Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

"What are you trying to make things less awkward for?" He asked with a laugh. "I asked, lass. No need to apologize!"

She was an incredibly considerate lass. Even though she had listened to his problems from earlier, she seemed convinced her own, much more urgent issues were somehow unimportant.

"You are the brave one, missy." He said with a smile, shaking his head. "I might've forgotten bits and pieces of my old life, but I knew exactly who I was when I woke up."

And say what you will of his formative years, he did not doubt for even an instant that there were plenty of people who would have taken his current circumstances for themselves if given the chance.

"You woke up in knowing nothing, and yet here you are. Still fighting." He stepped, looking her up and down. "Pretty darn brave, if you ask me."

He placed both hands on his hips, brows furrowing as he thought deeply of what he should do.

"... Would you like for some help finding out who you are?"

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

There was a dissonance between what they were thinking, he realized as the tears began to flow, his offer to help turned down with heart wrenching consideration.

From where he stood, it seemed as though Yuina was the type who struggled alone, thinking her problems were not worth bothering others with.

Well, he had dealt and continued to deal with plenty of such dummies to this day, so (un?)luckily for her, he was an deft hand at this.

Scuttling closer to Yuina, his shoulder bumped gently against her own. Perhaps some day, they would be close enough for a hug.

"Hey, I asked, and I offered. Nothing you need to apologize for." He said with a smile. "I think I understand what you mean, though."

She might've been a regular girl living her regular life. Or... any number of things she would rather not be. The possibilities were endless, but not necessarily good. It was a mystery that could well ruin her if solved.

"Well... You're doing well for yourself right now." He said. "I shouldn't be rushing you."

Avoiding it forever wasn't a good idea, but they had literally just met. It really wasn't any of his business how Yuina went about her life.

"How about we go have fun with the carnival and forget all this, eh? We're gonna bum ourselves out thinking about this sorta stuff."

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

"I ain't going anywhere." He said, nudging his elbow against hers and grinning. "I'm vermin. Now that you've met me, you'll never be rid of me. Sorry in advance."

Bug boy strikes again. Hopefully Yuina wouldn't come to regret asking him that.~

The mood was shifting to a more fun, uplifting tone, and Doug wasn't about to let that stop.

"Yes, ah do." He said, pushing his accent to its extremes with a hum. "I'm a water gun tottin', bumper cars ridin' cowboy, you could say."

He was crap at both though, as luka chêne and Isaac Merlo could've told her. Luckily, neither was present.

He was a second away from asking Yuina for her preferences, but given the earlier conversation... well, that could go badly.

"Want me to show ya?" He asked with a grin. "I like the water guns specially! I promise you won't get... completely soaked."

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

Well, wasn't that exactly the right question to ask?

The smirk stretching over his lips was a bit too smug for someone without dastardly, evil intentions in mind.

"Well... You are not supposed to." He said almost too innocently.

As luka chêne well knew, shouldn't and couldn't were not the same thing...

"Yes ma'am~." He hummed, taking the lead through enthusiastically.

The carnival was a good showcase of Hoenn's culture, as well as that of its many immigrants. The smell of the good food was strong in the air, and the atmosphere was awash with the sound of fun rides, children's laughter and people's mingling with one another.

Johanna Joy was doing good work here.

"Oh, there it is!" He said, pointing at a particular stall amongst the many. The fact that rangers in full uniform were manning it certainly made it stand out.

The cute water type pokemon lining up on the stall to be shot at with little water guns made for neat eye catchers too.

"Pretty cool, huh?"

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

Yuina made an excellent observation.

But to that Doug said:

"Take a closer look." He said, before a small jet of water hit the young woman in the cheek.

Water gun casually pointed at Yuina, the youth gave her a huge grin of the shit-eating variety— the worst kind.

"How about now?" He asked teasingly.

"Sir— At least pay before using the equipment."

...

"Oh."

His grin shrunk the smallest bit, taking on a more sheepish quality as he quickly turned around and placed the gun back on the counter, patting himself for his wallet.

"R-right, sorry! Just a sec!"

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

He fluttered his eyelashes at Yuina.

"I'm Sugary sweet, what'cha mean?" He asked innocently, missing the flat look the ranger behind the counter gave him entirely as the man accepted Yuina's tokens.

"A free shot?" He asked.

Spray.

And sprayed Yuina in the cheek again.

"Like that?" She would need to learn fast if she was to try and fight fire with fire against a seasoned gremlin like Doug.

"Sure! You're on~!"

Amiga!

Meeting Yuina Higashi for the first time.

"You're adorably naive, you know?" He said dryly(in more ways than one), trigger finger itching. He could have taken another freebie... but he had bullied her enough for one evening.

So he pointed the gun away from her instead, letting an eye slip closed as he grinned.

"Fine by me. If you win, I'll pay for your dinner too." He said confidently.

Come now, he was a soldier. He couldn't possibly lose at a shooting game, water guns or not! Just had to... ignore what happened with luka chêne; he had been having an off day, clearly.

There was no way he would regret this.

"But when I win—" He said, before winking her way. "You'll have to hang out with me again some other time. Those terms fine?"