RISE.

"i never trust people with no appetite it's like they're always holding something back on you." -haruki murakami _____________ [indie/selective gym leader clair]

[draconscious]

THE RETURN OF THE DRAGON HEIR!

After a much-needed hibernation, GYM LEADER CLAIR is ready to rise again!

Relaunched by DAN, this indie, selective, and gameverse-influenced portrayal features one of Pokemon’s best (and moodiest!) Dragon Tamers!

Please read my rules (and check out Clair’s history) before interacting!

Reblog and/or like this post and I’ll check you out! 

[draconscious]

[draconscious]

SHATTERED HEIGHTS

Rage smolders within An all-consuming wildfire Burning fear to ash.

Control…control is everything, Clair reminds herself, remaining unfazed as Gyarados’s deafening roar reverberates around the Dragon’s Den. The snarling behemoth looms large above the new Gym Leader, its enraged gaze fixed on the Tamer below, daring her to make a move. Steady and unyielding, Clair shoots an icy gaze right back at the beast, the Dragon Clan Elders quietly judging her from a safe distance away. No one will say it, but they’re impressed…if Clair can keep up this performance, she could very well become Lance’s legitimate replacement as Blackthorn’s Dragon Master.

After what feels like an eternity (and with practiced, careful movements), Clair edges closer to Gyarados, who finally seems to calm down. Confidently silent, the Dragon Tamer reaches out firmly with a gloved hand…all she needs to do is pluck one of the wrathful Pokemon’s loose scales…

Suddenly, the Den’s tranquility is shattered with a shout as one of the younger Tamers bounds into the testing area, chasing desperately after his loose Dratini. Before Clair can react, the frightened Dragon leaps into Gyarados’s pool, letting loose a defensive Thunder Wave. As the electricity shocks Gyarados out of his stupor and reignites his hair-trigger temper, Clair can only snatch her hand back with despair, anger. It’s all over. Again.

Keep reading

[mnstcrbnll]

The grunt scrambles to their boss, almost tripping as they peek from behind Tetsuka's back - first at Claire, then up at their Boss, recieving a tired, distant look. Comprehensive, slightly annoyed, proud of the somewhat good result of the mission and frustrated with the presence of the Gym Leader.

So many emotions, coming from someone who barely showed any.

"It's as peaceful as it can be.

As much as we manage to keep it, that is."

Her voice lowers, and with it so do her eyes, again - now glaring down at that sorry excuse of a human currently trying to struggle their way away on the ground. Taking a step forward, crossing her arms, the blonde positively towered over the other - but did nothing more to try and seem bigger than she was or, Lugia forbid, seem threatening. We can be civil. We can be polite.

"...I'm Tetsuka. Leader of Team Tarnish. The people of Ecruteak know of our presence and know how to act. We protect them, and respect the Tower and the deity that once lived on it. Unless one of mine hurt you, I fail to see how our presence could possibly bother you when there's worse filth to take care of."

[draconscious]

"team...tarnish?"

despite her hesitance, clair still doesn't back down, defiant and resolute as ever as she glares up at tetsuka, blue-heeled boot still pinning the squirming rocket underfoot. blackthorn's tamer tilts her head suspiciously. "well, I've never heard of this 'team tarnish,'" she huffs with her usual bullishness. "and by now, I think morty would've let me alerted me to the fact that there's a...some rogue force charged with 'protecting' his city. you're not exactly easy to miss, you know."

curiosity. anger. wrath mingling with restraint. the familiar war of emotions is playing out across clair's face. she's still on high alert, yes--but that initial adrenaline is ebbing slightly. the tarnished vigilante was stopping the rocket. she shakes her head. more questions would sort this out.

