Yeah, right.

But Gavin doesn't express his doubt, understanding. The Quinns were a proud pair. They'd been taught to hide their weaknesses lest they be ridiculed and punished for them.

"I'd rather you didn't die."

It went without saying, really, but he expresses it anyway.

"We've already got some of the technology from Ultra Space, from the war. Is that not enough for now?"

It's not doubt in her ambition that fuels him, but worry.

Gavin laughs, sharp.

"All right, fair."

They've never known the meaning of enough, have they? When Gavin thinks of what he wants, there is no end to what he would take if given the opportunity. Sootopolis, Hoenn, the rest of the fucking world.

His smirk subsides at the off-hand comment.

"What do you mean?"

He listens, brow arching at the mention of Silph.

Yet where Lulu is intoxicated, Gavin remains sober. He drank only in moderation and with a high enough tolerance to be unaffected by what he'd thus far consumed. He is clear-headed and remembers her sensitivity to the topic.

He approaches with more tact than he'd shown prior.

"Okay," he acknowledges. "Has something happened?"

It's as if blood chills in his veins.

He didn't know much about Silph, but he knew the man was dangerous and one of Rocket's strongest opponents. He had power, wealth, influence.

It's clear even before Gavin speaks that he's upset with the news. He draws a slow breath to measure his response before he opens his mouth. If he was too aggressive in his approach, she'd run, and what if she ran straight back to him?

"Why would you...?"

He listens, not interrupting.

It does sound crazy — absolutely fucking batshit, in fact, until she says something that makes him tense.

He remembers what he and Chu-e Choi had done to Raziel Beckett. He thinks of THEO BECKETT's Malamar, and of his own Beheeyem. Mind control. Memory erasure. Such things were possible, even if they didn't always take, or stick.

"But not right now," he says, slowly, thinking out loud. "Because he doesn't know about me, right? He wouldn't know where I live."

He seeks confirmation rather than accusing.

"Do you think he's using a Pokemon to do it? Have you seen — a Beheeyem, maybe a Malamar?"

Gavin blanches at the mention of Tapu Fini, of the excursion, Choi's reports coming back to him in sharp focus.

Oh, fuck.

"Wasn't there some mist making everyone act weird?"

Chu-e Choi hadn't been sure as to whether Fernando or Katherine were the cause, but if Lulu thought that Silph was controlling her mind...? Perhaps it was paranoia, the Quinns getting ahead of themselves. Arceus knew Gavin was the king of jumping to the worst conclusions. But what if it was connected?

"You went to League HQ?"

There's a sharp note of alarm in his tone.

"Yeah, that's... fuck, that's not good. Shit. Are there any gaps in your memory? Do you have any injuries you don't remember getting?"

He's leaning forward, intense.