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Aila's favorite stone, without a moment's doubt, was the labradorite she had acquired from the home of one of Camphoreon's wealthier residents. She had hesitated to part with it and eventually decided against doing so. Upon surrendering her occupation as a jewel thief, she resolved to craft the gem into a pendant for her own use, should she ever require such a formality. She lacked the materials to do so, however, so once again her day off found her in her hometown. This time, however, she was in the city with a distinct purpose in mind.

The girl received her purchase from the cashier with a word of gratitude, exiting the store absently and studying the labradorite specimen in her hand as the light caught it and the jewel flashed to life.

Aila was a considerably small individual, and the sudden, unexpected impact sent her toppling to the ground unceremoniously. Her first tightened around the labradorite in an effort to protect the gem, but the bag containing her purchase was not as fortunate, its contents spilling around her. Wires, beads, and stones scattered on the ground and gleamed in the sun. Aila shook her head dazedly before gazing up at the cause of her fall. She was startled by the familiarity her pink eyes met: She was certain she recognized this woman.

"...My apologies," she murmured as she moved to gather her things. This was the second time her inattentiveness had caused such a crash. She made a mental note to be exceedingly more careful in the future.

Not the most elegant way to accept an apology, Aila noted. She returned her things to her bag and shouldered it, declining the offered hand and rising on her own power. Outside of the base, strangers were not to be trusted. It was a fundamental concept the girl held as truth, especially with her newly-formed affiliations.

The hand extended in greeting gave rise to even more suspicion. Was there some ulterior motive this woman had in wanting to make physical contact? Aila's wariness was only increased when she mentioned her familiarity. However, she could not deny that she herself felt a sense a recognition.

"Aila," she stated simply, meeting the taller woman's gaze with obvious apprehension.

Aila noticed the subtle change in disposition, evidenced most strongly by this Claire's tone of voice. She hummed thoughtfully, "Yes, I would believe that." She had a vague recollection of passing the woman in the hall one day and of spying her in the cafeteria. "And yes. One of my obligatory days off. Somehow the occasion always finds me back in this city."

"A laudable effort," Aila said with an approving nod. "I have several detailed maps of this city in my possession, in fact, if you would ever like to see them." She used to have several detail maps of the immediately accessible areas of the base, but Nadja had confiscated them. She was still a bit sore about that, actually.

"I lived here until recently," she explained. "It is one of the few places in Kodo with which I am well-acquainted, and so I find myself here when I am granted a superfluous amount of free time." A moment's thought revealed the awkward nature of their circumstances. "Would you like to find a more appropriate place to continue this?" she suggested. "I am familiar with a number of cafes, for example."

Accepting the cue, Aila started across the street in a direction that would lead them to a small collection of eateries, within which they would find the girl's favorite cafe.

"Reference materials," she said. "Internalizing locations is effective to a point, but one is prone to forgetting more minute details that may one day become important." A sly grin spread on her lips in response to the query. "I have a number of records of different points of interest throughout the city," she raised a hand to count off on her fingers her voice lowered to a volume that passerby would not easily overhear, "such as the department stores, the banks, an assortment of fine jewel dealerships, and several of the wealthier households in the residential quarter." She spared a glance at Claire as they arrived at the cafe, holding open the door to allow her companion entry. "I once had maps of our workplace as well, but such activity was frowned upon."

Thoughful eyes turned to the Pidgeot. The cafe's proprietor was a former trainer himself and had not minded the presence of her own Bulbasaur, but she was unsure of how the staff would react to the large bird.

"It is understandable that one would do so, but it is not unlikely that the smaller details, when collected, become important." She stopped herself. "By no means do I intend to critique your ways, of course. What is best for me is not necessarily best for all." It was a personal peeve of hers to be lectured on grounds of a difference in opinion, and she was embarrassed to have indulged in such an act herself.

"Yes, it seems my superiors felt similarly. In my haste to acquire thorough and accurate knowledge, I failed to consider the suspicious nature of my activities. I must admit, however, that it is difficult to restrain my instincts to record that which I remember." Documents were the most important parts of reconnaissance, she felt. How could one prove where one had been and what one had seen if one could produce no documents?

Aila took a seat at the table Odette had selected, turning her attention to the bird. "Your Pidgeot's coloration is interesting. Might I ask where it was acquired?" It had been bothering her for a while, but she had seen no place to present the inquiry.

"A fine win," she said. She had never cared for gambling, but it seemed the game had yielded a fortuitous prize. She glanced to the pokeballs at her chest and hip at the question. "I do," she replied. "Two. An Ivysaur and a Misdreavus." She pressed the release on the pokeball attached to her ribbon, a flash of light releasing the aforementioned Ivysaur.

"Fleur, introduce yourself," the girl prompted.

"Saur!" A green vine snaked out from the bud, hoving in front of Claire as though offering a handshake. The pokemon's face was arched in a bright smile.

A waiter, taking notice of the customers, approached the table with a notepad and pen in hand and handed each a menu, "Good afternoon, ladies. May I take your orders, or shall I return shortly?"

"Iced raspberry tea for myself, please," Aila requested. She turned an eye on Fleur. "And a plate of saltines. With ketchup, if I may so ask."