DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

He snorted and smirked, crouching in front of her before leaning his head on a fist.

"Most folk are acquainted with Hoenn's Top Champion, yes." He informed her teasingly, before winking. "Though I do know the guildmaster a lil' better than most."

Not a whole lot but he oft got the impression kyle lopez wasn't super interested in sharing anyway.

His smile sobered into a humming line as he stood back up, patting off his trousers.

"Well, yeah." He said simply to the AQUA allegations mention. "I did sign the contract, for better or worse."

Back then it seemed like a no brainer; he wanted to fight anyway and they wanted to pay him extra to do it? No brainer indeed— after the Galar fiasco, he wasn't sure there was enough money in Silph Co.'s stocks to make him sign it twice.

He cradled his chin in his hands as she apologized, shrugging his shoulders somewhat apathetically.

"Don't need to explain yerself; I don't mind. It would be weirder if ya could just take it all in stride." He mused.

How jaded were he and the rest of the AQUA personnel to just look at everything that happened in Hoenn on a monthly basis and just accept it for what it was?

"Ya don't have to jump into every mess, ya know?" He pointed after a moment, holding out a hand to help her back up. "Even I miss a tango or two every once in a while."

On ocassion, Gwyar needed some spotlight he was told hold his position or assist from afar. He used to hate those moments, but nowadays he appreciated them...

Provided news of Hideo Kino or Eris Halla running around the mess didn't reach his ears beforehand.

DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

"Haaah... I can see why ya feel that way.." He sighed, dragging his hand through his hair.

But they couldn't' be sure if getting into the mess that was Hoenn's frontline would help out with her memories at all.

It was a much more proactive approach, though.

And apparently, it had already given some results.

He paid rapt attention to her, enthralled by her story... but event then.

"What? Where?" He asked her blankly, for once stepping into her shoes.

Because now he didn't know what she was talking about.

It sounded vaguely familiar— as in, so vaguely it could've literally been anything he had heard before. Given the context, though...

"... Ya thinking ya got caught in a time displacement?"

DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

These were... genuinely shocking news.

Several folk had been caught up inside distortions in the past— he had to hear of anyone living inside one. Usually, one would experience accelerated aging at worse.

This... This meant Yuina was...!

"You're a time traveler?" He said, with perhaps a little more awe than was perfectly appropriate, given the tone of the discussion...

His hands fell over her shoulders... before he began to shake her vigorously.

"Um. HOLY CRAP?" He said firmly, eyes wide. "Isn't this huge for you? That's a big ass detail to remember 'bout yerself, ya know!?"

To others, Yuina might've had sounded a bit crazy or deranged, fanatical or strange perhaps— But Doug had been day 1 ride or die for chryssa glasgow.

The man was nothing if not willing to support the most unhinged sounding takes with 100% faith.

And so far, history had proven him right to do so.

"Did ya recall anything else?" He asked. "Hmm... So Yuina was a name given to ya in... uh... Hisui, was it? Yuina Higashi..."

Higashi meant 'east' in old Kantonian— Yuina could mean several things, depending on how it was written— but then, that was assuming the people of hisui and the ancient people of kanto used the same language and dialects....

"Have you been lookin' into distortions?" He asked excitedly.

DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

He flicked Yuina in the nose halfway through her self-defeating spiel.

"Says who?" He asked bluntly.

There was a limit to how long he could watch a friend tear themselves down before he slapped them and set them right. His friends would not be harmed— even by themselves.

"Listen hard, and listen well, cadet." He said. "I don't know any other 'you'. I only know you. Yuina Higashi."

His hands fell back to his hips as he gave her a bright grin.

"And I am glad. Glad and Happy I met Yuina Higashi. Happy I met you. So does everyone that's gotten to know you in the past year." He said. "And so does everyone whom Yuina Higashi, ranger and volunteer, has helped in this crazy, mad place we call Hoenn."

He lips pursed, head craning back as he squinted at her and huffed.

"I can't fault you for wanting to know your past— I can't say I understand, but I can empathize nonetheless. And I'll help you all the way, no questions asked... BUT." " He raised a hand, pointing it at Yuina's nose and poking gently. "I won't hear any slander about you— even from yourself."

He grinned, winking.

"Keep it up and I'll make ya run a dozen more miles, cadet."

DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

His eyes softened somewhat, his hand twitching as he slowly pulled it away from her cute nose.

He had almost cradled her cheek there... Good thing he caught himself before the intrusive thoughts won.

"Haah. But then, what will happen when I'm not?" He wondered, leaning his head to one side briefly before reaching around her to grab her weighty bag, hoisting it over his shoulder.

"Guess I'll just have to stick around ya more often." He said, holding out his hand to her and grinning. "Hope ya won't mind the company, cadet."

DAGM20

With Cadet Yuina Higashi

Despite his seemingly inert smile, his eyelids widened slightly, warmth suddenly tingling at his cheeks as he took her... everything in.

"... W-wow. That's a hella of'a throw back." He noted with a trembling smile, cheeks flushing slightly red as he scratched at them. "But... yeah. You won't."

He looked away whilst scratching his cheek, unwilling to let the cadet see too much.

"B-but anyway, we ain't done'ere just yet, cadet." He quickly reminded her, turning back, still somewhat red faced, to wink her way. "Let's see if ya can still say that after today."

Just ignore the obvious flush of his cheeks. On to the next training ground!