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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 3, 2019 18:14:00 GMT -5
(Speculative thread for Kris Parker and me regarding how Gaia Ranch turned into Gaia Island. Thought it'd be a fun and interesting post and read!)It started with a meeting. Generally, whenever the heads of Gaia Ranch had called everyone over for a meeting, it was decent news. Nothing ever dire, unless one counted the handful of times the bosses needed to assign foster Pokemon to everyone because some lousy, so-called trainer or other had proven to be less than ideal for the Pokemon's well-being. Still, this meeting was a bit of a shock as Kurt listened while Kris laid out the idea of turning Gaia Ranch into Gaia Island. "If I knew how loaded you were, I would have asked for a raise on my allowance a long time ago," he said, leaning back in his chair at the table.
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 3, 2019 22:11:09 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt EmersonThis would be a most interesting meeting. Kristen did her best not to fidget as the other ranchers on the land filed into the office. Once she had their attention, she cleared her throat and began.
"Thank you all for clearing your schedules and meeting me," she said. "I'm going to be a bit blunt. Gaia Ranch is going to be moving... to Gaia Island in the Ascua region."
Then Kurt spoke up and Kristen's cheeks colored at his words.
"Look, this has been a long time coming," she said, her gaze sharp but the corners of her lips twitching just a tad. She knew Kurt was teasing but was plain about her thoughts just the same. "We've done some brilliant work here on the ranch – plenty of Pokemon were fostered and rehabilitated out of here, plenty of human friends have come and gone – but it's not big enough for all of us anymore. Ever since we opened this place, I've always socked a bit of money away with the plans of obtaining more land. At this point, though, an island just happened to open up…"
One of the other ranchers asked how an island just happened to be for sale. Kristen, on her part, gave him a half-shrug. "It's an area that's in the middle of a water route of a region that's not as big as the regions around here. More and more people are moving to the Ascua region as it just recently set up a Pokemon League and Grand Festival, and there was the island left sparsely populated. Guess it used to be full of farming communities before more people started moving to the mainland.
"There are a multitude of diverse landscapes and wild Pokemon, species from all sorts of other regions coexisting on this island," Kristen continued, "thanks to being brought there by humans who had started moving in there during the past couple of centuries or so. I've been in contact with the region's professor, Nia Cypress, thanks to her being a colleague of Professor Birch in Hoenn. Both specialize in Pokemon habitats. She says that the island is completely livable. There's a port there, an easy place where an outdoor market and a few offices could be set up, and tons of acres for multiple ranches and farms."
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 4, 2019 7:57:08 GMT -5
Tag: Kris ParkerKurt grinned at Kristen's cheeks coloring, but he remained quiet as she spoke of this Gaia Island. He had never really heard of Ascua before, if he were honest with himself, just in passing here or there considering it wasn't anywhere near the Sinnoh region. With the way Kristen spoke, it sounded like a great opportunity for Gaia Ranch to grow. Another rancher tentatively asked, "So... Are you closing this Gaia Ranch?" Kurt suddenly felt his chest constrict, a pain at losing the place that he had come to call home for the past couple of years. He gazed at the faces around the table, those that he has been calling family, and he wasn't quite sure he wanted to hear Kristen's answer.
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 4, 2019 20:57:51 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt EmersonKristen's shoulders slumped at the question. "It was the plan," she said, her tone tinged with apologies, "unless one or several of you want to keep it going. I'll sell the deed to you for, like, a dollar if you really want it. However, I was hoping that many, if not all, of you would join me on the island.
"I know it's a huge commitment," she continued, "and, being in the Ascua region, it's quite a long ways from here. It won't be a simple flight or surf to visit your families for a weekend. But you could each have your own ranch, catered to the Pokemon types that you wish to raise, rescue, and rehabilitate. Professor Cypress is thrilled at the idea of more ranchers and breeders coming to the region to help her raise a plethora of species to give as starter Pokemon to all the new trainers joining Ascua's Pokemon League and Grand Festival.
"Even if you don't want to be a rancher any longer," Kristen said, "it's a beautiful region to explore. I took a couple of gyms on with my team, saw how amazingly different the land is… And all the Pokemon…!"
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 4, 2019 21:53:03 GMT -5
Tag: Kris ParkerSuddenly where Kris had gone for a couple of weeks last month made sense to Kurt as he put two and two together. Kurt felt his lips curl up into a smile at Kristen's enthusiasm for Ascua, but he still wasn't sure about this whole idea. To not be with everyone that was currently sitting with him just gave him an odd feeling of nausea. He briefly toyed with the idea of buying Gaia Ranch but, honestly? If Kristen and the others weren't around, it wouldn't be the same. Sure, he'd have all of the contacts that Kristen had made in the other regions, Kurt was sure, and he was good with people and Pokemon alike. He'd be fine, he'd make a living and enjoy it too. But to not have his close friends, those he considered family, at his side… Well, he'd make new family and friends, but to be so far away from the others didn't sit right.