"I wasn't aware that the people of ecruteak needed protecting. the bell tower has its fair share of competent sages, yes? unless you're going to take sole credit for rocket's lowered presence around ecruteak next? they've certainly grown bold if they're hiding out on sacred trails. or desperate."

clair can be forgiven for assuming that team tarnish protected the bell tower and therefore, worshipped ho-oh. after all, most of johto did--the rainbow deity was the giver of light and life. even the agnostic dragon clan revered their 'rainbow dragon,' which some believed to be a tamer's ancient sighting of the fiery legend. lugia, while not a taboo subject, was much more feared and mysterious--known more for its wrathful rampages, storms. destruction, lurking beneath the choppy seas.

(clair once heard the elders call her a 'lugia worshipper' behind her back, citing her infamous temper and love for the den's deep, mysterious waters. and while the other tamers learned about the rainbow dragon, she always did love to secretly read about lugia's tales, swiped from the restricted section of the blackthorn archives...)

[battlefactories]

"hmmm..." noland smirks, stroking his chin. he has mostly kept his eyes upon the stage in a solid attempt of looking attentive, though with clair to his right, he can't help but steal some glances her way, to see how she's fairing in the murmuring crowd of frontier-fanatics. if her stormy expressions were of any indication, she wasn't taking it well at all. but watching them shift, trying to surmise what she could possibly be thinking, proved to be far more entertaining than the ongoing sermon. what was scott even talkin' about up there again?

"a face like... you're ready to break somethin'. like you'd be in less pain if you were caught in a bear trap right about now," he leans over in a conspiratorial whisper, "look, I totally get it. if ya wanna split, I'll take the heat from the big man later."

he shoots her a wink. sittin' around like this isn't much his style either — she can always count on him to get them out of it. but the surest, least troublesome possible way? just go for it. and so he stands, grasping and tugging on a miffed clair's wrist to follow suit.

"comin' through," he announces in a mock whisper as he pushes through the row of seats thronged with spectators, "hey, hey, do y'mind? the lady here's got some place to be..."

if he were to turn around and face her on their way outside, she would be met with an infuriatingly cheesy grin. he knows that this must be embarrassing for her, but it's worth it if only to see clair's coolness waver for just a moment. and if he is taken out for his antics, then at least scott will have a compelling story to tell the others, if nothing else.

@draconscious, continued

[draconscious]

"noland! this is embarrassing, this is--!"

clair's hisses fall on deaf ears as noland tugs her through the bemused audience. yes, he'd read her mind--an escape from scott's conference was always the plan--but the factory head was going about this with all the grace of a bumbling rhyhorn. people are staring! you're making a scene!

(after all, as confident and cool as she can be, clair is still not used to just...taking what she wants. going where she pleases. blame her discipline, her childhood, clan traditions.)

the exit door to the battle dome slides closed behind them, and the blackthorn gym leader immediately jerks her wrist away with a huff. "what is your problem? grabbing me like a brute...you have no grace," she snaps, fixing her cape angrily. with a huff, clair turns to face her grinning 'savior,' hands sternly on hips. "for your information? I'm perfectly capable of seeing myself out. I don't need to be escorted."

however, noland's high spirits, coupled with the comforting sea breeze blowing across the frontier--it really is a lovely day out--do much to cool clair's flaring temper. after a few deep breaths, she shakes her head.

"when I came out here to your battle frontier, I wasn't expecting to be shoved into some auditorium by some unprofessional big shot. what's with his shirt...?" she grouses, failing to see the irony in her own unique dress. still, a note of begrudging curiosity flickers within those icy blue eyes as clair takes in the unique structures surrounding them with a fair degree of skepticism. "you talk so highly of this place. what's so special about it? I'm not impressed...yet."

[murmursdraconic]

Shay would never judge Clair for anything, especially not in this moment. The burdens on her shoulder were far too great for one person to handle. Clair always insisted, but hearing her speak now, feeling her rest against her without fighting back...

It was a relief. No matter how quiet Clair became, Shay was always listening. Silence is let in, the other tamer allowed to speak, think and just be. Enjoy the understanding that Shay had been trying to tell Clair for years. The fear of Clair burning out so much...

