Personality

For lack of a better metaphor, Amber is a bit like a bird-- she's friendly to everyone to an extent, but has a noticeable 'flight' instinct; especially when faced with anything that could potentially cost her too much (ie. life-threatening danger, prophecy-foretold commitments and obligations). She definitely wouldn't be the chivalrous front-line tank that tries to protect everyone; more like the kid who only does what she must in order to survive. As this is, Amber can sometimes be taken as a coward --she certainly is seen that way, if you don't know her well--, but this self-preservation is really just borne out of a more heightened sense to not bite off more than she can chew. Save yourself to fight another day, so to speak. She's pretty level-headed and calm, in that respect (and in most other situations as well, actually). But she would help out anyone that needed it, as long as she wouldn't get killed in the process.

In the general sense, Hale's fairly easy-going and warm; it's not difficult for her to make friends and to be sociable. She's an inherent problem-solver and is able to be inventive should the situation call for it, but lacks any real ambition or drive to accomplish the 'far off into the future'-type of goals. She rarely ever gets frustrated and learns quickly, being the sensible voice should one ever be needed, but has difficulty managing with too much emotion. Hale's kind of always on the sea-level of feelings, somewhere between indifference and contentment. Basically, she ends up flailing around in concern if, for example, she has to comfort a crying friend (amusing as hell, but doesn't help at all). She never really feels too much, and so doesn't quite understand when other people do.

Rather than anything, Amber's personally not very sensitive: she can kind of navigate delicate waters (she can only avoid the difficult things), and barely reacts to insults or the like. She doesn't take too many things seriously and has a light-hearted kind of humour, able to bounce back without being particularly cutting. She's the type to walk away from a conflict, or to settle things in a conversational and civil manner. Amber possesses a fair amount of self-confidence and self-worth, the only things that could shake her would be insulting remarks from someone that she actually trusts (see the next paragraph). Because she has a habit of accepting people 'no questions asked', she is most definitely not a good judge of character; but she's smart enough to not get exploited anyway.

As much as it is extremely difficult for Amber to get attached to anyone, it can happen-- as demonstrated by Sherlock and her sister. In this case, she becomes pretty protective (although she hates to show it) and extremely loyal; sacrificing herself if need be. A relationship like this, however, usually takes a long time to cultivate. Most of the time, she's more like a nice, somewhat helpful big sister.

Last to note is Amber's rough recovery from depression of a few years back: to this day, she still tends to rely on pills to get her through a rough day. She's capable of functioning without them, but has notably less optimism and confidence; needing to be pushed to actually be productive. Amber doesn't particularly like the pills, but lacks the motivation to rid herself of them. At this time, she can only be comforted by Sherlock or her sister.


Feelings About Their Journey

You know, Amber goes with the flow a lot. As it is, she's pretty indifferent about the whole thing-- quite happy, actually, to have an excuse to leave her father and her home. As far as the prophecy business goes, Amber's not putting too much stock into it; if an uncommitted kid like her got chosen, they must really be joking. She feels no particular amount of obligation to help, but will follow on the journey anyway. Better away than at home. And Sherlock wants to go too, so that's that.

Evidently, being on her own isn't too much of a big deal for her; she's used to wandering off by herself anyway. She won't miss her hometown, and her sister's off gallivanting into the sunset. --Added bonus, perhaps she'll meet her somewhere on the way. But she's sure as hell not challenging gyms to get there.

Amber is a little apprehensive about all the people, though. Hopefully no one's a rude pain, you know? Or too invasive. But whatever, strangers are really just people you haven't met yet, right?

History

Amber was born under the wings of pretty shitty (but notable wealthy) parents; who, through some strange stroke of luck, were the owners of a fairly well-to-do pokeball-selling chain in Orrene City. As a corporate big shot, her mother much preferred to raise the child that was her business-- she was practically nonexistent in the goings-on of her family, and lived mostly away from home. Unlike his wife, Amber's father was forced to 'take care' of his children even when he expressed the fact that he didn't want them. Which, basically, resulted in a shared house and a lifestyle of avoidance for both parties; that is, until he got into the habit of coming home rip-roaringly drunk (a function of being deeply unhappy with his life). Then, well, he turned into quite the abusive parent.

The only saving grace out of this came from Amber's older sister: down-to-earth, quietly defiant, and cynically optimistic Aliyah Reyes Hale. Being four years older than her younger counterpart, Ali almost single-handedly raised Amber since the year she began high school-- when their father began having unstable tendencies and fired their caretaker (for no apparent reason). It was she who found a half-dead sixteen year old Amber in the lowest of her depression (following Sherlock), and she who supported the kid through all the therapy soon after. Kind of the only reason why Amber's who she is today.

But to get to the nitty-gritty of it all: for all the time between birth to her ninth year, Amber was a fairly normal kid; just one without many parental figures. She went to school, had a caretaker that was basically her mom, and had a pretty close relationship with her sister-- she was kind, as some children are at that age, and extremely naive. She still clung to her father sometimes, and perhaps it was nothing but twisted affection that made him respond in the appropriate manner. She didn't have a care or worry for much, not needing as much as not being spoiled, and perhaps felt too much. (Or let the monkey that is her heart stand equal to her head, much less than that is now.) And it was probably because of this that things in the next few years went as bad as they did.

