Optimal View [Open]

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Open for everyone!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 0 (1/5), Scribble - 0 (1/5)

Dottler was the name of the Pokemon Canvas was. Kris had found the answer by making a quick call to Professor Cypress, who then let Kris borrow a book on Galar Pokemon. Scribble's species -- Grookey -- was also in the book, a bonus.

As such, Kris figured she would spend a little time reading the book while enjoying the outdoors at the cafe. The weather was a little breezy, but it was the perfect temperature for some of her Pokemon to enjoy the fresh air. Her spot on the cafe's patio gave her the optimal view of her Pokemon playing as well.

Princess was zipping here, there, and everywhere, enjoying stretching her wings on a place outside of the ranch. The Swoobat kept darting towards Canvas, who also seemed to be enjoying himself. Rather, Kris hoped so. The Dottler still didn't move fast at all, but appeared to try to follow Princess's erratic flight pattern from the ground. Scribble, on the other hand, seemed to almost make herself dizzy by trying to follow Princess and had opted to sit atop the table beside Kris to steal occasional sips of her trainer's drink.

Kris wasn't really planning on drinking her iced tea anymore...

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

"Kris." Bryar's tone was warm as he spotted the young woman at the cafe. He hadn't really the chance to see Kris just yet. Bryar was still fairly new to the island and he had heard that Kristen had been on the mainland for a bit.

The cafe itself seemed like it would become one of Bryar's favorite spots on the island. It boasted great food and snacks and was a prime spot to people-watch. It also seemed to be a decent place for Pokemon to roam and stretch their limbs, if how Kristen's Pokemon -- the familiar Swoobat with a couple of unfamiliar Pokemon -- were out and about was any indication. Spring had accompanied Bryar during today's walk, and the Deerling bounced off towards Princess to greet the Swoobat.

"It's wonderful to see you again," Bryar said to Kris. Gesturing to one of the seats at the table, he asked, "May I?"

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, open!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 0 (2/5), Scribble - 0 (2/5)

Kristen smiled at hearing Bryar's voice. "Bryar!"

She put down her book to stand up and reach over to hug her friend. She had obviously heard from Kurt that Bryar had reappeared on their island, and it warmed her heart. "Of course, of course, join me," she said, taking her own seat again as Bryar took his own. "Forgive me for not visiting you right away. I wanted to let you get settled. How are you doing? Both on your new ranch and in general?"

Princess swooped down, greeting Spring before circling and briefly landing on Bryar's head. She chirped another greeting to the man before taking off to go and play with the other Pokemon.

"Not sure if you remember Princess," Kristen said, gesturing to her Swoobat. Introducing her other Pokemon, Kris said, "This is Scribble the Grookey and that is Canvas the Dottler... At least, according to my book." The book in question was waved in emphasis.

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

"No worries at all," Bryar said, deflecting Kris's apology for not visiting him. He got settled in the seat across from the young woman with his own drink, greeting her Pokemon politely and warmly as Spring joined said Pokemon.

"I'm certain you've been busy. I've heard you were on the mainland for a little while. Is that where these two came from?" he added, gesturing to Scribble and Canvas respectively. "They both look unique."

Bryar's curiosity was definitely piqued regarding both the Grookey and the Dottler. Perhaps one day Bryar will petition for an egg or two from Kris for the species.

"I'm doing well, thank you. I hope you are, too," he said. "We've been getting settled in nicely at our new ranch. It's odd, actually, considering how much space we have to ourselves, heh. I'll have to fill it up with more Pokemon."

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, open!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 0 (3/5), Scribble - 0 (3/5)

Bryar gestured to Scribble and Canvas (who was now trying to chirp a greeting to Spring, but he couldn't move very fast). "Yes, they are from the mainland," Kris said. "I didn't expect to be catching anything new while traveling through Ascua, but I saw these two and... I was curious.

"Their species are both originally from the Galar region," Kristen said. "I've never been there. Have you? Have you been anywhere else since we've last seen each other?"

Kris was eager to hear any and all stories from her old friend. She did chuckle when he mentioned how it was strange that there was so much space to just him and his team of Pokemon. "I'm sure you'll find plenty of Pokemon around here to help fill your ranch."

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

Spring blinked at Canvas, apparently a little confused as to what he was. Still, the Deerling tried to be friendly while inspecting the Dottler.

"I can't imagine you exploring somewhere new and not catching any Pokemon," Bryar said, teasing his friend. "I actually have not been to Galar at all, but perhaps one day. I heard they have a Grass-type gym, which I'd be interested in visiting.

"I did do a little traveling during my break between ranches," he continued, "mainly to visit some other Grass-type gyms. I've met Erika in Kanto and Ramos in Kalos, with both of them giving me great advice amid me just enjoying my time at their cities. There were a few others I wouldn't have minded visiting, like Galar, but their regions were just a little too far away for me at the time."

Kris mentioned that she was sure Bryar would be able to find plenty of Pokemon to fill up his ranch and he grinned. "Oh, I'm certain too. Once I save up a little more money, I would love to fully explore the marketplace and see what everyone else has to offer on this island."

He watched as the Pokemon played for a moment before asking, "Can I be nosy and ask why were you visiting the mainland, if you weren't expecting to catch more Pokemon for your own ranch?"

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, open!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 0 (4/5), Scribble - 0 (4/5)

Kris chuckled when Bryar teased her about not being able to catch Pokemon in a new place. "I know, I don't know what I was thinking," Kris said.

"Ah, yes, Galar does have a Grass-type gym." Kris flipped through her book -- Sword and Shield: A Guide to Galar and Its Legends -- until she got to a chapter about the gyms in the region. "Turffield is where that gym is located, a farming community. That would be an interesting gym challenge, I think. The region has this phenomenon called Dynamaxing.

