Professor Sycamore's Lab

This was it. Today was the day. Kintaro looked down at the sleeping Pawniard and pat her helmeted head. He should wake her up, but he wasn't sure how this was going to go. Ms. Ruka had assured him that it was never too late to start a Journey. That didn't make it true. What Kintaro didn't know was that Professor Sycamore was aware of the strange case coming to his door. How often did a full-grown man get to hit the "Reset Button" on his youth like this? It was surreal to think about. No, that wasn't it, this was unreal! Any second now he was going to wake up at his office, getting reamed by his boss for not only staying overnight but falling asleep on his work. Not that his effort was unappreciated at work, but he knew he was doing himself no favors. That was why, he suspected, she had him sent here. This was some Bunnelby-brained scheme to get the man to do a little more on his own agenda. That didn't change his fear of the place he was now standing at. Sycamore was probably in there, waiting for him, maybe even watching him.

If the Professor didn't choose to end the awkward waiting, Kintaro would finally bring up the courage to rap three times on the door in a slow, rhythmic fashion. It wasn't hard or soft or loud or quiet. The sound was measured and steady and just enough to be heard clearly without causing one to think a Rhyhorn had gotten loose. Kintaro hated dealing with the clients, but he'd learned a lot from the years of matching Pokemon to people and having to interview customers as well. It was important for making the right matches. More so than simply making sure a Pokemon could do the necessary job. Either way, however Sycamore came to greet Kintaro, he was shocked to find the man here and seemingly waiting on his arrival. "P-Professor Augustine S-S-S-Sycamore? My name is Satoshi Kintaro, sir. I-I-I'm here to...uh...I'm..that is to say...." He stuttered, suddenly hyper aware of what he was doing in a way he hadn't considered before. A little boy should have been enthusiastically declaring his want for a Pokemon. Instead, here was a middle-aged employment agent trying to convince a man around the same age that he had never done this sort of thing before. The only person even judging him was Kintaro himself. If only Alyssa had lied and convinced Kintaro that Sycamore was in need of a new Pokemon lab assistant and scheduled an interview. Kintaro could meet people all day long for the sake of helping someone else get what they needed. Kintaro shook his once his stuttering episode ended. He was only wasting the Professor's time. There was no reason to keep bothering him. "It's nothing. I'm sorry to disturb you." He said finally with a quick bow of his head.



Pack: Pokeball x, Potion x, Pokedex
Pokemon Encounter: 1/--
Trainer Battle: 1/25
Item Posting: (Ultra Ball) 1/20
Badges: N/A



Pokemon:

Kintaro couldn't have thought for a second that Alyssa Ruka wouldn't have called ahead. Somehow, still, he was quite surprised to hear the name of his boss dropped. A faint flush in his cheeks signaled to Sycamore that he had dropped exactly the right name to motivate his reluctant Trainer-To-Be. Kintaro was poised halfway into stepping away before he craned his neck to stare back at the handsome Pokemon Professor. "M-Ms. Ruka? She called you?" He asked, looking more bothered now than he had a moment ago. The man had to stop and think about what he really wanted to do. Sure he was afraid, but Alyssa had stuck her neck out for him. At least in his eyes. "Alright. Fine. Yes, I am here for a Pokemon." He straightened himself up, whipping around to face Sycamore once more with a rigid "at attention" stance now. This poor guy was uncomfortable even in his own skin. Kintaro watched the Professor warily, clearly waiting for some kind of remark on his age. It always came up whenever someone decided to ask about his own adventures. Someone his age with no personal experience as a Trainer, it just wasn't right.

Kintaro took a step forward as he mulled over the most important question of his life. "A Pokemon, yes. Which one..." He trailed off, contemplating what he knew of Kalos' own Pokemon. He'd heard that the system was the same in Unova, and Kanto too. A Grass Type, a Water Type, and a Fire Type Pokemon to choose from. Though none of them could ever be genuinely called "the same" choices. While Kintaro was thinking about his options, he was failing to hear the distant "clank clank clank!" of bladed feet pattering the road behind him. Attica was charging the laboratory thinking Kintaro had ditched her and escaped. She knew far less than Alyssa and Kintaro did, so she had no idea what even the great Augustine looked like. After several long seconds of getting to watch the rampaging Pawniard, Professor Sycamore would notice that Kintaro had gone pale. He could hear the running Blade Pokemon now and knew he was in for it. "C-close the door." He stuttered, hesitantly moving forward as panic set in and made him twitch. The footfalls getting closer finally prompted Kintaro to take the initiative if Sycamore hadn't already begun to follow his visitor's instructions. "CLOSE THE DOOR!" The case worker grabbed the handle and hauled on it, with or without Sycamore's help. Either way, the heavy barrier shut before a loud "THUD!" came from the other side and Attica's forehead blade stuck through. The Pawniard was screaming curses from the other side, threatening Kintaro for trying to run away from his task and hunt for an unsuspecting client when he was supposed to be working on getting Pokemon for himself.

