Post by Gemini on Aug 6, 2012 17:42:01 GMT -5
Gym Leader Jason Astrum
of Penumbra Town
[/i]of Penumbra Town
Ace - Twenty-Six - Male
Place of Residence
Penumbra Town
Occupation
Gym Leader
Preferred Pokémon
Canines and Dark Types
Sexuality
Heterosexual
Relationship Status
Single. Not exactly looking, but not exactly unavailable either.
Family
John Astrum - Father
Cecile Astrum - Mother
Samantha Astrum - Sister
Appearance
Ace is the spitting image of what his father used to look like back before he had become gym leader. He stands around six foot three, dwarfing just about anybody who happens across his path. He inherited the Astrum dark-brown eyes. In the right light, they sometimes lighten to a chocolate-brown, but Ace tends to keep to the dark (just like his father). His hair is actually dark brown despite what most people think. When it gets wet, however, he looks like a raven-haired miscreant.
For the most part, Ace keeps a cool expression on his face. He tends to be serious about things, rarely laughing or smiling. When he does, his entire face lights up, and he looks very handsome. His hair is completely unruly (another inheritance from his father) and he doesn't bother trying to keep it under control. A quick swipe through with his fingers and that's it.
Ace's physique is what one would expect of a guy who once traveled the world. He is thin and muscular, though his mother's home-cooked meals have fattened him up a bit. He does his best to remain in shape for himself and for the ladies. His expressions tend to drive the girls away. The only thing he's got left on his side is his rockin' bod.
Personality
Serious – The most boring and prominent of Ace's traits is his inability to joke around. He sees little humor in things and can hardly understand what the real point in humor really is. There are rare occasions when he can be caught off guard by a truly humorous joke or event, though eighty-percent of the people he has associated with have probably never even seen him smile. This trait shines most when he is engaging in a Pokémon battle. He doesn’t bother with typical trainer banter and intimidation. He is only there to win. But if he does happen to lose, he is courteous and congratulates his opponent wholeheartedly. The downside to this trait is that Ace speaks his mind without caring of the consequences.
Caring – Despite his seriousness, Ace is actually a very caring guy. It mostly shows when he is around his little sister or his Pokémon. He treats those closest to him as delicate as he would a newborn baby or something fragile like a set of China. He frets over the smallest things with these select people, worrying most that he may harm them with his bluntness. For the most part, however, those select people find it an endearing quality and tell him often (he still worries). There are times after a particularly intense Pokémon battle where he will give his opponent pointers (if he defeats them, of course). He wants to see trainers grow and succeed in life.
Loyal – Ace is a very loyal person, and would be the perfect companion to take on a mission against the bad guys. He would drop whatever he was doing to rush to the aid of his friends, even if that meant leaving his gym permanently. Despite the fact that he and his father butt heads all the time (because they’re practically the same person) he would do anything for the man that raised him. He’ll tell you otherwise, of course.
Aggressive – He certainly doesn’t look it, but Ace is a rather aggressive person, particularly when someone he cares about is in danger. When coupled with his loyal side, Ace can be pretty scary. He is likely to hunt down anyone who ever hurts his family and make sure they get punished for what they did. He can sometimes take it a little too far, however, and when coupled with his serious nature, he can be downright terrifying. Playing pranks on this guy is a very bad idea.
History
Ace was born only a year after his father became gym leader of the Penumbra Gym. John had never really wanted kids, but Ace quickly changed that opinion. As a toddler, Ace used to follow his father all around town. He spent more than enough of his childhood at the old Penumbra Gym, and used to brag to the other kids that he could go in whenever he wanted (which was a lie).
Around the time Ace turned twelve, his father began to make plans for a new gym, designing it around his preference to dark types. Ace wanted to help out as much as he could, but his father wouldn't let him anywhere near the construction. "You're too young," his father would always say. It was around that time that Ace decided he would become stronger than his father just to prove that he wasn't too young.
Two days after receiving his first Pokémon (Houndour), Ace's sister was born. She was a weak baby and his parents were constantly going back and forth between home and the hospital. They congratulated him for starting his journey, but it had seemed halfhearted to Ace. He resented the baby's existence in his life.
As his father was the first gym leader on the road to all the badges, Ace was hoping to get to battle the older man and show him just how much he had grown up. Unfortunately, with the baby, John wasn't able to battle his son. Ace refused to fight a stand-in, so he simply left Penumbra. Instead of taking the Gym Challenge, Ace traveled the region in hopes to become a better trainer.
