herself didn’t find them worthy and at the very least capable. She didn’t glance up from her task as the front door chimed to announce the entrance of what was likely another fresh faced child eager to prove themselves. It was the rumbling greeting and proper introduction that caused her to nearly jump out of her seat at attention.


She was used to people running at the mouth, either overtly sunny and bubbly or surly and cocksure. It was unfortunately rare to have someone with manners in the lab. And though she wouldn’t admit it, just that simple thing was enough to put her in a better mood and look on the client with more favorability than if they’d flounced in with a hair toss and demanded three Popplios for the aesthetic. And that wasn’t an exaggeration - it had happened before.


”Hello Mr. Pipkin, I’m Tate. Welcome to the Cassiopeia Pokemon Lab. We do accept walk-ins, they’re our most common way of giving starters since folks are never sure exactly when they’ll arrive to our town. I’ll just need you to fill out some paperwork, basic contact and background information for our records.” she said, handing over a ready-made clipboard with forms and a pen tucked under the metal clamp. ”For those questions with asterisks if you could answer aloud as well that will speed this along much more quickly.” It kept her from that awkward silence of her reading the paperwork to get the same answers or asking the questions aloud herself a second time and taking an unnecessary amount of time.


The basics were there of course, his name, date of birth, phone number, email, etc. But then the important long form questions. Experience with pokemon*, what their plans are while in the region*, any former job experience with pokemon or career plans*, if they have preferred types*, types or species they absolutely did not want*, why for each*, and lastly if they were able to provide for their pokemon and care for them properly*, with a final section of check boxes to opt-in for emailed or texted tips about pokemon care and events happening in the region and a lower line or two for his signature.


”I’m going to have a cup of tea while you sort that out, would you like one?’ she added, rising from her chair and not appearing to get any taller before shuffling her portly frame to the back section of the lobby into a side room to grab the tea set and some lemon squares. Her eyes flicking to the case of pokeballs and their labels and wondering what she should present for him.

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The tea tray was placed between them on an empty space of the desk and she went about adding her preferred and precisely measured sugar and cream to her own dainty cup as she listened to him go through his answers. She wished all starter interactions could start off this easy. Far too often she’d had to show people the door because they refused to be on “the man’s watch list” or something just as silly and annoying in her opinion. She stirred her tea and took a sip, and it was of course perfection, just as his answers so far. Pet poochyenas were common enough, and he wasn’t trying to put on airs or pretend he knew more than he did - the sticking point for her was he was willing to learn. That was what was important in any trainer (coordinator, breeder, or researcher included therein), no matter how long they had been at it. There was always something new to learn. Excellent.

”We are constantly rotating what we have on hand, so it changes from time to time - and you’re in luck because we’ve just started keeping one bug ty-well dual bug type. We do have to show three starters to give you an option, however, as even if it’s your preferred type you may not be compatible as far as personality or career wishes.” she placed her cup back onto the saucer and rose once more to go to the cabinet and make the selections. She didn’t show any surprise or judgement at his preferred type, even if she felt it a smidge deep down. She never thought she’d see the day when she could bring this pokemon out and not see utter disappointment on someone’s face.

”I’m glad to hear you’ve given quite a bit of consideration to your care and custody of whichever pokemon you may leave with here today. It could be this Popplio,” she released the brightly colored with equally as bright personality water pokemon to say hello. The little darling arfed in greeting, < Hi there! Your hair is pretty! > Tate didn’t like to overwhelm people with their all of their prospects right away and definitely preferred to keep their favorite as the last reveal so as to give the others a fair shot and now be overshadowed. It was easier to do one at a time like this.

The last two balls were still miniaturized and she rolled them in one hand as she took a seat and finished off her tea.

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Popplio giggled and touched a flipper to her neck ruff, < Why thank you! I freshly fluffed it this morning! > she was entirely oblivious to his discomfort but Tate was picking up on it loud and clear. She was already getting the next ball ready, sure this wouldn’t last long at all. But Henry forged ahead with an actual question and Popplio was entirely too eager to answer, < Oh that’s easy! I wanna have babies! > she flounced her back flipper, < I think my babies would be soooo pretty! I wanna be a good mama to them! So I think I would like to meet a good male pokemon to make those babies with on the journey! > she said, blushing once she realized she’d been raving about mating a little too bluntly...again. She looked over her shoulder to Tate sheepishly, < I did it again, huh? >

