She would’ve brushed over Viridian in its entirety if she could’ve, in truth — more small town quaintness that lent itself to shallow pleasantries and boredom if you stayed more than an afternoon, maybe a little more variety in the convenience stores than Pallet.

After meeting Green, she would’ve preferred the quiet. The introductions had gone so well too, and she’d been so polite when she’d explained the circumstances, Lance’s bargaining tool.

And then he went and opened his fucking mouth, the sneer slipping onto his face like toxic sludge just moments before he spoke, hardly gave her time to mourn someone who could’ve been salvageable if he didn’t scream ABSOLUTE TOOL.

“Nah, not happening. Get lost.”

Catherine quirked an eyebrow and tried to focus more on the words than his face. “Pretty sure Lance gets the final say on this one when it’s League endorsed.”

“Sure, yeah, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m the one who has to haul you up the mountain, yeah? And I’m not feelin’ up for that right now, even if I had the time.” He cocked his head to the side. “Sides, I’m on orders from the champ not to drag you up ‘til you actually have a chance of beating him, which’d mean having a chance at beating me, and that obviously isn’t happening right now.”

That eyebrow was going to be stuck permanently raised at this point. “I mean, I did just get my eigth badge in Johto, so logic would dictate that I could hold on here.” She paused.

“Can’t help Johto being pathetic enough to lose to you.” He shrugged. “Logic also dictates that I’m the only one who was straight up champion for a bit before the whole gym leader thing, and that’s the team I’m fighting you with.” He made a shooing motion. “So yeah, get lost. Train a bit.”

Catherine eyed him up and down, and wondered if she could take him on in a fight. The gym leader stood fairly tall, with stupidly spiky hair and a sorta handsome face if she looked past the sneer. He stood more on the lithe side, the leather jacket doing only so much to add a bit of bulk, but she didn’t doubt that he had a bit of muscle on him. She’d managed worse. Would’ve needed a bit more emotional invest to make punching his smirk off worth it, though. Eh.

“How’re you supposed to tell when I can beat you, anyway? I already got all eight of Johto’s badges, I doubt Kanto’s got any more to offer than Johto besides you,” she said instead. “You don’t expect me to like, fight the other leaders or something, do you?”

“Naw, that’d be stupid. I’d avoid most of them as much as I could if I were you, honestly. Celadon’s and Saffron’s for sure, for sure. Maybe Fuschia,” he tacked on thoughtfully, folded his arms. “I’d help you train but my time’s already spread pretty thin. The others might bug you if they catch you, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to pick a fight.”

Catherine squinted. “Seems a little questionable that Red’s only ever at the League or Mt. Silver if people want an audience.”

“Well yeah, he hangs out with his girlfriend too. But I don’t think you wanna sneaking around then.” He rolled his eyes, gaze distant for a moment before snapping back to her. “Nah, he’s down here more than up, but the guy’s got eyes on him wherever he goes down here. You want privacy, you wanna catch him at Mt. Silver, and that means having a guide. So, y’know, me, ‘cause Lance is the official sub while he’s up there. You got six months to manage something, I’ll just catch you on the tail end once I can work you into the schedule. You’ll still get what you want.”

She could feel the argument bubble up further inside her, but she was still a little tired, and there’d been no point in arguing further for now. Could still bitch a little, though. “Your execution is pretty lacking for a gym leader.”

“I let the other leaders worry about diplomacy.” He rolled back on the balls of his feet. “So yeah, we done yet? Or do you want to keep arguing about how we’re basically making sure you keep up your end of the deal?”

Catherine considered, and huffed. Resisted the urge to point out that she could still run off the day before the League gauntlet. (Probably wouldn’t succeed at that point, admittedly.) “Why’s he climbing up there anyway? He hates the cold.”

Green made an odd jerky little shrug, had the smallest bit of hesitation, the slightest flicker of worry cross his face before saying, “Must be something important if he’s doing it then, I guess.” He glanced to his watch. “Alright, my lunch break’s half done. You want me to grab you anything? Dunno if your friend’s with you yet.”

“We’re meeting in Pewter, apparently,” she said. “And yeah, if you’re offering.”

He smirked and opened his mouth to snark something, apparently thought better of it and turned with a wave. “Give me fifteen, then. Smell ya.”

He’d grabbed something for Silver too.