Sutherland App 2.0

Team Name: Sutherland Detective Agency                     Rank: Chatot
Guild: rescuers

Member 1 Signature: Norman                   Male Mankey

Trait & Personality: Adamant; Hot-tempered

Move 1: Punishment
Move 2: Aerial Ace
Move 3: Low Kick
Move 4: Smackdown

Accessories:
Black bowed-rim hat
Red ribbon, worn as a bolo

Member 2 Signature: Bradley                  Male Oddish

Trait & Personality: Calm; Often lost in thought

Move 1: Giga Drain
Move 2: Stun Spore
Move 3: Poison Powder
Move 4: Venoshock

Accessories:
Red bowtie
Black bowler hat

Member 3 Signature: Chai Kitty Bell-Fountaine Female Shiny Zorua

Trait & Personality: Impish, Likes to relax

Move 1: Night Daze
Move 2: Double Team
Move 3: Swagger
Move 4: Foul Play

Accessories:
A blue ribbon with a jinglebell, worn at the throat

Member 4 Signature:                Male/Female

Trait & Personality:

Move 1:
Move 2:
Move 3:
Move 4:

Accessories:
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Norman the Mankey approached the door to the Guild Registrar's remote shack. Bradley the Oddish, his partner and fellow Detective of the Sutherland Detective Agency, struggled to keep up. Norman's legs were a good deal longer, and the pounding rain and stinging winds didn't do much to improve the situation. Norman held a manila packet underneath on arm, and he knocked loudly on the heavy wooden door with his other. Bradley shivered. The Oddish didn't do well in the cold. A Ninetales answered the door quickly after the knock.

Come in, come in! My goodness, come in! I can't believe you've all been waiting outside in the rain all this time! You could have knocked earlier, you know!

The fox held the door open for his guests, who gratefully entered his house to escape the blustery storm outside. The Oddish spoke first.

Thank you, but we've really only just arrived. How do you do, Mr...?

The Ninetales gladly continued the conversation, though the Mankey chose to remain silent.

My name is Callahan, or Calla, for short. I'm the guild registrar, you know. I'm quite good at it!

Bradley nodded, excitedly. It was always a pleasure to meet a fellow pokemon with an enthusiasm for record-keeping.

It's an absolute pleasure, Mr. Callaha-

Callahan interrupted before Bradley could finish.

Oh, please allow me to take your belongings; they're all wet! I'll just hang them in front of the fireplace to dry as we go over the formalities. Don't forget to take them when we're done! You wouldn't believe how many people leave their accessories here with me! (Please don't do that, I have so many things cluttering up my attic in dusty old boxes..)

Norman responded by vigorously shaking the water from his short-brimmed hat before handing it, and the soaked red ribbon he wore as a bolo, to Callahan wordlessly. Bradley very delicately undid the knot on his red bowtie.

Oh, thank you very much, Mister Callahan. No, rest assured, we'd never forget such a thing.

Callahan started up again before Bradley could go any further. He spoke as he carted the soaked accessories to the promised place in front of the fire.

And the paperwork, of course! There will be a lot of that, don't you worry one bit!

Bradley nodded his head enthusiastically.

Oh yes, Mister Callahan! There was a good deal, but we have it all completed! Why, I haven't seen paperwork that demanding since we first signed onto the Agency.

Callahan nodded as he closed the front door, which had stood open and forgotten until now.

Oh, very good, very good. You brought them with you, yes? I'd hate to have you come out here for nothing!

Norman responded bluntly, handing the thick manila packet to Callahan.

Yes. They're all here.

Callahan opened the packet and retrieved the forms. Though a tad damp, the packet had protected them from the worst of the storm.

What's this? These forms are soaking wet.. and the ink has run! Goodness, we're in for a lot more paperwork than I could have hoped to dream of!

Norman furrowed his brow, aggravated at the thought of lost efficiency. Bradley was quick to correct Callahan.

Oh, no, Mister Callahan, they should be in perfect working order. I made sure to get the stoutest packet I could. The weather this past week has been quite telling and I thought something like this might happen.

Callahan rebutted without skipping a beat.

Yes, but you only filled out one set. These forms are required in triplicate.

The fox hadn't even checked the forms past the first one. Bradley happily chimed in.

Oh no, keep looking! I made sure to make copies for us and another set, just in case! You should feel free to hang on to all of them, Mister Callahan, I'll just fill out another batch as soon as I get the opportunity.

Callahan casually glanced at the thick packet f forms in his paw.

Oh, so you did.

The Ninetales casually tossed the packet, forms and all, into the fireplace.

But those were out of date! They should have sent you the newest version. Really, why can't you find good help these days?

Bradley's face was a mask of utter terror, while a small vein had popped up on Norman's forehead. He was getting irritated.

No matter, I have spare forms, and all the time in the world! I trust you have no pressing appointments yet, so I'll write down your information now. With your help, of course.

Norman was losing patience.

Can't you just get it from the old ones? We have work to do.

