New Winds [Starter]

anxious

769

Aight lets go

Jay pursed his lips slightly, his expression difficult to read but a scowl drawn across his lips thin and his brows low and furrowed slightly. To say the professor's appearance was not what he expected, disheveled and unkempt, would have been accurate, but a glance at the others in the building had told him it was not a strange or unique phenomenon as they all seemed to be less then prepared for the day. It appeared they expected a busy day, or perhaps were understaffed and overloaded. The question was whether this was the standard operating procedure or a particularly rushed time of the lab. Idly in the back of his head, Jay hoped it was the latter, though in the end it mattered little either way, what would be would be, and it was far from him to question or judge. They seemed to still be managing, whatever the case was, though it seemed clear to him now why he had encountered plenty of encouragement in trying to seek work as a ranger and a researcher. If the rangers were struggling even half as much as the lab at least looked to be...

Jay's scowl deepened subtly as Elm whirled around with surprise, their glasses and handful of stacked papers tumbling to the ground haphazardly, the former clattering while the latter scattered with a rustling flutter across the floor. He was saved an apology by the professor beating him to it with a few exclamations that precluded his own greeting to the new ranger. Silently, Jay bent down as well, swiftly pulling off his gloves and putting them in a pocket, gathering up the papers in as much of the same order as he could while the professor retrieved their glasses and replaced them on the bridge of their nose. Shuffling the papers back into a single stack with his hands and tapping in the edges so they all lined up straight with the edge of his palm, Jay offered them back wordlessly, his other hand bringing out his gloves again to replace them, tanned skin marked with scars especially along the backs. Distant eyes glanced past Elm, nodding as Elm explained, the professor quick to move on from his mishap and brisk to business.

His frustrated disappointment didn't show on Jay's face as all he was given was a list to choose from, with his explanations and interaction limited to a singular typing. A twitch of his lips, almost for a moment a mocking hint of a crooked smile. Of course, he should have expected. Though of course this was probably just the same standard procedure as all trainers were given, and they could hardly afford to be releasing so many pokemon for young adventures children in the lab. He let his arms fold behind his back again as he closed his eyes a moment in thought, a slow breath pushing itself from his lungs and out his nostrils as he considered. Hm, well, none were native to Alola. He had looked briefly at the first three, but beyond a basically physiology and type he didn't know much else. Type wise though... fire tended to be the strongest, but relied on brute force. Water had more variety but still was focused on fighting and attacks. Grass and Electric both had versatility outside of simply defeating the opponent though...

Frowning faintly a moment, Jay opened his eyes again as he tilted his head ever so slightly to the side and inclined it forward in nod to the professor. "Mareep will suffice" It should be tame, and electric types were generally better in battle then grass types while still maintaining status effect and hindrance abilities that fire and water did not have. Mareep was also generally a rather tame and obedient pokemon, used commonly on farms for wool, so while it wasn't the most aggressive, it should be easy to work with and follow his commands. Beyond that though it was a coin flip, and he couldn't be certain how much his choice now would matter, if any. His gaze flicking to Elm directly again a moment, Jay continued, his question pointed as he glanced purposefully back to the other researchers and then over Elm's person, sizing up the windblown seeming man. "Is there anything else I should know or do?" Silently the question seemed to refer to any help they might need from him, but he left it unvoiced to not pressure the issue or make comment on it, instead letting it just apply to his starter and registration if that is how they chose to answer it.

anxious

764

Nooo ur fine bby

Jay nodded as the Professor commented on his decision, noting that it was an uncommon one. That didn't surprise Jay, something like a mareep didn't tend to appear strong to most trainers, it was a docile pokemon better known for it's use in agricultural settings then in battle, and they tended to be rather tame and simple. For their purposes perhaps it was fine to have a companion that was all blaze and brawn, relying on wild brute strength to try and climb their way past other trainers to become champion. But that wasn't what Jay was here for, and nor was it the goal he had in mind, thus something not as well built for that but with more utility and dependency was far better. Besides, he would rather take stability and certainty over the uncertain power. Better to know for sure the extent of one's abilities then to rely on a variable.

Arms unfolded, Jay extending a hand to take the pokeball that was offered to him from the table, the glimmering unscratched and polished metal shining dully in the laboratory's lights as he examined it a moment, noting the identification mark. Interesting... he had never seen a pokeball engraved or marked by anything before. The idea seemed one that shouldn't have been that strange or uncommon though, but simply hadn't occurred to him to consider that it might be done before. Making note of the mark and the thought, Jay took the other items offered towards him, the starter kit he could presume, he clipped the Mareep's ball to his belt on his hip. "Thank you." He responded simply, his graciousness decidedly expressed in monotone, though it was meant in all seriousness.

Then an answer to Jay's question, the Professor taking little hesitation to reach for a small red device and hand it over to him. Taking it in one hand as he shifted his weight to balance his starter kit, Jay examined it, a brow raising slightly as he studied it in mild interest. He wasn't left waiting for an explanation however, Elm seemingly rejoiced at hearing his offer and eager to push this project onto him for his assistance. The explanation itself seemed lengthy but straight-forward. Jay inclined his head in a nod as Elm went over it's functions and how it would help the researchers. Catch pokemon and the device automatically collected data. Simple and efficient then it seemed, though the idea of having to catch that many pokemon twisted a frown over one corner of Jay's mouth as he considered it over. Hm, and multiple catches too.... it seemed the preferable way of data collection then was to simply catch as much as possible. A very... direct if questionable way of conducting studies.

For a moment though Jay was distracted from this thought as more items were offered to him, and shifted the pokedex over to his other hand, taking the pack of items with another nod of thanks as he slung a strap over his shoulder and shifted his weight to let it hand from his back, already planning to take the time later when he was on the road and at his own privacy and leisure to actually look inside and inventory what he was given. Still Elm gave him a rundown as well as he attentively listened, noting each item and its uses, most seeming to be basic items for training and travel, though the Pokenav in particular looked like it was something he would have to look at more and further in depth later. Interesting that it had uses he would have to find on his own... what was the significance there? Were they linked to something he would encounter later? Jay filed the note away for later.

At the prompting for any questions, Jay retraced back to the pokedex, pausing a moment as he glanced down at it, his tongue sliding over his teeth and pressing on his canines a moment. "One. Do the pokemon need to be kept or can they be released after without compromising the data?"

Listening patiently to the answer, Jay would nod either way, his expression difficult to read on his thoughts, a schooled in slight from if it was a yes or a simple acceptance if it was a no, his frustrations or his reliefs silent before he would start to turn away. "Until the next fair wind" He would say in rough farewell before following his original steps to leave the laboratory building, grateful to be outside again once the doors closed behind him.

---

Mareep - Yarrow | Male
Yarrow is quiet and simple, and is used to a very basic life. He doesn't scare or startle easily and is often curious about the world around him and quite polite and easy to get along with, but has very little ambition of his own, happy to go along with the flow or do what others want to do. He's patient and very tolerant of most things, with a sort of perpetual mild but vaguely sunny attitude and a simple but rather accurate perspective on the world.