She was trying not to cry about it but may have been failing.

Feeling the other woman's hand on her arm brings back the old memories. The past that was so very different from now. Shay would be lying if she said she didn't miss it. The woman looks at Clair with a smile, reassuring and soft.

"I would wait for you until after the sun burned out, Ryuta. When you're ready, I will be there. Take time for you, be a little selfish."

That nickname was only as far as Shay would take being selfish.

"It's... going to be a lot. I want you to make sure you care for yourself before then."

Like I care about you.

Like I-

Don't ruin the moment.

Shay can ignore her discomfort of being too hot for Clair. Let her have a safe space to be herself. Find herself again. Shay knew she would. Clair was strong and full of pride. She would do it.

She just needed time, patience, and most importantly, her freedom.

Shay's ignoring her own escaped tears for now. If they were ignored maybe she wouldn't see them.

Doubtful.

[draconscious]

it's unusual for the dragon's den--usually roiling with activity--to feel this serene...and, for once, clair isn't compelled by the urge to move. to act. instead, the tired tamer lets the tension drain completely from those aching shoulders, lets the bubbling spring work its soothing, superheated magic as she leans back against shay's sturdy chest, feeling something flicker back to life within their comforting embrace. she exhales slowly, heavy-lidded eyes gazing straight ahead at the shadowy whorls dancing upon ancient cavern walls.

this was how things used to be. and right now, perhaps it's just what clair needed. (perhaps she's missed this, too.)

blackthorn's steward feels something hot drip onto her cheek, and snuggles closer, instinctively reaching up to brush some of shay's silent tears away before taking her hand and squeezing gently, reassuringly.

"...you haven't called me 'ryuta' in a long while," clair murmurs with a soft smile. "I...forgot how much I liked it. liked this."

she gulps. even after all this time, remorse feels unnatural on her tongue. "I'm sorry, shay. for burying my head in my work and pushing you away. for being a...terrible, bitter friend. for almost letting myself drown without getting any help." clair bows her head almost shyly, blue hair falling around her face. "even now, I know you're still trying to be strong for me, but that's unfair. you...you don't have to be. you must feel exhausted, too." so--in this fleeting, fragile moment--cry away. let it out. my turn to watch over you.

"this time, I'm not going anywhere."

[draconscious]

@mnstcrbnll Tetsuka "There's no need to be uncivilized, miss" That's a little hypocritical. Her gang did wrong, today. Usually they know better than messing with someone with actual power, but the pay was good enough to make them take a risk too much. Enough to catch the attention of the queen of Dragons, it seems, who made sure to literally and figuratively suplex whoever crossed her path. "We aknowledge our mistake, but nobody got hurt. And I don't appreciate unnecessary violence in my territory."

what were the odds? along the shadowy bellchime trail, the world's unluckiest team tarnish grunt makes a routine jump on someone, only to catch clair's critical eye as she returns from her monthly tower pilgrimage.

for the blessed user of dragon pokemon, justice is often dispensed in a flash. bluntly. she sweeps over, catching the tarnished in a headlock and wrenching them off the victim, who tries to scurry away. however--to clair's surprise--the poke-holster on the victim's outfit betrays their rocket affiliations. what the hell were they doing here...? a heeled boot pins the rocket to the earth before they can crawl off, the tarnished still scrabbling uselessly at clair's forearm.

when tetsuka appears from the shadows--dear gods--clair feels her heart skip a beat on instinct. she's massive, steelix flexing on a rocky bicep, her voice a commanding rumble. and still, clair--despite her growing confusion--doesn't back down, never has. she shoves the tarnished grunt away but keeps her boot on the fallen rocket's back. the tamer gets right up in the giant woman's face, blue eyes narrowed to suspicious slits, pale features drawn tight. unafraid and demanding answers.

"your territory? this is supposed to be peaceful ground. if you're not with the rockets..." she presses her boot down, making the pinned rocket whimper beneath her, "...then who the hell are you? explain. now."

