He blinked, surprised for a moment, before blushing and scratching at his cheek.

"O-oh. Thank you." That amount of faith in his meager talents was more than a little surprising.

Now that Ms. Cait had said that, he had no choice but to actually make it, joke or not.

"I didn't expect much from the League either." Not before joining, at any rate. Having a slightly more insightful understanding of what went in behind closed doors... Didn't give him much faith, but it at least explained to him a few things that had never made much sense to him before. "I don't think I can cancel my contract, though."

He could get kicked out of if he began failing at his studies, something not super unlikely given his pathetic highschool record...

But that would be such a pathetic way to leave.

No, he had no intention of leaving the military, even if he would've rather been studying insects or even performing music on a sidewalk.

If he left, he did it a decorated officer.

Eventually, they made it to Cait's territory, which she was kindly enough to point out for him. He made an attempt at memorizing nearby landmarks that might lead him there for future's sake- but eventually gave in to his better judgement and marked it on his phone's map as well, just in case.

As he was finishing doing that however, an uncomfortable question was asked.

He froze, not knowing what to say.

'Dead and waiting to die' sounded pretty bad and bleak, even if it was about as accurate as it got.

"... Awright." The youth said after a sigh, reaching over for his straw hat, only to realize that he had somehow forgotten it then. He must have been going mad. "I never did tell ya 'bout it, huh?"

Well, to be fair, he hadn't really told anyone. It was more something people could intuit once they had enough clues to puzzle together.

The youth stared off ahead in silence for a moment, mostly trying to figure out how to spit it out. His tongur felt thick in his own throat.

"I... Ah... Ugh. My parents are dead." He said simply, staring off into the distance, lips set into a thin line. "They have been for a long time now; 'fore I met you."

What else should he say...?

"And ... Uh... My grandpa's in the hospital. He ain't really hurt or sick or anything." He said, scratching at the back of his head. "He's just sad."

Sad and waiting to die. Doug's visits didn't seem to help much, so it had been a while since he had seen the man's face.

"... My studies are going pretty well, though." He tried at humor awkwardly. "Military science wasn't really m'dream career but it's... interesting."

---

TAG: cait alfric

"It's fine." Is all he manages to say.

Even he can see what he's done, but can't bring himself to say anything as the silence abruptly sets, nodding before simply following behind the woman in silence, branches and undergrowth snatching onto his clothes, dragging over his skin and tripping him every step of the way.

Her questions cracks the ice that had settled without warning, leaving him blinking in palpable confusion.

"Oh, uhm..." He uttered. The question is enough to make him forget about his other problems- mostly out of embarrassment, a blush once again coloring his cheeks as he reached up to scratch at the back of his head, lips pursing slightly. "... Entomology."

How very predictable.

"... But I was never any good in school though. It's a scientists' job, so it's always felt... distant." That's what made it a dream, he supposed. Ironic that he ended up studying a 'science' anyway. "My mom was a music teacher, though. She taught me quite a lot, so I always believed I would end up a teacher myself... or a performer like my grandpa."

Either or; in his experience, money was hard to come by forth, so might as well pick whichever he ended up liking most.

He then snorted.

"Or a farmer like my dad. Before we lost the land." No land, no farming. Kanto falling really drove them from 'poor but getting by' to 'poor and miserable'.

---

TAG: cait alfric

Battle Litany

"Can't... say I never thought about it." He said, looking away.

Such thoughts only lasted briefly.

"But I'm not good at school." He said, shrugging. "My grades were always below average on most classes... even before I stopped attending."

Perhaps a life on the road as a pokemon trainer hadn't prepared him well to sit around all day listening to very uninvested teachers drone on about stuff that didn't align with his limited talents.

There was no specific 'bug' class in school. Music was not a class, but a severely underfunded extracurricular. And art class was about art history, not actual art.

It all was, always, so very disappointing and boring. ​

"Only reason I'm not failing college is that I can't afford to." By all past experience, he should've been flunking out, specially given how little time he had now, compared to school.

But he couldn't fail, or everything would come crashing down.

So he passed every class somehow, even if he had to do so by the skin of his teeth. So far, anyway.

He was barely beginning at the introduction phase. Who knew how things would be 6 months down the line.

His gaze was drawn towards Cait, blinking in surprise as she spoke of politics, of all things.

"A politician?" He echoed. He nibbled on the inside of his cheek, looking away for a second before asking. "Why?"

The occupational hazards of politics in Hoenn were many. The region couldn't go 6 months without one of their Council members 'mysteriously' disappearing.

When someone was as famous as Cait already was, involving themselves in politics was tantamount to painting a massive target on their backs.

When they finally made it all the way through her forest, a cabin in the woods came into view, and for a moment, he stopped simply to stare.

It all almost looked like something out of a book; rather lovely.

"Woah. This looks awesome!" He uttered, eyes wide. "Ya live here?"

He stared silently.

"Any rooms up for grabs?" He asked playfully a moment later, a sheepish smile on his lips as he fell in line behind her.

This certainly was more lovely and idyllic than life inside the Mega Mall that was Mauville was set to be.

Following behind her, he waved at whatever pokemon might be found around the house before slipping inside her abode, his eyes looking around the home with a measure of warmth.

His parent's home had not been grand or too pretty, but it had been made of wood and well kept, and Cait's place reminded him of it in a way that made something in his stomach flutter.

