It's amazing how capable one becomes when they're desperate. As the Meowth zigged below fallen logs and through the dense trees with his computer Azad would Zag above vaulting over the same logs sliding through the dense forest himself both disregarding any and all pokemon that happened to eye the duo. Most were too busy with their own business to care and the others that took interest either weren't fast enough to interrupt or were too scared to having seen the look on the human's face.

Azad could feel himself tiring as the chase persisted, but he'd still he'd place one foot in front of the other pushing himself further on for his work. If he lost that laptop he might as well lose any sense of his future, or at least that's what he believed. Eventually the cat pokemon would make its way into the canopy eliciting both a swear and a pokeball from the aspiring professor. "Aros don't let the cat escape!" He'd manage to get out through hurried breaths refusing to stop his own pursuit. While the man was lean and his travels through the wild had conditioned him better to exercise and physical activity as whole Azad was still very much an indoor nerd at heart and keeping up this pace for so long was nothing short of miracles and adrenaline.

He'd catch flickers of the cat and his computer as the pokemon flew through the trees hopping from branch to branch each jump causing the boy's heart to leap in worry, if the laptop was broken in the chase than he'd be for lack of a better word, 'fucked' in every regard. The man was so focused on the pokemon above he didn't even notice the girl below and in the transition from trees to tall grass the researcher had lost track of the pokemon. Thankfully the beldum who remained above had managed to see the the cat pokemon's plan unfold. And so the Beldum would float overhead watching the event preparing to interfere only if its trainer was unable to resolve the situation himself.

Azad liked to think himself relatively capable in most things. He had a good head on his shoulder's the man had done his time in school and even made it into college and while he may not have been as established or even as loved as his siblings he more often than not showed a good face to the world. There was pride in both his abilities and his vanity. Knowing that he'd be able to keep his cool regardless of the situation and even more his ability to put his best foot forward despite the challenges he faced was something he thought was to be respected. His threshold and even more his patience for the odd and annoying was higher than most and while he'd never say it aloud it was something he truly believed. It was only until he was faced with this combination of events so odd and out sorts that Azad's facade finally broke down.

Faced with a beautiful girl dressed only in a bikini in the middle of the woods after chasing a Meowth down for a laptop that held his 'future' the man had finally run out of words, and even if he hadn't his body ardently refused refused to share them. Piercing green eyes would peek out beneath bundles of tussled white hair as Azad would awkwardly move to turn away from the woman hoping to keep at least some level of tact but only embarrassing himself further. Eventually he'd make out a few sounds that at least seemed like words ears reddening all the while.

"Uh... -top... Meowth. Sorry, -ve seen?" And after a second or two more he'd continue slowly catching his breath.

Have you... seen my laptop, I uh... don't mean to interrupt, sorry." Sweaty and with his hair out of sorts and faced with a situation odder and more awkward than the one he'd been in previously it was plainly apparent that dark-skinned man was completely and unequivocally embarrassed by literally every aspect of this situation.

"Yeah, I'll just be on my way."

noelani palm // Notes: he is just completely shook

He's far to shaken to even consider turning around.

Even with the stranger's kindness as she searched and empathized with the his situation Azad couldn't bring himself to bother her further, not when he was already this out of sorts, and when the thief was most likely escaping farther as they spoke. While avoiding eye contact he'd catch a glance at her own starkly different laptop noting that she seemed busy with her own work, another strike against himself. No, it was best the weary man figure out his next move while he caught his breath. Would it be wise to continue searching for the pokemon who in the time he spent hassling this stranger had only gotten farther away, or should he prepare to invest in new equipment starting his project over from the top? Not to say he even had the money for such an undertaking. While Azad attempted to make some kind of plan Aros had long since realized his trainer was incapable of solving this problem alone and as suchwould begin to act on behalf of the white-haired trainer.

With a plan of its own the pokemon would simply descend down quietly floating a few feet above the unsuspecting meowth and its trainer before crying out in its gutteral robotic voice only as it could serving as a sort of alarm or bell for the cat pokemon in an attempt to give its location away to everyone in the immediate area. It wasn't the most tactful way of going about the situation, but Aros didn't deal in tact, it dealt in results.

