You're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around, Locke Jamison

Doug's eyes widened slightly at Locke's words.

"Really?" He said, though he didn't get to comment on it, Locke speaking as he went.

Still— Doug should've known that, after everything he had studied, but he had somehow internalized the extreme expenses and inconveniences of city living as a sort of Hoenn curse. A misery brought along by being forced out of their homes and into another region.

But no; living in the city was simply much more expensive, regardless of the region. No ample, verdant grasslands for pokemon to feed on for free, either.

The more Locke spoke, the more it seemed as if they were two sides from somewhat similar coins...

Poverty in the countryside, poverty in the city.

"But do you like doing it?" He couldn't help but ask the other youth, tilting his head slightly as the Delibird joined him in apparently not knowing what they were doing but doing it really enthusiastically anyway. "Don'cha wanna do anything else?"

If there was one thing he couldn't take away from Hoenn, it was the fact that it was a land of opportunity; in the 4 years he had been in the region, he had heard and witnessed people go from nothing to well... something.

angelo vestri came to mind.

That aside, on the topic of the HsT...

"A beach what?" Doug said, blinking at the other youth before grinning wide. "Don't suppose you took a picture 'fore he left?"

Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to witness the greatness of Balder's washboard abs. Locke had places to be.

"Oh yeah, you were looking for something 'fore this mess, huh?" Doug said while looking up, tapping at his chin for a moment before snorting and looking down at the bored, still cuffed thief. "Whoops."

"I ain't apologizing."

"Wasn't expectin' ya to start making good decisions now, buddy."

"No worries man! Talkin' with'cha was fun— But, uh... ya need any help?" Doug said as he watched the small courier try and rush while totting about his packages with a crutch, suddenly feeling bad.

Unfortunately, there was no stopping the little workaholic, leaving Doug and the thief to watch him stumble out of the alleyway...

"Hate to see you go but love to watch you leave... Crutch not withstanding." Doug said humorously to himself. "Wait, what was I doing before I saw him again?"