"You can never see these things coming, you know? Even if I had, nothing would have changed. And I just-- what was I supposed to do? You can't run, can't fight. The only place to go between a rock and a bottomless pit is down."

For the first few years, Amber's father never raised a hand; only came home drunk, occasionally broke things, and locked himself up in his study. It became routine for the sisters to make themselves scarce, or for Ali to carefully hide Amber (out of sight, out of mind) in such evenings. The child that the latter was never really understood, just going along with it in unconditional trust. They were ignored for what felt like more than two and a half years, in which Alan became steadily more of an alcoholic, and grew in fear. It was only when, one night, he came home after a particularly bad day at work that things started to escalate in an exponential manner-- and then Amber mistakenly opened her bedroom door; curiously afraid of what lay beyond, and for her sister.

What she saw was less than pretty. Ali, black and bloodied, lay unconscious on the floor with what seemed to be a hulking shadow above her; one that seethed on the passing tails of rage. Amber was lucky in the regard that he had exhausted most of his anger already, she was only roughly manhandled and told to 'clean up the mess'. And she could do nothing but obey in shock and confusion as he retreated to his study, releasing Ali's Chansey (which she had put back in her pokeball to protect) and trying to help. In the end, she was hospitalized for a day or two before returning home shaken and a little afraid-- meeting an apologetic Alan that showered the two with gifts and promises that he would not keep (as most abusive relationships go). And things didn't really happen for a few months after that, as if they could almost forget in their attempts to stay as far away from him as possible.

As it was, Alan's violent impulses slowly escalated from the point after Amber turned twelve; sometimes he would knock them down, throw them about, but usually he broke furniture -- nothing so bad as the first time. Always, he would come back the day after with a heartfelt 'I won't do this again'. He gave them things, as if it were enough to cover the bruises or Ali's frequently fractured ribs (not that Amber knew much about that, Ali had always been more secretive and stronger). Alan, when sober, was more than afraid of himself; but was unwilling to change. Which was why, then, he sent his eldest daughter away to a university in Lilli City; to protect her from himself, not realizing that in doing so, he would eventually break the more fragile Amber instead.

So Amber's downward spiral really, truly started to begin when she was thirteen. At that time, she had no particular hopes for her father; but had extremely low self-esteem and was unable to fully support herself without her sister. She typically spent long hours away from home already, sitting at parks or obscure creeksides to hide. (It was at of these places that she met a young Sherlock a year later, him approaching in concern of a quietly huddled, sobbing Amber.) When Alan started laying into her harder, like he had with Ali, she was quite unable to cope; and when he degraded and yelled obscenities at her, she tipped into what would become severe depression. And she just got worse and worse, with Sherlock not being able to help even when he became completely committed to her; leading to a turning point at the age of sixteen.

"I tried, you know? I really did. But there was just nothing there."

To make a long story a little shorter: Amber basically slit open the vast majority of her left arm and sat in a full tub to bleed out. She came so close to dying, had it not been for Ali's coincidental, surprise visit and Sherlock's extreme panic, nobody would have even made it in time to help. As it was, Ali's Chancey was able to stall her condition somewhat until she was brought to the emergency room (and she had actually coded); in which she was miraculously revived and then put into care.

For about a year and a half, Amber stayed in the psych ward of the Orrene City Hospital; getting treatment and therapy until she was deemed able to manage herself. Between Sherlock, Ali, and all the support that she was given, Amber managed to pull herself together (not completely, but somewhat); leaving and taking advantage of Alan's sudden concern to purchase a loft far away from home. She was, then, under the watchful eye of Sherlock, the occasional support worker, and Ali-- who made it a habit to visit at least once a month. She got a job at a pokemon breeding/caretaking facility, finishing her last years of high school with distance learning.

When she turned eighteen, she got a few tattoos to remind herself of what could have been, and what she is now. To this day, Amber still partially relies on her pills to smooth her bad days along-- but she's definitely not in that pit anymore. She's living well, not depending on her sister so much that Ali can finally fulfill those gym-beating dreams of hers (even though she has a degree in Pokemon Behaviour). Now, she got that summons for a journey.

"It's not difficult to understand why I'm here, I've always been waiting for an excuse to leave-- for what the tide would bring in. It's alright."


Relations
Alan Benedict Hale || Father || Alive || This can be quite neatly summed up by "That son of a bitch." She wants nothing to do with him, only taking his guilt-money payment into her bank account every month.
Maria Hariasa Clausen-Hale || Mother || Alive || They have no relationship, Amber barely even recognizes her face. There is some residual bitterness and resentment here, for Maria's absence in Amber's life.
Aliyah Reyes Hale || Older Sister || Alive || Ali is one of the only people that Amber actually trusts and is wholeheartedly committed to. They're quite close, and Amber feels as if she is indebted to her.
Sara Hawthorne || Psychiatrist || Alive || Amber has a relatively good relationship with Sara, bordering on friends in the doctor-patient dynamic. She is a rare confidant and tends to give good insight, as proved by Amber's recovery from depression.