[murmursdraconic]

The silence rings in her ears. Clair doesn't say anything. It's been too long for Clair to say nothing. Shay is almost afraid to look at Clair when she notices her gaze drifting. Someone so aware of everything they were doing didn't drift like that.

Shay watches. She sees it, that first tear. Clair doesn't say anything, doesn't react in her normal dismissive way. Does not ignore the show of vulnerability, doesn't incorrectly call it weakness.

Something finally cracked.

There's no thought in Shay's actions. A languid pace to not startle her as she approaches almost silently in the pool. A hand brushes her face, palm finding rest against her cheek while a thumb wipes away a few tears. Her name spoken with such shuddering breath brings her closer, ignoring how inappropriate it might be. Shay did not care about that, the Elders could scream at her until the sun burned out.

Clair finally realized what Shay had been seeing, what she had always been so worried about, and she said it. It was as equally a relief as it was an agony to see someone Shay had known for so long be in such a state. Clair needed this. She needed this moment of freedom and clarity.

'I know.' Shay wants to stay, but something else comes forth instead: a nickname Clair might scold her for using that Shay had not spoken of since those days.

"...Ryuta. Come here."

Voice barely above a whisper, Shay takes her arms and pulls Clair in against her chest. Arms around both of her shoulders. Head on top of hers, almost protectively from the outside world. A silent promise that if this moment was taken from the other woman, Shay would retaliate as viciously as she was serene right then and there.

The hug was equally tight and soft: supportive and caring, with the freedom to choose whenever Clair wanted to leave. A steady heartbeat to listen to, to calm her nerves. Let Clair weep, scream, whatever she wanted to do. Above everything else, Shay was going to make sure of one thing: Clair was safe.

Giving the other her time, Shay speaks again, with a gentle softness usually unheard from her. "I always worried about... even after everything..." despite stumbling, she continues. "I know that... I wasn't always who you wanted to see. I challenged them because... I never thought it was fair. I always gave you help even if you yelled at me... because it felt right. Maybe if I kept being a nuisance to them... then they would treat you how you should have. Traditions and history are to be shared, just as their burdens are. That's what makes them ours."

Idle fingers brush over her shoulder, keeping Clair grounded. Giving her something to listen to, to remember she was here, and she was okay.

"We are... both rising dragons of Blackthorn. You? You are... a force of nature, Clair, and even those have their resting days, are imperfect... You weren't meant to be some echo in history. You're human, a person with ambitions and spirit of your own. You have always deserved that freedom to choose. I've always wanted you to have that. It might not feel like you can, or that you might betray something if you do... but whatever you decide, I'll be with you."

Even after you told her to leave, she always was. You were always Clair to Shay, and your titles and responsibilities were second to you as a person.

Shay reassures again, giving her a gentle squeeze. She's talked long enough, perhaps even rambled too many thoughts out loud. It was Clair's time to speak.

[draconscious]

clair feels the caress of shay's hand first, gently, tenderly brushing away the shameful tears that are spilling down her cheeks. the yawning maw of the den seems to fall away, the crackling and hissing of the hot spring fading into the background, and--for one fleeting stop in time--it's just the two young tamers who are occupying this intimate space.

just like old times.

the tender touches, the childhood nickname falling from shay's lips...for once, clair doesn't pull away. she allows herself to be guided into shay's lap, allows herself to fold into that sturdy, familiar embrace. she feels the weight of shay's chin, resting atop her head. grounding. comforting. so tender, despite the rough edges and brutal nature of their work.

shay's words wash over the beleaguered gym leader, confident (of course) but also tinged with a rare thoughtfulness that makes clair's heart stir. and clair--prideful, indestructible clair--allows herself to be held, to be complimented. to be loved.

for a moment, the comfortable silence lingers, broken only by the bubbling of the cavern-spring and the distant chirps of curious dratini.

"...you're right."

clair's admission is whispered, almost lost in the steam. she leans back against shay's chest, remembering how they once fit together.

