While the Trainer's Away... [Open]

[Kurt Emerson]

The weather was getting warmer.

It was rather nice, if anyone asked Knox. Of course, no one did ask the Toxicroak his opinion on the weather, since no one else was around at the moment. Knox was laying on his back and looking up at the few fluffy clouds adorning the sky, briefly wondering what they tasted like.

Marshmallow? Ice cream? Vanilla? Maybe he'd ask one of his flying companions if they ever tasted a cloud.

"Not surprised to see you up and about."

Knox glanced up and gave Kurt, and Coconut on his shoulder, a lazy wave. The other trainer had grinned in return and Coconut joined Knox's side, looking up as if to spot what Knox was looking at.

"Anyone else awake for breakfast?" Kurt asked. The question was rather rhetorical, as Knox knew that Kurt wouldn't be able to fully understand him. Kristen's Pokemon were self-sufficient enough to take care of themselves while Kris was away on the mainland, but Kurt was good enough to come around and visit them to be sure they, you know, didn't blow up the barn or something.

As an answer, Knox kind of shrugged before reclining again.

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut (1/5)
Notes: Just a random thread for Kris's Pokemon and any other characters -- human or Pokemon -- that want to visit while Kris is exploring the Ascua region.
Kris Parker, open to others

[Morgan Porter]

Morgan wasn't quite sure if there was a protocol to visiting another's ranch. There didn't seem to be a bell of any sort -- not that she could find, anyway -- but Morgan didn't want to just waltz into the ranch without letting anyone know. Perhaps she should have phoned Kris first, but Gaia Ranch hadn't been a planned destination.

Rather, Morgan was making her way slowly towards either Apricorn Woods or the Mirror Lake. She wanted to see what kinds of berries or apricorns she could find in this weather, but she was also acutely conscious of how little her own Pokemon were. She hadn't ventured far enough from the civilized paths to encounter any wild Pokemon on her own. Morgan figured that, if Kris wasn't too busy, perhaps she wouldn't mind accompanying Morgan and her Pokemon elsewhere on the island.

Morgan did find herself at Gaia Ranch, though, and she rubbed the Ralts egg in the little front sling Morgan had crafted to calm her own nerves. Vivi at Morgan's ankles seemed to have no such qualms and grew impatient from Morgan just standing at the edge of the ranch. Without any warning, the Gothita booked it further into the land.

"Vivi! Wait...!" Morgan tried to jog after her without jostling the Ralts egg, and prayed that neither of them met any of Kristen's Pokemon. Morgan had no idea how many of them were averse to strangers...

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi (1/5), Horos (1/5), Illume (1/5)
Ralts Egg: 1/20 posts
Kris Parker, Kurt Emerson, open to whoever and I have no idea where Vivi is going, so have fun with that,

[Kurt Emerson]

Knox wasn't so zoned out that he didn't hear the unfamiliar voices from near the front of the ranch. The Toxicroak opened an eye and glanced over, trying to see around the bend to find a brunette woman carrying an egg and chasing after a much smaller Pokemon. Knox figured that he was probably supposed to do something about protecting the ranch, but the supposed intruders didn't strike him as dangerous.

Nevertheless, Knox got up from his spot and sauntered over to where the Gothita was running. What the little Pokemon was running towards, he had no idea, but he paused after putting himself in the Gothita's path for her to run into his legs.

"Hey there," he said. "What are you up to?"

Apparently, Knox wasn't the only one who heard the commotion, for Kurt also returned from his way to the barn, Coconut still on his shoulders. Puzzled, he caught sight of the Gothita and Morgan. A smile of recognition crossed his face as he said to the other human, "Oh, hey, Morgan. What's up?"

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut (2/5)
Morgan Porter, open!

[Morgan Porter]

"EEP!" Vivi jumped back when she had crashed into the Toxicroak and subsequently shrieked when he spoke to her. The Gothita ran back and crashed into Morgan's legs this time around, and Morgan found herself clutching the Ralts egg tighter to be sure it didn't fall.

"Vivi, you're okay," Morgan murmured after catching her own breath. Truth be told, she was confused as well. A Toxicroak was definitely not the type of Pokemon she expected to see on Gaia Island -- which didn't make sense anyway since Morgan really didn't know all of the species that were on Kris's ranch -- and Morgan most certainly didn't expect to be greeted by Kurt.

