And he has.

“I suppose I couldn’t keep my boyish charm forever.” He plays into it, no longer was he that student so selfish though traces of him remain sprinkled carefully throughout his person.

“I have my days certainly, but I’ve been on the uptick I think as of late.” Now that she’s arrived he pours himself a glass.

“I trust your tastes haven’t changed? I remember you downing a bottle and a half over the course of graduation day, if memory serves.” His way of offering a glass.

I'd be lying if I said there wasn't, but gossiping about my love life isn't quite why I called you out here. He smiles as he had found once who could possibly be the light of his life, but to reveal the inner workings of that was a bit much so early on too far off-topic. That train of thought wouldn't stop the researcher from inquiring about the other end of the spectrum.

"And you Aria? have you found some beau or miss to finally sweep you off your feet and out of the lab, there's not many who I'd deem good enough for you." Once upon a time Miles thought they'd be good together, but that time had long since passed, the opportunity come and gone. He'd learned over the course that some relationships were best kept as friends. His relationship with mila alexopoulos had been proof enough of that.

"In truth, I've come up with something of a conundrum, My company has me working on a project I figured you'd like a hand in. On the condition, it stays off the books of course."

And there it was, the familiar shine to her. She perks up upon mention of his project, the woman never could resist a challenge.

He pulls a vial of blue sap, and a bagged piece of white tree bark. placing both on the table. "My team and I have been studying trees that have appeared across the region, they're thought to have something to do with Xerneas. I was wondering if you'd give them a look at your labs and reach out to me if you find anything."

"I'd owe you one of course." It was work, but work he figured she'd enjoy, Xerneas being one of the progenitors of life and energy in the various mythologies surrounding pokemon. Also said to be ingrained in the lore of evolution one of Aria's favored topics.

"My team found a larger sample around Western Hoenn." He's purposefully vague, while she wasn't part of the league as far as he knew it was still best to cover his bases,

"They extracted it and brought what they could to one of my labs, where I've been running tests."

He wonders how much further she'd push, and how much further he'd allow her.

She's right, but he doesn't let the information go without some semblance of a fight,

"I wouldn't say it's a question of trust my dear."

He leans back in the chair glassy eyes focused intently now,

" Around Fallarbor. It's why the specimen is so odd. In the area surrounding the original tree fauna and life far outside the standard began to flourish.

Her persistence ends and he leans forward in his chair, a small wave of internal relief passes.

"I look forward to hearing back from you." He had a meeting with one of the agents who'd retrieved the tree tomorrow and so he too would push for more answers on his side as well.

Is that what I was doing?" He raises his glass eyes focused on the liquid for moments at a time, debating until he comes to a conclusion, marked by a long sip.

"You'll think me a fool. But she's the one." He begins meeting his old friend's eyes. Miles had always been a cautious man, someone who thought things twice over before coming to a conclusion, and so his next words were extremely out of character.

"We've dated for three months, I plan to marry her." He takes another sip curious to see how his dear friend would respond.