Azad recognizing the sound, but unprepared for his pokemon's cry would shoot back towards the three. For the first time over the course of the chaos a small grin would grow on the researcher's face. While he might have failed his partner had succeeded, after all why else would the pokemon attempt to grab his attention.

What he didn't expect was for the cries to come from directly above the girl, he couldn't see the Meowth from where he stood, but still Aros would continue to make noise until the silver haired trainer would make his way back over leaving him once again face to face with the scantily clad stranger, While he didn't look his best the green eyed boy was a bit less ragged now and so the trainer would speak more clearly if only slightly. He still couldn't talk to the girl clearly for a number of other reasons.

"Sorry for my pokemon's interruption he's usually more polite...haha..." Whether or not the girl had yet to notice the clever cat Azad would continue pushing the conversation. He'd place a hand clumsily behind his head as the man continued, "I don't mean to insist, but I trust that Beldum with my life, In all my time with him I've yet to see a point where he hasn't acted with purpose, so would you mind if I searched the area a second time?" Perhaps at a beach where the woman's outfit was the norm he'd have a little more poise and tact. Sadly, they weren't at the beach they were in a forest where her outfit might of well have been underwear and so even now he'd avoid meeting the girl's eyes and her form as a whole in the slightest. All in all it'd look as if the man found the surrounding brush entirely too fascinating as he attempted to converse.

noelani palm // Notes: he is just completely shook

The shenanigans would only continue as the situation progressed. As the Meowth shot a rather creative gesture to the Beldum the pokemon would roll its singular eye wishing it had shoulders to shrug, truly evolution could not come fast enough for the magnet pokemon. If anything following their exchange the pokemon would cry slightly louswe to antagonize the cat pokemon further. The woman's left the magnet pokemon a little more curious the Beldum figured the woman was a co-conspirator in this farce, but her laid-back almost too open approach of the situation left the logic oriented pokemon confused. She really hadn't realized the object that started this whole event was quite literally against her back, alongside the perpetrator. The steel type at the end of the day could only chalk it up to human weirdness. (a category that filled further with each passing day)

On Azad's end the woman hadn't taken any offense to his request thankfully and was still willing to allow the researcher to search for his treasured device. As he moved forward he'd begin to speak still pointedly avoiding her gaze, attempting to normalize this meeting marginally. "So what brings you to the forest? I figured you'd be on your way to the beach in such a..." Revealing. "brazen outfit. Not to say it doesn't look nice, of course." He'd glance toward Aros moving to investigate whatever had alerted the magnet.

The trainer would first move to the small shrine walking almost directly past the girl missing the thief entirely in passing. "You know they say the forest's protector returns to this shrine every so often." He'd inspect the farther side of the wooden architecture carefully straightening himself out a bit more as he began his search. He'd even take a moment to tie his hair back into the classic ponytail that'd fallen out over the course of the chase. Hands could graze the wood checking the far side of the shrine first. The shrine itself was one of the landmarks in the region that aspiring professor was most interested in. His key interests concerning the pokemon world and in turn his research was mythology and while legendary pokemon weren't his focus they more often than not played a large role in the topic. As he moved to the direct back of the shrine his voice would ring out again filling the silence of the forest. "Have you heard the stories? Those concerning the 'Guardian of the Fores-"

It was only then that he'd begin move to the side of the shrine closest to the woman catching a flash of not only the green haired girl herself but of gray and black that was just a little to furry to serve as a shadow tucked behind her. Eyed narrowed as they attempted to hone in on the shadow hesitating a moment before deciding to ask his next question "Uh..." Only now realizing he'd yet to inquire about the stranger's name. Ms.... as odd as this is could I ask that you to...check behind yourself." The corners of the man's mouth would twinge in the negative a frown preparing to retrieve his laptop and give the thief a little more than a piece of his mind.

noelani palm // Notes: TELL ME IF I HAVE THE SETUP RIGHT I CAN EDIT

The audacity of this sassy cat. Even now with the computer safely back in the professor's possession the dark type would still stand up gazing at Azad through the windows of his soul saying absolutely nothing just holding out its palms waiting. Just waiting for the rightful owner of the device to bequeath it to the pokemon. He had half a mind to have beldum fight the pokemon, but in the interest of its trainer who was so gracious in comparison the silver-haired trainer would simply focus his gaze on the woman ignoring the wildly brave creature for the moment at least.

