Spring is around the corner-

[ulternprofessor]

[Over at the Banyan Research Lab it's not hard to notice Professor Banyan right outside. His lab coat is left by front porch with his Ulternian Pikachu having taken over it during its nap time, as he's tending to his front yard. He can be heard humming a song while working away.

For anyone passing by he'll be more than happy to have a chat.


Otherwise aside from gardening, the Professor will be seen nearby the shores intensely studying nearby Pokemon on the beach. He's got a notepad in hand to occasionally jot down his observations.]

---

(🌺Come have a chat with the local Professor! Also for those who are interested he's more than happy to hand out one of the Ulternian Starter Pokemon as well!🌺)

Comments

[but first, a photograph!]

[serperiority]

[So he's outside and working at a leisurely pace... that's perfect. Trip doesn't want to bother him while he's busy and certainly doesn't wan to run into anyone else, not his younger self or Elio.

The Pikachu sleeping in the lab coat did draw his attention for a moment, however, and he couldn't help taking a picture.]

[ulternprofessor]

[He's humming still, not noticing Trip at first. It's not until his Pikachu let out a little sneeze indicating it was awake now. Soon it followed with a yawn, a stretch before sleepily standing. Pikachu sent a sleepy gaze to Trip before moving in a small circle on the lab coat to settle back into sleep once more.

Banyan watched his Pikachu, chuckling before turning to Trip. He'll give a wave to the young trainer.]

Ulsai! What can I do for ya?

[serperiority]

[What a cute little yawn and almost cat-like stretch... it's interesting behaviour he hadn't gotten the chance to see a Pikachu exhibit before, but there weren't any native to his region, after all.

He turned to Banyan, hearing the laugh.]

Ulsai! I promised Elio I'd leave a print with you for him... he lives here too, right?

[It's a photograph of shy little Rosie's smiling face, partly hiding behind her leaf!]

[ulternprofessor]

[Ohh? Was he a friend of Elio's? Banyan's curious as to what Trip had for Elio--until he took a peek. His expression softened as he saw Rose's familiar face.]

What a nice picture you got there. Elio does live here, but yer more likely to catch him out and about towards the fields than here.

[He'll admit while scratching his cheek.]

[serperiority]

Thank you. [Trip gave Banyan a polite little bow.]

... no, that's alright, I told him I'd leave it with you, after all.

This is just perfect. See, I wanted to speak to you too...

Do you know if anything happened between Gold and Elio?

[Testing the waters...]

[ulternprofessor]

Alright, I'll be sure ta call him later about the photograph. I'm sure he'd be excited.

[He'll be sure to put said picture away safe so it won't end up mixed up with his lab notes. When Trip brought up wanting to chat Banyan expected Pokemon to be the subject. Perhaps he shouldn't have been surprised when both Gold and Elio were brought up.

Elio hadn't returned to the lab since that night, and it was clear as day Gold was avoiding the place too. Or at the very least facing him. Perhaps there was another encounter between the two boys? That would explain Trip's question ]

Dunno what Gold or Elio mighta told ya, but there was a misunderstanding about the rooming situation when Elio came back from his field research. I dunno if either of them met each other since then, especially since Elio ain't the type to sit still in one place.

[serperiority]

A misunderstanding, sir?

[He'd like to hear the rest. He's approaching this with an open mind, really, even if he'd also like to help explain things to the Professor.]

[ulternprofessor]

That's right. I hadn't realize I hadn't been clear about the rooming situation between the two of 'em. Seemed they somehow thought they were going to be sharing rooms...

[Which had made Gold upset, and Elio no doubt didn't feel any better even if he tried his best to mask it from Banyan could tell.]

After that Gold left ta his room, and Elio left for the fields.

[serperiority]

“Is… that right? Have you seen Elio since?” Trip asked, feeling a bit apprehensive.

Maybe he should search for him? He’s a trainer, so he should be okay out there, but what a misunderstanding…

sorry this ended up delayed!!!

[ulternprofessor]

"Nada." Banyan shook his head. "Elio's a bit like the wind. He doesn't seem ta wanna stay in one place for too long."

But he supposed that was the norm for Pokemon Trainers outside of Ultern.

"I do have his number but he's been hard ta reach too...but if ya want, maybe he'll answer if a friend calls him. I imagine there's things that are easier to say to someone closer in age."

[no problem, honestly, it came at just the right time, after the thread with Gold!]

[serperiority]

Trip made a face at being described as Elio's friend, raising his hands in protest, they only met once before, but didn't manage to say anything before Banyan went on. Friend or not, he couldn't just leave it like that... especially after hearing Elio hadn't come back at all. "Sounds a little like Alder sir."

"Then, give me his number, please," Trip said, raising his wrist and letting the sleeve fall back to uncover his X-Transciever. "I'll try and give him a call."

had to edit this tag for consistency with the world building lol

[ulternprofessor]

Alder? That must be someone Trip knew back home. It wasn't a name Banyan recognized. In any case, Banyan will take a second to walk over to pull out his pen and pad from his lab coat, while being careful not to wake his Pikachu. Said Pikachu simply let out a sigh in his sleep, and rolling to his side.

Jotting a number down, Banyan walked back to hand the number out to Trip. Trip just might notice the numbers were written, while legible, were a bit on the clumsy looking side. Almost as if the Professor wasn't used to writing them out that way.

"Here ya go. You might wanna call him twice, since the first time he tends to let his voice mail run. That kiddo really gets into whatever he's doing, and lose track of the time."

[not used to this writing system, huh...?]

[serperiority]

Yup! Alas, younger Trip is probably too shy and too attached to Gold to talk to Banyan much, it seems, but if he speaks to Banyan more, he'd probably talk about Alder a fair bit!

"Got it. Thank you... um, what number is this, sorry?" Trip asked a bit awkwardly, handing it back to point at one of the numbers.

he's far too used to writing in Ulternian script that's for sure.

[ulternprofessor]

Banyan is aware his general appearance might intimidate any little kid, so he wasn't about to scare a tiny Trip. Plus he liked seeing how close both he and Gold were. Such good kids, the two of them.

"Sorry that's supposed to be a 2...actually looking at it..." he's staring at what he wrote before taking the paper and rewriting. "Was that a 6 or a 9? I think it looks like--there. That should be a bit better!"

He'll pass the paper back, with the previous attempted scribbled out. It's still looks clumsy despite the Professor's best efforts.

"I didn't think writing out the numbers would be this hard, ahaha."