PMDU Written App [Team Network Neutrality]

TEAM NAME: Network Neutrality 

Date Joined: 9/23/13

Current Funds: 5st

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1st MEMBER SIGNATURE     Yuma

Pokemon Species: Sneasel

Nature and Characteristic: Brave, Likes to fight

Gender: Male[gay]           Age: young adult

Ability: Inner Focus

Strength: 3          Agility: 3

Intelligence: 2[+1]     Charisma: 2[+1]

Total Points Left: 0

Type bonus: Dark and Ice +1

Move 1 Ice Beam

Move 2 Metal Claw

Move 3 Brick Break

Move 4 Aerial Ace

Accessory 1: N/A

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Accessory 2: N/A

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Accessory 3: N/A

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2nd MEMBER SIGNATURE     Xio

Pokemon Species: Sableye

Nature and Characteristic: Relaxed, Highly Persistent

Gender: Male  Age: Unknown

Ability: Keen Eye

Strength: 3          Agility: 3

Intelligence: 2[+2] Charisma: 2

Total Points Left: 0

Type bonus: Ghost+2

Move 1 Poison Jab

Move 2 Power Gem

Move 3 Shadow Claw

Move 4 Shadow Ball

Accessory 1: N/A

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Accessory 2: N/A

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Accessory 3: N/A

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========== WRITTEN TEST ===========

Yuma’s POV

   Ah, what a beautiful day in Andalusst City! It seems like everyone’s taking advantage of it, as crowds bustle around your team and vendors peddle this and that. Your teammate[s] can’t help but take in their surroundings, becoming briefly lost in thought.

Well, after we had been walking for who knew how long, Xio and I had finally arrived in Andalusst City with smiles on our faces. Both of us had been wanting to become a team and join a guild for quite some time, and now that dream was almost a reality. With that said, both of us figured there was going to be a lot of hard work to be done, which I hoped we were ready for. Never mind the crowd of pokemon that appeared to be ignoring us, our real focus was getting to the required destination in a timely manner.

“Around the corner here, Yuma,” said the sableye next to me as he gestured aside.

With a silent nod, I led up around the corner, growing more excited by the second.

   Oh no! As your team rounds the corner, it collides with another Pokemon. After a moment of recovery, you find that it is a Furret with lightly-colored eyes, much like you’d see in some afflicted with blindness. However, the whitish pupils of his eyes seem to follow your team well enough, and he looks none too happy about you bumping into him!

"Watch it! Why, I oughta toss ya into the street for that!”

“Hey! You thick!? I guess you’re the local crazy pokemon we’ve been hearing about?” I joked in a friendly manner, doing my best not to sound annoyed at the sudden threat thrown our team’s way. “And really, a normal-type throwing Xio--that’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I almost thought you were serious there.”

“I’d like to see him try to harm me,” Xio shook his head, not as silly as I was at times. “lemme at em!!” he cried out.

   Now you’ve done it. Or at least, it seemed that way at first, as though the Furret couldn’t be consoled or calmed down. However, after your reaction to his threat, a smile creeps over his face.

"Heh, just joshin’ ya. Only uptight nerds fight over bumpin’ into each other. I like your style, though. You new around here? I’m guessin’... stepped outta the fog and got all confused? How close am I?"

“You don’t know the half of what you just said, do you?” I asked while shaking my head in displeasure. The time for joking had started to cease just moments after it began. “You like my style? What, you mean calling you crazy for not watching where you were going and instantly defaulting to threats? Okay, pal, your funeral.” I went on without too much care in my tone. Xio, meanwhile, gave a relaxed sigh to the whole thing, likely trying to pretend this was really a joke.

“If we’re new, you’re certainly not going to find out by acting that way. I’d show some respect if I were you. How “close” are you? To what, getting on Yuma’s nerves? Very.”

As much as I wanted to object, Xio was right: I did get annoyed easy. Naturally, both of us tried to avoid this furred that was tagging along for the ride without any success. 

   It looks like there won’t be any street fighting today. However, for better or worse, your team now has this Furret walking alongside it, rather than into it. Contrary to how he looks, he seems to be capable of walking on his own without bumping into anything. The fact that he bumped into you starts to seem purposeful.

"Oh yeah? Think I’ve heard that one before… maybe not, though. My memory’s all fuzzy after ya scrambled my brain a few seconds ago. Anyway… name’s Cuffin. Pleased to meetcha! Now, how ‘bout you tell me who ya are?"

“How long are you going to keep following us? Did we ask for your company?” I was already losing my patience with this guy. “And even if we did want you company, you’re starting off on the wrong foot by accusing us of slamming into you. I’ll be sure to remember the next time my mind decides, “Oh, let’s go bump into a furret today to get threatened and be annoyed! That’ll help!” And why should we talk?” I asked quickly without any intention of receiving any sort of reply. Xio, however, disagreed.

“That’s sneasel’s Yuma,” Xio introduced me before I was given the chance to protest. “I’m Xio. You better remember that name because I’m not planning on repeating myself.”

“Gee, thanks for introducing us…” I mumbled under my breath as we walked, my head was turned away from Cuffin, wanting to know less about the guy by the second. There was just something about him that struck a nasty cord with me. Xio, on the other hand, was keeping his usual grin.

   Cuffin, now seeming more friendly and outgoing, sticks to you like glue. Wherever you walk, he walks too. He seems intent on asking you questions, no matter how you may feel about it.

“Not bad, not bad. I wouldn’t name my kids that… but hey, it’s a free world. So, you guys lookin’ into the guilds here? They look pretty desperate for newbies. Think you’d wanna join one of ‘em?”

