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Description
Name: Castel Sanchez
Age: 32
Gender: Non-binary, they/them
Pokemon: Nidorina
Height: 5’6”
Bodystyle: Square-ish
Birthday: November 9th, 1991
Home Island: Amusement Archipelago

Personality:

+ Adaptable: It sort of comes with the job, but Castel is overall an adaptable person. As circumstances change and new information arises, Castel is generally very good at taking it in, assessing it, and altering their responses accordingly.

+ Cheerful: Castel is generally pretty happy and will do what they can to brighten your day as well. It usually is difficult to bring their mood down, and they try to make positives out of most situations when they can.

= Practical: Castel is pretty good at assessing the facts, and understanding what needs to be done or what options arise from what is given. While this is great in many circumstances (career, schooling, finances, etc.), they have difficulty in not expressing this. They have difficulty in seeing extravagance or doing an extra amount of work when it is not rewarding to do so.

= Passionate: Castel wouldn’t be doing what they do and wouldn’t have gone through what they did if they weren’t passionate about it. And that goes for most things. Success arises best from what Castel is interested in doing, but the downside is that this normally drives their motivation as well. So at times, if their heart isn’t in it, you’ll find they have difficulty focusing and following through.

- Untidy: Castel knows where things are, but it’s honestly best to never approach their office…. There will be piles upon piles of papers spread out over the desk with notes scrawled out in chicken scratch, and there will be granola bar wrappers mixed in with the mess. And honestly, a similar scenario occurs at home. *Usually*, Castel can still find whatever they’re looking for, it is just with a little added chaos!

- Paranoia: Castel has spent plenty of time being judged by neighbors,colleagues, classmates, etc. and often thinks that it still occurs with strangers. This is rarely outwardly expressed by Castel, but it is a semi constant thought going through their head as they go about everyday life.

History:

TW: Mention of death (just in the first paragraph)

The birth of a grandchild is normally a joyous occasion for any new grandparent. How exciting to welcome new life into the world, after all. Isabella and Mateo Sanchez were actually quite unaware they were even having a grandchild until their teenage daughter, Sofia, had gone into labor one chilly Saturday in November. So all the more reason to have it be a happy surprise! And while the they were indeed excited for the birth of their new grandchild, they were unfortunately also forced to grieve the loss of their daughter in the process…

Castel never felt like they had a poor childhood by any means. Their grandparents were a little overprotective, sure, but they did not seem abnormal from anyone else that had younger children in the neighborhood. And while their grandparents did express concern, they usually were lenient in letting Castel do whatever they wanted.

They grew in a small rural town with their grandparents, surrounded by a forest and a lake. Because of this, it was not uncommon for wild Pokémon to be wandering around through backyards or parks. And while the townsfolk were quite used to this way of living, it did seem that sometimes the Pokémon were not fully adjusted. At times like that, such as when a stantler had injured its leg by getting caught on a neighbors fence, Isabella was around to take it into their home. Their house wasn’t large by any means, but Castels grandparents always joked that there was always room for another. And their grandmother surely was no doctor, but she helped transport them to one, and was there to watch over the stantler until it healed. And once it had, it chose to continue to call the Sanchez house home. This continued with many other Pokémon, some who chose to stay once they had healed up, and some who chose to return to the wild. Castel, even as a young child, loved having all the different kinds of Pokémon in their home. And when they got to tag along to vet appointments, they were completely in awe of the veterinarians abilities to help the Pokémon feel better. So of course this meant that Castel was sure that they wanted to be a veterinarian.

As they got older they continued to learn more on veterinary medicine, taking notes at the vet appointments to learn medications and treatments. Usually the vets were quite willing to help teach Castel a thing or two, even if they were only a teenager. By this point, Castel had even figured out how to get their grandmother in contact with the Pokémon rangers, to help reduce the financial issues that arose with vet bills of their rescues. This helped, even if ever so slightly, when Castel broke the news that they still wanted to be a veterinarian. They made sure to emphasize how they had been getting great grades in school, and how they would work hard to finish college credits when they entered high school, would work hard for scholarships, etc. And of course they agreed. So Castel worked harder than ever before, on homework for school, getting practice with the rescues, and learning all they could from the vets in the area.

