📩 (4) Unread Messages from [Unknown] !!
REPLY   MARK AS READ   MUTE

Your neighbor, SEO-EUN, just sent you a PDF to download and read in preparation for the mission.

You decide to open it.

As you start reading, it is split into various sections for an easier navigation...

⿻﹕ Table of Contents ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

𝒊. RULES.
𝒊𝒊. GUIDE TO THE REGION.
𝒊𝒊𝒊. SLOTS.

━━━ 　 𝓟ART 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ﹕ The RULES ꜜ

𝒊. ㅤ First thing and an absolute must: be nice to everyone. While it might seem obvious, it doesn't seem to be the general attitude lately. Keep the mean jokes within your friend group and be polite towards everyone, no matter how you actually feel about them. Should any issue arise, I will take the appropriate measures to ensure it doesn't affect anyone, ranging from mild warning notes and moderation in conflict to the more severe permanent ban and instant block.

ㅤ This also applies before you get actually accepted: don't make fun nor be aggressive towards your competitors or anyone else involved, regardless of how you feel about them on a personal level. I don't care if we're best friends or if we're complete strangers, I won't be lenient with assholes regardless of my previous or current association with them and I will call you out on such behavior. Let's all be decent human beings. Thank you!

𝓲𝓲. ㅤ While applying, make sure your faceclaim is within the age range of the slot, which I'm keeping extremely vague anyways (since most characters in canon don't have fixed ages), so please, it's just a matter of not sending me a 80 years old Jojo Siwa or a 10 years old Shindong. Don't age up faceclaims under 18. I'm not going to allow faceclaims born after 2008 and it's extremely unlikely I will make any exception, so don't bother asking.

ㅤ I accept celebrity faceclaims of all kinds, with a preference for idols (which reflects in the recommendations for faceclaims), but you may always apply with actors or other celebrities as long as they consent (I don't want to see a DPR IAN or IU faceclaim. Don't even try) and it's not an Internet icon (ulzzangs are NOT celebrities). If applying with an idol faceclaim, you'll be asked to specify what era is the one that inspired you specifically, preferably a recent one (the latest 2-3 years at most). It doesn't matter if there's not much media, since 1) it's just a reference for the design that will appear in the fangame and 2) I won't use much media in the book either; still, maybe don't choose a faceclaim that literally has one (1) photo...

ㅤ Now, Merenge isn't a real place, so the topic of ethnicity bending gets a bit more complex here, but for the sake of simplicity you may use anyone belonging to any East Asian ethnic group as a faceclaim for Merenge natives; while oversimplifying different ethnic groups isn't something I like doing in general, it is impossible to avoid it in this setting, and they are more of a design inspiration rather than a real face attached to the OC considering this will become a game. As for OCs of other origins, we'll get to that in a second moment...

𝓲𝓲𝓲. ㅤ Activity is a must. I will not chase people around like I would for my survival show applyfics, sure, but it costs nothing to vote the chapters and maybe leave a comment once in a while: what sense does it make to apply for something you're completely uninterested in, after all?

ㅤ I myself will not be updating as frequently due to having Seiyuu Academy 2 currently ongoing, but I will be as communicative as I can and surely not discontinue it anytime soon; the effort should come from both sides, though, so let's do this together and let's do it well.

𝓲𝓿. ㅤ Forms must be submitted in Google Docs. Commented forms are bound to get lost and a Google Form is too much of a hassle to set up, especially considering you can't even save the form unless I send it back to you. And that's also a hassle, so I'll make things simpler for both you and me! You're welcome.

ㅤ Don't skip any section unless it is outright considered optional; I will not take into consideration incomplete forms until fixed. This is not something I will get mad about unless you've left half the form blank... In that case, I'm not sorry, you're literally asking for it.

ㅤ Now, I don't really care about how you decide to format your form (content over aesthetics, always), but I am visually impaired and have high sensitivity to eyestrain so be extra careful: I'm not going to look at how pretty it is, but if I have to open my screenreader to read the ENTIRETY of your form on the basis of it being unaccessible I'm outright rejecting it. Unicode fonts like 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 or 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 for anything that isn't a heading is also a no. Be mindful of your disabled folks. Examples below:

　 The first picture is an example of an acceptable format as the contrast between text and background color is good, the font is readable and the filter of the GIF will not kill my grandma; couldn't say the same about the second picture. If I see anything remotely similar, I'll gouge my eyes out. This doesn't mean you can't decorate your form, just be considerate with your editing choices.