Callahan had been chipper the entire encounter, but he seemed especially happy now that Norman was irritated and Bradley was still recovering from shock.

No, of course not, silly! Those all got burned up.

Norman scowled at Callahan's cavalier attitude.

Let's get right down to it, shall we? My fastest time for entering a team in the official guild registrar is a touch under a few hours; let's see if we can break the record!

All right now.. names, please?

Norman grunted loudly.

Norman.

Once Callahan turned his gaze to Bradley, the Oddish seemed to snap out of his stupor, though he was still visibly shaken.

Ah...Bradley.

Ahh.. what.. commo- er, good names you all have! How do you spell them?

Anxious to leave, Norman answered quickly.

I spell it Norman.

Callahan looked at Norman expectantly. The Mankey growled.

N-O-R-M-A-N!

Bradley was doing his best to regain his composure, and was succeeding, a bit.

Ah, yes. Ahem. B as in Beta. R as in Ro. A as in Alpha. D as in Delta. L as in Lambda. E as in Epsilon. Y as in... Bradley thought for a bit. Just Y.

Callahan snorted, amused.

Interesting spelling! Are you foreign? French, perhaps?

Bradley missed the point of the comment entirely.

Ah, no, actually, we were both born in Snakebite Canyon, to the south, but my family comes from the western part of the Sinnoh region, on my father's side. You see, they emigrated during-

Callahan absent-mindedly waved the subject away with his left forepaw.

Ah, no, forget it, France is just made up here, you know. Often used as comic relief. Er, just forget that.

Bradley looked quite crestfallen. Norman, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel glad. He'd heard that speech far too many times before. The small vein bulging from his forehead receded.

Moving on!

What alias do you wish to give you lot of fellows? I hope it's something good! I've been so bored by Pokemon insisting to use a name like "Team Awesome" or anything of the sort. More like "Team Mediocrity," I like to think! I'm sure you have a much more original name.

Norman shook his head, holding up a hand to stop Callahan.

No, we're not strictly speaking a team. We're adjutants here on behalf of the Sutherland Detective Agency pursuing an outlaw. We're just also operating with the Rescuer's Guild, as the local authorities, to keep order.

Callahan was already writing the team name down into his paperwork.

I knew you wouldn't let me down! Is that the normal spelling, or do you insist on losing letters, or replacing them altogether entirely? (I hope not..)

Norman waved his palms, trying to stop the Registrar.

No, we're not a team, we're just working with-

Callahan paid him no heed.

And.. done. All right! Next topic!

Norman lowered his hands and exhaled an agitated sigh. However these guys wanted to do it...The small vein on his forehead reappeared. Callahan pointed to Bradley, whose back stiffened in response.

You there, lad! You seem to be the leader of the team, here. Why don't you tell me about yourself? Please make it interesting! I'm not filing a police report, you know. I don't get paid for this, either. I do it for the stories people tell! Everyone has a story! (Some are better than others, though. That's for sure..) However, I do hope yours isn't filled to the brim with angst and darkness, you know. We have enough of that as it is with the recent crises we've been going through!

The Oddish looked to Norman uncomfortably.

Wh-what? Oh, no no no no no, you're mistaken. Norman is the ranking detective.

Callahan shrugged, directing his pointing quill pen to the Mankey, who glared at him flatly.

All right, Norman, same goes to you. If you insist on weaving a yarn of incredible sadness and general malaise, please make it good. I'll discern the necessary details from your story and put it down in the log book here.

Norman was slightly at a loss. The only other time he'd been asked anything remotely like this was when he'd been interviewed by Sutherland himself for the agency, and the old man had baited the information out of him with careful questioning. The request caught him off guard, and for a moment, he forgot his irritation. The vein on his head shrank down to nothing.

Well, I...I'm not sure how much there is to say. I grew up around Snakebite Canyon. My father was a blacksmith, my mother was a tailor...They ran a general goods store, but I never got into the business. I remember we were robbed a few times, though. Never sat well with me. Soon as I was old enough, Bradley and I went into the Agency and we've been there ever since. Fifteen years as partners. We've kept the peace in Snakebite and helped bring down some of the most notorious outlaws the region's ever seen.

Callahan scribbled away happily at his forms. He was so content, he even almost forgot to be snarky.

What an enchanting tale! I can see why you'd probably like to join the Merchants!

Almost.

Rescuers. We're acting as adjutants to the Rescuer's Guild.

Callahan nodded, no longer paying Norman any attention.

And you there, lad, what is your story? Your leader has done an excellent job of keeping me awake at this late hour, I hope you do the same!

Bradley became excited. Telling stories was one of his favorite things to do.

Oh, well, you see Mister Callahan, I wasn't actually born in Snakebite Canyon. My parents met in a small town south of their, funniest coincidence, really, and they come from very different areas! You see, my father's side of the family can be traced alllll the way back to the ancient pokemon of the western side of the Sinnoh-

Callahan stopped Bradley in his tracks.

It sounds like an absolutely delightful tale, but, please, for the sake of brevity, stick to yourself.