During their senior year of high school, Castel approached their grandparents again, in a similar manner as when proposing vet school. But this time it was to inform them that they were non-binary. Their grandparents needed a little bit of explanation to understand, but immediately pulled Castel into a hug. They offered any funds they had been saving for Castel’s schooling ahead of time, for new clothes or anything really that would help them feel comfortable in their own skin, but assured them that nothing would ever stop them from loving their amazing grandchild. They spent the rest of the night curled up with hot cocoa, playing cards, and talking. One result from their talking was a new name, one they all agreed upon and that made them feel an overwhelming sense of happiness: Castel.

Once Castel hit college and moved out, it felt like their undergraduate went by so quickly. They had earned a scholarship, but it didn’t cover everything. So while the primary focus was on grades, Castel also got a part time job at a veterinary clinic. And once the first four years of college was up, they applied to vet school, eager to reach the next step in their life.

It took two years before Castel was accepted. During the two years, after already graduating with their bachelors, they went back to work at home, close to their grandparents. Paying back student debt during this time was a bit easier, because at least time was not split between work and school, but the pressure was still present. It was a tad more worrisome when the veterinarians they worked with informed them they would not have the time to work in school anymore. Castel believed them, but they were getting closer and closer to their dream. There was no reason to stop now.

During their last year of vet school, Castel was being offered jobs, just as many of the students were, so long as the students promised to work there after graduation. One job in particular, that was accompanied by a large sign on bonus, seemed most enticing. With such an offer, it was difficult for Castel to say no. What with all the student debt, and then needing to move, housing, food, wanting to be able to give back to their grandparents- So Castel said yes!

The clinic was amazing. The technicians were all friendly and hardworking, the receptionists were great at triaging, and there were four other vets in the large hospital besides Castel, which helped prevent overworking. Castel grew close to one vet in particular, and looked up to them as a mentor. She helped Castel learn more about surgery than they ever thought possible, and was a reliable source any time they needed advice on a case. As with all things, however, the honeymoon phase slowly wore off, and work got a little more difficult. The hospital had long shift hours, and as a new vet it was seemed extra long, since they were still learning.

Everything reached a breaking point two years into their four year contract.
The hospital switched ownership, pushing their mentor to move clinics halfway across the country, and leaving Castel behind. After losing a vet, expectations of those remaining were raised, and the workload went up with it. To be quite frank, Castel was overworked, overtired, and completely burning out. And the overarching pressure of everything they had to do was daunting. So sleep slipped, because there was far too much to do, and care they provided inevitably slipped a bit, too. Higher ups eventually brought in Castel to speak about their declining performances, but did not hold back in making opinionated comments about the tattoos or appearance of Castel, and relating it to the care of the clients and reputation of the clinic. While Castel had their own concerns, they seemed to be pushed aside, or were offered as a compromise once improvements were made. And they seemed to find themselves in meetings to discuss reputation and performance a few times more.

Feeling trapped with nowhere else to go, Castel called up their mentor and asked for advice. She spoke with them for a few hours, taking time to listen to their concerns and calm them down. “Take a vacation, Castel. It isn’t an ideal situation, but you only have to play their game for one more year, until the end of your contract.” She had said. “Then you can choose to practice how YOU want to. But for now it’s best to take some time to rest, take care of you, and remember why you’re doing this in the first place.”

And so Castel met with their higher ups once more, apologizing for not following protocols put in place by the hospital. They asked for vacation time to get their head straight, as soon as possible. Soon after they spent two days driving out to their grandparents home, and practically ran into their arms when they saw each other. Castel spent a week with their family, playing cards, swimming in the lake, and eating some good home cooked meals. During that time, too, they went out on a walk into the woods with their grandparents. It wasn’t anything special, until their grandmother pointed out a little pikipek in the trees. Castel recognized it immediately by its missing leg. Back in high school Castel was the one who had brought the bird into the local veterinary clinic, after finding it as a chick in the snow. They had helped nurse it back to health until it was healthy enough for surgery, and afterward, release. Tears welled into Castel’s eyes at the sight. Their grandparents immediately tried to comfort them, unsure what had caused them to break down. Castel couldn’t help it though, because they had realized again that ‘This. This was what I was meant to do.’