"Hello, Kurt," she greeted nonetheless but also twisted her head to try to see the sign that indicated what ranch this was. "I'm, uh, sorry, I thought I reached Gaia Ranch?"

Then again, with how big Gaia Ranch was, perhaps Kris also hired Kurt to help her with it.

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi (2/5), Horos (2/5), Illume (2/5)
Ralts Egg: 2/20 posts
Kurt Emerson, open!

[Kurt Emerson]

Kurt actually chuckled when Morgan seemed confused as to what ranch she was visiting.

"Don't worry," he said, "this is Gaia Ranch. Kris is over on the mainland for a little while, so I'm just checking up on things here. You know, making sure the Pokemon get fed and such. They're pretty self-sufficient for the most part, fortunately."

Knox had ambled over, catching up to the small group, but staying a few feet away since he obviously spooked Vivi. Kurt gestured to the Toxicroak and said, "This is Knox, if you've never met. Don't worry, Vivi, he's harmless to friends. Knox, this is Morgan and Vivi.

"Did you need Kris for something specific?" Kurt asked Morgan, letting Coconut off his shoulders to join the other Pokemon on the ground. "Anything I can help with, or was this just a social call?"

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut (3/5)
Morgan Porter, still open!

[Morgan Porter]

Oh, good. It was a relief when Kurt assured her that she had indeed made it to Gaia Ranch and that she hadn't, you know, gotten so turned around and lost on the island.

The island itself was rather big, but most of it was straightforward, in Morgan's opinion.

"Well, lovely to meet you, Knox," Morgan said, nudging Vivi at her feet to do the same. The Gothita pouted up at Morgan before turning and giving the Toxicroak -- and, by extension, Coconut -- a quick nod for a greeting. Morgan figured she wouldn't push it.

"Perhaps both, I suppose," Morgan said, answering Kurt's question as to why Morgan was around Gaia Ranch in the first place. Rubbing the egg in its sling, she said, "This egg is will hatch into a Ralts, the offspring of Kristen's Gardevoir and Gallade. I thought I would pick her brain on the species while also maybe seeing if she wanted to join me on venturing further into the island."

Glancing down at Vivi, she added, "My Pokemon are still very young, but I wanted to do a bit of foraging by the woods or lake. Thought company would be nice."

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi (3/5), Horos (3/5), Illume (3/5)
Ralts Egg: 3/20 posts
Kurt Emerson, open!

[Kurt Emerson]

Knox gave both Morgan and Vivi a lazy salute, but he seemed to be deferring to Kurt at the moment as to what was going on.

One of Kurt's eyebrows raised as his attention went to the egg in Morgan's arms. "That's probably going to be a powerful Pokemon one day," he said. "Both Mona and Leo are pretty strong Pokemon themselves. I wonder what kind of moves was passed down to their offspring.

"Not having any Pokemon from that line myself," Kurt continued, "I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to help you on that front. But if it's company you want for the woods or lake -- which is close by my ranch, incidentally -- I'd be more than happy to join you if you don't mind me. I just have to finish up a few things on here and make sure Kris's Pokemon are all good. That won't take long."

He gave her a crooked grin. "Up to you, of course. I don't want to crash any of your plans."

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut (4/5)
Morgan Porter, still open!

[Morgan Porter]

Morgan glanced down at the egg as Kurt spoke about what a powerful Pokemon the hatchling could be. Truth be told, she was a little worried about just that and was hoping that Kris herself would have some advice. Morgan didn't want either Kris or Kurt to believe that Morgan wouldn't be a competent rancher, though.

"I'm more concerned with its health," Morgan settled for saying, "but I'm sure the little Ralts will be just fine when it hatches."

Kurt then offered to go with her to the woods or lake (which she totally forgot was in the same area of the island as Kurt's ranch) when he was all set with checking on Kris's ranch, and Morgan figured she may as well take him up on his offer. Even his Aipom, as young as it seemed, was stronger than her current Pokemon and Kurt had been nothing but kind in their interactions so far.

"If you truly won't mind," Morgan said, "then I wouldn't mind your company at all. It'd make me feel a little better to have someone with more experience join us." She looked down at Vivi, who seemed to be getting over her fear of Knox if her scrutinizing the Toxicroak was any indication.