ㅤ Another extremely important note: DON'T USE YOUR IRL GOOGLE ACCOUNTS. I really do not want to know your IRL names and it's happened more than once, which is greatly concerning given the age of some of you on here. I didn't think I needed to tell you, but here we are...

𝓿. ㅤ You will need to have Discord to apply. Aside from the fact that Wattpad removed DMs and I need you to be in reach, it's much more convenient to update people on a server. Reinforcing once again the first rule, you will be banned and blocked for any inappropriate behavior (it happened in other AFs, you best believe I will do it again).

ㅤ I will try and find another solution that works for both of us in case you really can't use Discord, but I would greatly prefer that instead. Sorry! 🙏🏾 

𝓿𝓲. ㅤ Finally, it's important to note this is not first come first serve. I greatly value the quality of the characters I receive which is why I'll take my sweet time selecting the ones that fit my vision the best. You may submit up to 2 forms (1 main, 1 sub); whether or not I'll accept both of them, that depends on a few factors I don't have the time to write down right now. More slots might also open up last moment depending on whether I'll need more characters or not.

𝓿𝓲𝓲. ㅤ There's a password to add to the form, of course! It's the answer to the question: If you could turn into a Pokémon, which one would it be — and why?

ㅤ I would just ask for your favorite (and for most people, the answers would likely overlap), but I felt silly and decided to ask something more specific to this applyfic instead...! Your reasoning can also be something as simple as "because it's cute" or "I want to fly", I'm not expecting a philosophical reply out of a password 😭 So don't worry if your reply feels "silly", I just want to know you better in a way!

━━━ 　 𝓟ART 𝐓𝐖𝐎 ﹕ Guide To The REGION ꜜ

Hi there, EIRIAN! Or should I call you HO-JIN?

I've prepared this document to help you out a bit, since your mom said you haven't really trained nor gone out with your Pokémon prior to coming here, even if you had a Meowth already... What a pity... But that just means I need to be a good neighbor and explain everything I can to you!

I'm sure you know some of the basics already, such as how every Pokémon has a specific Type and that they can evolve in different ways, right? In case you don't know what I'm talking about, Bulbapedia might be the best place for you to look in! I think they can explain it much better than I ever will, so let's move onto a guide to the region instead!

Map of Merenge.

𝓲. ㅤ GEOGRAPHY !

ㅤ Similarly to other regions such as Unova and Alola, Merenge is located in a separate area of the Pokémon World, which reflects in the numeration system for routes; unlike other regions, in fact, Merenge starts from Route 1, likely to further emphasize its distance from the rest.

ㅤ The region currently features a total of 16 settlements ━ 6 towns and 10 cities ━ although its most recent urbanization process is looking forward to increase the number due to the large influx of new inhabitants and tourists from other regions.

✸﹕ Towns ﹒ ꜜ

ㅤ 1. Noisette Town
ㅤ 2. Sukero Town
ㅤ 3. Mielo Town
ㅤ 4. Griotte Town
ㅤ 5. Amandine Town
ㅤ 6. Cinamo Town

✸﹕ Cities ﹒ ꜜ

ㅤ 1. Madeleine City
ㅤ 2. Mohn City
ㅤ 3. Marjolaine City
ㅤ 4. Dariole City
ㅤ 5. Nonnette City
ㅤ 6. Tuile City
ㅤ 7. Mafino City
ㅤ 8. Chouquette City
ㅤ 9. Clementine City

ㅤ Most of the regional are located in the flat areas of the region, with the exception of Mafino City — entirely built on Water — and Chouquette City, hidden in the middle of Merenge's snowy mountains! I'm sure that out of these you'll immediately recognize Noisette Town, since that's where we live! If you're ever interested, you might find SE-ON's house there too...! It'll take a while to get used to all these locations and orient yourself in Merenge, but fear not! Your Pokédex also has a GPS function, and I'm sure your Rotom can further enhance it... You'll never get lost this way!

𝓲𝓲. ㅤ MERENGE LEAGUE !

ㅤ It is incredibly important to introduce the Merenge League! We're on a mission to find out their whereabouts, after all... But let me explain what it is exactly!

ㅤ The Merenge League is the regional Pokémon League of the Merenge region. After obtaining the eight Badges of the region, a Trainer may battle the Elite Four at the Pokémon League building.

