Partner Pokemon - Dialup & Wattson

Pairing day at the Academy had been something that Dialup had not been looking forward to. Choosing a pokemon to partner up with for the duration of your training felt a bit like settling down and settling in, and Dialup did not, exactly, have the most exemplary marks on her record. She was physically fit, sure, and she tested just fine, but she was prone to mentally wandering. She'd been disciplined more than once for slowing down on the training course, or wandering off, or even just not responding to her name.

That put her in the running for dead last to pick a partner. Stood to reason that she'd probably end up with something basic, like a ratata, or a spearow. Not, she reminded herself, that there was anything inherently wrong with those two pokemon. They were just... Small. Not exactly the firepower she craved.

She rolled onto her side, tucked her knees up, and closed her eyes. The sounds of peaceful snoring all around her was, honestly, grating. But she did, eventually doze off.

Sooner than she'd have liked, the klaxon to rise and shine resounded through the barracks, and she rolled to her feet, dodged the massive bulk of her best- and only- friend as he dropped from the bunk overhead. The metal groaned in relief, and she swatted his thick flank. "Mortar, you almost slammed me, you oaf." He jolted, and shot her a wide, warm grin as he tugged on a pair of fresh pants, tucked in his tank-top and reached for a comfortable shirt. He tossed it to her, and her pants.

"You woulda been fine, Amy," he chided as he tugged on his own shirt, and tucked in his tags. That got him a harder smack, and he rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Dialup. What're you hoping to get today? I'm thinking Search and Rescue- maybe a growlithe?- or something that'll get big and tanky, like an aron, you know, to match me."

"Oh, er. We'll just see what I get saddled with. C'mon. Roll call in two," Dialup diverted, lacing up her boots and filing out with the rest of the trainees.

An hour later, most everyone except her had had their turn taking a crack at the gathered pokemon, picking partners or even being assigned, depending on their projected profession or aptitude. There were still a few good ones about, but. most of them were things best suited to medics, like chansey and audino, or scouts- bird-type pokemon or those who could run long distances.

Dialup picked up an empty pokeball at the drill instructor's direction, and moved to mingle with the straggling trainees and leftover pokemon. She did not really have much hope, but, as she looked around, Dialup decided to make the most of her situation, and try to get something she could, if not bond to, then at least rely on. However, as she approached the growlithes, they paid no attention to her. The sole audino that was left was already marked for another recruit. The doduo evaded her deftly, one head on her, the other on a lanky fellow across the way. She sighed, moved on. She was about to accept anything at all when she spotted it- a lone Charcadet, glaring at a few recruits who were noisily bragging about their test-scores, their physical strength. One of them managed to get a machop to come work out with her, at least. But the little flaming pokemon just slipped away, and went to sit, quietly, at the edge of the training field.

Dialup maneuvered over there silently, and leaned against the wall. Rather than showing off, she stowed her pokeball, and pulled out an old-school watch she kept on hand. Palm-sized, heavy. Clean silver she'd polished to a gleam, on a chain. She had never managed to get it to tick, but, she liked to tinker with it in her downtime. "I'm not a great soldier, but... I'd like to be. You don't like the ones flashing their feathers much, do you? Eh, me neither." She could feel eyes on her, and smiled to herself. "I think I'll probably get paired with a growlithe after this, but, for now, if you don't mind, I'd like to sit with you. I can keep the braggarts away." There was a small nod, and she settled in. "Another hour, and it'll be all done."

The charcadet seemed to be intrigued by what she was working on, and she crouched to let him watch. Talked to him about it, even though she was pretty sure he didn't understand even half of what she was saying. Still, by the end of it, he seemed to be nothing if not calmer for it. The bell rang, and one of the sergeants called for the trainees to line up with their pokemon for registration. She sighed, and got up, patting him on his shoulder. "Alright, little buddy. Hope you get a good home." She smiled, and got ready to go get herself sorted.

A little hand caught her by the pants leg, though, and Dialup stopped, turned. The charcadet pointed at himself, patted his chest. "Ah? What's up?" He didn't let go, peering at her intently, and she canted her head. "Maybe you want to come with me?" He nodded, and she smiled, drew out her ball, and knelt to offer it to him. "Let's go, then."