[attr="class","rostername"]@nikoli

[attr="class","rostersub"]a [fourty nine] year old [elite four member] from [driftveil city, unova]

[attr="class","rostercat"]NIKOLI PALADEKI

[attr="class","rostercat"]49

[attr="class","rostercat"]MALE

[attr="class","rostercat"]PANSEXUAL

[attr="class","rostercat"]TRAINER

[attr="class","rostercat"]NORMAL

[attr="class","rostercat2"]Many things can be said about Nikoli if one were to ask. Most people who meet him know his as the goofy guy who will give you a wink and finger guns, maybe flirt if he feels lucky. Others know him as the harsh gym leader, trouncing opponents who dare challenge him and always hungry for a good fight. Recently, he has been more known for being a devoted father to his only child and a pillar of his small community. For those old enough, they might even recognize Nikoli as that angry kid with a chip of his shoulder and something to prove.

He's certainly mellowed out, though, since age kind of does that to a person. Nikoli is one of the most relaxed and even silly older guys you might know. 'Act your shoe size, not your age.' was often repeated to his son growing up. 'It keeps you young!' he would say after, laughing as Grenill made a face at him and rolled his eyes. He loves that boy something fierce.

Being a parent helped chill him out a lot. Much like his prized partner pokemon, Nikoli loves kids and treating them right. He opened an outreach program in his hometown so the kids and teenagers in town would have a place to hang out and he often visits it when he can. He's the type to pretend to be a scary monster and let the kids pile up on him to 'beat him'. Those have been some of his best days since his son moved out.

Even if he doesn't show it often, there is a deep seeded loneliness inside of Nikoli. He's always had a hard time getting close to people ever since he was a child, at least closer than maybe a warm bed or a few kind words. He's always been scared people will leave him like his mom, his best friend, his wife- even his own son if he thinks too hard on it. He's content to be by himself since he doesn't like to open himself up very often. He doesn't want his heart to hurt like it has before.

When he got the job offer to be an Elite Four of Inset, Nikoli was torn. On the one hand, he had built a cozy life for himself and his pokemon. On the other, he missed the old days when there was fire in his blood. After a lot of soul searching he thought it would be the best for him to make the change.

[attr="class","rostercatsub2"]PERSONALITY

[attr="class","rostercat2"]"It was just a different time, is all." Nikoli had told his son one night, when he was just a child. One of the few surviving pictures of Nikoli as a child had surfaced- one where his sullen ten year old self was still ragged, bags under his eyes and fingerprints on his upper arms. Grenill was just eight but too smart for his own good. At least he didn't ask Nikoli about it again and the picture vanished shortly after.

And it was, maybe, a different time, but that doesn't mean it makes it right. As a kid Nikoli always resented his mother for walking out when he was four- but as an adult he can see why she did. He just wished she had cared enough to take him with her so he wouldn't be trapped in his father's household. He doesn't like to think about that time, memories fuzzy and wrinkled at the edges from time. It was better after he started his Trainer journey- or a some people might have said, ran away from home.

But it was a different time, and after escaping the clutches of his home town, Nikoli was much happier. He was angry and lashed out but better. The first pokemon to cross his path, a Deerling, was caught in a lucky pokeball and no one could stop him.

He met a kid his age who became his rival, then his best friend, and in his teens a not-quite lover. They shared many memories that are in bright vivid color and recalled fondly. He fought and battled and caught pokemon and eventually loosened up, throwing off the shackles of what he had been through and having to rely on himself- it was good. He could be happy now. It was okay.

He danced at his friend's wedding and participated in the Unova League enough times they asked him if he wanted to join it. A Gym Leader, Normal Types, which was his specialty. How could he pass that up? Settling down had been hard, falling in love had been harder, and having a kid of his own was the hardest thing yet.

His best friend moved away, off to another Region to do important research. He raised his son while his wife got sicker and sicker. He loved her so much but love can only do so much. He cried on his friend's shoulder at her funeral. A few years later, he cried to himself when his friend and his wife passed away.

He offered to take in his friend's kids but a grandmother got to them first. He sent his support when he could, he felt he owed it to his friend in his memory, but when the grandmother passes away he lost track of the kid.

He grew older, he wasn't happy in his job any longer so he retired and turned over the Gym to someone younger and more eager to battle. He focused on raising his son and when his son was old enough he let him go on his way on his own journey. Life had been rough on him but it would be okay. It always ended up okay in the end.

Life was stagnant, days peaceful but passing too slow, making it itch under his skin and burn for more. When he got the call from the League, asking him to take up a new position for them he almost said no- but couldn't bring himself to do so. Maybe this would be good for him. Maybe Inset would be okay.

[attr="class","rostercatsub2"]HISTORY