[h3][hr][color=#738381]Claris[/color][/h3][hr][indent] [/indent]
Claris stepped through the glass doors just as the girl beside her gave the receptionist a wave and a chipper thank-you. The girl—short, bright-eyed, breathless—offered Claris a quick smile as she took off in the wrong direction.

Claris didn’t say anything. She just watched the girl sail past the right door without breaking stride. When the girl looked back and saw Claris heading the opposite way, there was a visible pause—then a sheepish double-back.

The automatic doors hissed open to the lab.

Coffee hit first—strong and bitter, curling through the cold sterility of chrome and glass. Machines blinked and muttered at the edges of the room, all clean lines and quiet purpose. She kept her hands to herself. Nothing here needed her touch.

Professor Kapoc stood at a cluttered desk, half-shadowed by too-long bangs, cradling a mug that looked better suited for stew than coffee. One eye was visible, red-rimmed and unimpressed. His posture didn’t exactly radiate warmth.

“You’re late, after I explicitly told you two to get here 8 AM sharp.”

Claris didn’t blink. Her voice came out clear, even.

[color=#738381]“Train from Valstille was delayed. I came straight here once it arrived.”[/color]

A short pause.

[color=#738381]“If timing’s critical moving forward, I’ll plan around a wider margin. Just wanted to be clear this one wasn’t avoidable.”[/color]

Behind her, Vivian was already explaining—something about storms, sea routes, and Gyarados migrations. Claris didn’t interrupt, but the mention of sea serpents drew her attention.

Migrations that close to shore this early in the season were uncommon. Gyarados moved with purpose, rarely without cause, and if they were reacting to a storm, it had to have been massive. Pressure drop, maybe, or tectonic movement offshore. She tucked the note away—quietly, with the rest.

Something to look into later.

[hr][hider=Inventory][u][b][color=#738381]     Inventory:          [/color][/b][/u]
[indent][img]https://archives.bulbagarden.net/media/upload/d/df/Character_0x0024_vii.png[/img] 500
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[list][*]Potion — 1
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