Claude Claude and Doux were one of the many students bristling with excitement. Doux had already made several laps around the room, playing with the few flying pokemon that had also been allowed free reign over the ceiling. Claude wanted desperately to run in and lay claim to a new friend but as of yet he truly could not make the choice. He had spent far too much time trying to decide what species he could possibly want and too many came to mind. So many types, so many species and evolution lines. How would he know what would work well with him and Doux? So much choice, even with the most dangerous pokemon withheld. Claude stood still as people filtered around him. They were making their choices quite soon. It was nice they had some direction for themselves at least.
Maybe he just needed a vague idea of what he wanted. First and foremost was that the pokemon be adorable and continue to be adorable as it evolved, if it evolved. That first criteria narrowed down the choice pool. Next, maybe an adaptable type? Not a Fairy again, Claude didn't want to specialise yet. So Cleffa, Igglybuff and Togepi were out. For now, at least. Maybe it shoulld be a single typing too... That still left a hell of a big choice. Claude was starting to feel very irritated with himself. He shouldn't be sitting here, whiling away the time! This was a choice he couldn't make with his mind! His first friend in Ymora, that's something only his instincts would choose properly! So that's what would happen, he started walking forward, meandering through the rows of pokeballs. People were standing around, struggling to pick one pokemon over another. Claude weaved through the indecisive crowd. Eventually he came to what signs indicated was the normal type section. He then decided two paces and he's pick the nearest pokeball. Simplify things. He did so. The label on the pokeball said Buneary. Immediately Claude felt stupid, his intuition knew more than he did. Right now he had the same feeling one felt when they recalled a detail that previously eluded them for no reason. The name of an actor, the author of a book, whatever that product was. So simple, so obvious. Claude signalled Doux down from the ceiling, waving the pokeball at his frined. "Wanna meet your new friend?" Doux murmured excitedly, eyes locked onto the pokeball. A yes. That was alll Claude needed to press the button on the device and loose the pokemon inside. White fluff tipped two ears and covered a good part of the Buneary's body. It looked around with cautious, no, fearful eyes. Was it afraid of the crowd? The Buneary noticed Claude and froze. Not sure whether to move. Its scared eyes now locked onto Claude, the nearest person to it. Claude himself paused. He didn't want it to get away and have to recall it to the pokeball immediately. That would be embarrassing. So what did he do? Memories of his conversation yesterday with Drake stirred. He remembered the timid Whisper. It had taken time but curiosity had overcame fear, right? Maybe he had to let the Buneary come to him. So slowly he crouched, very, very slowly. Doux had taken the cue frm his trainer to be still and quiet as he perched on Claudes head. When he was as close to level with the buneary as possible, squatting now, he put his hands to the side, palms open and started speaking. "Well hiya. my name's Claude. It's nice to meet you. I promise I'm a real nice guy if you come say hello." The buneary's body language slowly, slowly shifted as Claude moved and spoke. It went from slightly more relaxed to about to bolt as Claude began speaking. However, once it became somewhat acquainted with the sound of his voice, it continued the gradual changes towards being relaxed. It took a couple of minutes after Claudes first words and he was about to move when the Buneary finally approached. It went to sniff his hands, like Whisper did. This time though it began trying to scrabble up Claudes arm to get to Doux, who obliged by floating down. Well, it wasn't proximity that scared the Buneary then. Was it just the new people surrounding the Buneary? The bunny pokemon was still investigating him when someone from nearby yelped loudly and suddenly. The noise immediately scared the Buneary and it immediately took shelter. That shelter, funnily enough, was behind Claude, putting Claude between Buneary and the noise. Claude tried to soothe the Buneary, making soothing sounds rather than saying anything. Once more, the pokemon was calm. Now, Claude was satisfied. The Buneary's anxious nature was endearing to him and something he was sure could be overcome. He liked Buneary. Now, did it like him? He held up the pokeball. The Buneary looked a ti with recognition. Claude just pointed at himself and asked. "Do you wanna come with me?" To his relief, Buneary nodded "Then you need a name. I don't really know what to call you though. So let's think about it for a while as we find someone to talk to, ok?" He made sure to keep checking with the Buneary as he spoke. When evaluated with the PDA it was found that the Buneary was a she. With that in mind, Claude walked along, Buneary in tow, as he looked for a famlliar head above the crowd nearby. Claude & Drake
"Drake!" Claude called out as he approached. There was only a couple of rows between them and Drake was still easy to spot. "You found your partner?" He took it as a good sign that Buneary didn't leave as he yelled for his friend.