Sunyshore Nights [June 2019 Rock the Block]
Jun 21, 2019 21:08:42 GMT
Post by Dtmahanen on Jun 21, 2019 21:08:42 GMT
Happy Pride everyone! In honor of this very important month, I've written this Rock the Block piece! Now, for a bit of context, I am not a member of the LGBTQ+ community, but I still wanted to do my best to honor those people here who are members of the community in the most respectful way possible. I hope you all enjoy.
The first thing that Volkner notices is her breath.
Flicker, his boyfriend’s torracat, is chuffing heavily and loudly on his neck – the usual “Flint-Special” wake-up call. While Volkner is usually quick to admit that it’s definitely a nice replacement to the “Beat Your Boyfriend Over the Head with a Pillow” routine he’d done for a while when they’d moved in together, it’s still annoying. He slowly opens his eyes to see her black-and-red fluff and yellow irises staring at him with a smile. Meowing, she darts out of the room, likely letting her trainer know that she’s accomplished her mission.
But to Volkner, that just means he had five more peaceful … blissful … minutes…
WHACK! “Wake up, sleepyhead!!”
There’s the pillow. His head still spinning, Volkner turns to face the afro and grin of his boyfriend, Flint, triumphantly holding a pillow above his head. “Man, it’s been way too long since I’ve had the chance to do that!”
Arceus, how does he have this much energy in the mornings? Volkner thinks. A year living with him and I’m still not used to it. “Not long enough, in my opinion,” he mutters. “How’d you feel if Ray started doing the same thing that Ember always does?”
“I’d give him a snuggle,” Flint says with a wink. “That is, if you’d ever get off your ass and train him to do that.” He leans in and gave Volkner a quick peck on the cheek. “But right now, we need to get moving! The Sunnyshore Fireworks Festival won’t prepare itself, you know!”
Oh, right, that’s tonight, Volkner thinks. “I take it you’ve already done stuff on your end?”
“Babe, I got that done days ago! Got the fireworks ready for you to hook up.”
“And I take it you made some crazy powder/metal mixture again?”
“It’ll blow your Arceus-damned mind. One hundred percent Flint guarantee. All I need now is for you to hook them up in the order I need.”
“You mind if I borrow Flicker for this? I’ll need his precision with fire to make sure I get all the welding done right.”
Flint smirks. “You just want to have both cats to yourself today, don’t you?”
“…yes.”
“Then they’re all yours,” he says with a laugh. He turns around to head back to the kitchen. “Call me if you need me! I’ll be makin’ breakfast.”
Volkner’s head flops back onto the bed. Flint doesn’t normally make meals for the two of them (that’s been Volkner’s territory for most of their relationship), but he’s not gonna question it. “What I wouldn’t give for some more sleep today,” he mutters.
“What was that?”
“I said I wanted pancakes.”
“Oh, going fancy today,” Flint says. “Short stack coming right up!”
And as the pancakes cook, Volkner … gets those five more minutes.
After a quick breakfast (the Belue berry juice mixed in the batter is an inspired choice, Flint knows he loves that stuff), Volkner sets out to get the fireworks set-up ready. While the festival itself is taking place in the beach district, the fireworks had to be set up in the middle of the city by the Gym so that people in the lighthouse could see as well.
Luckily, Volkner just so happens to have all the tools he needs in said Gym. He owns the damn thing, after all. Renovated it himself. The fireworks should be a piece of cake.
“Ray, Flicker, could you aim a Thundershock and Ember at the points I marked?” he asks. “We need to weld these rockets together in this order.”
The two cats, both jockeying for the more dominant position, aim their low-powered elemental attacks at the X’s Volkner had marked on the wire arrangement. The welding is crude, but much quicker than if Volkner had done it himself.
However, Volkner is still needed to finish the job.
Donning a well-used welding visor, Volkner finishes the work, making the metal casings blend seamlessly with the holding plate and connecting the end of a homemade remote activation system to the whole contraption. After a couple of minutes (much faster than even the smallest gear mechanism in his Gym, thanks to Flicker), the process is complete.