"I will always prioritize this city, this clan. these people," she murmurs, quiet determination thrumming within her speech. "but you're right. my love for blackthorn doesn't have to come at the expense of everything else."

she sighs. there's a few moments of needed silence.

"I'll go with you to sinjoh. but I may need some time...before and after...to process everything." clair smiles, tracing the crystalline scar racing up shay's muscular forearm. "will you wait for me...?"

[draconscious]

(ooc. ok I'm patting myself on the back. I absolutely cooked here.)

[drgnbld]

𝐃𝐑𝐆𝐍𝐁𝐋𝐃.

AN INDEPENDENT &. SELECTIVE ROLEPLAY BLOG. revised & adored by Lucas (28, they/them). from the UK. © see pinned for more details.

𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑.

[draconscious]

ooc. I want to give a big shout-out to my wonderful friend ASH ( @battlefactories / @intriguant ) for surprising me with a gift of shiny new clair icons for the holidays!! SHE RULES!! I gotta be here more to put them to good use... 😤

[draconscious]

Shay knows Clair is often too busy enough to be at home or take personal gift deliveries from home. This was the one time she waited to see if Clair was home. Shay could wait the hours for her to come back, but it wouldn't be kind to one impatient shiny Goomy in her arms. Flan adored Clair, and vice versa. He was holding a wooden box with a variety assortment of teas and other small snacks for said woman eagerly. Shay is surprised when Clair is actually there in person. Flantasia is delighted and practically hops out of Shay's arms with a sticky hug. "We wanted to bring you something to help... rest." Shay pointedly chooses her words carefully. "Dad always had a special blend for you that you liked. Helps with the stress... so we made more of that." And of course, a visit for Clair's favourite Goomy. Just for the holidays.

people usually tended to hunker down during blackthorn's brutal winters, and--for once--clair is no exception. a particularly vicious blizzard had prompted lockdown conditions in the dragon's den, requiring all trainers to evacuate and help seal the mouth of the sacred cavern. after ensuring that storm prep met her exacting standards, blackthorn's prideful gym leader had reluctantly retreated to her seldom-used apartment upon the outskirts of the city.

dressed in light sleeping pants and a t-shirt, clair isn't expecting any visitors during her forced hibernation--but shay is always full of surprises. the apartment door is cracked suspiciously, then fully opened as the blessed user of dragon pokemon answers, wrapped in a heavy blanket. no cape, no uniform. for once. clair's ice-blue gaze shifts from bewilderment to understanding, the tension draining from her shoulders.

"...well, this is unexpected. though not unwelcome," clair answers, still blinking some sleep from her eyes as she sheds her blanket and scoops up flantasia without hesitation, seemingly not bothered by the slimy embrace. "hello, beautiful flan. shay seems to be treating you well--you're absolutely glistening today. are you happy to be back here again?"

the smile that clair offers shay is tired, but genuine, a light flush dusting her cheeks. "I appreciate the visit, shay. really. happy holidays. did...did you want to stop in for a moment before heading back out? we can make use of the gifts that you brought right away."

she shakes her head a bit sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck. some of that stubborn defensiveness returns. "I...I'll confess that the apartment's a bit untidy...I was actually in the middle of a nap when you knocked. yes, me. don't tell anyone, if you know what's good for you."

[murmursdraconic]

Her response is... well expected. Clair wasn't one for nuance or anything but blunt or honest.

"I've been trying to tell you since I had the energy it happened. Lance offered to tell you for me, but that didn't feel right." Telling Clair anything through a proxy also felt unfair. Like she was not important enough to tell something of that nature to her face.

She was always going to be important to her.

Hearing I'm sorry from Clair was... rare, though. Very rare.

"Thank you." Shay answers. "It's alright. I forgive you."