"Um, shall we meet you around there?" Morgan asked. "Or wait for you here? Or is there anything I could help you with? I don't want to intrude..."

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi (4/5), Horos (4/5), Illume (4/5)
Ralts Egg: 4/20
Kurt Emerson, still open!

[Kurt Emerson]

"I'm sure the Ralts will be healthy and happy whenever it hatches," Kurt agreed, watching as Morgan doted on the egg for a brief moment.

When Morgan agreed to his company, Kurt grinned. "I don't mind at all," he assured her. "If it's Mirror Lake you want, that's pretty much my territory, anyway. If you'd rather go to Apricorn Woods, I'm down. Haven't been over there in a while."

A long while, really. It wasn't really on Kurt's list of daily walks.

"You wouldn't be intruding," Kurt said, glancing at Knox for confirmation. The Toxicroak gave a lazy shrug and didn't protest. "C'mon. Vivi and you just stick with us" -- he gestured between himself, Knox, and Coconut -- "and no one else will bother you. Kris's Pokemon are definitely the types to investigate before attacking, anyway."

That probably didn't help to reassure Morgan, but Kurt couldn't take back his words. Instead, he led the way back towards the barn. Coconut ran to catch up and hopped back up on his shoulders, and Kurt glanced back to see Knox gesture for Morgan and Vivi to go next. He supposed the Toxicroak would take up the rear.

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut (5/5)
Morgan Porter, open

[Morgan Porter]

Morgan smiled and nodded as Kurt reassured her (again) that he wouldn't mind joining her to either part of the island, and gingerly stepped after him as he began to lead the way over to, presumably, Kris's barn.

She nearly tripped when Kurt very casually mentioned that Kris's Pokemon would probably investigate before attacking strangers.

"If... If you're sure," Morgan murmured, finding no choice but to actually follow Kurt. With a gesture to Vivi, Morgan wanted to stay close as possible to the other trainer. She did give Knox a small thank you as well, sure that having Kris's Toxicroak around to help reassure whatever other Pokemon Kris had that Vivi and she were not there to cause trouble.

Morgan didn't even know about what kind of Pokemon Kris had on her ranch, either. She knew of Kris's Grovyle and the parents of her Ralts egg, of course, but that was pretty much it. Kris had an impressive list of Pokemon available for breeding, but Morgan didn't even think that she would see too many of them up close. It was even Kurt that Morgan had first met when she arrived on the island looking to buy her own ranch, come to think of it.

"Does Kris go to the mainland often?" Morgan asked. "If you don't mind me being curious, of course. I presume you've been around here often enough for her Pokemon to be used to you like this."

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi (5/5), Horos (5/5), Illume (5/5)
Ralts Egg: 5/20
Kurt Emerson, open

[Kurt Emerson]

"Absolutely!" Kurt said when Morgan asked if he was sure.

The little group made it to the barn and, although Kurt was sure some of Kris's Pokemon gave Morgan and Vivi a few curious looks, his (and Knox's) presence seemed to keep them at ease. The majority of Kris's Pokemon seemed more focused on breakfast than any would-be strangers. At any rate, if any would-be strangers were to cause trouble, Kurt imagined that Kris's Pokemon were confident in their own abilities to protect themselves and their new home.

"She goes once in a while," Kurt said, "but this may be the longest trip -- only a few days, mind you -- she's taken to the mainland since we moved here. She's visiting the first couple of routes to help level up some of her younger Pokemon and see what other new Pokemon she can find."

Of course, Kris's main goal was to reach the museum, but Kurt wasn't sure how many people she wanted to let know she had found an actual fossil.

"Kris will be popping back in and out of the island until she's satisfied with her trip," Kurt said, filling up the barn's troughs. "What about you? You're not from Ascua, right?"

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut 1 (1/5)
Morgan Porter, open

[Morgan Porter]

Morgan supposed it made sense for the head of Gaia Island to visit the mainland once in a while -- it wasn't like they were all marooned on the island, of course. Morgan was still getting her bearings with her own ranch, but she would need to visit Ascua's mainland at some point for supplies, maybe even more Pokemon when her current little team was a bit stronger.

She glanced down at Vivi, who seemed torn between being fascinated at all the other Pokemon species she was seeing and pouting that she wasn't the center of attention.

... It would probably take a while before Morgan's team was ready for the mainland.

