Professor Birch's Laboratory

Nicolai "Servo" Dakari

The morning had been kind to the man who now found himself standing curiously outside the door of what was clearly a Pokemon research facility. Sure, it had begun with torrential rain that had completely drenched everything he owned in the nearby forest - including the clothes he now wore. And yes, that same cold rain chilled him down to the bone, his socks making a rather comical sloshing noise with each step he'd taken on his morning hike to where he now stood. And yet, in spite of the losses he had endured today with most of his gear destroyed in the terrible weather, and the cold turning his skin an even paler color than it normally was - Nicolai Dakari looked almost happy with his knuckles rapping against the door to Birch's laboratory. He had ventured so far to get to this very moment. What was a little more suffering to a monumental success? "Professor Birch?" He called out in a solemn tone, the majority of his voice lost to the wind and rain. Nicolai was familiar with the professor of the Hoenn region, though this familiarity was in reputation only. He had done some research on this small town before deciding upon starting here and decided it had some fantastic benefits where he was concerned. So learning of the professor he would be dealing with only seemed natural as a step when deciding upon becoming a registered trainer in the Hoenn region. The male's hands gave the lab door another few, firm knocks before both hands found themselves around his goggles, sliding them up over his forehead before smoothing back his drenched hair. As useful as they were, the rain was causing them to fog to the point where Nick wasn't even sure he had been knocking on an actual door. "Professor Birch? Is anyone here?" He stated again, twitching at the strange feeling along his neck suddenly as the pink creature that had been taking refuge against his undershirt popped it's little 'hands' along his collar and used them to peek over the inside of his uniform. "I'm c-cold!" The ditto whined in a soft tone, beginning to shiver the moment that it found itself exposed to the elements. This part of the region was mildly tempered typically but Nicolai had long embraced the fact that the universe hated something about him and needed to make every single thing he did that much harder. "That's fine by me.." He mused to himself with a smirk, taking a step away from the door and placing his hand flat over Flux's head so that the poor creature didn't get any wetter than it already was. The last thing he needed today was a sick Pokemon - that was an inconvenience best avoided if possible. He'd already lost too many others to everything from combat to starvation. Flux's purpose made losing it the same way he'd lost others unacceptable.

Nicolai "Servo" Dakari



Truth be told, in the moments prior to the professor opening the door to his laboratory, Nicolai had actually considered sneaking around the back to get a better look inside. After everything he'd gone through there was no way he would actually break into the lab to try and steal a Pokemon. That would be borderline insanity, not to mention highly counterproductive to his actual cause. Still... A peek around was tempting for someone with as colorful a past as the redhead in the black outfit. His blue eyes were already beginning to drift up to the nearest window when the sudden opening of the main door shook him from his thoughts. If he looked at all suspicious, there was a great chance that it didn't show. Nicolai's practiced calm and stoic expression were both of legendary caliber when the job called for it. With a small, polite smile, Nicolai turned his gaze back to the professor, the ditto in his shirt swatting the raindrops that had formed on his hand before they could leak down and onto the creature's face. This was certainly the man he had come to meet, his features matched perfectly with the data Nick had gleaned in his search for a start. This was a good thing. Usually, these places had aids or other trainers. The fewer people he had to deal with, the better. "Professor Birch?" Nicolai asked as if he didn't already know the answer, his tone unbefitting of a man who had just trudged over an hour through the rain. Without waiting for an answer to his original question when the professor seemed to motion for him to enter, the redheaded man nodded slightly and stepped just inside the door, his boots making an obnoxious squealing noise that instantly caused him to go rigid where he stood. With a quick glance down to the puddle that was forming beneath his feet, Nicolai took only a slow step to his right in an attempt to give the professor enough room to close the door, lest the weather invade his laboratory. "I'm the one who should be apologizing. Today was, admittedly, not the best one for coming to start my journey. Unfortunately, I don't have a Castform for predicting the weather in advance." He offered with an apologetic shrug, not so much as lifting his feet to advance any further into the lab. As little as he actually cared, Nicolai was fairly certain it would come off as rude to start trudging through this place and leaving puddles in his wake. Plus, if he was being honest with himself, this was a fairly good vantage point to take in the layout of the lab - a good criminal was always on the lookout for anything in his environment that could be used as either advantage or escape, and while the not so young man was attempting to leave the majority of that life behind, some habits refused to die. When his eyes fell on the aid who seemed to be seeking a towel for him to dry himself with, Nicolai repositioned his goggles atop his head, continuing to speak under the guise of curiosity even while his eyes scanned the room with what he hoped was not seen as a wicked intent. "I should be more clear in my explanation. My name is Nicolai Dakari and I have come to seek entrance into the world of aspiring trainers." The man with the blue eyes had certainly forced his share of false smiles, and he definitely could have here. Except that there was no need to do so this time around. The toothy grin that pulled his lips up was entirely genuine, and considering the work he'd had to put in to get here - it damned well have better been. "I understand that usually, trainers begin their adventures at a much younger age then I am attempting now, but I saw no legal reason why an adult couldn't become a registered trainer as well. I hope that this isn't a problem... I just happen to be a bit of a late bloomer I suppose." Whether he was aware that the professor had noted his age and appearance, or had simply planned to mow down this topic to begin with, was anyone's guess. Still, he merely stood where he was, eyes occasionally taking in some random detail of the lab while he waited for the professor to take his meaning. The last thing he wanted today was more trouble, so, assuming the rain had been his bout of bad luck for the day the redhead saw little reason why he couldn't get through this process painlessly.

