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It was certainly rare to see Asch at a place like this. He wasn't one much for swimming. One part being that the chlorine in the pool wasn't good for his hair, and another being that he just... wasn't an avid swimmer. Not that he couldn't, but he didn't consider a worthy enough pass time. He also didn't make it a habit of training water Pokemon, but one had come into his possession and it would be cruel not to expose her to water now and then.

However, the young agent certainly was dressed for the occasion as there also was no point in wearing normal clothes to a place where he could possibly get wet. Wearing a pair of black and red swimming trunks, and a white towel draped around his neck, Asch strode barefoot into the pool room. A little Zorua bounced along after him then started excitedly exploring the place. His master had never taken him here before! There was also another pokeball in hand.

The first thing Asch saw though was a wet lady standing there with a stupid expression on her face. The boy with the long red hair said nothing though, and merely continued to the edge of the pool.

"No," Asch said towards the woman as he sat himself on the edge of the pool and put his feet into the water. Or at least he wasn't intending to. He caught sight of the Vaporeon though and blinked once in surprise. It seemed that the two of them were here for... extremely similar reasons. Which was made clear when he took the pokeball in his hand and released the occupant inside. Which just happened to be another Vaporeon.

"Zor!" Tyke greets Vahy'n from the other side of the pool, his voice echoing through the tiled room.

Asch did notice that the lady certainly wore a poor choice in clothing to the pool. "I'm just here for her," he said, indicating the Vaporeon he'd just released.

"I didn't want to swim either," Elle said, watching Vesper--who was in fact attempting to do pirouettes in the water--and smiling. As he released his Vaporeon from its pokeball, Elle's eyes lit up. "Oh! Another Vaporeon!" And a pretty one at that. Vesper might be jealous. Elle sat by the edge of the pool too, a little ways away from the boy, hugging her knees to her chest. "I thought owning a Pokemon would be easy...but it turns out that Vesper definitely has a mind of her own--it was her that drenched me like this, I don't usually walk around soaking wet. I'm Elle, by the way."

Vesper, however, was decidedly not jealous. Instead, she was completely overjoyed at the prospect of a swimming partner and swam over to the elegantly colored Vaporeon to introduce herself. "Poreon!" she said happily. Maybe if she was lucky, she'd even get to have a race!

"I really don't know if she respects me or not," Elle mused. She'd had Vesper for years, but she'd never really put forth any effort into training her. It was only after she joined Team Rocket that she realized she ought to be investing more time into building up Vesper's skills. "I mean, she listens mostly. But she's always cutting up and goofing off. I just figured that was normal." Elle really was lost in this whole "training" idea. There was a reason she hadn't stormed off when she was 10, Pokemon in hand, off to challenge the world.

"You seem to know a lot about Pokemon," she said. Even though he was young, he seemed a lot older. But then again, this place would do that to you. "I'm hoping that I'll learn fast," she confided, "because I've pretty much let Vesper do whatever she wants since I've owned her. I know, I'm a terrible trainer," she said, laughing, "but it just seemed so cruel to force her to do anything."

Authoritative. This boy--he wasn't a boy. He was a man. Why hadn't she seen this earlier? And he had excellent taste in hair products. He had to, to maintain those spikes of his. She was sitting here talking to him like she was some complete novice--which she was--but he had no business knowing that. She could only assume that the chlorine had addled her brain and made her incompetent on a foundational level.

"You know what?" she said softly, "I think we'll be just fine. We'll take those classes," she purred, "but I just noticed how well kept your crimson locks are and I simply must find a new hairdresser--maybe you could help me out with that?" She ran her fingers over her sodden hair. She was due for a haircut. It would be quite a shame if she went to some novice and they butchered her glorious bangs.

Vesper nearly face-pawed. This was no time to be talking about hairdressers. But, more worriedly, her mistress was talking about training...and being serious about it. Vesper might actually have to do some work! She shuddered at the thought. It was way more fun to play all day.

"What's that look for? Don't people tell you how amazing your hair is often? I mean, I suppose they could overlook it, but...I really don't see how. Long hair alone is tough to keep--but pair that with those lovely spikes and you've got yourself some top-notch hair care." She didn't understand it. Surely other people had showered his luscious mane in compliments. "Hee hee, maybe it's because they're too busy complimenting you in other ways. You're not half-bad in the looks department, you know."

"A referral would be lovely. These bangs are too easy to screw up--and the color! This one time some hack turned my hair green, can you believe it? And don't worry--I don't plan on copying your style. It's no fun mimicking other people." He wasn't very talkative, Elle noted. But that was no matter. She could talk for both of them, and be happy about it too.

Oooh, touchy. Well no wonder people didn't compliment him if this was how he reacted. Elle almost frowned at him--but then she realized he was practically pouting and had to cover a smile with her hand.

"Wait...you were hurt?" she asked, concern erasing her smile. "Then I suppose it's an even greater achievement...but I suppose you know more about that than I would. Seeing as it's your hair and all." She sat quietly for a minute. "I know you're a guy and so you probably don't want help--but if you ever did, I'm pretty handy with hairstyles. I could give you a hand."