Sherlock

Species- Zorua
Gender- Male
Ability- Illusion
Held Item-
Quick Claw; worn as a necklace, occasionally allows him to move faster than his foe(s).
Nature
Hasty
Sherlock's kind of the 'knight in shining armour' to Amber's 'I don't give a shit'; he's soft-hearted and sometimes ridiculous, the extents of which he'll go. He's equal parts brave and naive, having a habit of rushing into things to help anyone (or anything) in need-- often landing both pokemon and trainer in more trouble than worth. But then again, Sherlock is just as adept at getting himself into things as getting himself out of them (meaning, he and Amber run away a lot). Like a cat, his confidence in Amber changes like the light of day: basically, he believes in her when it's convenient for him to do so (not so convenient for her, though). But he's a good kid, with a heart in the right place.

Both Sherlock and Amber agree that he was the one that took her in; they have a bit of a sibling kind of relationship, and Amber always talks to him like he's just another person (and he seems to understand, anyway). They make life difficult for each other all the time, but are extremely protective all the same (even though they'd rather run than fight). As it is, he's always the one to initiate things; be it a fight, to go on a prophecy-foretold journey, acting as a troublemaker and scaring people.. you get the gist. Amber kind of.. exasperatedly defers to his judgement. In short, Sherlock rarely listens to Amber. Ever.

One of the main reasons why Amber's even going on the journey is because of Sherlock's apparent interest in leaving-- he always tugged at her sleeves and kept her out of home for as long as possible. This is because his concern at her situation with her father, of which he wants her to be away from (since he cannot, she will not allow him to, protect her). He hasn't really thought much beyond being away from home, and is suitably ignorant of the true hardships of travelling (but he's okay with the people, though).

He also has abandonment issues, but you can see that in the next few paragraphs.


History
Sherlock was born as the largest of a litter of two, deep in the forest regions of Orrene continent. Much of his early life was spent roaming with his family (mother and sister), living constantly alert and learning to scare off any predators. It was a peaceful, nomadic way that definitely did not mesh well with Sherlock's inherent brand of impulsive kindness; and eventually went to an end.

On one eventful night, set after he and co. were attacked and forced to split up, Sherlock caught sight of what he assumed to be the illusion-form of his mother (she had always had a weird habit of turning into Geodudes, aka. rocks). Needless to say, he was definitely lost and the Graveler was not who he thought it was-- after being thoroughly chased through the forest, far away from where he had come, Sherlock knew that there was little chance of meeting up with his family. And so, his life took a new turn of solitude and aimless wandering; miraculously keeping intact his compassion through the roughest of it all. Then, an indeterminate about of time later, he stumbled on Amber one humid and depressing evening.

It was sunset, at a quiet and remote lake on the outskirts of Orrene City. Sherlock had seen her there before, a few times-- she had always been melancholy and sad, but had never cried as she did then. It was a rare break in composure and Sherlock, being the knight in shining armour that he is, tentatively approached to console her. And Amber had evidently needed a shoulder to cry on -- not weird, because who would hurt a Snorlax? --, leading to the start of an intimate friendship that Amber had most definitely not been looking for.

It took them a few months to really warm up to each other, with the teenage kid being so afraid of commitment, but Sherlock managed it; mostly out of concern (the bruises covering her body and exponential decrease of smiles were a bit alarming, as time went on). Eventually he got into a pokeball and made her his trainer, although that took a while too. And he really thought he could protect her, being around her all the time. But, as they say, shit still happened when she turned sixteen.

He first panicked when he couldn't find her. He hadn't meant to be put into a pokeball, but Amber was being uncharacteristically disagreeable and they got into an argument and the worst ones always ended like this. It had probably been an accident that caused the ball to roll off the table and open itself, letting him out. Or maybe it was his persistent pounding on the inside? But no matter, he had to find her quickly to apologize or else she might cry or cut and he hated when she did that--

Blood.

Why was there a scent of blood in the air?

It shouldn't be this strong, not this much, and he can't even see any or her or anything and why won't this door just open? He hadn't realized he was making so much noise, slamming into the bathroom door with his body, until her sister unlocked it in a frenzy and thank god but no, no, no no NO-- why am I never fast enough why do they (mother, sister, Amber) always have to leave--

He hated her father more than the cuts on her arm, almost as much as he hated the rampaging Aggron that had tore his family apart.

For the year and a half after, Sherlock almost never left Amber's side; supporting her as she recovered and slowly regained herself. And when he time came, he practically frolicked at the chance of a journey-- he had heard it from the murmurings of other pokemon. Any chance to get away from the city, her father, and all the reminders that had never fully stopped haunting him.

Moves
Protect
Faint Attack
Fake Tears
Payback