Clair's question of her not doing a good job brings some burning in the back of Shay's throat. She wants to fall back on old habits: yell at her about how she's always been good enough, that she's too hard on herself, when will she take a break before she breaks-

Shay doesn't. Clenched grip hidden beneath the water that slowly relaxes with her breath. "Clair. I have and will always continue to support you. You haven't done a good job: you've done the best job of anyone in the history of our home. I'm always scared you won't see everything you've done for us..."

Shay looks at the other woman with true belief in her eyes. She knows Shay always worries about her. It's redundant to mention it. They both don't need to say it.

"Change is nature." Her tone soft, almost melancholy. "I understand your hesitation. I thought about how you would feel at my idea. I'm not asking anything be changed. Nothing has to change, it's..."

How was she supposed to explain this? It was a better shown than told. She closes her eyes and grasps for some clarification to give.

"This friend isn't associated with that thing. It was trapped there like I was, but for much longer. It's... stuck with me. The very reason I'm here, right now, breathing and alive. If anything it's... they are related very much to the Sinjoh Ruins far north of the city. There is no intention of ruining anything you've tried to protect, history or currently present... Rocket wouldn't ever be a problem again."

Shay would be lying if she hadn't made Itzal make some vanish already.

Perhaps mention of the Sinjoh ruins would make clair more worried, or put her at ease. Clair knew that Shay's family had long ancestral ties to that place long ago. A place where her old ancestors went on pilgrimages to understand the natural veins of the world.

"I want to help not because I think you're failing, Clair. I have never and will never think of you as a failure. I want to help because you've always inspired me to do something, and in my past... sometimes the spirit tears free from the body in our most dire moments to do the right thing."

It's what happened to Dad, after all.

"I'd like to see that not happen to you for... at least another eight decades."

[draconscious]

"sinjoh..." clair murmurs, after a few beats of silence had passed. the ruins at the end of the world. she hadn't been there in years, maybe decades, not since grandfather had taken her along on his dragonite. (she had been so little then, still lit bright with the spark of whimsical adventure.)

it's funny, in a rueful, tragic sort of way. how the clan's discipline had seemingly worn her down. kept her trudging along the grooves of her routine, like some robotic, pre-programmed automaton, designed to bear the weight of a city and its traditions upon her back. (someone had to, right? she had been chosen. the blessed user of dragon pokemon. lucky her.)

perhaps part of clair is still bitter, a deep-seated ire buried even after all these years. lance had gotten to leave. shay was off having her own adventures. (you could've followed them, a small, inner voice reminds her. but you chose to stay behind.)

is a life of total service truly what you want? or is it time to start looking beyond...?

change is nature.

clair blinks. deep in thought, she hasn't spoken in at least five minutes. her eyes focus on shay's scars again, and that's when the gym leader notices the tears dripping down her own cheeks. how long had she been crying? (how long had she been waiting to acknowledge that this burden was too heavy? that she needed a break?

that it was all too much?)

she's only human, after all.

"shay..." clair whispers, drawing in a shaky breath. stewarding the mountain, running the gym, stopping rocket, and now...this. her chest hurts, and a confession falls softly from her lips, her shoulders trembling. it's a rare moment of vulnerability, but she can't stop it from escaping now...a catharsis months, maybe years, in the making. she sinks lower into the steaming water, loathing herself.

"I'm...I'm so tired."

[draconscious]

"I had no idea you and Shay were former partners." Gold comments with all of the grace of an 18 wheeler as always. He isn't judging, its just new information to him.

"...ah."

they're moving around the blackthorn city lake using linvala's surf, cleaning up the latest algal bloom. back turned, clair coughs as she sweeps her net across the murky water. she says nothing more for a good minute, but her shoulders tense so hard that her cape rustles. she clears her throat.

"...yes. yes, we were," comes the curt reply, and that's that. (and if gold knows what's good for him? he won't press further.)

[murmursdraconic]

"It has."

Her voice as solemn and quiet as ever. It had been literal years. Almost a decade even since they were together like this. It was a relief as much as it hurt some part of Shay's soul. Maybe just as much as having to explain this last who knew how long's worth of events to Clair.

