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[attr="class","text"] The new gym wouldn’t be difficult to find–exactly where it had been left after the last gym leader had moved onward and upward.The repurposed warehouse stood stalwartly, not far from the stretch of beach where a secondary, outdoor pitch had recently been constructed for the sake of versatility and option.[break][break]

Lam, similarly, wouldn’t have been difficult to spy, given the fact that he was buzzing around the gym–even without challengers just yet, there were still things to get sorted. And he was at least attempting to be diligent before that end of the day mood really kicked in and sent him scrambling for home to pass out in bed.[break][break]

But maybe he was too fired up for that. The idea that he’d managed to earn a designation for this gym, and be put in a position of leadership wasn’t just an idea anymore.[break][break]

He’d actually pulled it off. Like, for real.[break][break]

And if that wasn’t enough to get him hyped up to keep working into the early evening, he wasn’t sure what would be.[break][break]

The smile on his face had been fixed there all day, and it definitely didn’t diminish when he spotted a familiar face approaching. Noticeable from his vantage on the roof of the massive building.[break][break]

His altaria trilled in signal, and he slipped onto her back so that she could bring him back down to the ground for a proper greeting to the Fortree gym leader.

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[attr="class","text"] Lam waved down Alexei as Mallow drifted down from the tall warehouse roof. “Not much! Just checkin’ if anything needs touch up!” And also he kinda just liked being up high, y’know? He figured if there was anyone who understood that particular sentiment, it was likely Alex.[break][break]
Once they touched down, he slid off the altaria’s back in one quick, fluid motion. Sure to give her some affectionate scritches under the beak before making his way over to the other gym leader.[break][break]
“Yep! Should be opening up the doors soon, if things keep going smoothly!” he chimed in response, a wide smile taking over his expression. “You already got the birds down pat,” he mused with a bright laugh, “so I’m sticking to the strategy format I enjoy most–doubles!”[break][break]
It was a useful tool, he believed. Both on one’s own, and when accompanied with others. “Thanks for swinging by, by the way.” A comfort– to be greeted so warmly by the most seasoned gym leader around.

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“Yeah!” he nodded easily, and his shoulders rose and fell in a shrug. “I know it sounds kinda like a simple concept, but it’s an important strategy, y’know? Especially learning to work with others.”[break][break]
It seemed like a particularly handy lesson for younger trainers to learn unity as much as they learned independence in their training paths. Lam didn’t see any need for secrecy about it, since it’d all be revealed and up and running soon enough.[break][break]
Besides, what was a little chatter from gym leader to gym leader?[break][break]
His eyes brightened as his attention was shifted to the container Alexei presented, green gaze lit with curiosity and then delight as the top was lifted away.[break][break]
“Oh, wow! You made these? They’re so cute!” he babbled, carefully taking the offered box as he looked at each natu and the pidove in the middle.[break][break]
“She’s around here somewhere,” he replied, referring to the pidove he’d used in his challenge against the other. “Thank you—you totally didn’t have to.”[break][break]
But it was appreciated all the same. Immensely so.

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“That’s what I was hoping– it’s good to know how to work with other people. The more accustomed you can become to working with others, the easier it’ll be outside of the circuit.”[break][break]

Or that was his hope, anyway. He wasn’t exactly trying to emulate the intensity of preparing for conflict as some other gyms might have, but there were plenty of outside opportunities for doubles. Friendly, spontaneous matches, running into a pokemon swarm– all sorts of stuff.[break][break]

But that fell away as he continued to stare at the treats with obvious delight.[break][break]

“Those both sound great,” he said with a rapid nod of his head. “Matcha’s one of my favorites, so you hit the nail on the head.” Lam grinned as his eyes lifted from the macarons and up to Alex again.[break][break]

“Seriously, thanks, this is a really nice welcome.” And it helped infinitely in making him feel accepted into the fold of other gym leaders. “You totally did,” he added with a laugh of his own. “But they’re really not that observant, or at least, mine aren’t.”[break][break]

It was just the nature of their natural design. Well, okay, maybe his xatu was that observant and uncanny, but he’d spare Alexei the unnerved feeling.

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Lam’s head nods energetically. “I have! Maybe not immediately while I’m still getting it all figured out, but I’ve brainstormed a little.” He definitely didn’t think his challenge needed to be intense or brutal. In truth, he’d taken cue from the fun he’d had during Johanna Joy’s former gym – the spirit of competition rather than the survival mode some other gyms employed.[break][break]
His head tilts as he listens. “Well, if you’re running the gym day in and day out, it would make sense to run challenges you actually enjoy too, y’know?”[break][break]
That what makes the most sense to him, anyway.[break][break]
Alexei’s adamance draws a bright laugh from the new gym leader. “That’s just part of their charm!” Lam’s laughter continues–he’s never been too fazed by the unnerving birb eyes.[break][break]
“Thanks again, though, for these.” he holds up the gift box. “I’ll even share them with my boyfriend. I’ll bet he’ll be thrilled by how cute they look.”

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"I'll be sure to!" Lam replied brightly. He wasn't sure when that might be, but he was still earnest in his response. It almost felt like he had a whole world of possibilities opened up to him now.[break][break]
"That's not a bad idea," he said, smiling. He definitely wasn't a pro at anything non-trad, and the pointers would probably be helpful.[break][break]
Lam's glance darted toward Alexei at the curious sound, and his face was quick to darken with a slight shade of red. "Yeah, we've been together almost a couple years now," he admitted with a sheepish laugh. "But no, he's not much the gym battle type."[break][break]
His expression turned exceedingly fond. "Rook feels bad battling them more often than not, even just for sport. He's very nurturing with his pokemon - oh! Not that he's opposed to my job or anything. He's usually at all of my personal matches. I think he came to ours, actually."

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“Yeah! That’s him,” he nodded, smile widening as Alexei seemed to conjure up the memory of his partner. “He’s been really supportive–comes to most of my personal challenges, if they’re open to the public.”[break][break]
In the next breath, though, the other gym leader’s tease made Lam’s face light in a brighter shade of red, and he waved a hand helplessly–as if that would dispel the flustered reaction. “Yeah, he’s my good luck charm, alright,” he replied cheerfully–a sheepish laugh following his words.[break][break]
Funny to consider, given the fact that Lam was the one who was green from head to toe, therefore associated with things like luck.[break][break]
At least he could breathe a sigh of relief when suddenly Alex was the one blushing. His head bobbed in understanding as the other explained. “Oop, better do damage control before it gets any worse,” he joked, leaning against his own altaria as she watched the second one emerge with obvious curiosity.[break][break]
His hand lifted in a farewell wave as Alexei saddled up, so to speak. “Sounds good! You’re not too far down the route, so don’t be a stranger!” Lam smiled, cheerful demeanor returning easily. He waited until he’d seen Alexei off, and the other was retreating back toward Fortree before returning to the roof of the gym to resume patching things up.

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