“Alright, thank you for your help,” he says, scratching Ray behind the ears. The luxray leans into it, purring like a tricked-out Harley motorcycle. “Now, who wants to help me carry it to the city center?”
The two big cats sit on their haunches. Flicker lolls his head to the side, while Ray gives Volkner a wry look, sticking out his tongue. Neither of them want to help.
“Well fine. See if I care,” Volkner deadpans. “I’ve got more friends to help me move this.”
He grabs another pokéball from his belt and tosses it, releasing his ace into the bright summer day. Shocksquatch the electivire lets out a mid-morning bellow, stretches his arms, and cracks his knuckles seeing the fireworks contraption at his feet. Nodding to Volkner, he hoists the contraption onto his shoulder – “Carefully, Shocksquatch, carefully!” – and looks expectantly towards him.
“I think the market district might be a good place for them,” Volkner continues. “It’ll probably be pretty much empty tonight.”
“Got that right, buddy!” Flint remarks. He’s finally arrived to help move stuff, a bag slung over his shoulder, with his magmortar, Rocket, carrying another bag over his. Fireproof material, thankfully, Volkner thinks, wouldn’t want the fireworks to go off prematurely. “Everyone’s gonna be partying on the beach, dude!”
“Or getting drunk in the lighthouse,” Volkner mumbles.
“What, you think they aren’t gonna be drunk on the beach, too?”
“No, because there’ll be families there. With kids.”
“Babe. Let me tell it to ya straight.” He places his free hand on Volkner’s shoulder. “People are gonna be drunk and partying no matter where we go. There’ll also be families everywhere we go. With kids, without kids, whatever. They’re all gonna be looking at the night sky, and I wanna put on a show.”
“That, I can do,” Volkner replies. “Let’s go, we need to get this set up.”
Thankfully, the process doesn’t take too long, and the two manage to set up the fireworks contraption in record time. After all their work (including a sudden addition of a few more rockets by Flint), the two can relax for a bit.
This is a strange sensation for Volkner. He doesn’t get to relax very often. There are always Gym battles to schedule or conduct, adjustments to make to the Gym’s electronics … this is nice. He and Flint go for a nice walk along Route 222 with their pokémon for the first time in … what’s it been, months? It’s nice to have a break.
But they can’t stay away for too long. As a clear, beautiful evening begins to set in, Volkner and Flint return to the fireworks set-up, give it one last once-over, and bolt down to the beach to get ready for their cue. The past few years, especially since Galactic was brought down, Sunyshore has made it a point to go all out on the pyrotechnics at the Fireworks Festival, and they always enlisted Flint and Volkner to help organize the display. This year is no different.
However, unbeknownst to Volkner, Flint has a surprise for him.
“Alright, boys, the crowd’s getting antsy,” Mayor Pinella says over a walkie-talkie. “Are you two ready?”
“’Course we are, Geoff!” Flint exclaims. “Just let us know when we’re good.”
“Well, then, light ‘em up!”
“With pleasure.” He gives Volkner a quick thumbs-up and steps out from the tree they are hiding behind. “Evening, Sunyshore beach-goers!” he yells at the top of his lungs. “Y’all ready to see some fireworks?!” The crowd cheers. “Alright! Hit it, Volkner!”
Nodding to Flint, Volkner presses his remote. All at once, a bunch of light spark up on his contraption, and in sequence, a bunch of fireworks begin to rocket into the sky. Patterned explosions dot the sky. They start simple: single colors, golden bursts that sound like rain, the works. But then, through his own ingenuity and Flint’s extensive knowledge of pyrotechnics and gunpowder, more complicated images emerge. Layers of colors, sequences of explosions, even images of pokéballs and pokémon. Most everyone is “oo-ing” and “ah-ing”. The kids love it, as they always do. Overall, a very successful display.
“Alright, how was that?” Flint exclaims. There’s cheering, but also a little bit of confusion from the older attendees. Flint doesn’t normally do this. He usually just lights them up and lets the crowd go about the rest of the night.
Volkner is also a little bit confused, but for a bit of a different reason. He was counting the number of rockets fired, as he always does. There are still a few rockets on the set-up.
