"Hoo boy, now this... this is gonna be some work experience." He said while staring at the open sea, tugging at the neck of his diving suit nervously.

He was never one to turn down an assignment, regardless of whether it stood on the boring end or the dangerous one, but this... Honestly, now that he was actually staring at the open sea, he was beginning to have some second thoughts.

Luckily, Kumon was there to remind him that backing out for wusses, her water bubble headbutting his calves with a sound clap.

"Yowch! Just making an observation here, jeez! I ain't backing out now! Trip's too long for that." He said before fitting himself with the rest of the diving equipment, adjusting the gas tanks on his back before glancing over at his strange companion.

Just in time to see him dive in.

"Oh crud, wait up!" He said as he hiked a leg above the side of the ship, stopping short to glance over his shoulder. "Thanks for everything, old man! We'll be right back!"

He dove in, his Dewpider right ahead of him.

---

TAG: @ken

Doug had thankfully fallen in line with the ranger, waving back cheerfully and obliviously before his attention was taken away by the school of Corsola.

He smiled at the sight, poking at his Dewpider before gesturing towards it with his neck and seemingly laughing as she did a double take at the numbers.

Doug had no experience with sea based missions, but his companion was a ranger and seemed to know what he was doing, so the bugcatcher was following his lead closely.

Which reminded him- pointing at the Ranger, grabbed onto Dewpider's water bubble with both hands before she began propelling towards their companions, taking him along.

As they came to float besides the man, the youth tilted his head in askance, wondering if there was anything else they needed to do other than stand guard.

---

TAG: @ken

Doug had seen a Wailord before. He lived in Slateport, of course he had. They often washed up at the beach, or were seen near the port. Beautiful creatures, they were.

Bloody terrifying under water and upclose, they were.

If Doug hadn't emptied his gas tank, so to speak, before going into the water he might have peed a little there and then. Might.

As things were? He stared, wide eyed, agape, Kumon besides him with a similar, more Dewpider-ish look of her own, as the largest pokemon on Earth swam atop them.

It carried a strong current along with it, nearly sweeping the youth away. His Dewpider was quick to recover thankfully, grabbing firmly onto Doug's arm before releasing jets of water to pull him back to his ranger companion.

Doug decided there and then that the ocean was bloody scary.

He shakily gave the ranger a thumbs up before turning his gaze back to the School, gesturing with his neck. They were getting just a tad too far away now.

---

TAG: @ken

And they were done. He couldn't say he was sad to see the Corsola's go; he was ready to blow this popsicle stand sky high.

He ignored the other's condescension and eagerly followed behind him as they went back up to the surface. The slow pace wasn't ideal, but the man must have known what he was doing.

Glancing at his dewpider, still latched onto his arm, the youth grinned at her as the surface came closer, and she seemed to sigh in relief in response. Seemed like she didn't much care for the Ocean either, water-type be darned.

They eventually made it, breaking through the surface near the ship. He was nearly blinded by the light of the sun, and couldn't help but bask in its warmth now that they were out.

---

TAG: @ken

"Friendly fella." He said dryly as the man flew off after offering rather terse... praise? Criticism? Probably the later, though Doug couldn't fathom why.

"Pity. Was hoping to actually talk to the guy on the way back. Had a face that all but said he had a few stories." He said to his little Dewpider, before he began to swim towards the nearest coast, which was... a long way away.

He had Kumon with him, though. And he needed the training anyway; just because he wasn't in Vendanturf didn't mean he could relax.

"Anyway... Race to the beach?" He said with a cheeky grin at the Dewpider, who huffed.

It was on.

---

TAG: @ken