[ god, what a trainwreck. lance never really hard a normal childhood with the whole "go into an ice cave and think about what you've done" thing his grandfather made him do, but he's also never been one to suddenly lose control once he's had a taste of freedom.

but, then, blue has never been good at self-discipline. though he has gotten better, with the gym. sort of.

he also doesn't believe blue stopped with a simple taste test at the prospect of a lake full of liquor, but he lets it go, for now. ]

I visited the lake, but didn't wade into it. [ wading into lakes without knowing what's in them is a Bad Idea, but he supposes blue just has a different life view than he does. ] But with that information, sending Gyarados into the lake seems like a bad idea, yes. [ gyarados is a handful on his own, let alone . . . an intoxicated gyarados. what a mess.

but blue had asked a question, and so lance straightens back into standing, crossing his arms over his chest. ]

The Johto League had just closed. I was packing to travel and eradicate the rest of Team Rocket from Johto and Kanto's shores. [ you know, just lance things. ] You were in Viridian City, and Red on Mount Silver. As far as I knew.

[ but those two brats don't tell him anything, clearly, bunch of weirdos. but as lance watches blue carefully, he tilts his head slightly, narrowing his eyes as he takes in blue. and for a moment, it looks like he's going to same something remarkably profound . . . ]

You grew.

[ you're no longer the short(er) angry kid, he's proud(?). ]