For a moment, he didn't immediately respond to Cait's questions, eyes looking over every surface slowly, taking in whatever photographs, art pieces, knick knacks and furniture they could find.

After said moment, he shook his head abruptly, before turning his gaze towards Cait. He grabbed at his stomach for a moment, before his gaze drifted up, him trying to remember.

"Uh, my diet for today was... Umm..." He mumbled, trying to remember noah faber's lessons on muscle building nutrition. "Meat and veggies both, I think? Er, high on protein. Sorry to impose, Ms. Cait."

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, before his eyes slowly began drifting around the house once again.

"Think I might meet Mr. Cait today?" He asked after a moment, grinning as he glanced at her.

He wasn't aware of Sénon Game's relationship with Cait at this point yet.

---

TAG: cait alfric

Battle Litany

At the top, huh?

"Is that so?" He asked, blinking in surprise.

He hadn't been interested in politics until just recently- he couldn't really get involved in them, even now. Despite the considerable youth of some of the League's current councilmen at the time of their election, aiming for such a place felt impossible for someone like Doug.

Age aside- he lacked the education and pedigree to even think of a career in politics. Nobody knew of him or his family; running against the kind who tended to go for such lofty positions seemed like a doomed mission.

But even that was getting ahead of himself- he had never considered himself for such a position until now.

"Are you... going to try to go for a Council seat, Ms. Cait?" He asked, tilting his head.

She had a good chance. Gym Leaders were well known. War heroes, even more so. Specially in such turbulent times, if she platformed for military reform in the face of Rocket's encroaching influence...

Maybe she really could do it.

He hadn't pegged her for someone so invested into the military, however!

"Don't you hate the military?" He asked, brow creasing. "I mean like... on principle?"

He knew that she had been a member of the military herself before- but he hadn't thought she was invested in it.

Even beyond the Military's general incompetence, Cait seemed like a peace loving individual- and he knew for a fact she was very religious. Neither quality seemed like it would mesh well with military or war.

And while one didn't need to think that war was good to believe in the military... would someone like that wish for it to be more powerful or effective?

He didn't know; the shades of grey tended to blend into the stronger tones of black and white for the youth. His position in the military was a consequence of little forethought on his part.

The subject of her beautiful home momentarily fell by the wayside as the youth took interest in a facet of the woman before him he hadn't quite met until now: Politics could be a divisive topic that could rend even strong friendships...

But Doug was young, somewhat ignorant, and most of all, open-minded. Easily influenced by trusted authority figures and the 'good' adults in his life.

---

TAG: cait alfric

Battle Litany

At the top, huh?

"... Yeah." He said.

Though his reply sounded casual, he had been paying rapt attention as he spoke. Pushing away from the wall he had been leaning on, the youth approached nearby furniture, reaching out to grasp and look at a photograph of her as he spoke.

"I don't know any of the current members of the council personally, but... Hoenn's policies haven't really changed a lot in the past four years, have they?"

Commissioner dahlia goode, Councilman kim cole-essam, Councilman FERNANDO SILPH and Councilman @oryon had been there for as long as he had cared to keep up with Hoenn's politics- about 6 months, give or take.

"... I think it's fair to say that they need someone to wage war for them." He said bluntly, turning his gaze to the woman. "Cause they sure as hell don't know how to do it themselves."

The 'new' Team Rocket was proof. The continued existence of Rocket-Occupied Kanto, was proof.

Rocket Occupied Kanto had been a violent force from the moment it graced the world stage- it's immediate neighbor was attacked without warning or formal declaration of war, and Hoenn had followed suit soon after.

It pained him to admit it- but the land of Kanto had become Rocket's nation now. Which made all, each and every single one of Rocket's actions, an international act of warfare.

And one did not simply let such inhuman, brutal attacks on one's country and people sit for 4 years.

After Blackwell's death, Hoenn's leadership first order of business after cleaning up the rocket remains should've been to mount a counteroffensive.

"Ya were a soldier yerself, Ms. Cait. I think, more than any of them already there, you'd be good for the region as things are now."

With Silph handling the economics and Cole-essam public relations... introduce an actual soldier into the council, and thinks might finally begin looking up for the people of Hoenn.

TAG: cait alfric

Battle Litany

With cait alfric.

The house around him is full of warmth and compassion. It truly feels like a place built by Ms. Cait, for her loved ones.

"... Thank ya kindly, Ms. Cait." He says mumblingly, averting his gaze from hers as his head tilts down. "I really appreciate it."

He doesn't belong there, next to all the people she's known and loved for years. He's stumbles in and out of her life like a complete mess, receives help and guidance and support, and gives nothing back. What kind of friend is he?

Certainly not the kind anyone should welcome into their home, let alone crash on their couch.

"No... yeah, that makes sense. Ya know yerself best; t'was just a silly idea I had, anyway." He mumbled after a moment, forcing a smile as he nodded.

It's fine. For Now, things are fine. Even if the right people are not where Hoenn needs them to be now, things will be fine.

There were several months left before the youth had a nervous breakdown; yes, right now, there was still a lot of space left in his plate. It was fine.

Clap.

"... So." Doug said after a moment, hands having come together abruptly. "Do ya need any help with cookin'? I ain't too shabby."

Smooth.

TAG: cait alfric