Chief. That was a new one.

Gavin endures the questioning with a pinched expression, almost as if he were nursing a headache. He shakes his head.

"We need Slateport, its resources, if we ever want to take Hoenn. Destroying it wouldn't do much good." Perhaps it was pointless to provide a serious answer to a question that might have been rhetorical. "Why wouldn't we want infinite energy?"

After seeing what it could do, after what it had done for Lugia, Gavin was biased as to its usefulness.

He opens his mouth to provide an equally serious answer to the next question, closes it as ryuuzaki amemiya continues. He blinks, twice, and then closes his eyes with a steady inhale. "You're as bad as Irvine."

Whether @irvine would see that as compliment or insult was a question unanswered.

He doesn't miss the grimace at Lulu Flint's name, sticks on it with narrowed eyes. "That's our Head Scientist you're talking about. Do you have an issue with her?"

There's a sharpness to Gavin's tone; old Rocket would've gutted someone for thinking about their superiors in an unfavorable light. Gavin is not so strict as to resort to violence, but Flint was his sister.

Irvine was the kind of comedic relief Rocket needed, but Gavin wouldn't admit it. Heavens forbid it get back to him.

"Yes, she's been stable." He couldn't be more relieved, thanks to his own involvement in her accident. When asked after it, Gavin is brutally honestly. "She got too close to Lugia in the heat of battle."

This very serious conversation would be interrupted with all the flare Chu-e had in him. It was just in his nature to be dramatic. Most of the day had seen him locked up in his office after a short stint talking to Miles Sharp. Eventually the lines of his papers had started to run together and it was decided a nice drink would be in his best interest. Also, to see Leon Vercetti again, which he had politely texted to meet up. They still hadn't properly broken in his desk like he wanted.

"Gav!" He calls put when he enters, eyes quick to spot his fellow Underboss. A hand raised on greeting, smile on his face, he steps forward to get himself a drink and maybe have a nice chat with his friend. Only- he pauses, squints at Cillian Quinn's company. There was something familiar about the other man. Something very....

"Ryuuzaki?" But no, it couldn't be... could it? Either way, his face pinches, steps falter, and one can practically see the question marks popping off his head at the sight of his childhood friend. Someone left behind and only remembered in fond memories, a past life so far removed from who he was now that it was hard to imagine.

"Pokémon exist for the glory of Team Rocket." The words are spoken effortlessly. The more he repeats them, the more they begin to feel like his own. "Never forget that."

Masked with ice, there is bitterness. Gavin wouldn't be allowed to forget.

Thankfully for Anemiya, the door bursts open before their conversation can follow its darkening path. Chu-e Choi addresses him with the familiarity of friendship, and Gavin allows the ice to melt if only for a time.

"Hey, Chu-e. Leon." Gavin glances between Choi and Ryuu as he realises he's become third party to some kind of reunion. "Didn't realise you two knew each other."

The silence is awkward and thick. It feels like... like.... Chu-e doesn't know what he feels. His skin is tippling with ice and fire in both turns, nerves washing over him with an anxiety he hasn't felt in literal years. A shaky breath is taken and- a gasp, covering his mouth, he crumbles a bit to lean on Leon Vercetti's side.

Oh. Oh. Okay. He's having a panic attack. This is fine.

This isn't fine.

Chu-e only barely is able to shove Leon out of the way and make it outside before he hunches forward, a sick gurgling echoing in the hall before vomit splatters on the metal floor. Tears prick in his eyes from the force as a second wave escapes him, spreading his half eaten lunch in a wider mess on the ground. He would need to call someone to clean that up.

Hunched over, shaky, lips covered in puke, his mind is still a buzzing of white static as too many thoughts race in his mind at once.

Cillian Quinn ryuuzaki amemiya

It takes Chu-e another few moments for the rabbit-beat of his heart to calm, for the gasps of breath to regain sense as nausea is slowly lessened. He leans on Leon Vercetti still, shaky, eyes unseeing as he stares down at his own mess as some poor grunt caught in the crossfire scrambles to clean it up. The question isn't responded to right away; nothing is.

"He was-" Is finally croaked out, low and raspy. "He was my best friend."

Which is probably not what Leon, or anyone who might be listening, would expect. From the reaction, one would think ryuuzaki amemiya was the root of some terrible trauma.

But, he was scarier than that.

Ryuuzaki knew his entire family by name. Had been to his house and he had been to his. Shared schoolwork and a little sister who chased them around. His family one of the first to know the results of the court case. Had seen first hand the subsequent bullying and the anger built up in him as he mentally spiraled down. Until one day Chu-e had vanished, not a note left, just a stolen fistful of cash from his mother's purse and a bag of clothes missing.

Gone.

Another rough breath.

"I never wanted him to see me like this, Leon." A quiet admission.