”It’s okay, Popplio - it’s important to be honest with trainers. Like I’ve told you before it’s very important to find the right pokemon for them as much as it is finding the right trainer for you.” she was speaking as much for the pokemon’s benefit as Henry’s. Who she then looked to, ”I’ll go ahead and let Carbink and Shuckle join the party.” releasing the two dual types into the room. Carbink’s facets sparkled in the fluorescent lighting that was harsh and cruel to just about anyone else - and they knew it too! So they were conscientious of exactly how they held their floating gem-encrusted body to shine just right. They knew their angles, they knew they looked good hunty and you couldn’t tell them otherwise. < I’m Carbink, I’m ready for the stage, point me to it sweetie! > they proclaimed, not caring whether this person with the silver hair - they matched! - was a coordinator. Anyone who had them on their team would be wasting their time if they didn’t use Carbink to perform.

Shuckle waved a noodly arm at the trainer who looked so collected and cool and oh geez he’d never go for him! Why did Tate bring him out here? He couldn’t bring himself to say a word, it just got caught in his slinky throat and he had to fight the urge to shunk back into his red shell. “Henry is and artist who is looking to have a career in coordination….” Tate got them up to speed without revealing his type biases. Shuckle gulped. He loved to sing, had the voice of an angel, but was so anxious about actually...performing!! Oh geeeez!!! Slowly he felt his limbs and head creeping back into his shell just at the thought of that kind of pressure

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Popplio smiled shyly up at the cute fella at his words. He was honest but not cruel as she’d experienced in the past. <I appreciate that!> she confirmed aloud with a little shrug, <No point wastin my time or yours. I think you’re gonna find just the right one for you today, even if it’s not me.> she turned to look at Tate again, <May I please be excused?> she had a paddling pool out back just calling her name.

Tate nodded and stood to the side, only happy to let the little pokemon leave on her own terms rather than wait around to be rejected officially. It was always easier that way and there was no point putting her back in her ball this early because the trainer so obviously wasn’t interested in them.

Popplio turned to flop out of the room just as now Carbink was putting on their little show and doing their best to be noticed. It usually wasn’t so hard for them, they never had to compete for attention.

<You know it, sweetie! I’ve got sparkle for days! Faceted to the legendaries!> Carbink cooed, spinning once again and throwing light through its prisms in arcs of color just to show off that much more.

But Tate knew the look that came over his face when he saw Shuckle. She’d seen it before - love at first sight. It was a common enough thing with trainers, especially when they came in knowing exactly what they wanted. She just hoped the shy guy’s personality wasn’t enough to deter Henry from taking him home.

If he could be patient and work with him, Shuckle could be an incredible partner to have. But it would require some work, and she was prepared to let him know that if they didn’t get to that point in the mini interview Henry would now conduct.

Shuckle gulped, the unsightly lump of air and spit visible along the length of his neck as it disappeared down into his shell, and he tried to find the words to answer the human. Yes! You’re making me very nervous! But no! Not you! I’m just...nervous..I’m nervous in general. But I shouldn’t tell him that, he wouldn’t want me. He doesn’t want you anyway he’s just being nice. Stupid, stupid Shuckle. Why would anyone want you?

And to confirm his inner demons lashing out at his tiny ray of hope, Carbink chortled and nyoomed down to block the view of the shellboy from Henry, <He’s a little thick in the head, babydoll, pay him no mind! So you’re a coordinator? I bet you’ve never seen one of me before, huh? People are just now getting the word about us Carbinks from Alola!>

Tate frowned and had to keep herself from intervening, curious to see how Henry would handle the naturally submissive and self-doubting Shuckle when it was being overshadowed - literally - by the more confident Carbink. After all, if he wanted Shuckle for performances he would meet pokemon more like this type all the time.

It was something he’d have to deal with on a regular basis, the taunting and the showboating. If he felt it was worth it to step in in the lab, then it was a good sign for him in the real world scenarios for the future. Or, perhaps he’d be turned off of the Shuckle completely and fall for the flashy diamond encrusted pokemon.

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Carbink chortled, the sound a pleasant chime in their rocky body, <I can tell you one thing, sweetie, you can meet every Alolan pokemon there is and you won’t find one like me!> they gave another spin and twirl in the air, bobbing around as Shuckle shrunk further into his shell, feeling forgotten as usual. And then…both pokemon were shocked as the trainer asked specifically to talk to Shuckle. Tate smiled and pulled out Carbink’s ball just as they were winding up to let all the swears and shade they knew fly out at the silver haired nobody who did he think he was anyway, didn’t he know silver hair was soooo last year and-zaP back in their ball.

