"Thanks again for the lift." Andreas spoke, looking out the back window of the pickup, he examined his Pokémon sitting in the back, conversing among themselves. He looked back, eyes locked onto the road ahead Andreas twiddled his thumbs unsure of what to say if anything. He turned to look at the driver, an old man with a frail build, despite his appearance he was obviously a strongman, probably a lot stronger than Andreas too he'd bet.

"It's no problem!" The old man chirped taking his eyes off the road, "I was going this way anyway and when I stopped, I knew you were alright." The man driving brought his attention back to the road, pursing his lips. He found it odd that the lad didn't seem to make much conversation. He'd shared few and far words in between the whole journey. "There's some great looking Pokémon you got there."

"Thanks." Andreas uttered again, he noticed the driver glancing at the pokéball in the boys bag. [i]Poliwag... If only I thought you wouldn't try run off.[/i] He frowned but his trail of thought was interrupted by the driver once more.

"What's that Pokémon in the ball?" The old man asked, his gaze drifting between the bag and the road trying to spark some kind of conversation.

"It's a Poliwag, but it was abandoned by it's last owner and doesn't seem to trust anybody." The old man smiled as he'd finally gotten more than a couple of words out of him.

"You can call me AJ." Andreas looked at AJ for a moment, "I'm Andreas." He spoke through a thin smile as he looked out on his Pokémon once more. 

[i][b]"We're here!"[/b][/i]

[hr] 

Andreas had grown hungry far before lunch time, so the all out picnic for competitors and spectators alike had been a sight for sore eyes and stomachs. The young trainer's plate was stacked with so much it looked fit to collapse, his eyes as big as his stomach as he made his way along the tables. 

“Can you hand me that scooper?”

He looked at the girl he had come shoulder to shoulder with a blank expression, a plate of food stacked high in one hand, his other dangerously close to hers. Taking a step aside Andreas picked up the serving spoon, "Yeah, sure." He spoke and handed it out for her. "Here you are." He scooted around her other side and continued to look at the food, glancing momentarily back at the girl before adding to the plate.