✸﹕ Gym Leaders ﹒ ꜜ

ㅤ 1. IN BLOOM (Madeleine City)
ㅤ 2. WILD BLUE (Dariole City)
ㅤ 3. FIRE IN THE BELLY (Marjolaine City)
ㅤ 4. HEARTBEAT (Nonnette City)
ㅤ 5. HOLD ON TIGHT (Griotte Town)
ㅤ 6. SWEET JUICE (Tuile City)
ㅤ 7. CHEEKY ICY THANG (Chouquette City)
ㅤ 8. TRIP ADVISOR (Clementine City)

✸﹕ Elite Four (& Champion) ﹒ ꜜ

ㅤ 1. PIT-A-PET
ㅤ 2. HUNNYBEE
ㅤ 3. TICK TICK BOOM
ㅤ 4. NIGHTWALKER
ㅤ 5. SE-ON

━━━ 　 𝓟ART 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 ﹕ The SLOTS ꜜ

As previously stated, you may apply for 1 Main Slot and 1 Sub Slot at most. Main Slots are the ones which feature custom graphics and they'll be open from the get-go, while Sub Slots are only shown as text and will only be available after the Main Slots they're connected to are closed.

Example: As soon as I receive the form for In Bloom, I will open submissions for Shooting Star; similarly, I will allow whoever was chosen for Fire in the Belly to submit their form for Possible Tattler if they wish — and so on. Do note that while Sub Slots vary a lot in relevance to the story, the Main Slots all have the same importance, which is why I'm prioritizing getting forms for them first.

Joint forms are allowed, especially considering some of these slots are connected to each other; as I start accepting forms, however, you must prepare yourself to the possibility of me asking to change smaller details for the sake of matching my preferred picks in a coherent way.

Last but not least, small age range guide:

Early Teens: 13-16
Late Teens: 17-19
Young Adult: 20-30
Adult: 30+

You will not be asked to specify the age in the form, but you need to keep this in mind while you choose your faceclaim.

░ ⓵ ∴ In Bloom 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Closed
Late Teens, Merenge Native

　 It takes time, patience and lots of hard work for a trainer to bond with their Pokémon and reach an understanding strong enough for them to earn the right to become a Gym Leader; and yet, despite only starting in recent times, IN BLOOM already achieved the title of the Grass Type Gym Leader after defeating a distant relative, the seemingly undefeatable prince SHOOTING STAR. No one would've expected the next heir to the Madeleine Bakery to choose this path, and many admittedly underestimate him despite proving himself once already, but he does his best to fulfill his duties as both a Gym Leader and a Seasonal Protector of the region even at his young age.

　 IN BLOOM is well loved by the Madeleine City citizens because of his kind nature and determination, but often underestimated among the veteran leaders of the region due to his young age and lack of expertise compared to his predecessor, which has caused him to develop a noticeably strong inferiority complex; as long as he has his Pokémon by his side, however, he's sure everything will be fine... Right?

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM: Gunwook, ZEROBASEONE.
❷ A real-life version of his own Pokémon.
❸ Why did he suddenly decide to try and become a Gym Leader, and who is a senior he looks up to? Is it his predecessor, SHOOTING STAR, or is it another Gym Leader?

━━━━━━━━━━

⿻﹕ Sub Slots ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

▓ ⓵ ˳ ⊹ Shooting Star ┄ Closed
Young Adult, Merenge Native

Part of Merenge's Royal Family, he was Madeleine City's Rock Type Gym Leader until a distant relevant of his, IN BLOOM, defeated him just a few months prior to the events of the story. While quite the ambitious type and an admirable Gym Leader, he's really happy to be free from the responsibilities that come with the position: he much prefers to help out in the city's mines and building sites thanks to his trustworthy team. This slot is exclusively available to the IN BLOOM applier or people authorized by them.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: STRICTLY MALE. N/A.
❷ Expand at least a bit on the region's royal family; the more you write, the better — but as long as I get at least a smaller paragraph on it, it'll be enough! You can also ask for assistance in the process.

━━━━━━━━━━

░ ⓶ ∴ Wild Blue 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Early Teens, Merenge Native

　 A legendary figure acknowledged even by the strongest trainers of the region, WILD BLUE is now the Water Type Gym Leader residing in Dariole City, working night and day by their father's side — the city mayor. There's not a single person who doesn't know their name in all Merenge, with stories regarding their heroic adventures being spread all across the region. When it comes to knowing the real WILD BLUE, however, no one can give a precise answer: they're just that mysterious, to the point even their existence as a single individual is still debated amongst locals. WILD BLUE does exist — and they're pretty integral to Dariole City's development, especially as it strives to be the most influential port city of the entire Pokémon World — but you'd be to surprised to find out the hero everyone thinks they know and love is nothing but a child.

