Eyes move from the girl to the Luxray and quickly back to the girl.

"Then I suppose it's a good thing I'm not Santa." A short laugh follows as he takes a bedside seat cautious of the child's protector all the while.

"While I may not be Santa, I do have a gift for you, that is if you can answer a few questions." With that he'd reveal the pristine strawberry shortcake an eye watching to see how the girl reacts before offering the first of many questions.

"Now you, I, and Gavin shave in common. It's something very special outside of our affiliation. Do you know what that is? In fact this isn't the first time he'd seen the girl though it was the first time they spoke. There'd been times before his promotion he'd seen a young girl wander into labs and after having seen it a time or two he'd questioned her appearance, it wasn't long after the man got his answer as surprising as it may have been.

"Oh and bonus question! What were you working on in that notebook, that is only if you care to share."

"Sadly I'm not friends with Lugia." He can't imagine a world where he is, thankfully he's unable to ruminate on the hurricane protector for too long as he's much more interested in what the child's book contained.

"I'd say that book is a great hint on its own Eris, you and your Mom made those notes?" It's now he pulls a book or two of his own from his bag. One of Arithmetic the other biology, nothing too complex, but judging by the notes in her journal he feels he should have brought more challenging material. "The answer Eris, is that we're all scientists." His hands find themselves affixed atop the books he's placed.

"For one reason or another, Gavin, and I chose to study. I believe it's because we wanted to help people. To learn more about the world and to share that knowledge for the good of everyone. I think your mother did the same, and judging by how often we find you in the labs. I'd like to believe you aren't too far behind either."

Moments later the cake would find its way to her hands,

"And yes Eris, it is strawberry, but more importantly it's yours."

"When I'm hurt, I find that to be the best time to learn. And so I'm here today to help you study Ms. Halla. I think you and I can learn a lot from each other."

There's more to say but he doesn't want to overload the girl just yet, Miles had another surprise or two in store for the girl, but he waits now content to bring a smile to the girl's face.

He doesn't miss the wariness in her voice, like an anxious growlithe, or a purrloin knowing a bath was in its near future. Still, Miles powers through, because watching the girl tense up was cute. He hopes to one day have a daughter like her, and perhaps one day he would.

"Well, today I have a little bit of biology. and If you're willing to suffer through let's say an hour of arithmetic. I may be willing to part with this."

He'd reach back into his bag, a satchel of many wonders pulling a second slice of cake, this one had various brown hues in layers. "A slice of tiramisu, I was saving it for myself, to be honest, but I'm always willing to share treats with good girls."

There's a playfulness amidst his calculated stare. He can barely stop himself from cackling as he watches the girl taking far too much pleasure in exploiting this child even if it was for her own good.

He can tell by the look in her eyes that she's fallen into the trap. Truthfully this second slice belonged to a certain Stormy Silph who would simply go without tonight, such were the sacrifices of education, though Miles has faith she'll survive. That said perhaps if Eris studied hard perhaps one day she too would be able to learn the man's tricks regardless of how little they had to do with math.

"Ah someone seems a little confident."

He takes this opportunity to crack open one of the books, it was surprising how at peace he was in the situation, there certainly was a simple joy in working with children, Eris in particular in her wryness was particularly fun to work with.

"But we could, as long as they're all right of course."

And this would be the beginning of the many Lessons Miles Sharp and Eris shared, a small oasis in the darkness that was Team Rocket.