you never did fancy the idea of being shackled by lineage.[break][break]

that isn’t to say that you didn’t love your family, though, of course. born and raised in rustboro— and alongside a number of other siblings, nonetheless. business was always a familiar topic and a spot of expertise for you, but within the wake of your elder siblings, you always figured that you’d have a bit more leniency. after all, while there were a few of you—the kids, that is—there was only really room for one heir to the company. no hard feelings of course, though. never any hard feelings.[break][break]

genuinely. really.[break]
you just figured there wouldn’t ever be a hitch in the plans.[break][break]

there were several siblings older than yourself; one of which seemed to separate from the family earlier on (you don’t really recall much of the reasons, truthfully), with alexander being next in line to inherit the company. growing up, you followed his and the others’ footsteps. it was only natural, of course. not like you could do much else until you were a bit older, anyways.[break][break]

when you were older, though, you set off on your own path. you’d mentioned that you already planned to do as much a few times in the past, but it really wasn’t until you made your way to unova that you really, truly hit that nail in the coffin for sure. leonidas jayce stone; a young man of the lineage, yet looking to make a name for himself, rather than following along with the others. you were a bird not snared; a free spirit paving the way for yourself. while tech and the like had been a common point in your family, you took a different direction in your studies, and after leveraging your name and experience throughout your schooling, you’d eventually started a company of your own.[break][break]

eventide.[break][break]

all things considered, it was—is—your magnum opus. what started as an indie company quickly grew into something much, much more—overwhelmingly so, in the beginning—thanks to connections and other things. much like the core of your family, there was always something about technology that fascinated you— but rather than delving into the avenues of entertainment or general appliances, you’d found yourself enraptured by the world of experimentalism. what could you accomplish through robotics? the work of a tinkerer? how many inventions could you invent for the benefit of others? how many lives could you possibly save with the right devices and connections?[break][break]

you yearned to figure out the answers to those questions yourself, so you kept to your studies and craft with utmost care. [break][break]

between degrees in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, you used what you learned in order to work with specialists and other technicians and begin the process of creating various prototypes with the hope of eventually releasing them to the public.[break][break]

studies. drafts. tapping on connections; expanding on builds; bringing your plans on paper into the real, living world. the cycle kept going, and with each prospective device produced and lent out to other companies, the more your efforts and results kept on going. the life of a workaholic was one you embraced quite well and quite quickly, creating the front of a steadfast and dedicated worker in the eyes of your employees. driven by nothing short of pure curiosity and hopes for the future, you forged on, and on, and on.[break][break]

and then the past caught up with you.

although your free time was always fleeting and kept beneath a vice grip, you always did do your best to contact your family whenever possible. it wasn’t like you forgot them, after all, and if anything, you always felt bad for not having the time to be around. ironically enough, you’d thought about paying them a visit just before you’d received news of your brother’s passing.[break][break]

you were shocked.[break]
it was one of the few times you dropped everything in an instant.[break][break]

the funeral was solemn for obvious reasons. the reality of it all took a while to sink in for you, and it was already some time after returning to unova that it seemed to fully settle in— and with it, the anxiety of taking everything you knew for granted. you always knew that mortality was something everyone had to face, but just like the masses, you always assumed you wouldn’t have to deal with it until later in life. you were unprepared. you were shaken.[break][break]

and so in the midst of it all, you took the initiative.[break][break]

you placed the supervision of the home branch of eventide in the hands of a close and trusted friend and employee—one of the first you’d welcomed into your inner circle—before making the executive decision of opening another branch in hoenn. plans were made swiftly, just as the location and construction of the new building had been. you moved in quickly; a native in foreign lands after so many years.[break][break]

you were here to build your empire.[break]
you were here to rebuild your bonds.[break][break]

you were here to make sure more precious, precious time wasn’t wasted, but then, well… it just so happened that your beloved home had other plans.[break][break]

you really don’t remember when hoenn became such a shitshow, to be perfectly honest. by the time you returned, there were already rumors on the wind and tragedies that befell the region. you got caught in the middle of it by what was arguably your own volition each time, savior complex be damned. you got trapped. got caught in a war that you still don’t remember much of, and have little to speak for it, save for a dormant ring.[break][break]

to this day, you’re still processing everything, admittedly enough. at some point following the calamities, work happened to call your attention back to the main branch of eventide. you were conflicted about leaving for a number of reasons, but ultimately, you did what you had to do. maybe leaving was what you needed, anywho. seeing old, familiar sights. being away from the other states of the world. something related to normalcy to give you the breath of fresh air that you needed in the aftermath of it all.[break][break]

so, you breathed it all in. did what you had to do. came back, even then.[break]
rinse and repeat.