[i]What?[/i]

Desmond turned his head as he heard another new voice; Blinking at the sight of the girl and her Pokemon. Oh, man... He hadn't mentally prepared himself for this much; First Ramona, then Yui appearing out of nowhere, and now someone was challenging him to a battle moments after he just named his Pokemon? He laughed nervously, sweat on his brow as he contemplated a response. Thankfully Yui was introducing herself, giving him a moment to think.

[i]" A b-battle? With [b]me?[/b] "[/i] He questioned meekly, not getting time to continue processing it as [i]another[/i] trainer approached. She wanted to battle, too?! Well, at the very least, Desmond wasn't going to have to worry about a double battle: Yui made it clear she had nothing more than an egg, meaning that he was still stuck in this situation of battling one on one.  He wasn't ready for this; How could he be? He just managed to [i]pet[/i] Fluff for the first time, how were they supposed to battle together? 

[i]Awh, Arceus, I don't know what I'm doing. There's so many people, I feel boxed in...[/i] Desmond thought to himself, having simply kept a smile through the conversation with eyes that made him look like he might've been dying inside. He was internally screaming at the whole situation, but externally he was perfectly quiet until he realized names were being thrown around again. 

[sub][i]" Oh, I-I'm Desmond. Hello. "[/i][/sub]

His voice was quiet, he sunk into his jacket somewhat, obviously closing what cool he had to begin with. 

That's when [b]yet. another. person. showed. up.[/b]

The man was taller; An adult compared to him, for sure. He seemed to be attracting the attention for the moment, so Desmond took an opportunity to look away and deeply inhale, then exhale, before he ended up stress vomiting off the side of the ship. Fluff glared up at him, and shook her head with disappointment, knowing her trainer wasn't going to get her anywhere.

Maybe this man; Wallace, a Gym Leader, was just talking to Yui and be on his way? Desmond got a breather, he could survive a little longer. Just... Battle this girl and her dog, and then maybe things would calm down?

[b]"And yet already they are ready to battle?"[/b]

[sub][i]Nooo....[/i][/sub]

[b]"No no this will never do! You three are quite old enough to be learning a few proper rules for Pokemon battling."[/b]

[i]No, no, nooo....[/i]

[b]"There will be no ugly little fistfights between Pokemon if I have any say in it!"[/b]

[i]Thank arceus--[/i]

[b]"Before any of that though--"[/b]

[h3][i]NOOOOOOOO[/i][/h3]

Desmond offered a small bow of respect once he heard the man was a Gym Leader: They were highly competent trainers, especially compared to most of the people on this boat. [i]" I-It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. "[/i] He said, trying to keep his composure. Meanwhile Fluff was glaring up at the Growlithe, waving a paw at the Fire-Type as if telling it to [b]bring it on.[/b]