　 If never judge a book by its cover was a person, that would surely be WILD BLUE. At first glance you'd probably describe them as an innocuous, awkward kid whose existence is almost forgettable; and yet, behind this mask, they're incredibly bold and very strong, truly a force to be reckoned with. They keep their distance from other people, but they aren't necessarily antisocial nor do they harbor any negative feeling towards the locals: all they hate is being under the spotlight, and there's no way to avoid it with their real identity being public information.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone with an "old person" vibe despite their young age, like Yujin from ZEROBASEONE or Yeonji from tripleS.
❷ A Pokémon who can freely move around both on the ground and in the water, like a Mudkip or a Ducklett.
❸ Why do they hate being under the spotlight? Has it always been like this? Is it just a precaution, or did anything happen in the past — either to them or someone they're close to?

░ ⓷ ∴ Fire in the Belly 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult or Adult, of Alolan Origins

　 Marjolaine City, the city of all possibilities, is led by the eccentric FIRE IN THE BELLY, a Fire Type Gym Leader surrounded by rumors of all sorts. While the credibility of the sources spreading such news is questionable, many are utterly convinced there's something wrong with the woman, often described with offensive epithets it's better not to mention here. It doesn't help she often surrounds herself with rather shady individuals, some allegedly associated with the infamous Kanto-based Team Rocket, and the circumstances behind the death of her predecessor are considered quite suspicious as well; needless to say, many are scared of such a suspicious person holding prestigious titles, being not only one of the region's Gym Leaders but also one of its Seasonal Protectors.

　 Despite everything, however, she doesn't let anyone's outrageous bullying acts get to her, swearing to protect her community at all costs; the Marjolaine City everyone knows and loves wouldn't exist hadn't it been for their collective efforts, after all, and after losing her village back in Alola, she will not sacrifice her new home for anyone. Knowing her better, people can see FIRE IN THE BELLY is actually loyal, caring and strongly idealistic — even as she upholds her image as a mentally unstable freak to outsiders just to make sure none of her people will have to fill in that role in her place.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: STRICTLY FEMALE. A woman whose features would be considered "unusual" in an homogeneous eurocentric setting, like Fatou from BLACKSWAN, Zhong Feifei or Rhea Raj.
❷ An elegant-looking Pokémon like Ninetales or Delphox.
❸ Are the rumors true, even if just partly? Who spread them? Is this person on her side, or do they have other reasons to paint her as a dangerous individual? Or is it something she's doing by herself? Depending on your answer, you might have to fill in a secondary form for the "POTENTIAL SUB SLOT" mentioned below.

━━━━━━━━━━

⿻﹕ Sub Slots ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

▓ ⓵ ˳ ⊹ Potential Tattler ┄ Open
Any Age, Merenge Native

This slot is completely blank and purely created with the purpose of enriching FIRE IN THE BELLY's character in case you decide the rumors about her are being spread by someone else. This slot is exclusively available to FIRE IN THE BELLY appliers.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. N/A.
❷ What is their relationship with FIRE IN THE BELLY? Do they know each other at all? Are they doing this to help her maintain her desired image, or do they have another purpose?

━━━━━━━━━━

░ ⓸ ∴ Heartbeat 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult, Merenge Native

　 Spending their life with their eyes on their books and research material since the tender age of 5, the prodigy HEARTBEAT was expected to become the next Pokémon Professor after working by the current one's side — also known as their mother, Mrs. Geum — for nearly their entire life; with this background, it comes as a surprise that they eventually decided to retire in an abandoned research center not too far from Nonnette City, where they'd eventually build the new Steel Type Gym. Even with the changes in environment, they've never stopped researching Pokémon — if anything, they were able to enrich their knowledge by observing a completely different area from their previous one, closer to the much quieter Noisette Town.

