Ohritori Vacation!

[kenfrompokemon]

[This morning, if you tune in to Ken's Pokemon Talk on the radio, you'll probably hear him announce the program will be on break for the next two weeks while he goes on vacation! And as soon as the program ends, he hops on a boat and is off to Ohritori Island.]

A. GATEWAY PORT

[You can see him arriving at Gateway Port in Turnbloom City, looking pale as he weakly hobbles off a boat and immediately falls onto his knees and hands on the pier, taking deep breaths and looking like he's been suffering from seasickness for the entire journey.]

It's finally over...! Ohritori Island, I'm so glad to see you...

B. POKEMON CENTER

[Once he's rested from his journey, he'll be sitting at the cafe in the Pokemon Center with an ice tea, glancing around somewhat restlessly. A green Ledyba is sitting at his table, eating Berry slices. Spotting you, Ken will smile and wave.

Excuse me, can I ask you a question?

C. ROUTE 1

[Later, Ken can be seen at Route 1 with his Cubburn. He'll find Professor Banyan's laboratory, he'll just wander near it for a while, glancing at the house sometimes like he's trying to gather the courage to approach. Eventually, he'll go up to the door, raise his hand to knock... then hesitates, lowering his hand again. His Cubburn looks up at him with a whine, and Ken sighs.]

I'll do it, just give me a moment...

D. WILDCARD

[Ken can also be seen wandering all around Ohritori Island during his vacation! He doesn't visit the more dangerous places deep in the caves or the forests, but he'll be checking out the tourist spots. Theater Hall, Stardust Beach, the different farms on Gilterrace Town, Route 2 and Route 3; and the Wildflower Cape. Meet him however you want! Also, feel free to recognize his voice from radio!]

Comments

B.

[radleyslittleevie]

[Forgetting as usual that a human is no doubt being addressed, Evie the Eevee hurries over.]

Yeah!

[kenfrompokemon]

[Ken was, in fact, trying to talk to the person behind the Eevee, but... a talking Eevee. A talking Eevee with a voice similar to the talking Eevee that called Ken's show that one time.

Should he ask? No, let's just put that aside for now and ask the question he was originally going to ask.]

Er, hi! I just wanted to ask, have you seen a boy named Gold around here? Short black hair, usually wears a cap...

[radleyslittleevie]

I've seen Gold! But ... not recently....

[Evie looks around, as though hoping he'll appear. She wants to help.]

[kenfrompokemon]

You've seen him? That's great!

[Ken didn't doubt Gold had been here, since he heard from a reliable source Gold used to work here, but it's great hearing someone else confirm it! Now it really feels like Gold could pop up any moment!]

Can you tell me about him? The truth is, he's my brother! Or, he's an alternate world version of my brother, at least...

[radleyslittleevie]

He's nice! He was one of the first people I met here! That's so neat he's your brother!

[Evie's tail wags happily.]

A [CW emesis / vomit mention for the millionth time over because Buson has no class]

[buson]

Poor sucker.

But hey! If it makes you feel better, you took it a lot better than a lotta folks! I expected more vomit.

[kenfrompokemon]

Yeah... I've had worse...

[Ken probably did vomit during the trip... But only a little bit, and it went to the sea, so it could've been worse!]

Thanks, Buson... For letting me ride with you.

[buson]

Anytime! ... well, almost.

So, where do you plan to go first?

[kenfrompokemon]

I'm... going to the cafe. I need some food in me...

[It's difficult to think about food right now, but Ken knows he'll feel better once he's eaten. Then he can start his search.]

[CW emesis / vomit; will he stop? ....... probably not.... but it's still good advice, I guess]

[buson]

Sounds good to me!

[He tucked as much as he could of his spiky hair under his (faintly brown-tinged from mud he couldn't wash out) sailor's cap and put on another pair of sunglasses. 80's neon zigzag sunglasses!]

Let's fill our bellies! ... well, I will, but y'should maybe keep it light. Remember, if it burns on the way down, it'll burn on the way up! Nothin' fizzy either, you don't want that goin' up your nose.

