Gavin is blunt. "I see potential."

He sees himself, in more ways than one. Rocket had taken a bright-minded scientist and sharpened him into their weapon. He was certain he could pay that forward in turn.

The three capsules on the desk appear identical: luxury balls, with no hint as to their contents. When Rowan picks one up, it's slightly damp.

"Rowan, I was a scientist with a single Riolu when Rocket got a hold of me. Look at what I've become. You know how I got this far? Because I wanted to. Because I worked for it. That's all it takes. Time, and dedication."

Wherever you'd like is an impulsive response that Gavin traps behind his teeth. Rowan sought guidance, not vaguery.

"Your Pokemon are the most important resources you have. Train them right, and they can be whatever you need them to be: healer, protector, conqueror." There's something in the way his tongue wraps around the last word. "But it's important not to neglect your physical capability. You need to be able to fight back if you're caught off guard."

It's why he still carries his gun, his knife, why he works out to keep his body strong despite the shadows that act as his guardians. You could never be too careful.

"I'll help where I can, but you should also reach out to others. Wolfe, Beckett, Clayton. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Better to feel a bit stupid for a few than to wind up dead."

Mention of Sootopolis seems to particularly intrigue him.

"Send me the time for your match. I may show up to watch."

Gavin immediately notes the absence of THEO BECKETT's name, but doesn't assume the worst.

"I know Beckett is fairly new to Hoenn, but he was an admin in Kanto days. My mentor, actually. You could learn a lot from him."

When asked about keeping secrets, he nods.

"Rocket's got a nasty habit of using family against each other. Best we keep it between us."

Gavin blinks at him.

"Perhaps you missed the bit where I joined in Kanto. Where Beckett was my mentor. You've already accepted help from a mass murderer. You're looking at him."

He doesn't seem proud of the body count; rather, he states his status as murderer as flatly as one might claim their date of birth.

"Wolfe and Clayton worked in Kanto, too. A lot of us did."

He hesitates on the final question.

"There's another, but I want to give them the choice of getting involved — or staying out of it. Bit of a tricky situation for all of us."

Gavin makes no attempt to justify their actions nor assuage Rowan's disdain. This was an inevitability within Rocket and there was no use coddling him against it.

As soon as Rowan stands, Gavin clicks his tongue.

The fairy-lock shimmers, then dissipates.

"You know where to find me if you need anything."

He gestures, dismissing him.