“Now, I know what you’re all thinking,” he continues. “What more could I possibly show all of you tonight? Well, this final launch of the night needs a bit of context.” He points…to Volkner.
Wait, what’s going on? Flint is not someone to hide things from me, he’s way too eager to talk about stuff. Something’s off.
“All of you know Volkner, right?” Flint asks. “Gym Leader, expert engineer? He’s the guy who lets me fire off the rockets every year with his awesome technical know-how.” He pauses, takes a breath, and takes out another remote detonator. Volkner recognizes this. He’d connected it to the fireworks set-up earlier at Flint’s request, although he was never sure why. “We’ve also been dating for a couple of years now. And recently, I’ve had a question on the tip of my tongue., and I thought this’d be the best way to put it.”
Oh Arceus, I know what’s happening now. Oh geez, oh Arceus, in front of all these people, oh no, please stop –
Flint presses the button. The rockets fire and launch into the sky. They explode into letters, words.
Volkner stares at the message. He stares at it for a while. His vision starts to get a little cloudy with tears. He feels a tap on his shoulder. Flint’s standing next to him, a ring in his hand. The diamond itself is small, clearly freshly cut.
“Rocket made that himself. Got some coal from Iron Island. Byron himself sent it to me. Rocket crushed and pressurized it, and there you go.” He gets down on a knee. “So whaddaya say?”
Volkner doesn’t say anything. He just nods, takes a breath, and slams him with a hug. The crowd is cheering even louder than after the fireworks ended.
“I love you,” Flint whispers. Volkner says the same, but it’s muffled by Flint’s shoulder. He feels Ray nuzzling his side, and Flicker is to his left, chuffing loudly and happily at the sight.
And they just sit there for a bit. Both of them have tears in their eyes. It smells like cats and the tiniest bit of gunpowder. But they’re happy, and at the moment, it’s all that matters.
Sunyshore Nights
The first thing that Volkner notices is her breath.
Flicker, his boyfriend’s torracat, is chuffing heavily and loudly on his neck – the usual “Flint-Special” wake-up call. While Volkner is usually quick to admit that it’s definitely a nice replacement to the “Beat Your Boyfriend Over the Head with a Pillow” routine he’d done for a while when they’d moved in together, it’s still annoying. He slowly opens his eyes to see her black-and-red fluff and yellow irises staring at him with a smile. Meowing, she darts out of the room, likely letting her trainer know that she’s accomplished her mission.
But to Volkner, that just means he had five more peaceful … blissful … minutes…
WHACK! “Wake up, sleepyhead!!”
There’s the pillow. His head still spinning, Volkner turns to face the afro and grin of his boyfriend, Flint, triumphantly holding a pillow above his head. “Man, it’s been way too long since I’ve had the chance to do that!”
Arceus, how does he have this much energy in the mornings? Volkner thinks. A year living with him and I’m still not used to it. “Not long enough, in my opinion,” he mutters. “How’d you feel if Ray started doing the same thing that Ember always does?”
“I’d give him a snuggle,” Flint says with a wink. “That is, if you’d ever get off your ass and train him to do that.” He leans in and gave Volkner a quick peck on the cheek. “But right now, we need to get moving! The Sunnyshore Fireworks Festival won’t prepare itself, you know!”
Oh, right, that’s tonight, Volkner thinks. “I take it you’ve already done stuff on your end?”
“Babe, I got that done days ago! Got the fireworks ready for you to hook up.”
“And I take it you made some crazy powder/metal mixture again?”
“It’ll blow your Arceus-damned mind. One hundred percent Flint guarantee. All I need now is for you to hook them up in the order I need.”
“You mind if I borrow Flicker for this? I’ll need his precision with fire to make sure I get all the welding done right.”
Flint smirks. “You just want to have both cats to yourself today, don’t you?”
“…yes.”
“Then they’re all yours,” he says with a laugh. He turns around to head back to the kitchen. “Call me if you need me! I’ll be makin’ breakfast.”