　 Shortly before moving to Nonnette City, HEARTBEAT had an extremely risky heart transplant following further complications in their already precarious physical health. While they were able to survive and can currently lead a normal life, however, this came at the cost of sudden changes in their behavior and the surge of vivid memories they don't remember experiencing at all: from being the usually inexpressive yet good-natured researcher they once were, purely focused on improving life for both Pokémon and humans alike, HEARTBEAT has gradually become more and more obsessed with advancing in their achievements, slowly crossing the unspoken ethics in human and Pokémon research.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: Someone who looks like a cerebral type with more serious facial expressions, like Yunah from ILLIT or Jaechan from DKZ.
❷ A big and strong Pokémon like Steelix or Aggron.
❸ Their cousin is the Pokémon Champion, SE-ON, whose relationship with HEARTBEAT's mother is rocky (refer to the introduction). What about them? Do SE-ON and HEARTBEAT get along? Did that change in any way after the transplant?
➍ Are they aware of how increasingly inhuman they're becoming, or are they losing their mind without even noticing?

░ ⓹ ∴ Hold on Tight 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult, Merenge Native

　 Everyone knows HOLD ON TIGHT, Merenge's idol! Too busy even to breathe for a second, they juggle their idol career, their position as the Ghost Type Gym Leader and their family's farm — along with other smaller tasks —  back in their hometown, the small and peaceful Griotte Town; despite the exasperating amount of exhausting tasks they have to complete, HOLD ON TIGHT is always seen with a smile on their face and happily working on their tasks, earning themself everyone's utmost respect. You'd think that a person this sweet and hardworking would have a perfect life, but there's one teeny-tiny problem: they're constantly followed around by all sorts of misfortunes, ranging from trivial issues like stepping on a Pidove's excrement to greater incidents such as risking to be run over or fall out of the window situated on the last floor of a tall building. Well, as long as they're still alive! Right?

　 Despite the unceasing series of misfortunes following them, HOLD ON TIGHT keeps their head high and continues to work hard for everyone else's good. They're so infectiously positive and optimistic, one to see the beauty even in what most would consider appalling: it is the case for most Ghost Type Pokémon, the ones they're always surrounded by — especially this Dusknoir who can't seem to leave them alone despite not being theirs, in theory, and what's with this wild Gengar always lurking around in search of its next victim? HOLD ON TIGHT doesn't really know, but one thing is sure: they keep great company during burial services at the cemetery!

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone with a sloth-like appearance, like Havit from TRENDZ, Lia from ITZY or Chani from SF9.
❷ A Pokémon on the cuter side, like Pumpkaboo or Mimikyu.
❸ Read the Pokédex entries for the two Pokémon mentioned in their description. What role do they play in HOLD ON TIGHT's life? Why are these two Pokémon following them specifically?

░ ⓺ ∴ Sweet Juice 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult, Unknown Origins

　 No one knows what the hell is wrong with SWEET JUICE, the owner of a small perfumery in the chaotic and everchanging Tuile City: he's so open about himself, so honest with his feelings and so friendly with everyone — but as soon as he's earned your trust he strikes like a venomous snake, holding onto your biggest fears and crushing your confidence with his words and actions, with the most annoying smirk plastered on his lips as he does so. It only seems fitting for a man like him to be the Poison Type Gym Leader of the region, both feared and somehow admired (even while feeling indignation) by almost everyone who has been (un)lucky enough to cross his path at least once.

　 SWEET JUICE really makes you wonder what his problem is, especially considering nothing is known about his background — not even his real origins. He seems to have an aptitude for seducing, scamming and hurting people's egos; and yet, the people living in Tuile City seem to love him all while knowing his dirty tricks. Who knows: maybe aside from his work as a Gym Leader and a Seasonal Protector, on top of his small activity, he's also helping the citizens in other ways... But that couldn't be, right?

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: STRICTLY MALE. Someone with a fox face, like Park Hanbin from EVNNE or Yeonjun from TXT.
❷ A Pokémon associated with dirt and stench, like Muk or Stunky.

░ ⓻ ∴ Melting Point 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Adult, Merenge Native (allegedly)

　 The most enigmatic figure among the nine unlucky ones, MELTING POINT is not a Gym Leader, but a wanderer who claims to be born and raised in Merenge despite their name not being found anywhere: their only family seems to be CHEEKY ICY THANG, the current Ice Type Gym Leader and the top stylist in Merenge currently residing in the city of fashion, Chouquette City. Despite being complete strangers to each other, CHEEKY ICY THANG has decided to take them in and help them as they settle in a totally new environment; initially offered to work alongside their younger relative, MELTING POINT has settled for becoming an assistant at the Fossil Restoration Center not too far from the city after finding information on a certain Pokémon they thought they'd never see again.

