[PRP] Monatomic

[Gwennythe]

Jinko library smelled just like a library was supposed to; there was something universal about libraries. Old book smell, the kind of carpet and building material used, the dust collecting around the room, the cleaner and polish used to fight said dust, and, of course, somewhat, sometimes, the smell of, ugh, people...

It was something that Eumelia Strand wasn't /particularly/ fond of speculating about, yet she could admit that the library just wouldn't feel like a library without some combination of those particular odours. It'd probably do /just fine/ without the people one though.
She thought she could even detect a hint of fried food among that human-based odour. Greasy fingers touching books. Wonderful. As long as they stayed far away from the sciences, though, and her publications, she supposed it didn't matter.

Ah, the publications- scientific journals.
Those were what had brought the white-haired woman today and she tapped her foot impatiently, even after giving over her order, as the librarian on duty took, to her mind, far too long finding 'Kodo Physics Review' with it's headline-worthy (at least, for that particular journal) piece regarding the newest Meson theory.

To pass the time while the librarian dithered, or whatever was taking so damned long, Eumelia turned her glance to the rest of the library and the, ugh, other patrons within.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Ion stood nearby, breathing in and finding comfort in the familiar smell of the library - even if it wasn't the one he was used to, most libraries still smelled the same - as he waited patiently for another librarian to be free to assist him. He held two books in his arms, the titles of both of which referenced Team Rocket in some manner, and he kept his gaze loosely focused on the counter in case someone waved him over soon.

The three pokemon around him, however, looked various levels of interested in the library they found themselves in; Albiore shifted from foot to foot anxiously as his head darted this way and that, looking at all of the various perches he could fly to, but for the moment he remained atop Ion's shoulder. Yulia, from her spot on the floor near her trainer's feet, slowly swept her gaze around the area, noting the overwhelming number of books. With a huff, Jozette simply folded her arms across her chest and more or less kept an eye on Ion with the occasional glance to other patrons who wandered too close, though she took a moment or two every so often to readjust the backpack that hung from her shoulders.  

[Gwennythe]

Boring human, boring human, boring human, less boring, that was a pokémon... so was that... Ah, and a human standing just there. With pokémon. A Pidgey and then...
"Oh!" Eumelia's eyes found the Ralts and then the Braixen and the scowl she'd adopted softened up quite a bit, replaced by a very clear curious look of interest.

Immediately she'd stepped away from the counter- she'd already asked for what she needed, it wasn't like she could lose her place- and was determinedly moving, and peering, toward Jozette and then Yulia, apparently unafraid of trying to come right up close to them, for a good look, and not concerned with asking Ion for permission.
She didn't, at least, yet, try to touch them.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Jozette had to do a double-take to see that, yes, that unfamiliar human was walking towards them. Her ears perked and eyes widened a bit in mild surprise before her ears flicked backwards as a growl rumbled out from her throat. She even went so far as to take a step back away from her and closer to Ion, though made sure to keep herself between the two.

Unlike her companion, Yulia offered a small smile and friendly wave to the strange human who seemed to have stuck her face quite close to the Braixen's.

Ion reacted in a manner similar to his Ralts, and upon noticing the newcomer he half-turned and offered her a warm, vaguely puzzled smile over his fire-type. "Hello," he said softly in deference to their surroundings. "Is there something I can help you with?"  

[Gwennythe]

And, apparently, the strange woman was entirely unperturbed by the growl, instead trying to look behind Jozette, while muttering about not having equipment, then giving another admiring look toward the Ralts on the ground.

She seemed to frown, as though interrupted, by Ion's greeting.

"Can you teleport, levitate, make something float, or create your own fire? I sincerely doubt it. Though," a sudden thought seemed to occur and the woman straightened up "these pokémon, they're with you, thus they follow your instructions? Perhaps that might be useful."
A phone with a camera was retrieved from Eumelia's pocket.
"What moves do they know how to perform?"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

The more this stranger looked at her and remained in her personal space, the tenser Jozette got and the more she growled. Ion put a gentle hand on her shoulder to quiet her, though the woman's response surprised him a bit. In the end, though, he could only offer her a faintly apologetic expression. "Ah, I'm sorry," he said as he shook his head a bit. "No, I can't do any of those. But, yes, they are, and they do..." Useful? Useful how?

"Ah - Jozette knows Scratch, Ember, Psybeam and Lucky Chant," he began with a gesture to his Braixen, followed by another to his Pidgey, "Albiore knows Tackle, Sand Attack, Gust and Quick Attack, and Yulia," this time he gestured to the Ralts on the floor, "knows Growl, Confusion, Double Team and Teleport."

While Albiore tilted his head at the unfamiliar woman and Jozette huffed and growled a bit more, the more friendly and personable Yulia offered the woman another wave, this time to request her attention. Once assured of this, the little Ralts glowed briefly before she vanished, appearing a little ways behind the woman.

