Ruth Ono
Ruth had tried to shrink further when the Hoenn champion started shouting at her. Really, why did people always think it was okay to yell any and all of their complaints at people who were just trying to do their jobs? But, she sighed in relief as her rescue came in the form of Miss Blackwell, and an order to lead the rest of King Threshield's guests inside. Leaving the Hoenn champion to her, thank heaven. She deposited Dug back onto the ground with a quiet warning not to jump, stood up straight again, and dusted herself off.
"Yes, Miss Blackwell." She replied with a bow, and turned to the other guests. "If you'd all follow me please. I'm Ruth Ono, I work here."
Vivian struggled her way back to the ground, and charged her way to the front of the crowd. She huffed, and started leading the way with her bill in the air. Felicity tried to hold back her fond giggle at her friend's antics. Dug, for his part, was still rushing about the feet of the guests, trying to greet everyone, but Ruth gave him a stern look which kept him from getting too close to the girl with the azumaril. And lastly, Clover brought up the rear, subtly herding the group and watching for any stragglers. Ruth lead them through the now-open gates, through the immaculately manicured gardens, and into the manor itself.
She only had half an ear on what conversation there was behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, Ruth noticed some of the other staff, backing up when they spotted what group Ruth was leading through. This should probably have been one of the maid's jobs, if these guests hadn't arrived so early, and Dug hadn't decided to introduce himself. Derek just barely backed up before he was seen. And had to grab onto his absol before she went over to Ruth too. a friend she'd made since working here, and King Threshield's personal ranger, hired to protect the islands pokemon reserve, Derek gave Ruth a raised eyebrow as she passed. She could only answer with a helpless shrug. She briefly turned to the Hoenn champion's assistant.
"I'm, uhh, I'm really sorry if Dug scared her." She nodded to the azumaril in her arms. "He's excitable."
That apology taken care of, Ruth led them off to one side of the gleaming, lavish foyer, and down a purple carpeted hallway to a specific door. She glanced back briefly. Then she opened the door to show more purple carpet, with matching curtains pulled away from the large windows running along one wall, contrasted against white walls and a white tablecloth on the long table that occupied the room. On the wall opposite the widow hung a painting as long as the room, depicting a scene of countryside tranquility with both people and pokemon. Underneath it sat a couple of purple upholstered sofas, in an old Kalosian style. She entered and stood beside the door to gesture everyone in. Clover stayed in the foyer, since she couldn't fit.
"This is the meeting room. Please make yourselves comfortable, and somebody will be with you shortly." She said with another bow. She stood by as they filed in, before a shiny aurorus abruptly stretched it's neck up to get close to her face. It squinted it's eyes. Ruth had the strangest feeling she was being judged and found wanting. Vivian turned around and quacked indignantly. She got between Ruth and the aurorus and stood to her full, if unimpressive, height, hands on her hips and puffed up in offence. The aurorus gave Ruth a final look up and down, before sniffing, turning it's nose up, and walking back to the pink girl with the bag. Which reminded Ruth.
"Umm, I'd offer to take your luggage, but I don't actually know exactly where you'll be staying." The girl stared at Ruth. Ruth's shoulders slowly climbed to her ears.
"There'll probably be a porter to take them though, when you get told which apartment you're in." She finished with a mumble. She cleared her throat and turned back to the door.
"I'm sure King Threshield will come to greet you before too long, please just wait here patiently." She said, and finally left the room and shut the door behind, once Vivian and Dug had scampered out too.
She walked back to the foyer before flopping against the wall with a sigh.
Jewel Gem (Felicity Ono)
Felicity strode down the gangplank from the ship, pulling a wheeled suitcase behind her. Pearl trotted on her heels, chin held as high as her coordinator's. She'd came on a ferry, luxurious enough to fit her status, but simple enough that her relative lack of actual seafaring experience wasn't noticeable. As she disembarked, the wind caught her, in such a way that she wished the press could get to the island. It would have made such an appealing front cover, Jewel Gem in big sunglasses, sailor styled dress and a sunhat, all caught in a sea breeze. Plus her Aurorus just behind her. She stepped onto the path that led to the mansion, and briefly lowered her sunglasses to get a good look around. She nodded to herself in satisfaction, pushed her sunglasses back up, and started power walking up the path. However, she held back slightly as she approached, looking over the group.
