It took him a moment to even realize he was being spoken to. A blink, slow, then his eyes dragged up to meet the person who decided to approach. Quiet for a few beats too long before glancing away, licking his own dry lips.

"Kalos." He paused, voice rough from lack of use. "Sinnoh. Kanto." A hum. "Do you know if Arthur... the Mossadeep City Gym Leader is still alive?" Was he the Gym Leader still? His shoulders hunched inwards slightly, more self conscious of that question. He glanced around again, to avoid her eyes.

"It's cleaner than it used to be." The last he had seen this place it was nothing but burning ruins. Chu-e was not aware that thought reflected the one the young woman had been thinking moments before.

"I don't know who that is." His own frown pinched his face, a quick look of something like sorrow in his eyes before it was neatly stored away. "Arthur was, uh..." Took his hands out of his pockets, scarred and rough things, and absently twisted a plain golden band around his finger. She had sharp eyes. He figured she could put two and two together.

"I used to live here before Kalos. When Slateport wasn't so clean." This time he finally met her eyes and they were almost imploring. He had seen those bodies, too. The difference between them was that he had been the cause of a lot of them. Would she know that? From looking over his pathetic state? It had been.. a long time ago. Long still since what he had done in Kanto.

"Do you.... uh... need something? I need to find a hotel." His pause was not from lack of confidence, but as if he needed a moment to remember what word he was searching for. Eyebrows knitted, lips pursed, there was an air of confusion about him before it lifted, only lasting a second or two at most. Yes, clearly some type of unwell.

For what it was worth, even when the woman pulled on her strings and tightened her screws, Chu-e did not look the least bit intimidated or even impressed. It was just that same kind of impassiveness as he had had before. Like staring into a doll's or corpse's eyes. He did, vaguely, glance over the ID, eyes catching on the rank. He snorted, lightly, but slowly pulled off his backpack and reached inside.

"You don't have to beat around the bush. I'm damaged, not stupid." And he handed her an ID... followed by a second. Two of them. "I know your type, too. You've been through shit. I get that."

The first ID was in rougher shape, the name 'Chu-e Choi' printed on top. There was a mark there, from Kanto, one she might know given her rank... Rocket. Someone venerated from the invasion. In high standing. His own proof of power for those who wanted to question him.

The second was also an older ID but crisper. Hadn't been used as much, by assumption. Inside was a Ranger ID as well, and a quite high one at that... but with the style and seal from Sinnoh. The name 'Ji-Hoon Ki' printed on this one. Other than a few details like date of birth, the IDs both has pictures of him in there. Younger. Not as clearly sick and beaten down.

"Just remember that people like me have to be the villain to help people like you be the hero." And if she had the means to search, the Ranger ID would come up a match... that somewhere in the Sinnoh system there was a 'Ji-Hoon Ki' with matching credentials. She could find it easily. It was there. "I just... I'm retired. I just want to see if my husband is still alive."

And oh, in that moment, he looked so tired. But, really, what was the truth?

"Ugh." He huffed and rolled his eyes. Just who was this 'Cait' anyway? She was kind of... unnerving in her own way. In a way he hadn't felt since the ballroom over two years ago. "You're really bad at subtext. Are you really one of the best that Hoenn has to offer...?" He said the last part almost to himself. But he leaned in, slowly, lowered his voice. "I might have been with them but that doesn't mean I stopped being with you" He glanced briefly at the Ranger ID badge he had also handed her. "And I failed. Does it make you feel good to make me say it? To know a whole region is gone because-" And now his voice shook, just a little, with some deep pain before he swallowed it down.

Another slow movement. His bag taken off and offered to her. Pockets tipped out to show they were empty. "Feel free to give me a cavity search." Bitten out, quiet. And Chu-e raised to her strange, strange eyes and met them head on with his own. Body weak but his own eyes all flint and steel, drawn into his own reserve of confidence.

And here it was. He had revealed what he had used to be- but also what he claimed he was. He had handed over everything to her- Pokemon, items, anything that could be potentially used to escape. There was no way he could physically fight her or run in his state. He was sure she knew it just as much as he did. She had all the cards in this situation.

"You can arrest me if it makes you feel better. It won't change that I couldn't keep Rocket out of Hoenn. Won't change that I couldn't keep Kanto from falling. If you think I should spend what time I have left in a jail because I couldn't keep this place safe, I'll accept that, Miss Alfric."

So he lifted his hands up in front of him, wrists limp, for if she wanted to cuff him or restrain him right then and there. He would not look away from her as she might assess him, look at him, do what she thought needed to be done. If she chose to arrest him, he would also not resist in that, not have some trick up his sleeve in a last ditch effort.

Because he was tired.

And maybe what he was saying was the truth. Maybe he had been a double agent for the League all this time, had really tried to do better for them and was one of many who couldn't secure them victory. Would a man not more cornered as he was try to run or escape? To beg or plead?

But oh, he was so, so tired.

"The rest...? These are all the pokemon I have." Which was not a lie. "Any of my old pokemon are living better lives without me." Which, did make him frown a little. The one shining spot had always been his pokemon. He doted on them more than what most people probably expected for someone like him. Slowly he lowered his arms to his sides again, already growing weary.

"Those three are for therapy." Another pause. "... keep them with you. They'll not like your Gengar. They're soft. Which..." and he glanced at the Gengar and the back to her. "Your pokemon is just trying to cheer you up. No need to scold it." And something like disapproval showed on his face at this.

"If the police are as 'kind' as you have been, there won't be much left by the time Sinnoh gets their heads out of their asses." Yet he still shrugged, moved to step past her. His steps were still shaky. "Come on. Won't get to wherever you're taking me by blowing kisses to one another on the docks all day."

For her merit, he did listen at least. A grunt and a wince at suddenly making himself stop, but he did nonetheless.

"Something elss. Don't worry about it, Miss Alfric." And now there was a bit of reluctance, hands tightening and relaxing from fists. But he sighed, grasped the edge of his shirt in the end and hiked it up the best he could.

Deep scars, puckered and shiny, stretched over his torso. The most prominent, and largest, was one down his side and one on his chest. After letting her get a quick look, he dropped his shirt. The scars had been jagged and ugly, obviously not medicial, but the healing had been clean as if from a hospital.

"They took...." And he paused again, like he had before, that loudly and sort of faraway look on his face before he shook his head, rubbed his face and took another step forward, looking vaguely confused as he glanced around. Then he blinked and was back, frowning. "Nevermind."