　 MELTING POINT may appear as a very cold person, probably because of their tendency to speak curtly, but once you talk to them more you'll find out they can be quite lovable and caring — even if surprisingly clumsy for their age. They're also incredibly protective of CHEEKY ICY THANG despite reconnecting only in recent times, which would explain why they took on the scout's offer to form a M-Pop group with Merenge's Gym Leaders in their stead: personality wise, one could say they're similar to an Aurorus, a Pokémon that no one in Merenge has ever heard of.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone with mature looks, potentially a leader, like Taeyeon from Girls' Generation or Onew from SHINee.
❷ The Pokémon they will turn into is strictly an Aurorus.
❸ The faceclaim should look at least remotely similar to the one for CHEEKY ICY THANG, so try to choose one with known lookalikes. Why are they so overly protective of CHEEKY ICY THANG despite not knowing them that well?
➍ They were found hibernating in a huge block of ice while hugging an Amaura. You can reach out to me for more details on what this means!

━━━━━━━━━━

⿻﹕ Sub Slots ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

▓ ⓵ ˳ ⊹ Cheeky Icy Thang ┄ Open
Young Adult, Merenge Native

CHEEKY ICY THANG, Merenge's most famous stylist! While being quite the eccentric type, they're also very devoted to their career and one to carry on their duties flawlessly — not only in fashion, but also as a Gym Leader and a Seasonal Protector. They're admittedly conceited, with their current status as a well-known regional icon likely indulging a pre-existent superiority complex, but they're incredibly kind and caring towards those they perceive as "inferior" (for a lack of a better term) at the same time, purely for the sake of seeing those who are less lucky succeed in life.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone who looks like a younger version of MELTING POINT, like Winter from aespa or Changuk from DRIPPIN.
❷ What do they think of MELTING POINT? Did they take them in purely out of pity, or do they feel responsible towards them due to being relatives?

━━━━━━━━━━

░ ⓼ ∴ Trip Advisor 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Adult, Merenge Native

　 The most expert trainer in the entire region, TRIP ADVISOR has repeatedly rejected the offer to join Merenge's Elite Four as they considered it "too limiting of a position"; with this mindset, they have settled for the position of Clementine City's Flying Type Gym Leader, which still allows them to travel around as much as they want while also securing a title that officially acknolwedges them as a trainer to be scared of. Alongside their long-time partner NIGHTWALKER and their helpers, SONGBIRD and SUPERSONIC, they're also in charge of the Merenge Regional Transports Service, always ensuring the service is efficient for humans and Pokémon alike to travel in all safety.

　 One would expect the oldest Gym Leader of the region to be the most serious and dedicated to their job, but it doesn't take much to find out TRIP ADVISOR is the total opposite. Playful and irresponsible, they're often scolded over not taking anyone or anything seriously, especially when it comes to Pokémon fights; what's more, they're so full of themself and dismissive of everyone else's efforts — and since they've never lost a fight, no one has been able to put them back in place yet. They're often out of reach, travelling both in and out of the region as they please without caring to warn anyone, as they don't consider any Pokémon trainer worth their time: in real TRIP ADVISOR fashion, their "special way" to give out badges to those who wish to challenge them is to simply send it with their trusted Pelipper's help.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone who can pull off both a mature and more playful look, like Chanyeol from EXO, Kai from chotokkyu or Solar from MAMAMOO.
❷ A Pokémon who looks "very mindful, very demure", like Tranquill or Dartrix.
❸ Why do they refuse to challenge anyone, given their role? Did they lose their passion for fights after becoming the strongest, or did anything traumatic happen?
➍ Whatever team you create for them, it must include a Pelipper.

━━━━━━━━━━

⿻﹕ Sub Slots ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

▓ ⓵ ˳ ⊹ Nightwalker ┄ Open
Adult, Merenge Native

Currently part of the Elite Four as a trainer specialized in Dark Type Pokémon, NIGHTWALKER has been by TRIP ADVISOR's side for as long as they can remember. Compared to his best friend, friendly yet always out of reach, they're much less approachable but constantly present. It is an odd combo that you wouldn't expect to work given how detached TRIP ADVISOR typically is, but they oddly feel at peace with NIGHTWALKER right where most would say they're the most boring person in the world.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Someone who doesn't smile often or known for having a RBF, like D.O from EXO or SinB from VIVIZ.
❷ How do they feel about TRIP ADVISOR's quirks? Do they try to change them in some way, or do they enable such behaviors?

