Who is he?
Grisham is the more softer-spoken co-owner of Lumiose City's small but famed Nouveau Café, a café
dedicated
to providing warm drinks for the unfortunate and forgotten. As his *sister is more quick to be
irritated, Grisham is not too
far from her, just as quick to ease her flames and remind her of their shared goal: to protect the
people of Lumiose City.
Grisham and Griselle were both born into Team Flare, raised under the leadership of Lysandre, they
grew
to believe and breathe the values of Team Flare: saving the world.
Despite these honorable goals, the two watched their Team fall into dishevel as their leader fell
into
ruin under the wisps of power held from the ultimate weapon crafted by AZ.
With the ruin that followed, Grisham and Griselle were left hated by society from their status as
Team
Flare members, left abandoned despite the atrocities they faced themselves growing up
in such an environment.
His Team
Over time, the both of them overcame it little by little, managing to craft a café. With the help of
Grisham's partner Pokémon, his Charizard, the two ran Nouveau Café with the hopes one day of
outrunning
their past.
For Grisham, while his resentment may not be as apparent as Griselle's, this does not mean it
doesn't
exist. If anything, taking the time to chat
with him will reveal more about his personality than just the quiet barista you may have mistaken
him
for.
More than anything, Grisham wants to be reaccepted into society, he wants his past wiped. Even
before he
fights for A-rank, Grisham
refuses battle. This promotion match isn't just another Pokémon battle for Grisham, this is his
evidence
of how far he's fought
for his wish to be true. For Lumiose City to reopen its arms to him. He wants his opponent to truly
understand what this promotion match means to him,
to understand what this match means to his opponent. This promotion match decides if his dream is
even
possible.
But what Grisham misses and learns after his match, is that he's already been working towards his
wish.
Erasing his history as part of Team Flare
won't help him because his history there and what he learned there is what crafted him into the
individual he is today. That same history he resents is what
taught him to want to change the world for the better, to change himself for the better.
This promotion match he had been climbing and fighting for, the A-rank he fought tooth and nail for,
working through pain and grit for Lumiose's recognition of him, this promotion match
shows him exactly how to make his wish come true. Be a better version of himself.
He can't change his past. He can't force the citizens of Lumiose City to forgive him.
But he can be better. Better than who he was five years ago. Better than who he was a week ago.
Better
than he was yesterday.
He can be himself.
And find that his wish can come true. Without the help of the RoyaleZA. Without Zygarde. Without
being
defined for he was.
But with being himself.
The Boss of Team Flare Nouveau may be rumored to have a dark past, but another glance would reveal a
fiery heart that cares deeply for the city he serves.
An Ember Roast to go?
I love him...
I love this guy a very normal amount. So normal.
If my insane ramble about him above didn't mean anything.
To note, no, I never played Pokemon Black and White LOL I'm not really a Pokemon guy myself. I
didn't
even intend to play Pokemon Legends ZA, but
I bought it for my sister and would watch her play. Ironically, Grisham didn't speak to me much at
first, he was just another character with a kinda nice design.
But his story, especially in such a strong contrast to someone like AZ in this game, genuinely did
speak
to me.
Grisham wants a clean slate, he wants to be welcomed back into society. And that's why he fights so
hard
in the matches. This guy who owns a little café that cares for the bottom
of Lumiose City, he just wants to be apart of the city that he loves. It's not fair to him that his
leader gets to ruin things, AZ gets to create such an awful weapon and receive aid from others,
where's
his fairness, where was aid for him and his sister? Grisham doesn't even truly resent the city or
it's
people, he still loves Lumiose City, even after everything, he wants to win this Royale so he can
save the city. He wants AZ's floette so he can use it to protect the city. Even after being
outcasted,
more than anything, he still wants to the see how beautiful world can be.
And in the end, Grisham undergoes one of the most beautiful character arcs I've seen: he accepts
that
his past can't be changed, he accepts that there are people
who will never forgive him for he was, who will never want to understand his past, understand who he
is
now, he accepts that Zygarde does not choose him. He accepts all of that not only gracefully, but
with a
genuine smile.
Because he no longer wants his past to be a shackle for his current self, he wants to better himself
because he wants to better Lumiose.
And it's not just empty words from Grisham, his actions in-game show this as well in how he and
Griselle
aid the player against dangerous Mega Evolved Pokemon, and later show their
support when the player has to battle Ylvetal.
Grisham learns not only to accept his past, but to how to use it to be better. To be a better
version of
himself.
I absolutely adore Grisham's character arc, his personality as well as his design. He's a good
contrast
to someone like AZ honestly, who, what, made four kids do all his work and then die? Okay LOL
Grisham is a proper good character of someone with a cursed past moving past it in an honest manner,
someone who learns to accept who he was, someone who's words are as strong as his actions.
Someone who genuinely cares for Lumiose City, unlike other characters who died in this game LOL!!!!
To note, I really love Grisham and what he represents. I am normal about him. Here were my first
thoughts about him to my sister immediately after she finished the game.
Quotes
-
Well, isn't this entertaining!
-
The truth is, I'm one of the top-ranked Trainers in the Z-A Royale, the foremost Trainer in Rank B... and the boss of Team Flare Nouveau. Yes, you found me. Grisham at your service.
-
The world has not been kind or forgiving toward those of us who were a part of Team Flare.
-
I'm afraid it's all too understandable—sad though it is—that some harden their hearts in response, like Griselle here has done.
-
I'd say it's time for a little coffee break.
-
Honestly, it's laughable! My apologies. I imagine you don't know how to respond to such an unexpected outpouring. And of course you might not even believe a word I've said.
-
Open sesame!
-
His ideals, the care he showed for us all... If I threw them aside now, I don't know who I'd be.
-
Please take care of Prism Tower and our city.
-
If you have need of us, we will come to your aid. After all, Nouveau exists in order to help others, so we can make the world beautiful together.
-
I may have been defeated... I may have been found unworthy of becoming Zygarde's Trainer... But I'll build a life that shows these things aren't what define me.
-
I will never be able to outrun my connection to Team Flare. Nor can I change those who will never forgive Team Flare for what happened five years ago. What I can control is what I do next. I will protect the people of this city. No matter what they may think of me.
-
Perhaps it's true wanting something too much clouds the vision, sending one down paths that lead only to defeat.
-
Even if my youth was all ash and ruin, it wasn't wasted! Let's light this world on fire, Charizard!
Headcanons
I'm honestly not much for headcanons but if I ever think of more, I'll slowly add to this list
- Unless I'm forgetting, Griselle and Grisham's relationship is never specified in-game or anywhere as of me writing this. With that, I personally headcanon the both of them to be siblings, hence the asterisk when I refer to Griselle as his sister. Specifically, I headcanon Grisham as about 1-2 years older than Griselle.
- Grisham identifies as a woman, but prefers masculine terms, titles and adjectives. It's not something he's adamant about others knowing, so he doesn't disclose it too often. Though, his sister is quick to correct most on his behalf.
- Grisham's personal favorite café besides their own is Café Classe. Griselle's favorite is Café Bataille.
Stamps
made by me!! credit not needed but if anyone asks... coughs... link to this specific page...
please...
coughs..