Volkner’s head flops back onto the bed. Flint doesn’t normally make meals for the two of them (that’s been Volkner’s territory for most of their relationship), but he’s not gonna question it. “What I wouldn’t give for some more sleep today,” he mutters.
“What was that?”
“I said I wanted pancakes.”
“Oh, going fancy today,” Flint says. “Short stack coming right up!”
And as the pancakes cook, Volkner … gets those five more minutes.
------------------------
After a quick breakfast (the Belue berry juice mixed in the batter is an inspired choice, Flint knows he loves that stuff), Volkner sets out to get the fireworks set-up ready. While the festival itself is taking place in the beach district, the fireworks had to be set up in the middle of the city by the Gym so that people in the lighthouse could see as well.
Luckily, Volkner just so happens to have all the tools he needs in said Gym. He owns the damn thing, after all. Renovated it himself. The fireworks should be a piece of cake.
“Ray, Flicker, could you aim a Thundershock and Ember at the points I marked?” he asks. “We need to weld these rockets together in this order.”
The two cats, both jockeying for the more dominant position, aim their low-powered elemental attacks at the X’s Volkner had marked on the wire arrangement. The welding is crude, but much quicker than if Volkner had done it himself.
However, Volkner is still needed to finish the job.
Donning a well-used welding visor, Volkner finishes the work, making the metal casings blend seamlessly with the holding plate and connecting the end of a homemade remote activation system to the whole contraption. After a couple of minutes (much faster than even the smallest gear mechanism in his Gym, thanks to Flicker), the process is complete.
“Alright, thank you for your help,” he says, scratching Ray behind the ears. The luxray leans into it, purring like a tricked-out Harley motorcycle. “Now, who wants to help me carry it to the city center?”
The two big cats sit on their haunches. Flicker lolls his head to the side, while Ray gives Volkner a wry look, sticking out his tongue. Neither of them want to help.
“Well fine. See if I care,” Volkner deadpans. “I’ve got more friends to help me move this.”
He grabs another pokéball from his belt and tosses it, releasing his ace into the bright summer day. Shocksquatch the electivire lets out a mid-morning bellow, stretches his arms, and cracks his knuckles seeing the fireworks contraption at his feet. Nodding to Volkner, he hoists the contraption onto his shoulder – “Carefully, Shocksquatch, carefully!” – and looks expectantly towards him.
“I think the market district might be a good place for them,” Volkner continues. “It’ll probably be pretty much empty tonight.”
“Got that right, buddy!” Flint remarks. He’s finally arrived to help move stuff, a bag slung over his shoulder, with his magmortar, Rocket, carrying another bag over his. Fireproof material, thankfully, Volkner thinks, wouldn’t want the fireworks to go off prematurely. “Everyone’s gonna be partying on the beach, dude!”
“Or getting drunk in the lighthouse,” Volkner mumbles.
“What, you think they aren’t gonna be drunk on the beach, too?”
“No, because there’ll be families there. With kids.”
“Babe. Let me tell it to ya straight.” He places his free hand on Volkner’s shoulder. “People are gonna be drunk and partying no matter where we go. There’ll also be families everywhere we go. With kids, without kids, whatever. They’re all gonna be looking at the night sky, and I wanna put on a show.”
“That, I can do,” Volkner replies. “Let’s go, we need to get this set up.”
-------------------------------
Thankfully, the process doesn’t take too long, and the two manage to set up the fireworks contraption in record time. After all their work (including a sudden addition of a few more rockets by Flint), the two can relax for a bit.
This is a strange sensation for Volkner. He doesn’t get to relax very often. There are always Gym battles to schedule or conduct, adjustments to make to the Gym’s electronics … this is nice. He and Flint go for a nice walk along Route 222 with their pokémon for the first time in … what’s it been, months? It’s nice to have a break.
But they can’t stay away for too long. As a clear, beautiful evening begins to set in, Volkner and Flint return to the fireworks set-up, give it one last once-over, and bolt down to the beach to get ready for their cue. The past few years, especially since Galactic was brought down, Sunyshore has made it a point to go all out on the pyrotechnics at the Fireworks Festival, and they always enlisted Flint and Volkner to help organize the display. This year is no different.