Castel returned to work with a new sense of purpose, dedicating themselves to the care of their patients, and of course making more time for themselves as well. They did as they were told by the higher ups, and finished out their year with an incredibly high performance. And so the contract ended, and Castel thanked the hospital for the experience, and set out to look for the next big opportunity. It took time, as Castel thought about working for the clinic they had grown up with in their little town. Having just escaped a difficult situation, however, Castel was more eager to begin anew. The small town life, however, sounded like the best match for their talents. A beach nearby wouldn’t hurt, either. With a bit of research and a bit of asking around, Castel was informed of some affordable land with which they could start their own clinic. A place called Raccolto. And so Castel sets out on a new adventure alone, hoping to help any Pokémon they can along the way!

Ability: Rivalry
Moveset:
- Disable
- Protect
- Strength
- Rest

Job: Business Owner (Veterinarian)
Shop name: Archipelago Veterinary Clinic
Stock Type: Veterinary Services
Hours: Open 8 AM - 6 PM MTWFS (Thursdays and Sundays off) unless appointments scheduled/approved otherwise. Carries a phone for outside hours emergencies

Starter Pokémon Race: Venonat
Starter Pokémon Name: Stray (currently)
Starter Pokémon Gender: Female

Talents:
- Making up silly songs with rhymes (usually for dumb things)
- Hula hooping
- Has like a seventh sense for when Pokémon are going to run away. If you see them randomly pounce or grab a pet, that’s probably why.
- Couponing

Fun facts:
- Has a few tattoos. Both arms are covered (one with Unown in repeating alphabetical order, other with footprints/handprints of all different Pokémon species), and a flower tattoo on their neck (represents their grandparents), and some pretty leafy patterns on their chest. Reference is here (sta.sh/013enap0enw4 )
- Totally up to getting more tattoos in the future
- Moveset is all learned moves due to 1) not wanting to keep any poison movesets with their future career goals and 2) wanted moves that would help bring success (and safety) to being a veterinarian.
- Likes kids (is low key baby hungry)
- Always wearing silly socks
- LOVES munchlax
- Was going to make the clinic “Amusement archipelago veterinary clinic” but it cost too much to buy more letters for the signage
- Not the best cook in the world…
- Has a large collection of books on types to refer to for treatment

Description
Name: Castel Sanchez
Age: 32
Gender: Non-binary, they/them
Pokemon: Nidorina
Height: 5’6”
Bodystyle: Square-ish
Birthday: November 9th, 1991
Home Island: Amusement Archipelago

Personality:

+ Adaptable: It sort of comes with the job, but Castel is overall an adaptable person. As circumstances change and new information arises, Castel is generally very good at taking it in, assessing it, and altering their responses accordingly.

+ Cheerful: Castel is generally pretty happy and will do what they can to brighten your day as well. It usually is difficult to bring their mood down, and they try to make positives out of most situations when they can.

= Practical: Castel is pretty good at assessing the facts, and understanding what needs to be done or what options arise from what is given. While this is great in many circumstances (career, schooling, finances, etc.), they have difficulty in not expressing this. They have difficulty in seeing extravagance or doing an extra amount of work when it is not rewarding to do so.

= Passionate: Castel wouldn’t be doing what they do and wouldn’t have gone through what they did if they weren’t passionate about it. And that goes for most things. Success arises best from what Castel is interested in doing, but the downside is that this normally drives their motivation as well. So at times, if their heart isn’t in it, you’ll find they have difficulty focusing and following through.

- Untidy: Castel knows where things are, but it’s honestly best to never approach their office…. There will be piles upon piles of papers spread out over the desk with notes scrawled out in chicken scratch, and there will be granola bar wrappers mixed in with the mess. And honestly, a similar scenario occurs at home. *Usually*, Castel can still find whatever they’re looking for, it is just with a little added chaos!

- Paranoia: Castel has spent plenty of time being judged by neighbors,colleagues, classmates, etc. and often thinks that it still occurs with strangers. This is rarely outwardly expressed by Castel, but it is a semi constant thought going through their head as they go about everyday life.