She was never one for beating around the bush, so Shay gets to the point.

"I almost died, Clair."

She takes a breath to let the statement sink in. The way she says it, it's not a passing comment of something that happened in their line of work. Shay wasn't afraid of death, but something in her tone went against her typical character: fear, anxiety, worry... terror.

The faux gem scars, the opalized flesh overtaking her entire left shoulder, under arm, and part of her back, shown to the other woman in it's entirety. Old scars turned iridescent in the light, glistening beautifully, hiding an agonizing story.

"I went to Alola... and suddenly I was in some abyss. I was lost and found... something. Something that burns light itself. Some draconic entity that made no sense to look at. It burned everything... I've never been scared to face something stronger than me, you know that but..."

She replaces her arm in the water, throat tightening, subtle shaking in remembering. Clair knows there isn't a dragon Shay wouldn't try calming with her own bare hands. This was not that time.

"It burned me... just being near it. We fought. Our lives depended on it... It took down everyone... like we were nothing... Havoc was the only reason we got out. She refused to stop... we had to run. We ran away from it and... I think about how if we didn't... I'd have been gone and no one would have known how, or why... and that terrifies me."

It still terrifies Shay. The one thing she was truly afraid of was being lost to the unknown. Never remembered, never seen, found by anyone even years later.

"I don't remember much... I remember being back where I was taken... but a friend told me that I found them and they took me back out. That time I came back and spent two months at home without going anywhere was after it happened. The incident changed some parts of me..."

The word may have gotten around, but she never told Clair that directly. It took her awhile to get time to tell Lance but... it had been almost a year of trying to tell Clair this same information. Despite the tension between some of the Clan and the Dracomet family members, there were some who were friendly and shared some gossip.

Clair wasn't much of a gossiper like her gym trainers were.

"I need you to meet that friend." She finishes, implying a heavy importance on that very subject. "I know that I'm not... I know that I've been pushy the last long while but that's why. You deserve to know. I wanted you to know. This friend is... going to change a lot about protecting the city and the dragons."

... and maybe you. I still care about you.

[draconscious]

shay's confession hangs in the air, and--to be frank--the rest of her harrowing tale washes over clair as the hotspring bubbles around their shoulders. instead, the gym leader's eyes focus on the crystalline scars forming a glittering network across shay's entire left side. how had she never noticed before...?

and shay wasn't one to keep secrets--so this revelation was a bombshell. I almost died, clair. an incredulous brush with mortality, kept secret all this time...

clair opens, then closes her mouth. what is she supposed to say, exactly? the blessed user of dragons is many things--but eloquence certainly isn't her forte. change. she instinctively pulls back from the word, glances about the sacred space around them. blackthorn--the clan--had weathered so much over the course of centuries...perhaps it's her own blood that makes her recoil at the concept of this change.

blackthorn is her city. her people. and clair feels an aching responsibility to protect everyone, even if it means withdrawing from the outside. (...even if it meant leaving shay to deal with her own problems? how heartless could she be?)

so many questions and hypotheticals. clair's head hurts, and she sinks a bit beneath the superheated water.

"...I'm sorry," she finally manages, her voice cracking with genuine apology. "shay...I didn't know you were going through that. I know you've been trying to tell me something, but...I've been unfair. it's just...it's still hard. sorry."

clair sighs. always so tired and torn between past and present. "can I clarify a few things about your story...?" she asks softly. "you met...an entity in alola. found a friend. and now--you want me to meet this outsider, who may have a connection to the terrifying entity that you saw?"

"...you understand my hesitation, I hope. blackthorn is blessed to be fortified by the sturdiest mountains in the kanjoh region, to care for dratini and provide sanctuary for them, while also serving as a bastion for centuries of clan history. I'm...nervous to endanger that with an outside influence. we already have such a hard time managing rocket," clair confesses while looking down into the luminous pool, her voice softening.