━━━━━━━━━━

▓ ⓶ ˳ ⊹ Songbird ┄ Open
Early Teens, Merenge Native

TRIP ADVISOR has tried so many times to get rid of them, but to no avail: SONGBIRD will be anywhere they go, constantly asking to be mentored so they can become a stronger trainer. While they're still terrible and not showing any sign of improvement, TRIP ADVISOR can't help but find their determination quite endearing; maybe they, too, were like that back when they first started.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. A cutie pie. That's it. On top of my head, Sakuya or Ryo from NCT WISH or even Joobin¹ from tripleS.
❷ In what way are they helpful to TRIP ADVISOR?

━━━━━━━━━━

▓ ⓷ ˳ ⊹ SUPERSONIC ┄ Open
Early Teens, Merenge Native

SONGBIRD's partner in crime, SUPERSONIC accepted to help out TRIP ADVISOR at the Merenge Regional Transports Service purely to keep an eye on their childhood friend. Despite their cute appearance, their preferred Pokémon are Dark and Dragon Types, with Hydreigon being their companion of a lifetime. TRIP ADVISOR fears them a bit, as they've been able to tame a Pokémon known for being particularly aggressive even while being this young, but they're the sweetest person you could ever meet.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. Also a cutie pie. On top of my head, Kyungmin from TWS or Wonhee from ILLIT.
❷ Whatever team you create for them, it must include a Hydreigon.

━━━━━━━━━━

░ ⓽ ∴ Pit-a-Pet 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult, Merenge Native

　 Many people think of PIT-A-PET as not just scary, but truly terrifying — but why? Surely not just because of his looks... Right? It seems to be a common case of perception bias, as just one conversation with the Elite Four member specialized in Fairy Type Pokémon will reveal his lovable personality almost immediately. He originally worked in his native Madeleine City's Swirlix Café, in a friendly rivalry with IN BLOOM's family's Madeleine Bakery, but he's changed his plans after seeing how sales decreased in his presence and has decided to put his scary looks and impressive fighting skills to use in the Pokémon League after being offered to join the Elite Four by the Champion himself, SE-ON.

　 It'd be a lie to say PIT-A-PET isn't affected in the slightest by the negative comments about his "scary" appearance, but he doesn't like to worry the few people he's close to; to counter his negative feelings on the matter — and probably also in an attempt to soften his expressions — he likes to indulge in anything he finds cute, the main reasons he's decided to specialize in Fairy Type Pokémon to begin with. PIT-A-PET is, despite everything, still the same positive — at times even naïve — kid he's been since his early childhood, believing that optimism is the key to making his wishes come true even if the world keeps giving him reasons to believe otherwise.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: STRICTLY MALE. A faceclaim with strong, intimidating visuals like Sangwoo from JUST B or Xayden from ALL(H)OURS; alternatively, any male idol who has at least a few pictures with horribly colored contact lenses...
➋ The cutest Pokémon you can think of, like a Swirlix or a Ribombee.
➌ Does he genuinely like cute things in general? If yes: Is he open about it, or does it keep it to himself? Do other people know or believe it? If not: Does he hate them or is he simply indifferent? Will this change in any way at any point?

░ ⓾ ∴ Hunnybee 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Open
Young Adult, Merenge Native

　 The Elite Four are scary? Says who? HUNNYBEE, the trainer specialized in Bug Type Pokémon, would get incredibly offended knowing this is what strangers think of them. They're an hardworker who holds their own in fights — they aren't in the Elite Four for nothing, after all — but those who know them closely will be quick to point out just how dumb they can be; everything is said affectionately, of course, but after even HUNNYBEE themself is aware they need to work on their clumsiness before incidents like the ones back in their native Madeleine City repeat themselves.

　 HUNNYBEE leads a peaceful life, happy to be able to spend time with their dear Pokémon but also blissfully unaware of what is happening around them, for the better or for the worse. While everyone loves the positive energy they bring in the room, they also get annoyed by how frequently they cause problems around them just by being a bit clumsier than the average person; the only person who finds HUNNYBEE's almost childish demeanor endearing is their childhood friend, PIT-A-PET, whom they hold particularly close.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: EITHER GENDER. A loud, energetic dumbass (affectionate), like Jiung from P1Harmony or Chaewon from LE SSERAFIM.
➋ The silliest Pokémon for the silliest trainer, like a Weedle or a Sewaddle.
➌ What happened in Madeleine City for them to grow slightly more aware of the problems they cause to other people? The incidents may or may not be Pokémon related.