History:

TW: Mention of death (just in the first paragraph)

The birth of a grandchild is normally a joyous occasion for any new grandparent. How exciting to welcome new life into the world, after all. Isabella and Mateo Sanchez were actually quite unaware they were even having a grandchild until their teenage daughter, Sofia, had gone into labor one chilly Saturday in November. So all the more reason to have it be a happy surprise! And while the they were indeed excited for the birth of their new grandchild, they were unfortunately also forced to grieve the loss of their daughter in the process…

Castel never felt like they had a poor childhood by any means. Their grandparents were a little overprotective, sure, but they did not seem abnormal from anyone else that had younger children in the neighborhood. And while their grandparents did express concern, they usually were lenient in letting Castel do whatever they wanted.

They grew in a small rural town with their grandparents, surrounded by a forest and a lake. Because of this, it was not uncommon for wild Pokémon to be wandering around through backyards or parks. And while the townsfolk were quite used to this way of living, it did seem that sometimes the Pokémon were not fully adjusted. At times like that, such as when a stantler had injured its leg by getting caught on a neighbors fence, Isabella was around to take it into their home. Their house wasn’t large by any means, but Castels grandparents always joked that there was always room for another. And their grandmother surely was no doctor, but she helped transport them to one, and was there to watch over the stantler until it healed. And once it had, it chose to continue to call the Sanchez house home. This continued with many other Pokémon, some who chose to stay once they had healed up, and some who chose to return to the wild. Castel, even as a young child, loved having all the different kinds of Pokémon in their home. And when they got to tag along to vet appointments, they were completely in awe of the veterinarians abilities to help the Pokémon feel better. So of course this meant that Castel was sure that they wanted to be a veterinarian.

As they got older they continued to learn more on veterinary medicine, taking notes at the vet appointments to learn medications and treatments. Usually the vets were quite willing to help teach Castel a thing or two, even if they were only a teenager. By this point, Castel had even figured out how to get their grandmother in contact with the Pokémon rangers, to help reduce the financial issues that arose with vet bills of their rescues. This helped, even if ever so slightly, when Castel broke the news that they still wanted to be a veterinarian. They made sure to emphasize how they had been getting great grades in school, and how they would work hard to finish college credits when they entered high school, would work hard for scholarships, etc. And of course they agreed. So Castel worked harder than ever before, on homework for school, getting practice with the rescues, and learning all they could from the vets in the area.

During their senior year of high school, Castel approached their grandparents again, in a similar manner as when proposing vet school. But this time it was to inform them that they were non-binary. Their grandparents needed a little bit of explanation to understand, but immediately pulled Castel into a hug. They offered any funds they had been saving for Castel’s schooling ahead of time, for new clothes or anything really that would help them feel comfortable in their own skin, but assured them that nothing would ever stop them from loving their amazing grandchild. They spent the rest of the night curled up with hot cocoa, playing cards, and talking. One result from their talking was a new name, one they all agreed upon and that made them feel an overwhelming sense of happiness: Castel.

Once Castel hit college and moved out, it felt like their undergraduate went by so quickly. They had earned a scholarship, but it didn’t cover everything. So while the primary focus was on grades, Castel also got a part time job at a veterinary clinic. And once the first four years of college was up, they applied to vet school, eager to reach the next step in their life.

It took two years before Castel was accepted. During the two years, after already graduating with their bachelors, they went back to work at home, close to their grandparents. Paying back student debt during this time was a bit easier, because at least time was not split between work and school, but the pressure was still present. It was a tad more worrisome when the veterinarians they worked with informed them they would not have the time to work in school anymore. Castel believed them, but they were getting closer and closer to their dream. There was no reason to stop now.

During their last year of vet school, Castel was being offered jobs, just as many of the students were, so long as the students promised to work there after graduation. One job in particular, that was accompanied by a large sign on bonus, seemed most enticing. With such an offer, it was difficult for Castel to say no. What with all the student debt, and then needing to move, housing, food, wanting to be able to give back to their grandparents- So Castel said yes!

The clinic was amazing. The technicians were all friendly and hardworking, the receptionists were great at triaging, and there were four other vets in the large hospital besides Castel, which helped prevent overworking. Castel grew close to one vet in particular, and looked up to them as a mentor. She helped Castel learn more about surgery than they ever thought possible, and was a reliable source any time they needed advice on a case. As with all things, however, the honeymoon phase slowly wore off, and work got a little more difficult. The hospital had long shift hours, and as a new vet it was seemed extra long, since they were still learning.

