W a n d e r l u s t

      “Exploring ruins is what I do best. This facility currently holds a lot of interest with me. You see....” he trails, curling fingers beneath his chin before all seriousness fades away. Maybe he can get just what this guy is looking for out in the air by sounding just as much of a hopeless and naive child as some people make him out to be. “I’m looking for something to impress my girlfriend! She really has been having a hard time lately so I wanted to find her something nice. This seems like the perfect place. No one comes here and she just loves sunken treasure. I have to find her something impressive as she’s absolutely obsessed with items involving legendary Pokemon.” He laughs, rubbing at the back of his head while hoping Petrel completely buys the story. 

      He should. The only ‘girlfriend’ he knows obsessed with legends around Hoenn is Melanie. She’ll kill me if she knows I’m talking about her like this. 

      To involve another Champion from a different region. It must be fairly serious. He nods his head to dismiss her guide and focuses his attention on Cynthia once more. He notices just how over the top she starts behaving and refrains from chuckling at how firm her handshake is and how aware she suddenly is that she must be kept from suspicion. Don’t try too hard now, Cynthia. He can’t help but think before he’s taken by the arm and pulled in for more quiet conversation. 

      “Anything for you, Cyn.” He keeps his voice calm and slightly lower than usual, and with her arm in his he leads her down the hallway, past several rooms until they reach one he had stopped in earlier. 

      It’s dark inside, a simple storage closet that he accesses with a swipe of his card. He knows it’s safe there, out of view from cameras and people alike. Once inside he shuts the door behind him and pulls out his PokeNav to provide some light in the close knit space. 

      It seems as if someone’s already here. His thoughts preoccupy him as he approaches a figure before the temple, not being able to make much out due to the snow and persistent fog. It’s not until he’s upon the figure that he recognizes her and is quick to greet her with the politest of smiles. 

      “Melanie, what could possibly bring you here? Are you taking a liking to exploring temples now?” He lifts his hand to his chest and bows slightly in greeting, keeping it impossibly formal between them as usual. He straightens after a moment and steps up alongside her, peering down into the depths of the temple. “I hope you didn’t wear heels in this, inside the floors are lined with ice.” Finally he breaks all formalities by teasing her, remembering a time when she entered a cave with heels on and nearly injured herself in the process in her hurry to prove a point to him. 

      He fusses with his suit, trying to keep calm, but around Wallace it was so easy to get carried away. He has a certain flair to him and it’s enough to rouse Steven’s rather boyish nature when he’s alone with him.  There’s no one to impress around Wallace, no, he can just be himself and be appreciated for who he is. In a way he feels safe around his best friend and most of all, normal. There’s not a shred of responsibility that he owes him and there’s just a large amount of trust shared between them. 

      “Are you sure you won’t consider Sinnoh? The people there are nice and you’ve never gotten to see snow before! Your ice rink of a gym doesn’t count!” He teases further, knowing Wallace simply detests the cold. He chuckles at the look he’s giving him and carefully lifts his hands as if to give in to his idea of Alola. “If I took you there would you want to come back, I wonder?” He’s only been to Alola for business trips regarding Devon and hasn’t gotten to spend much time exploring-- or as much as he’d like to. 

      He makes his way into the cafe and takes a seat at their favorite table. He doesn’t even need to look over a menu to know what he wants and when Wallace asks for the tickets he simply smiles at him, as if to say what tickets? It’s only a jest and once again he pulls them out, turns them over in his hands before presenting them to Wallace.