However, unbeknownst to Volkner, Flint has a surprise for him.
“Alright, boys, the crowd’s getting antsy,” Mayor Pinella says over a walkie-talkie. “Are you two ready?”
“’Course we are, Geoff!” Flint exclaims. “Just let us know when we’re good.”
“Well, then, light ‘em up!”
“With pleasure.” He gives Volkner a quick thumbs-up and steps out from the tree they are hiding behind. “Evening, Sunyshore beach-goers!” he yells at the top of his lungs. “Y’all ready to see some fireworks?!” The crowd cheers. “Alright! Hit it, Volkner!”
Nodding to Flint, Volkner presses his remote. All at once, a bunch of light spark up on his contraption, and in sequence, a bunch of fireworks begin to rocket into the sky. Patterned explosions dot the sky. They start simple: single colors, golden bursts that sound like rain, the works. But then, through his own ingenuity and Flint’s extensive knowledge of pyrotechnics and gunpowder, more complicated images emerge. Layers of colors, sequences of explosions, even images of pokéballs and pokémon. Most everyone is “oo-ing” and “ah-ing”. The kids love it, as they always do. Overall, a very successful display.
“Alright, how was that?” Flint exclaims. There’s cheering, but also a little bit of confusion from the older attendees. Flint doesn’t normally do this. He usually just lights them up and lets the crowd go about the rest of the night.
Volkner is also a little bit confused, but for a bit of a different reason. He was counting the number of rockets fired, as he always does. There are still a few rockets on the set-up.
“Now, I know what you’re all thinking,” he continues. “What more could I possibly show all of you tonight? Well, this final launch of the night needs a bit of context.” He points…to Volkner.
Wait, what’s going on? Flint is not someone to hide things from me, he’s way too eager to talk about stuff. Something’s off.
“All of you know Volkner, right?” Flint asks. “Gym Leader, expert engineer? He’s the guy who lets me fire off the rockets every year with his awesome technical know-how.” He pauses, takes a breath, and takes out another remote detonator. Volkner recognizes this. He’d connected it to the fireworks set-up earlier at Flint’s request, although he was never sure why. “We’ve also been dating for a couple of years now. And recently, I’ve had a question on the tip of my tongue., and I thought this’d be the best way to put it.”
Oh Arceus, I know what’s happening now. Oh geez, oh Arceus, in front of all these people, oh no, please stop –
Flint presses the button. The rockets fire and launch into the sky. They explode into letters, words.
WILL YOU MARRY ME
Volkner stares at the message. He stares at it for a while. His vision starts to get a little cloudy with tears. He feels a tap on his shoulder. Flint’s standing next to him, a ring in his hand. The diamond itself is small, clearly freshly cut.
“Rocket made that himself. Got some coal from Iron Island. Byron himself sent it to me. Rocket crushed and pressurized it, and there you go.” He gets down on a knee. “So whaddaya say?”
Volkner doesn’t say anything. He just nods, takes a breath, and slams him with a hug. The crowd is cheering even louder than after the fireworks ended.
“I love you,” Flint whispers. Volkner says the same, but it’s muffled by Flint’s shoulder. He feels Ray nuzzling his side, and Flicker is to his left, chuffing loudly and happily at the sight.
And they just sit there for a bit. Both of them have tears in their eyes. It smells like cats and the tiniest bit of gunpowder. But they’re happy, and at the moment, it’s all that matters.
Honestly, the whole thing about Flint and Volkner being extra assholes in commandeering an entire community's celebration didn't even occur to me until oyster brought it up, but ... yeah. Yeah, actually, that is exactly what happened, and it's still true to their characters. (When I first read that part, I was just like, "Holy eff, everyone in Sinnoh is extra af, but apparently especially Flint jfc I would smack a someone if they proposed to me like that Volkner you have A+ tolerance lbr." But the fact that Volkner didn't even stop to think that even though the town is encouraging him, maybe interrupting a community event for a proposal is a touch embarrassing also says a lot about him. Thank God he'd said yes; otherwise, I'm sure that would be hilariously mortifying, amirite?)