Could we start again, please?

[Chloe]

Toni gnawed absentmindedly on her lip, looking up at the huge Pok?mon Lab. She had been worried that she wouldn't be able to find the place once she arrived in Garden Town, but you could hardly miss it, really.

She had been surprised by how beautiful Garden Town was. Of course, everyone always said it was lovely, but people would say that about anything. Toni had to admit though, Garden Town really took the prize. It was a peaceful place, with trees everywhere. She was already having pleasant daydreams about retiring in a nice little house here one day.

The lab went well with the rest of the town. It was a marvelous building, all white walls and glass. Toni thought to herself that it was a perfect place for beginning Trainers to get their first Pok?mon partners.

Well, no sense in just standing here gawking. Ignoring the pounding of her heart, Toni pushed the doorbell. Then she stepped back, taking in the scent of the rose blossoms all around her and trying desperately not to sneeze.

[H a i l s]

A chime rang through the lab, a sign that a potential trainer was afoot. But unlike previous times when a plump receptionist or the quirky professor would greet them, a young and fidgety boy answered the door.

"H-hello. Pr-professor Daisy's not in right now. Went into town f-for lunch. I can help if you'd like though?" He shoved his glasses up on his nose and gave a hopeful look at the girl. He was just an assisstant but surely he couldn't turn her away. This would be his chance! He'd prove to everyone that he had what it took to do more than mush up food for the Pok?mon.

[Chloe]

"Oh! Um..." Toni stumbled over her words a bit, surprised by the boy's youth and obvious nervousness. He wasn't exactly what she had expected to come out of those glass doors, but the anticlimax did put her back on familiar ground. Here was someone she could talk to without having a massive heart attack.

"Sure, that's fine!" She smiled shyly at the assistant, hoping that her hesitation wasn't that noticeable. "I just came to get my starter Pok?mon. Are you allowed to give them out, or can only the Professor do that?" Immediately after asking this question, Toni caught herself and winced internally. God, I hope he isn't the Professor's nephew or something!

She kept the smile on her face, and prayed that she hadn't insulted the boy.