Kintaro fell back against the floor and away from the door, letting out a pitiful yelp when Attica dislodged herself and aimed a sharp glare through the tiny gap she'd made. Sycamore was only an unfortunate party to the event occurring here and not on the Pawniard's radar for stabbing. Luckily, she wasn't going to tear apart some random bystander's home just to punish the cowardly lump she had been put in charge of for this trip. After recovering from the scare of being attacked by Attica--again--Kintaro stood up and brushed himself off. "Sorry...about that. Ms. Ruka sent an attack Pawniard so I wouldn't try to leave." He glanced to the side awkwardly. "Attica has no idea what she's doing except watching me." It didn't help that Attica was as much an "attack dog" as Kintaro was a Pokemon Ranger. "So, yes, my Starter. I've reviewed the probable candidates. Assuming you haven't changed the formula standard, there are three valid options for Type. Following that data sample, the choices are typically unusual to find, well, anywhere." Kintaro was a lot less anxious when he was focused on a task. Now he seemed more like the man he should have become. "Given the charts provided by my company, there are only nine Pokemon that are technically common, but are almost impossible to find and catch in the wild." He paused, looking up to Sycamore as if realizing he was behaving oddly. "Assuming none of those options are evolved, that brings the choices to three. One for each Type category. Of course, I'm going to require something durable. I have no idea what I'm doing, I can hardly lift a PC on my own, and I can't promise my partners will be safe under my care." Kintaro understood that he could be convincing Sycamore that giving him a Pokemon might actually be a bad idea, but he couldn't make an accurate conclusion without using the information and facts he knew he had. "Chespin." He stated finally, in a matter-of-fact tone. "Chespin is the only logical answer. Froakie is agile, Fennekin is sharp-witted, but both are also more delicate. Putting them in a dangerous situation could counteract their benefits. Chespin are known for their hardy bodies and physical strength. So the only Pokemon I could reasonably expect to survive my incompetence is, Chespin." When Kintaro was finished, he stood straight but more relaxed than before. He let a lot of stress out by working through logic puzzles, and figuring which Pokemon to call "friend" was one of the most complicated puzzles one could imagine. He only hoped that whatever Chespin he was given would be up for the task.

Kintaro was surprised to receive gifts for his journey as well. He'd had older models of a Pokedex for work, handy little devices for analysis, but never his own property. Pokeballs and Potions, too. Lastly, he was asked to take the one Pokeball that mattered. Chespin's ball was cool to the touch, yet it felt warm from beyond that initial chill. He held the ball in his palm for a long time, trying to process what he had just done. This was his Pokeball. His Pokemon. Something he'd dreamed of for years. He looked to Sycamore with the faint indication of a smile, though he worked to keep a straight face. He had to look professional after all. "Merci beaucoup, Professeur." Kintaro declared, bowing his head once more and using a bit of French to relay his appreciation for the Professor's aid. Now he had to prove to Attica that he hadn't run away after all. The Pawniard was pacing angrily outside, leaving deep cuts in the dirt whenever she scuffed her little feet. When the door finally opened again, Kintaro stood there and it took everything in her not to stab his shin for abandoning her at their camp site. He was smiling, and he had things he didn't have when he went in. The Pawniard paused in her menacing stance and glanced at Professor Sycamore briefly, then back to Kintaro. "Pawn?" Attica was so confused. "It's alright, Attica. You did your job. You can go home." Kintaro said with a small nod. He enlarged Chespin's Ball and let the little chipmunk Pokemon out for Attica to see. The two young Pokemon stared at each other, Chespin mirroring Attica's actions thinking he was playing some kind of game. Attica finally accepted that she wasn't being tricked, but her demeanor fell immediately. Kintaro was right, she did her job. It had been a lot more fun than shredding paper at the office though. She was hoping she would get to keep watching over him. The little Pawniard dug something out of a pouch she had jealously guarded on her back and presented a Shell Bell to Kintaro. The first thing the new Trainer noticed was that the bell didn't ring. "Hm? Isn't that the Shell Bell Ms. Ruka asked me to fix? Why did she send this? It's broken." He had tried everything he could think of, and he knew something was in there stopping the bell, but he couldn't figure out what and he couldn't seem to get it. He glanced inside at the covered bell with frown. Still there. Except it was definitely loose now. He was too busy shaking the bell out to wonder how that could have happened. A short "ding!" of the bell escaping its paper prison and a crumpled note fell into Kintaro's hand.

"Dear Kinny,
I know you didn't fix this bell before you left. Attica could've if you just asked. She's not just your Watchog, either. Take good care of her for us. And don't forget to be polite to Professor Sycamore! I taught you French for a reason, you jerk!
Love,
Aly."