"I remember Erika," Kris said. "It's been quite a while since I've been to Kanto... I've seen Ramos more recently, but even that's been some time... I should visit those regions again."

She grinned when Bryar mentioned taking some time to truly explore the marketplace at some point, but it turned to a small smile when he asked if he could be nosy about Kris's travels to the mainland. She subtly glanced around and lowered her voice when she answered, trusting Bryar.

"A little while ago, some of my Pokemon and I were exploring the White Tops," she said. "We ended up finding some sort of fossil, I think. Professor Cypress pointed me in the direction of the largest museum in the region in Revihs City. I had recently gotten a Rockruff that I wanted to train up a little and the cheapest boat ride was to Greenberry Town..."

She shrugged. "Had the bright idea to train up my Rockruff a little while starting at, like, the beginning of the region. Got distracted. Came back much earlier than planned. Think I may at some point just brave a boat ride to Coral Port, which is the closest port o Revihs City."

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

Bryar actually laughed when Kris flipped through her book about the Galar region. She confirmed that Galar had a Grass-type gym and also mentioned Dynamaxing which was fairly common in that region. "I've heard of that," he said. "That's when the Pokemon grow extra large, correct?"

His friend sounded wistful when she mentioned revisiting some of the other regions again, and Bryar could imagine many of the ranchers -- at least, the ones he considered old friends -- visiting other regions together. It would be a nice trip for all.

Then Kris started to tell Bryar about why she had actually visited the mainland, and Bryar was rightly fascinated.

Keeping his voice low like Kris did, Bryar said, "A fossil? That's amazing! Any idea what kind of Pokemon it could be from?

"Also, why are we whispering?" he added as an afterthought.

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, open!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 0 (5/5), Scribble - 0 (5/5)

"I believe extra large is an understatement," Kristen said with a slight smile, gesturing to the book pages that detailed just how large a Dynamaxed Pokemon actually got.

And then there were some species that could Gigantamax. She left that topic alone.

Kris actually gave a soft snort when Bryar asked why they were whispering. Bringing her voice back up to a more normal level, she said, "I suppose we don't have to. I just... I don't want knowledge of a fossil being found here on the island to get out.

"I mean, it's an amazing discovery," she added quickly, "and I guess we should probably make sure there aren't any other fossils buried around here, but... I'm also a little paranoid, I suppose. I don't want teams of would-be archeologists combing the island, disturbing us and the wild Pokemon around." She paused, watching Scribble polish off what was left of her iced tea. "Perhaps I'm overthinking this?"

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

Bryar's smile briefly flickered out when Kris explained why she had been whispering, and he nodded. "I understand," he said gently, "and I apologize for ruining it.

"I don't think you're overthinking the situation," he added. "...Okay, maybe a little, but I understand why. I believe we've all heard some stories about people scrambling for fossils. They can be quite rare, so to have some discovered here, an island that should be a safe haven for all... I get it."

He chuckled a little at watching Kris's Grookey finish her drink before he asked his friend, "Was that the plan, then? See if it actually is a fossil before anything else? After all, I suppose it's possible it is not a fossil, in which case you'll have nothing to worry about."

Granted, if Kris, with all of her experience, believed that she had a Pokemon fossil, then Bryar was inclined to believe her as well.

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, open!
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 1 (1/5), Scribble - 1 (1/5)

Kris waved off Bryar's apology. "No need for that," she said. She gave him a crooked smile. "I probably sounded a little silly, huh?"

Still, Bryar (mostly) validated Kris's feelings on the subject. She almost reached for her now-empty iced tea as she listened to him speak before realizing that Scribble was now playing with the straw.

"It was the plan, yes," Kris said. "I'll make my way over there at some point. Can't imagine what else it would be if not a fossil. Just a strange-looking rock, I suppose."

She thought of it hidden away in her storeroom at home as she glanced at Spring, Princess, and Canvas before changing the subject to Bryar and his Pokemon. "You said you and your Pokemon settled in nicely, but please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you guys."

[Bryar Glasse]

Kris Parker, open!
Happiness: Spring (Maxed)

Originally, Bryar was going to say, no, not at all, when Kris asked if she sounded a little silly, but he did return her quirked smile with one of his own. "A little with the whispering," he admitted, "but not for the reason why.

"Perhaps depending on when you make your way over there," Bryar said, "I wouldn't mind joining you. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Ascua has to offer and the museum sounds like a wonderful place to visit."

He followed Kris's gaze to their Pokemon playing -- and he was so curious about the Dottler -- and Kris offered to help with anything Bryar may need to help him with his ranch. "Thank you," he said warmly. "I think we're doing alright for now. Rather, getting back onto a ranch is familiar. Like coming home, you know?"

[Kris Parker]

Tags: Bryar Glasse, figured this would be a nice ending, if you'd like? I'm game to keep going if you want.
Pokemon Happiness: Princess - Maxed, Canvas - 1 (2/5), Scribble - 1 (2/5)

Kris gave a light chuckle under her breath at Bryar's response. At least he was honest.

He offered to join her at the museum if their schedules aligned and Kris grinned. "That'd be wonderful! I'll let you know, then. Is your cell phone number still the same?" With that question, she brought out her own phone, knowing that she still had Bryar's contact from when they were both on the old Gaia Ranch.

"I know," Kristen agreed, her smile softening at the thought of home. It was still strange to be on a ranch as the solitary human despite the time that had passed since the previous Gaia Ranch, but her own place was very much beginning to feel like home to her.