He returned home a year later with a wide variety of Pokémon at his command. Just as before, he hoped he could battle his father. But, just as before, his father was too preoccupied with Ace's baby sister. And when Ace went to see the baby in the hospital, his entire perspective on the baby changed. She was doing far worse than she had the last time he'd seen her. Doctors gave her about six months to live, claiming there was nothing they could do. Annoyed, the thirteen-year-old started making calls to some of the friends he'd met around Caligo. One had connections in the Johto region to a man who made powerful Pokémon medication.
It was worth a shot.
Ace left Caligo in search of this man. His travels eventually brought him to Cianwood, a small island at the far reaches of the region. The man was hesitant to help (he'd never made medication for humans before), but gave it his best shot anyway. After receiving the medicine, Ace rushed home. It wasn't a definite cure for Samantha's disease, but it gave her the strength she needed to survive.
From then on, Ace dedicated his life to keeping his sister healthy and protected. His presence in her life helped John return to his gym. Despite being able to challenge his father, he refused to leave Samantha's side. This continued until he was nearly seventeen years old. By then, Sam was beginning her schooling and wouldn't require as much of his assistance. With his sister out of the woods, Ace decided to travel the world.
Not once did he challenge a gym leader while he was in the different regions. He made sure to get pictures of them all, however, so that he could show Sam when he returned. And he always made sure to buy a Pokédoll in every town he came to, sending it to her via the Wingull Mail Service. He wrote to her every week, sending a gift or a picture of Houndour along with it.
Now, almost a decade later, Ace has returned to Caligo. His desire to overcome his father came back to him, loud and clear. After greeting his mother and spending time with his sister, Ace headed straight for the gym, ready to take his father's place as its leader.
Other
Ace has wanted to be just like his father since he was a child. He will deny any claims that he is just like his old man, but he always loves to hear other people point it out.
Party Pokémon
[atrb=width,250,true][atrb=style, border: 1px solid #454545,true][atrb=cellspacing,15px, true][atrb=border,0,true] Zorua ♂ | Level 11 Illusion Scratch Leer Pursuit Fake Tears ---- |
Upon defeating his father for the rights to be Penumbra Town Gym Leader, John presented Ace with a young Zorua. He was a rambunctious little fox and proved to be a handful for the gym leader. If Zorua was nowhere to be seen, Ace knew to keep Poochyena closer than usual. The fox would be hiding in the shadows, waiting for Ace to get close before he rushed out and latched onto his master's leg. Poochyena keeps him in check most of the time.
[atrb=width,250,true][atrb=style, border: 1px solid #454545,true][atrb=cellspacing,15px, true][atrb=border,0,true] Poochyena ♀ | Level 13 Run Away Tackle Sand-Attack Howl Bite ---- |
Poochyena came into Ace's possession during his adventure in the Hoenn region. She was given to him as an egg from a Dark-Pokémon breeder. He often sang to her prior to hatching, though it is a habit he hasn't seemed to be able to shake. Poochyena hated to be apart from Ace, even for a few moments. If he wasn't in her sight, she would cry until he returned. Now, she merely follows him everywhere, never letting him out of her sight. She is rather protective of her trainer and hates it when women get close to him, especially his sister.
[atrb=width,250,true][atrb=style, border: 1px solid #454545,true][atrb=cellspacing,15px, true][atrb=border,0,true] Sandile ♂ | Level 13 Intimidate Leer Rage Bite Sand-Attack Torment Sand Tomb |
Sandile was the result of leaving a male Krokorok at the daycare center where plenty of females were roaming around. Embarrassed by his Pokémon's libido, Ace took full responsibility for the numerous eggs laid by the female Krokorok. He set most of the newly hatched Sandile free in the Forbidden Desert, but one egg simply would not hatch. At first he believed it was a dud, but the Sandile within would announce its existence with some movement. He traveled the world with the egg, until it hatched when he was journeying on Route 111 in Hoenn, which happens to house a small desert. The little Pokémon proved to be both stubborn and lazy, giving Ace a very hard time when it came to training it.
RP Sample
All was quiet. That was the norm inside the Penumbra Gym. Most of Ace’s days were spent lounging at the back of the gym, waiting for the next trainer to bring a challenge. It seemed that fewer and fewer trainers were coming along however. Had it been this way when his father reigned the gym? Ace could hardly remember a time when his father wasn’t busy with challenges (other than when his sister was born).