It was only when the woman introduced Kitten that he'd glance back down at him now arms still held open and wide, still waiting. "He's quite the..." Asshole "Character." He'd attempt a short laugh, only half succeeding as his eyes moved to Beldum. "I'm sure you're never bored with him around, but I suppose Aros has a fair share of their own idiosyncrasies as well." The pokemon still flitted about stopping for a moment to stare at their trainer for his comment. After a piercing glare and a short apology from his trainer the beldum would return to his inspection.

Upon her mention of Alola he began to recall bits and pieces of knowledge concerning 'regional' changes and the like, it was quite a curious thing he knew little about, something that amidst his whirlwind of studies Azad made note to look into and probably forgot. Upon her explanation those piercing emerald eyes would light up his interest piqued. This meowth wasn't the best subject, but it was his only one, and so on occasion now despite the man's grievances a passive eye would fall on the pokemon more regularly if only out of a curiosity for the species as a whole.

It was only when she followed up about his research that any sense of focus returned to the boy. The euphoria of finding the laptop and everything that'd happened in interim had gotten the young professor more than slightly sidetracked. "Something of the sort, a researcher or researcher-in-training really. I'm part of the 'young professor program' at my university. Essentially two years of studying on a pokemon journey where I report back to my elder colleagues and professors bi-weekly." He'd pause for a moment as Aros would lean in closer to the green-haired girl allowing itself to be touched. I was studying the odd migration of bug pokemon in the forest before I was... 'interrupted'." He'd take special care to choose the least accusatory word yet again. "What of you....stranger?" Once again remembering he needed the girl's name. "Oh and allow me to Introduce myself, Azad Slade. It's a pleasure." He'd offer his hand to smaller girl making extreme effort to focus on her eyes alone, refusing to lose his composure twice in one day.

noelani palm // Notes: ayyy hope this works

Eyes widen more than marginally upon the woman's introduction, this stranger with her rambunctious meowth actually held the title that he was working towards. To become a full fledged professor was truly his dream and for the last half hour or so he'd shown her the absolute worst sides of himself. The young researcher was mortified upon realization that this woman could potentially be someone that was grading his papers. The entire dynamic had shifted and while it was too late to back step the man didn't really have much of an out either. Still she hadn't seemed too annoyed by the course of events and working alongside someone in the same field, a superior at that was toogood of an opportunity to pass up, and so the man wouldn't run from this situation striving only to make the best of it.

He notes the firmness of her grip, matching it before releasing the shake as the woman went to talk about her own research. In seconds it was apparent that the two were in the same vein, and upon mention of her skeleton of data the man would almost immediately open his own computer. As if a switch had been flipped inside the the darker-skinned researcher any bashfulness he had concerning the woman's appearance would quickly be replaced it's energy refocused into actual work. The researcher would even go as far as to take a seat next to the woman who would hopefully become a colleague as opposed to a superior. "Well I've gained a fair bit of data on the area from the Choji populace and through my own studies, but my data has its own holes as well." With the screen flickering on the man would quickly log in revealing an assortment of spreadsheets not only concerning the migration but the breakdown of wild pokemon in the forest typically. "I'd be very interested in cross-referencing the data and maybe we can figure out what's going on in the forest, that is, if what's happening now has happened before, and of course if you're interested, of course." So focused on the research Azad would even reveal a tick that happened upon when excited.

When offered the lemonade he wouldn't yet look up continuing to type away filling in a few blanks that he hadn't been able to fill earlier thanks to the cat pokemon's interruption not to long ago. "I suppose it's a good thing I'm not a pokemon then." He'd give the girl a small smirk only now looking up accepting her offer. "Yeah, I'd appreciate one as long as I'm not putting you out." He'd then continue on deciding it wise to speak on his current thoughts concerning the migration.

"According to what I've compiled so far I'm personally led to believe that something is pushing these specific groups of bug pokemon southbound. If I may, does your work align with my hypothesis?"

noelani palm // Notes: hella late but i'm here