Bad weather, having to routinely return to Violet to meet with people I know from my world when they arrive here, having region-wide events interrupt my progress... at least last week's party gave me the opportunity to finally make it to Azalea. That, and I've been stopping to research the local legends, but that's actually a pleasant distraction.

Yes... that wouldn't work out very well, given that I'm trying to do the gyms in order. That seems to be tradition here, and I don't see any reason to break it. Also, is everyone you're traveling with roughly the same age as you and Captor? That would probably be somewhat awkward.