Bradley, a tad disheartened, continue donward.

Ah. Y-yes, of course. Well, I was born in the small village of Chirahuacas, but we moved very shortly thereafter! Father practiced law, and there wasn't very much work for him around those parts. So, we soon moved to Snakebite Canyon, and father had a great deal of work there, so he got on very well. I was homeschooled, so I didn't really know any of the other children in the area. Why, I used to sit, sometimes, on the porch, and run and hide whenever anyone else-

Callahan yawned loudly and lazily spun a paw in the air, signifying for Bradley to get to the point.

Oh, oh, um, yes. Sorry. Anyway, I soon became picked on by many of the older, and, ah, on some days of the week, younger children, until I met Norman! He protected me from them, you see, and we soon became fast friends. We are inseparable! He talked me into joining the Agency with him, and since then, we've had very successful and decorated careers as detectives! When we were still deputies, we brought down our first criminal, a nefarious robber who preyed on lone travelers, by ourselves! I used the points from five robberies that had happened over seven days to triangulate the coordinates of his hideout, and when we found it, Norman went in there and beat him but good! Black Brook Bart, they called him, and I remember he received twenty years in prison, for eleven counts of armed robbery, three counts of public drunkenness, one count of indecent exposure, four counts-

Callahan had to stop Bradley. If he didn't, he had the sneaking suspicion he was going to be there for the next three days.

Very well, then! It seems I have all I need in order to register you here in our peaceful Tao Village! If during your travels you decide to recruit or add on an extra member to your team, please have them visit me and fill out the necessary info at the top.

I don't think I'll keep you here any longer, I have everything I need from you! I haven't broken any records for time tonight, though. Your story took up quite a bit of it! (Thankfully, it didn't put me to sleep.. it's happened before). Time to conclude our business here!

Callahan hastily herded the two detectives out of his house, back into the pouring rain. They barely managed to get their goodbyes said, although Norman didn't mind at all. It was only after the door closed behind them that they noticed they'd forgotten their things inside. Norman turned back, and knocked on the door heavily. The lights inside the house turned off, and there was no response. Norman knocked again, to show he was serious. Callahan did not respond. Norman growled in frustration as a vein began jutting out of his forehead. This was going to be a long night.

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Callahan heard a knock on his door. He wondered who it could be. It couldn't be a new team-he specifically chose rainy days to make them come in for the interview. Seeing as the sun was shining, it was either a new recruit or...well, Callahan couldn't really think of any other reason somebody would visit him. It must be a new recruit!

Callahan opened the door gladly, eager for fresh meat to harass. "Ahh, yes! The fabled new members of the team that stood out in the rain for hours before finally knocking! I remember them! Come in! It's nice to see that you knocked immediately. Shows initiative!"

"Thanks!" The blue-tinted Zorua said as she proudly stuck out her chest and strutted into Callahan's home. "I always told Norman I had initiative!"

Callahan had to try to hide his snicker before closing the door behind the Zorua. "Now, young lady. I presume you're Chai?" The Zorua beamed proudly and nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! The latest and greatest detective!"

Callahan was only to happy to play along. "My, very impressive! Most of your information was already filled out by Bradley (he seems to enjoy paperwork almost as much as I do...), but please, for posterity, tell me about yourself! How did you come to meet that raggedy bunch of Pokemon and become so interested in them that you decided to join? Do tell!"

The Ninetales' teasing went completely over Chai's head, and she launched head-first into a story with no prodding required. "Oh! So I came from this one village, which is SUPER far away, and I was always getting into crazy adventures and things, but sometimes it was really sleepy too, you know? So anyway, my dad, he didn't really want me to leave but I had a lot bigger dreams than that village could have for me so I left anyway!"

"My, what an exciting life you lead!" Callahan said, diligently pretending to write down what Chai was saying. "Please, continue!"

"So I ran away from home! And I met all sorts of really nice and interesting people, and had even -more- crazy adventures, and then I came to Tao! That's where I met Norman and Bradley." Chai stopped her story to giggle. "They're both really funny. Norman has this really bushy mustache that makes him look like a grandpa, and Bradley's super funny, but he's totally clueless! Then they told me they were honest-to-goodness detectives and I asked if I could be one AND THEY SAID YES!" Chai's eyes were glistening like stars. "I'm even getting a badge when it comes in the mail!"

"Quite interesting!" Callahan continued, now doodling an unflattering picture of Chai wearing a dunce cap on her application. "Supremely so! Well, that seems to be everything I need!" Callahan added, setting his forms and pen aside. He opened the door for Chai, like a gentleman.

"Go out now, and get some rest, detective!" Chai proudly walked out of the house. "Thanks, Mr. Callahan! Everything Bradley said about you was wrong." Callahan bowed. "You'll find the rumours about me to be greatly exaggerated. Anyway, have a good rest of the day! I doubt you'll live to regret your decisions!"

Chai looked back, fear plain across her face. "Wh-what?"

With that, Callahan slammed the door to his house shut and laughed as he recovered his forms. He did -so- love new recruits.