Though it wasn't always the case, Gavin believed you could tell a lot about a person by the capsules in which their partners were housed. The luxury balls the underboss used spoke most obviously of his wealth, but also offered a hint of intent to those who paid enough attention. He didn't name his Pokémon, but he took care of them.

So when elijah gardner produces a time-worn, rough-hewn friend ball, Gavin accepts it with a certain solemnity and newfound respect for the herbalist.

"I do," he confirms, a softer edge to the rumble of his voice. "I'll take good care of her. Does she have a name?"

"her name's psellia." after a pause, elijah spells out the name just in case.

elijah senses the lull into intimacy. vulnerability creates the sensation of lightness and heaviness simultaneously, as if he could fly on out of here due to sheer self-consciousness or sink deep into the metals of this damned submarine.

"her diet hasn't changed since her transformation." elijah says. "her favorite is decomposing leaves after three months. don't worry. i can give you a stash, and you can come get refills free of charge." he adds, cheekily.

"it'll give me an excuse to see her again."

Cillian Quinn