As Yulia demonstrated her Teleport for the woman, Ion offered them both a smile. "May I ask if you're studying pokemon?" Was she a student, perhaps?  

[Gwennythe]

A wary kind of... exasperation, just briefly, came across Eumelia's face at Ion's first answer; she looked almost offended that he'd taken her question regarding what he could do seriously.
It was brief however, and the aura of interest, even slight wonder, was back as Ion introduced his pokémon and what they could do... except for Albiore; Albiore got a frown- it wasn't a very unfriendly frown, or an offended look so much as a slightly disappointed one... which was wiped entirely away by Ion's revelation that Yulia knew teleport.

When Yulia even demonstrated that skill, Eumelia even clapped her hands together as though delighted, spinning to find where the Ralts had gone.
"Wonderful! If only I had by equipment... Even a barometer would do... Just an air pressure reading..." She exclaimed and muttered, then spun and frowned for a moment at Ion as though he'd asked something ridiculous.

"No, I'm a lunatic." The woman answered with clear sarcasm.

She hadn't appeared to have noticed- or least given any thought- to Jozette's growling or unhappy state.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Her exasperation and unexpected responses left Ion at a loss for what to say, and his mildly surprised expression and lack of a response gave evidence to his speechlessness. She... ah. Should the answer have been so obvious? The teen was left feeling like he'd somehow disappointed this complete stranger; it was a little upsetting.

Yulia watched the woman watch her with faint amusement, then Teleported once more back to her trainer's side. Albiore puffed up a little self-importantly, and Jozette continued to growl, though its volume had lessened.

Still feeling like he had disappointed her, Ion endeavored to remedy his mistake. She seemed a little too old to be a student at a university, so maybe... "Are you a scientist studying pokemon, then?" While a few other options were possible, he didn't think barometers or air pressure readings were relevant to pokemon veterinary practices or more focused pokemon training.  

[Gwennythe]

"Oh! So wonderfully quick. Instantaneous, for lack of a better word, but that would be entirely impossible of course. If only I could attach a device to measure any time dilation or displacement... To see what's going on at the atomic level too. Are you the same Ralts that left or an atomic replication? Instantaneous information transfer; there's no doubt your using some kind of quantum entanglement. If only we could prove it." Eumelia breathed, happily, almost gushing at the Ralts.

Albiore had likely ceased to exist in her mind... and Jozette's growling continued to be entirely ignored.

She was brought out of her happy rambling by Ion, who got yet another careful frown; though this time it seemed as though Eumelia was trying to work out just how reasonable the question might be, or not, from such a person.
She seemed to, thankfully, land on the side of 'it's probably reasonable', and though she kept the frown, she did offer a less sarcastic answer than before.

"Professor Eumelia Strand, Phd. in Poképhysics." She didn't bother to ask Ion's name, though it could still be taken as an invitation to an introduction.  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Yulia watched her with quiet amusement still, but she did not teleport again - at least, not yet. She did, however, make an intrigued cooing sound at the stranger's excited words.

"Professor?" Ion repeated, his expression and tone of voice surprised. While he'd tentatively assumed she was a scientist or researcher of some sort, he hadn't expected her to be a professor nor have such a high degree of learning. "My name is Ion fon Maestri," he offered as he shifted the grip on the books he held in his arms, then gave her an apologetic look. "I'm afraid what I do isn't nearly as impressive. It's a pleasure to meet you - ah - Miss Eumelia? Professor Eumelia, or...?" He trailed off, leaving the rest a silent question of 'is one of those okay or do you prefer another appellation?'  

[Gwennythe]

Unfortunately for Ion, his question of what Eumelia preferred to be called was answered by a curt nod and a "Yes." as though the scientist believed he simply needed confirmation that she was one of those.

"Well, I would be surprised to learn you could possibly have an occupation as, let alone more, interesting as poképhysics, but to introduce yourself in such a manner hardly engenders interest in your being, Mr. Fon Maestri..."

The woman was now attempting to walk all around the Ralts, as though trying to inspect Yulia from every angle, despite a lack of scientific equipment.
"How do you feel when you do that? Do you see your journey or is it akin to blinking?"  

[BlackFireKitsune]

Her response left him more confused than before - she'd responded as if he'd asked a yes or no question when he hadn't - but she at least said yes, so... Professor Eumelia was probably best. "Ah," he said, startled, and his countenance immediately turned apologetic. "I'm sorry.."

Yulia remained still as Eumelia circled round her, though her head did turn to watch her do so. Her questions gave her pause though, and the Ralts tapped her chin thoughtfully. After a moment she had the answer to those questions, but she really didn't know how to convey those answers to the woman. "Ralts, raa," she replied as she tipped her head up to look at her again, "ralts."