You are walking on one of the many routes in the Hoenn region before a storm sweeps over the path you're on. Looking around yourself, you quickly duck into a nearby hut to take shelter -- to your surprise, you see a man already in the corner of the one-room house.
He runs a hand through his wet ponytail and loosens the string he used to tie his hair together. "Bad weather, isn't it?" he says good-naturedly, and your stance eases as his smile spreads carelessly across his face. "It is indeed rather unpredictable, but it seems that our paths have crossed because of it."
The man rises from his seat and closes the distance, until only a hand separates the both of you.
"Wallace Cesaire, Hoenn Champion. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
---
Once the formalities are over and done with, the both of you seat yourselfs opposite each other at the table, giving each other a respectable distance. The silence has yet to turn awkward before Wallace speaks up. You note that his easy smile is rather disarming.
"I don't suppose you're a trainer yourself?" he starts the conversation off. "I do not discriminate against trainer classes, nor the specialization of people in general. I myself am a coordinator and trainer, as well as a budding writer -- alas, that has gone no-where, for as mighty as the pen is, I am not fit to wield it." A chuckle escapes his throat, and he continues on as if thunder had not streaked through the bleak skies just seconds ago.
"I consider you a friend, as long as we have crossed paths. Fate has uncanny ways of making people meet, and to put it simply -- why make an enemy when you can just as easily make a friend? I love friends; some call me a social butterfly, but I do have moments where I need some time to myself."
He pauses, and looks at you. He seems to wonder if his sudden spiel surprised you, but continues anyway.
"It doesn't matter who you are, or what your class is -- or
anything at all. A friend's a friend, and an enemy, an enemy. I do make sure the both are kept quite clearly apart in my books, but I do hope I have more friends than enemies. You're one of my friends, aren't you?"
Wallace smiles, and the conversation continues as you speak some about yourself -- it would seem that the champion is far more open and willing to speak about himself than the average person, and he does not feel ashamed about his shortcomings, nor does he brag about his strengths.
The conversation continues and dwindles into small talk, before Wallace asks a brazen question.
"Have you ever loved?"
You pause, unsure what to say. You hope that Wallace would pick up the -- indeed he does, and you recoil in relief, internally.
"I have, just once. I like the life of being a couple more than being single, to be rather honest -- oh, look. The sun's out. Peculiar weather."
You aren't sure what to say, and end up agreeing with Wallace's sentiment on the weather. 'Peculiar indeed,' you manage to say, before excusing yourself and leaving the champion to dry his hair in the hut.
