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Trainer gently prodded a small snowball with his foot, rolling it along so it could gather. He had strayed from the path to indulge in making a snowman. He had the time, though he didn't want to bother to hurting his hands from the cold.
He could hear the sound of snow crunching from behind. Footsteps, and then- oh, they slipped. When Trainer turned, he saw Tourist behind him, gazing right back. He gave a wave, not really all that surprised.
"Oh. It's you."
"Is that all you're going to say." That didn't really sound like a question as he got closer.
"You're not 'not-welcome' so there's that, at least."
Interestingly enough, Tourist didn't respond. Though he rolled his eyes, he remained, even bending down to scoop up some of the powdery fluff and shaping it into a ball. He threw it at the wall behind Trainer, barely missing him. His head whipped around to glance at the splat, before turning back to the orange-clad man.
"Was that supposed to hit me?"
"No?" Tourist responded, as though the question sounded stupid. "If I wanted it to, it would've."
Trainer gave him a strange look but didn't press it further, arguing with the other variant would give him a headache. He kicked the misshapen snowball a bit too hard, causing a third of it to break off.
Tourist kneeled to make another ball, not really seeming to care how it reddened his skin. He watched, then cleared his throat. It was a bit awkward for them to just stand around here outside like this, and besides, Tourist usually wasn't against conversation anyway. He wasn't that impolite.
"So, uh. Did it ever snow? Where you used to live, I mean."
"Probably." He angled the snowball upwards, perhaps trying to hit the highest point of the wall. "Never paid attention."
"Really?"
"Yes. It'd be a stupid thing to lie about."
"Okay, but you've also lied about really small things."
"So? Like you just said, it's never about anything important."
"Ugh, nevermind." Leave it be, Trainer. He might be trying to start something. The effort did seem kind of half-hearted. "Why couldn't you go out?"
"I don't understand why you're trying to learn more about me." Tourist snapped, throwing the snowball pretty hard. This time, it made loud THUMP! against the wall, though it wasn't that close to Trainer. "Am I just that suspicious to a certain Guide? Did Archivist ask about me? Did you make a bet on something?"
"No, no." He sighed. Really, talking with him could be tiring. "I'm just curious, it's in my nature. You know that. Besides, we're not enemies or something, why wouldn't I want to know more about you? Please."
Tourist made a confused expression before rolling his eyes yet again.
"Fine, but it's because you almost have the manners to ask me." Instead of creating another snowball, he moved to stand next to Trainer, side-eyeing him. "Don't expect me to tell you my deepest secrets."
"Of course not." He removed his fedora to shake off some of the snowflakes that had started to gather. "I'll ask again. Why couldn't you go out?"
"My job."
"Which is?"
"It always kept me extremely busy." Trainer raised a brow. "Nearly had to be in two places at once, for two different purposes."
"That's a little vague. No, hold on," he quickly added, before the other could argue. "That's fine. You don't want to talk about it?"
"I don't, no. I hated it." He continued to look straight ahead.
"Okay. Uh, well, at least you don't have to do it anymore, right?" He tried to smile. "Since… you're not there. You're right here."
"Something like that." Tourist crossed his arms, leaning his back against the wall. "But I did lose a lot to get here. I'm still deciding if it was worth it after all."
To be frank, Trainer had no idea what that meant, and he wasn't sure if asking about it would be a good idea. He said nothing for a few pauses, in hopes that Tourist would get lost in his thoughts and elaborate on it a little more, but it never happened. Oh well. He tucked his hands in his pockets.
"I… didn't know that, but you're not alone. Y'know. A lot of us have lost things important to us too, which is why I think you've gotta be more patient with the others." He was about to interject again. "Hey- hold on, I know you don't 'take orders from other people' or whatever, but I'm just asking a favor."
The man next to him didn't respond, but it was clear he was listening.
"Have you ever built a snowman, Tourist?"
"Nope."
"Would you like to help me? I'd like to see if you can roundhouse-kick its head off."