For as packed as the Stunfisk Café in Icirrus City was, the chatter of conversations was comfortably muted.
Perhaps it had something to do with the sound-dampening snow piling up outside, the enveloping warmth of the central fireplace tucked amidst the couches and tables, both, or neither; the atmosphere was still pleasant, cozy. The fragrance of freshly ground coffee and melting chocolate permeated the air, mingling with the cinnamon-scented decor and firewood. Throughout the café, people brushed shoulders and socialized and dined, fully enjoying the luxury of being indoors.
Touya sat alone in a booth by the front window, sipping on a steaming cup of hot chocolate he received moments prior. His drink kept his fingers warm against the cold that emanated from the frosted glass. Admiring the brimming silvery-blue scenery beyond, where snow blanketed the town under a rich gray sky just as it did every winter season, he paid little mind to the other patrons and allowed his mind to wander.
Icirrus City had always been one of his favorite places in Unova to visit during the holidays. After his mothers had made their permanent move to Nuvema Town back when he was too young to remember it, they began a tradition to annually return to the city as both a vacation and a chance for him to experience the culture in another part of Unova- the part that would have been his hometown, had life turned out drastically differently for his family. Even post-adventuring, with everything he had been through and his mothers already having abandoned the habit, Touya still found himself returning to the place at the first sign of snow each year.
It held a lot of familiar comforts for him, comforts he was unwilling to part with so long as he had a say in the matter.
The chiming of a new customer’s arrival shook Touya from his thoughts. He looked up to note their entrance- and had to do a double take at their rather unique appearance. Their outfit wasn’t anything outlandish of course, just being a blue coat and pants suitable for the current weather. No, what caught Touya’s attention was the strikingly sandy hair, the metal goggles resting atop it, and the distinctive scar running across their face.
They seemed… Oddly familiar, though he couldn’t quite place how, or why.
The stranger made their way to the counter on the far side to order, though Touya couldn’t hear them amidst all the other speaking voices. Turning back to his drink - mostly to avoid seeming creepy for staring - Touya brushed the familiarity aside and attempted to put the entire moment behind him.
Not long after, however, their completed order was loudly announced under the name “Wes.”
Wes. Like that Orre guy he heard some talk about, a few years back? Like the guy who, now that he was thinking about it, actually kinda looked like how this guy looked now..?
That certainly re-piqued his interest, to say the least, which was how he noticed Wes’ apparent struggle to find a vacant table or chair to sit at- presumably preferring the shelter of the densely crowded café to the brewing blizzard outside.
Touya, figuring it would be rude to leave the man hanging, raised a hand to flag him down. Upon meeting eyes, he pointed his thumb to the empty booth seat in front of him and raised a questioning eyebrow. Whether it was the same “Wes” he vaguely remembered or not, he looked like he could make for some good - or even just quiet - company.
• living situation: lives alone | lives with parent(s) / guardian | lives with significant other | lives with a friend | drifter | homeless | lives with children | w/ pokemon partners
• things i’ve done before: had alcohol | smoked | stolen | done drugs | self-harmed | starved | had sex | had a threesome | had a one-night stand | gotten into a fist fight | gone to hospital | gone to jail | used a fake ID | played hooky | gone to a rave | killed someone | had someone try to kill them
Late spring is prime grounds for challengers – as the ones Cheren often saw were of school age, who traveled the region between their designated breaks.
In this period, it was not uncommon to see challengers in every hour of the day. But as any Gym Leader in Unova did, he had set his own hours; he was certain that there would be Trainers willing to challenge him at midnight if he allowed it. He would end his hours at five in the evening; this would give him enough daylight hours to cook a warm meal and do anything else that he needed to do.
But as his luck should have it – as this happened every once in awhile – someone enters the Gym moments prior to its closing. From across the arena, it’s impossible to make out the Trainer in question. But either way, Cheren isn’t having it.
You can’t realistically have an officiated battle in two minutes.
Nope! Just not possible.
Hopefully, this isn’t one of those Trainers that believes otherwise.
❝ Sorry, the Gym is now closed! You can come back tomorrow, or if you prefer, you can make an appointment online or by calling the Gym during its operating hours. ❞
It had taken a long time to reach Aspertia City on foot, but with the pleasant spring weather--only recently beginning to make its transition into summer--Touya had to admit he enjoyed the chance to travel across Unova again.
Walking up the steps to the city’s trainer school and Gym, he checked the time on his Xtransceiver; almost 5 o’clock, the time Cheren should be closing up shop for the day. Touya felt a little bad showing up so late, especially with how he knew Cheren liked punctuality and keeping to his schedules, so he hoped the visit after could make up for it.
He had missed his friend after months--maybe more--of not talking to him in person, after all.
Touya strolled through the school portion and onto the Gym field out back, admiring the place as he went. Though this was his first time visiting, it still felt familiar in the sense that he could tell Cheren had had a hand in designing it, without a doubt. The reminder that his friend had succeeded at becoming a Gym Leader, to him, was always a welcome one.
Noticing Cheren on the other side of the arena--and hearing the misunderstanding--Touya picked up his pace to reach him, crossing the ground with quick strides.
“Is the Gym still closed to an old friend?” Touya asked, only somewhat teasingly, and tipped his hat to Cheren with a small smile.
“I hope this isn’t too inconvenient of a time. I just got into the city, so I figured it’d be alright to drop in and say hi.”
Good morning everyone~. If you’re interested in plotting [in DM or on Discord] for a new thread with Touya or just want a closed/open starter, feel free to like/reply to this post or hmu on DM. (⌐■v■)b