"you ask for change. you ask to bring the outside in. have I not done a good job leading this city? keeping people safe?" clair looks up with a small, sad smile.

"take your time in responding. I'm listening, shay. really. but I need you to see my perspective on this. and--" she pauses. "again. I'm sorry."

[murmursdraconic]

Understatement of the century it is. Clair barely breathes without doing three jobs at once. At least Shay had the support of her family to get her to take a break when needed. The water is borderline scalding - just as Clair likes it - but Shay can tolerate the heat for a little bit. Seeing the other's eyes shut after her rather insistent mumbling, Shay doesn't say anything. She's quiet, staring into the water ahead of her.

She didn't notice them yet. Waiting even another minute was painful, but she would.

She always kept waiting for her.

Shay closes her eyes. She hates staring at her reflection too long.

It was late. They were both tired.

It's getting hot again. Shay moves her left arm, hesitating for a moment before she puts it against the edge of the warm stones. The water refracts what little light there is like the mark is true gemstone, yet it's just as soft as anyone's flesh would be. The bubbles and the water covered the rest of her. Scars were still ever present, nothing new that Clair hadn't seen before.

Except that one.

The Dratini calls are comforting in the distance. Shay resists the urge to imitate them back out of habit. She waits for the five minutes, thinking only in that time about how Clair said she would listen. She didn't just want her to listen. Shay wanted to talk with Clair, have a normal conversation that wasn't always an argument over who was working too hard, who didn't understand what pressures and so on.

There was always an argument. She was tired of arguing.

So when six minutes pass, she says so. "I'm here to talk with you, Clair, meaning we both say things. Right now just... look at me."

'Just look at it so I can get that over with.'

That wasn't the worst thing she had to go over tonight.

[draconscious]

three hundred.

even when she's relaxing, clair is always doing something. counting out the intervals, keeping time. that endless trudge forward in her mind, trudging from task to task. she has to admit: talking to shay can be exhausting. (perhaps it can be attributed to a bit of their lingering...history together, but the dracomet steward always fusses extra-hard over her.) please stop worrying so much.

dragon-flames are hard to extinguish completely, after all.

today though, in this improvised onsen, surrounded by centuries--nay, millennia of draconic mythos--shay sounds different. solemn. and it's her tone that brings clair shuttering back towards reality. ever since the split, the blackthorn gym leader hadn't been fair. she had kept shay at an arm's distance and snapped when the sanctuary head dared to get too close--just like the dragons they both tamed. petty. childish. temper, temper.

she's wiser now. more tired and less impetuous than the spitfire that had angrily ascended the blackthorn throne all those years ago, refusing badges and slamming into walls. she's trying to change, really. (time heals all wounds--doesn't it?)

and so, clair swallows her guilt whole, and looks at shay across the bubbling steam. the sight stills her breath--their line of work came with a tapestry of scars across skin--but there were new wounds to account for. she doesn't comment on them, not yet--those scars were shay's stories to tell.

"...it's been a while since we've had a moment like this," she says softly, her voice uncharacteristically cautious. gentle. there's an unspoken apology somewhere in there. "catch me up, please. what did you want to talk about...?"

[draconscious]

you're makin' that face again. / noland

pre-established meetings / accepting!!

"...and what face would that be, hm? enlighten me," clair snips back, crossing her arms as she glances back at the genial brain. up on the battle dome's stage, scott prattles on without a care in the world (is this a battle frontier summit or his latest stand-up routine?)

regardless, the frosty dragon mistress is decidedly out of her element. yes, clair is hot and bothered, and yes, she's wearing it on her face like a barely-repressed storm. (lance is getting a stern talking-to whenever she returns from hoenn. this place is decidedly not her jam. too much sun. too much water.)

her gaze flicks back towards the exit door, then back to noland. how did he know that she was planning to sneak out? would he help her? (as much as the blackthorn gym leader hated to admit--her sparring buddy was pretty damn sharp. most of the time.)