Trainer Encounter: 2/25
Wild Encounter: 2/5
Item posting - specific lure 2/20

Inventory:- x1 ampharosite, x1 metal powder, x1 Metal coat

Nicolai "Servo" Dakari


When the professor finally confirmed what Nicolai already knew, the redhead nodded quietly, not really saying or doing anything until after the professor continued. As expected from his reports - Birch was an optimist. Most of the people in his position were so it was to be expected. Optimistic people asked fewer questions when someone seemed to align themselves with whatever passion said person had. In this case, Pokemon. "I couldn't have said it better myself Professor. Every day is an opportunity to grow." Briefly, Nick's mind flashed back to someplace else. He didn't need to recall where or who he had been talking to, but the lesson was still clear to this day and brought a curt smile to his lips. The best lies were always founded on truth. When the aid offered him a towel, Nicolai nodded once more in gratitude, taking the offering and beginning to dry his uniform, as well as the puddle on the floor. His hair would only soak again the moment he departed but at least with his uniform padded dry he wouldn't need to worry about tracking water through the lab. As he was nearing the end of his clean up, the male's eyebrow ed up in response to the short comment made by professor birch, easing back a bit as he explained the meaning behind his 'amazement'. People who used words for a lesser value than they should always irritated Nicolai. Sure, perception was reality and every one was different but... The word amazing in particular was something Nick held in high regard. If he had seen the face of god floating down from the heavens as he had been on his way to the lab - THAT would have been amazing. Had he any control over the robotic prototype tucked away in a ball on his belt, that would be amazing. So far as he could tell though, there was nothing particularly amazing about a grown man wanting to tinker in the world of children through. That was more mundane or desperate than anything else. Still, Nick didn't comment on the professor's choice of words, following the heavyset man after returning the towel to the aid with a smile and stepping up to the table. It 'amazed' Nick when the professor asked him if he had any idea about the pokemon he wanted to take when being registered. Not because he actually didn't have any ideas, but because this was something that had made him scoff in his research. The problem with children becoming trainers was that most of them quite literally jumped into this life on impulse. They had absolutely no idea what they were doing and held very little regard for the choice. They wanted whatever looked cool, or what happened to be their favorite type as opposed to true battle potential. Nicolai had already put in countless hours of work learning the abilities, strengths, and weaknesses of what he knew were the Torchic, Mudkip, and Treeko on the table as well as the general path he intended to take on his gym challenge route. As such, it was ironic, and a bit hypocritical that Nicolai didn't actually care which of the three Pokemon he ended up with. His distaste for most Pokemon made it hard to concede to one over the other even after so much research. This was because he never truly intended to use whatever he walked away with today. For a moment, his lips parted, a question on them that never came to life. Asking if he could skip the requisition might look suspicious and that was the last thing he needed. So instead he merely leaned over the table and peered down at the balls in mock thought, his eyes shifting back and forth between them until he lifted one of the three and held it out quizzically for the professor to examine. "Would Torchic be alright with you Professor Birch? Fire Pokemon are something I have experience with so I think this will be a good fit." He asked with a smile... At least this one would be good for starting campfires. That would save Nicolai minutes a day.


Trainer Encounter: 3/25
Wild Encounter: 3/5
Item posting - specific lure 3/20

Inventory:- x1 ampharosite, x1 metal powder, x1 Metal coat

Nicolai "Servo" Dakari

"I expected as much, just wanted to clarify how the process worked." Nick concluded, recollecting the ball and attaching it to his belt in a practiced fashion even as Flux struggled to peer out of his shirt and wiggle small arms as if wanting to touch his newest comrade. No sooner had he pressed an index finger into the soft material that made up his ditto, forcing flux back into his shirt than Professor Birch began to hand him the real reason he had come in the first place. Nicolai took his time, gathering the medical items and spare Pokeballs that would certainly make his life easier - before casting his eyes upon the real prize. No doubt the redheaded man's eyes remained on the small electronic device for perhaps a touch too long before he reached out and took it, a mental breath Nick wasn't even aware he had been holding being released at last. This was it. He was a registered trainer. No foul past to deal with, no police to hunt him down. No one looking for A middle-aged man who had simply decided he wanted to see the world. "Thank you professor Birch." He spoke calmly, clutching the Pokedex carefully as if he suspected it might turn to dust in his hands. From here on out he needed to remain on the 'up and up' as it were. No more reckless crimes. He simply needed to gather his resources and prepare for the inevitable conclusion that would result of his tampering in this region. Without so much as another word, the man with the goggles on his forehead turned and started back towards the door - oblivious to both the weather that awaited him and pleasantries that were typically required when someone gave a gift of this magnitude. Thankfully, Nick did pause as he opened the door, turning his blue eyes back on professor birch even while his mind was already beginning to wander far off ahead. "This device is already registered? Also.. Waterproof correct?" He asked carefully, tilting his head to the rain outside as if such an obvious thing required explanation.



Trainer Encounter: 4/25
Wild Encounter: 4/5
Item posting - specific lure 4/20

Inventory:- Infinite Pokeballs, Infinite Potions, Pokedex, x1 ampharosite, x1 metal powder, x1 Metal coat