Kintaro blinked and looked down at Attica, who looked back up at him like nothing had really changed. He held out the Shell Bell and Attica hesitantly held up her bladed hands before he dropped it. "You keep it. My Chespin is going to need help." He said with a bigger smile than before. With his new Starter Pokemon and his first companion "caught," Kintaro bid farewell to Professor Sycamore to begin the first leg of his own Pokemon Journey!



Pack: Pokeball x, Potion x, Pokedex, Shell Bell
Pokemon Encounter: 2/--
Trainer Battle: 2/25
Item Posting: (Ultra Ball) 2/20
Badges: N/A



Pokemon:

A bright morning welcomed the Kalos Region into the new day as the sun had already risen and was moving into the sky, basking the green forests around Vaniville Town in a warm glow. Though small, Vaniville had much to offer those passing through as a one Professor Augustine Sycamore was already ready, willing and able to aid anywhere he could. One such instance was the joy and splendor of helping those new budding trainers, both young and old, take their first steps into the Pokemon world with their very own partner, and one such opportunity presented itself as he was notified by one of his lab hands of a visitor whom had come inside. The good Professor didn’t hesitate to move through his facility to come and welcome the newcomer, elated as always with an ever present smile on his face.

”Why hello Andy! It is such a pleasure, please come in, come in,” Sycamore greeted with a bright smile, gentle taking the teen by his shoulders and motioning for him to come further into the facility. There was never anything to be shy about with professor Sycamore around.

”I could have guessed a strapping young lad like you might be here to start off on your very own journey. I am pleased that you came to me for assistance,” he smiled, listening to the boy then on his selection of Pokemon.

”Ah, a boy who knows what he wants! A Fennekin is a fine partner, and I have just the one ready to start on its own travels as well,” the professor confirmed, moving about as a lab assistant came by with a tray full of items that he handed off to the good Professor. With jovial thanks, Sycamore moved back towards Andy, tray in hand, and held it out to the new young trainer.

”Here we are. I have a Pokedex for you that now has you identified as a registered trainer, and of course some potions and pokeballs to help you on your way. And this Pokeball here holds your new Fennekin that I’m sure will be just right for your travels,” he offered, holding out the items for Andy to take, always enjoying this part of his job the most.

”We wish you farewell and good tidings on your journey! Greatness awaits you as soon as you step out that door!”

Rei hated to admit it to himself, but it was about time he got himself a pokemon. All his peers had long since received one, and even his parents were starting to push him into getting a starter from the professor. He didn’t particularly want to, but they had their uses, he supposed. They were good enough for protection and companionship at the very least. And having a creature at his side during his first real travels away from his hometown seemed like common sense. To him, travelling to the lab was a no-brainer.  It was something necessary in order to continue travelling for his dance and his photography.

And thus, as he pushed open the doors to the lab and stepped into the entrance room, he sighed. Necessary or not, that didn’t mean he was particularly interested in dealing with people. At least the professor would probably be able to get this over with quickly. “Hello, professor?” He called in a lightly accented voice, hoping the man was in fact in his lab at the moment. It would be rather awkward having to wait for him or come back later. After all, having to come here twice wasn’t something he planned on doing. It was awkward enough once, let alone having to come back again.

It was awkward standing in the front area with one of the lab’s aides, so when professor Sycamore arrived Rei let out a sigh of relief. Good, he was here, he wouldn’t have to come back later. “My name is Rei. I’ve come because my parents have been pushing me to get a pokemon now that I’m travelling for work more often, and I can’t really blame them for saying it. The companionship would be nice.” He answered, not quite smiling but with a definite expression of relief written all over his face. This process surely wouldn’t take too long, and then he’d be able to leave with his new companion. He had some work to do later, he couldn’t really afford for this process to take ages. Rather than say anything else, he opted to play with his fingers as he awaited the professor’s response. Did he even have starters ready right now? Plenty of people came to the lab for starters, who knew if he’d even be able to get one.

As Rei listened to the professor’s words, he breathed a short sigh of relief. It didn’t take long to ponder on the professor’s question, he’d been thinking about exactly what kind of starter he might want from the professor during his entire journey here. “That is a question I’d already been thinking about, professor. If you don’t mind, might I meet Fennekin?” He responded, tone very polite to the man before him. After all, the professor was the one who would be giving him a starter if he was to receive one at all. Even his normal impatience was nowhere to be seen with the older man, giving him his utmost respect. 

In the meantime, he continued to play with his fingers, obviously out of his depth here. Anybody would be able to tell he’d never trained a pokemon in his life, least of all the much more experienced professor who started trainers on their journeys daily. His nervousness was palpable in the air, no matter how kindly the professor sounded when he spoke.