"Me?" Morgan watched as Kurt filled the troughs with food, wondering how many times he's done this before to be so at ease with it. "No, I'm from Icirrus City, Unova. Have you ever been?"

She paused a moment before asking in return, "Where are you from? I believe I heard that both Kris and yourself came from another region, but I'm afraid I forget where. What made you come to Ascua?"

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi 1 (1/5), Horos 1 (1/5), Illume 1 (1/5)
Ralts Egg: 6/20
Kurt Emerson

[Kurt Emerson]

"Unova, huh?" Kurt paused, trying to recall what he knew of the region. After a few seconds of contemplating, he shook his head. "I'm afraid I've never been, no. Heard it was a nice region, lots of big cities and tons of unique Pokemon species. What was your hometown like? Is there a reason as to why you came all the way over here to Ascua?"

Kurt greeted a few of Kris's Pokemon that came over to eat, some of them giving Morgan some curious looks, but it was apparent that they trusted Kurt -- and, he supposed, Knox hanging around helped as well -- enough to not mind Morgan's presence.

Morgan then flipped the question around on him, and Kurt said, "I'm from Johto. Went through that region, got some badges, but my favorite part of the whole thing was the traveling and raising Pokemon. I made my way to Solaceon, got a job at Kris's original Gaia Ranch and... Well, guess I'm here in Ascua because I followed Kris." He shot Morgan a grin.

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut 1 (2/5)
Morgan Porter

[Morgan Porter]

"Unova does have quite a few cities, yes," Morgan said, thinking of her home region. "Icirrus, though, was nestled by the Twist Mountains and always tended to have a chill in the air. My ranch in the north region of the island feels just like it."

Kurt asked what brought Morgan all the way to Ascua and she paused a moment to think of an answer. "I'm just trying to figure out my life, really," Morgan admitted. "I have a couple of siblings and they went on their own way as soon as they were able, both of them knowing what they wanted to do. I kind of floundered for a while and, although I would have been more than welcomed to stay with my parents, I heard about Ascua and decided to give ranching a try.

"This island is beautiful," Morgan continued, "and ranching is something completely new to me, but I'm enjoying the challenge."

She listened as Kurt gave a brief summary of his own history and smiled wistfully. "Johto was always a region I wanted to visit," she said. "It sounds to be rich in history." Then Kurt mentioned that he had followed Kris to the island, and Morgan's smile grew. "You two sound like you're very close. May I ask how long you two have worked together? Vivi, that's not yours."

Vivi pouted and huffed when Morgan caught her trying to sample some of the breakfast that Kurt had been laying out for Kris's Pokemon. The Gothita turned away from her trainer and stared out of the barn doors. Morgan rolled her eyes at the diva.

Pokemon Happiness: Vivi 1 (2/5), Horos 1 (2/5), Illume 1 (2/5)
Ralts Egg: 7/20
Kurt Emerson

[Kurt Emerson]

"Is it a little strange being in a place that isn't so urban, then?" Kurt asked, regarding all the cities it sounded like Unova had. He couldn't picture himself being in a large city, to be honest, not after the way he's lived his life so far. Always on the road, having plenty of nature between towns, and just being a rancher made him accustomed to not seeing skyscrapers around.

Morgan mentioned how she's trying to figure out her own life, and Kurt nodded along. "Not a bad reason to move someplace different. Completely reinvent yourself. Heh, did you expect how hard the work is as a rancher?

"Johto is a beautiful region," Kurt said, smiling wistfully as he made sure all of Kristen's Pokemon got their fair share of breakfast (and probably would have snuck Vivi something, but he didn't want to undermine Morgan), especially since Knox made himself the head of the line. Kurt would always have a soft spot in his heart for his home region, but being far away from his hometown was probably one of the best things for him.

The Morgan mentioned how it sounds like he and Kris are very close, and Kurt paused to mull on the topic. "Uh, I'm not sure," he said, trying to mentally do the math. "I think it's been a little over five years, to be honest. Maybe six or seven? We work well together, though, I'd like to think."

Coconut knew the drill and hopped back up on Kurt's shoulders as Kurt gestured for Morgan to follow him, moving from the barn towards the waterways that went through Kristen's property to be sure the Water-types ate as well.

Pokemon Happiness: Coconut 1 (3/5)
Morgan Porter