Shuckle was little more than nubs sticking out of his shell by now but he found the courage to look Henry in the eye, nearly monotone and with a pronounced stammer <Wh-why you wanna t-talk t-to me? Y-you know I’m j-just a b-b-b-b-bug, right?< he had experienced one too many bullies in his day and while many pokemon would see this solo encounter as a dream come true, all he could think of was being cornered just to ~have a little talk~ that ended with his ass beaten and even more feeble, alone in the dark. He knew better than to try to rise above his station, he’d been knocked down any time he tried to before.

Tate put Carbink’s ball back in the cabinet for the time being and stepped just out of the room. Enough to give them a little privacy to chat without her staring at them but to where she could still hear what was being said - as well as to see out the window to the backyard where Popplio was happily splashing around in the pool.

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Shuckle returned the smile, if out of nervous self-defense mirroring than genuine happiness, but he could tell there was a difference in the kind of smile he was receiving from this trainer and the sadistic grins he’d seen on the faces of his bullies. It disappeared in an instant when Henry’s tone changed and he grew scared he’d said the wrong thing. He started to explain, struggling and stammering to find the words before Henry pressed on and explained and little by little the bug found his tension and nervous energy dissipating. There would always be some little nugget of anxiety deep in his tum-tum, but when someone could reassure him and put him at ease, it made it tolerable and not debilitating.

<Y-you really like b-b-bug types?> he asked, trying his best to stop the stammer but failing, <Not a j-j-joke?> his eyes went from beady to marble sized when he was shown the photos on the device. He recognized the brethren in the photos but he’d never seen the sights captured so beautifully. So...lovingly? Whoever was behind the lense or canvas had an obvious appreciation of the subject. <You d-did these? They’re g-good!> The comment about his red shell being beautiful made a bit of blush creep up his neck. Nobody had ever called anything about him even close to beautiful before. In fact, quite the opposite. But now here this nice trainer was asking him to go with him and be his starter. Something he never dreamed would happen when he was brought here for rehabilitation.

<Th-thank you. But. A-are you sure y-you want me? I d-don’t want to d-d-d-disappoint you.> he felt the sting of tears behind his shiny button eyes and shuffled a little closer across the tile, and took a big breath, <I’ll g-go with you if you’re s-s-sure.> Tate came back into the room and pulled Shuckle’s file and handed his empty pokeball to Henry if he was ready for it. She was sure he was. Once he opened the file he’d find the pokemon’s stats and history. In her other hand was a starter kit for Henry to give him a good shot with his new pokemon in the wild, and for them to capture more and grow their team together.

”Good luck and congratulations.” she told him with a small smile.


Shuckle was born in a “research lab” on a small island region with next to no pokemon cruelty laws in place, or any laws for that matter. For the first part of his life, up until about six months ago, every day was torture at the hands of sadistic humans who told themselves what they were doing to the pokemon in their care was for the good of science. They groomed the pokemon to believe they were helping others of their species by being forced to do the experiments that they were. If you were to get close enough to Shuckle to get a look inside his shell you would see scarring from how many times various tools were used to scrape and poke and prod inside for testing. He’s still scared of water from being thrown into pools one too many times to see if he would sink or float. He’s also retained a prominent stutter from neurological damage caused in the lab from being thrown at a concrete wall.

He was rescued when an electrode was sent in undercover to blow the place up. Pokemon were pulled in the dead of night and the facility was destroyed. Unfortunately so were all records and the lab set up all over again with no consequences for the atrocities they’d committed. Fortunately for Shuckle he was sent to Inset to rehabilitate and has spent the last six months working through his PTSD and with a speech therapist as well. They discovered his stutter disappeared when he sang, and for the first time in his life he felt happy and nice when he would sing. He finally had something he was good at! But he was still so painfully shy from years of no positive social interaction that he couldn’t bring himself to even use a more melodic or sing-song voice to communicate - so the stammer stayed for most interactions with people. He’s worried if he sings to talk that will just lead to questions about why he’s doing it - and he really doesn’t like to think about what happened to him.

He could be a real Cinderella story on the stage, with the right agent or coordinator to sell his background history and get his confidence levels up enough to actually perform. But that “right” person will also need to be incredibly patient and comforting and be his cheerleader all the way.

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Henry has received a starter pack!
+ 5 pokeballs
+ 2 potions
+ TM Case
+ Inset Map
+ Pokedex

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