Everything reached a breaking point two years into their four year contract.
The hospital switched ownership, pushing their mentor to move clinics halfway across the country, and leaving Castel behind. After losing a vet, expectations of those remaining were raised, and the workload went up with it. To be quite frank, Castel was overworked, overtired, and completely burning out. And the overarching pressure of everything they had to do was daunting. So sleep slipped, because there was far too much to do, and care they provided inevitably slipped a bit, too. Higher ups eventually brought in Castel to speak about their declining performances, but did not hold back in making opinionated comments about the tattoos or appearance of Castel, and relating it to the care of the clients and reputation of the clinic. While Castel had their own concerns, they seemed to be pushed aside, or were offered as a compromise once improvements were made. And they seemed to find themselves in meetings to discuss reputation and performance a few times more.

Feeling trapped with nowhere else to go, Castel called up their mentor and asked for advice. She spoke with them for a few hours, taking time to listen to their concerns and calm them down. “Take a vacation, Castel. It isn’t an ideal situation, but you only have to play their game for one more year, until the end of your contract.” She had said. “Then you can choose to practice how YOU want to. But for now it’s best to take some time to rest, take care of you, and remember why you’re doing this in the first place.”

And so Castel met with their higher ups once more, apologizing for not following protocols put in place by the hospital. They asked for vacation time to get their head straight, as soon as possible. Soon after they spent two days driving out to their grandparents home, and practically ran into their arms when they saw each other. Castel spent a week with their family, playing cards, swimming in the lake, and eating some good home cooked meals. During that time, too, they went out on a walk into the woods with their grandparents. It wasn’t anything special, until their grandmother pointed out a little pikipek in the trees. Castel recognized it immediately by its missing leg. Back in high school Castel was the one who had brought the bird into the local veterinary clinic, after finding it as a chick in the snow. They had helped nurse it back to health until it was healthy enough for surgery, and afterward, release. Tears welled into Castel’s eyes at the sight. Their grandparents immediately tried to comfort them, unsure what had caused them to break down. Castel couldn’t help it though, because they had realized again that ‘This. This was what I was meant to do.’

Castel returned to work with a new sense of purpose, dedicating themselves to the care of their patients, and of course making more time for themselves as well. They did as they were told by the higher ups, and finished out their year with an incredibly high performance. And so the contract ended, and Castel thanked the hospital for the experience, and set out to look for the next big opportunity. It took time, as Castel thought about working for the clinic they had grown up with in their little town. Having just escaped a difficult situation, however, Castel was more eager to begin anew. The small town life, however, sounded like the best match for their talents. A beach nearby wouldn’t hurt, either. With a bit of research and a bit of asking around, Castel was informed of some affordable land with which they could start their own clinic. A place called Raccolto. And so Castel sets out on a new adventure alone, hoping to help any Pokémon they can along the way!

Ability: Rivalry
Moveset:
- Disable
- Protect
- Strength
- Rest

Job: Business Owner (Veterinarian)
Shop name: Archipelago Veterinary Clinic
Stock Type: Veterinary Services
Hours: Open 8 AM - 6 PM MTWFS (Thursdays and Sundays off) unless appointments scheduled/approved otherwise. Carries a phone for outside hours emergencies

Starter Pokémon Race: Venonat
Starter Pokémon Name: Stray (currently)
Starter Pokémon Gender: Female

Talents:
- Making up silly songs with rhymes (usually for dumb things)
- Hula hooping
- Has like a seventh sense for when Pokémon are going to run away. If you see them randomly pounce or grab a pet, that’s probably why.
- Couponing

Fun facts:
- Has a few tattoos. Both arms are covered (one with Unown in repeating alphabetical order, other with footprints/handprints of all different Pokémon species), and a flower tattoo on their neck (represents their grandparents), and some pretty leafy patterns on their chest. Reference is here (sta.sh/013enap0enw4 )
- Totally up to getting more tattoos in the future
- Moveset is all learned moves due to 1) not wanting to keep any poison movesets with their future career goals and 2) wanted moves that would help bring success (and safety) to being a veterinarian.
- Likes kids (is low key baby hungry)
- Always wearing silly socks
- LOVES munchlax
- Was going to make the clinic “Amusement archipelago veterinary clinic” but it cost too much to buy more letters for the signage
- Not the best cook in the world…
- Has a large collection of books on types to refer to for treatment