━━━━━━━━━━

⿻﹕ Sub Slots ㅤ .ㅤ.ㅤ✶

▓ ⓵ ˳ ⊹ Tick Tick Boom ┄ Open
Adult, Any Origin

Is she saying the truth? Is she a scammer? Nobody knows. TICK TICK BOOM seems to have the ability to read in the future, much like the Gothitelle she's always accompanied by, but it's hard to believe this member of the Elite Four specialized in Psychic Type Pokémon until her predictions come true. She often appears as rather detached, probably because of her hyperawareness to the imminent tragedies surrounding her.

░ ˳ ⊹ ⋮ KEY POINTS.

❶ FACECLAIM RECOMMENDATIONS: STRICTLY FEMALE. Someone with gorgeous visuals, especially following KBS, who can pull a more serious look, like Xiaoting from Kep1er and Sihyeon from EVERGLOW².
❷ Whatever team you create for her, it must include a Gothitelle.

━━━━━━━━━━

░ ⓑⓞⓝⓤⓢ ∴ Team Bridie 　 ◌ ◌ ◌ 　 Unavailable

　 While Merenge enjoys a status of apparent peace within its regional borders, it is nothing more than an obvious lie: there's no territory without its own problems, and Merenge is no exception. For a few years now, a mysterious association with mostly unidentified members called TEAM BRIDIE has repeatedly stated their intent to overthrow the current government, Merenge's Royal Family, and to lead the region towards a prosperous future for humans and Pokémon alike. This empty promise was originally taken as a joke by the threatened party, but as the ten strongest trainers of the region disappear without leaving any trace behind them, it becomes clear Team Bridie is serious and incredibly dangerous.

　 Despite being identified as a small, exclusive association, TEAM BRIDIE is suspected to have strong connections with foreign governments and to be in possession of Pokémon known for their destructive powers and aggressive natures; all rumors have yet to be confirmed or denied, of course, and there are quite a few people in Merenge who firmly believe this alleged evil team doesn't even exist to begin with.

　 But TEAM BRIDIE exists, and it will strike when you least expect it.

━━━━━━━━━━

　 You'd think Merenge natives would want to warn foreigners about TEAM BRIDIE, but they're the first to dismiss the topic altogether: they probably think that by ignoring its existence, the members won't attack civilians — or maybe the team will cease existing altogether. The few people who do talk about the team seem to be admirers of their cause, firm believers of Merenge's corruption being caused by the royals themselves.

　 The voices never last long, however, as these individuals either change their mind in the span of a few days, or they disappear altogether. What is happening behind the scenes? Nobody knows — but maybe you can find the answer, HO-JIN.

Everyone seems to trust you to solve their problems a bit too much, considering you're just an Alolan who recently moved in.

Would you look at that!

She disconnected...

FEVEN'S NOTES . . .

¹ Exception for the allowed age range for faceclaims, although not preferred; if you wish to apply with a female OC for that slot, I'd prefer a faceclaim born in 2007-08 at most.

² Both faceclaim suggestions are technically out of the age range, but it is on purpose; I would like someone who looks a bit younger for that slot specifically, so even if they technically belong to the Young Adult bracket, they're valid choices.

☆ ☆ ☆

Hello everyone! As I'm clicking on that Publish button I am shaking in fear, since this chapter is incredibly rushed for my standards... It's just I really couldn't hold back anymore, I needed to let these critters out.

I wanted this chapter to be a proper introduction to the region along with the slots but I don't have enough time anymore nor the strength to make this chapter longer than it is already, so everything else will be slowly revealed as the story goes on — unless you directly ask for more information while filling in the form, that is.

It's 2:00 AM, I just finished revising for the 35th time and I'm sleepy and extremely angry, so no time for a 36th revision... I worked hard on these slots, I hope it shows regardless of any mistake you might find on this page! Let me know which one you're considering to go for. P.S. If you notice SWEET JUICE only has 2 Key Points instead of 3, it's because I was originally supposed to take that slot for myself... But I decided against it last moment.

Last but not least, I would like to thank Mat and Zhi specifically because had I not spammed their DMs while I was in the brainstorming phase for slots (mind you, after changing almost all of them last minute), I would've gone insane; they both helped me a lot and validated my ideas while also showing genuine interest. Sincerely thanks to you both, I probably would've procrastinated on this for much longer without your support. Same goes out to Rune and Jia, though I did not spam you two just as much this time; still, thank you two for everything as well, really.

This being said... The form will be out as soon as possible, hopefully before I leave this month! I'll be out of the country and fully inactive overall for a week so let's hope I get to publish before then...

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