[h3][hr][color=#738381]Claris[/color][/h3][hr][indent] [/indent]
The mention of a Gym Leader caught Claris’s attention. Her handshake landed with polite precision, brief and exact as she offered, [color=#738381]“Claris.”[/color] She didn’t press, but she logged the detail. She’d skimmed the Gym Leader registry ahead of time. If Ms. Astrid’s grandmother was who she thought, then transition lined up. She filed it away with everything else.

The building’s interior hit cleaner than expected: polished tile, reinforced paneling, tech wired into every seam. Modern, well-funded. More polished than most League facilities she’d visited—and noticeably untouched by history. That, faintly, she noted.

She moved easily through the corridors, letting Astrid’s practiced cadence wash over her. PR language, mostly, but threaded with useful context. Pawniard kept at her side, silent and vigilant, his gaze cutting toward each hallway without slowing.

The training arena opened like a staged reveal—wide dirt fields bracketed by control panels, ready for modification or playback. Standard in concept, elevated in execution. Along the wall, a small observation section held scattered guests, but three stood out by proximity and posture: one sulking, one sparkling, one visibly wishing he were somewhere else.

Claris took one look and got the read instantly.

Unfortunately, the pink-haired one caught her too. He lit up like a signal flare.

[quote]“Oooo a new girl! Come here, come here!”[/quote]
She didn’t roll her eyes, exactly, but the impulse brushed close. Still, she crossed over. Measured steps. Even pace. Expression unreadable by design. Pawniard stayed close, his presence quiet but unmistakable.

She stopped just outside their personal space—not withdrawn, but clearly self-contained—and gave the loud one a nod. [color=#738381]“You’re not part of the main class.”[/color]

An observation, not a question. Let them correct her if they wanted to talk.

[hider=Pokemon][center][hr][img]https://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/pawniard.gif[/img][/center][indent][table][row][/row][row][cell][hider=Pawniard][h3][color=#738381][sup]Pawniard[hr][/sup][/color][/h3][img]https://www.smogon.com/dex/media/sprites/xy/pawniard.gif[/img][hr][sup][sup]Pawniard  [color=#738381]◼[/color]   Level 5   [color=#738381]◼[/color]   ♂   [color=#738381]◼[/color]  Inner Focus  [color=#738381]◼[/color]  100%[/sup][/sup]
[indent][sup][color=#738381]||[/color]  Sucker Punch
[color=#738381]||[/color]  Scratch
[color=#738381]||[/color]  Leer
[color=#738381]||[/color]  Fury Cutter[/sup][/indent][h3] [/h3][/hider]
[/cell][cell][/cell][/row][/table][/indent][/hider]
[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
[hider=Key Items]
[list][*]Letter from Lucen (tucked in jacket inner pocket)
[/list][/hider][hider=Consumables]
[list][*]Potion — 1
[*]Pokeballs — 10
[/list][/hider][/indent][h3] [/h3][/hider][sub][@Remram][/sub]