The corners of Xavion's lips curve downward ever so slightly as he observes the Professor. NPCs glitching aren't exactly foreign territory to him, but it strikes him as something to file away for later, even if everyone else is more focused on their proclaimed "Rivals". It speaks to the attention to detail of the people who built this virtual reality... or the lack thereof. If their quality control failed to notice something this early in the game, something fundamental that every player would experience, rather than some unlikely corner case... that doesn't bode well. Assuming they even bothered with quality control. After all, these are the same people who left every last soul but four to die on this doomed rock. Will it really make a difference to them if none survive, instead of four? Perhaps they'll just tell themselves that no one left is good enough to be deserving of a new life.<br/><br/>Well. This isn't his first time playing a broken game. It won't be his first time<em>beating</em>a broken game, either, or turning it to his advantage.<br/><br/>As for his so-called rival... well. Laconic as she is, she doesn't seem like a shy, wilting wallflower. No, she seems confident... Good. Some people play games to build connections with others, and most people find that connection in their teammates. For Xavion, there's nothing so exhilarating as a rival, someone to test and hone his skill against. What few memories he has left of any teammates he may have once played with are dull, barely worth revisiting... but the memories of his rivalries are among the most precious.<br/><br/>It isn't long before the game starts in earnest, though, and Xavion finally smiles as it's announced that between him and Charlize, he'll be the one choosing not only his own starter... but, in a way, hers, as well. He even flashes her a wink before closing the distance between himself and the Starter Pokemon. If she loathes him? All the better. Which will she be, he wonders, the kind of rival that burns hot, or the cold and calculated type? Well, he'll find out soon, if the game doesn't glitch and abruptly deviate from the script they're all familiar with.<br/><br/>There isn't a<em>right</em>choice, isn't an optimal choice at this point. Whatever they pick now will be a foundation, a staring point a team could be built around. Most of them were at least serviceable, but given stat spreads and movepools, some picks are more versatile than others. Though he's briefly tempted to take a fire type – those tend to be more difficult to acquire in the early game than water types or grass types – in the end he chooses Froakie. Greninja is OU tier for a reason – it's versatile enough that even once in play, an opponent can never be quite sure what tricks it will have up its sleeve.<br/><br/>"I hope you like Chespin, Charlize."