The pokeball offered is taken. Temp wastes no time in scrambling up a ladder to the top of the tank, releasing the fish in with the others. It would take time to see if the pod accepted the new Luvdisc or not.

"Lapras? Yeah! Gavvie gave me one! Want to see her?" Was asked, as he slid back down.

For what it was worst, Temp had no idea that THEO BECKETT and Gavin had a very... spicy past, to say the least.

[attr="class","beck"]gavvie.

perhaps someone else would've felt hurt, pain, or the feelings that often come with heartbreak, but theo, like usual, feels little.

there's no bitterness behind his smile.

"sure."

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

The sad thing is that Gavvie had been Gavvie for a long time. Since the first time Temp had met the other. It was only recently the name might have more affection than camaraderie.

Since THEO BECKETT is good at hiding and Temp is excited, he doesn't notice if Theo does or doesn't feel anything. It wasn't a barb, after all, so why would he?

"Cool! Come on." Eager, he leads Theo back up top, to the pool he would sometimes battle challengers in. His Lapras was called out, the girl a flashy purple instead of the usual blue the species was known for.

"She's pretty, right? I named her Lav."

[attr="class","beck"]"she's really pretty."

at the sight of the purple lapras, theo smiles, extending a hand out to greet it.

it's then that his mind wanders back to a little earlier, and a thought slips out before he could catch it.

"gavin gave me the luvdisc. i don't think he'd want it back, so i hope the school accepts her."

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

When THEO BECKETT mentions that, the rusty gears in Temp's mind slowly begin the spin. They power one of those cymbal clanging monkey, who is also slow and janky in it's delivery. A thought is being pieced together. Slowly.

"Wait. You're that guy he was in love with." If the Luvdisc didn't make it obvious, then other stuff would. Temp didn't know all the details, figured Gavin would tell him in time if he really wanted, but whatever the hell had happened between Emma and then this guy had a ripple that effected his relationship with him.

[attr="class","beck"]was.

somehow, he doubts that, but it still doesn't make it hurt any less.

he nods.

"yeah."

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

"I think I was in love with him for a long time and didn't realize it."

After all his own messy feelings had blown up in his face, it was hard to really deny what they had been.

"I don't think I would have if he hadn't been..." Desperate. Needy. Craving for some type of affection. It was pretty fucked up to think about.

"Thanks?" He wasn't sure what to say, now. This was kind of awkward.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]briefly, a chuckle escapes him.

"so was i."

all that time together in kanto. he thinks of what could've been if he hadn't been a coward.

if he isn't still a coward.

"...how is he doing?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

"He's tired, but good!" From what Temp had seen of him, anyway. It was a constant struggle to get the man to sleep, drag Cillian Quinn away from his work long enough so he didn't collapse.

"I think the upcoming uh... event, is, like, taking a huge toll on him." The planned attack on Sootopolis. Temp wouldn't be participating, needed to keep his cover, but somehow that stressed him out more.

"You should talk to him sometime." Temp tilted his head to glance over at THEO BECKETT.

"Even if you're not.... well, I would hate to lose someone I cared about so much."

[attr="class","beck"]throughout all of it, theo remains quiet, only responding with nods as he processes temp's words.

"we still talk occasionally."

just not as much as they should. so, after a sigh, he nods, agreeing.

"i'll try."

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

"I hope it's able to make you guys happy." And maybe Temp is a little jealous, but it's his insecurities that lead to that.

Even if Temp know he is pretty, he also knows he is not good enough, maybe not even as much as THEO BECKETT is.

But that's okay, he can work on that.

"Want to see some Corsola?"

[attr="class","beck"]if theo had been privy to temp's thoughts, he'd tell him that he is good enough, and that there's no need to compare.

but he's not, and so the only thing he can respond to is the question that's asked.

"only if they're pretty."

they're all pretty.

[attr="class","noodles"]Tempest Quinn

"They're all pretty!" Temp echoes THEO BECKETT's thoughts, proud, confident. He gives a wave to his Lapras, letting her enjoy herself in the pool for now, before heading towards one of the other lab floors.

A massive tank decorated like a reef, filled with happy Corsola. Most of them don't pay Theo or Temp any mind, used to company, but a few of them float over to the glass to meet them.

"Hey, dude, I'm glad I could share this stuff with someone! Not too many people get as excited about fish as I do."