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 4, 2019 22:00:36 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt Emerson"Think about it," Kristen said, breaking into everyone's thoughts. "I'm not asking for a decision immediately. It's going to take a while for the papers to pass and all that fun nonsense. Just know that I will stop accepting foster assignments very shortly, along with working harder to find permanent homes for those we're rehabilitating at the moment. I'm not planning on moving until every last one of the Pokemon we have under our care have a permanent home, whether it be with another trainer, a professor, or even one of us should we choose to formally adopt some of our charges. I just wanted to let you all know about this. Thank you."
Kristen took her leave at that point, heading back toward her room to give the others some time to digest the information. It was a heavy thought indeed, and her work in the office could wait while her friends and colleagues reflected. In the meantime, she headed out the door of the house and toward her barn to see her Pokemon.
She had to explain everything to them, too.
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 5, 2019 8:08:37 GMT -5
Tag: Kris Parker Side note that I'm borrowing some rancher names from the previous site for, like, a paragraph.Kurt stayed sitting at the table after Kristen left the room, even as some of the others moved away. Raphael had immediately taken off, and Kurt wasn't sure if he was in their shared room or had gone out to his barn of Pokemon. Bryar had steepled his fingers in front of his face for a few minutes before quietly excusing himself as well. Avalyn wasn't too far behind her brother, looking both thoughtful and bewildered. Sierra stayed at the table almost as long as Kurt had, but he couldn't read her expression and take a guess as to what she was thinking. She always had a poker face on. "Hey, guys…" Kurt went out to his barn not too long after, intending on feeding everyone and, perhaps, talk out his thoughts with his Pokemon. Coconut the Aipom chittered as he saw Kurt, scrambling up his leg until Coconut was on Kurt's shoulder, using his tail to mess up Kurt's hair in a show of affection before leaping down to his bowl of food. Kiwi tickled her trainer as her elongated body curled around him, making him spin around, before going to her own food next to Peanut. Kurt had his own steady team, and his eyes turned to watch the others that he had under his care, those Pokemon that would likely find other homes one day. He did figure that he would try to formally adopt a couple of them. Kurt didn't want to say too much in front of the foster Pokemon, unsure if he'd be able to take all of them, despite how much he would love to. He gazed around at everyone, suddenly locking eyes with Apple. The Xatu stared unblinkingly at him for a few seconds before tilting her head. Her voice whispered in his mind, "We will follow you anywhere," before her head dipped down to eat her supper. Of course Apple would pick up on Kurt's thoughts. He bet he was projecting them loud and clear to all Psychic type Pokemon within a fifty mile radius. Kurt did shudder slightly at the odd sensation of telepathy, but the message was a welcome one. Feeling antsy at the bomb that Kristen had dropped, Kurt gave Apple a nod in appreciation before disappearing from the barn. He definitely needed some more information on what would eventually be called Gaia Island, and headed back toward the house, curious if Kristen had returned to her office.
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 5, 2019 18:38:19 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt EmersonNot that Kristen was avoiding the rest of the ranchers, but she was conscious enough that everyone needed to form their own thoughts and opinions regarding Gaia Ranch closing -- well, potentially, as one of the current ranchers may still wish to take it over -- which is why she took her time in going back to the house. Most of her Pokemon were aware of the situation already, so it wasn't a big surprise to them. Still, having their support helped.
Once getting inside the house, Kristen settled back into her office and dug deeper into the paperwork for the current foster Pokemon on the ranch. She would need to double-check with the ranchers if they would be planning on formally adopting any of them.
But that would be a question for another day.
Her office phone rang and Kristen picked it up, greeting a good contact on the other line. As he spoke his request -- something about a trio of orphaned Ducklett -- Kristen's heart twisted, but she needed to be strong with her convictions.
"I'm really sorry," Kristen said, "but we won't be able to take on any new Pokemon at this time… No, the issue isn't a matter of how much room we have. Rather, it's that I am planning on moving… Oh, thank you, I'll definitely miss it here too. Solaceon Town and the Sinnoh region is wonderful, and it's been a pleasure working with all of you for so long… I don't know if Gaia Ranch will stay open under one of the other ranchers. I'm leaving that up to them. If someone would like it, it's theirs. If not, then I'll put the land up for sale… Alright, have a good night. Bye."
The phone felt rather heavy as she hung up.