Thinking of the young girl brought the ghost of a smile to Ace’s face. He had always despised her when she was just a baby, but from where he stood now, he could never see how he’d hated her. Jealousy. It was the only explanation. And to Ace, it was hardly an explanation at all.
The large Houndoom at his side lifted his head, eyes fixed towards the entrance of the gym. Curious, Ace tilted his head to get a better look. A small patch of light filtered in from outside, leaving a luminous rectangle among the dark of the gym. A silhouette could be seen in the rectangle, though it was unmoving. The darkness soon swallowed the silhouette, and not long after that, the sounds of battle reached the leader’s ear. The Houndoom turned to his master, making a light chuffing noise. Ace smiled warmly, patting the canine on the head.
“I hope so too, Blitz.” The young leader looked up as the darkness was lit up by flames. He frowned, attention captured. “Go make sure they don’t burn the place down, will you?” With a groaning protest, the great beast rose to his feet, sending an annoyed look at his trainer before disappearing into the darkness. Ace sat back, leaning his chin onto his elbow.
If the challenger lost control of his fire-type and burned the place down, Ace’s father would likely storm the place and demand the resignation of his son. Having worked quite hard to take his father’s throne, it was the last thing Ace wanted.
The time passed slowly, almost agonizingly so. Ace knew Blitz wouldn’t return to his side without the trainer in tow, unless the trainer decided to leave the gym. He was a patient young man, a trait he gained through his travels around the world. One cannot be gym leader without patience. Getting excited for a potential battle was something a child did. No. Ace would wait in his chair until the challenger appeared. Only then would he show any interest in the battle to come.
A low growl in the darkness ahead alerted Ace to Blitz’s return. The gym leader rose to his feet, stepping down from the platform where his chair sat. A young boy appeared before him, peering around cautiously. A Charmander stood at his side, its tail casting dim, flickering light into the area. Ace frowned. He tended to fight in the dark as his father did. With a flame like that, his strategy would have to change. It took mere minutes.
“Welcome,” he greeted in his usual cool tone. The boy’s attention snapped to him, a look of determination filling his eyes. “We shall each use two Pokémon in a one-on-one battle. You may switch out at any time, but you must use the same two Pokémon.” The boy’s gaze flicked to Blitz, whom had resumed his lounging beside Ace’s chair. Ace shook his head. “Blitz is a companion here, not a competitor.” Ace removed two Pokéballs from his belt, flashing them at the trainer. “Your opponents rest in here. Do you have any questions?”
The boy shook his head, removing one of his own Pokéballs. The battle commenced, Ace’s Zorua against the boy’s Spearow. At first, it seemed as though the Spearow had the upper hand. It could fly into the darkness and swoop in from whichever angle it wished. Zorua had some difficulty keeping up. Ace eventually caught onto a pattern in the attacks. He quickly took the advantage, ordering Zorua to pounce on its opponent. With some well-placed attacks, the Spearow fainted. Both trainers took back their Pokémon before calling out the second set: Ace’s Poochyena versus the boy’s Poochyena.
It was quite clear that the boy hadn’t trained his little dog too much. With only a few hits, it was clearly at its limit. Ace read the boy’s face carefully. He looked as if he were on the brink of tears, but it was clear that he was too proud to call his Pokémon back. Ace ordered his own Poochyena to end the battle, but called it off at the very last second. The boy looked to the gym leader, stunned.
“Your pride is going to be your downfall,” Ace muttered, kneeling down to stroke the top of Poochyena’s head. “You need to be able to recognize when you have been defeated and call off your Pokémon before it gets injured. This battle is over. Rest up and try again.” “Does this mean you forfeit?” the boy cried indignantly. Ace sighed deeply, locking eyes with the boy. “Would you like me to faint your Pokémon?”
Surrounded by all that darkness gave Ace an intimidating air. Add onto that the serious look on his face and he had the poor boy trembling. He eventually conceded, scooping up his exhausted Poochyena. He started to leave, but hesitated, turning back to Ace. “Thank you, sir.” And with that, the boy disappeared into the darkness. Ace smiled, turning his gaze back to his Poochyena. “I hope he can manage to beat me next time.” Poochyena barked, wagging his tail before licking his master. Ace smiled again, casting his gaze upward.
“You better come back, kid.”
John is located here. Ace will defeat his father to become the new leader.
