George
"Well not that expensive when your dad has his own garden". Applin followed Hatterene, figuring she made a friend. Mallow smiled, "Well that's good", she began to softly pet her Steenee, "This one has a preference for sour things, Shiinotic will only eat meats, and Applin over there who seems to like your Hatterene will only eat sweet berries, but they're all fairly polite about it".
William
"Mmm." He seems indifferent. "Where did you get your Applin?" He asks a bit absently, given he knew they weren't local to Alola. It seemed like a simple enough question, though he was slightly worried it would delve into more personal topics. Oh well, too late to rescind the question now.
George
As she heard the question, she got red and began twirling some of her hair. "Y-you see, t-there's this girl I'm dating named Lillie, a-and she studies abroad in Galar...", she carefully held her Applin with a smile. "And the first time she came home from Galar... S-she gave me Applin... She told me that in Galar, giving someone an Applin is an expression of eternal love".

As she heard the question, she got red and began twirling some of her hair. "Y-you see, t-there's this girl W-who's my friend, a-and she studies abroad in Galar...", she carefully held her Applin with a smile. "And the first time she came home from Galar... S-she gave me Applin... For when she left a-and I missed her".
William
His eyebrows shot up. "Did she catch it herself?" He had heard plenty of times how people would marry the person who gave them an Applin- it wasn't really a small thing to do. How sweet, he supposed. Hatterene glared at Mallow, becoming tense, to which Bede shot her a warning look for. He pulled out Hatterene's ball and offered it to the Pokémon- he didn't want Hatterene to get uncomfortable. Hatterene accepted, returning to her ball.
George
Mallow got more embarrassed as she watched Hatterene's glare, aware of how Hatterenes get around strong emotions. She was well aware of the Applin meaning so she wanted to quickly change topics. "S-so umm... Ever been outside of Galar?"
William
"If the Isles of Armor count, then yes, but if not... Up until now, no." He puts his hands in his pockets, Sylveon fast asleep on his shoulders. "It tends to be too expensive. Unless I'm needed, I don't see the point in leaving Galar." He glances away. "I'm only here because Opal made me come." Sylveon stirs, giving Bede's cheek an affectionate half-asleep rub. He pulls his left hand back out of his pocket and starts giving Sylveon pets again.
George
"Well the point of going to another region is just for fun", Mallow began petting her Applin. "It's nice to have a little change of scenery and get a little break from working and training, and I'd know". While she loved to cook, the restaurant business was a tough one full of rush hours and rude customers.
William
"I have plenty of *Fun* At home or at the Gym. And given the Gym Challenge season, I get plenty of breaks, too. I don't see the point in leaving to go to a new place with new expectations." He says flatly, staring down at her. "I can learn plenty about other regions from books and online, too. There's no point." Sylveon gives a sleepy purr, rubbing up against his face more actively. He scratches under her chin, resulting in a very content face from the Sylveon.
George
Mallow got a little worried for him when he said 'Expectations'. "Well there's only so much you can learn like that, it's always better to actually go there and see it for yourself, hasn't there ever been something you've always wanted to see? Or someone you've always wanted to meet?". Mallow herself had a great interest in meeting the Kalosian Chef Siebold.
William
"No." Was his flat response. It wasn't completely untrue, either. He was interested in the fairy and psychic Pokémon of other regions, sure, but otherwise he wasn't exactly interested in meeting new people. It was hard enough to understand and deal with the people he *Already* Knew. And after travelling almost all of Galar for the Gym Challenge, he had decided the only way it was enjoyable to interact with strangers or new people were in battles.
George
"Oh...", Mallow was genuinely surprised, she figured there must have been somewhere. "Are there any favorite places in Galar you go to a lot?". Mallow slowly became a little more concerned for him, sure they'd only just met, but she couldn't just walk away from him if he had some troubles.
William
"Ballonlea, obviously. And the Gym Championship is in Wyndon." He hums in thought, tilting his head to the side. "I explore the Glimwood Tangle, of course- and the Slumbering Weald, on occasion. Why? What does it matter?" Sylveon nips at his ear and he pulls her off of his shoulders, holding her gently in his arms. She uses his chest as support to continue rubbing up against his cheeks.
George
"It matters because I just want to make sure you're okay", she sounded genuine. For once her smile faded and she genuinely wanted to help this person, her Applin also looked at him concerned. She got up so she wasn't in the position of his student.
William
He frowns at that. "Okay? Why should you care, either? I'm not about to spill all my troubles to some bloody stranger." He snaps, clutching Sylveon a bit closer to himself. "Nor is it your business to pry." He was fine with casual conversations, but someone getting concerned over him felt *Wrong.* Nothing was wrong, and he didn't want them asking!