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 5, 2019 19:43:10 GMT -5
Tag: Kris ParkerKurt knocked just as Kristen had hung up the phone. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but he heard the end of Kristen's conversation and, when he got the okay to go into the office, he collapsed on one of the chairs. "You're really leaving," he said, as if just starting to believe it. "Like, I knew you were serious when we were speaking earlier, but I think just hearing the tail end of your conversation, sorry about that, by the way, it just kind of … stuck.
"Like, I'm really happy for you and I think you'd be crazy if you didn't take this opportunity to grow, but..." Kurt paused. "I think I'm scared. We've seen people leave Gaia Ranch before after working here but there were always a few of us here to stay, like Bryar, Raph, and… you. I can't… I really can't imagine waking up and coming into the kitchen and not seeing you. I don't want to lose touch with you."
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 5, 2019 20:36:15 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt Emerson"It's open," Kristen said in response to the knock on the door. The office had always been open for everyone, and it would be strange to think that Kristen wouldn't have to remind everyone of that after the move.
She wasn't too surprised that it was Kurt.
She greeted him with a small smile. Instead of beating around the bush as he walked in and collapsed on one of the chairs, she asked, "Are you alright?"
He spoke, confessing his thoughts of the fact that Kristen was really leaving, and her brows furrowed and she came out from around her desk to sit in the chair next to him. Kristen's heart was ready to break when he spoke about how he didn't want to lose touch with each other.
"Kurt, you won't," Kristen said fervently, trying to ease not only his worries, but also hers. "I promise, we'll always remain in touch, no matter where our lives take us."
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 6, 2019 7:37:56 GMT -5
Tag: Kris Parker"But, see…" Kurt leaned forward, trying to form his thoughts into words. "I don't want to just remain in touch. I want to be able to see you, but moving to Ascua is such a big step and… It's confusing."Kristen would never pressure him into making a decision before he was ready, that he knew. How the hell she made such a decision was beyond him. How long had she been mulling over this? Would it be unethical of Kurt to start blaming Professor Birch -- not that Kurt's ever really met the guy, just in passing whenever Kristen had spoken to him, Kurt was naturally better acquaintances with Professor Elm -- for introducing Kris to the Ascua professor for this situation?
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 6, 2019 19:54:24 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt EmersonNot for the first time, Kristen mentally cursed her blunt ways. Yet, this kind of news wasn't something that she could have eased everyone into. Gaia Ranch as it stood was going to move to Gaia Island. That was no question, but Kristen still wished she could have told everyone about it little by little.
"I know it's confusion," Kristen said, reaching out and patting Kurt's arm after his spiel. "That's why I said to really think on this and make the best decision for you."
Truth be told, Kristen wished she was able to pack up everyone -- foster Pokemon, humans, and all -- to go to the island, but this was a chance for everyone to grow. It was just bittersweet to think that her friends may grow away from her.
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 7, 2019 22:17:18 GMT -5
Tag: Kris Parker"Oh, no," Kurt said, barely believing the words as they tumbled out of his mouth at Kristen's words. "I'm moving with you. I'm going to be there on Gaia Island. I just… I can't believe the magnitude of what is happening. I think I... I guess made my decision."That didn't sound too confident, did it? "No, I mean, yeah, I made my decision. I don't think there was really any other choice I would entertain," Kurt admitted. "I feel as if this is weird and happening too fast, but… I know I'm going to end up on there."
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Post by Kris Parker on Mar 8, 2019 19:59:13 GMT -5
Tags: Kurt EmersonKristen's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Wait… You're coming? You already made a decision? You sure?"
She listened to Kurt's words, her smile growing with every syllable that left his lips. "Well," she said, "then welcome aboard! I'm looking forward to having you there on the island with me. And, honestly, Kurt? I'm so relieved to hear you say you're coming."
Turning Gaia Ranch into Gaia Island was utterly terrifying to Kristen, even if it would be the best move possible for her career and her Pokemon. But the idea of not being with her found human family? She hated it. She didn't want to guilt-trip any of the others into coming with her, understanding that they all needed to make their own decisions, but to hear one of her best friends say he'll come with her relieved her to no end.
"I really didn't know how to imagine a life without you in it," Kristen admitted. "That, and… I can't run an island by myself. Definitely think about this, but I will need to hire an assistant. I think you'd be awesome in that position."
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Post by Kurt Emerson on Mar 9, 2019 8:31:45 GMT -5
Tags: Kris ParkerHe couldn't help but smile in response to Kristen's growing grin. When she mentioned how relieved she was to hear his words, Kurt leaned into her touch on his arm. "Really?"Not that Kurt thought Kristen would be averse to him coming along, not with how well they got along with each other, but it was still nice to hear. She continued to speak and threw another surprise at him when she mentioned how she believed Kurt would be a great assistant to her position of running the island. Although, he wasn't quite sure what to think of even more surprises for that day, he asked, "What would I be doing?"
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