“Funny, I don’t remember even asking what you’d name your kids,” my tone shifted with more annoyance. “Is that really how you break the ice with someone? Tell them their names sucks that badly? You’ve got issues.” I appeared to refusing to answer much, too frustrated to really care--which prompted Xio to answer the questions for me, much to my displeasure.

“Yes, we’re looking to join the guilds. Maybe, just maybe, the Hunters’ guild, if that’s what they’re known as. I admit I have nothing to back it up, but whatever. Why else would we have walked all this way to get here?” the sableye at my side huffed a little, avoiding giving me any sort of look. Because of this, it was a little tricky to hear him clearly. “Actually, never mind. Let’s go, Yuma, before you get even more ticked off on our first day.”

I only gave a silent nod, jogging off in an attempt to lose the furred in the thick crowd of pokemon.

   Along the way, you notice Cuffin having some trouble keeping up as the crowd becomes more dense. It almost seems like you could lose him if you were so inclined, but he quickly finds his place beside you again. The movements of his eyes seem to struggle to keep up with his surroundings for a moment, as though he does indeed have difficulty seeing. However, he quickly snaps out of this behavior and his view becomes confident and forward once more.

"Really? I wouldn’ta pinned ya for that type. I guess they’d be glad to have ya, though. From what I know, they always want ya to have some kinda “team name” to work under ‘em with. What do ya think yours would be?"

“Are you really not going to leave us be?” was my next question, sounding more tense by the word. I was already struggling to keep control over myself. “And also, who are you to even get into our business in the first place? Xio, if you have a method of driving away annoying pokemon, go ahead and use that now before I lose it.”

Xio shook his head. “I cannot do that. Let’s just play along. Maybe he’ll go away faster if we do so. To answer the question, and I don’t really care how well you take it either, our team name’s “Network Neutrality.” What’s it mean? Let’s have you figure it out on your own while we go about wondering which one of us decided on the name in the first place.”

All I could do was roll my eyes. Sometims, just getting a straight answer from Xio was hard. On the plus side, he was handling this situation miles better than I could...

   Upon hearing your proposed team name, Cuffin keeps a silent, straight face for a few moments. Then, the grin he was suppressing comes right out.

“Well, ain’t heard that one before. You might not wanna walk into the rough parts of town callin’ yourself that… eh, or maybe do it anyway if you can handle yourself. I mean, no doubt you can probably throw a punch, or maybe you’ve got a silver tongue. The guilds look for stuff like that. How ‘bout you tell me what ya think your strengths are, just to get your story straight for when they wanna know?”

“I’ll let you know personally when it becomes your business what our team does and does not do.” my claws were already tightened into fists. The last thing I wanted to do was start a fight here, but this guy’s attitude was not making it easy to stay calm. “Are you blind, too? I’m a sneasel. I think we can actually hit really hard if we tried--”

“Before any blood’s spilled,” Xio cut across, “Our attacking speed’s the strength. We like to hit hard and quick, not give our enemy chances to counter. It doesn’t always work, and neither of us have anything to heal with, so it’s a double-edged sword. With that said, that’s about all Yuma will allow me to mention about the team for now--especially to strangers.”

   Though Cuffin has clearly been busting your chops, he seems to listen intently to your explanation of yourself. He doesn’t grin, nor wisecrack. He simply hears you out.

“Yeah… yeah, I can respect that. Everybody’s gotta get by in their own way, and there ain’t nobody who knows that better than me. If you play on your strengths, you’ll get far here, I bet.”

“Right… So, are we done now? I’m bored of just talking here,” I sighed now.

“I know the feeling,” Xio chuckled lightly as if responding to one of my jokes.

   What an oddly sentimental moment. Shortly after, Cuffin walks ahead of your team and into its path, forcing you to stop for a moment. He’s smiling, though for once it seems to be in a friendly manner, rather than amusement at your expense.

“I hate to deprive ya of my presence, but I’ve gotta bounce. I’m sure you’ll see me again, so don’t sweat it. I’m sure the guild’ll love to have ya.”

“No, go ahead and leave. We’ll be just fine now.” I said quickly, almost delighted to be given the chance to be alone with Xio once more.

“Goodbye, I think--“ the sableye again grinned, sporting a rather devilish one for that matter.

   Perhaps it’s unfortunate, or perhaps it’s a blessing, but the Furret is finally out of your business for the time being. He tips his hat to you in a coy manner before leaving. You notice him narrowly, though stylishly avoiding collision with several objects and other Pokemon before he’s out of sight.

When the furret was finally out of sight, I turned to Xio. “That took long enough, I suppose. Okay, with that total nonsense out of the way--let’s just pretend that never happened and nothing was ever revealed. All right?”

“I hear ya,” Xio replied back as if he had the answer rehearsed in my mind for some time. “Do you have any idea if we’ll ally with anyone while we’re here?”

The question threw me off guard, causing my mind to ponder this for a few moments. “Well, yeah--just as long as they’re nothing like that guy, sure thing. I’m not too worried, because even we don’t make any pals during our time here, we have each other.”

“How touching, I think,” Xio prompted, his head tilted sidewise. I was left wondering if he found it amusing I even could say such a thing, especially on an accident. “If we do see anyone of interest, we’ll walk up and say hi. Is that acceptable?”

I nodded a little. “Sure--if you insist on that.” I wasn’t fully onboard with making pals so quickly, to be honest, but it would never hurt to at least try sometime. As I turned back aside, Xio rubbed his claws together and followed me once I began walking forward once more. Our future in this town was set to begin, and I hoped it was for a good cause.