Laika

• Age: 28
• Gender: Bigender (he/him, masc terms unless its slang or jokes) 
• Hometown: Lentimas Town
• Region: Paldea 
• Ace Pokémon: Flutter Mane, Houndstone

History: His parents split at a young age due to ongoing conflict at home that included both child & Pokémon neglect. Laika's mother then went on to remarry and move to Paldea, where her son promptly enrolled in the Academy, took a dorm, and never looked back. His first "official" Pokémon as a trainer was a Houndstone that approached him as he was visiting a cemetery, paying respects to (one of) his mother's deceased Liepard(s) - this one in particular he used to consider his, as he had always been the one to care for it. 

He naturally gravitated towards Ghost types afterwards, comforted by the fact that they were already spirits, but still carrying lasting damage from his childhood. This influenced his life at the Academy, with him developing a near-obsession to studying biology as well as battle tactics to ensure he knew how to keep his Pokémon safe. He spent his free time reading about urban legends & the supernatural before fixating on Area Zero.

With the help of his Pokémon and convenient access from a cheap studio apartment in Medali, he's occasionally succeeded at sneaking inside, though refusing to stay long out of fear of running into trouble. After the events of Scarlet & Violet, he persuades Clavell to allow him to do his own research within Area Zero in an attempt to learn more about the biology of the zone, and of Paradox Pokémon with their existence now confirmed. 

Personality: Given his childhood, Laika has always been wary around other people and rarely makes an effort to socialize unless its about something that interests him. He spends a lot of time online looking into urban legends and rumors, as well as horror stories and creepypasta type material. He is neurotic to say the least and struggles to make friends offline, only having a small handful of acquaintances even as an adult, and taking care to avoid running into other trainers when it isn't necessary or expected (at a place such as the Academy).  In spite of his anxiety and social ineptitude, he will not hesitate to jump someone he believes to be abusing their Pokémon in any way^[1], and rarely changes his opinion on them afterwards.

Other notes / trivia idk: 

• ^[1] he will go kotoko yuzuriha on your ass. just wanted to put that here instead since its not serious
• gay with colress if you couldnt fucking guess im going to put SO much more here eventually stan potentialparadox today #ppsweep
• gender is a fuck he dresses on a scale of bloodborne npc to 2009 emo boy. thinks Flutter Mane is the cutest beast in existence and refuses to change his hair now 
• battle theme claim is marnie's. still idk im lazy

• Flutter Mane, Mimikyu, Dragapult, Froslass, Haunter (Eviolite), Houndstone
• Has a Mismagius with body dysmorphia