Janet
. . .
*The Minccino looked the Typhlosion in the eyes for the briefest of moments before turning away. Yeah... That was a pretty good question. And at this point, he didn't really have anything to lose by explaining.*
*So explain he would.*

*Everett leaned against a nearby tree, adjusting his 'glasses' before he spoke.*
"...I'm here to become stronger."

*Obviously that by itself explained nothing, so he kept on going.*
"I- I came here so I could be better at combat. I'd... *Really* Rather not say why, but... That's what this is all about." *He paused.* "When I heard that this continent Hecatia was in turmoil, I figured... Well, maybe this would be a good place to start with that, somehow. T-though, if it wasn't obvious by now, I was just... Going off a gut feeling."

*He idly kicked a stray pebble across the ground.* "Staying at home wasn't going to help me much- if I went somewhere completely new, I'd be able to learn *More* That way. B-but I didn't make much of a plan beyond that... And I *KNOW* That it was ignorant and kind of short-sighted of me, thinking everything would just... Fall into place."

*...And to think he was saying all this to a complete stranger. What was he __doing__? Everett brought a paw up to his face, clearly somewhat upset.*
"...I must sound so stupid right now."
Joseph
So THAT was it... He wanted to be a greater combatant. Well, all that definitely explained a few things, particularly the choice of location. After all, the only experience was REAL experience — putting yourself outside your comfort zone (In this case, away from his home) was the only way you could grow.

But yeah, Everett probably *Had* Gone quite overboard. Of course, Ryavi didn't yet know the full circumstances, and it *Was* Somewhat making him question exactly how much such an attitude was accepted outside his OWN homeland. It hadn't occurred to him just how *Wide* The variation between different places mi-

"*WAHL!* Ya maight b-be 'n *Luck!"* He replied, his attitude suddenly *Much* More boisterous. Everett might've caught a split second of hefty surprise on the Typhlosion's face, alongside that very odd stutter midway through the sentence.

Wait, *What-?* What was- *Oh.*

*Wonderful.*
Janet
*Everett's ears twitched, and he glanced back over at the Typhlosion again. He... Didn't expect such an outburst so suddenly, and the shift in mood was really throwing him off.*

"I, uh... W-what?"

*...In luck for __what?__*
Patricia
Proxy failed: Cannot proxy empty message.
Joseph
Ugh... JUST what he needed. In the *Middle* Of a conversation, no less. Using his typical strategy of folding his arms and closing his eyes with a light hum, as if in thought, the Fire-type did what he could to address the newly founded issue...
Nancy
🧭 *<<Why- when the hell did YOU get here?!>>*

🔥 *<<Something like half an hour ago. But that ain't important. Move over, you heard the kid! He needs some advice from the best!>>*

🧭 *<<This- this isn't the NORTH anymore, you are NOT about to teach a teenager how t->>*

🔥 *<<Yeah, I'm NOT. He **Said** He wants to be tougher! What, you wanna just **Walk away?** He's all the way out here alone, who ELSE is gonna help him, let alone better than ME?>>*

🧭 *<<...Ugh... Whatever. Just... Listen, I spent that whole VOYAGE trying to figure out more of this place's language, I'm too damn tired to keep an eye on this. So just... DON'T do anything stupid, alright?>>*

🔥 *<<Relaaax! I'm just telling him how things work, what's the worst that could happen?>>*

🧭 *<<I'm gonna do myself a favor and not imagine.>>*

🔥 *<<Just shut it and move over, already...>>*
Kimberly
After two or three seconds, and an odd (If difficult to notice) brief moment of his muscles loosening up, the Typhlosion finally seemed to jump out of his apparent deep thoughts.

"Ya lookin' ta get *Stronge',* Ain'tcha??" He reiterated, now with quite a bit more energy as if nothing had happened. "Wahl, 's this ya firs' time meetin' a *Soldia?"*
Janet
*...He must have been in some real deep thought.*

*Either way, he wasn't... Nearly as boisterous as before. It was certainly jarring, but it seemed like they'd be able to get somewhere with this. Maybe.*

"W-well... Yeah, actually." *He responds.* "I figured, with the weapons and everything, you'd be something like that- didn't know when to ask, though..."