She recognised the Kanto champion, mostly for the fact that the tabloids constantly mistook them for each other if they strayed into each other's colours, and the allegations of them having the same stylist. As if either of them used a stylist. Felicity had never really needed one. The Hoenn champion stood out, obviously, with his attitude. And his strangely familiar assistant. Hmm. A retired Unova champion. She frowned slightly when she found she couldn't really see any other coordinators...
There was a rustle, then something grey burst from the treeline, closely chased by something else green. A lairon darted into the middle of the trainers, jumping excitedly at the pokemon they brought with them. And...
No. No it couldn't be. The world wasn't that small.
That couldn't be Dug?
But then, Felicity's fears were confirmed, as a giant of a woman emerged from the treeline to catch and contain her lairon. It was one thing to see a familiar looking lairon, but to add to that a female trainer who's at least six feet tall? It could only be Ruth and Dug. Ruth dragged Dug up, to keep him from jumping on anyone, and apologised for his behavior, and Felicity could have sworn she was thirteen again, standing back as her sister learned to handle the energetic, newly oversized, lairon.
"I suppose it is in fact a small world, after all." She muttered to herself. Pearl blinked briefly at her, before schooling her own expression once again. Felicity didn't recognise the other two pokemon Ruth seemed to be in charge of, a tropius and a golduck, but her sister had always found it easy to make friends with pokemon. Her sister had also grown her hair out. It looked alright. Felicity pushed her sunglasses back up, and strode up to the group with a confidence she didn't truly feel.
Thankfully, she was saved from having to announce her presence, and possibly alert Ruth, by the timely arrival of Riza Blackwell. She gave the order for Ruth to lead them to the meeting room, and Ruth explained as she started leading the way that she worked here. Felicity looked around at the mansion, now interested in it as the place her sister worked, as well as a king's abode. Then she shook herself. She and Ruth hadn't spoken for five years, and they lived in totally different worlds now.
Instead, she forced herself to turn her attention to the other guests. And finally realised where she recognised Everett's assistant from, as Ruth turned away from a brief conversation with her. A previous competitor in her home region's contests. Sarah, Sharon, Sophia...?
"Oh, Sophie!" She greeted the younger girl with false cheer. She removed her sunglasses and grabbed one of Sophie's hands to shake. "It's been so long! I didn't know you'd be here! Things must be going well for you back on the home circuit?" Felicity knew Sophie had quit the contests. This was Felicity in her element, establishing social dominance on anything resembling a competitor. She could almost see her own apparent "sharpedo eyes" that her competitors had so often shuddered at.
Soon enough Ruth had brought them to the meeting room, and gestured them all inside. Felicity occupied herself looking around at the lavish decor, not paying attention to Pearl until she heard her sniff derisively, and turned to realise she'd been examining Ruth. She frowned silently at her aurorus, but thanked her lucky stars that she'd gotten Pearl long after leaving home. No way for Ruth to recognise her.
"Umm, I'd offer to take your luggage, but I don't actually know exactly where you'll be staying." Felicity just barely stopped herself from jumping out of her skin as Ruth came and talked directly to her. She was searching her brain for a response, as her sister looked more and more uncomfortable.
"There'll probably be a porter to take them though, when you get told which apartment you're in." Ruth mumbled, before backing off posthaste. Felicity let out a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. Did... Did Ruth really not recognise her at all? Or was she just trying to honour Felicity's decision to cut ties? Could you ever tell with Ruth? Speaking of, her sister finally escaped the room, with an assurance that they'd be received by his majesty soon. As gracefully as possible, hoping to disguise her turmoil, Felicity sank onto one of the sofas.