C

[starinheaven]

[Not quite the child you're expecting, Ken, but a little girl peeked around the wall of the house, loose teal hair spilling over the side in waves.
She quietly watched and listened, finding the voice familiar, but unable to place it just yet, given how quietly Ken spoke.]

[kenfrompokemon]

[The Cubburn's ears twitch, and he notices Ai around the corner. He toddles over to look at her curiously, but cautiously.]

Hm? Flambear, what... Oh.

[And that's when Ken notices the girl around the corner, too. Taken off guard, he gives a reflexive smile.]

Hi!

[starinheaven]

[Oh, that did sound familiar! She blinked in surprise, hid away and giggled a bit shyly, before peeking out again.]

Is that your Pokemon's nickname?

[kenfrompokemon]

Uh, kind of!

[It'd be easy to say it is, but Ken can't just leave it at that. He has to spread Pokemon facts.]

Actually, Flambear is what Cubburn are called where I'm from!

[Flambear, meanwhile, is keeping an eye on Ai, curious, but too shy to go closer.]

[starinheaven]

[Ai clapped her hands together.]

I knew it, you're Ken-san!

[That's the exact tone she recognized!]

b

[domeinion]

Oh, of course! I'm always open to learning!

[Alice is, perhaps predictably, sitting with an ice cream cone, as is her Sandslash, though Flamesplash is eating hers much more quickly before it melts -- a side effect to being constantly on fire.]

Start any time you like.

[kenfrompokemon]

Uh...

[How does he respond to that. Ken's gotten his fair share of odd phonecalls on the radio, but dealing with a strange conversation starter in real life is much harder!]

Er, I just wanted to know if you've seen a boy named Gold? He's got short black hair and usually wears a cap...

[But to be honest, right now he's burning to ask some questions about that Sandslash! His Ledyba, also spotting the Sandslash on fire, stuffs his berries in his mouth and skitters closer to Ken.]

[domeinion]

I haven't seen him today, but I can keep an eye out. Did you need him for something?

[The weird Sandslash holds her ice cream cone carefully and waves, apparently confused as to why anyone would be afraid of her being on fire.]

[kenfrompokemon]

[So Gold is here that often... Good to know. Ken can meet him pretty easily then.]

I just wanted to talk to him, that's all... Er, I haven't seen a Sandslash like that before. Could you tell me about it?

[Curiosity over a new Pokemon won over getting information about his brother! Meanwhile, Ledyba's burrowing down the front of Ken's top to hide. Ken barely pays it any mind, used to it.]

[domeinion]

I don't see why not! Flamesplash here has been one of my companions for... Well, a long time. Don't worry, she's very nice.

[Flamesplash makes a happy noise and keeps eating her ice cream.]

She's not technically a Fire-type, despite her appearance. Have you ever heard of a Randomizer? It's a machine that resets a timeline to a certain point and changes things -- scrambles them up, if you will. Flamesplash here and I are randomized. So she has a different appearance and different abilities from a baseline Sandslash.

Later... (locked to Buson)

[kenfrompokemon]

[After meeting Gold, Ken wanders around, lost in his thoughts for a moment, and ends up at the beach near Professor Banyan's house. He stands there, watching the ocean. Flambear plays in the sand nearby.

...He has to talk about this with somebody. He takes out his Pokegear and dials Buson's number.]

[buson]

Hello?

[Well, one number, anyway...

Waiting to hear who's on the other end, just to be sure!]

[kenfrompokemon]

Hey, Buson! It's Ken.

[Bit of a forced cheer! But it doesn't even occur to Ken that anybody else could be on the other side, he just says his name out of habit.]

I wanted to talk with you! Do you want to meet up somewhere? Or we could just talk like this, if it's easier.

[Ken would rather meet up in person, though... Talking over the phone feels too much like the radio, so it's easy to accidentally slip into his professional voice.]

[buson]

Hey, Ken. Uhh, sure.

Where are you right now? It might take me a while to get there, but... we can talk 'til I get there.

What's up?

[kenfrompokemon]

I'm at the beach south of Turnbloom City... At Route 1, I guess.

I, uh... I met Gold! It went...

[How can he even describe it... After a long pause, Ken sighs defeatedly.]

...He wants me to call him "Brett" from now on.